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Across the Great Divide: The Band and America
This is a vivid and rollicking account of The Band's journey across three decades. Spanning the history of American rock and boasting a supporting cast that includes Dylan, Janis Joplin, and U2, the book brilliantly captures the raw magic and complex personalities of a group George Harrison called "the best band in the history of the universe." This revised U.S. ...more
Paperback, 467 pages
Published
November 1st 2006
by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
(first published 1993)
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One of the finest concerts I ever saw was during one of The Band's reunion tours in the early 80's with the Cate Brothers at The Stone in San Francisco, before Richard Manuel's suicide. I was in the front row and got to shake hands with Levon, Rick, and Richard, and Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur came onstage at the end to sing "Willie and the Hand Jive". It was a wonderful evening. This book, on the other hand, is a bit labored, too long, and in the end rather sad since the author ...more
My love of The Band grew as a result of reading this book. I knew the outline of their story, but this book goes into excellent detail about the group's origins as the Hawks, then backing Dylan, and then finally as their own unit.
I was always confused as to how a band seemingly at the height of its powers would walk away, resulting in The Last Waltz. Seeing as it seemed to be the motivation of Robertson, the group's primary songwriter, the author gives the sense the others had li...more
I was always confused as to how a band seemingly at the height of its powers would walk away, resulting in The Last Waltz. Seeing as it seemed to be the motivation of Robertson, the group's primary songwriter, the author gives the sense the others had li...more
Tim
rated it
Recommends it for:
fans of The Band and/ or Bob Dylan; music historians
Shelves:
2008-reads,
musicbooks
First off, I'm addicted to The Band. seriously. They are definitely in my top 3 of best bands in history in my book.
I'd always known, loosly, that The Band had existed but had never really dove into their music; kind of like my relationship with T. Rex, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead and The Spin Doctors. (please people don't write me telling my I have to listen to any of those bands, I know, I'll get around to it... maybe not the Dead though, and also, that last one was a joke)
...more
I'd always known, loosly, that The Band had existed but had never really dove into their music; kind of like my relationship with T. Rex, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead and The Spin Doctors. (please people don't write me telling my I have to listen to any of those bands, I know, I'll get around to it... maybe not the Dead though, and also, that last one was a joke)
...more
ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE is an in-depth look at the development, importance, and innerworkings of one of the most quietly influential bands in American Rock music. The author, Barney Hoskins, blends anecdotal information about The Band members with intelligent analysis of their music and their influence. A very balanced approach identifies each member's strengths and importance to the group, without shying away from personal shortcomings that led, ultimately, to the band's demise.
Obsession with the Band continues. This book was a disappointment. It was a very detached history of the Band. He recites where they played, what they played, recorded, etc., but there are no stories or hard opinions only facts and glossed over references to substance abuse and growing personnel problems. Only after the Last Waltz did the author begin to show some emotion toward his subjects (other than praise, which felt like a greatest hits of reviews from back in the day or previous books...more
A legendary band. A legendary story. A well written book. If you want to read one book about The Band, choose this one. This Wheel's on Fire (by Levon Helm and Stephen Davis) is just one side of the story.
Ultimately all books about rock bands read the same. This is Levon vs. Robbie, the old weirdness vs. the auteur, with some cool organ swells thrown in. Yawn. Listen to King Harvest again.
Not to be confused with the book of the same title about the Oregon Trail (tho I bet the imagery and photos are somewhat identical). This chronicles The Band from it's origins as The Hawks through the Last Waltz and then some. Thoroughly researched, tons of detail (if you've ever read British music writing (think Mojo magazine) then you know how much more they care about music history than most). I particularly like the detail given to the various recording sessions, many of which involved jus...more
fun to read especially if you are a musician who has studied these guy's music alot.
A good look at my favorite band.
Well, the story of The Band is so laden with bitching and backstabbing, trials, tribulations, drug addled rambling and bitterness, Barney Hoskyn's relatively impartial biog is great for getting an overview of the group's story. I read this book immediately after finishing Band drummer, Levon Helm's, autobiography which is the most unashamedly biased book I have ever read (I loved it though).
From their early days as Hawks to the tragic death of Richard Manuel, Barney Hoskyns delivers an en...more
From their early days as Hawks to the tragic death of Richard Manuel, Barney Hoskyns delivers an en...more
A fascinating look into one of the greatest and most underrated bands of all time. Much like their music, the story of The Band makes me yearn for an America I never knew and never will.
A little too dismissive of bands/artists who don't play their instruments "properly," according to Hoskyns, for my taste (His put down of T. Rex in the beginning I thought was a little annoying and irrelevant), but the Band were a phenomenal group of musicians and their story is still worth reading.
The story of four Canadians and one American and their musical journey. From playing sleazy bars in Toronto to touring with Dylan, this book has it all. A must read for any fan of the Band and for anyone that enjoys good old fashioned Americana.
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nice overview
A fascinating look at one of the greatest bands ever (at least as found on "Music From Big Pink", "The Band", "Rock of Ages", and "The Basement Tapes").
For Band lovers, this book gives the who, what, and when of the music. Loved learning the background of the songs we've enjoyed so much.
A gret history of one of the greatest bands ever.
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