One of the joys of editing MidLifeBloggers is that publicists often query me about doing a review of a book and author that they’re representing. Okay, rewrite that sentence: One of the pains about editing MidLifeBloggers is that publicists often query me–etc etc etc. It’s a pain because there are a lot of frogs out there that believe my kiss will turn them into a prince. Those I can tell from the promo, I don’t want to read and I say no at the outset. It’s a joy because there are a few princes out there that I really want to share with you. But then it’s a pain again because–gosh, darn it–I feel I actually have to read the book to review it. Okay, if not all of the book, then some of it. But, as you can imagine, that takes time, and it’s just too easy to bury the books to review under the bills and other assorted crap that litters my desk. Eventually, I start to feel incredibly guilty and guilt can lead to resentment. Following resentment is dislike and before you know it, I’m thinking–review this book? Eh! Meh! and why bother! Still, ever seeking to assuage all guilt, I’ll be talking about those princes of books that I’ve been meaning to review over the next few days/weeks/posts. I aim to begin the new year with a clear conscience.
When I saw Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970, I was immediately intrigued. The author, David Browne, is a Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone , which spoke well for his bonafides writing about the music scene on both sides of the Atlantic in 1970. 1970–I was there, on both sides of the Atlantic as well, witness to many of the cultural changes taking place. I thought I’d do a quickie leaf through so I could at least fulfill my commitment to the publicist.
Instead, I find myself sinking into the book. I’m reading it not as a cultural history, but as a follow-up to news stories that I only knew a part of. It’s the backstory to the Bridge Over Troubled Water and Sweet Baby James, to the creation of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Deja vu, and the dissolution of the Beatles with Let It Be. It offers, at least in my mind, the sound track to my personal history back in the day, and for that alone, I can’t stop reading. We didn’t have Access Hollywood and Extra back in the early ’70s. If we had, we’d have heard all these stories, the ins and outs and ups and downs, of the mega-music industry in 1970 from Billy Bush and Mario Lopez. Hearing them now not only takes me back to that time, but does so with all (ahem!) wisdom I have accumulated in the past forty years. It’s giving me a different view of that scene and of myself in that scene.
If you were similarly occupied during the early ’70s–or you’re a fan of music history–check out this book. Tell me if it transports you back to the day, and how you see that time now.
To give your time travel a little nudge, if you click on any of the songs above, you’ll find yourself in the concert hall courtesy of YouTube.
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