Episode 20: Ohio

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices