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World War II to the Civil Rights Movement

Overview

A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos or the company that owns it. A record label can also refer to a publishing company that manages music brands and trademarks and coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos. Race labels, which began in the 1920s, were record companies that marketed African American music to Black listeners, such as Paramount Records, which labeled itself "The Popular Race Record" in marketing materials.

Be ready to:

Explain race record labels and describe how different aspects of radio affected the ability of Black musicians and disc jockeys to gain popularity.

Explain the importance of radio broadcasting, including the contingencies that affected diversity in music.

Explain the influence of licensing companies such as ASCAP and BMI on the dissemination of rhythm and blues and country music.

Describe the importance of tape recorders and jukeboxes to independent record companies.

Discuss the term "crossover" and how it became an effective tool to market African American music to mainstream society.

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Race Music 2 "Hound Dog"

Below is a comparison of Thornton's and Presley's recording of "Hound Dog."

Table 18.1: Comparison of Thornton's and Presley's recording of "Hound Dog"
Title: "Hound Dog" ♫ (1953) Performer: Willie Mae Thornton	Title: "Hound Dog" ♫ (1956) Performer: Elvis Presley
LYRICS The lyrics are metaphorically about a "man." Although she refers to him as a hound dog, with lines such as "Daddy I know, you ain't no real cool cat" and "you ain't lookin' for a woman, all you're lookin' for is a home," she is speaking about a man.	LYRICS The lyrics are about the animal "hound dog" and how it's no friend of Presley's because he's often crying, is not high class, and has never caught a rabbit.
INSTRUMENTATION Voice, guitar, piano, bass, and drums (and background singers in the recording) 01:29: Guitar solo and the singers improvisational provides	INSTRUMENTATION Voice, guitar, bass, and drums (and background singers in the recording) 00:50: Guitar solo and background singers 01:18: Guitar Solo and background singers
TEMPO Moderate (slightly slower than Presley's version)	TEMPO Moderately fast (faster than Thornton's version)
VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS Begins singing the song in a recitative manner with the guitar providing the accompaniment Sings with a full-throated and guttural sound production at times Three-line stanza (blues style)	VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS Sings with his natural voice, with some guttural sound production at times; Three-line stanza (blues style)
INSTRUMENT CHARACTERISTICS The drummer plays a Latin rhythm (there is no backbeat) The guitarist frequently plays a response to the singer's call The bassist plays in somewhat of a Latin style where he outlines certain pitches of each chord Twelve-bar blues progression	INSTRUMENT CHARACTERISTICS The drummer plays a strong backbeat (two and four) The guitarist occasionally plays a response to the singer's call The bassist plays in a Latin style where he outlines one-three-five pitches of each chord; Twelve-bar blues progression

Big Mama Thornton

The above comparison truly exemplifies the term crossover, as Presley's recording of "Hound Dog" was placed on three different markets, which, as discussed before, are associated with specific geographical areas, people of varied social-economic levels, and Black and White neighborhoods. The latter is significant here as it alludes to the broadcasting power of a given station. Of particular importance are the concepts of "local" versus "clear watt"A radio station able to broadcast to a wide audience, geographically speaking. stations. Local stations are just that; their broadcasting power is not broad and is centralized based on its demographics. In comparison, clear watt stations have substantial broadcasting power and thus can reach a vast audience nationwide.

Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog"

The lyrics are metaphorically about a "man," Although she refers to him as a hound dog, with lines such as "Daddy I know, you ain't no real cool cat" and "you ain't lookin' for a woman, all you're lookin' for is a home" she is speaking about a man.

Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog"

The lyrics are about the animal "hound dog" and how it's no friend of Presley's because he's often crying, is not high class, and has never caught a rabbit.