Almost as soon as the initial rock 'n' roll craze faded, bands were capitalizing on the nostalgia for days gone by. Labeled "oldies" in retrospect or "retro" in the present, bands like Sha-na-na and the Stray Cats sought to transport the listener back to the embryonic heyday of rock. Doo-wop-influenced vocals and traditional pop structures are two necessities for any retro act, as is vintage gear and proper period costumes. Retro movements can focus on specific times and places, such as the "brown-eyed soul" of '60s Chicano low-riders in Los Angeles was an homage to the doo-wop harmonies of Italian singers from '50s Philadelphia. Retro artists prove that what comes around goes around. Even Cyndi Lauper fronted the excellent oldies combo Blue Angel before striking out on her own as a new wave queen. Currently, Liam Watson's Toe-Rag Studio in London uses traditional, vintage technology for high-profile clients like the White Stripes.

Notable Artists: the Bristols, Brian Setzer, the Premieres