Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost - Story of 1970 Audiobook

" I liked this book for the details that I didn't already know - that was fun. But I'm not a fan of the writing style. It reminded me of a college term paper - lots of properly cited facts with glimpses of creativity. The flow between musical happenings and historical events just didn't gel for me, and I think might be the sequence of the chapters...not sure. In any event it was an ok read, but not as good as many others that cover those great pop/rock/folk music years. "

" I very much enjoyed this book. I give it 5 stars for the people who love this music and were young when it first came out, and four stars for those who just like the music. I was a freshman/sophomore in 1970, and so many of these albums were among the first I bought and played over and over again on the stereo, staring into the album covers. The book probably doesn't add much new to what we know about these groups but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I played After the Gold Rush and Harvest this afternoon, had a Simon and Garfunkle fest last Sunday, and it's James Taylor's turn tomorrow..... "

" The subjects are among my most favorite groups/singers ever. But because there are so many subjects, it's difficult to get in deep with any of them, although CSNY comes across as the most interesting by far. There also was little by way of a unifying theme of what these groups went through or what they meant. So the book was worth it if you like the groups, but it feels like a series of magazine articles and not a comprehensive book. "

" Meh. Some interesting writing about James Taylor but nothing new on The Beatles, and frankly, CSNY and S&G don't belong in this book. Browne should have focused on a few up and coming bands who went on to define the hard rock music of the 1970s (Led Zeppelin comes to mind) providing contrast to Taylor and the slew of "folk rockers" to follow like Jim Croce, Dan Fogelberg, etc. It wasn't just the rise of singer/songwriter pablum that made 1970 a turning point in music. "

" There was more than I wanted to know about the publishing, recording and touring side of these bands and not enough about the performers personally. I was sorry to learn that there were so many quarrels and disagreements among the groups that I thought must have taken turns hanging the moon and who created the music which played throughout and still plays through my days. Actually, I wish I hadn't read it and in my imagination they all loved each other, loved the music they wrote, and supported the efforts of the other people they worked with. Do I really have to know what the reality is? "

" It's sort of all over the place in its telling. But the fun facts alone are worth reading it; " holy host of others standing round me"... "

" If this is your music, this is your book. Excellent. "

" Excellent for any lovers of 1970 Rock. "

" Paul Simon was a pain, CSNY jockeyed for position in the group, egos abounded, and 1970 was a good year for popular music. I remember! "

" I liked it, found out much mor about James Taylor tha I ever knew previously. "

" Fascinating subject, but boring book. Couldn't make myself finish it. "

" Very interesting to read about 3 of my favorite musical acts and the times surrounding them. "

" A great read. This is the year I graduated from high school. "

" Loved this quick read and learning of all the little background tidbits surrounding classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" and "Fire and Rain"...it evoked memories of a more innocent time in my life when music was almost everything. "

" A big year in the life of music. Certainly an interesting read, but I realize why I usually prefer fiction. I found myself skimming a lot, but did enjoy it and learned a lot about the musicians that were focused on in this book. It was definitely a year of major transitions for all of them. "

" Listen on tape. Story of a time - he captures it well but for the audio version, would have been sweet to include the music. "

" This account of important rock and roll events in 1970 was a fun and nostalgic read. Iwho would how've thought that what these four groups were doing in 1970 could be analyzed as a history of the times. "

" Way too much detail and way too little narrative energy make this a tedious encyclopedia rather than an enjoyable read. Some of the most engaging artists of the decade become utterly boring in the hands of this writer. "

" A great read. This is the year I graduated from high school. "

" Who knew 1970 was such a pivotal year in music? The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel split up while James Taylor's star ascended. CSN&Y were on again, off again. An amazing chronicle of a significant year; all it needs is to come with a soundtrack! "