Once Beatlemania properly hit the United States, the commerciality of pop music began to dawn on film producers, who by the time the swinging sixties properly became a "thing", clamoured for any potential act to help boost the chances of their productions. Published at the end of October 2016 is the new book by Simon Matthews which covers this phenomenon, and shows just how widespread it seemed to be. Psychedelic Celluloid - British Pop Music in Film & TV 1965 - 1974 is a well-researched and detailed look at UK film, TV and music during that period.

The publishers note that it was "a time when no film or TV programme was without a group, singer or fantastic soundtrack - and London was briefly the film capital of the world. Containing individual summaries of over 120 films, covering everything from John Barry to Pink Floyd via Blow Up, the Electric Banana, Serge Gainsbourg, Magical Mystery Tour, David Hemmings, Kubrick, Godard, Jodorowsdky [BD note: his adaptation of Dune was due to have a Floyd soundtrack] and the London cast of Hair. With comprehensive listings of over 500 related features, documentaries, TV programmes and shorts, an unforgettable trip through the swinging 60s."

It certainly comes as a surprise the breadth of films which are included, although a few are straight concert/festival films so to my mind, don't necessary fit with the main body of material. Having said that, for fans of the acts in question, it might prove useful to have a guide to these. In terms of the Floyd, there are a lot of good examples included within the pages of this book. Indeed, one of the seeds that led eventually to this book, was research by the author into The Committee, recently released again as part of Pink Floyd The Early Years 1965-1972 box set.

Pretty much all of Pink Floyd's film related material is covered, and films with bits of their music in (such as The Touchables) are also included - some of these will not have been mentioned in Floyd tomes before.

With regard to other artists there are some genuine surprises (for me, at least), such as the Bee Gees' peculiar sounding 1970 film, Cucumber Castle. Some of the oddities within do make one want to investigate further, although that's surely the point of such guides.

A lively, well illustrated and fun book to dip in to, with a concise writing style that doesn't take the subject matter too seriously (an impossible task with some of the fare within); you can get your copy now through the following direct links: Amazon UK, Amazon.com, Amazon Canada, Amazon France, Amazon Germany, Amazon Spain and Amazon Italy. Using our Amazon links also helps us hugely with ongoing site running costs and we really appreciate it!