by Linanne G. Sackett and Barry Z. Levine is much more than photographs of the infamous peace concert called Woodstock. It's a chronicle of the festival from its inception to its completion. Levine's images are immediate, palpable, and candid, while Sackett's storytelling is clipped, providing only the essential details readers will need to grasp the photos before them. The foreward, written by Wavy Gravy, discusses the nostalgia he felt after seeing the book in its completion, and he notes that even though the outdoor festival ended, the principals and dreams of Woodstock live on."People, who were called freaks because of their hair and their way of dressing, came to Woodstock and they said, 'Holy smokes. We're all freaks' and they began to embrace that term. There were a lot of people who opposed the Viet Nam War that thought they were alone. They looked around and realized that they weren't alone--that there were a half a million people who felt the same way," Wavy Gravy says in the book. (Page 3)
tells a lyrical account of the days leading up to the festival, the struggles with locating a large enough venue, and the community created in just a few days. The festival's stages were not even completed before the crowds started arriving. Check out this crowd shot from Barry Levine's Web site."They Stood for their truth
and pointed out lies
They were accused of
Communist ties" (Page 40)
The Woodstock Story Book is an essential photographic history of a tumultuous time in our nation's history.
From my D.C. Literature Examiner preview of the book (check out the full article):
This 40th anniversary, collector's edition provides readers with a backstage pass to the best outdoor event in our nation's history. Even after 40 years, the Woodstock experience in Bethel, New York, between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18, 1969, continues to capture the imagination.
With never-before-seen photos of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, and more, The Woodstock Story Book tells a chronological story of the music festival that became one of Rolling Stone's 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll. There are over 300 full-color photographs in this book and are accompanied by humorous descriptions of the festival. Great for those who remember Woodstock, wished they had been there, or are interested in rock and roll history.
For more information, check out The Woodstock Story Book blog.
Thanks to Lisa Roe at Online Publicist for sending me the book to review.
11 comments:
I wasn't old enough to go to Woodstock, but I would have loved to have been there. I really enjoyed this book!
I wasn't born yet...so there you go. But I've loved Jimi Hendrix since I was a kid. My dad loved the music, not the craziness.
Jerry was born only a couple of months after Woodstock. And then there is the ex whose mother went with 2 guys in a van. LOL
Thanks for letting me peruse this book when we were at your house the other day. I think it gives you a real feel for the emotions wrapped up in the festival. Great review!
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I was just talking with someone about how Woodstock didn't really take place in Woodstock but just outside it somewhere. I can never remember conversations anymore, because it seems that I can have them in so many forums.
I've always been totallly facinated with the whole thing. I've always loved the music and was known for wearing tie dye stuff in college. What I would have given to have been there!
You guys weren't born yet? Boy or boy am I old.
Sheesh.
A great collection. Love the pictures too. I'll have to look this one up.
I saw a show on TV over the summer called Woodstock: 3 days of peace and music. It was absolutely amazing! They remastered it so it looked as though it was shot yesterday. They have some awesome shows by Hendrix, Joplin, Santana, etc. Might want to check it out!
I didn't know you loved Jimi Hendrix. I loved him too! In fact, the first boy I "went after" was because he sort of kind of in a way looked like him (well, not really, but my imagination was hard at work!). I love looking at youtube videos of him at Woodstock!
This looks like it would be educational for those of us who were too young to know much about it. My parents were the perfect ages, and even had hippie hair, but my mom was expecting my oldest sister when this happened (not to mention being far away on the west coast). I should ask them if they would have gone if they would have been able to.
The photos alone make me interested in this book; good to know the prose are worth a look, too.
This is a book I would love to just page through at my leisure.
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