The Art of Rock by Paul D. Grushkin (1987, Hardcover)

Now 20+ years old, this book is still the single most descriptive and pictorial story of 1960s thru 1970s rock music poster art following 1968's Art Eureka. Although it tries to bring the reader up to speed on earlier period music posters pre-dating the1960s, it focuses more on the psychedelic era when this art form was intimate and pure to both artists and dance-concert goers - sort of a magical time for youth and old alike participating in a cultural blooming not seen since. The large oversize format and reproduction quality is excellent and sensitive to the current eyesight of the age group that lived the times. The story behind the scenes of the art-making, and artists themselves, is made even more enjoyable by adding faces, personalities, and historical snippets to produce a depth of the times not experienced by just viewing a simple book of 1960s poster reproductions. But good as it is, the 1987 release leaves much room for revision since it offers only an incomplete showing of the Family Dog Poster Series. The Fillmore Poster Series is complete along with more substantial commentary by Bill Graham. Conspicuously absent though is equal commentary from Chet Helms, the Family Dog's most prominent founding member. The book also leaves out all key Moscoso pieces that were a major part of the more colorful Family Dog Poster Series during late 1966 and early 1967. With these unfortunate gaps noted, for whatever reason, this volume will still stimulate and enrich the minds of those in search of a historical account of the Psychedelic Art Period in America.