In the mid-1970s, New York City was a musical laboratory, where the sounds of punk rock and hip-hop, disco and salsa, loft jazz and Minimalists collided and intermingled. The city was crumbling, crime rampant, and the government broke, but amidst the chaos, musicians found solace in the cheap rent and boundless opportunities for musical exploration.
In his groundbreaking audiobook, Love Goes to Buildings on Fire, author Will Hermes takes us on a journey through the vibrant music scenes of the era, where musicians borrowed, admired, and reinvented one another's styles. From the Greenwich Village of post-Dylan days to the salsa and hip-hop birthed in the arson-scarred South Bronx, from the reimagined jazz and classical music in Lower Manhattan lofts to the electric energy of clubs like CBGB and the Gallery, this book provides a panoramic view of a time when music was being rewritten block by block.
But the musicians didn't just reshape music; they reinvented themselves. Willie Colón and the Fania All-Stars rented Yankee Stadium, bringing salsa to the masses. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith claimed Manhattan as their own, infusing it with their raw talent. Grandmaster Flash transformed the turntable into a musical instrument, and David Byrne and Talking Heads showed the world that rock music wasn't just child's play.
Author Will Hermes was there, immersing himself in the darkness of small rooms where the revolution was unfolding. In Love Goes to Buildings on Fire, he captures the relentless creativity, unwavering drive, and insatiable lust for life of the iconic New York musicians of that transformative era. They knew that the music they were creating would change the world, and their passion is palpable through every word.
Narrated by Adam Verner, this audiobook is a glimpse into the magic and madness of a bygone era. With a rating of 2.8/5, Love Goes to Buildings on Fire captivates listeners for 13 hours and 1 minute, inviting them to listen, to feel, and to rediscover the music that shaped a generation.
