Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock-and-Roll, Fifth Edition [Paperback]

David P. Szatmary (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131121073 | ISBN-13: 978-0131121072 | Publication Date: April 14, 2003 | Edition: 5

For undergraduate courses in Popular Music, Music History, Recent American History, Sociology, and American Ethnic Studies. This text offers an in-depth examination of the social history of rock-and-roll. Rockin' in Time emphasizes several main themes, including the importance of African-American culture in the origins and development of rock music, the economy, technology, and the changing demographics of the youth market. Tracing rock from its inception-from American blues to the present-this book shows how rock-and-roll has reflected and sometimes changed American and British culture over the last fifty years.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Few would deny that rock'n'roll has been one of the most important cultural barometers of social change in the second half of this century. The tunes and artists of the 1960s not only provided the background music for a generation but also played an active role in such defining experiences as the Civil Rights struggle, the anti-war movement, and the sexual revolution. In the next decade, punk and rap served as platforms for the anger and frustration of Britain's jobless underclass and young people of color in the United States. Szatmary offers thumbnail sketches of each era's movers and shakers, from the first electrified bluesmen in Chicago in the early 1950s to today's fusion of rock and rap. While the artists included to bring the fourth edition up to date may not rank with the Beatles or Bob Dylan in historical significance, this book remains a valuable introduction for libraries with little on the influence of rock music on our society. [Szatmary is a longtime LJ reviewer.AEd.]ADan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, P.
-ADan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This is a rock-solid, breezy encyclopedia of pop history. A classic reference book to modern culture. A fun read, too." — Timothy Leary

"A sociologist's view of the artists who defined an era and the sociopolitical forces that shaped rock 'n' roll." — Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Both an interesting and manageable 'history' that links changes in popular music to changes in economic, political and social concerns." "A handy and impressive volume." — Living Blues

"This book should illuminate old times for aging baby boomers and attract younger readers." — Library Journal

"Straight-forward and reliable." — Option

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (April 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131121073
• ISBN-13: 978-0131121072
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, concise resource for the social history of rock, July 4, 1999

By 

Geoff Humphrey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock-And-Roll (Paperback)

I have read and re-read this book many times since I first picked up the 3rd edition in 1996. I am a high school social studies teacher and I use this book as a resource constantly when I am teaching contempory history. Well thought out, concise yet complete, easily readable. I applaud Mr. Szatmary for his effort, the book has inspired me to research the sociolgical implications of rock and roll and not merely the "pop history" currently offered. Further, I was so inspired by this book that it prompted me to author a website dedicated to the sociology of rock and roll history.

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly poor, inaccurate work., April 29, 2005

By 

David J. Turner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock-and-Roll, Fifth Edition (Paperback)

I originally had to read this book for a History of Rock and Roll class at the University of Cincinatti. I found the subject interesting, and the professor gave wonderful lectures. I had good expectations about this book going in, but those quickly soured as I read it.

It seems correct, at least, about the social problems of the different eras and their relation to rock. Not that such is a particularly daunting feet.

However, it is rife with laughable fallacies. For instance, it calls David Bowie, amongst other glam rock bands of the era, metal. It futher goes on to call many pop bands of the 60s and 70s rock, when they have no guitar work and no bass line at all, such as the Carpenters.

I really had a good laugh when they called Bad Religion hardcore. Bad Religion is about as hardcore as Elvis is rap. Further massive genre confusion consisted throughout the entire book.

I also noted several drastic misinterpretations of songs. For instance, it claims 'Thunder Rolls' by Garth Brooks is about domestic violence. Its about infedility, not focusing on violence at all, but rather the emotional ramificationsof being cheated on.

The writing is also rather dry. Many times it is merely a citing of the names of band members as well as constantly describing minor changes in bands lineups which are of no true consequence. It also tends to list off songs which have no impact on any giving band's successes or failures.

After reading the book in completetion, I really had to question the earlier passages about older rock and blues (50s to 60s) that I had thought were true. In the end, I felt that it wasted my time and money and possibly misinformed me more than anything.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for what it is, January 21, 2010

By 

D. Dahlbeck "Tappah" (Dorchester, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock and Roll (6th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is good for what it is, but it is written more as a story than a textbook, which was what I was looking for for my high school kids.