
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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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.
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.
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.
