David Hepworth spent lots of time in record stores. After reading Hepworth’s book “Never a Dull Moment — 1971 — the Year that Rock Exploded” you might become convinced that 1971 was the greatest year ever for rock music. He gives readers a guided tour of sound studios and outrageous lifestyles. Some notable peaks from that year included:
- "Tapestry" by Carole King. 1971 was a breakthrough year for singer/songwriters. Nobody had a breakout quite like Carole King. Her album "Tapestry" was selling 150,000 copies a week. Songs like "It's Too Late" and "You've Got a Friend," which was also a hit for James Taylor still propel sales.
- "Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin. It didn't even have the band's name on the front-we all knew what it was. Hepworth takes us back to that opening track: "the Zeppelin record starts with the slurring of tape being run back to a cue point, followed by a brief moment of silence. Then the snorting of a weakened beast, the first cough of a semitruck on a cold morning, a noise that announces something is about to occur. What matters is the microsecond of silence between it finishing and Robert Plant's echo-soused 'Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move/gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove.' Then a drum tattoo that sounds like somebody's pushed a wardrobe full of bricks from the top of a stone staircase announces what seems like a cross between Link Wray's 'Rumble' and Samson pulling down the pillars of the temple. It's the bravura opening to what may be the most bravura rock-and-roll album of the era."
- "Sticky Fingers" by The Rolling Stones. 1971 was the year that the Stones fled England to France to evade taxes. The author considers "Sticky Fingers" to be their last truly great album. When Mick Jagger got married a jet filled with his pals flew over. The Beatles had recently split up. Paul McCartney was on it. As was Ringo Starr: "Paul was tight-lipped while boarding the plane, worried that he might be seated near Ringo…. this had been foreseen and they were kept apart."
- "Who's Next" by The Who. The record opens with "Baba O'Riley." Hepworth thinks that tune "may well be the best recording of the best year in the history of recording." This reviewer fondly recalls listening to the song "Behind Blue Eyes" over and again.
- "Every Picture Tells a Story" by Rod Stewart. The record that made Rod Stewart a superstar. What makes his voice so magical? Hepworth explains. All these years later he still sells out venues.
- "Tupelo Honey" Van Morrison. Another breakout record from an eccentric but fabulously gifted singer.
- "Hunky Dory" by David Bowie. The record that made him a sensation. 1971 was like that.
- "Harvest" by Neil Young. This is beginning to sound like a broken record. Songs like "Old Man" have made Neil Young the star he remains today.
- "American Pie" by Don McLean. Is there anybody who hasn't heard this song? One hit song made this singer's career. He has been cashing the royalty checks ever since.
- "At Fillmore East" by The Allman Brothers. Nobody played guitar like Duane Allman who died while astride his motorcycle in 1971.
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