Let'S Spend the Night Together: Sex, Pop Music and British Youth Culture, 1950s-80s

Lets spend the night together explores how sex and sexuality provided essential elements of British youth culture in the 1950s through to the 1980s, with the underlying sexual charge of rock 'nroll integral to the broader challenge embodied in the youth cultures that developed after World War Two. The essays locate sex, music, and youth culture in the context of post-war Britain, with a widening and ever-more prevalent media, amidst the loosening bonds of censorship, and in a society shaped by changing patterns of consumption and the emergence of the 'teenager'.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

"Let's Spend the Night Together" delves into the captivating realm of sex and sexuality as pivotal components of British youth culture from the 1950s to the 1980s. It unveils how the inherent sexual energy of rock 'n' roll and pop music played a central role in the broader cultural transformations that emerged after World War Two. As teenage hormones surged, driven by the irresistible allure of music and the opportunities it offered through consumption, education, and employment, the boundaries of British morality and cultural propriety were tested and frequently pushed. Whether it was the assertive masculinity of the teds, the lustful desires of the teeny-boppers, the gender-bending glamour of glam, the mysterious allure of underground clubs and discos, the free-love ethos of the 1960s, or the punk provocations of the 1970s, sex remained a constant presence, often serving as the underlying force behind the moral panics that followed any cultural shift in youthful style and behavior.

To explore this rich tapestry of experiences, the Subcultures Network draws upon a diverse range of scholarship from various disciplines. Through their essays, the authors place sex, music, and youth culture within the context of post-war Britain, characterized by a burgeoning media landscape, the loosening of censorship norms, a society shaped by evolving consumer patterns and the emergence of the "teenager" as a distinct demographic. This period also existed, as Jeff Nuttall famously argued, under the shadow of the (nuclear) bomb, adding an additional layer of complexity and significance to the cultural dynamics of the time.

In conclusion, "Let's Spend the Night Together" offers a captivating journey into the intertwined realms of sex, sexuality, and youth culture in post-war Britain. It sheds light on how these elements shaped the lives of young people and contributed to the broader cultural shifts of the era. By examining the experiences, perspectives, and representations of sex and sexuality within the context of youth culture, the Subcultures Network provides valuable insights into the complex and ever-evolving dynamics of this fascinating period.

Weight: 645g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526159984