Rock N Roll as the First Draft Of History
We begin in the midwest college town of Kent, Ohio, in the late spring of 1970. We’ll meet three future rockers--students at Kent State University, barely out of their teens--who will be changed forever by what they witness. We’ll check in on Motown, where the fluffy pop “Sound of Young America” is still alive, but there's a big change coming, a movement towards a tougher, more topical sound. We’ll foreshadow that just a little--lots more to come in a later chapter. Rock N Roll is now Rock, and it is mainstreamed now, big and getting bigger. It set out to subvert the dominant paradigm, now it is the dominant paradigm. It can be downright paradoxical at times; defined by its own contradictions. We come back to the campus for the shattering events of May 4th. They inspire a unique musical response, something we really haven’t seen since then.
Written by Richard Evans and Christian Swain
Hosted and Produced by Christian Swain
Sound Design by Jerry Danielsen
Voice Actors
Holly Cantos as the voice of the Kent State Official History
Dr. Stephen Arnoff as the voice of Prof. Charles Reich
James O’Laughlin as the voice of Jimmy McDonaugh
Eric Nash as the voice of Kevin C. Smith
David Browne as the voice of David Browne
Songs
Randy Newman: “Burn On” from Sail Away, 1972
James Gang: “Funk 48” from Yer’ Album, 1969
The Stooges: “1970” from Fun House, 1970
Rare Earth: “Hey Big Brother” single released in 1970
Graham Nash: “Chicago” from Songs for Beginners, 1971
Edwin Starr: “War” from War & Peace, 1970
Eric Burdon and War: “Spill The Wine” from Eric Burdon Declares War, 1970
Frank Zappa and The Mothers: “Nanook Rubs It” from Apostrophe, 1974
John Lennon and the Plastic Ono: “Working Class Hero” from Plastic Ono Band, 1970
Jackson 5: “I Want You Back” Single released in 1969
Marvin Gaye: “Inner City Blues” from What’s Goin’ On, 1971
War: “Slippin’ Into Darkness” from All Day Music, 1971
CSN&Y: “Carry On” from Deja Vu, 1970
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown” from Tonight’s the Night, 1974
Neil Young: ”The Needle And The Damage Done” from Harvest, 1972
Elton John: “Burn Down The Mission” from Tumbleweed Connection, 1970
Ten Years After: “I’d Love To Change The World” from A Space In Time, 1970
CSN&Y: “Find The Cost Of Freedom” single released in 1970
CSN&Y: “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” from Four Way Street, 1971
CSN&Y: “Ohio” single released in 1970
Led Zeppelin: “What Is And What Should Never Be” from Led Zeppelin II, 1969
Books
David Browne: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Bob Burroughs: Days of Rage
Robert Giles: When Truth Mattered
Todd Gitlin: The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage
Chrissie Hynde: Reckless: My Life as a Pretender
Jimmy McDonough: Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography
Rick Perlstein: Nixonland
Charles Reich: The Greening of America
Neil Sheehan: A Bright Shining Lie
Kevin C. Smith: Recombo DNA
Hunter S. Thompson: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Online Sources
The Cuyahoga River
James Gang on Tour
Port Huron Statement
Jerry Casale at Kent State
Kent State University Official History
More Resources on the The Kent State Massacre
Assassination of Fred Hampton
Assassination of Fred Hampton--Gov’t Docs
Podcasts
WTF With Marc Maron: Episode 942, interview with Joe Walsh
Deeper Digs in Rock With Christian Swain: Interview with David Browne
Films and Documentaries
The Murder of Fred Hampton, Directed by Howard Alk, 1971
This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
@PantheonPods
Listen in HD only at www.rocknrollarchaeology.com
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