Overview
This lesson addresses two separate but related genres of rock. Country rock is a hybrid of country music and rock music, while Southern rock incorporates themes from the American South into music that is otherwise relatively standard rock in its sound and instrumentation. There are many different sounds and artists that have been classified as country rock, and many of these sound very different from each other.
Objectives
- Identify the defining stylistic characteristics of country rock
- Identify the defining stylistic characteristics of Southern rock
- Recall the instrumentation, musical influences and backgrounds, and lyric themes of several country rock and Southern rock artists
Introduction
During the 1970s, rock music began to diversify. Artists used rock for many different types of artistic, regional, and personal expression. The next several lessons will address a number of these styles that emerged in the 1970s.
This lesson addresses two separate but related genres of rock. Country rock is a hybrid of country music and rock music, while Southern rock incorporates themes from the American South into music that is otherwise relatively standard rock in its sound and instrumentation. There are many different sounds and artists that have been classified as country rock, and many of these sound very different from each other.
In country rock, the proportions of "country music" to "rock music" vary widely. Southern rock, on the other hand, focuses on values and ideas of the American South, but the instrumentation is that of a standard rock ensemble. Of course, there are some exceptions. As we will see, some groups such as the Allman Brothers Band added a second lead guitar to their ensemble, a gesture which many Southern rock groups would come to imitate.
