Customer Reviews

The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 2: Let It Rock

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love the Grateful Dead. As for Jerry's side projects, my feelings are mixed. Some were good quality (David Grisman), some were toss-offs (Howard Wales), and the revolving case of what came to be the Jerry Garcia Band crafted some great music, as well as some so-so stuff that I'll never much care for.

This line-up, with Jerry, drummer Ron Tutt, longtime bass player John Kahn, and British piano magician Nicky Hopkins (who'd made such magic on Quicksilver Messenger Service's "Shady Grove" just a few years before) has got to rank as among the best.

The blend of songs is great, It opens with a 13-minute take on Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock" (hence the title), but done in slow, laid-back JG speed. It was nice, but just once I wanted to hear Jerry let loose and really speed up to mimic Chuck Berry's version. Not so. Jerry played at a loping along, steady pace, and every song on this album reflects that. The guys rev it up on Tore Up Over You, followed by a nice, different FOTD and TLEO, a funky Pig's Boogie, the JGB classic Sitting in Limbo, closing out with I'm a Road Runner.

The second CD opens with a nice 11-minute Sugaree, a couple of JGB long-time standards (I'll Take a Melody and That's What Love Will Make You Do), followed by a couple of unique tracks in the Jerry Garcia catalog, "Lady Sleeps and the 12-minute "Ain't No Use," both of which are just great.

The last 28 minutes of CD 2 are worth the price, period: a 19-minute cover of the Stones' "Let's Spend the Night Together," and Hopkins's manic piano rant from Shady Grove, "Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder." Again, as with "Let It Rock" the band's cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together" lopes along at Jerry speed, never quite catching the hard-driving bang-on-the-table-as-if-you're-playing-drums rhythm that the Stones created. Still, it ain't bad, it's just different. I'll admit, I loved Shady Grove and Hopkins's short tenure in Quicksilver drove them to new heights, and the first track I played on this CD when I got in my Jeep outside the CD store was "Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder." It's as manic and intense as the version on Shady Grove, but with Garcia's guitar weaving in and out of Hopkins's precice piano notes, and Tutt and Kahn providing a strong rhythm section, the 9-minute "Edward" really is the high point of this two-CD set.

The compilation was taken from two nights (Nov. 17 and 18, 1975) at the Keystone in Berkeley, where so much JGB magic was captured. I can only hope that there is more from this lineup in the vaults, because this has got to be my favorite post 1995 Jerry Garcia live release (although the Orpheum release of '76 is pretty damn hot).

I listened to it all day yesterday as I drove around Tucson in my Jeep for work, then I ripped it when I got home and put it on my iPod and fell sleep during Sitting in Limbo, only to be awakened by Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder's intensity, and enjoying every minute of it before falling back to sleep.

The Pure Jerry and other posthumous releases have generally been very good. I love the four-CD After Midnight collection. But I have to admit, right now this has jumped to the head of the list. It's a great 2.6 hours (according to my iPod), and I can't help but give it a very, very solid 5 stars!

Keep music like this coming, please!

This 2-disc set is wonderful in so many ways. The sound quality and packaging are excellent (sound is far superior to the Dick's Picks series). I love all of Jerry's projects, but this line-up of the JGB is special. This line-up includes Nicky Hopkins on piano and the entire show has a raw, stripped down feel to it. Ron Tutt's drum work is impecable, John Kahn is solid as always, and Jerry plays that sweet and tender guitar we've all grown to love. The "Pig's Boogie" jam and "Roadrunner" are my favorites on the 1st disc. As the previous reviewer states, the whole package is worth buying for the last 2 songs alone. This version of "Let's Spend The Night Together" is one of the best I've ever heard. Ever since Jerry's kids have taken over the business, the Dead related releases are far more frequent, and the sound quality is much better (no offense Dick Latvala). This is must have for any Jerry Garcia fan.

Mr. Garcia is wonderful as ever on these CDs, playing a kind of funky psychedellic jazz/blues style that is never ever boring. But what makes Let It Rock extra special is the presence of Nicky Hopkins, who plays piano beautifully and makes a few funny comments with his striking English accent. Some of the best tracks here are the "quiet" ones, such as Sitting In Limbo, which features moments of staggering beauty. As a Grateful Dead fan, I own MANY versions of Sugaree... and the Sugaree here is very very good, thanks again to the presence of Nicky Hopkins. Road Runner is also quite fine as an extended jam, as is the fantastic title track. Of course most listeners will agree that the highest highlight are the final two tracks on CD two, being Let's Spend the Night Together, which features an 18 minute jam that reminds me, in places, of a superb Dark Star-style jam. This is directly followed by a final extended jam, Edward the Mad Shirt Grinder, which is a uniquely beautiful, bluesy, quirky and moving instrumental of deeply satisfying musicianship. It should also be mentioned that Rhino's production quality is Top Notch.

With so much posthumously released product---the Dead's catalogue, the Garcia/Grisman collaborations, remastered solo Garcia, and the JGB---it's hard to imagine that there's much left in the vaults to warrant euphoria from Jerry's devotees. But there is!

The newest release, Let It Rock, finds a skeletal version of the JGB. And this foursome, with session man extraordinaire, Nicky Hopkins, playing some gorgeous piano throughout---and even a few of his own compositions---plays with such synergy and vitality that it's remarkable they only lasted a mere handful of months. The playing is focused, bright, and inspired. The rhythm section is rock solid and Garcia's guitar tone has never sounded better: at times, it somewhat suggests the thick slabs of blues Roy Buchanan was known for when he was running circles around his peers in the early 70's.

Every tune is a winner here---from the lazy groove of "Let it Rock" to the bluesy riffing of "That's What Love Will Make You Do" to the delicious funk of "I'm a Road Runner" to the gentler tones of "I'll Take A Melody" and "Sugaree." Simply put: this is eclectic, melodic, controlled, and passionate guitar playing at its best.

I own pretty much everything released that is JGB and this is easily one of my favorites. The sound quality of this performance, unlike a lot of JGB and Grateful Dead releases, is a-one; sounds like it was recorded in 2010. Why the same equipment wasn't used to record all JGB and Dead performances is an unfortunate mystery to me.

As for the music itself, there isn't a throw-away in the bunch; all musicians absolutely shine throughout. Tutt and Kahn provide a solid base for Hopkin's bar room piano and Jerry's unbelievable guitar work. I've listened to "It's Too Late" and "Road Runner" too many times to count and I can and never will tire of hearing them or any of the songs on this recording. As near to perfection as one could hope for.

Garcia did many projects outside of the Dead, I saw The JGB many times at The Tower Theater here in Philly in the 70s. This is one of his first, but shortlived groups, I had never heard anything by them. This 2 CD set is refreshing with Ron Tutt and John Kahn who played with him and Merle Saunders at this same Venue.

Jerry is relaxed and getting some great tones out of the White Custom guitar. Nicky Hopkins is a master of the piano, his style is delightful and he is a different take than Keith Godchaux. The music flows or chugs along, starting out with "Let It Rock" which is a great jam, They do songs from both of their catalogs plus others and covers. The recording is a delight to listen to , very clean and great tones. A must have for a Jerry Fan.

What was it about Nicky Hopkins that he made everything he played on so much better? And this recording of the initial, short-lived incarnation of the JGB is no exception. Great music, great sound fidelity, this is a great purchase for either hard-core GD fanatics or for the more casual Jerry Garcia fan. Only complaint; Gatefold CD case makes getting discs in and out difficult w/out them coming in contact edges of the packaging, so be careful....

I don't often rate things 5 stars because nothing is perfect, but this is close enough! I reserve 5 stars for the absolute cream of the crop. This is a GREAT Garcia set and wonderful audio quality. And I'm picky even when it comes to Jerry. He is greatly missed still.

This is my second time through the CD. The set is on FIRE!!!
Best songs -- Edward the Mad Shirt Grinder and Pig's Boogie.
I absolutely love Tore up Over You, That's What Love Will Make You Do, Let's Spend the Night Together.

Most songs are jazzed influenced. A big thanks to Rhino Records for digging this one out of the vault.

I know little about the Dead's music and even less of Jerry Garcia's solo forays, but I picked this up at the public library and was wowed by it. The music is loose and relaxed. And the remastered 24bit 1975 live sound is a revelation. Great job, Rhino. Much of it is just jamming, and back in 1975 it must have been still okay to jam on for long minutes on basic Chuck Berry chords. I enjoyed more the extended takes on the Garcia originals, "Friend of the Devil" and "Sugaree." The real star here for me is not the troubled keys man Nicky Hopkins, but the great Elvis drummer Ron Tutt. His time is perfect and his fills are impeccable. They achieved a great drum sound on this recording, too. His interplay with the bass is dead tight, and he is right there with every guitar lick. You could tell they were listening to each other.