Grateful Dead (Official Thread)

[LG]

Re: Grateful Dead

I am not a big fan of most live albums, even though the Dead's live performances are considered better than their studio recordings.

I will pick up "Workingman's Dead" next and then "Terrapin Station".

As I said I was pleasantly surprised by their debut, "American Beauty" is still my favorite but I am not a GD expert by any means.

 

[snakes&ladders]

Re: Grateful Dead

In 1988, while most of America was dancing to Madonna and listening to Hair Bands, The Grateful Dead were supplying the needs of the people, who didn't follow the fashions or trends of the day, who wanted to hear some pure untamed freeform music from the heart without all the pizazz & glitter of the 80's. The Grateful Dead were one of the top touring Bands of 1988, if not the #1 band in the States.

''The Music Never Stopped'' (1988)

RIGHT ON BRO!!!!!

 

[0000]

Re: Grateful Dead

I am not a big fan of most live albums, even though the Dead's live performances are considered better than their studio recordings.

I will pick up "Workingman's Dead" next and then "Terrapin Station".

As I said I was pleasantly surprised by their debut, "American Beauty" is still my favorite but I am not a GD expert by any means.

My two favoites

 

[Groovy Man]

Re: Grateful Dead

LG, glad you enjoyed the Grateful Dead's debut album. Going by albums, they're hard to figure out. Some of their studio albums are flat, imo.

1970's ''Workingman's Dead'' and ''American Beauty'' seem to be their crown jewels of studio albums. Excellent well crafted albums.

I think eberg's choice of ''Terrapin Station'' is a good choice. A lot of people seem to like that one.

Personally, I recommend Europe '72 - it's a live album, but the crowd is cut out. Recorded in mid size venues all over Europe. Great songs on this album.

Not on my short list of favorite bands, but I really enjoy listening to them when I'm in right mood. A good place to start out is their live album Live/Dead:



You may have to go online to find it, but it's worth it. A lot of long songs, but the band usually seems to be going somewhere with them, not just rambling. My first purchase was a greatest hits type album, which is usually a safe move, but not with the Dead - they're a live band before a studio band.

This is a fantastic album. Lots of jaming and long songs, like you mentioned, but no need to worry, the jaming isn't as long as some of their other performances are known for. This live album is a good taste of what the Grateful Dead sounded like in 1969. This is a 60's classic. I highly recommend this album. It's up their with The Allman Brothers Band Live At The Fillmore East, Humble Pie's Live Fillmore East album, Hendrix's Band of Band of Gypsys live album, imo.

 

[LG]

Re: Grateful Dead

^^You are our resident expert, I'll put Europe '72 on my list as well.

 

[LG]

Re: Grateful Dead

Played this one tonight, and I enjoyed it. I guess after decades of not paying attention to the Dead I am slowly catching up.



Cumberland Blues



Casey Jones

 

[Aktivator]

Re: Grateful Dead

Played this one tonight, and I enjoyed it. I guess after decades of not paying attention to the Dead I am slowly catching up.



Cumberland Blues



Casey Jones

happy to see you are enjoying the dead LG.
I think the dead get a lot of flack by people who have only heard a few songs(unsually the wrong ones). The dead have many different periods and there is usually something for everyone.

 

[0000]

Re: Grateful Dead

happy to see you are enjoying the dead LG.
I think the dead get a lot of flack by people who have only heard a few songs(unsually the wrong ones). The dead have many different periods and there is usually something for everyone.

Agreed, and recently, even I have found a new, massive appreciation for their studio works.. I've been listening to them for a few years, but until recently, I didn't leave American Beauty and Workingman's Dead for studio.. I really like both live and studio now though.. Terrapin Station, Shakedown Street, Blues For Allah, all awesome

 

[LG]

Re: Grateful Dead

happy to see you are enjoying the dead LG.
I think the dead get a lot of flack by people who have only heard a few songs(unsually the wrong ones). The dead have many different periods and there is usually something for everyone.

I guess part of the reason I never got into them was no one I knew back in my younger days listened to them that much. My older brother bought a MFSL vinyl copy of American Beauty and that was the only Dead album I was familiar with.

I think I know where to get a copy of the Live album Groovy rec'd so I'll pick it up and see what I think of the difference between the studio and live recordings.

 

[0000]

Re: Grateful Dead

Just listened to this one, and I NEED to find myself a hard copy of it!

To Terrapin--Hartford '77