History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) [Live, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Grateful Dead | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B00007LTIO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,954 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #97 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Rock Jam Bands

Editorial Reviews

This expanded and remastered edition contains four bonus tracks, including "Big Boss Man," an alternate version of "Smokestack Lightnin," and a rare live rendition of "Sitting On Top of the World."
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: GRATEFUL DEAD
Title: VOL. 1-HISTORY OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD-BEARS CHOICE
Street Release Date: 03/25/2003
Domestic
Genre: ROCK/POP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bear's Choice and growing up a DeadHead, October 21, 2007

By 

Dark Star-The Other One (The Bus To Never Ever Land) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) (Audio CD)

One of the things that has always been interesting for me is how Dead albums are viewed when first released and then how differently they're looked at by newer fans over the years. I was raised around the Dead and was about 4 years old when this album was first released. I remember growing up with this album (as well as all that came before it) and it always surprised me how those first generation Deadheads never really cared for this. When Bear was picking the songs for this release, he wanted something that would pay tribute to Pigpen and also feature songs that, for the most part anyway, hadn't already appeared on an album and went back to one of his favorite run of shows 2-13 & 14-70 Fillmore East late shows in New York City (Dick's Picks 4 features more from this great run). Originally it was going to include some pre Dead tunes. While others seemed to not really pay much attention, as a kid, I loved it.

The first side showcases Bob and Jerry's acoustic outing with Bobby's singing on Dark Hollow was/is tear jerking and when Jerry joins in, it's something else. This IS REAL country here and not that phony laid back pop emotionless junk but really heartfelt. I've Been All Around The World is Jerry at his playful best and Black Peter always put me into a trace. The second half featured the electric Dead backing Pig. Smokestack Lightnin' is full of twists and turns. Thundering along in places and very quiet in other places. I love the sound of the guitars and very full of drums. Hard To Handle is straight up rockin'. Years ago, I used to be able to do a good Pig imitation and this was the song. The bonus songs are also great, Good Lovin'(from the early show, 2-13-70) rocks out at a nice clip. The second Smokestack (2-8-70 Fillmore West, San Francisco) shows how different the Dead could take even a basic blues tune in the very next version. Big Boss Man (2-5-70 Fillmore West) blows away the Grateful Dead (aka Skull & Roses) version. Sittin' On Top Of The World (2-8-70 Fillmore West) is again, execellent. I should also point out, that untill Reckoning was released in April 1981, this was the only place that you could officially get acoustic Dead and until the vaul reases starting in the early '90's, this was the only place you could get many of these tunes on record.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting stuff, January 14, 2005

By 

kireviewer (Sunnyvale, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) (Audio CD)

The album was originally released in 1973 and is taken from concerts in 1970. The original LP was 47 minutes long. The bonus material puts the CD right at 80 minutes. Sound quality is very good. Some of the material is very interesting and has a distinctive sound.

The first tracks are stripped down acoustic numbers. I especially like Dark Hollow (I think it is the best thing on the CD) and Wake Up Little Suzy. The acoustic numbers have a nice bluesy feel to them and make this CD worth getting.

The rest of the tracks are electric, and I don't think they are that special over other Grateful Dead live material. I think Black Peter goes on a little too long.

Smokestack Lightning is your typical 18 minute PigPen driven song. I think he has better songs, like Turn on Your Lovelight.

The bonus material is OK, but does not make it worth buying this CD if you already have the original. Another 18 minute version of Smokestack Lightning is included. It is slightly different than the first one, with less vocals by PigPen, letting the music come through a little more. It is a nice contrast, and proves that the Dead rarely play the same song the same way twice. But, I don't think it is different enough to include. I hate it when different versions of a song are included on a CD. I like to listen to a CD all the way through and it takes away from the experience when you have songs repeated.

The one great bonus track is Sitting On Top of the World. There is a nice, jazzy guitar solo, that is different from what I have heard before.

The full title of this CD was History of the Grateful Dead, Bear's Choice, Vol 1. Other volumes were planned. This was the last Dead album on Warner Brothers records, so something must have been dropped into the transfer to Grateful Dead records.

Rhino records has done a wonderful job in reworking the Warner Brothers albums. The sound quality is excellent, and HDCD technology is used (it is supposed to improve sound quality, even on standard CD players). Bonus material has been added so that every second of the CD is used. The CD's come in nice cardboard cases with multi page booklets. (Note that the re-issues of the later Dead albums don't include the nice packaging).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Tab From Owsley, November 10, 2008

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice) (Audio CD)

A lesser known release from The Grateful Dead: "Bear's Choice" is one of my favorite documents of live GD. This mixture of acoustic/electric Dead is from the famous Fillmore East shows of 2/13/70 & 2/14/70.

The acoustic side: Things are off to a great start with Pigpen playing some blues on: "Katie Mae." Pigpen, it should be said, might have been a little out-of-place in 1970, as this wonderful tune would have sounded so perfect in 1933. You are not going to find this gem on any other recording, it is here, and it is one of Pig's finest moments. Next up is: "Dark Hollow" and as I have heard many versions of this classic American recording, this one is the best of the bunch, Bobby & Jerry, are in charge of this and really having big fun, another great track that always reminds me of my time living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

"I've Been All Around The World" is my very favorite song on this record, Jerry turns in the best performance of this classic that I have ever come across...Blue Ridge Mountains, again! The Everly Brothers hit song: "Wake Up Little Susie" get's the Dead treatment next, and it's all in good fun, the boy's were loose in NYC, and we get to enjoy the results. The closer of side one is: "Black Peter" and it's a longer and slower than it's studio cousin. "Peter" has about the greatest refrain found in any GD song: "See here how everything leads up to this day"...Jerry, really get's inside this song, and it is very powerful.


The electric side: This second half of the record belongs to Pigpen, who could really steal the show from his bandmates in the early days. "Smokestack Ligthnin" is a blues-romp that Pig had performed for years, the boy's give Pig some really fine backing and jam for about 18 minutes here on this timeless gem. Jerry, has more than a few moments on this, this is great: 'Cosmic' Dead. "Hard To Handle" is another Pigpen showcase, and the closer for the original album.

The Bonus Tracks: A sixties style GD: "Good Lovin' has been heard on many other Dead recordings, this one is short {8 minutes} but, it is a fine version done in the early {pre-Disco Dead.} "Big Boss Man" always sounds good to me, and this is up there with the version found on; "Grateful Dead" as one of the very best versions...great, put's it mildly.

Another version of: "Smokestack" makes an appearance next, but I'd rather enjoy to hear a version of: "In The Midnight Hour" in it's place. The last extra track is: "Sitting On Top Of The World" and it's a fine addition to a wonderful collection of early Live Dead.

This is what The Grateful Dead sounded like at the close of the 1960's and the dawn of the 1970's. A very over-looked record from the group. But, it is one of their very best records.
4.5 Stars!!!