Customer Reviews

Almost Acoustic

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This release was recorded in November 1987 at the Wiltern in Los Angeles and the Warfield in San Francisco. The line up consisted of many of Jerry's longtime Bluegrass buddies like former New Riders David Nelson, Sandy Rothman with JGB mainstay John Kahn on bass and drummer David Kemper on snare with new friend Kenny Kosek on fiddle. The album features many favorites such as Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Deep Elem Blues, I've Been All Around This World, I'm Troubled and so on. Most of the songs feature Jerry singing the lead although David Nelson does get a couple in there. The recording was made by John Cutler on a two track DAT feed and the reissue has been upgraded to HDCD. aside from that, I don't notice any difference in the sound between the new version and my original 1988 pressing bought by my grandmother for my birthday. She ended up liking this one too!

Not only do I think this is one of Jerry Garcia's most enjoyable moments it is also one of my ultimate all-time favorite albums in the world! This music just makes you FEEL good and I am not complete without it!!Especially check out Deep Elem and Wind & Rain!

3 stars? This album is definitely worthy of a higher rating than that. Anything with "Deep Elem Blues" on it deserves at least 4 stars! The previous reviewer was right on when he said that if you like "Reckoning" you'll like this. And since I believe that "Reckoning" is one of the Dead's best albums (if not THE best), then I have to give this one a big, hearty thumbs up!

I've enjoyed this album for years and I'm disappointed to see it out of print. As other reviewers have commented, this album is very much in the same vien as Reckoning, but with a folk twist. Great Sunday morning music. Get out the coffee, put it on and sit back and enjoy.

This album has to deserve 5 stars. Any Dead fan will love this album. My personal favorite is Deep Elem Blues. I've just picked up mandolin and this album has really inspired me. 5 stars all the way

This CD has incredible sound quality, and provides new and old Deadheads with melodic tracks that are complimented both by Jerry's prime vocals, and guitar playing. It's a side of music that is sometimes shown through the Grateful Dead, but perfected when Jerry goes solo.

Favorite tracks: Blue Yodel No. 9, Deep Elem Blues, I've Been All Around This World, Ripple

Recommended all fans of Jerry and his music.

This disc is like a cross between jerry garcia band and Old & In the Way. Great for any fan of Jerry's.

Having been on tour for years in the lat 80s, I'm sorta biased: I never heard and JGB (or GD, for that matter) which I DIDN'T like.

That said, tracks here are tight and folksy, almost back to bluegrass roots. Mellow. What's not to like?

Wife calls herself a dead head, as do I. However, I am even more of a Jerry-Head. This is some of his greatest stuff ever in an "old-timey" vein.

If he added an accoustic "Dear Prudence" (definitely not "old-timey") to it I would buy a 3rd and 4th copy to add to the 2 I already own (just in case).

GET IT NOW! YOU'LL BE VERY GLAD YOU DID.

The playing is good. The songs are mostly bluegrass/C&W. There are 14 tracks, nothing over sixish minutes. Includes Deep Elem Blues; I've Been All Around This World; Spike Driver Blues;I'm Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail; Casey Jones (by Mississippi John Hurt); Gone Home; Ripple. There are some really good mandolin and guitar interactions. The fiddle isnt bad either. For mine the vocals are just competent, but they are all intelligible.