Offical Bootleg (Mlps) Review

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(More customer reviews)This bootleg reminds me what is missing from the current ABB lineup. There is nothing new on this album at all but there are some very good versions of some classics - "Back where it all Begins"- and some rarer GS tracks like "Good Time Feeling". The real highlight however is the pure, clean country vocals of Dickey. Nobody can replicate it, it's totally unique, and it should be heard by all ABB and country fans.

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Double CD live album from the legendary Allman Brothers guitarist performing with his band Great Southern. Recorded live from his 2006 North American tour, this is Betts at his full, awesome best with a selection of Allman Brothers favorites including a blistering 31 minute 'In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed'. Evangeline. 2007.

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Europe 72 Review

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(More customer reviews)Apparently '72 was a mighty good year for the Dead. Not only did they follow the success of 1971's excellent Live album with this compilation of their European tour but they also produced the recent English tour collection. Although there have been accusations of too much cleaning up and editing, these are live recordings and personally I'm not sure what value there is in feedback and misdirection. These musicians usually planned such experiments. Be that as it may, this is among the best of the early Dead. Garcia and company are at the top of their game--a spectacular game it is. There's a lot of music here--blues, breakdowns, ballads. The disc begins with a fabulous rendition of "Cumberland Blues"--a real mountain breakdown with tight interplay between Garcia, Weir, and Lesh. Garcia's solo work is concise and accurate and it shows what he could do when he was focused and functional. "He's Gone" is a stately elegy, with good lyrics and a nice Garcia solo. "One More Saturday Night" the band recalls apprentice gigs at places like the National Guard Armory in Redwood City, California, where they played when they weren't supporting Kesey's Acid Tests. (With cardboard tombstones hand-painted with powdered tempura paints attached to their amplifiers, they played for folks to dance.) Listen to Hunter's lyrics on this song. He learned the narrative lyrical compression from Chuck Berry, and Jerry learned the chording and rock licks from the same place. This is a great song. "Jack Straw," a rambling, gambling, railroad traveling song could be the band's anthem: "We used to play for silver/Now we play for life." Nice Garcia leads driven by Kreutzmann's drums. Hank William's "You Win Again" showcases essential country roots, where Garcia exhibits his mastery of native guitar forms. The "China Cat Sunflower" on this album is among my favorites with fluid improvisational lines and coherent solos that showcase Garcia at his most articulate. "China Cat" segues into "I Know You Rider," a take on "Easy Rider" that extends Garcia's solo into a virtuoso performance of improvisational counterpoint. "Brown Eyed Women" continues Hunter's to the tradition of unfortunate rake songs--"Brown-eyed women and red grenadine/The bottle was dusty, but the liquor was clean." Again, the lead guitar provides lyrical interludes for the narrative of personal and social deterioration. "Hurts Me Too" shows that the Dead could play a real blues. "Ramble on Rose" is a slow shuffle with nice picking and enigmatic lyrics in which Hunter offers infinite possibilities for defining Rose. "Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream" is more descriptive of a relationship between musician and muse--a Southern belle incarnating southern music. Again Garcia's solos are logical and coherent and the band weaves its magic web of counterpoint. Pigpen follows with his "Mr. Charlie," based on Chicago blues. The theme for the balance of the album is rambling. The disc follows a great version of "Tennessee Jed" with an extended "Truckin'" (the real band anthem). In "Tennessee Jed" Keith Godchaux' piano and Lesh's bass underpin Garcia's lengthy solo to good effect. And this may be the definitive "Truckin'." At thirteen minutes, there's ample time to explore the possibilities of the song. Everything's playing as the long ensemble riffs evolve into a Dead improvisational jam. I suggest that this may be the definitive "Truckin'" because it is coherent, lucid, and harmonically inventive--the Garcia, Lesh, Godchaux, Kreutzmann quartet in particular. There are musical epiphanies here that extend into the track called "Epilogue." The "Prelude" experiments with sonic textures, harmonies, and intervals. The program concludes with a gentle "Morning Dew" a soulful vocal performance incorporating sensitive guitar and bass lines. Garcia's final solo is a fitting conclusion to an outstanding collection of music.

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White Moth Review

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(More customer reviews)An amazing performer with deep love for the Earth.
His mix of reggae and folk and aborginal music is beautiful
and haunting .
I loved this cd so much I bought the rest of his music.
His vocal qualities remind me of a young Paul Simon.
Would vote him for World President because of his love of Mother Earth!

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Australia's singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is poised toconquer the US with this, his third album. Rudd has found a sounding boardfor his ideas, focusing the ecstatic improvisations of his live set intobeautiful narratives of the spiritual journeys we take in our everydaylives. With songwriting and production that now match the adrenalin of hislive performances, and dates this summer with the Dave Matthews Band,Xavier will reach the audience his intensely spiritual music deserves. Bothof his previous releases, "Solace" and "Food In The Belly", have beencertified platinum in Australia, and his 2006 DVD, "Good Spirit" was alsorecently certified gold in Australia.

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Formerly the Warlocks Box: October 8 & 9, 1989 (6 CD Set) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Dead's Fall 1989 Tour began with a couple of surprise shows at Hampton Coliseum in Virginia. The Dead hadrecently brought back We bid You Goodnight in July while Death Don't Have No Mercy followed in September. Jerry had done an interview with Relix around this time talking about reviving songs for the band's 25th Anniversary with both a new studio album and a live album in the works.
10-8-89:
The first show opens with a nice version of Foolish Heart before giving way to Walkin' Blues. Candyman is nice and was a bit rare at the time being played only every once in a while by this time. Me And My Uncle->Big River, Stagger Lee, Queen Jane, Bird Song->Promised Land are all great but had a lot wondering where the "surprise" was in these surprise shows. The second set opened with the first Help On The Way/Slipknot since 1985 and is quite well performed. Next up, a strong Victim Or The Crime gives way to a strong Eyes Of The World. The Drums->Space segment is really good as the following I Need A Miracle->The Wheel->Gimmie Some Lovin'->Morning Dew. And We Bid You Goodnight ends the show on a great note.
10-9-89:
The second night's show opens with a Feel Like A Stranger that most will know as being the one from Without a Net: Live. The new album title track Built To Last is played quite well as is the following Little Red Rooster. Ramble On Rose is a joy to behold. We Can Run is better than some while Jack A Roe is hot. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again is it's usual fun self. The set ending Row Jimmy->The Music Never Stopped is very well played. The second set opens with a hot Playing In The Band before giving way to Uncle John's Band which goes back into Playing In The Band. At this point, one would expect something like Terrapin Station but the first few notes make that a long gone memory. The first Dark Star in five years is quite amazing, to put it simply. This isn't a trivial Star but a monster with a nice full jam. The Drums->Space->Death Don't Have No Mercy is quite impressive. I actually find the rest of the second set to be good but unimpressive. The encore is a different matter as the first live Attics OF My Life since 9-27-72 Dick's Picks, Vol. 11: Stanley Theatre, Jersey City, NJ, 9/27/72.

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In October 1989, the folks who were lucky enough to score tickets for the "Warlocks" shows in Hampton were treated to two of the most exciting shows of the year. Every song was recorded with the state-of-the-art Le Mobile remote recording truck and recently mastered to HDCD specifications, so needless to say, it sounds like you're there, in the best seats in the house.
The Hampton "Warlocks" box collects every note of the band's two "stealth" shows spread over six CDs. This collector's set comes packaged in a wooden replica of a cigar box (Virginia being a tobacco state dating back to colonial times), and is filled with all sorts of goodies, from a photo-laden historical essay to various pieces of cool memorabilia from the time.
Track listing:
Disc 1
1. Foolish Heart
2. Walkin' Blues
3. Candyman
4. Me and My Uncle
5. Big River
6. Stagger Lee
7. Queen Jane Approximately
8. Bird Song
9. Promised Land
Disc 2
1. Help On The Way
2. Slipknot!
3. Franklin's Tower
4. Victim or the Crime
5. Eyes of the World
6. Rhythm Devils
Disc 3
1. Space>
2. I Need A Miracle
3. The Wheel
4. Gimme Some Lovin'
5. Morning Dew
6. We Bid You Goodnight
Disc 4
1. Feel Like A Stranger
2. Built To Last
3. Little Red Rooster
4. Ramble On Rose
5. We Can Run
6. Jack-A-Roe
7. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
8. Row Jimmy
9. The Music Never Stopped
Disc 5
1. Playing In The Band
2. Uncle John's Band
3. Playing In The Band
4. Dark Star
5. Rhythm Devils
Disc 6
1. Space
2. Death Don't Have No Mercy
3. Dear Mr. Fantasy
4. Hey Jude
5. Throwing Stones
6. Good Lovin'
7. Attics of My Life

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Europe 72 Review

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(More customer reviews)There are three seminal, essential live Grateful Dead albums, each a bit different, but each containing all the elements orf improvisation, multiple musical styles, and ensemble tightness that made the Dead so unique. These are Live Dead, Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses) and Europe 72. It is impossible to pick one over the other as *the best* of the officially released live Dead albums, and if I had to, I could live with no Dead albums other than these three, but I could not give up any one of them.

Europe 72 contains both some of the tightest compact versions of several Dead tunes, as well as some of the most ethereal extended jams. For those interested in the magic of what used to happen when everything just jelled exactly right, listen to Weir's unique idiosyncratic rhythm-lead solo between China Cat and I know you rider (yup - That's Bobby playing the lead). There are lots of examples of this jam on other live Dead recordings, but nowhere does the playing of all band members synergize in the segue as well as on this cut. Trucking-Prologue-Epilogue Morning Dew is basically one long piece of music. Epilogue gets really nice and jazzy and stretches things out like only the Dead could. Prologue merges into a Morning Dew that has a Bobby-Keith rhythm guitar/piano section that is so tight that even after listening to it for more than 30 years there are still parts where I can't tell if I am hearing Bobby or Keith. Jerry's vocals and lead are are stronger and more emotional on this than on any other Morning Dew available anywere. Europe 72 also features a wider range of styles from Jerry and the boys than either Live Dead or Skull and Roses, ranging from very countrified on Cumberland Blues to rock on One More Saturday Night to good old trademark Greatful Dead style everything but the kitchen sink on the long jams.
This is a great album. The new tracks are a nice feature, but not one of them is as strong as any of the originals (But Jerry's pedal steel on Looks' Like Rain is a nice touch). Still, this is one (of 3) Dead albums that is an absolute must for DeadHeads of all ages.

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Expanded & remastered in HDCD, this reissue of 1972 livealbum includes seven bonus tracks, 'The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion)', 'Looks Like Rain', 'Good Lovin', 'Caution(Do Not Stop On Tracks)', 'Who Do You Love?', 'Caution (DoNot Stop On Tracks)' & 'Good Lovin'. Featuring some ofJerry Garcia's last-ever pedal steel guitar playing withthe Grateful Dead. Includes expanded booklet as well withrare photos & all-new liner notes, packaged in doublegatefold Digipak. Warner/Rhino. 2003.

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To Terrapin: May 28, 1977 Hartford, CT Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay , I'll admit it. The Dead are one of my all-time faves. Writing an impartial review from the perspective of owning over 1,500 Dead discs is a tough challenge. However , it is from that vast collection that I can relish in a release such as this.
It would be 2 more months before Terrapin Station the studio album was set for release on July 27 , 1977. The boys (and one girl) were in Hartford on closing night of a grueling tour. Fans were treated to many faves , and what would soon become staples of the Dead shows in years to come. "Terrapin Station" , "Estimated Prophet" , "Samson And Delilah" are all heard in their infancy stages.
Many felt these same songs (especially the title track) were subsequently overblown on the studio release ; not here. Stripped down and performed with remarkable energy.
And a 20 minute "Sugaree" ? Geez , this band knew what a live performance should be.
So , I finally can put the audience recording of this historic show away in the archives , as I now proudly own history in HDCD.
I can't imagine if you are reading this review that you might be unfamiliar with what the Dead stood for. Maybe you are curious about discovering what all the fuss is about. This would be a great place to start.

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As they were prepping for the summer release of their first studio album in two years, Terrapin Station (a Top 40 Billboard album), the Grateful Dead blew the roof off Connecticut's Hartford Civic Center on the closing night of their spring '77 tour. A show long sought after by Dead fans, the set features inspired versions of songs that would soon come out on Terrapin, including 'Estimated Prophet,' 'Passenger,' and the title track. Epic jams also include, of course, 'One More Saturday Night,' 'Jack Straw,' 'Candyman,' 'U.S. Blues,' and takes on 'Tennessee Jed' and 'Sugaree' that many fans claim are as good as any ever recorded. Released in celebration of the Dead's '09 tour which plays Hartford and presented in HDCD, the recordings from this previously unissued show were mastered from the original two track master analog tapes.

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LivePhish 04/03/98 Review

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(More customer reviews)4/3/98 Nassau is truly one of the groundbreaking Phish shows of all time. The Island Tour, which contained 2 shows at Nassau and 2 shows in Providence, came on the heels of perhaps Phish's best tour ever(Fall 97) and in many ways was a continuation of the magic that began in 97. This was a special time to be a Phish fan as we felt the boys could accomplish ANYTHING on any given night. I beleive this was the best of the 4 shows on the Island Tour, although among Phish circles you will hear just as many phans site the next night in Providence as the best of the bunch. That's how strong these 4 shows were. Anyway this show kicks off with a blistering Mike's>OHP>Weekapaug. Any show that kicks off with Mike's Song will no doubt be a teriffic show and this night was no exception. This was also in my opinion the best Mike's groove of the year, and I've heard em all. Weekapaug is particularly amazing with soaring grooves throughout. The rest of the set is somewhat standard except for a typically gorgeous Reba. Set 2 is where the real magic begins. To begin the set we got a Roses are Free that may be among the top 5 Phish jams of all time. Roses had only been played 2 times before this performance and never before contained any kind of extended jam. This version is a total monster. It's close to 30 mins long and contains some of the most fluid, themactic improv I've ever heard. Just a pure jem. The Piper that follows is almost equally as amazing though not quite. It mellows out into a space jam that is just jaw-dropping. Loving Cup always shreds a room and this again was no exception. Next was the comic relief part of the show. After Loving Cup a fan ran up on stage and was chased off by Pete Carini, the Drum Tech. In the intro of Antelope Fish says something like, "If you're gona run up on the stage don't let Carini get you." After that they proceed to do a little vocal interplay with the phrase "Carini's gonna get you" Very cool stuff. The Antelope itself is a very strong version which may get overlooked. What a sick set this is!! Now on to the encore. Wow, what can I possibly say about this. The crowd at this point was in a total frenzy and literally begging for more. So of course the boys rip into none other than a smoking Carini>Halley's Comet>Tweezer Reprise!! One of the all time great encores for one of the all time great shows. GET THIS SHOW!!!!

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Soon after Phish began preparing to record "Story Of The Ghost", the band played some live shows in the northeast, labeled the Island Tour. They did two shows at Nassau Coliseum and two at Providence Civic Center. Each of these titles is comprised of three CDs. Set two of the second Island Tour show consisted of four songs: "Roses Are Free", "Piper", "Loving Cup", and "Run Like An Antelope". Also includes bonus soundcheck material from the 4/2/98 and 4/4/98 shows.

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