Never a Dull Moment: 1971; The Year That Rock Exploded

Journalist and author Hepworth's (The Secret History of Entertainment) entertaining and enlightening book illustrates his theory that the year was one of the most substantial and influential in rock, and that it also marked the true beginning of the Seventies, a decade renowned for blockbuster albums, expanding genres, and rock glamour and excess. The year saw the release of such classics as Carole King's Tapestry, the Rolling Stones's Sticky Fingers, Who's Next from the Who, and albums from Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone, and Joni Mitchell, among others. Moving chronologically, Hepworth documents the creation of many of these seminal works while examining the times and mood in popular culture, along with the trajectory and lives of the artists responsible for the shifts, concluding with a discussion of rock nostalgia. The author's thought-provoking and diligently researched synthesis of criticism, pop culture, history, and commentary will appeal to rock music fans of all ages, whether they lived through 1971 or are discovering its musical riches and influences 45 years later.