Rating: 
Summary: The Summer of Love That Never Happened
Review: "Summer of Love" may have been a bit over the top with it's tabloid style coverage of the rise and fall of the San Francisco music scene, but it was a fun read. Author Joel Selvin does have his facts straight and seldom misspeaks on this insider's account of bands like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Selvin devotes a fair amount of coverage of the Bill Graham organization and the Family Dog, the primary promoters of live music in the old ballrooms of San Francisco. That coverage is justified because it is doubtful that this music would have found a national audience without the vibrant live music scene in the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms. And it is all there: Quicksilver's obsession with firearms; the Lovin' Spoonful's narking out on the manager of the improv group, the Committee; Janice Joplin's turbulent love life; Marty Balin's courageous attempts to diffuse the violence at Altamont, the internal bickering of the Grateful Dead which lead them to serve "walking papers" to Pig Pen and Bob Weir for not having enough musical talent, and Bill Graham's fisticuffs with just about anyone who disagreed with him. If you loved the music of Haight-Ashbury, you will enjoy "Summer of Love." Oh by the way, the expression "summer of love" was just a media label for the San Francisco music phenomena and I think some of the other critics have taken the book title too literally.
Rating:
Summary: The Summer of Love That Never Happened
Review: "Summer of Love" may have been a bit over the top with it's tabloid style coverage of the rise and fall of the San Francisco music scene, but it was a fun read. Author Joel Selvin does have his facts straight and seldom misspeaks on this insider's account of bands like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Selvin devotes a fair amount of coverage of the Bill Graham organization and the Family Dog, the primary promoters of live music in the old ballrooms of San Francisco. That coverage is justified because it is doubtful that this music would have found a national audience without the vibrant live music scene in the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms. And it is all there: Quicksilver's obsession with firearms; the Lovin' Spoonful's narking out on the manager of the improv group, the Committee; Janice Joplin's turbulent love life; Marty Balin's courageous attempts to diffuse the violence at Altamont, the internal bickering of the Grateful Dead which lead them to serve "walking papers" to Pig Pen and Bob Weir for not having enough musical talent, and Bill Graham's fisticuffs with just about anyone who disagreed with him. If you loved the music of Haight-Ashbury, you will enjoy "Summer of Love." Oh by the way, the expression "summer of love" was just a media label for the San Francisco music phenomena and I think some of the other critics have taken the book title too literally.
Rating:
Summary: Book Missing A Chapter??
Review: Am I the only one who finds it odd that a book entitled "Summer of Love" is missing the chapter called "Summer 1967?" Or was that intentional? The chapter called Spring 1967 precedes the photo section in the middle of the book, ending with the words "Monterey International Pop Festival." After the photo section, we're suddenly in "Fall 1967," with the words "The so-called Summer of Love left San Francisco in a mess..." What happened? Did I get a copy without that chapter? The pages are continuously numbered... I would have rated this a 5, but I feel gypped!
Rating:
Summary: Rich and detailed.
Review: As rock is now redundant and is the classical music of the 20th century, I have been seeking out the great rock music of the past. Following a recent trip to San Francisco and Haight-Ashbury, I've been getting heavily into West Coast sixties psychedelia/hippy bands (although I was only 4 in 1967). This book was a great read and helped me understand the scene in more depth. I quickly gave up on keeping pace with the vast array of characters and players in this book and focussed more on the bands, the scene, and the events. This book is a must for any lover of rock music and is an important detailed historical document. Feed your head.
Rating: 
Summary: Must Read
Review: For as long as I can remember, I've been entranced by the music of Janis, Jerry...all the greats. Though I wasn't able to live through these crazy times, "Summer of Love" transported me back in time...almost to the point where I felt I was actually there for some of the madness. Joel Selvin definitely delivers with the true stories of the rises and falls of the likes of Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and many more. This is a must read for anyone with a true love of the peace/love time period.
Rating: 
Summary: I returned this book to the Seller
Review: I cannot preview this book because it did not contain the information I needed and returned it to the Seller.
Rating: 
Summary: A wealth of detail, incoherent presentation
Review: I don't care how interesting the material is - if a book is poorly written, I invariably get frustrated and set it aside. I grow weary of wondering "Why can't this person write a coherent, orderly narrative? Where was the editor?"So it was with this book. I thought it might be me, but then I found myself reading a similarly awkward piece in MOJO and, sure enough, Selvin was the author. He obviously has a passion for the subject matter, but I expect a higher level of exposition for my money. My judgment: if you want a lot of colorful details about this fascinating period, you'll probably enjoy the book, as other reviewers have. However, if you put a premium on clarity of presentation, be forewarned. Two stars, plus one for attention to historical detail.
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of detail, incoherent presentation
Review: I don't care how interesting the material is - if a book is poorly written, I invariably get frustrated and set it aside. I grow weary of wondering "Why can't this person write a coherent, orderly narrative? Where was the editor?" So it was with this book. I thought it might be me, but then I found myself reading a similarly awkward piece in MOJO and, sure enough, Selvin was the author. He obviously has a passion for the subject matter, but I expect a higher level of exposition for my money. My judgment: if you want a lot of colorful details about this fascinating period, you'll probably enjoy the book, as other reviewers have. However, if you put a premium on clarity of presentation, be forewarned. Two stars, plus one for attention to historical detail.
Rating:
Summary: What's up with this guy?
Review: I thought it was really weird the way the author trashed Janis Joplin throughout. His characterization of her was stereotypical and demeaning at best. And his complete and total dismissal of her subsequent work with the Kozmic Blues band and Full Tilt band, (found in his innane synopsis of artists at the end of the book) is also a mystery. Kozmic Blues "lame", and Pearl a "Hollywood handjob"? Give me a break. It makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the book is, although it is an engaging read. Joel, get a grip. Janis was the belle of the ball during the Summer of Love, not some raging egomaniac like you portray her. She was the embodiment of the scene there, and you make her out to be some kind of piece of trash. But then again, you didn't start writing for the SF Chronicle until 1972. So WHERE the hell were YOU during the summer of love?
Rating:
Summary: What's up with this guy?
Review: I thought it was really weird the way the author trashed Janis Joplin throughout. His characterization of her was stereotypical and demeaning at best. And his complete and total dismissal of her subsequent work with the Kozmic Blues band and Full Tilt band, (found in his innane synopsis of artists at the end of the book) is also a mystery. Kozmic Blues "lame", and Pearl a "Hollywood handjob"? Give me a break. It makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the book is, although it is an engaging read. Joel, get a grip. Janis was the belle of the ball during the Summer of Love, not some raging egomaniac like you portray her. She was the embodiment of the scene there, and you make her out to be some kind of piece of trash. But then again, you didn't start writing for the SF Chronicle until 1972. So WHERE the hell were YOU during the summer of love?
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