Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock-and-roll

by David P. Szatmary

Rockin' in Time intrigues students by providing a social history of Rock and Roll music and explaining its influence. This book was written to address an area that seldom has been discussed. Rather than a compellation of the many bands in rock history or a guide to teach the musical notation of rock, this book uncovers the reasons for the various trends and types of rock and roll. It places rock and roll in the context of the social issues that surround and shape it, dealing with the influence on rock music of such trends as technological advances, the development of the music business, demographic change and the baby boom, economic shifts, and the civil rights movement.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Reference, College, Textbooks, School

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

Reviews

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the history of rock and roll. I especially like the beginning chapters, although I think the author copped out later when he got closer to the present day. There's much more he could have said.

[Kristen Flock-Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book my husband read for a grad school course. So I knew it would veer academical, and it definitely feels like something that would benefit with a lecture to supplement some details. The book goes quickly at times, using just a paragraph to describe an artist/band, and most of the information presented is what spot their albums/singles reached on the charts. I was left with the impression that Rock and Roll is a fundamentally commercial endeavor (depressing) and super male dominated (not surprising). I also found it interesting that the focus was on the US and UK (with some mention of Germany), though I wasn't expecting this to be a global narrative anyways. But it does make me curious what parallel movements were happening elsewhere.

[Aaron Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to get a great understanding on the progression on how Rock N' Roll came to be, this book will do wonders. I enjoyed seeing how various music genres influenced the creation of new ones. Does it leave some artists and facts out? yes, however, I don't think it takes away from the timeline it is trying to establish.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very thorough, well-written introduction to the history of rock. I learned a lot of new and interesting things, relating to aspects of rock history I'd never considered before, and it was all written very accessibly in an easy to understand manner. It's a great start for anyone looking to learn more about music history.

[John Licari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the narrative and the social context, but I do feel like there were many errors. Some very small, like album titles wrong, or the incorrect years for albums. A little sloppy in that sense.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an historical look at the social backdrop behind the various eras in rock and roll. It looks like a book that wouldn't have much substance (something about the way it is published just makes it seem cartoonish rather than academic), but it is really very good. The parts that are best relate to the aspects of the political, social, and economic factors that drive change, interwoven with the technical advances that contributed to the changes in rock and roll over time. I have never studied the history of music, but I have been alive through much of the time that rock has been around, so it was particularly enlightening to me just how things link with each other, and how genres of music rise and fall over time. Very well worth the time to read if you are interested in music, and goes all the way up to the 21st century when things like Spotify and straming music may make things like the album cover a complete historical phenomenon rather than the pop art of our time.

[Heather Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it was being used as the textbook in a course I was taking. Initially I found it interesting to read, but as the class (and my readings) progressed, I found that some of the text seemed dated, while other sections had actual factual errors. Being dated I could understand: as the music industry continues to evolve many "current opinions" are obsolete within weeks of being published. By the 7th edition, however, I would expect the factual errors to have been caught and corrected. Their presence lowered my opinion of this book significantly.

[Kristi Michele Nogueira]

I read this for "The History of Rock and Roll Music" at Portland State University. I used it to discuss the use of psychedelic drugs in creating a generation gap between people coming of age in the late 1960s (the hippies, stoners, etc) versus those who were just beginning to raise families during that time and were more influenced by the stilted ideals of the previous generation.

[Judith]

I'm not going to rate it, because I didn't finish it. It is actually a textbook and reads a bit like that - pretty dense. I found it interesting, but too slow for me to enjoy in my limited reading time.

[curtis]

There's nothin' like an axe in your hands.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this book for class and it was really interesting. It was awesome to learn about some of my favorite artists and the roles they played in our country. Very eye-opening.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible for all my rock and roll knowledge.

[Elaine]

page 75

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

History of Rock n Roll, Winter quarter Freshman Year

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not overly impressed... an attempt to add some social perspective to r&r history. Succeeds sometimes, sometimes, especially the later chapters, seems forced.

[Chantal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting... but it basically took me two years to get through it... Not sure how much i will retain.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the history of Rock. Some key artists should have gotten more print, but not every book will please it's readers.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book. Rocked my mind and gave me a whole new appreciation for music.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced survey history of rock n roll and society

[Ojo Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some errors, but a good socio-political history of rock. I use it in my HIstory of Rock class.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from beginning to end!