1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love

by Harvey Kubernik

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Summer of Love” and the revolutionary music of 1967.
During late spring 1967, tens of thousands of young people began streaming into San Francisco, kicking off a counterculture revolution and cultural explosion that was the Summer of Love. Now, on the 50th anniversary of that revolutionary event, acclaimed journalist and pop culture historian Harvey Kubernik takes us on an insider’s look at the happenings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and beyond—in the months leading up to, during, and after that seminal summer—through the lens of rock music.

This lush volume features a trove of little-known and previously unpublished interviews with scenemakers and musicians of the time and the people who knew them; psychedelic festival posters, concert flyers, and other 1960s ephemera; and stunning images from acclaimed photographers of the era.
 

Genres: History, Music, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2017

About the author

Harvey Kubernik, a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, is a veteran music journalist whose work has been published nationally in Melody Maker, The Los Angeles Free Press, Crawdaddy, Musician, Goldmine, MIX, The Los Angeles Times, and MOJO, among other publications. As a West Hollywood and Laurel Canyon insider, he has unparalleled access to the sources, personalities, and even those who are still based in the beauty of the Canyon. Ray Manzarek was co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors and, along with other members of that seminal band, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues as an active and touring rock n roll performer along with ex-Doors member Robby Krieger and has performed over the decades with Iggy Pop and poet Michael McClure. He has produced music with Echo and the Bunnymen and the band X."

Reviews

[Bevan Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully designed and illustrated history of rock music in 1967. Much of the book consists of text boxes with first person memories or reportage from the time. The rest of the writing either affects or is deliberately written in the trippy style of the time. Some might like it but to me it's a bit distracting and over the top. Interesting content though and great as a starting point for discovering or rediscovering the music of the era.

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how all of this information is presented, and how the quotes and pictures really help paint the picture of 1967

[Rod · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh, there's a lot here! Though there are a lot of pictures throughout these pages (and some of them are rather large) there is still a lot of text to get through -- and a lot of information to take in. Like the creation of FM radio, the rise to supremacy of the 33 rpm LP over the 45 rpm single, and the creation of the entire concept of the rock festival. Admittedly, many of the personalities interviewed here might tend to ramble a bit or wax poetic, and I found myself more than once having to re-read some passages to fully figure out what someone was trying to say. But for the most part much of this book seems to kind of confirm a feeling that I've had for a long time: That many of the movers and shakers of "the hippie movement" in the 60's actually had their heads screwed on much more straight than it is fashionable to give them credit for these days.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book! Interspersed with the great text were some amazing pictures from Henry Diltz and Guy Webster, Henrys images so brilliant capturing the places as well as the people! Highly recommended

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio, last Summer. The Hall of Fame had a complete exhibit of the "Summer of Love". My husband & I loved the exhibit as that was one of the best times in our lives. We were young and the music we listened to and musicians we saw in person are etched in our memories.

This book takes each month in 1967 and tells what was going on in the music industry. It shows what a spectacular year 1967 was in the music world, especially in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
It is a heavy and large "table top" book so not something you can "curl up with" but if The Summer of Love was meaningful to you or you are interested in the music of that time, you are going to love this book.

[Lisa Kizer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! So much potential that was not there. I was not around in the 60s but I love the music. Raised on Janis, Jimi and the Stones. When I saw this book I thought "Wow! Great a story about at least one year. The photos are phenomenal, but the story - not there. The book mentions and quotes people who I have no idea are. The most irritating factor about the book is the font. Hard to read and make out names if all the letters are not printing - all the way through the book. Some band I never heard of with letters in the name missing. Blah.

[Dorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

1967
By Harvey Kubernik
2017
Sterling

Beatniks turned into hippies!!
This coffee table sized book captures the events of 1967, month by month using glossy pics, quotes and text. Really well done, and put together, this is really a walk through the past.
Smothers Brothers....FM radio...Underground News....headphones....stereo components...anti war demonstrations....race riots....music festivals.....
San Francisco. Hollywood. New York.
"turn on...tune in...dropout"
Awesome...Recommended.

[Chy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the pictures! They’re the highlight of the book for me.

However I found the writing to be a bit all over the place and would have preferred something more cohesive.

[Ray]

Entertaining. I am a music fan so this is one really appealed to me. It was so engrossing for me, that I had a hard time putting it down last night. Read it in two days. A real page turner for me, well written, and very informative. Discovered some new bands.