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1971 - Never a Dull Moment

Rock's Golden Year

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1971 - Never a Dull Moment

By: David Hepworth
Narrated by: David Hepworth
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About this listen

The '60s ended a year late - on New Year's Eve 1970, when Paul McCartney initiated proceedings to wind up The Beatles. Music would never be the same again. The next day would see the dawning of a new era.

Nineteen seventy-one saw the release of more monumental albums than any year before or since and the establishment of a pantheon of stars to dominate the next 40 years - Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, the solo Beatles and more.

January that year fired the gun on an unrepeatable surge of creativity, technological innovation, blissful ignorance, naked ambition and outrageous good fortune. By December rock had exploded into the mainstream. How did it happen?

This audiobook tells you how. It's the story of 1971, rock's golden year.

©2016 David Hepworth (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks 20th Century Modern Music Thought-Provoking

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All stars
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He never lets you down. Beautiful language and context, typical erudition, assured detail.This was the year of my birth and I will carry the torch of 'Blue' 'Hunky Dory' and 'Who's next' as playing me into the world everywhere. Hepworth's books have all been a joy, I will keep reading until there's no more.

elegy

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I was intrigued by the idea for this book when I heard it discussed by the author on Danny Bakers radio show. And I have not been disappointed. Hepworth provides an addictive narrative backed up with the forensic detail of a PhD thesis. But it's not an academic work - he has a point of view that is impossible not to go along with even if you don't always agree with it. His vocal delivery is a little grating at times - a bit shouty - but it's always best to hear the author read their words and this is no exception. I loved it and am now following up with the playlist on Spotify.
Totally brilliant.

Engrossing

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Third of David Hepworths books I’ve listened to, and just as outstanding as the first two. Yet again his attention to detail is astonishing, and as always his knowledge of his subject shines through.

What a year!

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As a big fan of the author and Mark Ellen's The Word podcasts, this book did not disappoint. I was a mere 14 year old then, dipping my tootsies into the vast pool of rock music via Electric Warrior and Hunky Dory and seeking shelter from the Troubles simmering around me in Ulster, and David paints a vivid picture of the times, still so fresh in my mind and yet now like a foreign country.
I found myself rewinding chapters countless times because the book is so packed with information I didn't want to miss a morsel!
I highly recommend this title, even if you weren't around then.
Even though, to these ears, I swear David says "Barbara O'Riley" instead of "Baba!"

Never a dull moment indeed.

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great read. prerequisite to love 70s music! interlaced with the culture and issues of the time. All the musicians that I wanted to hear about and one i had never heard of (Big Star).
he is not fawning and shows proper journalistic disrespect where needed. throughout he speaks as a fan, a well informed one. and he has some lovely humour and engaging turn of phrase.

I hope he could write another look at those classic years from 66 until the music died in 75.

the author reads his prose superbly but...Every pitcher tells a story or Pitchers at an exhibition. worse he does crash thro paragraphs and sometimes full stops so you can't tell that he has moved onto a new topic. he needs a producer!

huge enjoyment - more please

wonderful

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A great tale of what is now a vanished time that still reverberates today, read by its author. Nice to hear Heppo laugh at some of the tales he tells!

The book lives up to the title.

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Born in 1956 I was just a bit too young for 1971. I "got" music in 1973 I reckon and spent the next few years on rewind to catch-up and get in synch with the zeitgeist. I remember soon discovering the wonderful artists and albums so lovingly featured here; truly they were special because 45 years later their legacy and legend still looms large. I won't list them out here as you will delight upon encountering them as you go...

A wonderfully evocative audiobook that I just didn't want to end. David Hepworth really gets into the heart and soul of the music and he understands that unknowable special quality that is beyond definition yet adds a certain sprinkle of magic to the greatest albums. The early '70s experience of listening to and "being into" music was very different to today's and I for one was several times transported back in time by this evocative audiobook.

Unlike a few other reviewers I felt the narration was perfect; clear and perfectly enunciated.

I even found myself on YouTube looking up a couple of artists that passed me by in the '70s - Big Star anyone? The joy of discovery, which permeated that era, is lovingly rekindled here.

Fab, just fab...

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Enthralling book. Remarkable story of remarkable talent from a remarkable time. Well read by the author

What a year

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In 1971 I was an 11 year old pop fan enamoured of The Beatles, with a huge appetite for new music, ToTP and the music mags. Until I heard ‘Never a Dull Moment’ I didn’t realise 1971 was such a classic year. This is a fascinating, extremely well written and delivered audiobook, full of insights and stories behind the songs. I commend it to all!

I bought all these records!

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After listening to novels exclusively on Audible, I fancied a change of pace. Even though I was only five-years-old in 1971, I do own and love a lot of the music and those artists who created it. The format of taking the year chronologically to cover artists well-known and more obscure works well. And the playlist at the end of each monthly chapter made me go and check out some artists I'd previously been aware of but not listened too.

For those expecting a purely detailed analysis of the music then, you'll likely want to do some follow up research as this is as much about the social history of 1971 as the music itself. E.g. you'll hear more about the wedding of Mick and Bianca as you will about the Nellcote sessions for Exile on Main Street.

For those who have concerns about David Hepworth's narration, yes, there are occasions when his lack of actorly polish grates, but then again an actor would never get close to reflecting his unbridled enthusiasm for the subject matter.

Overall, informative and thoroughly enjoyable and I'll certainly be spending more time in Mr. Hepworth company in the coming months.

A very enjoyable romp through an iconic year.

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