1973: Rock at the Crossroads by Andrew Grant Jackson is popular nonfiction ostensibly about how the popular music of 1973 (with a bit of 1972 and 1974 overlap) reflected and interacted with mostly American current events, including the end of the Vietnam War and Watergate. There is some of that social history I was hoping for, but I felt a lot of the wordcount was extraneous. The book is jammed with anecdotes about musicians’ drug habits, unwise relationships, and infidelity that I found tiresome and repetitive fairly quickly, as well as depressing. As the book wore on, I felt a single interesting point about, say, songs written about Nixon’s dishonesty, would go into a somewhat relevant anecdote about a musician and then spiral down a black hole of other anecdotes that let the topic wander off somewhere else. By the end, I was questioning the relevance of many of the anecdotes; Joni Mitchell’s boyfriends were not the ones writing her songs. Perhaps these rabbit holes were the intent, and those were the transitions. By the last half of the book, I was already tired. Good things: the author included women artists (which seems obvious but doesn’t always happen), and though the title refers to Rock, he also included reggae, rhythm and blues, outlaw country, and the dawn of hiphop.

One of my children is very much interested in music and, because I listened to a lot of what we now call 'classic rock', he is also quite fond of this music period. We've talked about it quite often and how I always felt that there was a real strength of music and musicians in the early 1970's. I don't think I realized quite a how strong that period actually was.

This is an incredibly detailed account of the pop/rock (with some crossover to other genres) music scene in one very specific year. Author Andrew Grant Jackson has selected 1973 for a reason, which he expresses in the book (I won't spoil the read).

I listened to a lot of music on radio in 1973 (there weren't a lot of options for a junior high student back then) and I've long felt that this was a great period for music and Jackson proceeds, month by month, to show just why this really was a remarkable year. Putting it together like this, really provides a nice timeline for everything that was happening. More than once I had the thought: "That was in 1973, too?!"

There were moments that I found just a bit dull, but this was specifically only when Jackson was writing about artists whose work I personally didn't care for or follow. Even so, it was really interesting to note that such music and performers were working at this same time.

I requested this book based on the theme of rock music, but this book works very well as a history book (narrowly focused on music, of course) and as a social studies book of 1973. So many different things were happening in 1973 and music, specifically rock music, was at the forefront of commentary about what was happening.

It was interesting to me that (according to Jackson), "In 1973, AM still garnered more listeners than FM. On many AM Top 40 stations, rock, R&B, pop, easy listening, and country coexisted." When my small town got their FM station I couldn't say, but I did listen to it a LOT during my high school years. Back when live DJ's and call in shows/requests were common.

Really a great book and easy to recommend.

Looking for a good book? 1973: Rock at the Crossroads by Andrew Grant Jackson is a well-researched, fascinating history of a really important year in rock music. You should read it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A must read for anyone with an interest in music history, and the nexus of the arts, culture and politics. With interesting discussions of the events and music of 1973, I think this will have pretty wide appeal. Recommended.

When I started reading this book, I really thought it was going to be only about 1973 rock and roll bands. I was pleasantly surprised. It is actually a mix of all genres of music throughout the early ‘70s. I was born in the ‘70s and too young to remember much about the bands other than their songs. It was fun to head back to that era and read about their backstories, issues with record labels, and personal trials many had.

There is definitely a lot of information in this book. While it is straightforward, I appreciated the timeline before the first chapter and the notes section at the end of the book. Both helped to put a lot of the information into context.

I love music books and nostalgia, so this was a winner for me, and a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for the providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An awesome read for rock fans! Who knew 1973 was such an important year in rock history. Great presentation of the importance of this time period. Thank you NetGalley.

This book is encyclopedic in its breadth of information regarding the music scene in 1973. It is very detailed, not only in aspects of the music itself, but the culture, social and political climate at the time. I grew up as a Beatles fan in the sixties because of my older brother. Almost like one grows up in a religion, it was just part of me. However, I really grew up musically as my own person during the seventies. For that reason, I was keen on reading this book. However, I did not realize just how deep it was going to go, off into tangents of musical artists whose genres I was not particularly drawn to, and some of its surrounding cultural climate during that year. Therefore, I very much skimmed through parts I was not interested in. However, I must commend the extraordinary research conducted to execute such a thorough examination of the musical lexicon during the seminal year of 1973.

So what’s so important about 1973 to rock? A lot of bands and cultural icons began that year. From the first Dick Clark New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to the first albums of diverse acts like Bruce Springsteen, Queen, the New York Dolls, and Aerosmith, music had plenty to celebrate while Nixon was impeached and left the White House. Punk, disco, and hip-hop all began in NYC in 1973. The Vietnam War ended. And Ziggy Stardust died.

Readers who remember 1973 are in for a treat and a trip down memory lane. It helps if you have a subscription music service to play the music discussed in the book. Pandora even has a playlist for the book!

1973’s real change was the merging of different music styles together. 1973: Rock at the Crossroads covers all types of music from punk to hip-hop to country outlaws like Willie Nelson.

If you love music, especially 1970s music, you need to read this book. It is filled with a bunch of insider stories. For example, a backup singer for Ike and Tina Turner’s band was the inspiration for the Stones’ “Brown Sugar” as well as Bowie’s “Lady Grinning Soul”.

Overall, 1973: Rock at the Crossroads is an excellent gift for music fans and a fascinating look at a different era. 5 stars!

Thanks to Thomas Dunn Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book captures the true importance that the year 1973 had on rock music. I was born in 1978, so it was interesting to read about how much influence music made 5 years before I was born. Elton John staying on the charts so long was shocking to me, as I enjoy his music, but there were so many other great artists putting out music that year!

Did you know that today's classic rock stations play more songs from 1973 than any other year? Or that Prince drew inspiration from Bob Seger? How about that Black Sabbath was afraid of the haunted castle they recorded Sabbath Bloody Sabbath in? These are just some of the gems waiting for you inside 1973: Rock at the Crossroads.



In 1973: Rock at the Crossroads, Andrew Grant Jackson looks at how musicians (and everyone else) "tried to process the cultural reformation of 1965-72" "through a series of albums and singles that represented the zenith of classic rock." Whether you agree with Jackson about the zenith part (as a Rush fan, my favorite rock hadn't even gotten started), the joy he finds in his subject matter comes through loud and clear.


1973 is also the story of how radio programmers began to market and commodify album rock (by using demographics)- and how rock influenced and took influence from the other genres sharing its space. Alongside this story, Jackson also traces broader cultural developments: the way African-American artists were shortchanged, the signing of female artists and the struggle for the ERA, gay activism, the end of Vietnam in music and television, the way counterculture was ultimately absorbed by a larger culture, the oil crisis, and the "plague" of pornography. Attention is also shown to Title IX, the Black Panthers, the treatment of groupies, and key moments in film such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Exorcist.


Rock fans will see familiar names as Jackson examines the commercialization of Dark Side of the Moon and the controversy surrounding the cover of Houses of the Holy as well as Alice Cooper's stage show. The rise of Southern rock, Glam rock, and country rock are all discussed - though Jackson is derisive toward progressive rock, excepting only bands he feel "transcended" the genre, like Queen and Genesis. Alongside the exploits of David Bowie, Elton John, and Bob Dylan, Jackson traces the growth of outlaw country, the evolution of Motown, the beginnings of rap, the rise of disco, and the origins of punk. These sections may be of the most interest to rock fans, as they demonstrate how this dominate genre fed others and learned from them.


My single criticism is that despite the book's format (four seasons), readers may still get overwhelmed by minutiae that could only be of interest to very dedicated fans of a given artist. Otherwise, this is a welcome trip back to rock's heyday, as well as a reflection on the current state of the genre.

DISCLAIMER: A digital version of this book was given to me by NetGallery in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I waiver between 3 and 4 stars on this one because it was a mixed bag for me.

1973 was amongst my most important formative years and music played a big part in all of that. Like so many, a song from that time frame can take me back to a time and place within seconds.

I loved the many facts listed in this book, but also was a little disappointed that the book really seemed more list-like to me than anything. There seemed to be an amazing opportunity to share photos and to flesh out the stories a little more fully.

I was very pleased to see the book did not simply touch on ROCK but on many genres of music.

At this point, I am undecided about whether I would purchase a copy for myself, but I might borrow it from the library as another walk down memory lane.

This book was nothing like I expected. I thought it was just going to be a typical book on 70’s music. I was so happily wrong.

This is a fantastic exploration of the world in 1973, using the music of the times as a guide. You don’t have to be from the 70’s to really get into it. It takes you there.

The author took what could have been a really mundane subject and made it alive. I could really feel and understand the times and the music. I was born in the 70’s so it was a lot of fun to read about 1973 in such an interesting way.

How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley

This was a wonderful book, although I do admit that the historical detail sometimes went over my head. There's A LOT of stuff about musical history from that time, and by a lot, I mean that only a true fan of rock will know ALL of the musicians that were talked about in this book. Regardless, I enjoyed it immensely because there was so much new information.

The thing I liked best about the book was that it wasn't solely about the music - there were so many cultural tidbits, little side stories about people who were influential - even the Watergate scandal is touched upon. Big movements and events are also discussed, for example, there are stories about how music influenced the women's equality movement, the LGBT movement and it seems all sorts of other freedoms that weren't even considered before made themselves apparent in the decade. It's like everything happened in 1973! Everything in the latest cultural history that matters... Basically had its roots then. Fascinating.

Anyway, this book is quite detailed and in depth and may prove to be a little much if you're expecting an easy read. But for a true fan or for someone who is curious about the detailed history of music throughout 1973 (and not only), this is a wonderful read. I really enjoyed it despite my lack of knowledge in the area.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

Awesome must read! A trip down memory lane back to simpler, and to me, far more entertaining times. My memory isn't serving me as well as it might, but it seems some events in this book belong in 71-72, other more so in 74...Ah, well, all long gone, so it's all the same. I enjoyed every page. Rock on Andrew! This would make a fine gift for someone who misses the decade, or is in love with it.

How to pass up a book about music in 1973? Impossible! Bowie, Pink Floyd, Springsteen... such great music to re-live! I say read it, and then make a playlist to enjoy repeatedly!

Originally, I thought this would be a book about rock bands, etc. I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that the book encompasses ALL genres of interest in the early 1970's. I admit that I was 22 that year yet a lot of that time holds fond (and some not so fond) remembrances for me.

A completely comprehensive, very detailed, account of the year 1973 (and a bit of 1972 and 1974). This read includes (but is not limited to) songs & artists, news, films, sports and more. Information from the mainstream newspapers to the Village Voice is depicted.

This is a NOT TO MISS read for those from that generation as well as anyone interested in this era.

Great Work, Andrew Grant Jackson!!!

Many Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for a wonderful piece of nostalgia.

1973- What an incredible year! Of course, for rock music, the main focus of this book, but also for the world in general. I can't imagine a better documentation the artists, the music and the world events (that can't be ignored) when taking a detailed look at how they all influenced each other. All the elements combined birthed some truly incredible work. The back stories and glimpses behind the scenes are all truly note-worthy. Andrew Grant Jackson has infused so much passion and diligence in this work, that it should go down in history as one of the greatest tributes to music of all times. Beautifully done.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Informative and amusing anecdotes of one of the greatest years in Rock music - 1973. So may great albums, momentous changes in both rock culture and the history of the day. Worth reading for the social commentaryalone, but if you remember the music, you'll love it. And if you weren't there, read it anyway, it's fascinating.

I'll be honest, I was sucked in by the cover of this book. I was way off the mark with my expectations, I wasn't expecting quite so much reading! I thought this book was going to have information but with awesome visuals littered throughout, like the ones on the cover, but unfortunately there are none. Now that I know what this book is, it is not for me personally. I would definitely recommend it for big music buffs who are fans of the era and interested in the artists of that time.

1973. Music at is finest.

What a fascinating look at a year filled with bad ass music.

This book gives us a look at how the world influenced some of the best musicians ever and how their music influenced the world.