From Amazon.com
Excellent live album
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: My first exposure to the Dead back in 1971. A great album and arguably the band at it's peak.
The first official Dead live album, and still awesome...
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This was the Dead's first official live release, and it's still one of their best live albums ever. It has seven classic Dead songs. It starts with arguably the definitive Dead song, Dark Star. The version here runs 23 1/2 minutes, and it's absolutely stunning. The Dead were recorded on a great night, and they really are focused on this jam, but still loose enough to be brilliant. My favorite track is Pigpen's blues rave-up Turn on Your Love Light. It shows that the Dead could rock like hell when they wanted to. It wasn't all space jamming. The slow blues track Death Don't Have No Mercy is beautiful, with a great vocal by Jerry. The song Feedback is exactly what it says, Feedback. It's a mere 9 minutes long, but it's still really awesome feedback, a precursor to the later "drums/space" stuff that the Dead did almost every show. The final track is a simple, sweet a capella number, ...And We Bid You Goodnight. While some Dead shows/live albums were/are truly wretched, when they were on, there was no one like them. This album, along with Without a Net, One from the Vault, and Reckoning, are my favorite live Dead albums.
That 'Lovelight' Never Goes Out!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: The first four songs, which run into each other and last about 50 minutes, are some of the best sounds out the Grateful Dead I've ever heard - for 40 years.
I just never get tired of hearing that "long medley," as I call it, which culminates in the fantastic "Turn On Your Lovelight." That "song" begins slowly with "Dark Star," and then begins to gather momentum with "St. Stephen," keeps growing strong with "The Eleven" and then finishes with my favorite Dead effort of all time. It's just great stuff that never gets old.
The rest of the CD isn't much. The reviewer that comments that this CD has some of the best and worst of this famous rock group isn't far from the truth.
The good news is that the "best" lasts a long time and, thus, makes this CD well worth the purchase.
Should be called 'The Best & Worst of the Grateful Dead.'
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Yeah, that title might throw some Deadheads off. But let's be honest - this 1969 double live album (the first for the Dead) is a tad bit overrated. Before we get into the negative, let's dive into the positive.
First things first, you probably came to this album seeking out Dark Star. All I have to say is good for you, becuase this is one of the trippiest, craziest jams I've ever heard. It really is the sound of late 60's psychedelic San Fransisco. I'd go so far as to say that this is what it sounds like when you trip on mushrooms. Yeah, they're a little out-of-tune throughout the song, but in a strange way, it kinda helps the song out. It's one of the few 23 minute songs I can listen to that never bores me. There's so much going on, it's incredible. I can listen to it 5 times in a row and still hear something new.
Also, St. Stephen into The Eleven into Turn On Your Lovelight is just breathtaking. St. Stephen has always been a favorite of mine, and this version kills the original. Much more fiery playing, great San-Fransiscian harmonies, and some killer solos by the one and only Jerry Garcia. The Eleven has to be one of the few jams done in 11/8. And it works! It's incredible how diverse the band was in their heyday.
A lot of people don't care for Lovelight. I like this one, it showcases their bluesy side a little better. And Pigpen has a cool dark soul voice that really pushes the song along. Another classic.
However, the last 3 tracks are where things go downhill. Death Don't Have No Mercy is agonizingly slow, with some really bad singing by Jerry. Such a shame, becuase he can be a good singer when he wants to be. And what's up with Feedback? Do we really need this? And We Bid You Goodnight is neat, but nothing essential. What happened? We were on a roll with the first four tracks!
So, that's my two cents on this album. 50 minutes of greatness, 25 minutes of agonizing filler (which you can skip, thank God) = An album more people should get into. Enjoy!
Live/Dead/Is/Dead/Live
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: You can play me any album that opens with a 23 minute 19 second live version of Dark Star. Live/Dead hits the spot; scratches that 40-year old itch; tells it like it was back when it really was. Makes you wish you could've been there or could go back again. Well, you can at least go visit for a while when you're listening to this album.
Purchases
1 Dark Star
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