Customer Reviews

The Grateful Dead Reader (Readers on American Musicians)

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This collection brings together some of the best writing about the Dead, and from some previously hard-to-find sources. Included here are fine pieces from noted Dead scholars Blair Jackson, David Gans, and Steve Silberman, but also served up are rare articles that many latter-day Deadheads have likely not had the pleasure of reading. Some are rare like Charlie Haas' wonderful profile of the band (almost worth the price of the book alone) originally published in the now-defucnt "New West" magazine, and Ed McClanahan's equally notable article that appeared in "Playboy" in the early 70's. Others are from masters like Ralph J. Gleason, whose work is wisely included. The editors have done a painstaking job of selecting and presenting the material, most of which was not readily available before.The prestige of the Oxford Universtiy Press is befitting of such an influential, quirky, and uniquely American institution, and editors David Dodd and Diana Spaulding have done them justice.

This book is a nice edition for "a favorite book on the Dead." Prior writings on the band are generally tell-alls by former friends and insiders. However, this is just honest from the seat of the pants good writing by many insightful commentators from the earliest days to the final days. I saw the Dead perform 25 times between 1983-93; and after reading this book I felt that it answered alot of questions. The Dead have always been one of the most difficult bands to capture in words, so you won't be dissapointed in this entertaining and deadon book on the good 'ole Grateful Dead.

Skip it, go buy a dicks picks, you'll feel better. I found this book in a remainder bin, ignored like a mother who doesnt talk to its baby, and the baby shrivels up and dies. Read this book and asked myself, how's your head? Yet another attempt to nurse the dead's legacy, by recycling lots of familiar stuff. Go to the library, get out the readers guide, and make yer own, you'll have a better time.

another piece of psychophanthic dead-lit, I've read more interesting stuff. i wish someone would publish something thought provoking and intelligent on the dead, i feel ripped off having bought this book (I have to have everything you see). nothing new here, buy only if you have to have everything (like me)
Peace.

I'd already read a lot of this stuff, and the editor's text was annoying and pretentious (check out his website for more laughs...) Well, at least I borrowed it from a friend. Don't get me wrong - I love the Dead!