The 50th anniversary of Woodstock begins August 15 this yr. Whereas loads of the occasions of the music and artwork pageant are iconic and have remained in frequent reminiscence over time (right here’s taking a look at you, “The Star Spangled Banner” as carried out by Jimi Hendrix), most of the particulars of the legendary live performance sequence have been misplaced to time and, nicely, most likely medication. Luckily, journalists, memoirists, and different writers have dedicated among the tales of Woodstock to the web page, permitting lesser-known happenings to dwell on for future generations. So, now 50 years later, let’s revisit Bethel, New York, and 1969 with books about Woodstock.
A few of these titles are particularly concerning the Woodstock expertise, whereas others are barely extra periphery however present essential context or have particular tales inside their textual content about Woodstock.
Welcome to the Jungle: New Positions in Black Cultural Research by Kobena Mercer
In a tour by means of tradition through ten essays, Mercer explores a wide range of supplies and experiences as he unpacks the work of black artists and past. Importantly, the e-book factors out Woodstock for instance of appropriation whereas Mercer suggests Hendrix’s dissected rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” serves as a response to the white, middle-class mass that typically composed the Woodstock viewers. Mercer’s discourse expands nicely past Woodstock to incorporate a major quantity of black tradition from a black British perspective, serving to to put Woodstock itself right into a context far bigger than itself.
The Street to Woodstock by Michael Lang with Holly George-Warren
From the co-creator of Woodstock, The Street to Woodstock offers distinctive and priceless perception about how the pageant got here to be and thrilling behind-the-scenes tales. With loads of pictures, these tales come to life for the reader. Lang fills within the blanks for even probably the most educated Woodstock-heads, answering questions solely the organizer may. Although the highway to Woodstock could have been a muddy one, this e-book celebrates the pageant with clear writing and a one-of-a-kind perspective.
Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Live performance, and a Life by Elliot Tiber with Tom Monte
This memoir affords one other backstage take a look at the Woodstock music pageant, making it a priceless gem as books about Woodstock go. What’s extra, Tiber describes his expertise on the Stonewall rise up, his life as a closeted homosexual man, and the way his household’s lodge was the assembly place for the planning and execution of Woodstock. Tiber’s brushes with various famed people recommend that he was made for greatness himself, which he actually fulfilled when Woodstock was in want. Tiber helps contextualize Woodstock with commentary of parts such because the Vietnam battle and different main cultural occasions of the 1960s.
Three Day Summer season by Sarvenaz Tash
This younger grownup novel brings Michael, who’s unsure about his future and what to do with is life, and Cora, the great woman who wonders if possibly she should be somewhat braver, collectively within the midst of Woodstock. Whereas Michael attends Woodstock as an viewers member, Cora is there to assist out within the medical tent. When their worlds collide, neither will go away the pageant grounds the identical as they entered.
Woodstock: The Oral Historical past by Joel Makower
Practically 20 years after the pageant, Joel Makower collects anecdotes from gamers massive and small within the execution of Woodstock. From males in fits to these in hardhats, everybody has enter on how Woodstock occurred, the way it nearly didn’t, and the way the pageant without end modified the world. Latest editions present extra details about these featured within the e-book to supply an entire take a look at the pageant and its three days of peace and music.
They Can’t Conceal Us Anymore by Richie Havens with Steve Davidowitz
The person who opened the music festivities of Woodstock, Richie Havens offers his story on this autobiography. Havens not solely expands on his expertise as being to behave to kick off the pageant, but in addition describes different occasions in his life. With the distinctive perspective of the onstage expertise, Havens additionally discusses the difficulties of recreating Woodstock and the lasting impression the pageant has left on the grounds it occupied.
Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Musical Competition, 1969 by Bob Spitz
Thought of an “exhaustive historical past,” Barefoot in Babylon not solely describes Woodstock in phrases, but in addition offers a map and different particulars absent in different books on the occasion. Spitz consists of data each common and particular about Woodstock, together with an outline of cultural implications and pinpointing the monetary points that arose following the three days.
Jimi Hendrix: In His Personal Phrases edited by Tony Brown
A compilation of Hendrix’s personal ideas pulled from interviews, Jimi Hendrix: In His Personal Phrases offers one other perception from the stage. Hendrix factors out the inaccessibility of festivals to city youth and considers Woodstock’s nonviolence at size. Whereas the excerpts don’t essentially focus solely on Woodstock, this assortment helps to contextualize and flesh out Woodstock and its circumstances.
We’ve crammed you up with books about Woodstock, however what about books about music? Try our record of 50 must-read books about music.
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