Book Review - All Summer Long
Growing up, and spending my entire life, in Southern California, I must admit that I did not know very much about the surf culture that dominated the early 60s. Sure, I knew about Frankie and Annette, the Beach Boys, and Gidget, but not much else. Tht all changed when I picked up a copy of Dumb Angel Number 4 - All Summer Long. Editors Brian Chidester and Domenic Priore lay out the magazine in vibrant color (as well as black and white where appropriate) and truly captures the essence of what the 60s were all about in a way most of us have never seen.
The Magazine focuses on the LA scene and expands out as the popular surf acts attain worldwide acclaim. It covers surf from it’s beginnings as the first surfing exhibition in California in 1907 until the end when Bob Dylan took over the pop-culture scene. There is such an in-deptyh analysis that you would be hard-pressed to find it anywhere else. Definitely will not be able to find it where it is so vibrant and organized. The work done by everyone who contributed to this cannot be denied.
This magazine informs the uninformed and opens eyes to a part of the surf culture that most did not know existed. It informs the reader of every important event that took place toelp shape what we do know about. Finally, it stresses the impotartance surf music had on influencing other types of music from Beatnick to punk. Surf left an invaluable imprint on American society and it cannot be ignored, and neither should All Summer Long.
Todd
