"Fire and Rain" tells the stories of four classic albums of 1970 - The Beatles' "Let It Be", "Crosby", "Stills", Nash & Young's "Deja vu", James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James", Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - the musicians who made them, the songs they created, and how the tumultuous cultural shifts of that pivotal year are reflected in the music. The first book written on the musical, political and cultural changes of the year 1970, "Fire and Rain" examines a pivotal, transitional, and under-documented year that was as important as the much-studied 1968 and 1969. Featuring new interviews and access to previously unseen documents, the book follows the careers of the Beatles, CSNY, Simon and Garfunkel and Taylor throughout that year - the music, tours, lives tensions, varying degrees of excess, and constantly intertwining personal ties between them (Stephen Stills and Ringo Starr's friendship in London, Joni Mitchell's breakup with Nash in the spring and her hookup with Taylor that summer, Art Garfunkel meeting Taylor at the first-ever Greenpeace benefit concert that autumn, Simon's marriage to the ex-wife of Simon's manager and how that impacted on he and Garfunkel's ever-tenuous rapport). Written in a novelistic, narrative fashion in the style of period studies, "Fire and Rain" features candid interviews with over 100 luminaries. The month-by-month, increasingly bitter and petty breakup of the Beatles will be chronicled like never before thanks to access to previously unpublished legal documents from the National Archives in London and interviews with members of their inner circle; the same with Simon and Garfunkel. "Fire and Rain" also includes interviews with a wide range of witnesses to history.
Fire and Rain
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"(S)een through the prism of these four pillars, 1970 comes across as pretty bleak; entropy, fading greatness, opportunities squandered and irreconcilable differences of personality. Heroic friendships and grand passions - Lennon & McCartney; Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash; Simon & Garfunkel - are crushed by the pressures of fame and success. Volatile, vulnerable personalities such as James Taylor (who tried several times to destroy himself by violent means) overcome narcosis and self-doubt just enough to deliver a hit record." --Word Magazine
"(H)ow on earth can there be anything more to say about The Beatles, James Taylor or the individual components that formed CSNY? The answer is... quite a lot, as it happens. At least, quite a lot David Browne's skilful hands... Browne is an excellent writer and tells this story very well..."
--The Record Collector
"This tight but varied focus and Browne's prose make for an engaging take on a year which included the Beatles' splitting up."
--The Metro
"(Browne's) attention to detail lends this compelling book a depth and richness rarely found in rock biography."
--Financial Times
"This tight but varied focus and Browne's prose make for an engaging take on a year which included the Beatles' splitting up."
--Metro
"The welter of detail that Browne has amassed about (the bands) intertwined lives is truly astonishing - you will be repeatedly gobsmacked at what you didn't know about the chemistry and the chemicals... (Fire & Rain is) a riveting portrayal of the various musical, social and political strands that made 1970 such a tumultuous year in America."
--Classic Rock
"As a reporter, Browne is dogged and earnest; as a profile writer, crisp and professional. As Fire & Rain jaunts from London to Laurel Canyon, Browne drops in memorable details..."
--The Scotsman
"(A) decent historical account of that year's events...Through numerous interviews and painstaking research, Browne has built up a forensic picture of these 12 months, and allows us to become flies on the wall at recording sessions, band meetings, public appearances and backstage at concerts."
--The Irish Times
"Fire and Rain succeeded in ... send(ing) me back to albums - CSN&Y's Déjà Vu, Taylor's Sweet Baby James, S&G's Bridge Over Troubled Water - that had lain undisturbed through half a lifetime. For all the instability and over-indulgence of the times in which they were produced, they turn out to have aged, in the main, surprisingly well."
--Guardian
"(H)ow on earth can there be anything more to say about The Beatles, James Taylor or the individual components that formed CSNY? The answer is... quite a lot, as it happens. At least, quite a lot David Browne's skilful hands... Browne is an excellent writer and tells this story very well..."
--The Record Collector
"This tight but varied focus and Browne's prose make for an engaging take on a year which included the Beatles' splitting up."
--The Metro
"(Browne's) attention to detail lends this compelling book a depth and richness rarely found in rock biography."
--Financial Times
"This tight but varied focus and Browne's prose make for an engaging take on a year which included the Beatles' splitting up."
--Metro
"The welter of detail that Browne has amassed about (the bands) intertwined lives is truly astonishing - you will be repeatedly gobsmacked at what you didn't know about the chemistry and the chemicals... (Fire & Rain is) a riveting portrayal of the various musical, social and political strands that made 1970 such a tumultuous year in America."
--Classic Rock
"As a reporter, Browne is dogged and earnest; as a profile writer, crisp and professional. As Fire & Rain jaunts from London to Laurel Canyon, Browne drops in memorable details..."
--The Scotsman
"(A) decent historical account of that year's events...Through numerous interviews and painstaking research, Browne has built up a forensic picture of these 12 months, and allows us to become flies on the wall at recording sessions, band meetings, public appearances and backstage at concerts."
--The Irish Times
"Fire and Rain succeeded in ... send(ing) me back to albums - CSN&Y's Déjà Vu, Taylor's Sweet Baby James, S&G's Bridge Over Troubled Water - that had lain undisturbed through half a lifetime. For all the instability and over-indulgence of the times in which they were produced, they turn out to have aged, in the main, surprisingly well."
--Guardian
About the Author
David Browne is the author of Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth; Dream Brother: The Lives & Music of Jeff & Tim Buckley; and Amped: How Big Air, Big Dollars, and a New Generation Took Sports to the Extreme. The former music critic of Entertainment Weekly, he contributes to the New York Times, the New Republic, Spin, the Huffington Post, and other outlets, and his music reviews appear on National Public Radio's Web site. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Bodhi Heeren
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This very well written and entertaining book chronicles in novelist fashion four groundbreaking albums: "Deja Vu" (CSNY), "Sweet Baby James" (James Taylor), "Bridge Over Troubled Water"(Simon & Garfunkel) and "Let It Be".
Actually the focus is not so much on the albums themselves - Brownes interpretations of the various songs are surely one of the weaker aspects of the book - but more the tumultous lifes of the involved artists. All 3 bands at the verge of break up and breakdown, leaving James Taylor in many ways as the 'hero' of the story.
No doubt David Browne has put lots of effort and research into this work, though apparently CSN are the only ones who have actually wanted to participate in the books making. He also succesfully manages to put the music in to a larger perspective: Nixon, Vietnam war, bombings running rampant in the US (a rather forgotten aspect of the times), the killings at US university campuses by the national guard, the Mason family.
In the end though he doesn't really make it evident why such brilliant and long lasting Art could grow out of all this trivial in-fighting and dope misuse. The idea that perhaps Art is a sphere of it's own with its owm laws seem foreign to him. Which might be connected with his disdain for the more spiritual aspects of these artists as when he says that '..he[Phil Spector] even made the chant "Hare Krishna" in "My Sweet Lord" palatable'.
A fine read for anyone into rock history and ofc for anyone interested in these four formidable acts.
Actually the focus is not so much on the albums themselves - Brownes interpretations of the various songs are surely one of the weaker aspects of the book - but more the tumultous lifes of the involved artists. All 3 bands at the verge of break up and breakdown, leaving James Taylor in many ways as the 'hero' of the story.
No doubt David Browne has put lots of effort and research into this work, though apparently CSN are the only ones who have actually wanted to participate in the books making. He also succesfully manages to put the music in to a larger perspective: Nixon, Vietnam war, bombings running rampant in the US (a rather forgotten aspect of the times), the killings at US university campuses by the national guard, the Mason family.
In the end though he doesn't really make it evident why such brilliant and long lasting Art could grow out of all this trivial in-fighting and dope misuse. The idea that perhaps Art is a sphere of it's own with its owm laws seem foreign to him. Which might be connected with his disdain for the more spiritual aspects of these artists as when he says that '..he[Phil Spector] even made the chant "Hare Krishna" in "My Sweet Lord" palatable'.
A fine read for anyone into rock history and ofc for anyone interested in these four formidable acts.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the musical story of 1970, concentrating on the making of four albums: Let it Be by the Beatles, Bridge over troubled water by Simon and Garfunkel, Sweet Baby James by James Taylor and Deja Vu by CSNY. 1970 was a year in which two of those groups fell apart, one achieved success and then collapsed and another, James Taylor, broke through with a successful album. It was a year when the Beatles went into freefall and the author relates the various issues - the end of the Apple dream, solo albums (including the arguments over the release dates of the McCartney album), John's primal scream therapy, etc.
The whole saga of CSNY's tour is described, including the lack of rehearsals which resulted in the first show ending with Crosby, Neil and Young flying to LA and leaving Stills to head to the soundcheck in Chicago only to find the show had been cancelled. After threats from promoters, they agreed to resume the tour. Meanwhile, Paul Simon was becoming irritated by Art Garfunkel's disappearance to make films. Unhappy about having to work around a partner, Simon ended the year by deciding to make records on his own. There is also the inter-twined story of James Taylor and manager Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon fame and who sensibly decided to leave the debacle that was Apple) and his rather reluctant path to success.
It is interesting to read how all these great musicians intersected - having the same girlfriends, hanging out together, competing and also, often, combining to make wonderful music. Still, the year ended in December with Paul McCartney having writs delivered to Lennon, Harrison, Starr and Klein. As Stills recalled, "The Let it Be stuff was overhanging the whole year, that they were basically ready to kill each other," and that "it permeated the whole industry". This is a fascinating account of that year of excess and personal trauma and the music that was made, almost despite the problems facing the people involved.
The whole saga of CSNY's tour is described, including the lack of rehearsals which resulted in the first show ending with Crosby, Neil and Young flying to LA and leaving Stills to head to the soundcheck in Chicago only to find the show had been cancelled. After threats from promoters, they agreed to resume the tour. Meanwhile, Paul Simon was becoming irritated by Art Garfunkel's disappearance to make films. Unhappy about having to work around a partner, Simon ended the year by deciding to make records on his own. There is also the inter-twined story of James Taylor and manager Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon fame and who sensibly decided to leave the debacle that was Apple) and his rather reluctant path to success.
It is interesting to read how all these great musicians intersected - having the same girlfriends, hanging out together, competing and also, often, combining to make wonderful music. Still, the year ended in December with Paul McCartney having writs delivered to Lennon, Harrison, Starr and Klein. As Stills recalled, "The Let it Be stuff was overhanging the whole year, that they were basically ready to kill each other," and that "it permeated the whole industry". This is a fascinating account of that year of excess and personal trauma and the music that was made, almost despite the problems facing the people involved.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
76 reviews
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interestingly interwoven
6 Jun 2011
By D. Tuttle
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you were in JR. High and High School between 1968-1977 or so and collected and enjoyed the music of the talents mentioned in the title, then you'll enjoy this book. Like many geezers my age (52), these acts were, among others, the soundtrack of my youth and reading the particulars behind the music was an enjoyable journey to the past. I've been reading a number of musical biographies lately, 'you never give me your money' (beatles), 'The bitch is back' (Elton John), 'Broken Music' (Sting), all have been interesting and this one was no exception. I recommend it without reservation.
50 of 54 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Music Fan
27 May 2011
By Kathleen Whaley
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Thank you, David Browne, for capturing the essence of this time for those who remember, and describing it beautifully for those who don't.
This book crafts a gorgeous narrative of four artists whose work dovetailed and really defined at least one generation. Browne's research is extensive and the facts uncovered are a goldmine. Definitely a compelling read for all people who listen to music, of any age.
This book crafts a gorgeous narrative of four artists whose work dovetailed and really defined at least one generation. Browne's research is extensive and the facts uncovered are a goldmine. Definitely a compelling read for all people who listen to music, of any age.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you were there, this book takes you back there.
15 Jun 2011
By Tom Dupree
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's been a long time since I had a *better* time reading a book than David Browne's FIRE AND RAIN. I gulped it down in two sittings and still wanted more.
I was 20 in Mr. Browne's target year, I had just gotten my first auto-changing turntable, and we had a groundbreaking FM rock station in town, whose playlists came to be cited in the national trades. I reveled in all the music: I was an intense fan of all four acts he explores, and I read about them and others in the new, hip mag Rolling Stone. Pop music was one of the most important things in my cultural life back then, and I did pay attention to details - but Mr. Browne went far beyond. His research is amazing. I learned stuff I didn't know in every single chapter. He took me onstage for shows I only dreamed about from far-off Mississippi. I personally think the Seventies began in 1972, with McGovern's defeat, but Mr. Browne makes a compelling case for 1970 itself, at least where pop music is concerned. If you care[d] at all about the genre in 1970, you will not be able to put this thing down.
Full disclosure: I edited Mr. Browne's first book, DREAM BROTHER, but I had nothing to do with this one. Too bad: it's still a muggafugga.
I was 20 in Mr. Browne's target year, I had just gotten my first auto-changing turntable, and we had a groundbreaking FM rock station in town, whose playlists came to be cited in the national trades. I reveled in all the music: I was an intense fan of all four acts he explores, and I read about them and others in the new, hip mag Rolling Stone. Pop music was one of the most important things in my cultural life back then, and I did pay attention to details - but Mr. Browne went far beyond. His research is amazing. I learned stuff I didn't know in every single chapter. He took me onstage for shows I only dreamed about from far-off Mississippi. I personally think the Seventies began in 1972, with McGovern's defeat, but Mr. Browne makes a compelling case for 1970 itself, at least where pop music is concerned. If you care[d] at all about the genre in 1970, you will not be able to put this thing down.
Full disclosure: I edited Mr. Browne's first book, DREAM BROTHER, but I had nothing to do with this one. Too bad: it's still a muggafugga.
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