1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music

1965 could have been a direct, entertaining account of that year’s music. Instead, this nonfiction account begins with Acknowledgements, a Selected Time Line, an Introduction, and a Prologue before the actual text. The ending is followed by an Epilogue. And, instead of simply discussing the music of the year, Andrew Grant Jackson proceeds to try to cover all the political and social developments of the time, with too much attention paid to psychedelic drugs. It’s boring.

One or two errors would be excusable, but there are too many in 1965. Jackson writes that the Beatles tried to out-jangle the Byrds with the song, “Nowhere Man.” No, it was Harrison’s “If I Needed Someone.” He lists the Beatles’ “Think For Yourself” as a song about politics and free expression. No, it was a break-up song. He writes that the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Daydream” was a remake of “Baby Love” by the Supremes. That’s not even close. And, he cites “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys as a drug song. It was a remake of a West Indies folk song, recorded earlier by the innocent Kingston Trio.

This book had a lot of potential which, due to its structure and errors, was needlessly wasted.