Musical Highs and Lulls

In the mainstream  early 50’s, it was the Doggie in the Window era. Mitch Miller, Doris Day and the like were making snappy and happy songs. The underground was brewing with a sonic gumbo of Black artists and Hillbillies, but in the mainstream, it was all pretty, safe and happy. A musical LULL. During lulls, the mainstream music culture:

*Features harmless lyrics by harmless artists.

*Labels/Moguls are in control and the formula is followed closely

*The “look” is non threatening.

*Dancing is at a popularity peak as people dance and hum…but don’t really LISTEN.

*Music has minimal impact on culture other than being a soundtrack

*There’s an underground happening, but it is still out of reach to the masses.

*It’s about tabloids more than musical notes.

*Music media is on autopilot.

*Mc Donalds Pop rules. Predictable…safe…consistent with few surprises. Musical originators are copied, cleansed for mass consumption and formulaized.

*Artists frequently have short lifespans....and become trivia questions


Then—There are HIGH periods. Periods of tremendous change compressed into a short period of time. During Intense periods:

*The old wave hits a brick wall.

*The “sound” changes. New instruments…new techniques...new devices…new recording methods.

*The “look” is new…different and scary.

*Satan or Some social evil is responsible according to some.

*Listening Technology changes.

*Music impacts culture profoundly. There are arguments over music.

*Artists are in control.

*People start listening more

*The "next generation" of long term artists emerge

*Music Media goes through explosive evolution.

*Not a lot of copying artists--everyone is too busy creating their own sound or contributing to the movement.

The Most memorable high periods happened: 1955 (Rock n Roll); 1964 (Liverpool); 1969 (Everything); 1980 (New Wave); 1993 (Grunge). All of the above characteristics happened during these periods…and all of the ‘lull’ characteristics happened between these periods. Take the intense period of ’69:

--All over for the old wave. Paul Revere and the Raiders hit the wall.

--Fuzz tones to synths to an arms race over number of tracks and amplifier output changed the sound. The modification and enlargement of traditional instruments.

--Musicianship was a selling point

--Lyrics were social statements

--Junior came home from college looking like a hippie and got thrown out of the house.

--Satan and acid were responsible for the Iron Butterfly

--Stereo revolutionized listening as it became mainstream.

--FM emerged as a force

--Walk into the wrong bar and play Hendrix on the jukebox and a fight would ensue

--No one told Cream how to write a song or to keep it 3 minutes.

The next generation of artists is created. Lasting artists.

*You don’t DANCE to Abbey Road. You LISTEN.

This is all highly CONDENSED and probably arguable, but due to space and finger strength limitations I can’t get into all of the details,  but there is evidence of these cycles.   Lulls still create fans! If you were in your musically formative 16-20 years during a lull—you still LOVE that music—but BIG PICTURE—the intense periods are where the shocking change happens. And of course there are a few artists that cut through. Dylan, Miles Davis Beatles, Pink Floyd, Sinatra—but those are the RARE ‘timeless’ artists that will be around in 200 years…can’t say that about more than a handful.

Bottom line is that It’s an interesting exercise in examining music trends.