The DU Lounge
In reply to the discussion: 'How the Beatles Destroyed Rock-n-roll' Has anyone read this book? [View all]MiltonBrown
(322 posts)ragtime, blues, pop and jazz and continues through to the Beatles.
It places no guilt or wrongdoing on the Beatles and doesn't dispute their talent, abilities, influence or intentions and it certainly doesn't associate the Beatles with racism in any way. Rather it focuses on how American popular music developed over the years and the radical change that the Beatles success brought about.
The subtitle is 'An Alternative History of American Popular Music' which is the real focus of the book. It's the 21st century so naturally the author used a provocative title which surely sold more books for him than using the subtitle instead.
As far as whites appropriating black music I agree with BB King who said that 'Once music is out there for all to hear then it's fair game' or something along those lines. How can a musician or singer NOT respond and be influenced and inspired by the music that moves them? As long as proper credit and royalties are done it seems like a square deal to me and the Beatles did that as far as I know. The problem is that far too often black artists and songwriters got screwed. To be fair a lot of whites did too.
Another focus of the book is the changes in format over the years from 78s to 45s and then 33s. The Beatles were among the first to orient their music to the 33 rpm record format and away from the dance hit single 45 rpm (and 78s before that).