Customer Reviews

Kingfish

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

 

 

After being out of print for awhile, Rhino has finally reissued the first Kingfish album on CD. Kingfish has gone through numerous changes over the years, but this album featured both Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and Dave Torbert of New Riders of the Purple Sage. Musically, as might be expected, it strongly resembles a cross between "Panama Red"-era NRPS and "Heaven Help The Fool"-era Bob Weir. Originally issued on vinyl on the long-defunct "Round Records" label, it was basically a Bob Weir side project-- though he left the band shortly after and they carried on for years without him. Although I have an original vinyl copy, it had actually been a long time since I'd heard this album. And I had forgotten just how great it really is. It's been a while since I have so thoroughly enjoyed revisiting an old favorite. The musicianship is top notch-- even better in fact than I remembered-- and the songs are all great too. Not a dud in the bunch. No, it's not terribly profound... no deep meaning to most of it. Bobby even covers the old Marty Robbins chestnut "Big Iron" (and he does a helluva job on it, too!). Mostly it's just nice listening, an excuse to have a good time for about 40 minutes. And a couple of the cuts became concert staples for the Dead, so you'll probably enjoy hearing the originals. Overall a great listen, and I'd highly recommend it for anyone who likes the Dead or NRPS. (On a side note, Rhino simultaneously re-released this and Bob Weir's excellent "Ace" album-- actually a Grateful Dead album in disguise-- which contains my personal favorite recorded version of "Playin' In The Band". Pick 'em both up!)

At long last I decided to purchase the digital form of one classic 5 star record I've owned with joy for over 30 years. Never before have I noticed such a stark difference in sound between the original record and a CD. The whole CD sounds like you are listening with tin cans pressed over your ears. I used to usher Dead shows and I barely recognize what they've done to Bobby's voice, no song, no sound system I have ever heard made his voice sound remotely like this CD does. As for the instruments the high end of drum and guitar sounds almost hurt. It's worse than sterilization, this is castration! Which is no small (de)feat with my tube amp warming up some 1950's klipshorns. If you own this album do not buy this CD, pay double or more if you must, but digitize from your vinyl version. I do sincerely hope they remaster this someday.

I have the original LP of this and consider it an essential piece of my massive Grateful Dead puzzle. This was when the Dead were "on a break" and Jerry's playing with everyone from his own band to Merl to Paul Kantner, Phil has a band called Too Loose to Truck which literally played bar gigs with Heinekens flowing, and Bobby's teamed up with Dave Torbert and Matt Kelly to create this smooth ensemble. Remember that at the time, nobody was really sure what a hiatus for the Dead meant, and Kingfish could have blossomed if the Dead had remained on the bricks. The "Lazy Lightning>Suppication is fluid and trippy, and the rest is NRPS quality jamming but with a strong lead guitar and harp in Matt Kelly. I love the Riders, I love the Flying Burrito Brothers, and I love this album. If you do too, check out the King Biscuit release!

MANY YEARS AGO THE KINGFISH GROUP PLAYED IN JUNEAU ALASKA THEY HUNG OUT WITH US AND I WANTED TO REVISIT THE SONGS AND VOICES LOVED IT THEN AND LOVE IT NOW

If you consider yourself a completist and/or Deadhead, then this album is worth having. With the beginning tracks Lazy Lightning and Supplication, it's nice to hear the studio version of any song by the Dead that you've maybe only heard live many different times/ways. Some of the other tracks are kinda boring unless you are a hardcore fan of groups like: The Band, Flying Burrito Brothers or NRPS ya know what ah mean? Which I am not. So I prefer the closer to GD jazzy sound of the track Hypnotize. But don't let me ruin the positive vibes, you all know how rewarding it is to LEARN to love an album. I still like Heaven Help The Fool better. Well, three songs are worth the money. Hey, doesn't that Viking on the cover look like Brent Mydland?