Episode 20: Ohio - a podcast by Pantheon Media

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 SwainSound Design by Jerry Danielsen
Voice ActorsHolly Cantos as the voice of the Kent State Official History

Dr. Stephen Arnoff as the voice of Prof. Charles ReichJames O’Laughlin as the voice of Jimmy McDonaugh

Eric Nash as the voice of Kevin C. SmithDavid Browne as the voice of David Browne


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

James Gang: “Funk 48” from Yer’ Album, 1969The Stooges: “1970” from Fun House, 1970

Rare Earth: “Hey Big Brother” single released in 1970Graham 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, 1970Jackson 5: “I Want You Back” Single released in 1969

Marvin Gaye: “Inner City Blues” from What’s Goin’ On, 1971War: “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, 1972Elton John: “Burn Down The Mission” from Tumbleweed Connection, 1970

Ten Years After: “I’d Love To Change The World” from A Space In Time, 1970CSN&Y: “Find The Cost Of Freedom” single released in 1970

CSN&Y: “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” from Four Way Street, 1971CSN&Y: “Ohio” single released in 1970

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

David Browne: Crosby, Stills, Nash&Young

Bob Burroughs: Days of RageRobert Giles: When Truth Mattered

Todd Gitlin: The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of RageChrissie Hynde: Reckless: My Life as a Pretender

Jimmy McDonough: Shakey: Neil Young’s BiographyRick Perlstein: Nixonland

Charles Reich: The Greening of AmericaNeil Sheehan: A Bright Shining Lie

Kevin C. Smith: Recombo DNAHunter S. Thompson: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas


Online SourcesThe Cuyahoga River

James Gang on TourPort Huron Statement

Jerry Casale at Kent StateKent State University Official History

More Resources on the The Kent State MassacreAssassination of Fred Hampton

Assassination of Fred Hampton--Gov’t DocsPodcasts

WTF With Marc Maron: Episode 942, interview with Joe WalshDeeper Digs in Rock With Christian Swain: Interview with David Browne

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

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.@PantheonPods
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