A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

Song 177: “Never Learn Not to Love” by the Beach Boys, Part 4: “Sometimes I Have A Great Notion”

Mar 22, 2025
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INSIGHT

Lead Belly and the Communists

  • Lead Belly was embraced by communists who were explicitly anti-racist.
  • He wrote "Bourgeois Blues" after experiencing intense racism in Washington D.C.
INSIGHT

Questioning Authorship

  • A single sentence in Jeff Todd Titon's book sparked doubt about Lead Belly's authorship of "Bourgeois Blues."
  • This highlights the impact of white ethnomusicologists on perceptions of Black music.
ANECDOTE

Manson's Musical Aspirations

  • Charles Manson's main motivation was to become a rock star.
  • He networked with celebrities like Dennis Wilson, Neil Young, and Neil Diamond.
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