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When it comes to Rock n Roll I've noticed that 50's rock was very rhythmic and dance oriented. But it seems like at some point in the 60's the music changed. It wasn't the same dance music that it was in the 50's. When I listen to most Rock from the 80's it seems to be music more for listening and not for dancing. I guess whether or not music is danceable or not can be a matter of opinion but I don't think a lot of Rock was being played in disco's during the 70's for a reason.
So does anyone have any takes on what caused Rock to move away from the type of music it was in the 50's to what it became in the 60's on up? Could it be that because of the heavy guitar use that came in the 60's that style of Rock didn't work as well over more danceable beats?
Of course you can "dance" to any music, watch the WOODSTOCK movie! But I think I know what you mean.
It's an interesting question really. Something did start happening around the 50s though. Up to the 50s, pretty much all popular music, except classical, was used for dancing. There certainly did come a point somewhere where live bands stopped doing "dances" and started doing "concerts".
As far as rock goes, I would guess 3 main factors; guitar moving from backup to a lead instrument, rising drug use (which helped lead to many of the 60s experimental sounds and made them more interesting to listen to) and the invention of more dances that did not require a partner. JMO
I was tempted to say "The British invasion" but "The Beatles" early stuff was fairly dance oriented. Still I'm tempted to think that was an influence in some way.
I wonder if the folk revival also had some influence on it. Even with folk-rock it's often not dance-oriented. Although psychedelic drugs I think was also a good choice as an influence. Guitars too, maybe, but I think there were some dance-oriented guitar songs.
I guess another factor might be that for whatever reason the R&B influence on rock faded. I think at least some of the blues/R&B oriented rock could still be danced too a fair amount. Even in the counterculture type scene "Canned Heat" had some songs that you could dance or boogie too.
I think a good deal of the Soul music of the 1960s had some of rock&roll's dance qualities. James Brown's stuff was generally danceable. Later the Pointer Sisters I think were at times close to the older "Rock & Roll" with maybe a noticeable disco influence. So possibly the "dancier" rock just ended up in R&B or pop. Still I seem to recall some rock in the 1980s that was kind of dance-oriented. A fair amount of "Southern rock" was fairly danceable and still had some blues/R&B influences.
I guess another factor might be that for whatever reason the R&B influence on rock faded.
I was wondering about that to.
I guess I just prefer the energy and rhythm that 50's rock had. I can't see Elvis dancing the way he did in the 50's to the rock that came in the late 60's. That music wouldn't move him the same way.
The Vietnam war?? During that time, people wanted serious rockers with messages in the lyrics. By then, you start seen all these rock storytellers and so on influence by the 70's. And not so much lets just dance and have fun. By the 80's some of the dance rock came back.
I guess I just prefer the energy and rhythm that 50's rock had. I can't see Elvis dancing the way he did in the 50's to the rock that came in the late 60's. That music wouldn't move him the same way.
I like both at times, it depends on my mood or what I'm doing. When I'm cleaning I like something dancy. Other times I want something more meditative.
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