Is their a term for the style of musicals from the late 60s- early 80s?

[Oldies m]

Posted: 9/12/20 at 3:31pm

Is their a term for the style of movie  musical(and broadway) that was prevalent  through the late 60s- to the early 80s. Musicals like Rocky Horror,Xanadu,The Apple,Can't Stop the Music, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club ,Band on the Road  and to some extent Starlight Express,The Wiz.  

What I call them are Acid musicals,  A  campy and avant grade  musical typically with a rock soundtrack that has lose plot, abstract characters, and feel like they were written on acid.  

But is the real definition  ?

Updated On: 9/12/20 at 03:31 PM

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/12/20 at 7:19pm

I don’t know if THERE is a term for that.

[carnzee]

Posted: 9/12/20 at 10:06pm

I would try asking Ethan Mordden on Twitter or his blog Cultural Advantages. If anyone knew it would be him. I've read his book about '70s musicals but I can't recall him offering a name for them.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/12/20 at 11:45pm

I seem to recall that they were simply referred to as 'rock musicals', nothing too profound.  

[temms]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 1:37pm

I've not head any specific term, but you're right that it is a definite subgenre. I'd add "Phantom Of The Paradise", "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls", "Tommy", "Shock Treatment", "Head" - I've never seen "200 Motels" but it seems like it would fit. It could definitely be a fun subject for a book/documentary of some sort. It seems like "Magical Mystery Tour" on TV would be an early example. 

I also think it's a genre where you either totally buy into it or you want nothing whatsoever to do with it, and I can respect that.