7.1 - WORKSHEET 7

In Worksheet 7, we take a look at how America responded to the British Invasion.

First, download Worksheet 7:

HIS:ROCK WORKSHEET 7-1.pdf Download HIS:ROCK WORKSHEET 7-1.pdf

Or copy and print here:

Bob Dylan. It is not possible to study the history of rock music, and not include Bob Dylan. Long considered a major icon in popular culture, Dylan has been shaping and influencing that culture for more than 50 years. There are a few artists that one could make up an entire semester course (The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, etc.), and Bob Dylan is one of them.

Watch this short biography:

BOB DYLAN BIOGRAPHY Links to an external site.

"Hailed as the Shakespeare of his generation, Dylan sold tens of millions of albums, wrote more than 500 songs recorded by more than 2,000 artists, performed all over the world, and set the standard for lyric writing. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016."

Besides being one of the most covered artists of all time, Dylan is also one of the most influential. Like the Beatles, he expanded the conventions of popular music, The Beatles themselves were strongly influenced by Bob Dylan, increasing their use of acoustic instruments, and expanding the subject matter of their songs.

Bob Dylan's real name is Robert Zimmerman, and he is from Duluth, Minnesota. He made his way to New York City, and made a name for himself with his songs. He soon became a major player in folk music circles. While performing at the Newport Folk Festival, he confused his fans by playing onstage with a rock band. Folk music had a deep tradition of playing acoustic instruments, in part to separate themselves from modern pop culture. That is why this was controversial. He then went on tour for 2 years, being booed throughout the tour!

Dylan's first million seller was "Like A Rolling Stone," for our music journal:

59. LIKE A ROLLING STONE - BOB DYLAN Links to an external site.

There is a great story that musician Al Kooper tells about that recording session, and his determination to be on that record somehow:

AL KOOPER ON "LIKE A ROLLING STONE" SESSION Links to an external site.

Bob Dylan has been covered thousands of time, by artists all over the spectrum of styles. We have already listened to one before (remember "Blowin' In The Wind," by Peter, Paul, & Mary?) and we will hear another in one of our final lessons ("All Along The Watchtower," by Jimi Hendrix). We will now listen (for our journal) to some other artists performing Bob Dylan songs.

60. IF NOT FOR YOU - GEORGE HARRISON Links to an external site.

61. FOREVER YOUNG - ROD STEWART Links to an external site.

62. I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT - NORAH JONES Links to an external site.

By the way, we are somewhat familiar with Norah Jones' father. Remember when George Harrison took sitar lessons from Ravi Shankar. Well, he was Norah Jones' father!

The Byrds. The Byrds were one of the first rock groups to cover Bob Dylan songs. In fact, they ended up recording 13 of his songs. Their version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" is widely viewed as the first folk-rock recording, which went to #1 and stayed on the charts for 13 weeks. It is suggested that Dylan's inspiration for that song was the Mardi Gras, which he had visited shortly before writing the song.

The Byrds began as a folk group in Los Angeles. When the Beatles appeared, they began incorporating Beatle songs in their folk arrangements. After going to see the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, the group was inspired to buy similar instruments, including a 12 string electric guitar, which was used in "Mr. Tambourine Man," and became s signature sound in folk-rock music. For our journal:

63. MR. TAMBOURINE MAN - THE BYRDS Links to an external site.