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Rock and Pop in the 1960s

INSTRUMENTATION - Vocals, guitars, drums, bass, keys, horns, synthesisers

THE YARDBIRDS

Initially a guitar driven band, including notable musicians such as EricClapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page

They were one of many bands who changed style after the BritishInvasion 1965-1969

o During Claptons time the band was bluesyo Beck used heavier distorted toneso Page took over in the late 60s experimenting with wah effects

THE MOODY BLUES

Started out as an R&B band in the mid-60s Developed a new sound by combining rock guitar, vocal harmonies,strings and keys Mostly associated with progressive rock at this time

THE KINKS

A mix of hard-rock, folk and musical theatre influenced this band

The line up consisted of Electric + Acoustic guitar, plus drums and bass

Notable songs:

o You really got meo Waterloo Sunset

SONG ARTIST YEAR

Louise The Yardbirds 1963

For Your Love The Yardbirds 1965

Nights in White Satin Moody Blues 1967

You Really Got Me The Kinks 1964

My Generation The Who 1965

Pinball Wizard The Who 1969

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THE WHO

Developed rock opera with their albums Tommy and Quadrophenia Extensive use of synthesisers in the early 70s Started the fashion of making clothing out of

union jacks, adopted by mod culture

Their first 3 albums

My Generation

A Quick One

The Who Sell Out

Tommy was the first rock opera released in 1969

o It told the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy featuring thetrack Pinball Wizard.

Post 1970 Albums included:

Whos next 1971 with heavy use of synthesisers andsound effects, it was a very experimental album including the

use of an envelope followeron Townsends guitar.

Quadrophenia 1973 a second rock opera based around theband members who represented the 4 main characters.

More albums followed in the mid-70s with less success astheir earlier work

However when Keith Moon (drummer) died from a drugoverdose in 1978, coupled with the birth of punk, the band

struggled to stay together

Although they drifted apart they have reformed the band onseveral occasions with mixed results

Performance + Arrangement

Extremely high energy and aggressive performers

o Smashed up instruments being part of their acto Many songs were driving rock with melodic bass lines

Songs had complex instrumentation and structures

Pete Townsend described their more mainstream works as power

pop (he is also famous for the windmill)