Cats Under the Stars [Original recording remastered]

Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0007OQ6SE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,821 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rubin and Cherise

2. Love in the Afternoon

3. Palm Sunday

4. Cats Under the Stars

5. Rhapsody in Red

6. Rain

7. Down Home

8. Gomorrah

9. Magnificent Sanctuary Band

10. I'll Be With Thee

11. Way You Do The Things You Do

12. Mighty High

13. Don't Let Go

14. Down Home

15. Palm Sunday

Editorial Reviews

1978's Cats Under the Stars, the first album to officially acknowledge the Jerry Garcia Band by name, features original songs by JGB's John Kahn as well as a spate of Garcia-Hunter gems. Now with seven previously unissued extras, including an alternate take of "Palm Sunday" and a rehearsal version of "Down Home".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely JGB Album, May 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cats Under the Stars (Audio CD)

"Cats" is a great , great album , especially for the Dead Heads. The only reason I give it only four stars is because it is a relatively short album , and when it's over you just want to play it again . Donna Godshaux shines on this record , she was great in the studio ,when the rest of the Dead felt out of place . You will love this record , quintessential sweet American music given to us by that smiling gunslinger , Mr. Garcia.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That fine cat on the pedestal could be Donna..., April 17, 2006

By 

t'amant (WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cats Under the Stars (Audio CD)

And on this beautiful/inspired gospel tinged recording, she deserves her place in the sun this time. Maria Muldaur also adds nice harmony on many songs, making this especially soothing to the senses (sometimes it is hard distinguishing between them). This is another favorite that I bought when it came out and have always loved. With Jerry, Donna & Keith Godchaux, John Kahn and Ron Tutt from the usual JGB set-up, including Merl Saunders on Organ, you know it can't go wrong. Steve Schuster plays various wind instruments on here for even more flavor (it lists Brian & Candy Godchaux as playing violins, not sure the relationship). Rubin & Cherise is an odd beginning for the album in a way, it probably would have added spark by switching it with the title song. I guess it's those BIG opening chords. Cat's Down under the Stars is one of Jerry's masterpieces to me, I love the whimsical roundabout construction and cheerful/energetic guitar melodies Jerry weaves. This album resembles parts of Terrapin and Shakedown Street, the Dead albums from this period, which is a good thing in my opinion since they are both favorites of mine. My next highlight is Palm Sunday with the loving harmony between Donna and Jerry - they are like hand in glove, simply beautiful and emotionally touching (though short and sweet, an alternate take is an extra for a second dose)! Sunny harmonies are all over this album, making this kind of a feel good special if you need a boost (Love in the Afternoon). Rhapsody in Red is a bit more straight forward rock n' roll, with a biting guitar tone from Jerry's guitar. It stands out for it's energy and radio friendly format - kind of anchors the spacey lilting quality and/or gospel feel found around the rest of this one. Rain (a prayer for) shows a Donna solo piece and the band valiantly painting a lush background with the awkward but pretty melody (here are the violins). Still, a nice showcase for Donna's pure tone and spirit...you gotta love her! I was always a little ambivalent on earlier Dead (particularly live) whether she was adding to the music, but during this era, she is in top form and a delight to lay back and float away with. Down Home again shows Donna's special voice and musical vision - SWEET & MELLOW (John Kahn wrote it)! To end the original album, Gamorrah sounds like a little Dylan influence. A great Hunter/Garcia song, one of the big classics if you ask me, really sounds like a Dead song and would have fit right on Shakedown. If that was the end of it, YOU WOULD BE QUITE CONTENT!

There are another five fine beauties and two alternates of Down Home and Palm Sunday kindly added for your pleasure (all previously unissued!). The first two really highlight Gospel with very different and creative approaches. Was this band VERSATILE or what, with so many song styles? The far ranging interests and influences of all the band members are displayed throughout. More great harmony between Donna and Jerry on The Way You Do Those Things You Do. A nice guitar lead wanders into a bit of a jam. Mighty High starts out a little strangely as a disco soul jam and the band have some fun with the rythms. Don't let go (16 minutes)says "come on baby it's time to rock" and grooves slowly but becomes one of the great jam pieces on here, fine examples of long, soulful Jerry solos we all know and love - "hold on tightly and don't let go"... Jerry locks his jaw around the song dynamics like a feline predator, slinking and stalking around in unexpected ways. A male only Down Home practice session is an interesting contrast to the album version with Donna's Siren's song in the upper range. Like I said before, a Palm Sunday alternate leads you to the end of this inspired masterpiece. ALL other music will be almost unlistenable for at least 10 minutes after this ends. You must meditate momentarily and thank Jerry, Donna and the band for this beautiful offering. Enjoy this excellent remaster! Almost 74 minutes of sheer Garcia musical Joy with good track notes and essay (no lyrics unfortunately). FEEL GOOD MUSIC!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best JGB albums going..., June 30, 1998

By 

Brent Leatherman (Rathdrum, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cats Under the Stars (Audio CD)

"Cats Under the Stars" is one of the best JGB albums out - w/o a doubt my personal favorite. More folksy than bluesy, it's a nice listen from the very first song - Rueben and Cherise, through Palm Sunday and the title cut. The only fault I have with this album is that it's not long enough - at 35 minutes, I'm ready for more in the same vein. Highly recommended.