The Deadhead's Taping Compendium, VOLUME II: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1975-1985 [Paperback]

Michael Getz (Author), John Dwork (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 1999

Over the past year the community of fans who proudly refer to themselves as Deadheads had many reasons to rejoice as the reconfigured Grateful Dead once again returned to the road, touring the country as The Other Ones. Concurrently, Volume 1 of The Deadhead's Taping Compium, 1959-1974 was published to great acclaim as an invaluable resource and documentation of the music that has had such a deep effect on so many lives. Now, fans can continue their celebration. Volume 2 offers a complete guide to the more than seven hundred shows that the Dead played between 1975 and 1985. These are the exciting years when the band's following grew dramatically. The review of every show includes: the date and location of the show; a complete list of all the songs played; the length, source, and genealogy of the tape; plus a rating of its quality, a comprehensive review of the show, often song by song, that captures the special moments of each concert. More than seventy-five photos of The Grateful Dead-including a sixteen-page color insert-make this a lavish and indispensable book for every Deadhead.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Unique among major rock bands, the Dead actively sanctioned the taping of live concerts. This policy nurtured a subculture of Deadheads who have traded thousands of tapes over the years. This is the second of a projected three volume series documenting every known live Grateful Dead recording in circulation. (The first volume, covering the years 1959-74, appeared in 1998.) Getz, a poet and lyricist, and Dwork, a rock music scholar, divide the book into three parts: a historical overview of the Grateful Dead taping phenomenon, a chronological listing of hundreds of shows from 1975 to 1985, and a guide to recommended versions of selected songs, videos, films, and band-related web sites. Each entry in the chronology includes the date and location of the show, the songs played, the existing tapes, show highlights, and a "Comments" section. Dozens of rare photographs, many in color, cap off the book. As with the first volume, the biggest flaw is the lack of an index. While primarily aimed at tape collectors, this series is a gold mine of information for any Grateful Dead fan. Recommended for larger popular music collections and where the Grateful Dead is popular.ALloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"For Deadheads-especially tape collectors, this book is a treasure-an invaluable resource." (Billboard)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (August 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805061401
• ISBN-13: 978-0805061406
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #521,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Serious flaws marr this book's usefulness, September 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Deadhead's Taping Compendium, VOLUME II: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1975-1985 (Paperback)

One would like not to be a spoilsport where the Deadhead's Taping Compendium is concerned. After all, the work put into it is simply amazing; and I enjoy reading show and tape reviews as much as anyone. However, any serious Deadhead will find several flaws that spoil the book's usefulness. Firstly is the severe lack of subediting the second volume seems to have received. One can put up with an 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' instead of 'It's All Over Now' (a completely different song) in one setlist or even a few. It's listed here in just about every setlist -- even in the 'hot versions' section at the back of the book. Another example: in a review of a Letterman appearance in 1982, the Dead were apparently pushing 'the forthcoming' Go To Heaven LP -- which was released two years earlier. These are just two examples of hundreds and they spoil my enjoyment and trust of the book. Secondly, the standard of reviews swings wildly. Some of the reviewers (Bob Clinton, Adrian Pide) are simply inept and should not have been published. Others, like John Dwork himself, I admire; I almost always agree with their thoughts on the music. But when they gush about close encounters with the Dead, the book becomes embarrassing. Dwork's starry-eyed account of how he blocked Garcia's entry into a hotel is a perfect example of the blind worship that drove the Dead to despair. These should certainly have been edited. Thirdly, there is a spectacular amount of Weir-bashing in this book. Given Garcia's erratic playing in the years 1978-1985, Bob Weir took up much of the slack and saved many a show from disaster. Yet again and again one finds reviewers treating him like he was an unattractive kid brother (this attitude towards a man older than most of the reviewers' fathers mimics the perceived [not entirely real] Garcia/Weir relationship). I don't want to sound too harsh; this book is an important and enjoyable publication. Still, I'd recommend Eric Wybenga's Dead to the Core before this volume. There's a definitive book to be written on the music of the Dead in these years; this isn't it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They've done it again!, July 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Deadhead's Taping Compendium, VOLUME II: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1975-1985 (Paperback)

Michael Goetz and company have done it again! This book has more in-depth, historical interviews with tapers from the Deadhead community, more information on soundboard releases, and another batch of incredible photos from people's collections. Sure, there are some errors in song titles and some missing shows, but there are a number of fine reviews by a number of contributors. If you enjoyed Volume I and enjoy Deadbase, go get Volume II of The Compendium as well. You'll be glad you did...I am!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad if used properly, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Deadhead's Taping Compendium, VOLUME II: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1975-1985 (Paperback)

As someone who wrote reviews for this (and the forthcoming) volume, I certainly enjoy the book. The criticisms of "a reader" above are certainly valid, which is why this book should not be billed or used as a reference book. Without question, there are many errors, but I use the book primarily as an enjoyable way to check out other people's opinions of shows I attended or have on tape. For that, it's unsurpassed.