Ladies & Gentlemen: The Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: Grateful Dead / Wea
• ASIN: B0002VETHC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,483 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Truckin'

2. Bertha

3. Next Time You See Me

4. Beat It on Down the Line

5. Bird Song

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Sugar Magnolia

2. Loser

3. Ain't It Crazy (The Rub)

4. El Paso

5. I'm a King Bee

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. China Cat Sunflower

2. I Know You Rider

3. It Hurts Me Too

4. Sing Me Back Home

5. Hard to Handl

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Morning Dew

2. New Minglewood Blues

3. Wharf Rat

4. Alligator

5. Drums

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This four-disc set documents the Dead's monumental five-night final run at New York's Fillmore East in April 1971. Coming from the same period as the live Skull and Roses album, it finds the band at its most sinewy--without second drummer Mickey Hart and without much in the way of Pigpen's keyboard work. What stands out here, beyond the intense, emotionally charged yet somewhat playful performances, is the strength and diversity of the repertoire. In addition to the plethora of newer originals, we hear a number of Pigpen's beloved blues shouters: "Next Time You See Me," "Ain't It Crazy," "I'm a King Bee," "Turn on Your Love Light," "It Hurts Me Too," "Hard to Handle," and "In the Midnight Hour." Also of note are readings of lesser-played material such as "Second That Emotion," "Ripple," "Sing Me Back Home," and "Alligator." All in all, it's a worthy celebration of one of the Dead's most legendary venues, as well as a prime slice of vintage Dead music. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Grateful Dead, Fillmore East: April 1971

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a grate introduction to the band..., November 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

This is a collection of exceptional songs played by a band that was clearly "on" those five nights at the Fillmore East. I have never heard such energy on the meager amount of concert tapes and live releases in my music collection. LAGTGD is bound to appeal to everyone. First of all, there is the amazing song selections. A few of the "hits" (i.e. "Truckin", "Sugar Magnolia", "Uncle John's Band") have been included, and this would serve as an excellent introduction for the newer listeners. Secondly, there are several songs that have "typically" played in an acoustic format but appear in its electric counterpart (i.e. "Ripple", "Dark Hollow"). Lastly, there are the jams...from Dark Star-->St Stephen-->NFA-->GDTRFB-->NFA to Alligator-->GDTRFB-->Cold Rain and Snow. And to top it all off, there's plenty of the Pig. (I just get a kick from listening to his extended "raps" on "Good Lovin" and "Lovelight").

(And you just can't beat the sound quality that these discs have to offer. I swear, you can even hear the boys breathe!)

Wow, there is just so many goodies on these discs to keep one interested for a lifetime. Yes, I might be a bit biased, as I am a Deadhead, but, trust me (as one who appreciates the musical and spiritual gifts these guys had to offer), this is the ONE that you should purchase (followed by: Live Dead, One from the Vault, and many of the Dick's Picks releases).

Thanks Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Billy, and Pigpen for the music. Thank you DL and the rest of the GDP staff for the spreading this gem to the masses.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEAD FOR THE AGES, October 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

With Pigpen still in fine form and a multitude of new songs, this actual recording looks similar to many a "dream set" this reviewer has imagined over the years. First and foremost, all of Pigpen's signature tunes are here together on one recording for the first time. Where else can you find "Lovelight," "Next Time You See Me," "King Bee," "Good Lovin'," "Hard to Handle," "It Hurts Me Too," "Alligator," and my personal favorite, "Midnight Hour," all on one excellent quality recording. This concert marks the perfect combination of raucous rock n' roll and free-flowing jams that took center stage about three years after the Fillmore East concert. I could go on to list off great song after great song, or I can simply say that IT IS ALL HERE. This is desert island Dead for sure. If you love the group or if you've never loved them before, this is the album to buy.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ton of Great Music, July 14, 2006

By 

Scott McFarland (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

This is kind of a companion piece to the "Skull & Roses" live album recorded during this same time frame and beloved by fans. It's culled from a 5-night run at the Fillmore East, a closing run actually. The fidelity is great - clear and strong and crisp. The band were a stripped-down 5-piece, down to one drummer and only Pigpen on keyboards. They would alternate between styles all night and between Garcia, Weir, and Pigpen taking lead vocals. They had a large songbook and could go in one of many directions at any point in time.

There's lots of hard-rocking Dead here, and lots of Pigpen fronting blues-edged material. There's lots of Garcia and Weir here too. Lots of country-inflected stuff, lots of psychedelic tinged jamming, lots of rock and roll. There's just boatloads of stuff. There are many great moments, starting with the opening version of "Truckin'" that boogies slow and strong and proves Bill Kreutzman a superb drummer. 1971 was a fine vintage and this is a caseload of the stuff.