Never a Dull Moment: 1971 The Year That Rock Exploded

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Henry Holt and Company, Jun 7, 2016 - Music - 288 pages

Immerse yourself in the unforgettable year that revolutionized rock music forever.

Never a Dull Moment takes you on a rollicking journey through 1971 - the busiest, most innovative and resonant year of the 70s, defined by the musical arrival of such stars as David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Joni Mitchell.

On New Year's Eve, 1970, Paul McCartney told his lawyers to issue the writ at the High Court in London, effectively ending The Beatles. You might say this was the last day of the pop era. The following day, which was a Friday, was 1971 - the first day of the rock era. Within the remaining 364 days of this monumental year, the world would hear Don McLean's "American Pie," The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar," The Who's "Baba O'Riley," Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," Rod Stewart's "Maggie May," Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," and more.

David Hepworth, an ardent music fan and well-regarded critic who was twenty-one in '71, takes us on a tour of the major moments, events and songs of this remarkable year. He shows how musicians came together to form the perfect storm of rock and roll greatness, starting a musical era that would last longer than anyone predicted.

More than just a love song to the music, Never a Dull Moment is an homage to the things that inspired art and artists alike, from Soul Train to The Godfather, hot pants to table tennis. Hepworth explores both the music and its landscapes, culminating in an epic story of rock and roll's best year.

 

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About the author (2016)

David Hepworth is a music journalist, writer, and publishing industry analyst who has launched several successful British magazines. He presented the definitive BBC rock music program Whistle Test and anchored the coverage of Live Aid in '85. He has won Editor and Writer of the Year awards from the Professional Publishers Association and the Mark Boxer Award from the British Society of Magazine Editors. He is the radio columnist for the Guardian and a media correspondent for the newspaper, and the author of Never a Dull Moment.

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