Customer Reviews

Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation

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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.

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.

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!

When I was 15-years-old I walked down the street from my house to a garage sale at my neighbor's in search of LPs. As I fingered through the small selection they had I found three treasures which I enthusiastically purchased for $1 each - Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline, Van Morrison's Moondance and The Band's eponymous second album. It was much later in my life that I finally realized all three of these albums shared one glaring commonality - the exquisite imagery of Elliott Landy.

I recently found myself at the "Who Shot Rock & Roll" exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. It was to no surprise that I found many of Mr. Landy's photos gracing the walls. I was interrupted from sitting against the wall in the gift shop reading "Woodstock Vision" by somebody who asked me, "hey, are you gonna pay for that?" - "Of course!"

Mr. Landy's images are some of the most recognizable of any photographer's working in the 20th century. His pictures are tantamount to the lasting effect his subjects had on a generation of Americans. Though I was born 14 years after Woodstock, I can say this book epitomizes what that experience would have been like had I been there. A generation has Mr. Landy to thank for a life's work of beautiful memories.

Pouring over "Woodstock Vision" has helped me further enjoy the beauty of still photography.

I first met Elliott at the Bethel Woods Museum opening. I was impressed at that time by his generous spirit and warm smile.
We met again at Bethel Woods when I took my 15 year old daughter to see CSN last Summer.

Elliott was signing copies of his book and was even more generous with his time and spirit as he shared his history with photography and darkrooms with Neeleigh who was just getting into taking photos. Of course I bought this book, put it away for a Christmas gift and was totally struck by it when it showed up under the tree.

As beautiful and striking as the images of Woodstock and Dylan at his home around Woodstock are, I was totally absorbed by his writing - about his experience in and around New York, covering the news and fashion and music of the time. And that was the greatest surprise of it all.

It just reads and feels totally genuine, in spirit and execution.

Time well spent, it sits on our table in the living room and is an easy trip to another time and place.

Beyond Woodstock Vision being a gorgeous engaging photographic essay, it was the text- the stories from all the different people who came together to make Woodstock happen that makes it so special and sets it apart from many other books on the subject. It gave a feeling for how it came together, and at the time not realizing what an impact this would have on future generations. The interviews allow the reader to lose themselves in those moments and feel the excitement of an event that gave a generation a hopeful vision for the future through a very difficult time in our country. Bravo Elliot

Previous reviewers here have just about said it all...5 stars. This is a greatly expanded version of a previous edition and I'm glad I have both. Elliot was THERE as an official photographer of the Woodstock Festival and is clearly a professional in every sense of the word.

It ranks among my favorite books on Woodstock, and I've bought them ALL, having missed the 60s by virtue of being a science major instead of a liberal arts major in College during the 60s. You can check out this book and all of his other work at [...]

Congratulations Elliot...nice job.

Roger P. Orcutt, Ph.D.
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