Rock and Roll: An Introduction [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Michael Campbell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028653319 | ISBN-13: 978-0028653310 | Publication Date: July 1999 0

In this unique exploration of rock and roll, Campbell and Brody take an evolutionary approach, giving students the whole picture of this vastly popular music and its inherent musical relationships. Beginning with the roots of rock, the authors proceed chronologically to discuss all rock styles and their influences, from '50s R&B up through the birth of new wave. This text sets itself apart with its treatment of rock as an integrated family of musical styles, inclusive view of the evolution of this music, and in-depth musical discussion.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Michael Campbell is a writer and pianist. A California native, he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College and holds a doctorate from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied piano with Leon Fleisher. As a commercial musician, he has assisted such artists as Angela Lansbury, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bob Hope, Redd Foxx, Ethel Merman, and Don McLean. As a concert pianist, he has performed a broad range of repertoire, including his own transcriptions of recordings by Art Tatum, Jelly Roll Morton, and other legendary jazz pianists. He has given papers on the evolution of popular music, Cole Porter and the search for the first rock 'n' roll record, and has contributed articles on Porter and Harold Arlen for a forthcoming book on popular song. Campbell is the author of two music texts, POPULAR MUSIC IN AMERICA and ROCK AND ROLL, AN INTRODUCTION. For many years, Michael Campbell taught at Western Illinois University. He now lives in Rhode Island, where he devotes his time to research and writing." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Michael Campbell is a writer and pianist. A California native, he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College and holds a doctorate from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied piano with Leon Fleisher. As a commercial musician, he has assisted such artists as Angela Lansbury, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bob Hope, Redd Foxx, Ethel Merman, and Don McLean. As a concert pianist, he has performed a broad range of repertoire, including his own transcriptions of recordings by Art Tatum, Jelly Roll Morton, and other legendary jazz pianists. He has given papers on the evolution of popular music, Cole Porter and the search for the first rock 'n' roll record, and has contributed articles on Porter and Harold Arlen for a forthcoming book on popular song. Campbell is the author of two music texts, POPULAR MUSIC IN AMERICA and ROCK AND ROLL, AN INTRODUCTION. A third text, an introductory survey that embraces both classical and popular music, is forthcoming. For many years, Michael Campbell taught at Western Illinois University. He now lives in Rhode Island, where he devotes his time to research and writing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Schirmer Books (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028653319
• ISBN-13: 978-0028653310
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,124,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good survey of the sprawling genre, September 2, 2005

By 

T. Sparfeld (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rock and Roll: An Introduction (Paperback)

This textbook is good overall and very suitable for college rock and roll courses.

Michael Campbell is the author of AND THE BEAT GOES ON, a textbook about the history of American Popular Music. This textbook focuses just on rock and roll.

The first few chapters cover the roots of rock n' roll: the basics of blues, boogie woogie, and other popular styles in the years after World War II. The authors spend a large chunk of pages on Rock's ascendance from 1964-1974 (about 170 pages). The period from 1974-1989, as a comparison, receives about 90 pages.

The book's strengths are their thoroughness of explanation and clarity of the text. While the textbook is certainly not exhaustive or complete (somebody always complains that THEIR FAVORITE band was overlooked), all the major styles and bands are discussed.
Campbell and Brody do a good job of placing each rock movement within its historical context and tracking the progression of rock through the mid-90s.

The pictures and diagrams can be helpful, especially to non-music majors. The key terms at the end of each chapter are basic, and the study questions are somewhat helpful.

One strong criticism (and certainly any R&R textbook will run into this) is its listening examples. Because these songs are still so popular, it is impossible to get all of the recordings discussed on one set of recordings. The discography at the back of the book shows that most of the songs discussed are on several anthology CDs, but there are many which have to be bought piecemeal. Once again, any textbook on rock will likely have this problem.

I think undergraduate professors should strongly consider this book for their courses, as it takes a straightforward approach to the subject.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Straightforward approach to Rock and Roll, March 18, 2009

By 

Nicholas L. Dixon "The Kramer" (Denver, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rock and Roll: An Introduction (Paperback)

I had the pleasure of taking this course from one of its authors (James Brody) at the University of Colorado and I do believe that the textbook offers a wonderful approach to the teaching of Rock and Roll Basics.

Too many students of my generation do not appreciate the "older" rock and roll and it is great to see a book that focuses equally if not more on the roots and evolution of rock and roll as on its more modern counterparts.

However, Although the textbook is excellent, I believe that you only get about 3/4 of the experience, because having an author teach it allows for many of the blanks to be filled in, and an unbeatable course instruction.

Bottom line: A great example for a rock and roll course, but without proper instruction it will fall short of what it is capable of.