About this course: This course will survey the music of the Rolling Stones, beginning with the roots and first formation of the band in the early 1960s, and following the group through the release of It's Only Rock 'n' Roll in late 1974.
Created by: University of Rochester
Taught by: John Covach, Professor of Music and Director
Institute for Popular Music
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction and Students of the Blues
Beginnings through the release of the early singles, and album, 1962-64.
12 videos, 4 readings
- Video: General Introduction to the Course
- Reading: Welcome
- Reading: General Overview
- Reading: Grading Scheme
- Reading: About the Professor
- Video: Organizing the Biography and Music
- Video: The Rise of British Blues
- Video: The Early Stones
- Video: Andrew Loog Oldham
- Video: First Singles and EP
- Video: Success in the UK, Slow Progress in the US
- Video: The Debut Album: The Rolling Stones
- Video: More Singles and an EP in 1964
- Video: 12 x 5
- Video: SCU: “Tell Me”, “Good Times, Bad Times”, “Congratulations”
- Video: Week 1: Rolling Stones Books
WEEK 2
The Year of Satisfaction
1965, the big breakthrough in the US, singles and albums through December 1965.
9 videos
- Video: The First Half of 1965
- Video: Stones Singles, Late 1964 and 1965
- Video: Rolling Stones LPs, No. 2 and Now! and Another EP
- Video: SCU: “As Tears Go By”, “Heart of Stone”, “The Last Time”
- Video: The Second Half of 1965, Allen Klein, and Tour Madness
- Video: Out of Our Heads
- Video: Late 1965: Singles and December’s Children
- Video: SCU: “Satisfaction”, “The Spider and the Fly”, “Get Off Of My Cloud”
- Video: Week 2: Rolling Stones Movies
Graded: Quiz - Modules 1 & 2
WEEK 3
The Music Matures
1966, singles, compilations, and the live experience.
8 videos
- Video: Introduction to Week 3
- Video: 1966 Overview
- Video: Aftermath
- Video: SCU: “19th Nervous Breakdown”, “Paint It Black”, “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Under My Thumb”
- Video: Early 1967
- Video: Between the Buttons
- Video: SCU: “Have You Seen Your Mother”, “Baby”, “Let’s Spend the Night Together”, “Ruby Tuesday”, “Cool, Calm, Collected”
- Video: Week Three: Instruments of The Rolling Stones
WEEK 4
Psychedelia and Beyond
1967 and the rise of psychedelia, in the shadow of the Beatles?
7 videos
- Video: Introduction and 1967 in Review
- Video: Summer Flowers and Singles
- Video: Their Satanic Majesties Request
- Video: SCU: “We Love You”, “Dandelion”, “In Another Land”, “The Lantern”, “She’s A Rainbow”, “2000 Light Years From Home”
- Video: 1968 in Review
- Video: Beggars Banquet
- Video: SCU: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Street Fighting Man”, “No Expectations”, “Sympathy for the Devil”
Graded: Quiz - Modules 3 & 4
WEEK 5
Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers
The Stones leave peace and love behind, jumping and fighting with some sympathy for the Devil, 1968-69.
6 videos
- Video: Introduction and 1969 Overview
- Video: Let It Bleed
- Video: SCU: “Honky Tonk Women”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, “Gimme Shelter”, “Let It Bleed”, “Midnight Rambler”
- Video: 1970 Overview and Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out
- Video: Sticky Fingers
- Video: SCU: “Brown Sugar”, “Wild Horses”, “Bitch”, “Dead Flowers”
WEEK 6
Exile on Main Street
The band defines 70s rock with two classic albums, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, 1970-72.
6 videos
- Video: Introduction, 1971-72 Events
- Video: Exile on Main Street
- Video: SCU: Sides 1 & 2: “Rocks Off”, “Casino Boogie”, “Tumbling Dice”, “Loving Cup”
- Video: The 1972 US Tour and an Overview
- Video: SCU: Sides 3 & 4: “Happy”, “All Down the Line”, “Shine a Light”
- Video: Stones Styles: The Big Picture
Graded: Quiz - Modules 5 & 6
WEEK 7
The End of an Era
Continuing at the height of their musical powers, the group releases Goat's Head Soup and It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, 1973-74.
6 videos
- Video: Introduction and 1973 Overview
- Video: Goats Head Soup (11:20)
- Video: SCU: “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker),” “Angie,” “Can You Hear the Music,” “Star Star”
- Video: 1974 Overview
- Video: It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll
- Video: SCU: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll,” “Time Waits for No One,” “Dance Little Sister,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
Graded: Final Exam
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
Ratings and Reviews
Very good course. I would like to congratulate both the teacher and coursera for this successful endeavor. And would like to sugest a course about the music of Michael Jackson.
It was a great course!
Good Course!
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2017 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
GB
I have completed every last one of John Covach's courses and he has inspired my way of playing my own music and the way I hear new music. He is, by far, the best teacher on Coursera.