Songcatchers: In Search of the World's Music

When I bought this book ,I was buying it with my 40 year old son in mind.I thought I would glance at it, and Boy ,am I glad I did.My son enjoys Rock,and even plays a bit of it.I have'nt developed much of a feel for it,but really like Classic Country,Folk,Bluegrass ,Soul,Irish ballads and some Rock and Roll.As a matter of fact,I have heard of The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia but I didn't even know that Mickey Hart was their drummer.So,I guess I'm really out of my league writing a review on this book;but here goes anyway. This book bowled me over in a couple of ways.It really convinced me that all music is important and precious.That goes for Hank Williams singing "The First Fall of Snow",Woody Guthrie singing Philadelphia Lawyer,Elvis singing "Love Me Tender",Sinatra singing "New York,New York",Patty Reilly singing "The Town I Love So Well",the music of the Rain Forest,regional and tribal music from around the world, and even my son's Rock. As a great lover of books,I can't begin to imagine what it would be like if we had nothing that was written prior to 1879.Well,that is exactly what Hart makes us think about,because there is not a single sound that was made befor that date,recorded,and can be replayed today.That thought is mind-boggling;and how many have even given it a thought? Hart has made major contributions in trying to get the world's music recorded,particularly music from remote areas and cultures.A year or two ago I got the Asch Recordings,Vol.1-4 of Woody Guthrie ,by Smithsonian Folksways Recordings and even though I enjoy it very much,I had no idea what the background of it was--but thanks to this book,I can now appreciate it. It takes someone with the talent and dedication of Mickey Hart to get involved and is certainly fortunate that he is on the Board of Directors at Smithonian Folksways. Music and sound are as important as any other aspect of a culture and if not recorded is lost forever. Just think about it ,we have the physical remains of the ancient pyrimids of Egypt to look at or even visit,there are all kinds of written material surviving,but not a single sound of the activity and the songs that must have been sung as they did their work.We dont't have to go back 4000 years;there is not a single battle sound ,music or song surviving from the Civil War.That's why what Mickey Hart has to say in this book is so important.

Mickey Hart is in full-boogie these days touring with The Dead, and millions of fans are grateful they're back on the road. But lest anyone misunderstand the depth and scope of Mr. Hart's broad musical background, this book should be considered essential reading. He has painstakingly researched and documented recorded music in a way that I quite honestly never considered in any formal way. Best of all, he's illuminated the historical process and power of recorded music on a global platform, all-the-while presenting it in the most readble and accessible manner. I believe this is the best of Mr. Hart's many outstanding books on music. No wonder he works for the Smithsonian. Scholarly, yes. Boring, not for a single word.