The Bootleg Guide - by Garry Freeman (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Bootleg Guide is the ultimate in reference works for the 1960s and the 1970s bootleg recordings. Within these pages lies a history of rock at its best, as performed on stage or in the studio. Each entry is catalogued by title, date, featured tracks, and contains a quality ...

Book Synopsis

The Bootleg Guide is the ultimate in reference works for the 1960s and the 1970s bootleg recordings. Within these pages lies a history of rock at its best, as performed on stage or in the studio. Each entry is catalogued by title, date, featured tracks, and contains a quality rating and comments on the nature and origin of the recording. Cross-references are provided to other titles and extensive information is available on alternate titles of bootlegs. In many cases, quirky facts about a particular title are given-something that in itself may make a title a highly desirable and sought-after 'rarity' amongst collectors. Limited editions are listed to help the reader and collector develop a clearer picture of just how obtainable a bootleg may be.

Bootlegs are unofficial 'live' and studio recordings of artists and bands that are released onto vinyl, tape or CD. By definition, most are so rare that they change hands only for vastly inflated sums or are traded by networks of dedicated collectors worldwide. Serious fans and collectors have been known to spend as much as $225 for an original, scratchy vinyl recording of bands like Deep Purple and the Grateful Dead dating back to the early seventies. The rarest of all are akin to valuable paintings as far as collectors and traders are concerned.

Review Quotes

"This guide is an impressive bit of offbeat scholarship and can be recommended for popular music collections." --American Reference Books Annual

"...a massive undertaking. The level of detail and quality of the information are impressive. Even more impressive is the dedication-or is that obsession-required to put such a project together. For the dedicated or curious collector, The Bootleg Guide is an indispensable reference. Quite an accomplishment!" --Green Man Review

"This useful guide to two decades' worth of bootleg recordings is the first of its kind. The slapdash, informal nature of the bootleg marketplace poses certain challenges to the creation of a comprehensive discography, and Garry Freeman has taken on those challenges with impressive courage and tenacity....The Bootleg Guide will be a unique and valuable resource for serious collectors....academic researchers in popular music may find this book very useful indeed...Hopefully the author, after a well-deserved rest, will produce a similar volume to cover the 1980s and 1990s." --Music Reference Services Quarterly

"Recommended." --Choice Reviews

...a massive undertaking. The level of detail and quality of the information are impressive. Even more impressive is the dedication-or is that obsession-required to put such a project together. For the dedicated or curious collector, The Bootleg Guide is an indispensable reference. Quite an accomplishment!

Recommended.

This guide is an impressive bit of offbeat scholarship and can be recommended for popular music collections.

This useful guide to two decades' worth of bootleg recordings is the first of its kind. The slapdash, informal nature of the bootleg marketplace poses certain challenges to the creation of a comprehensive discography, and Garry Freeman has taken on those challenges with impressive courage and tenacity....The Bootleg Guide will be a unique and valuable resource for serious collectors....academic researchers in popular music may find this book very useful indeed...Hopefully the author, after a well-deserved rest, will produce a similar volume to cover the 1980s and 1990s.

About the Author

Garry Freeman is an educator in Leeds, England.