Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation [Hardcover]

Elliott Landy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1994

From the legendary cover of Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline, through the Woodstock festival, right down to the pictures for The Band's new compact disc, photographer Elliot Landy has had his finger on the pulse of the Woodstock Generation. He was there before the famous festival, hanging out with Dylan and The Band; he became the photographer of record at the festival itself; and he still lives in the town of Woodstock today. To coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival (which originally took place on a farm in Bethel, 90 minutes away), Landy offers a celebration, in word and image, of what he calls the Woodstock Vision, "a way of thinking and being that created the time so many look back on as the most important period of their lives - a time that not only continues to inspire them but that has been embraced by a younger generation as well." All the superstars are here in Landy's intimate backstage and onstage glimpses of rock's heyday: never-before-published images of Dylan and The Band, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Joan Baez, Van Morrison, Richie Havens, and more. There are also other photos from Landy's career (celebrity parties, peace demonstrations) which highlight the idealistic vision of the counterculture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Continuum Intl Pub Group (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826406629
• ISBN-13: 978-0826406620
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,550,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars... great pictures, July 25, 2009

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation (Hardcover)

The market is being flooded with all things related to the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock festival. I did not attend it (I was too young, being just 9 at the time) but it always has interested me. When I saw this book at my local library the other day, I immediately snapped it up.

"Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation" (225 pages) is a coffee table book from photographer Elliot Landy. While it has many good qualities to it (more on that later), it is a curious affair. First of all, this is a revised version of the same coffee table book that was issued in 1994. I haven't seen the 1994 book, so I cannot tell how much was actually revised to merit a 2009 reissue (other than to cash in on the 40th anniversary boom, the cynic in me is thinking). Second, the cover adds a tag line saying "with an introduction by Jerry Garcia". Huh? Didn't dude pass away in 1995? His actual "introduction" is found midway in the book, a mere 3 paragraph reflection on Woodstock. Third, this book is not just about Woodstock. More than half of the book is on other events, including the first 30 pages on the 1967-68 era, with plenty of pictures of the growing anti-Vietnam war movement.

Now for the good: there are tons of fabulous pictures from Elliot Landy's archive, including among many others Bob Dylan (and his family) era-1969 (of course Dylan did not play at Woodstock, but he did live in the area at that time). There are about 100 pages of pictures of the Woodstock festival itself, and they are a marvel to look at (they are mixed up with recollections on the festival from many people, organizers and attendees alike). In all, this coffee table book is not bad, but not really great either. If you want a coffee table book on just Woodstock, I'd recommend the recently issued "Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked The World" in a heartbeat.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting Woodstock!, October 17, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation (Hardcover)

This 2009 version of WOODSTOCK VISION, THE SPIRIT OF A GENERATION is an expanded, revised update of Elliott Landy's 1994 book. Since 2009 is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, it's appropriate that Landy reimage his original vision. The result is a more realized appreciation of the Three Days of Peace, Love, Music and Dope.

WOODSTOCK VISION VERSION 2009 tops out at 224 pages; the 1994 edition was 128 pages. While Landy has added some new photographs, some photos that were 1/4 or 1/2 page in the original book are now full-page. Likewise some of the shots that were run in black and white in 1994 are now printed in color. Visually the 2009 edition is much more pleasing to the eye.

New to the 2009 edition are a number of reminscences by Woodstock vets - producers, moneymen, photographers, Max Yasgur himself, the festival security chief, audience members, Woodstock residents, etc. I found it curious Landy didn't include any performers' reminiscences in that section but that's just me.

In any case, WOODSTOCK VISION is a nice addition to the Woodstock bookshelf. Part coffee-table photolog, part "I was there" social history, it takes the reader back to those groovy times with insightful commentary but mostly gorgeous imagery. Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Woodstock Vision" Rocks!, October 16, 2009

By 

Scott M. Cooper (Venice, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation (Hardcover)

Elliot Landy's "Woodstock Vision" is articulate in giving one a "you were there" perspective of the culture 40 years ago, alongside Landy's work as a photographer leading up to the Woodstock Festival. What might have enhanced the book would have been more substantive essays on the cultural significance of the event and period, albeit in fairness to the book, it's a good blend of reflections and photographs, giving one a "feel" for what the period was about. Good purchase!