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The American Book of the Dead [Paperback]

Oliver Trager (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

What's the meaning of "The Eleven"? Who were the Warlocks? What's the connection between Harry Belafonte and the Dead? The answers to these and other questions can be found here, amid profiles of the Dead's members and dozens of the artists whose work influenced them; exhaustive analyses of individual songs; explanations of countercultural phenomena (Ken Kesey's Acid Tests); and scads of tie-dyed trivia. -- Entertainment Weekly

Product Description

With never-before-published photos and more than 800 wide-ranging entries, this panoramic look at one of America's most innovative and beloved bands is "a rare encyclopedia that should be savored from beginning to end. Essential." (The Billboard Rock 'n Roll Readers Guide). 190 photos. SimonSays web site feature.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Fireside; Original edition (December 4, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684814021
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684814025
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #472,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

Oliver Trager
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Front Cover | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
A Grateful Dead studio album disguised as Bob Weir's solo debut, Ace is filled with spunky dynamism ("Greatest Story Ever Told"), an ethereal exploration ("Playing in the Band"), good-time rock ("One More Saturday Night"), polka rock ("Mexicali Blues"), and a tender naturalistic ballad ("Looks Like Rain"). Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tape archivist, black muddy river, misfit power, grateful dead, show opener, wang dang doodle, debut disc, acoustic sets, acoustic band, high lonesome sound, debut solo album, instrumental jam, wicked messenger, jug band, long strange trip, dire wolf, concert tapes, hand jive, pedal steel, dark star
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, San Francisco, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Mickey Hart, Dick's Picks Volume, Bob Weir, Blair Jackson, David Grisman, David Gans, Fillmore East, Phil Lesh, Box of Rain, Los Angeles, New Riders, Brent Mydland, Tom Constanten, Palo Alto, Joan Baez, New Orleans, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Madison Square Garden, Terrapin Station
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Citations (learn more)
This book cites 82 books:
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Garcia by Blair Jackson
 

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for deadheads to read on the ...! ;), November 13, 2000
This review is from: The American Book of the Dead (Paperback)
This is basically just an encyclopedia of Dead information. No setlists, but a description of every song the dead played, along with recommended versions of each song are included. Signifigant personalities are also listed with appropriate descriptions. The roots of the dead are also discussed, and there is a fair amount of quotes from various band members. It is a good book, but the encyclopedia format gives no continuity, so toilet style, quick reading is the best way to enjoy this book. But hey, i got this book for 4.99 on the clearance table of a book store. I wouldn't pay 14 bills for it (i'm cheap), but it is nevertheless a great source of info about the Dead.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Definitive, August 14, 2001
This review is from: The American Book of the Dead (Paperback)
I love this book. I got it about a year ago and I read it cover to cover over the course of a month. It makes great bathroom reading! The thing that's really great about this book is that you get the story behind all of the songs. Reading the backstory for all of my favorite tunes gave them a new life and made me want to go listen to them again -- to see them in that new light. Another interesting aspect is that even the covers are given some backstory -- including extensive information about the orig. artists. Then there's the in-depth information about the Dead themselves. Want to know more about Tom Constantine? It's there. Interested in Bruce Hornsby's connection to the Dead? It's there too. Overall I love having this book in my collection. It's a great reference book as well as a damn good read. I strongly recommend this to all Dead-heads!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars fun read, December 23, 1999
This review is from: The American Book of the Dead (Paperback)
It is a fun book lots of info and great facts plus many new photos. If you are a diehard deadhead or a novice you shoud learn lots of new stuff. I liked the entrys for each song, where it came from,who also did a cover,best live version.An encyclopedia for all fans of the dead or fans of the music it came from.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars An Outdated, Sloppy, Ammature, Not Complete Piece of Work - A Real Disappointment
A "Definitive ... Encyclopedia" without an Index ?!?!?! That's the first flaw that caught me when I received the book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Arnon Ehud

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Complete
Good idea, but there are some holes. Examples: no mention of the Ice Cream Kid, the Wall of Sound, Bill Walton, Mouse Kelley. To name a few.
Published on December 27, 2002 by Brian Moore

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dead
GREAT BOOk, if your a dead fan, very interesting information and i learned a lot, i recommend this book to all the peace love nature hippies who love the dead it is a great... Read more
Published on February 1, 2000 by Juanta

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is a pastiche of other earlier books
It is hardly definitve in that, for two things, it doesn't even mention Hank Harrison and plays down Pig Pen McKernan's role in forming the band. Read more
Published on July 18, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars if you're reading this then buy the book!
Do you listen to Dead tapes? Will they play Dark Star at your funeral? This book belongs in your home. Read more
Published on March 28, 1998

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