All Yesterdays' Parties

Starred review from May 1, 2005
British music journalist Heylin, noted for his biographies of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, now tackles the Velvet Underground (VU), a band whose influence far outweighed its popularity. The book is made up of a lengthy essay on the band's importance -Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Mo Tucker are credited with anticipating 1970s punk rock and bringing a streetwise realism to pop music -as well as a wide-ranging collection of reviews, articles, and reproductions of concert posters and flyers. Some of these materials are drawn from major publications (e.g., the "New York Times" and "Rolling Stone"), but most come from important underground publications; all date between 1966 and 1971, when the band was active. Heylin's unique amalgamation reflects the extremes of public reaction to the VU and achieves a balance that Andy Warhol -heavy books and gushing contemporary magazine retrospectives lack. An important resource for academic libraries with popular culture and American popular music collections; it may also interest public libraries, particularly those in large urban areas that maintain collections related to 1960s rock music. -James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH

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