Customer Reviews

Grateful Dead: What a Long, Strange Trip: The Stories Behind Every Song 1965-1995

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Pete Townsend of The Who, after playing on the same bill with the Dead at a two-day festival, made an observation that partially sums up the very existence of those known as "Deadheads". He said "They played two 3-hour sets and didn't repeat a song; we played the same set we've been doing for the last 6 years". The Dead had a hefty catalog of songs (of course,they also performed excellent cover versions of others' tunes). This book is a fan's dream because it is a compilation of original songs with historical/anecdotal/interpretive background information on each selection. As any appreciator of the band knows, Jerry Garcia collaborated with poet/songwriter Robert Hunter on the majority of Dead originals; Hunter keeps company with the likes of Bob Dylan in anybody's list of great American rock pen-wielders.Dead guitarist Bob Weir wrote many songs performed by the band with long-time friend and cyber-genius John Barlowe. The beauty of Grateful Dead songs is their double-edged nature; yes, "Casey Jones" is based on a real train conductor and a real train wreck (Americana!), but the writers weave their own experience and ambiguous view of life into the song.Simply stated, the songs are deceptively DEEP - deep in meaning and deep in the soil of the American experience. Don't look for this book to explain what every song meant (that's for you to ponder, Hunter would say). However, there is invaluable and often just fun background (i.e.the Altamont tragedy and "New Speedway Boogie"; the staccato rhythmn of "The Greatest Story Ever Told" being loosely based on the sound made by a pump on Mickey Hart's ranch). Pick this book up, even if you only have a few minutes, turn to any page, and be enlightened and entertained.

I had been periodically browsing Dodds' Annotated Lyrics website, when I realized I needed more. I picked up this book, as well as the published version of Dodds' work, and found that they each have information that the other does not. If you really want to dig deep into the roots of the music of the Grateful Dead, I recommend this book as part of your process.

If you enjoy the Dead you'll enjoy the stories behind the songs. There is nothing superficial about what Peter's writes. You'll thoroughly enjoy this book.

very interesting book. well worth checking out! did notice a few errors on dates of pictures.on page 136 it shows the band playing in copenhagen in 1973? mickey's in the picture and he wasn't with the band in '73. they didn't play in copenhagen in '73 they did in '72 though.by looking at the picture, my guess would be '70 never the less "grate" book. enjoy!