Customer Reviews

Jerry Garcia Band

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Right before Christmas last year, my oldest daughter was not yet four, I pointed out a big picture of Jerry Garcia on the cover of a book at Barnes and Noble. She said, "Hey, Jerry Garcia looks just like Santa Clause." Then she asked if we could either visit Santa Clause or Jerry Garcia before Christmas next year. I replied, no, we couldn't, because Jerry Garcia is dead and "some people believe Santa Clause is just make believe," or words to that effect. It probably was not my greatest moment in parenting, but I try not to lie to my kids and I have mixed feelings about the Santa Clause thing for reasons I won't go into here. There was a pregnant pause, and I worried I had traumatized her with my bluntness, but she seemed unfazed. A moment later, studying the picture again, she amended her observation: "Actually, Jerry Garcia looks different than Santa Clause because Santa Clause has a hole in his beard where his mouth is." Fair enough.

The Grateful Dead were a unique and special thing, but by the eighties, it had grown too large, taken on a life of its own. Too many people were making too much money, and too many lives depended on the touring. So, on inertia and psychedelic fumes, the band played on. And the kids, they dance and shake their bones. But Jerry Garcia's heart was not in it. There were sporadic great shows, nights where all the individual streams came together just right and the magic happened. But you had to listen to a lot of mediocre jamming to get to those moments. You had to accept that you were there for the experience, and the band was there to provide the accompaniment. Any higher expectations and it was a set-up.

When you listen to the Jerry Garcia Band, you can hear the difference. Not that there still weren't off nights. But freed of the burden of the Dead, the Dead scene and the Dead repertoire, the alchemical magic was bubbling through the music. Jerry could take a melody and make it something different, something special. The ensemble he put together in the late eighties and early nineties played some great, soulful and beautiful music, and this compilation is a nice example of the best of it.

Melvin Seals is terrific on the organ and Kahn does a good job on the bass. You also get quality background singing, something noticeably missing from the Grateful Dead since the band cleared puberty. The Way You Do the Things You Do, Dear Prudence, Deal, My Sisters and Brothers, and an exuberant Tangled Up In Blue are my personal favorites. There are also plenty of those slow, sad ballads that Jerry does so well.

Buy this, listen to it often, have fun, be safe.

I enjoyed Postcards from the Hanging very much - the dead covering Dylan live and so its not much of a stretch that I like this album so much with four of the fifteen songs being Dylan covers. But there's so much more here than the Dylan covers, although they do not disappoint - especially Senor (Tales of yankee power) and the excellent finale - Tangled Up in Blue. The song selection is the strong foundation for this concert. Ageless treasures like "That Lucky Old Sun" sound so wonderful with the band, the lush background vocals and Jerry at the very top of his game. His guitar work is at its poignant best and his vocals are just perfect. This is one tight band folks and you really get the feeling that these concerts were true labors of love - the love of music that transcends generations and cultures performed with passion. I've always enjoyed hearing one of those big organs played with a full "churchy" sound and Melvin Seals' performance on keyboards is a great compliment to Jerry's guitar work and voacals, but the rest of the band is excellent, too. I honestly can't imagine anyone not finding at least a good handfull of treasures in this set.

If you're a Deadhead, you kind of already know if you're going to like this. Still, however, not *everything* Jerry or the boys produce is uniformly wonderful. This live recording's a keeper - trust me, you'll listen to it over and over again - take the word of a discerning Deadhead. The fact that I felt like submitting my own little review should be an indication. Buy this one over "How Sweet It Is" - THAT one sounds like reheated Cat's Under the Stars. The present, simply JGB, is a wonderful sound, full of new songs. There's only one Dead song on this recording - Deal. You won't believe Dear Prudence, or Tangled Up In Blue. Jerry pulls out the fireworks on some of these songs, but mainly what you have here is Jerry at his poignant best. I only wish he'd done a Peggy-O while he was still in this mood.

There are three main points that make this album special: (1) the wonderful song selection (2) the musicianship and (3) Jerry's vocal and guitar work. The interpretation of Bob Dylan's work is magical. The inclusion of the Beatles and Band numbers also add a special touch to this album. I found the musicianship exceptional. The funky, modern bass sound is beautifully contrasted against the colorful keyboard work and soulful background singers. Jerry Garcia's vocals are smooth and guitar work is clean and crisp.

I really enjoyed this album and listened to it several times after I received it. I am a Dead fan - but I want to stress that this is a great album for all music lovers that have an appreciation for soulful rock/blues. I have recommended this album to several friends and would STRONGLY recommend that listeners on the fence about whether they like Jerry take a chance.

While living in Northern California, I had the opportunity to see the JGB as well as the Dead. I like this album because I feel that it captures the magic of a JGB show. For casual users of Grateful Dead music, you may be disappointed with a lack of standard Dead songs, but you will be overwhelmed by the richness of the other song selections.

I strongly recommend this album.

You put on this sprawling (2 CDs, 140 min.) set and just enjoy the sounds coming from the speakers. The opening track sets the stage, a terrific "The Way You Do The Things You Do", with Jerry's fingers crawling all over his guitar and bringing us an unhurried, great solo. From there we go to Bruce's Cockburn "Waiting for a Miracle" (which tells you something about who Jerry's fave artists were!).

This set is best known for its Dylan covers: no less that 4 here, including a truly superb "Simple Twist of Fate", but also "I Shall Be Released", "Senor" (not a very obvious Dylan cover, but done justice here!), and "Tangled Up in Blue". (Listening to this, it makes you wonder how the "Dylan & the Dead" album could have turned out as bad as it did... but I divert.)

There's plenty of other choice cuts to go around. Check out for example "Stop That Train" (a Peter Tosh cover)! The main feeling, though, is one of a relaxed Jerry, taking his time for whatever solo comes his way. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Oh yea, that leads me to the "Dead vs JGB" debate: who cares? In whatever format, Jerry on many occasions brings us superb music, and this live set is a great example.

This is out of print? I can't count how many times I've listened to this set. Let's say 30-ish times and, literally, that may be conservative. I have most of the Jerry Garcia releases and though they are very strong over all, this is the one I come back too. Very deep music that stands up to repeated (and repeated) listenings. This was a strong lineup for the JGB and Garcia is at the top of his game. And organ fans, Melvin Seals throw's DOWN.

I hope for those that don't own it that this set comes back into circulation. For now, check at "After Midnight (Kean College2/28/80)". Different lineup but a great version of the JGB from 10 years earlier.

Amazing, buy this album. You won't be dissapointed. Having bought JGB albums Shining Star and Dont Let Go... This one is by far the best of the three. Jerry delves deep into jams with inspired, creative playing, especially on the 17 minute "Don't Let Go". The Dylan covers are phenominal. "Simple Twist of Fate" is soulful and would bring a smile to Dylan's face. Both discs are great. One of, if not the best live albums I've heard. Toss it in the player and enjoy the sounds coming out of the stereo, your ears will thank you.

...but also the rest of the band, especially on the slower songs like "Lucky Old Sun". Both these 2 CDs and the "How Sweet It Is" single CD were recorded during the same run at the Warfield Theater in SF, so you can think of this as a 3-CD set. I prefer these two CDs, as they are jammier and not as Jerry-centric. !!Not that I don't like Jerry!! but sometimes with Dead, Legion of Mary, and JGB releases and bootlegs, you can't really hear the contribution of the rest of the band. So get these CDs and groove to Kahn and Melvin and all the rest. These are definitely my favorite non-Dead Jerry CDs.

The "Don't Let Go" is worth the price of this album. This has remained one of my favorite live albums of all time. "Evangeline" rocks. "Tangled Up" is hot. I will say that this is not an album for all Dead fans. This isn't about trippy music with the inspirational lyrics of Hunter. No, this album is for JerryFans. It is for people that just want to hear him solo out on all his favorite soul and Motown tunes. So beautiful in places that it makes you want to cry, laugh, dance, sit, live, die all at the same time.

This is definitely proof positive as to why Jerry Garcia was a legend in his own time and will forever remain so to the faithful. His guitar work here, as well as his interpretations of other writers' lyrics, make this album a truly haunting and unforgettable legacy. It is the only time I have heard a Beatles song done better than they did it themselves. If 'Dear Prudence" doesn't make you feel better when you hear it, move on to another artist as this is pure Jerry and you'll never appreciate him!