Customer Reviews

Live Keystone 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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I have absolutely loved this album since first getting it as a record in the 70's. It is the (along with the 2 other Keystone recordings) Garcia album that I keep coming back to over and over. Jerry's singing is as soulful as on any recording he ever made. His gitar playing during this period is a bit more sparse than during later periods, but is as emotional as it gets. Although "Space" and "merls tune" are a bit lacking compared to the Dead's jams, all the other songs are classics. On "It's too late" (my personal favorite) Jerry makes his gitar sing. Merl's keyboards complement Garcia very well. He gives Jerry the room to shine shine shine. If you buy only one Garcia album this is it. (Vol 2 and Keystone Encores rate a close 2nd and 3rd.)

OMG. I'm 52 and I didn't know. I've missed 30 years of listening to this! I've been a Dead fan since college in 1973, and I've got most of the Garcia Grisman stuff, but I never knew there was a funk/Dead collaboration (never mind funk/Dead/Reggae for "The Harder They Come". Thank goodness for the Amazon list that turned me on to this one. My pod has 8000 songs on it, but this is now on the top. Sorry not to offer a more sophisticated review, but if you are "of my generation" and you also missed this one, jump on it now. There is still time...

Get this. Get all of the Keystone releases. John Kahn is a fantastic bassist who provides an interesting contrast to the Dead's bass player, Phil Lesh. His playing helps bring out plenty of sweet lyrical magic from Jerry's guitar.

Jerry & Merl (or Merl & Jerry, to be fair) are really tight in the 3 Keystone CDs. The music quality is superb as well. A different take on Jerry Garcia. I bought all 3 and I am glad I did.

"Keepers" Really Rocks! Who outshines who - Merl, Jerry, John? Hmmmm!
Merl fits right in on "Space"
"Merl's Tune" is a Dead Head's delight

No filler material in here!

Did I forget to mention John Kahn? Wouldn't have been the same without him.

Jerry garcia's live ar keys stone is a side project with Merl Saunders and is one of his best individual performances and I suggest you to buy this album.Highly recommended.

Best get Volume two also. I saw one of these sessions many years ago and it is as good as I remember.

Positively & It Takes A Lot To Laugh are classics in themselves - everything else is candy and its way sweet candy - you wont be disappointed - get this CD