Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Music Festival, 1969

By Bob Spitz

Book Overview

The perfect gift for music fans and anyone fascianated by Woodstock, Barefoot in Babylon is an in-depth look at the making of 1969's Woodstock Music Festival--one of Rolling Stone's "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll."

"Mr. Spitz feeds us every riveting detail of the chaos that underscored the festival. It makes for some out-a-sight reading, man."--The New York Times Book Review

Fifty years ago, the Woodstock Music Festival defined a generation. Yet, there was much more than peace and love driving that long weekend the summer of 1969. In Barefoot in Babylon, journalist and New York Times bestselling author Bob Spitz gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Woodstock, from its inception and the incredible musicians that performed to its scandals and the darker side of the peace movement. With a new introduction, as well as maps, set lists, and a breakdown of all the personalities involved, Barefoot in Babylon is a must-read for anyone who was there--or wishes they were.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142180874
• ISBN13: 9780142180877
• Release Date: July 2014
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

excellent book, very detailed

everything you wanted to know abotu woodstock from inception to the music is in this book. i hope an update comes out in 09 for the 40th anny. this book is WORTH IT!

The best of all the books on Woodstock

I have read EVERY book I could find on Woodstock and where this one gets set apart from all the others is in how it is told. This telling of Woodstock draws you into it and makes you feel like you are in the room planning it all with the promoters and at the event itself. Where the others read like a resume this book tells a STORY. It's not 15 individual chapters, each one told by a different person. If you are going to read just one book on Woodstock... read this one, you won't regret it.

Most detailed telling of Woodstock Music Festival Ever

Simply put, if it involved Woodstock, this book has a record of it.As the festival started as the brainchild of two hippie investors and later two "yuppie" investors, Woodstock became the festival that would define a generation. The festival touched millions of people's lives. The book Barefoot in Babylon is the factual account of exactly how everything fell into place. The story starts at the first site of the concert, Woodstock, NY. Woodstock was eventually forced out of town due to farmers' concerns over their crops. WIth time running out and little room to move, the investors managed to find ample ground on Max Yasgur's farm, twenty miles from Woodstock in the town of Bethel. However, this is not the only problem Woodstock faced. Whether it was droughts, food shortages, or even lack of performers, Woodstock certainly had its downs. Jimi Hendrix was not even sure if he was going to play until the third day of the concert had even started.Overall, this book is very well written, yet exhausting with details. Any fan of the music of the 1960's should at least give it a try.

Excellent commentary on an event that defined a generation.

For anyone who wants to know the backstage scoop on one of the most remembered (or thought to be remembered) events in rock history, this is the book to read. This book includes the info you don't get from the movie. Of course, you have to wonder if anyone really knows what happened for those three days.