Utopia Avenue

David Mitchell, (the author, not the comedian and actor) has written this novel about two years in the life of a British band formed in 1967. Folksinger, Elf Holloway, blues base guitarist, Dean Moss, guitarist Jasper de Zoet and jazz drummer, Griff Griffin combine their extensive talents to form a psychedelic, pop, rock, folk band named Utopia Avenue. 

The story of how these musicians met and learned to work together to showcase their music forms the basis of the novel which is divided into sections reflecting their three LPs. Music runs throughout the novel, not just the story of the band and the lives of the individual band members, but scattered throughout the book are names of musicians from the late 1960s. For those of us who grew up in the 1960s the book takes us on a musical trip back to our youth.

The book is definitely about life in the 1960s and sex, drugs and rock ' n' roll, but it also portrays four very different individuals as they have the chance to develop their talent and be accepted in the higher regions of the pop music world at that time. 

As the story evolves  all the characters have to come to terms with who they really are and decide on the lives they really want to live. Dean struggles to reconcile his relationship with his father. As a person with schizophrenia, Jasper also has to face his demons from the past as well as in the present. Each chapter focusses on one character but through that character's story the story of the group as a whole is devolped. I really enjoyed through fiction this brief glimpse into a world of music past.

Retro Melbourne

Published in 2014 Fred Williams has collected in this book photographs showing the city of Melbourne (and Victoria) in the 1950s and 1960s. Sections of the book include the city, suburbs, lifestyle and recreation, sport and entertainment, churches, railways plus a section on country towns. The book provides a snapshot of our recent past. Some photos of the buildings are familiar while others show views of Melbourne and suburbs that have disappeared.

Remember the State Savings Bank of Victoria, the newspaper sellers outside Flinders Street Station, the State Library, Art Gallery and Museum housed in one set of buildings, Coop's Shot Tower before the building of Melbourne Central and Ansett-ANA.

With the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday there are photos of fashionable ladies in 1952, 1963 and 1969 as well as photos of the actual race. The Olympic Games in 1956, Australian Rules Football including a photo of Richmond winning the 1980 VFL grand final, Davis Cup tennis at Kooyong and cricket at the MCG feature in the chapter on sport.

Moomba, early television (covers from TV Week), the making of the film, On the Beach, plus phots of the Seekers and Normie Rowe bring back memories. Many of the photographs show buildings built in the 1800s showcasing part of the history of Victoria. The section on the railways provides another glimpse of Victoria's past.

Growing up in Melbourne in the 1950s and 1960s, Metro Melbourne is a book of memories.