While he’s patently wrong, David Hepworth’s 375-page treatise on why 1971 is rock ‘n’ roll’s most important year makes for wildly entertaining reading.
Presenting his case month-by-month, the former Old Grey Whistle Test anchor’s penchant for prog means that the likes of Yes, Genesis and Tonto’s Expanding Head Band are venerated rather than given the critical kicking they and their patchouli oil-wearing fans deserve.
He’s spot on, though, in his championing of Shuggie Otis’ ‘Strawberry Letter 23’, Mick Newbury’s ‘American Trilogy’, Laura Lee’s ‘Women’s Love Rights’ and Flamin’ Groovies’ ‘Teenage Head’– four songs that in a parallel universe every man, woman and child knows the words to.
He’s also good on trainspotterish stuff like David Bowie originally penning ‘Hang On To Yourself’ for Freddi Burretti, a gay stylist that him and the missus desperately wanted to turn into the new Mick Jagger. When that spectacularly failed, he reclaimed the song for future use on Ziggy Stardust.
1971’s standout month is undoubtedly November, which is dedicated to the cultural significance of the Jones boy’s Hunky Dory. Add in excellent pieces on Nick Drake, Led Zep, the Stones and a pre-Bruce Springsteen managing Jon Landau, and Hepworth is almost forgiven for choosing ‘71 over ‘76, the real year the decade ignited.