Might As Well: Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead

The Persuasions | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 10, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00004YLNN
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,311 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Might as Well

2. Lazy River Road

3. Loose Lucy

4. Ripple

5. Brokedown Palace

6. Liberty

7. Sugaree

8. Ships of Fools

9. He's Gone

10. It Must Have Been the Roses

11. One More Saturday Night

12. Bertha

13. I Bid You Goodnight

14. Black Muddy River

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What next?, October 20, 2000

By 

Bingo Lingo (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Might As Well: Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

Recently sang the praises of The Persuasions' "Frankly A Cappella" tribute to Zappa, which I just discovered. (A fall-down funny, foot-stomping masterpiece!) Turned around and found these a cappella guys had made a sharp 180 and done the Grateful Dead. (God, what would Frank say?) It seems the group kicked back and just sang with their hearts on this one. The songs are mostly soft and pretty. The bass guy, Jimmy, sings "Ship of Fools" with the Grateful Dead keyboard player on piano, and it's a show-stopper. The notes say that Jerry Garcia wished someone would come along and sing the band's songs better. I think he got his wish. The harmonies are soulful and Jerry Lawson is at the top of his game. I think people who don't particularly like the Dead will be surprised---I mean,"Black Muddy River" and "Lazy River Road" really put a tear in the old eye. And "It Must Have Been The Roses" must be as sweet a tune as anyone has sung in many a year. These are some heavy lyrics and gorgeous melodies. What are they gonna sing next? Jimi?

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Might As Well? Heck, you Need to!, October 11, 2000

By 

Margo Esquandolas (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Might As Well: Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

Absolutely moves your soul, this CD. The Persuasions' unbelievable singing talent really showcases the song-writing talent of the Grateful Dead -- not only serious lyrical prowess, but musical structure and the rest of the music writing package. The classic saying was "The Grateful Dead aren't the best at what they do, they're the only ones to do what they do!" The Persuasions, however, do the one thing the Grateful Dead never did do all that well -- they can really sing! For deadheads, the Dead sang "well enough" and the rest was nothing short of pure magic. But the Persuasions' reinterpretation of this wide range of Grateful Dead classics is nothing short of a different kind of magic -- downright spiritual in feeling, with a full spectrum of "sounds" from do-wop to sort of a 50s thing to a swing-low sound to a tad rockin' feel. Mary Schmary's vocals add a nice balance to the guys in the Persuasions.

Title cut of Might As Well really bops and weaves. Lazy River Road lulls while it tugs at your heartstrings. Probably the least-mellow Ripple I've ever heard. Liberty is a song that I finally "gave a chance" with this album, and it has a lot to say really, plus sounds fun. He's Gone was even actually fun, which is quite a thing to do to that song. Roses is simply beautiful. There's even a little friendly ribbing of Bobby on One More Sat. Nite. Bid You Goodnight is a tad fast, but uplifting that way. Black Muddy River is just a classic closer. This is a must have for every Deadhead's collection, and a great thing to share with those who "never got it."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 7, 2001

By 

Brooks Williams "So. Awesome." (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Might As Well: Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

I have to admit that I thought the whole concept was a little strange and perhaps a bit hokey, but after I slipped this disc in for the first time I understood completely. There have been a whole slew of Grateful Dead tribute albums in the last few years -- each unique and of varying degrees of quality. The David Gan's produced album, "Stolen Roses" had a rather ecclectic group of artists trying their hand at Grateful Dead tunes -- and while most of these attempts fall short (some of them are downright poor), the Persuasions's "Black Muddy River" is amazing. Apparently, it was this song that ( rightfully) got the Persuasions their own album of Grateful Dead tunes.

David Gans and Robert Hunter helped create a list of over 30 songs they thought the Persuasions should record. Of these 30, 15 were released. The songs span the entire career of the Grateful Dead. From "Lazy River Road" to "Here Comes Sunshine", the Persuasions give excellent performances and really capture the soul of the Grateful Dead. "Ship of Fools" features the groups bass, Jimmy Hayes, singing solo, accompanied by former Dead keyboardist, Vince Welnick. "Brokedown Palace" features Peter Rowan (Old And In The Way) trading verses with Jerry Lawson and "One More Saturday Night" features the amazing mouth-drumming of Andrew Chaikin.

This treatment of Dead songs brings the tunes away from the jams, away from Garcia's wavery voice and away from most of the instrumentation that we all know and leave only the bare song. The naked genius of the Garcia/Hunter tunes almost overpowering and the Persuasions attack them with blinding soul. It's respectful look at the amazing work of the Grateful Dead.

In my opinion, it's the best of the Grateful Dead Tribute albums (although Dedicated is a close second) and it maintains a sense of continuity since the Persuasions do the whole album instead of a whole mess of artists.