| The end of the
decade saw two contrasting movements in pop music. On the one hand, musicians
sought to extend the production precedents set by the Beatles with multiple
tracking, electronic sounds, and numerous instrumental overdubs. On the
other hand, other musicians took a back-to-basics approach with an emphasis
on music that was performable in live contexts. The former became the
purview of eccentric individualists who wanted total control over their
recordings, producing exotic and complicated pastiches that could only
exist as recordings. The latter sought inspiration in communal interaction
and turned both to rock standards of the 50s (as well as earlier styles)
and to their own musicianship. |