History of Rock and Roll Questions With
Solutions 100% Correct
Howlin' Wolf, "Smokestack Lightnin'" (1956) Mississippi Delta style blues; based on
trains he saw when he was younger, themes include trains and migration; used amplification,
harmonica, 1 chord, 1 riff, "howling" vocals
Jean Ritchie, "Barbara Allen" (1961) originally a 17th century Scottish ballad; a "hillbilly"
song, about ill-fated lovers; 1960s folk revival
The Carter Family, "Can the Circle Be Unbroken" (1935) hillbilly/country song; has
religious context, close vocal harmony - sacred harp/shape note singing; known for "Carter
Scratch;" form is verse/chorus; image of the band tended to be serious and quiet
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, "New San Antonio Rose" (1938) western swing with
influences from country, blues, swing, big band, Tejano. Uses strings, guitar, big band, trumpets
(mariachi sound); has Tin Pan Alley form. Big band leaders tended to not sing and instead led the
band, which was the case in this song.
Jimmie Rodgers, "Waitin' On a Train" (1928) country + western (eventually); singer was a
brakeman working on trains, style included blues, jazz, vaudeville, yodeling. The form is
, History of Rock and Roll Questions With
Solutions 100% Correct
strophic (same form every time). The singer presented himself as having a "rambler" persona
(wanderer, hard-living, authentic), known for blues yodels
Hank William, Sr. "Move It On Over" (1947) country; 12 bars blues, Jimmie Rodgers-
style rambler persona. His life played out the theme of alienation and he died at 29; sounded
older than he was, utilizes a guitar solo. Fusion between vocals (smooth/nasal), urbanizing, also
rural; drums are featured in song); the lyrics line up with the hard living rambler persona;
compare to Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock"
Kitty Wells, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels" (1952) country; singer
possessed a sweetheart persona; answer song to Hank Thompson's "Wild Side of Life." Country
women did not have much choice for a persona - girl next door or sweetheart were their main
choices.
Johnny Cash, "I Walk the Line" (1956) country; possessed a persona of contradiction
(rambler), emphasized "simplicity," lyrics of song address marital fidelity, has a train motif and
blues crossover elements
Louis Armstrong, "West End Blues" (1928) jazz; written by his mentor, the recording
includes the artist and his Hot 5, Earl Hines plays the piano, 12 bar blues form, emphasizes
