**THE REAL** Post-WD/AB Grateful Dead 70s studio albums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnyd71xusaM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBLfzTPCDc&feature=related

and then of course I bone the closing date *sigh*

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:15 AM (26 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
there used to be a nice video of them doing "Alabama Getaway" from SNL circa '80 out there, but I'm not having any luck tracking it down on the www

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:20 AM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
So are you gonna redo the poll again?

― ljagljana (kkvgz), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:20 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
this is it, w/ GTH! except it closes in 8 hours :-/ ...unless a mod can fix it (?)

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:21 AM (19 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:25 AM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Okay, damn. These all have moments of greatness marred by one or two weak spots. In the original, it would have been pretty much a walk for Mars Hotel, despite "Money Money". But since you've added Go To Heaven, as I said in the original version, I'm going to have to listen again.

I don't like the cheesy Here Comes Sunshine and Eyes of the World on Wake.

Terrapin is marred for me by Dancin', although I do really like the corny "Sunrise" courtesy of Donna.

I could never get into Blues for Allah (the song), although the album has Crazy Fingers, which I came to rather recently in my Dead-listening career. While I've stated my overall preference for studio work, there are just too many great live versions of Help->Slipknot!->Franklins to prefer the album cut.

― ljagljana (kkvgz), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:27 AM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
I've never actually heard Shakedown Street, though.

― ljagljana (kkvgz), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:28 AM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i think Terrapin might be my least favorite, but i haven't heard it since my sister's cassette tape of it broke back in like '96

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:29 AM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Terrapin's way corny.

― ljagljana (kkvgz), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:30 AM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Fire on the Mountain! That's my shakedown jam.

― Trip Maker, Friday, May 21, 2010 10:30 AM (10 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i go for wake of the flood. i dig that album.

― scott seward, Friday, May 21, 2010 10:32 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i'm in NO way a live Dead aficionado, i mean, I own Live/Dead & Europe '72 and Steal Your Face and maybe a couple of others and really enjoy them, but too many great live versions of Help->Slipknot!->Franklins to prefer the album cut. is so very otm

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:33 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Will -- sorry, the only thing a mod can do to a poll thread is edit the title. Make a new one quick!

― Grisly Addams (WmC), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:34 AM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i really like "shakedown" the song. "fire" is unfuckwithable.

― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Friday, May 21, 2010 10:34 AM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
i like the fusion-y vibe of BLUES FOR ALLAH best

― Ward Fowler, Friday, May 21, 2010 10:38 AM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

(from the old thread)

thanking u kkvgz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMyaTJF_pLg

i don't like any of these :<

ha! I hear you. I don't know that I LOVE any of them (maybe Mars), but i could definitely cull my 2-3 fave tracks from each and listen to resulting comp like non-stop

That is the answer, right there.

mars hotel and blues for allah are both great, just for the garcia songs on them.

don't know mars hotel or go to heaven. maybe i'll check those out

the comp i have on my ipod goes:

Help on the Way/ Slipknot
Franklin's Tower
US Blues
China Doll
Stella Blue
Crazy Fingers
If I Had the World to Give
Scarlet Begonias
Ship of Fools

Go To Heaven was the first GD record I ever bought, and I liked it until THE CRITICS told me I wasn't supposed to. Which means I still have a big soft spot for it, esp "Althea" and "Saint of Circumstance."

yeah, these records are ... uneven. Wake of the Flood is probably my fave. Can barely listen to Terrapin ... haven't listened to the others all that much.

re: Terrapin - been feeling "Estimated Prophet" recently, which is the very kind of archetypal post WD/AB Dead song I used to hate

wake of the flood is a bit too mellow for me, haven't heard terrapin station or go to heaven

i should probably listen to Terrapin again, i just remember really not liking it, even in my heavy Dead phase. Very possible I might dig it now.

also it has been said on other threads but garcia's solo album from 72 is the best of all these.

^^can't be stressed enough.

Yeah, I consider that of an era with WD/AB/Europe 72/Skullfuck/Ace. For me, Wake is the beginning of a new thing.

I mean, of course it is, it's the beginning of the Keith and Donna years, which is kinda what we're polling here, except Go to Heaven. Maybe this should have been divided up by keyboard player after all.

there's some real embarrassments on Blues for Allah, but there's also "Franklin's Tower," which is all time. I can't get into Wake of the Flood & have never heard Terrapin Station or Mars Hotel. Go to Heaven has "Alabama Getaway" but that's all I remember. So of the three I've heard, the one with an all-time jam would get my vote...but I'm not sure that voting on such a poor fund of information is really good use of the right to vote

oooh "Althea"...that one is great. Better on the acoustic live album from around the same time though iirc

mars hotel is probably the best of these but i have hard time voting against help on the way/ slipknot/ franklin's tower which is tremendous.

Terrapin is such an anomaly. (Strings by Paul Buckmaster!) Back in my Dead Sucks days, the Burning Spear cover of "Estimated" is one of the songs that helped to turn my head around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOixoqg-1ZI

Yeah, I think Mars is the best, but it's difficult for me to vote against Brent.

arrival of brent = when the dead really started to suck, imho - hate his rinky-dink keyboard sound

when i was in college there was a guy who had a bumper sticker that read "Leave the Bombs to Phil" :D

See, I love it. It's real crispy and psychedelic to me. I don't feel like he was ever able/allowed to fully live up to his potential, but towards the end I think he was guiding the boys toward a reinvigoration/rejuvenation.

curious: was "Ramble on Rose" ever committed to tape in the studio setting?

same question for "Wharf Rat" and "He's Gone"

I've got a Dead encyclopedia at home that would answer those questions but I am at work.

There are quite a few Dead songs that weren't on studio albums, though.

yeah it's looking like those were live only. as was "Tennessee Jed" (?)

'Terrapin Station' has always seemed like the Dead's "prog" album.

Produced by Keith Olsen. Make of that what you will....

I feel like there's a story behind some of those songs from the s/t and Europe '72, something about a lost Robert Hunter record.
Not having any luck searching it, though.

And if this was strictly an lp-cover poll, 'Shakedown Street' should be the winner, for the use of a Gilbert Shelton creation:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/54332897_b55b7df911.jpg

Tyler did you address that in yr 'lost albums' series?

tough call, artwork on mars hotel is also awesome
http://home.frognet.net/~scott/MarsHotel.jpg
http://www.kurtericson.com/txroadkill/roadkillpics/marsback.gif

xp

plus this tidbit

When held upside down in front of a mirror, the graphic on the front of the album cover appears to say "Ugly Rumors" which inspired the name of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's band, Ugly Rumours.

Think I prefer the Mars Hotel art.
The back is cool, too.
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/G/Grateful_Dead/gdead_marsb.jpg

Tyler did you address that in yr 'lost albums' series?
which one, this robert hunter LP? I didn't -- not sure if I've heard of that.

Mars Hotel cover art used to blow my little mind when I was a kid

Oddly, with all the attention the Dead's been getting around these parts, I went out for lunch with a coworker and she had a copy of Three from the Vault in her car.

europe '72 would be my actual fave 70's dead album.

pretty sure i saw a guy at a street fest once with a shakedown street all-over print shirt

er, 70's post-wd/ab, that is.

http://www.thetshirtfactoryonline.com/images/27430a_5_medium.jpg

^ would wear

http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/G/Grateful_Dead/gdead_marsb.jpg

Would wear.

Three from the Vault is awesome. Best "Smokestack Lightning," it's ferocious.

Yeah, I dl'd those Port Chester shows off of archive several years ago. I should probably pony up for the album.

The stage banter from the 11/08/70 Port Chester show is where I got my screen name.

Found my notes for the mythical 'lost' Dead album:

- Bertha (100 YEAR HALL)
- Playing in the Band (ACE - tho my preference is for one of the long jammy versions, really - the one from the last Lyceum show in 72 is pretty special)
- Wharf Rat (ROCKIN' THE RHEIN)
- Deal (GARCIA)
- Bird Song (LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...THE GRATEFUL DEAD)
- Sugaree (DICK'S PICKS 3)
- Greatest Story Ever Told (ACE)
- Mexicali Blues (STEPPIN' OUT WITH THE GRATEFUL DEAD)
- Loser (GARCIA)
- To Lay Me Down (GARCIA)
- The Wheel (GARCIA - man, Jer's first solo rec is just full of great songs AND some well wiggy 'experimental' stuff)
- He's Gone (EUROPE '72)
- Jack Straw (EUROPE '72)
- Brown-Eyed Women (EUROPE '72)
- Ramble On Rose (EUROPE '72)
- Tennessee Jed (EUROPE '72)
- Comes a Time (STEPPIN' OUT - the Garcia solo version from a few years later really doesn't do the song justice)

― Ward Fowler, Monday, 7 April 2008 19:22 (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

ha, that looks great! ysi?

The only version of Bertha that really makes the cut (for me) is the one from Skull & Roses.
Maybe it's that overdubbed Merl Saunders organ?
The cd version of the album I had in high school starts with just a bit of Jerry tuning up before launching into the song, but the original vinyl I picked up a few years ago does a slow fade in. Kinda weird.

With God as my witness I hate Playin'.

^co-sign

yeah. always skip that one.

but the rest of that is A++

Cosign in triplicate. Weir was always the weakest link in the chain afaic, and my biggest impediment to appreciating the Dead.

I mean, I think he would have been fine as a strictly rhythm guitarist, but his voice really grates on me. Can. Not. Sing.

I dig "Cassidy"

I'm going foe Blues For Allah because it deserves a vote

Gonna be a long long crazy crazy night
(Silky silky crazy crazy night)

yes!

it's true, Bob's voice isn't very good, or even distinctive, really. but he did give us Cassidy, Feel Like a Stranger, Sugar Magnolia, Jack Straw,
Estimated Prophet, so i can hardly hate on the dude.

bob is great. i recently saw this dvd of a live show from around '90 or and during "estimated prophet", bob is just doing some seriously batshit phrasing and kind of atonal shit on the verse vocals. totally unexpected.

i luvvv his backing vocals on casey jones. and he just looks straight up goofy in live performances, which is a plus.

Oh man, this is so Mars Hotel it's not even funny. I'm in the middle of Unbroken Chain right now. It's such an outlier among Dead songs, but it's fucking great. I mean the album could win off the back of the first three songs alone, although I kinda prefer the acoustic version of China Doll on Reckoning. I was actually on acid when I bought this album the first time. One of those nights when you're hanging out with your friends and decide to drop acid at 6 in the evening, then around 10 everyone has to go home to make curfew or whatever. I think it was really fortunate that I picked this album out of all the Dead albums in Best Buy that night. It's a searingly lysergic record. The guitars in Pride of Cucamonga are so silly and frenetic. Yup - definitely Mars Hotel.

He rocks short pants like nobody's biz

This LP is pretty good all the way through:

Wake of the Flood (1973)

These have some good moments:

Blues for Allah (1975)
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel (1974)

This is mostly pretty bad though I can enjoy "Estimated" and the title track once in a while, and it almost came before my favorite live era:

Terrapin Station (1977)

This is pretty much terrible:

Shakedown Street (1978)

Never heard this one:

Go to Heaven (1980)

almost came before = also came before

you people who have never heard Go To Heaven I'm telling you

it's worth your time

Reckoning is so good.

you people who have never heard Go To Heaven I'm telling you

it's worth your time

Worth your time, but what made me choose Mars over Heaven was that Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance drags like hell. Just no energy there at all, which is a shame because they're great compositions. It's a textbook example of why somebody would choose live shows over studio albums. The expanded edition actually does feature a live Lost Sailor/Saint as a bonus track though, so I guess you could sub those in.

I sure don't know what I'm going for
But I'm gonna go for it for sure

Fuckin' a

Wake of the Flood is super laid-back, which for these guys means almost-comatose, but it's got a jazzy mellow groove if you're in the mood. their most underrated studio LP IMO.

mars hotel and blues for allah are both great, just for the garcia songs on them.

read this as 'just for the granola songs on them' - haven't had breakfast yet.

"alabama getaway" on snl:
http://www.wayn.com/waynvideos.html?video=12149842&wci=watch

JG really aged between '77 - '80

Can anyone recommend a reaaaally good and extensive history of the Dead book? Need some summer reading.

I thought Phil Lesh's recent memoir was terrific but I'm not sure how extensive you're looking for; this was only 300 pages or so & included a fair bit at the start about his own, rather than the Dead's, life.

btw voted Blues For Allah

I'll tell you one thing about Dead books: if you go into Rock Scully's book knowing that it's kind of a gossipy, intensely subjective piece of trash celebrating the author and his role in the seedy underbelly of the Dead, it's a very entertaining read.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Wake of the Flood is probably my favorite studio album of theirs (apart from Anthem of the Sun, which has a bunch of live shit on it anyway), so that.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

buying wake of the flood the next time i see it on the cheap

Go to Heaven is such a weird record. Whenever one of those Brent Mydland tunes shows up its like the later soul Doobie Brothers or Firefall showing up on a Grateful Dead album (albeit Mydland obviously not as good at it as say Mike McDonald). It's too bad that one of them didn't catch on as some big soft rock pop hit and there would maybe be some totally weird video of the Grateful Dead playing the tune on Solid Gold.