Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hallelujah! The Real Story of How 1970s Music Came Together

Share

Lots of talk this week about a Jeff Buckley movie with Penn Badgley of “Gossip Girl” as its star. Only, wait a sec: the real Jeff Buckley movie that will be made is based on David Browne‘s book, ” Dream Brother.” Jeff’s mother has approved the movie, and “Dream Brother” will have Buckley’s music in it. Jeff himself has not been cast, although lots of talented actors–even Robert Pattinson--have expressed interest. The Badgley movie, by the way, is all about a 1991 memorial concert given by Jeff in memory of his late father, Tim Buckley. That film, if it’s true to the event it’s covering, wouldn’t really be about Jeff Buckley or his music.

Now David Browne has a new book out called “Fire and Rain.” This is a beautifully wrought compelling recounting of a key year in pop music: how the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, and a dozen other artists conspired to release seminal music all in 1970. I couldn’t put it down. The choice of 1970 is a perfect one–the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel broke up, CSNY put out “Deja Vu,” their big work. James Taylor and Carole King were on the verge of coining the term singer songwriter.

The book is full of great tidbits–like Paul Simon teaching a songwriting class at NYU while waiting for “Bridge over Troubled Water” to be released. Art Garfunkel went off to star in “Catch 22.” And Paul McCartney got $135,000 for producing Mary Hopkin‘s hit “Those Were the Days”–and then Allen Klein wanted it deducted from his Beatles paycheck. Browne is exceptionally strong on all the relationships among the California crowd–CSNY, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, etc. “Fire and Rain” is a must read book for anyone who’s interested in the real history of pop music.

PS I wish the New York Times had given the book to Janet Maslin to review, or someone qualified. The guy who did it in today’s paper is a young west coast blogger. He gave “Fire and Rain” a mixed review, then boasted on his own website about reviewing it. Feh on that, I say. The reviewer also thought it would be more interesting to tell the story of 1970 through minor players. Hello? Anyone who lived through that time wants to read what Browne has put together so well–about the main participants, the real culture shapers.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News