METROPOLITAN MUSEUM PROVIDES FREE ACCESS TO 400,000 IMAGES

The Metropolitan Museum has just announced that more than 400,000 high-resolution digital images of public domain works in the Museum’s world-renowned collection may be downloaded directly from the Museum’s website for non-commercial use—including in scholarly publications in any media—without permission from the Museum and without a fee. The number of available images will increase as new digital files are added on a regular basis. In making the announcement, Mr. Campbell said: “Through this new, open-access policy, we join a growing number of museums that provide free access to images of art in the public domain. I am delighted that digital technology can open the doors to this trove of images from our encyclopedic collection.”

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History of Rock Music- An Overview PART II

1970's in Rock

The Beatles break up in 1970, but all four members continue to impact the decade with successful solo careers. The early seventies are marked by the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison who all die at the age of 27. Pyschedelic music declines, but morphs into hard rock, progressive rock and heavy metal. Touring bands move from playing clubs and theaters, to playing sports arenas. 

Big time bands, many of them formed in the '60's, such as the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Grand Funk and Led Zeppelin travel in private jets and play to thousands in arenas and outdoor stadiums.

A clear distinction emerges between Top 40 radio and FM album oriented rock radio stations. Car stereos become common, first with FM stereo radio, then 8-Track tapes, followed by cassette tapes.

This diversity of music distribution channels, along with an expanding market allows for a wide variety of new rock styles to emerge. The early seventies are dominated by singer songwriters and soft rock. Glam or Glitter Rock shines briefly in the first half of the seventies. Live albums are popular, with huge hits for Rare Earth, Peter Frampton, and Kiss. Reggae moves out of Jamaica to become a world wide genre. Disco dominates the radio and dance floors in the late seventies. Punk rock, a throwback to sixties garage rock, emerges in the late seventies as a reaction to arena rock, progressive rock and disco. Punk becomes New Wave as bands move beyond guitars and drums, and begin incorporating synthesizers.

Elvis Presley dies in 1977 at age 42. Huge crowds begin flocking to his Memphis home, Graceland.

 1970's Top 50 Best Selling Singles  Worldwide: 

  1 Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water - 1970

  2 Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - 1977

  3 Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever - 1978

  4 Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon - 1973

  5 Led Zeppelin - Four Symbols (Led Zeppelin 4) - 1971

  6 Pink Floyd - The Wall - 1979

  7 Eagles - Hotel California - 1976

  8 The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers - 1971

 9 Grease: The Original Soundtrack - 1978

10 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 1975

11 Neil Young - Harvest - 1972

12 John Lennon - Imagine - 1971

13 The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street - 1972

14 Supertramp - Breakfast In America - 1979

15 Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life - 1976

16 Carole King - Tapestry - 1971

17 The Beatles - Let It Be - 1970

18 Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy - 1973

19 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1973

20 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja Vu - 1970

21 Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin 3 - 1970

22 Michael Jackson - Off The Wall - 197923 Wings - Band On The Run - 1974

24 Queen - A Night At The Opera - 1975

25 George Harrison - All Things Must Pass - 1970

26 Deep Purple - Machine Head - 1972

27 Santana - Abraxas - 1970

28 Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - 1975

29 Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell - 1977

30 The Who - Who's Next - 1971

31 Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run - 1975

32 Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks - 1975

33 Bob Dylan - Desire - 1976

34 The Beatles  - The Beatles 1967-1970 - 1973

35 Abba - Arrival - 1976

36 Billy Joel - 52nd Street - 1978

37 Janis Joplin - Pearl - 1971

38 Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar - 1971

39 The Beatles - The Beatles 1962-1966 - 1973

40 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory - 1970

41 Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown - 1979

42 Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story - 1971

43 Elton John Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy 1975

44 The Rolling Stones - Some Girls - 1978

45 Black Sabbath - Paranoid - 1970

46 Cat Stevens - Teaser & The Firecat - 1971

47 Eagles - The Long Run - 1979

48 The Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bullocks, Here's The Sex Pistols - 1977

49 Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits - 1972

50 Rod Stewart - Blondes Have More Fun - 1979 

1980's in Rock 

John Lennon is shot to death by a fan in 1980 just as he was coming back into the public eye with a new album. MTV (Music Television) is launched on 300 cable TV systems in 1981. By 1983 MTV is available on 2,000 cable systems. VH1 is launched in 1984 with a more classic rock format.The prevalance of music videos as a 24/7 marketing tool

is influential in bringing numerous new bands and music styles into the mainstream, including a resurgence in heavy metal, synthpop, new wave, rap and hip hop. The number of successful female artists, across many genres, is reflected in singles and album sales. Records and concerts to benefit charity are supported by many rock music artists. These include Band Aid, We Are The World, plus the Live Aid and Farm Aid concerts. 

1980's Top 50 Best Selling Singles  Worldwide:

  1   Michael Jackson - Thriller - 1982

  2   Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms - 1985

  3   U2 - The Joshua Tree - 1987

  4   Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA - 1984

  5   Michael Jackson - Bad - 1987

  6   Prince - Purple Rain - 1984

  7   The Police - Synchronicity - 1983

  8   Paul Simon - Graceland - 1986

  9   Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston - 1986

10   Phil Collins - No Jacket Required - 1985

11   Guns n' Roses - Appetite For Destruction - 1987

12   Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down - 1983

13   George Michael - Faith - 1987

14   Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet - 1986

15   Original Soundtrack - Dirty Dancing - 1987

16   Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman - 1988

17   Def Leppard - Hysteria - 1987

18   AC/DC - Back In Black - 1980

19   Madonna - True Blue - 1986

20   U2 - Rattle & Hum - 1988

21   Whitney Houston - Whitney - 1987

22   John Lennon - Double Fantasy - 1980

23   Madonna - Like A Prayer - 1989

24   Original Soundtrack - Flashdance - 1983

25   Phil Collins - ... But Seriously - 1989

26   Madonna - Like A Virgin - 1984

27   Prince - Sign 'O' The Times - 1987

28   Culture Club - Colour By Numbers - 1983

29   Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair - 1985

30   The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You - 1981

31   Bryan Adams - Reckless - 1985

32   Peter Gabriel - So - 1986

33   Barbra Streisand - Guilty - 1980

34   Bruce Springsteen - The River - 1980

35   Men At Work - Business As Usual - 1982

36   Paul McCartney - Tug Of War - 1982

37   The Police - Ghost In The Machine - 1981

38   Bob Marley - Legend, The Best Of Bob Marley - 1984

39   Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love - 1987

40   The Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill - 1986

41   Phil Collins - Face Value - 1981

42   Sting - The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - 1985

43   Original Soundtrack - Footloose - 1984

44   Sting - ...Nothing Like The Sun - 1987

45   U2 - The Unforgettable Fire - 1984

46   Toto - Toto IV - 1982

47   David Bowie - Let's Dance - 1983

48   Wham! - Make It Big - 1984

49   Fine Young Cannibals - The Raw & The Cooked - 1989

50   Roxy Music - Avalon - 1982

1990's in Rock

Alternative Rock and it's sub-genres Grunge and Pop Punk expand in popularity and ironically, explode into the mainstream during the 1990's. Major labels begin luring independent bands away from small record labels. These artists are resistant to the demands of big record companies and unwilling to change styles to reach a mass market audience. Nevertheless, many alternative bands, including REM, The Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Smiths and grunge bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden,  Pearl Jam and others find success with mainstream audiences.

Another alternative to radioplay and traditional mainstream success is the rise in Jam Bands influenced by the Grateful Dead. Noted for cross genre improvisation and extended jams, bands such as Phish, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, and Widespread Panic rely on album sales and live concerts.

Heavy metal morphs into new sub-genres such as rap metal or rapcore, nu metal and industrial metal. Electronic music continues to change as well, with techno and house splitting into new styles including trance, drums & bass, trip-hop and eurodance. In the 90's Hip-Hop continues to expand in inluence and grow in diversity. 

With huge growth in sales, radio airplay and overall success for artists like NWA, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Salt n' Pepa, Ice T, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Tupac Shakur, Cypress Hill and many others.

Pop and teen-pop continue to appeal to a younger radio audience with the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 Degrees, Hanson and The Spice Girls having major success. Late in the decade female teen pop artists ascend with major hits by Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears. Contemporary R&B also scores big on the pop charts especially for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, TLC, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and Boys II Men.

In the UK the term BritPop is coined as new bands Oasis and Blur battle for the top of the charts. Singer / Songwriters enjoy a resurgence especially for female artists like Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Jewel, Natalie Merchant and Sheryl Crow.

Advancements in computers and software allow for digital music creation and recording on home computers. The internet and sound compression allow for digital distribution of music, often bypassing the need for a major label album release.

 1990's Top 50 Best Selling Singles  Worldwide:

  1   Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

  2   Nirvana - Nevermind

  3   Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard

  4   Metallica - Metallica

  5   Santana - Supernatural

  6   REM - Automatic For The People

  7   U2 - Achtung Baby

  8   Celine Dion - Falling Into You

  9   Eric Clapton - Unplugged

10   Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

11   Spice Girls - Spice

12   The Fugees - The Score

13   Shania Twain - Come On Over

14   Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love

15   Radiohead - OK Computer

16   REM - Out Of Time

17   Sinead O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

18   Mariah Carey - Daydream

19   Celine Dion & James Horner - Titanic

20   Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion II

21   Mariah Carey - Music Box

22   Pearl Jam - Ten

23   Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill

24   The Backstreet Boys - Millennium

25   Michael Jackson - Dangerous

26   Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

27   Michael Jackson - History - Past, Present & Future

28   The Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness

29   No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom

30   Madonna - Ray Of Light

31   Nirvana - In Utero

32   The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land

33   Nirvana - Unplugged In New York

34   Celine Dion -  All The Way... A Decade Of Songs

35   Britney Spears - Baby One More Time

36   Pearl Jam - Vs

37   U2 - Zooropa

38   Abba - Gold, Greatest Hits

39   Green Day - Dookie

40   Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

41   Metallica - Load

42   Pink Floyd - The Division Bell

43   Madonna - The Immaculate Collection

44   Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell II, Back Into Hell

45   Bon Jovi - Crossroad - The Best Of Bon Jovi

46   Ricky Martin - Ricky Martin

47   MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em

48   Bryan Adams - Waking Up The Neighbours

49   REM - Monster

50   Bryan Adams - So Far So Good 

Read Part I here

Sources and References :

https://www.coursera.org/course/historyofrock1

http://rockmusic.mu/classic-rock-music.html

www.michaeljackson.com/

http://www.rockmusictimeline.com/1970s.html

www.queenonline.com/‎

www.rollingstone.com

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/ryanfze/top_50_rock_bands_of_all_time/

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History of Rock Music- An Overview PART I

1950's in Rock

  In the early 1950's new recording technologies such as the 45 RPM single, the 33 and 1/3 RPM long playing album, 45 RPM jukeboxes, along with solid body electric guitars, and electric bass guitars emerge. The rapid adaptation of these new technologies change the way people create and listen to music. An equally important convergence occurs in what people are listening to on the radio and jukeboxes, along with the records they are buying. White teenagers begin listening to and buying traditionally black music such as Rhythm & Blues. This cross-current of musical styles and influences - blues, boogie, jazz, gospel, R&B vocal groups, and country begins influencing the music created by both black and white musicians. The new music style is eventually given a name - Rock and Roll.

By 1953 and 1954 hit songs from the R&B Charts begin to cross over to the Top 40 Pop Charts, then dominated by more staid recording artists such as Doris Day, Mitch Miller, Percy Faith, Nat King Cole, Frankie Laine, Rosemary Clooney and others.

Pioneering radio stations such as WJW in Cleveland, Ohio capitalize on the shifting styles with new programs such as Alan Freed's Moondog Show. Freed plays R&B hits, but aims his show beyond the traditional black audience for R&B, and gains a wide audience of white and black teenagers.

In 1953, Bill Haley and His Comets are the first to hit the pop charts with a rock and roll song, taking their single "Crazy Man Crazy" to #12. Black R&B artists such as Doo Wop group the Orioles cross-over to the pop charts in 1953 with their R&B hit "Crying in the Chapel". More cross-over hits from black R&B artists such as Fats Domino and The Platters climb the pop charts. White artists such as Pat Boone, The Crewcuts and Georgia Gibbs find success covering R&B hits and turning them into hits on the pop charts. 

Independent record labels such as Sun (Memphis), Ace (Jackson, MS), Vee-Jay (Gary, IN), Chess (Chicago), Specialty Records (Los Angeles) and many other labels are quick to pick up on the opportunity and begin to release Rock and Roll records from newly signed artists.

In 1955 rock and roll has it's first nationwide #1 hit when Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" tops the Pop Charts. Although considered a novelty or fad by most, rock proves it's staying power. In 1955 black R&B artists Little Richard and Chuck Berry score significant Pop hits. Scouts from RCA records, looking to sign their own rock and roll performer, buy out the contract of Memphis singer Elvis Presley from regional label Sun Records. 

In January 1956 Elvis Presley tops the Pop Charts with his first RCA single release "Heartbreak Hotel". By the end of the year he would be the first artist ever to have nine singles in the Hot 100 at one time. By 1957 rock and roll artists dominate the popular music charts and in 1959 rock and roll records account for 43% of all records sold.

The end of the decade is marked by tragedy as a February 1959 plane crash takes the lives of rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.

 1950's Top 50 Best Selling Singles  Worldwide:

1   Bill Haley & his Comets - Rock Around the Clock - 1955
  2   Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock - 1957
  3   Jo Stafford - You Belong to Me - 1952
  4   Doris Day Que sera sera (Whatever will be will be) - 1956
  5   Rocco Granata - Marina - 1959
  6   The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley - 1958
  7   Anton Karas - Third Man Theme - 1950
  8   Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife - 1959
  9   Al Martino - Here in My Heart - 1952
10   Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa - 1950
11   Teresa Brewer (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music! - 1950
12   Patti Page - Tennessee Waltz - 1950
13   Les Paul & Mary Ford Vaya Con Dios (may God Be With You) - 1953
14   Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill - 1956
15   Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire - 1957
16   The Chordettes - Mister Sandman - 1954
17   Nat King Cole - Too Young - 1951
18   Vera Lynn - Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart - 1952
19   Doris Day - Secret Love - 1954
20   Elvis Presley - Hound Dog - 1956
21   Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons - 1955
22   Nat King Cole - Unforgettable - 1951
23   The Crew-Cuts Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream) - 1954
24   The Platters - Only You (And You Alone) - 1955
25   Paul Anka - Diana - 1957
26   Tony Bennett - Stranger in Paradise - 1953
27   The Platters - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - 1959
28   Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel - 1956
29   Johnnie Ray - Cry - 1951
30   Perez Prado Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White - 1955
31   Perry Como Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - 1953
32   Harry Belafonte - Banana Boat Song - 1957
33   Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel - 1956
34   Domenico Modugno - Volare - 1958
35   Elvis Presley - All Shook Up - 1957
36   Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean a Lot - 1954
37   Pat Boone - Love Letters in the Sand - 1957
38   Dean Martin - Memories Are Made of This - 1956
39   The Kalin Twins - When - 1958
40   Frankie Avalon - Venus - 1959
41   The Platters - The Great Pretender - 1956
42   Doris Day - Bewitched (bothered & bewildered) - 1950
43   Phil Harris - The Thing - 1950
44   Four Aces - Love is a Many Splendoured Thing - 1955
45   Rosemary Clooney - Hey There - 1954
46   The Diamonds - Little Darlin' - 1957
47   Patti Page How Much is That Doggy in the Window? - 1953
48   Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You - 1953
49   Guy Mitchell - Singing The Blues - 1956
50   Elvis Presley  (Now & then There's) A Fool Such As I - 1959

1960's in Rock

In the sixties rock music comes of age and totally owns the popular music charts. Elvis Presley continues to score hits in the early part of the decade. But the music continues to diversify with the folk revival, the Brill Building sound, Phil Spector's wall of sound, girl groups and surf music, all impacting the early part of the decade. The Motown, Stax and Atlantic labels bring more african-american artists back to the forefront of the pop charts. 
By 1964 American artistsare sharing the top of the charts with U.K. bands led by the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In the U.S. garage bands emerge, inspired by the British Invasion sound.
Sixties song writing moves beyond pop love songs and begins to include social consciousness and political statements. In the latter half of the decade psychedelic music reflects the growing hippie culture. Bubblegum music is created to generate radio friendly pop singles.
 Album sales begin to gain importance, as a harder rock sound emerges and sows the seeds for heavy metal.
In the sixties, television becomes a major force in rock music as networks try to attract a younger audience. American Bandstand continues with it's afternoon, clean-cut, teen idol format, while the Ed Sullivan Show and other TV variety shows begin showcasing rock bands in prime time. The networks also add the weekly prime time shows Shindig and Hullabaloo featuring dancers and new music for teenage fans.
In the late sixties outdoor rock music festivals begin. First with 1967's Monterey Pop Festival which attracts 55,000 fans to a three day concert. In the summer of 1969 the Woodstock Music and Art Fair draws 500,000 people to a three day concert in Bethel, New York.
The Beatles dominate the sixties record charts with 6 of the top 10 albums of the decade and 21 of the decades' top 100 singles. Their nearest competitor is Elvis Presley with 9 of the decades' top 100 singles and 4 of the decades' top 100 albums.

1960's Top 50 Best Selling Singles  Worldwide:

  1   The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1967

  2   The Beatles - Abbey Road - 1969

  3   The Beatles - Revolver - 1966

  4   The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album) - 1968

  5   Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin 2 - 1969

  6   The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 1965

  7   The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night - 1964

  8   Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story - 1962

  9   The Doors - The Doors - 1967

10   The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed - 1969

11   The Beatles - Help! - 1965

12   Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? - 1967

13   Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited - 1965

14   Richard Rodgers - The Sound Of Music - 1965

15   The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - 1966

16   Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland - 1968

17   Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde - 1966

18   Original Cast - Hair - 1969

19   Cream - Disraeli Gears - 1967

20   The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet - 1968

21   The Beatles - Beatles For Sale - 1965

22   Bob Newhart

      The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart - 1960

23   Ray Charles

      Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music - 1962

24   Maurice Jarre - Doctor Zhivago - 1966

25   The Rolling Stones - Aftermath - 1966

26   Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz & Gilberto - 1964

27   The Beatles - With The Beatles - 1963

28   The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour - 1968

29   Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home - 1965

30   The Beatles - Meet The Beatles! - 1964

31   Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin - 1969

32   John Coltrane - Love Supreme - 1964

33   The Who - Tommy - 1969

34   Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963

35   Herb Alpert - Going Places - 1966

36   Simon & Garfunkel - The Graduate - 1968

37   The Monkees - More Of The Monkees - 1967

38   Judy Garland - Judy At Carnegie Hall - 1961

39   The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones - 1964

40   Bob Dylan - John Wesley Harding - 1968

41   Blood Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears - 1969

42   Elvis Presley - Blue Hawaii - 1961

43   The Monkees - The Monkees - 1967

44   Cream - Wheels of Fire - 1968

45   Disney - Mary Poppins - 1965

46   Herb Alpert - What Now My Love - 1966

47   Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash At San Quentin - 1969

48   The Doors - Waiting For The Sun - 1968

49   The Band - The Band - 1969

50   The Velvet Underground & Nico 1967

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The Oldest Selfie Picture captured in 1900 with Kodak Box Brownie camera

Photographic Self-portraits have existed in a less persistent form roughly since the debut of the portable Kodak Brownie box camera in 1900.The method was usually by mirror and stabilizing the camera either on a nearby object or on a tripod while framing via a viewfinder at the top of the box.
From the grim-faced Edwardian woman in her patterned dress to the unsmiling visage of photographer Robert Cornelius, the world's oldest selfies are a surprisingly joyless bunch.

From the grim-faced Edwardian woman in her patterned dress to the unsmiling visage of photographer Robert Cornelius, the world's oldest selfies are a surprisingly joyless bunch.

Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna at the age of 13 was one of the first teenagers to take her own picture using a mirror to send to a friend in 1914. she said "I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling.

Modern selfies are just for fun. here is one of the most controversial selfie picture of the 2013.

"Selfie" officially became the Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year 2013.


Refrences:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://www.openculture.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

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