Folk rock developed in the mid-1960s as a fusion of musical elements from folk and rock. From folk, it adopted lyrics with a serious social message, close vocal harmonising, and tuneful melodies; from rock, it took the use of electric instruments, ostinato bass lines, and a highly-emphasised backbeat. Purists were put off by this fusion: folk purists disliked the commercialism and loudness of rock, while rock purists disliked the preaching social messages of folk. However, the new musical style eventually created its own faithful audience.
Most authorities agree that the first folk rock song is the Byrds’ recording of Bob DYLAN’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” released in March 1965. The song was also the first folk rock song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart on June 26, 1965. On the other hand, some would argue that folk rock actually began with the release of Dylan’s fifth album, Bringing It All Back Home, in February 1965. This was the first album on which Dylan, previously considered a folksinger, set his socially conscious lyrics to the sound of electric instruments. In July 1965, Dylan performed at the Newport Folk Festival backed by the Butterfield Blues Band. They were booed offstage by the disgusted purist folk audience, and denounced by many traditional folk musicians.
The Byrds…Jim McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, and Chris Hillman…formed in 1964 from various Californian folk and blues groups. They released their first album, Mr. Tambourine Man, in 1965. It was strongly influenced by the folk music of Bob Dylan. Their second album, Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965), was also influenced by Dylan and featured an electrified version of folk singer Pete Seeger’s “Turn Turn Turn,” with lyrics adapted from the Bible. Characteristics of the group’s style are the emphasis on electric guitars, including solos by McGuinn on an electric 12-string guitar; close vocal harmonies; heavy backbeat on drums and tambourine; and the light, high lead vocals of Gene Clark. Although the Byrds officially disbanded in 1970, several folk rock groups were formed later by various ex-Byrds, including Crosby, Stills and Nash, Manassas, Souther-Hillman-Furay, and the Flying Burrito Brothers.
A wide range of artists and personal styles are considered to come under the banner of folk rock, including Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and Young), whose most satisfying works include the albums Crosby, Stills, and Nash (1969) and Déjà vu (1970); the Lovin’ Spoonful; the Mamas and the Papas; and the Turtles.
Other popular folk rock figures were Simon and Garfunkel, who hit the No. 1 spot with “The Sounds of Silence” (1966), “Mrs. Robinson” (1968), and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970); The Band, who were Dylan’s backing band in the 1960s and then had a successful career recording such classics as “The Weight” (1968), and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” (1969); the Californian group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, who had a number of successful Top 10 hits including “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Green River” (all 1969); the Scottish singer Donovan; and the British band Jethro Tull.
Besides maintaining the intrinsic folk rock style to the present day, folk rock groups also influenced the development of country rock groups in the 1970s.
Steve Valdez
SEE ALSO:
BLUES; FOLK MUSIC; ROCK MUSIC.
Clifford, M. ed. The Harmony Encyclopedia of Rock
(New York: Harmony Books, 1992);
Nelson, P. “Folk Rock” from
The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock’n’roll
(New York: Random House, 1992).
The Band: The Best of the Band;
The Byrds: Greatest Hits-, Bob Dylan:
Blonde on Blonde; Bringing It All Back Home;
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young:
Déjà vu; Simon and Garfunkel:
Greatest Hits ; The Sounds of Silence ;
Neil Young: Decade.