Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock

Pete has been doing this very thing for over 40 years on the radio . He's not a musician but he is fascinated by them and their music . His book is to be read slowly , as in savoring a glass of wine . He knows many of the participants and he uses that to give the reader a look that is unique . I was there ( sort of )- my buddy and I were sent out to look for a "lost " Camp Counselor in training . We heard no music but saw a lot of folks in various conditions ! That is what Pete does here, except he " is in the front and backstage " giving the reader a real look at this incredible event

I highly recommend Pete Fornatale's new book Back to the Garden.......I began this book and could not put it down - it brought back memories of a wonderful time in my life..Reading the actual experiences from performers, organizers, festival participants combined with Mr. Fornatale's vast music knowledge made this book one of the best on the subject I have ever read. I especially thought the alphabetized list of musicians and important movers and shakers was invaluable. Now I definitely need to revisit the movie again. Pete Fornatale has been and continues to be the voice of a generation. He is our premier musicologist. His show, Mixed Bag, which airs Saturday nights on WFUV is not to be missed. I suggest everyone celebrate the fortieth anniversary of peace, love and music by reading Mr. Fornatale's book..perhaps..just perhaps...you will begin to smell that wonderful herbal aroma and begin to crave rum raisin ice cream....

Many new books on Woodstock are coming out to coincide with Woodstock's 40th Anniversary. I've read several of them and I think that "Back To The Garden" is one of the best. The book takes you through each of the three days, highlighting all of the acts and their performances with interesting commentaries from the artists themselves as well as those who were behind the scenes. I've been looking forward to re-watching the movie and will appreciate it even more now that I've read Pete Fornatale's book. A terrific read, highly recommended!

When I read a book about music and the artists that brought the music to us, the best thing I can say about it is that it caused me to go back and listen to that music with new ears, a refreshed imagination and an open heart. "Back To The Garden" has done just that. Pete presents Woodstock in a way that brought me back to 1969 with its excitement and allure of groundbreaking music and ideas. More than music is captured in this book. The wonderful background stories about the various artists and the behind the scenes excitement during the three days makes for great reading. I loved reading about the performers. The stories about some of my favorites, Sebastian, Havens, Melanie, Santana, among others, made me like them even more. And the stories about those artists I knew about only through their songs brought me to a whole new appreciation of them as people and their remarkable talents. Woodstock was both a musical and, maybe more so, a sociological event. MMB gives it all to us in the same relaxing, intelligent and entertaining style that brings us together every Saturday afternoon and evening. My next step is to watch the Woodstock movie (I particularly loved the final chapter with Michael Wadleigh's tales about the film being shown around the world, how it effected other cultures and some of Michael's harrowing adventures in those countries), which I haven't seen in many many years and to listen to the soundtrack music with new pictures in my mind. Great job Pete.

This is not simply a music book, it is history. Often, when reading contemporary history, the author brings you back to that time and/or place. With Back to the Garden, Mr. Fornatale performs magic, he brings Woodstock into the present. This is an important book; for baby boomers, it lets us feel once again the spirit of 1969, the good and the not so good. For younger folks, it is indeed a part of history we don't want lost, and this extraordinary event is in good, no, great hands. Mr. Fornatale is a maestro in the company of Studs Terkel, presenting us with an oral history that lets us touch, absorb, the summer of '69.