Rock N Roll as the First Draft Of History
We begin in the midwest college town of Kent, Ohio, in the late spring of 1970. We’ll meet three future rockers--students at Kent State University, barely out of their teens--who will be changed forever by what they witness. We’ll check in on Motown, where the fluffy pop “Sound of Young America” is still alive, but there's a big change coming, a movement towards a tougher, more topical sound. We’ll foreshadow that just a little--lots more to come in a later chapter. Rock N Roll is now Rock, and it is mainstreamed now, big and getting bigger. It set out to subvert the dominant paradigm, now it is the dominant paradigm. It can be downright paradoxical at times; defined by its own contradictions. We come back to the campus for the shattering events of May 4th. They inspire a unique musical response, something we really haven’t seen since then.  
Written by Richard Evans and Christian Swain
Hosted and Produced by Christian Swain
Sound Design by Jerry Danielsen
Voice Actors

Holly Cantos as the voice of the Kent State Official History

Dr. Stephen Arnoff as the voice of Prof. Charles Reich

James O’Laughlin as the voice of Jimmy McDonaugh

Eric Nash as the voice of Kevin C. Smith

David Browne as the voice of David Browne


Songs

Randy Newman: “Burn On” from Sail Away, 1972

James Gang: “Funk 48” from Yer’ Album, 1969

The Stooges: “1970” from Fun House, 1970

Rare Earth: “Hey Big Brother” single released in 1970

Graham Nash: “Chicago” from Songs for Beginners, 1971

Edwin Starr: “War” from War & Peace, 1970

Eric Burdon and War: “Spill The Wine” from Eric Burdon Declares War, 1970 

Frank Zappa and The Mothers: “Nanook Rubs It” from Apostrophe, 1974

John Lennon and the Plastic Ono: “Working Class Hero” from Plastic Ono Band, 1970

Jackson 5: “I Want You Back” Single released in 1969

Marvin Gaye: “Inner City Blues” from What’s Goin’ On, 1971

War: “Slippin’ Into Darkness” from All Day Music, 1971

CSN&Y: “Carry On” from Deja Vu, 1970

Neil Young & Crazy Horse: “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown” from Tonight’s the Night, 1974

Neil Young: ”The Needle And The Damage Done” from Harvest, 1972

Elton John: “Burn Down The Mission” from Tumbleweed Connection, 1970

Ten Years After: “I’d Love To Change The World” from A Space In Time, 1970

CSN&Y: “Find The Cost Of Freedom” single released in 1970

CSN&Y: “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” from Four Way Street, 1971

CSN&Y: “Ohio” single released in 1970

Led Zeppelin: “What Is And What Should Never Be” from Led Zeppelin II, 1969


Books

David Browne: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Bob Burroughs: Days of Rage

Robert Giles: When Truth Mattered

Todd Gitlin: The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage

Chrissie Hynde: Reckless: My Life as a Pretender

Jimmy McDonough: Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography

Rick Perlstein: Nixonland

Charles Reich: The Greening of America

Neil Sheehan: A Bright Shining Lie

Kevin C. Smith: Recombo DNA

Hunter S. Thompson: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas


Online Sources


The Cuyahoga River

James Gang on Tour

Port Huron Statement

Jerry Casale at Kent State

Kent State University Official History

More Resources on the The Kent State Massacre

Assassination of Fred Hampton

Assassination of Fred Hampton--Gov’t Docs


Podcasts

WTF With Marc Maron: Episode 942, interview with Joe Walsh

Deeper Digs in Rock With Christian Swain: Interview with David Browne

Films and Documentaries
The Murder of Fred Hampton, Directed by Howard Alk, 1971

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
@PantheonPods
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