The essay collection Rhythm Revolution provides a compact but detailed analysis of significant genres, artists, and trends characterizing popular music’s evolution after the emergence of rock & roll. It addresses the creative, economic, social, and political contexts of key creative and commercial transitions in the recording industry. Primarily focused on events between the 1960s and 1980s, the book’s chronological structure highlights interconnected histories of the pop, rock, soul, funk, jazz/rock fusion, reggae, and punk rock genres that were major features of the American musical soundscape. The text also discusses the expanding role of televised music in its chapter on the 1980s.

In addition, the anthology provides a wealth of detail on topics not typically covered, including the history of the album cover, the roots of reggae, and the formation and impact of significant record labels.

Rhythm Revolution is ideal for teachers who want to engage their students in a detailed examination of pivotal eras. It can be used as a stand-alone text, or as a supplemental reader to standard textbooks on popular music history.

Mike Alleyne earned his Ph.D. in English and cultural studies at the University of West Indies, Barbados. Currently, Dr. Alleyne is a professor in the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro. He has published extensively in the field, presented at international conferences and taught popular music classes in the Caribbean, England, Sweden, and Germany. Dr. Alleyne is the author of The Encyclopedia of Reggae: The Golden Age of Roots Reggae, a member of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, and an editorial board member of Popular Music and Society.