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Cornell University Press

Cornell '77: The Music, the Myth, and the Magnificence of the Grateful Dead's Concert at Barton Hall

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Format: Hardcover, Illustrated


Description

On May 8, 1977, at Barton Hall, on the Cornell University campus, in front of 8,500 eager fans, the Grateful Dead played a show so significant that the Library of Congress inducted it into the National Recording Registry. The band had just released Terrapin Station and was still finding its feet after an extended hiatus. In 1977, the Grateful Dead reached a musical peak, and their East Coast spring tour featured an exceptional string of performances, including the one at Cornell. Many Deadheads claim that the quality of the live recording of the show made by Betty Cantor-Jackson (a member of the crew) elevated its importance. Once those recordings—referred to as "Betty Boards"—began to circulate among Deadheads, the reputation of the Cornell '77 show grew exponentially. With time the show at Barton Hall acquired legendary status in the community of Deadheads and audiophiles. Rooted in dozens of interviews—including a conversation with Betty Cantor-Jackson about her recording—and accompanied by a dazzling selection of never-before-seen concert photographs, Cornell '77 is about far more than just a single Grateful Dead concert. It is a social and cultural history of one of America's most enduring and iconic musical acts, their devoted fans, and a group of Cornell students whose passion for music drove them to bring the Dead to Barton Hall. Peter Conners has intimate knowledge of the fan culture surrounding the Dead, and his expertise brings the show to life. He leads readers through a song-by-song analysis of the performance, from "New Minglewood Blues" to "One More Saturday Night," and conveys why, forty years later, Cornell '77 is still considered a touchstone in the history of the band.As Conners notes in his Prologue: "You will hear from Deadheads who went to the show. You will hear from non-Deadhead Cornell graduates who were responsible for putting on the show in the first place. You will hear from record executives, academics, scholars, Dead family members, tapers, traders, and trolls. You will hear from those who still live the Grateful Dead every day. You will hear from those who would rather keep their Grateful Dead passions private for reasons both personal and professional. You will hear stories about the early days of being a Deadhead and what it was like to attend, and perhaps record, those early shows, including Cornell '77." Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell University Press


Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2017


Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 232 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 150170432X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 21


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Informative, well-written, fun, and interesting!
Format: Kindle
If you've read any of Conners' other books, you'll probably know that he's a poet with a wry sense of humor and an interesting take on the Grateful Dead. He's done a great job of writing a full book that is ostensibly centered around one show, but anytime you pull one thread, so many more come with it. So he uses this show as a jumping off point for many related issues, such as the rise of tapers and tape trading, the magic of the "Betty boards," and the deep investment that comes with being a Deadhead. His clever words and phrasings often hint at his background as a poet and add just enough spice to the story so it's not just straight journalism. The segment about Dark Star always being there is a fantastic example. But there's humor (often dry), as well: my favorite was regarding Weir not getting back to him even after common friend, Weir's yoga instructor, reached out to Weir: "No hard feelings though. Namaste." While no one book is going to appeal to everyone, I have a hard time thinking this wouldn't be of interest to anyone who thinks of themselves as a Deadhead. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2017 by S. Robinson
    • A must read for fans of Grateful Dead By Jim Daley
Format: Hardcover
Cornell 77. May 8th 1977. I've been a Deadhead for almost 40 years. A Taper for the better part of that time. I was among the first people to get their hands on the "Betty boards" when they first came around in 1987-88. This was an amazing show by almost anybody's standards, but I believe it gained it's most momentum from the Morning Dew. One of, if not thee best Dews the Dead ever played. Just as the jam could've crashed to an end, Jerry picks up the pace for another huge crazy jam, Unlike any other. That being said, The sound quality just kicks it up another notch. It's Peter Conners insightful writing about the show and that era of Dead history that ties alot of otherwise unknown lose ends together, that makes his efforts meaningful and makes this book very difficult to put down. He writes about the songs that were played, having his own opinion of course, because everybody has one, and opens doors and windows and makes the reader want to revisit the show of shows that we've all become so familiar with over these many years. I'm an avid reader of Grateful Dead material and have formed many of my own opinions over the years and I can honestly say this is one book every deadhead should read. Thanks Peter. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2017 by Jim Daley
    • "...THE COMMON DENOMINATOR THAT TIES TOGETHER EVERYONE WHO APPEARS IN THIS BOOK IS THE IMPACT OF THE SHOW PLAYED ON MAY 8,1977."
Format: Hardcover
"I made my own mix to make myself happy and to hear what I wanted to hear." Betty Cantor-Jackson. The May 8, 1977 show at Cornell University has long been touted as one of the Dead's best shows post-layoff and certainly one of their best shows ever. Some Deadheads say the show is overrated, but maybe that's because tapes of this gig have been "around" since the '80s. And having it recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson ("Betty Boards") has helped elevate this show too. This concert is included in the National Recording Registry because of the quality of the band's playing that night. Plus, Dick Latvala has always liked this show (and the shows surrounding Barton Hall)--but never released it as a "Dick's Picks" because the tapes were circulated widely. The author admits he wasn't at this show (he first heard the band in the '80s), and the book is published by Cornell University Press, which might make skeptics think "tie-in" with the box set featuring this show and three others from that period. To each his own on that subject. But as a Deadhead (since before the term was invented) I found the book has a number of interesting if not good insights and some information about the band and this show, and that era of '77. The book begins with some background on the Sex Pistols, the disco era, and how that ties into the Dead as a band during that time. From that point the author begins to lay out the foundation of the Dead and the book. With many interviews (including Betty Cantor-Jackson) and 16 pages of photos, picturing the university and surrounding areas--not the show itself--and another section of 16 pages of photos including the band on stage at Barton Hall, newspaper clippings about the show, and other ephemera, you get a better idea of the Barton Hall gig. The author uses facts, opinions, interviews, and his own thoughts to paint a picture of that particular show and the people and era involved. You'll hear from Deadheads, non-Deadheads, scholars, tapers/traders, and others in the band's orbit at that time. But to be honest the author didn't get any interviews with band members simply because as Bob Weir said "I'm not sure I'm going to remember the sound check, or even that show." To the band it was just another show in a string of gigs--some better than others--but still just another show. The author also gives his opinions on the songs played that night--with information about the tune itself and how the song was played by the band. If you're a Deadhead fan/collector (like me) this book is worth adding to your library. If you have only a passing interest in the band the impact of the book (and this particular show) may miss you entirely--and that's okay. But that string of gigs the band played in May of that year were some of the best shows after their lay-off from concerts. This book is included in the original issue of the box set from the Rhino/Dead gang, which quickly sold out. If you want to hear the music only, the box set is available without the book as a "music only" edition. The May 8 show is also available as a stand alone set. There's a "Listening and Reading" section that lays out the sources used for the book, a section of notes for each chapter, and an index. The photos and other graphics are printed on glossy stock paper that greatly improves viewing. This a good time for Deadheads--this book, the upcoming stand alone release of this '77 show and the box set, the upcoming movie and soundtrack, and the recently released 21 CD box set (with booklet) of shows from '71 for under 25 bucks. It's almost too good to be true. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017 by Stuart Jefferson
    • Excellent Book on an Excellent Show
Format: Hardcover
I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing. Mr. Conners does a good job of approaching the show from a variety of angles, e.g., the historical background, the major logistical players, first hand accounts of concert goers, and of course the Grateful Dead. I especially liked his song-by-song review of each song played in each set. The book is relatively short 200 pages, so I do wish that he had gotten into a discussion of the show either a bit earlier in the book or add more pages. However, I would still recommend this book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017 by Where's Godot?
    • Wonderful Dead show -- great story behind a legendary concert
Format: Hardcover
This book tells the story of how the epic Cornell 77 show came to be and how it went down. The Dead were in full flower at the time of this show, and the recording is one I've recommended to all my Deadhead friends. I've played it for lots of people, and everyone who's listened to it has been blown away by the band's performance and the audio quality is spectacular. I bought a copy of this book and the recording together for my wife for a gift, but read the book and listened to the CD before she got them from me and I had a really hard time waiting until she opened each to play the show for her. I never knew the backstory behind how the students got the band to come to Cornell and the whole history and culture involved behind the scenes. The book really completes the recording and makes me appreciate the show that much more. The two (this book and the recording of the show, available separately) are great companion gifts for a Dead fan you love. Remember that you are a Dead fan that you love, so don't forget about the possibility of just getting it for yourself and then sharing it with your friends, too. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2018 by blahblahfoo
    • pretty ok
Format: Hardcover
You might be thinking “there’s no way anyone can fill an entire book about a single concert,” and you’d be right. Conners’ goal is an admirable one, as Cornell is famous for good reason. Unfortunately, Conners pads this book with loads of unnecessary information, much of which has very little to do with Cornell, or even this particular era of Dead music. An entire chapter about Betty Boards is interesting, but has been covered extensively elsewhere. The usual suspects (Gans, Lemieux, etc) are quoted at length but reveal little you haven’t read in hundreds of other interviews with these guys. Elsewhere, lots of other recycled info: tell me, Deadheads, how many times have you read Bobby’s quote about "Estimated Prophet" being about “this guy I see at nearly every backstage door…”? Want the backstory on the young girl in the sunglasses who sits on her boyfriend’s shoulders in the “Touch of Grey” video? It’s here for some reason. The song-by-song breakdown—which makes up less than a quarter of the book--on the 5/8 concert doesn’t really shed much light, either; rather than discuss musical transitions, equipment, etc, Conners goes into detail about the songs themselves rather than the performances, analyzing song lyrics and speculating about references and hidden meanings. Fine, but what does this have to do with Cornell? There’s far more technical info and “inside baseball”—for those of us who require such things—in the individual show reviews in second volume of the Taping Compendium, and in Howard Weiner’s superior Grateful Dead 1977: The Rise Of Terrapin Nation (see my review) than in the scant 50 pages here. There are also a few glaring typos (Conners at one point refers to “Samson & Delilah” as “Sampson and Delilah”), and while this is a minor quibble, it further suggests that this book might have been rushed out to be included in the deluxe version new May 77 box. I’m being harsh. ‘Heads will buy this book and ‘Heads will enjoy this book. I read it in one sitting and found a lot of the history of the gig very interesting. I just wonder if a little more research and a little more time could have made this something great. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017 by Howard Bleach
    • Jerry would love this book.
Format: Hardcover
A fantastic glimpse into the Grateful Dead on 5-8-1977 at Barton Hall in Ithaca, NY. A great read. I loved the eyewitness accounts and the great job Cornell U Press and the author , Peter Conners , managed to accomplish. It has everything you could want to go along with the music. My favorite parts were the rare photos from multiple photographers in attendance and the chapter on Betty Jackson-Cantor "Betty boards" who taped the show. Her copy will be the one officially released in a few short days to the world. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this book and to Peter. - ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017 by GRATEFUL DEAD BOOKS
    • Great Show! Great Book!
Format: Hardcover
I really enjoyed the book! I was most interested in learning how the tapes came to be and reading about the saga the tapes took from Betty's board to today. Also, kudos to Cornell University Press to recognize the historical significance of this show and capture the event with a book of their own some 40 years after the show. They also did a wonderful job with the book design and cover. Lastly, this book by Peter Conners is nearly as spectacular as the show itself. I've purchased the book as gifts for my many deadhead 'associates.' ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018 by andrew

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