Episode 38: The Influence of Jazz on 70s Popular Music
PLAY LIST
Spinning Wheel by Blood Sweat and Tears (1969)
Saturday in the Park by Chicago (1972)
Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder (1976)
Deacon Blues by Steely Dan (1977)
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty (1978)
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Amy examines the influence of jazz on 70s popular music. Jazz itself had declined in popularity and some jazz musicians attributed that to the genre becoming too experimental. Rather than “entertaining” fans with music, jazz challenged fans and drove many toward rock as the “serious” fan’s genre. Still, jazz’s influence could be heard in bands such as Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago, who integrated the jazz sound — primarily using horns — with rock vocals. Other artists, such as Steely Dan and Gerry Rafferty, hinted at jazz with saxophone and guitar solos and a vibe that alluded to the jazz of 1920s and 1930s, even if the lyrics were complex and spoke to the discontent of broken dreams.
SOURCES
Caswell, Estelle, and Tyrice Hester. "Stevie Wonder's Irresistible Ode to Jazz, Explained." Vox. July 05, 2019. https://www.vox.com/2019/7/5/20677125/stevie-wonder-sir-duke-jacob-collier.
"A Chicago Story." Chicago. https://chicagotheband.com/a-chicago-story/.
Cook, Bruce. “Blood, Sweat, Tears–And Fame.” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY). March 8, 1970.
Duffy, Michael. "Aja." Rolling Stone. June 25, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/aja-204565/.
Felton, David. "Blood, Sweat & Tears Turn Backs On Communism." Rolling Stone. June 25, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/blood-sweat-tears-turn-backs-on-communism-166146/.
"Gerry Rafferty Was an Industry Misfit and One of Britain's Most Treasured Musicians." The Independent. August 31, 2021. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/gerry-rafferty-rest-in-blue-b1907781.html.
Kate Fillion August 30, 2010. "David Clayton-Thomas Talks about the Implosion of Blood Sweat and Tears." Macleans.ca. August 30, 2010. https://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/david-clayton-thomas-in-conversation-with-kate-fillion/.
Hillburn, Robert. “Rock Music’s Vegas Debut.” Evansville Press (Evansville, IN). February 1, 1970.
King, Bill. “When a Jazz Festival Isn’t a Jazz Festival.” Atlanta Constitution. June 11, 1977.
Lazare, Dan. “Musician’s Life Hard.” The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey.) September 17, 1977.
Myers, Marc. "How Steely Dan Created 'Deacon Blues'." The Wall Street Journal. September 10, 2015. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-steely-dan-created-deacon-blues-1441727645.
Songfacts. "David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears : Songwriter Interviews." Song Meanings at Songfacts. https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/david-clayton-thomas-of-blood-sweat-tears.
Staff, MPR News. "Stevie Wonder Honored Duke Ellington in a Song That Hit No. 1." MPR News. July 14, 2019. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/06/12/stevie-wonder-honored-duke-ellington-in-hit-song.
Sullivan, Steve. Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. United States: Scarecrow Press, 2013.
"THE RIGHT MOMENTS GERRY RAFFERTY." Record Collector Magazine. January 25, 2011. https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/the-right-moments-gerry-rafferty.