Customer Reviews

Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock and Roll (4th Edition)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Short and sweet. . .this book's information gave me a new appreciation for the music and it's makers! After my class in college was over, I donated this book to the college library so others could enjoy.

Ok, so there are about 3 chapters dealing with African American social life but they all are written from the viewpoint of a white person. Soul becomes white, Run DMC has white fans etc.

It's not exactly clear what the author wants. A social history? Well, for 90% it's American history, with 10% dealing with England. Besides a racist the author also is only concerned with (white) anglo saxon culture and history. Nothing about German pop music, nothing about the influence of Bob Dylan in the former Soviet States, nothing about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys kind of pop sung by Asian singers selling Billions.

There is no clear point, just a collection of paragraphes about artists. Btw, Radiohead, Sam Cooke, the entire Britpop scene of '94, country & western (very important socially in the American South, sorry but a few paragraphs on Garth brooks won't cut it). Too much to mention really.

Oh well... (to quote another group not mentioned)

This book is pretty wordy. It is full of the history at the time and the music/performers but takes too long to get to the point.

In just glancing through this edition, I noticed these errors on page 52:

1) Elvis' Army induction date as Jan. 20, 1958.
It is my understanding that he was actually inducted around March 28, 1958.

2) That a month after Elvis' induction came the tragedy Don McLean called "the day the music died".
The plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Jape "Big Bopper" Richardson and their pilot Roger Peterson, occurred on Feb. 3, 1959, around 10 months after Elvis joined the US Army.

3) That the Beechcraft Bonanza crashed near Fargo, North Dakota.
The plane was enroute from Mason City, Iowa, to Fargo, but crashed in a farm field near Clear Lake & Mason City, IOWA, not long after takeoff.

I have this book for a class on the social history of rock and roll, and it's such an easy and interesting read that I find myself reading the non-required parts. Very informative and to-the-point.

This item was received in a matter of a few days. The item was in very good qualities. The book is very informative and intertaining.

What is it? A comprehensinve list type book on the history of rock and roll. Not much depth, but ALL genres covered.