Customer Reviews

The Psychedelic Rock Files

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jerry lucky's psychedelic guide is, overall, a mixed bag... while lucky seems quite passionate about the topic, the work has some factual errors in it. it includes a decent historical overview, and it is able to present a fairly good look at the regions that produced the various bands that comprised local scenes of psychedelic rock in the u.s.a. and abroad. it is also helpful if you want to know what band was playing where during the 1965-1971 period. it's not an exhaustive look at tour dates and venues. that being said, it's still pretty useful. the section devoted to the bands themselves contains only a very brief and incomplete summary of the bands. it's a decent enough book for beginners, but people who desire more info will probably be disappointed in the work.

To be quite honest, I don't give a damn when exactly the band played at such and such venue, was it raining that day or not, and how many dogs left their turd outside of the club (stadium). There are mistakes in the book - screw it. OK, it's not a psychedelic rock encyclopedia. But: it covers the gap left by "The Great (or Ultimate/or Complete) Rock Discography), introduces forgotten and unknown names - very useful! I found it useful and interesting when it comes to illustrations - an extensive search through the archives of psychedelic posters/art of the era.
Personally, I am very pleased - it's a pretty good guide and a pleasant reading.

The format of a chronological description of major dates in the psychedelic "time-line" is fine but this book suffers from total absence of editing, including spell-check, and originality! Duh, "heroine" for "heroin," "David Gilmore" for "David Gilmour" are just a few obvious flubs. Now and then the author interjects into the descriptive chronology the odd value judgement when it concerns his own fave-raves. The final section, a short review-list of major and minor psychedelic bands, is lifted from better books, like Joynson, etc. In short, this is for the undemanding reader.

Nice book, very interesting and well inform on the subject.
I'm very happy with the deal!