Socialist History Seminar, Monday 17th March 5.30pm, Room 301, Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, Malet St, London WC1
Report
Toby Manning did an excellent seminar presentation with snatches of songs which were in the Top 20 charts from the late 1950s through to the 1980s (the book covers more recent decades as well). His argument was that, in part at least, records that were hits reflected the mood and politics of the moment.
A lively discussion ensued notable perhaps in particular for gender/class issues being looked at with the ‘doormat’ songs of Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black etc. Toby Manning pointed out that singers were far from always able to control the material they sang, being tied into record labels and producers.
The book is available to buy at this link:
Details
The Pop Chart as an Archive Toby Manning will discuss his Marxist approach to popular music, exemplified by his book, Mixing Pop and Politics (Repeater, 2024).
His presentation will argue that the Billboard Hot 100 and OCC Top 40 charts provide an archive of popular attitudes, of what Raymond Williams called ‘structures of feeling’.
Marxist musicology usually regards commercial music as co-opted by capitalism, but Manning’s analysis of music’s archive – from 50s rock’n’roll to contemporary post-punk, with psychedelia, soul, glam and hip-hop between – reveals both radical and reactionary attitudes.
Moreover, Manning argues, popular music expresses an enduring utopianism that resists containment and is hence politically hopeful.
Organised by the London Socialist Historians Group. Contact Keith Flett: @keithbeard.bsky.social
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