Live: Boston Music Hall 12/5/72

The New Riders of the Purple Sage | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2003)
• Original Release Date: November 11, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: KUFALA Recordings
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• ASIN: B0000Y8HKG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,955 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

In the summer of 1969, John Dawson was looking to showcase his songs while Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead was looking to practice his brand new pedal steel guitar. The two played in coffeehouses and small clubs initially, and the music they made became the nucleus for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Along with guitarist David Nelson and the rhythm section of Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh from the Dead, the New Riders played every chance they got. By 1970, Dave Torbert took over on bass, and soon enough, smoky clubs all over the San Francisco bay area were filling up with whooping, foot-stomping crowds as their music got tighter and more dynamic. Through extensive tours with the Dead, and the addition of Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden taking over for Hart and the talented Buddy Cage filling the pedal steel spot that Garcia had to vacate, the New Riders emerged as a fully independent unit. An excitingly creative band with a special brand of music—sweet! country harmonies mixed with pulsing rock rhythms. Throughout the 1970s, the New Riders recorded seven album for Columbia, of which their 1973 release, The Adventures of Panama Red, is probably their most widely known. They wound out the seventies recording 3 albums for MCA, going through a few more personnel changes, with Dawson carrying the NRPS torch throughout the 1980s and early 1990s until he retired to the hills of Mexico. The New Riders of the Purple Sage received a Lifetime Achievement Award from High Times magazine at their Doobie Awards in September, 2002 and performed a brief set at the festivities at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City.

Product Description

Fresh on the heels of the October, 1972 release of their third album, Gypsy Cowboy, the New Riders of the Purple Sage embarked on an East Coast tour that would quickly solidify their reputation as America’s premier psychedelic-country-rock outfit. Pulling into the historic confines of Tremont Street’s Boston Music Hall on a Tuesday night in December, the New Riders had their engines primed and delivered a powerful set of originals that included "Sutter’s Mill," "Groupie" and "Whiskey" from Gypsy Cowboy, and fan favorites "Truck Drivin’ Man," "Hello Mary Lou" and the stompin’ show closer "Willie And The Hand Jive." With Buddy Cage now firmly entrenched behind the pedal steel guitar and taking the band to a new sonic plane, you can feel the energy and excitement of the night come solidly through on NRPS staples "Whatcha Gonna Do," "Portland Woman," "Last Lonely Eagle," " Louisiana Lady," "Glendale Train" and "I Don’t Know You." A rollicking version of Chuck Berry’s "School Days" displays their passion for boogie, and the evening’s encores consist of folk-rocker and opening act Eric Andersen joining in on the fun for a version of his "I Love To Sing My Ballads, Mama (But They Only Want To Hear Me Rock & Roll)" and the Rolling Stones’ "Honky Tonk Women." Boston Music Hall 12/5/72 was produced directly off the master analog reel to reel recording and was mastered by Stephen Barncard—who’s production credits include the first three NRPS albums and the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NRPS Relived., December 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Live: Boston Music Hall 12/5/72 (Audio CD)

After getting this 2 CD set Live from Boston Music Hall 12/5/72, NRPS raised the bar on their bootleg release series. The sound quality on this is amazing and it is hard to believe that it came from a 2 track master. You can hear every country rockin' detail in this show. Highlights include Contract, School Days, and Hello Mary Lou. If you are a NRPS fan make sure you get this one.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Damn fine lineup even without Garcia, August 18, 2005

By 

Patrick G. Varine "Make beats, not war, haha..." (Georgetown, Delaware) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live: Boston Music Hall 12/5/72 (Audio CD)

While I have a soft spot for the original incarnation of the New Riders, with Garcia on pedal steel and Lesh on bass, they were still a formidable unit in 1972, when this gem of a show was recorded.

I have a bunch of NRPS bootlegs on CD, from '70, '71, '77 and other years, and while the '71 show from the Dead's historic spring run at the Fillmore is my favorite, this runs a close second.

Most of my favorite songs are here ("Truck-Drivin' Man," "Henry," "Glendale Train"), as are some nice covers in the form of Chuck Berry's "School Days" and Cash's "Long Black Veil.

Buddy Cage is nice on the pedal steel, but like I said, I just have a soft spot for Garcia's loping style, which carried through surprisingly well on pedal. Cage is a little more technical, but still very enjoyable.

Like the Dead, NRPS have an awkwardly endearing harmony that makes you smile, and the boogie to back it up. Good good stuff.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boston Show Rocks and Is NO LONGER ON CD-Rs, August 26, 2004

By 

Post N. Steiner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live: Boston Music Hall 12/5/72 (Audio CD)

You should ignore the outdated review posted about these being on CD-Rs. They are no longer on CD-Rs and are now pressed glass masters. Aside from that, this is a great show that captures the New Riders in their prime.