Rock Odyssey: A Chronicle of the Sixties

by Ian Whitcomb

In 1965, Ian Whitcomb's novelty rocker “You Turn Me On” was number eight on the national charts, along with entries from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys. In 1966 he was nowheresville – a certified rock 'n' roll flash in the pan. It is, then, with a survivor's humor that he tells both his and rock's story from its beginnings in the late fifties to 1969, the year of Woodstock and psychedelic dreams of universal peace and love. Here is the saga of the British Invasion, the genesis of folk rock, the blooming of Flower Power, the Summer of Love and the inner workings of the pop music biz, brought to life by a true insider who is also an uninhibitedly acute observer.

Genres: Music

394 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[David Streb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another perspective of the musical 1960s. I enjoyed his memories and comparing them to my own. I liked his hit song and enjoyed his description of his career in music.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a writer! What a wanker! Strange and fascinating and frustrating trip through the psychedelic 60s by a guy who'd rather be strumming 20s songs on his ukelele. Along the way, he runs into a host of big timers including Jagger, Loog Oldham, Sonny Bono, Mae West (!) and many more.

Definitly a great book in that it recalls the '60s as they *were* and has a jaundiced view of the counterculture akin to Hunter S. Thompson or Joan Didion. I don't know, it's something else, you should read it.

[George Kanakaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird style of writing, but he was there...