The Grateful Dead

Plankton · 10-21-2021, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

My interest in the Grateful Dead stops around 1978, so I can't give any recommendations beyond that point in time but if you like their live performances and you're not yet aware of this site, you might want to check it out...

Grateful Dead

What a collection! I just sent the link to my head friends.

Tubeileh · 10-27-2021, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5-Track

It's hard to know where to start as no one thing is representative of the whole. Most bits I only like in certain moods. It took about twenty years of hearing bits of different albums at different times in different situations played for me by different people before I looked around one day and said, ok, this stuff isn't so bad after all

Yeah cause I listened to Terrapin Session and it was honestly just really boring. Ive heard so much about them and then it was just a whole lot of nothing, at least for me.

Psy-Fi · 10-27-2021, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubeileh

Yeah cause I listened to Terrapin Session and it was honestly just really boring. Ive heard so much about them and then it was just a whole lot of nothing, at least for me.

Terrapin Station is by far the least interesting studio album that they released during their first ten years together as the Grateful Dead. From start to finish it's a tediously boring snooze. It's the only one from that time span that I can't stand to listen to.

Mucha na Dziko · 10-30-2021, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubeileh

Yeah cause I listened to Terrapin Session and it was honestly just really boring. Ive heard so much about them and then it was just a whole lot of nothing, at least for me.

Terrapin Station is pretty bad. Though one song is great IMO, that being Estimated Prophet.

Then again, if you want to get into the Dead, don't start with the studio albums (unless it's American Beauty, Workingmen's Dead or Blues For Allah).

As you probably know, the Dead are best known for their live performances. The Dead themselves acknowledged it, and often said so.
And, yeah, they're much better on the stage than in the studio.

I got into them just a few months back, before that I only knew that they existed and I knew a couple of songs from aforementioned American Beauty and Workingmen's Dead (those being Friend of the Devil, Box of Rain, Truckin, Casey Jones and Cumberland Blues, pretty basic stuff). But then I watched the Netflix Bob Weir documentary (Weir being the rhythm guitarist of the band), and as I watched it a few tracks caught my ear; especially Jack Straw.

And then it began.

If you'd like to give them a second chance, I'd recommend you start with:

1. Jack Straw – Paris, Europe '72 tour

2. Help On The Way – Dick's Picks Vol.3

3. China Cat Sunflower – Paris, Europe '72 tour

4. Brown Eyed Women – Denmark, Europe '72 tour

5. Jimmy Row – Live at Cornell University 1977

6. The Other One – Live at Fillmore East, 1969

And then work your way in whatever direction suits you most.

People often say that their first album, the live Live/Dead from 1969 is a good place to start, but I'd say it's for the hardcore fans, as most of the songs sound like they're playing on acid (which is probably true). So if you'll check out the songs I've listed above, and find yourself interested or in awe of the band then maybe head out to Live/Dead, to see their psychedelic jam side.

Mucha na Dziko · 10-30-2021, 06:53 AM

Oh, and it's probably a good idea to smoke a joint when first listening to their music. You can drop the joints later on, when you're already in love with the Dead.