Fire and Rain

The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970

By: David Browne

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

January 1970: the Beatles assemble one more time to put the finishing touches on Let It Be; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are wrapping up Déjà Vu; Simon and Garfunkel are unveiling Bridge Over Troubled Water; James Taylor is an upstart singer-songwriter who's just completed Sweet Baby James. Over the course of the next twelve months, their lives---and the world around them---will change irrevocably.

Fire and Rain tells the story of four iconic albums of 1970 and the lives, times, and constantly intertwining personal ties of the remarkable artists who made them. Acclaimed journalist David Browne sets these stories against an increasingly chaotic backdrop of events that sent the world spinning throughout that tumultuous year: Kent State, the Apollo 13 debacle, ongoing bombings by radical left-wing groups, the diffusion of the antiwar movement, and much more. Featuring candid interviews with more than 100 luminaries, including some of the artists themselves, Browne's vivid narrative tells the incredible story of how---over the course of 12 turbulent months---the '60s effectively ended and the '70s began.

©2011 David Browne (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Browne's engrossing account of this fertile but volatile period sets the standard by which comprehensive musical histories should be judged." ( BookPage)

Fascinating information, easy to listen

I bought this because I graduated from high school in '70 and began college- and couldn't remember a whole lot of details from that year. The author has researched it meticulously, giving quotes from members of the bands and setting political backdrops. The narrator is also very good. I have a very hard time putting it down- it is as if you have someone in your living room with you, telling you about what was going on as if he knew these people well, and remembered it perfectly. I have told several people about this book and may give it as a gift, along with some of the music. I find myself playing the songs he describes-

More elegy than biography, but not hagiography

The book itself isn't fawning or sycophantic... more... nostalgic and slightly rose colored. not ignoring the troubles each of the subjects have had... but presenting them in the best possible light, and with fondness and understanding. Overall, worthwhile... but not the hard hitting scandal machines of a Bart or Guber book.

Good listen.

for someone who has little time, to indulge in a reading passion, this was a good beginning for audible books. Interesting to me who lived through the times. Nice voice and inflection, thanks.

Trip down memory lane

For at least 2 generations, the flower children and the 'me's, 1970 was a watershed year, and David Browne's fascinating book takes us back there. I kept pausing the narrative to race off to listen to the music again and again. I felt it had some flaws in the storytelling style, however. There were narrative jumps and pivots that were really jarring - a sort of 'huh? How'd we get here' - rather than neat tie-ins between story lines. The narrator has a pleasant tone and cadence, but I'm not sure I'd seek him out again on purpose. Overall, a very enjoyable and recommended listen.

So great to feel like you’re in the thick of it.

What a lovely ride. I learned a lot that I didn’t know. Very cool read.

One Pivotal Year

1970 was a pivotal year musically as the Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel broke up, CSNY flowed together and apart, and James Taylor emerged.

Browne discusses individuals, drug abuse, albums, lyrics against the back-drop of this year with the memory of asassinations and the current setting of Vietnam, the Manson family, Weather Underground, Kent State and the beginnings of Earth Day and Green Peace.

I started the book because these groups were my favorites, and it brought back and connected many things that happened during my mid-teens. It does cover the chaos of the time.

Rock history

If you were alive and experienced music in 1970 this is a must read. I have purchased copies of this book for all of my friends who turned 60 last year and this year - all of them loved it. A great story about great musicians. I wish I were 17 again..... and I wish they made music like that today....anyway this book is a great time travel.

Meandering- no plot, mediocre anecdotes

This is a meandering narrative. The author tries to weave together several of the most influential bands of the era, but what emerges is haphazard and uncompelling. A sprinkling of anecdotes occurre just frequently-enough to keep the read from being miserable.

Boring, snoring

Lacking luster. Uninspired narration. A laborious listen. Meandering insights uncovered as though by happenstance. An Informative but tortuous listen. Like Barton Fink, watching paint dry and wallpaper peel. Slow. Good nuggets of information distanced too far from each other to keep one interested. A cure for insomnia.what about Carly and James meeting on the Dick Caveat(sp)? Show?
Hours of time to let us know the groups splintered, band member personalities resulted in breaking the groups apart, and there was a lot of drug use. Also, song messages were propitious, powerful and the voices of a decade.

A nostalgic stroll through defining years

that forced you as a teenager to think about life and society. Captivating and insightful beyond any quick social media article on music history. The profound impact of these artists is honored in this beautiful piece of work that takes at least 40% longer to complete because you *will* go back and forth between the story and the music! ;) Thank you Mr. Browne!