The Summer of Love - 40 Years Ago

Since Labor Day is considered as basically the end of Summer this is a good time to look back to that time 40 yrs ago that came to be known as the Summer of Love. I was only 11 at the time, but I do remember a lot of the music & events of that era.

The nexus of everything was the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco. & the big event was the Monterey International Pop Festival. Hippies, LSD, free love, flower power, etc. For better or worse it defined my generation.

But the heart of the year was, is & will be the music. Here are few of the classics (bands &/or songs) from Monterey that will last long after the garbage that passes for music today is long forgotten:

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

Scott McKenzie

introduced by Mama Cass Elliot

Monterey

For What Its Worth

Buffalo Springfield

introduced by Peter Tork

Monterey

Homeward Bound

Simon & Garfunkel

introduced by Papa John McKenzie

Monterey

Dancing In The Street

The Mamas & the Papas

Monterey

Ball & Chain

Janis Joplin

Monterey

The Wind Cries Mary

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Monterey

Like A Rolling Stone

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Monterey

Otis Redding

Monterey

Not so Sweet Martha Lorraine

County Joe & the Fish

Monterey

Jefferson Airplane

Monterey

My Generation

The Who

Monterey

Finally here is the song inspired by the festival:

Monterey

Eric Burdon

& HERE IS THE ENTIRE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL LINE UP (I wish I could have found more videos, but this gives a good taste of the Festival & the year's output. For more about Monterey in particular you can go to the link above.)

Friday Evening, June 16

The Association The Paupers Lou Rawls Beverly Johnny Rivers Eric Burdon & The Animals Simon & Garfunkel

Saturday Afternoon, June 17

Canned Heat Big Brother & The Holding Company Country Joe & The Fish Al Kooper The Butterfield Blues Band Quicksilver Messenger Service The Steve Miller Band The Electric Flag

Saturday Night, June 17

Moby Grape Hugh Masekela The Byrds The Butterfield Blues Band Laura Nyro Jefferson Airplane Booker T. & The M.G.’s with The Mar-Keys Otis Redding

Sunday Afternoon, June 18

Ravi Shankar

Sunday Evening, June 18

The Blues Project Big Brother & The Holding Company The Group With No Name Buffalo Springfield The Who The Grateful Dead The Jimi Hendrix Experience Scott McKenzie The Mamas & The Papas