The Psychedelic Rock of Motown
Contents
Get an inside look at the Psychedelic Rock of Motown! You’ll learn about the history and evolution of this unique genre, and hear from some of the biggest names in the business.
The Origins of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is characterized by a distorted, electric guitar-driven sound, as well as by song structures and lyrical themes that often referenced drug culture, freedom, and the quest for self-awareness.
The Beatles and Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as acid rock or mind expansion music, is a style of popular music that emerged in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by distorted guitars, sonic experimentation, feedback, and drug use.
The term psychedelic (derived from the Greek words ψυχή (psyche), “soul”, and δηλείν (delein), “to manifest”), was first coined by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in 1956 while working with Aldous Huxley on mescaline research. Osmond observed that Huxley’s perception of colors was altered while under the influence of mescaline, and he described these experiences as “psychedelic” (Osmond, 1957).
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group members were John Lennon (guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). The Beatles are widely considered to be the foremost and most influential act of the rock era. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres ranging from pop ballads to progressive rock. They also became known for their innovative recording techniques such as multitracking, close harmony singing and sound effects. Their popularity helped to spread British culture worldwide during the 1960s.
With their widespread success came increased influence on popular culture; they are frequently credited with helping to shape the social attitudes of the 1960s and paving the way for counterculture movements such as flower power and psychedelia. The Beatles’ experimental phase reached its height with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band(1967), which helped usher in a more individualistic and introspective form of psychedelic popthat would be typified by artists such as Pink Floydand Jimi Hendrix.
The Rolling Stones and Psychedelic Rock
The Rolling Stones were an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor’s departure, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since. Since Wyman’s retirement in 1993, Darryl Jones has served as bassist.
The Stones have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations. Let It Bleed (1969) was their first of five consecutive number one studio albums in the UK. Sticky Fingers (1971) was the first of eight number one studio albums in the US. In 2008, the band ranked 10th on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart. In 2012, the band’s album sales were estimated at more than 200 million copies worldwide.[1][2] The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and they have received numerous lifetime achievement awards including five Grammy Awards.[3][4] They were ranked number 4 by Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time,[5] and according to Billboard magazine lister They are amoung The Greatest 100 singers of all time.[6]
Psychedelic rock is a diverse style of rock music inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, which is centred around perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs; such as LSD,[1][2][3] psilocybin mushrooms,[4][5] mescaline,[6][7] DMT,[8][9] DOC,[10] ibogaine,[11][12][13] cannabis[14][15], stimulants like amphetamine or cocaine;[16], dissociatives like ketamine or dextromethorphan[citation needed]; and deliriants like datura or diphenhydramine.[17] Psychedelic rock began fractions becoming popular during the mid 1960s with bands such as The Beatles releasing songs such as “Tomorrow Never Knows” from Revolver album.(1966)Psychedelic rocks lyrics are often based around liberal concepts such peace love
The Psychedelic Rock of Motown
The Psychedelic Rock of Motown was a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s. The music was influenced by psychedelic drugs, and it often had a surreal, spacey, or trippy sound. The Psychedelic Rock of Motown was popularized by bands like The Temptations, The Supremes, and The Four Tops.
The Funk Brothers and Psychedelic Rock
The Funk Brothers and Psychedelic Rock
The Funk Brothers were the legendary studio musicians who played on most of the Motown hits from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. They were a tight-knit group of talented musicians who knew how to groove and were extremely versatile, able to adapt their style to any genre.
In the mid-1960s, they began experimenting with psychedelic rock, incorporating elements of jazz, blues, and soul into their already formidable skillset. The results were electrifying, and they quickly became one of the most in-demand studio bands in the country. They played on hit records by The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and many others.
The Funk Brothers’ skills as psychedelic rockers came to full fruition on The Doors’ classic 1967 album Strange Days. They laid down some of the most iconic tracks in rock history, including “When The Music’s Over” and “Love Me Two Times”. Their work on that album helped to define the sound of an entire generation.
If you’re a fan of Motown or psychedelic rock, then you owe a debt of gratitude to The Funk Brothers. They were true pioneers in both genres and their work has stood the test of time.
The Temptations and Psychedelic Rock
If the Supremes were Motown’s crown jewel, then the Temptations were certainly the label’s hardest-rocking act. The group was originally formed in 1964 as a five-piece vocal harmony group featuring Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin. The Temptations began their recording career with a string of hits that includes “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “My Girl,” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
In 1966, the Temptations released their first album of psychedelic rock songs, titled “Cloud Nine.” The album featured the hit single “Psychedelic Shack,” which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album also featured the song “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today),” which was a Top 10 hit and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.
The Temptations continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including “All Directions” (1972), “A Song for You” (1975), and “Reunion” (1982). The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Marvin Gaye and Psychedelic Rock
Marvin Gaye’s 1967 album, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” is considered one of the greatest Motown albums of all time. It is also considered one of the first psychedelic soul albums. The album was recorded during the height of the psychedelic rock era and features many elements of psychedelic music, including extended instrumentals, sound effects, and lyrics about love, sex, and drug use.
Despite its psychedelic influences, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over three million copies. It remains one of Gaye’s most popular albums and is credited with helping to popularize Motown’s unique brand of soul music.
The Psychedelic Rock Revival
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was inspired by psychedelic culture and attempted to replicate its psychological effects. The genre originated in the early 1960s with the British band The Beatles and was later expanded upon by American bands such as The Beach Boys and The Grateful Dead. In the 1970s, psychedlic rock experienced a resurgence in popularity with bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
The Grateful Dead and Psychedelic Rock
The Grateful Dead and Psychedelic Rock
The Grateful Dead were an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band’s mainstay members were Jerry Garcia on guitar and vocals, Bob Weir on guitar and vocals, Phil Lesh on bass and vocals, Mickey Hart on drums, Bill Kreutzmann on drums, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on keyboards and harmonica, and Tom Constanten on keyboards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Jimi Hendrix and Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, sometimes called garage rock, is a style of rock music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style is marked by a heavy use of distorted guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboards. Psychedelic rock developed from garage rock and blues-rock, and is often characterized by a trippy or dreamy feeling. The lyrics often deal with social and political issues, as well as drug use.
Psychedelic rock was pioneered by groups like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Grateful Dead. One of the most influential psychedelic rock musicians was Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was known for his wild showmanship and for his innovative guitar playing. He popularized the use of feedback and distortion, and made extensive use of effects pedals. Hendrix’s psychedelic rock style influenced many subsequent musicians, including Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, and Robbie Krieger.
Led Zeppelin and Psychedelic Rock
Led Zeppelin’s eponymous debut album established the band as one of the premier rock groups of the 1970s. Zeppelin’s sound was rooted in blues, but they took the genre in new and innovative directions. Perhaps their most significant contribution was their incorporation of elements of psychedelic rock into their music. Psychedelic rock had emerged in the mid-1960s as a youth-oriented subgenre that sought to replicate the mind-altering experience of drugs like LSD. Zeppelin would help to bring this style of music to a wider audience and inspire other bands to explore its possibilities.
Psychedelic rock is characterized by extended improvisation, trippy sound effects, and lyrics that often deal with themes of mind expansion and drug use. Led Zeppelin’s early songs like “Dazed and Confused” and “Whole Lotta Love” are prime examples of this style. The band would continue to experiment with psychedelic sounds on subsequent albums, particularly on 1971’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Today, Led Zeppelin is widely considered to be one of the most influential rock bands of all time, and their exploration of psychedelia helped to shape the sound of popular music in the 1970s and beyond.
