Customer Reviews

Run for the Roses

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like most of the Grateful Dead studio albums of the late 70's - early 80's, this Garcia solo effort suffers from overproduction. This is a shame since it does feature some excellent songs. My CD also includes 6 bonus tracks: 1) Fennario 2) Alabama Getaway 3) Tangled Up In Blue 4)Simple Twist Of Fate 5) Dear Prudence 6) Valerie (Alternate Mix). So I am going to comment on those tunes as well.

For me "Run For The Roses" and "Alabama Getaway" are the highlights here. They are played with energy and are catchy enough to work in a studio setting. I like the bluesy "Valerie" and the two Beatles' covers - "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Dear Prudence" are decent efforts. But most of the rest of the album is a disappointment. "Fennario", more commonly known as "Peggy-O", is one of my favorite Dead tunes when played live. But this version lacks passion and groove. "Tangled Up In Blue" is one of Bob Dylan's greatest songs. But here Jerry plays and sings it too speedy and the background singers on the chorus are just flat out corny. Another Dylan song, "Simple Twist Of Fate" is somewhat better. But it doesn't come anywhere close to the sublime version of this song on the Jerry Garcia Band's live album released in 1991. I don't especially like "Leave That Little Girl Alone". But the song did become more interesting to me after I read that Robert Hunter wrote it for his daughter Jessie. She was getting into punk rock and Hunter was trying to stop himself from becoming an overprotective parent. Funny and ironic considering that Garcia and the Dead were icons of the hippie counterculture as well as pioneers in the use of mind altering substances. I doubt that Jessie was doing anything that Hunter himself had already tried many years before. But, of course, papas are inclined to fret over their daughters.

Garcia/Dead completists may still want this. But there are much better albums to purchase first.

the cover of "knockin' on heavens door" makes it a must have ! 4 stars for the album, 5 stars for the song ! sweet and beautiful sound.

This is an excellent re-release of an underrated early 80s' Jerry solo album. Those of you familiar with the many posthumous Jerry live cds that have come out lately will know most of these selections, but here they are overdubbed and polished a bit more -- the overall effect is something similar to Terrapin Station-sounding vocals and grooves, with almost-identical production.

There are some real gems here: "Midnight Getaway" has some of Jerry's most heartfelt vocals and guitar work; the studio version of "Valerie" is a good-time winner, should have been a hit single; and his loose and joyous take on "I Saw Her Standing There" is a clear highlight.

While I usually detest the grafitti-like additions of bonus tracks to classic cds, this is a rare case of it actually improving the overall listening experience. In particular, the studio version included here of "Peggy-O," called "Fennario" on the cd, is truly special -- a classic Americana tale, classically told. While there are many versions of this song on various live Dead releases, I am partial to the careful, deliberate performance included here. Also a great version of "Dear Prudence" and "Tangled Up in Blue" and you've basically got one winner of an album.

"Reach for the stars/Smack into the sky/You don't want to live/but you're chicken to die." We miss you Jerry.

It's a beautiful, sad song, and Jerry's jazz guitar playing on the track is unique for a studio Dead/Jerry album. I recommend it.

My 1st encounter of any kind was American Beauty. Dad had the album. I got into it and the next thing I knew I had amassed a collection of Dead & Garcia albums. Run For The Roses was the one that wore out first! "Leave That Little Girl Alone" is rocking Garcia electric that will give you the chills. It's not Jerry's best studio work. Look to "Garcia" or "Cats Under the Stars" for that. Live Jerry Band is best represented by any of the "Keystone Encores" series. You know what they say about opinions!

This is my second favorite Jerry CD (after "Reflections"). It reminds me a lot of the Dead's "Terrapin Station", though this was released about 5 years later.

Jerry's cover of the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" is very unique. It's got that late 70s Deadish funky sound. And the cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is pretty sweet.

One of my favorite Jerry songs is on this CD: "Midnight Getaway." I think this is one of the best written songs by Robert Hunter. It's very easy to imagine the story. The title track is also really nice. The only problem is the over production of many of the songs.

Couple of exc. tracks from original album combined with tasty bonus material makes this worth getting, though after Reflections and scores of other stuff!

Four tiger-striped champion dinosaurs (great 70's Garcia albums) racing and the one on the front cover (the sole 80's one) stopping to pose ... let's say a few words and admire this contestant's visage! There is a pile of something at the end of this rainbow (cover picture), it's not gold, but it smells more like roses than dinosaur dung.

This is the only Garcia solo album I never had, so I am coming at this interesting and nicely done remaster fresh, and by the way, the extras on here make it all the more worthwhile. To my ears as somewhat of a huge Deadhead for about 30 years, this is another great document of the life and times of Jerry Garcia first and foremost. Jerry was a wonderful and incredibly musical human being and exuded his love of music wherever he happened to be (I lovingly refer to him as Saint Jerry for the impact he has had on many of us). He had some ups and downs over the years, and this period would probably considered a bit of a low one. But nonetheless, he always seemed to be able to find interesting musical ideas to pursue and great musicians to play with (this group of friends are great for the songs here - Tutt & Kahn especially shine).

ALL ideas on here as an approach to creating an album are very interesting, some came out great (Run for the Roses, Midnight Getaway & Valerie are stand-outs...all Hunter involved songs. Leave that little Girl Alone, the other Hunter song, is pretty good and very upbeat and charming as well, although a bit lightweight). It can always be interesting hearing favorite musicians approach great cover tunes too, especially really big ones like Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door and The Beatles I Saw Her Standing there. The result is split here for me, Knockin' being far more impressive than the disco/reggae-like version of Standing There...strange, very strange, but still funny and enjoyable (mostly just because Jerry is singing/playing it).

In comparison with earlier Garcia masterpieces like the far-out classic Garcia (1st solo album), the snappy and excellent Reflections and the Gospel influenced but inspired/beautiful Cats Under the Stars (even Compliments, which I need to re-listen to, is a bit better), this is the laggard in the race. Still, ANY Garcia album is a joy in comparison to much out there in the music world.

The extras on here are what take this one to the finish line - they are very nice selections (and all previously unissued)! Fennario is such a treat since it has aways been a favorite and a great version with some very bouncy guitar and bass (aka Peggy-o). Alabama Getaway is an excellent Dead tune and is very welcome here in this more intimate and less poppy version, almost unplugged sounding. Tangled Up in Blue, another Dylan cover, is a very upbeat (almost discoish again) and fun and done really nicely I would say in the classic Garcia snappy (Shakedown Street) style. Simple Twist of Fate...Dylan again...is very charming and it is clear to what high esteem Jerry considers these great songs. He is clearly having fun in his hang-doggy style with this stuff - and it is better than the original to me. Dear Prudence, Beatles again, is very interesting in a plodding, orchestrated (Chicago-like) approach with horns. Great song and cool track in my opinion (the horns are very pro sounding). The final alternate mix of Valerie is fun for comparison to the original...not all that different and one of the best on here.

You can often be a winner going with the perceived underdog in a race, the odds are high here and the pay-off is great.......HERE LIZARD LIZARD LIZARD! Ride this doggy with pride. ENJOY!

Save your money folks. This Cd is probably the worst studio CD that Garcia put out. Pick up Garcia or Reflections instead

This is a great solo disc from Garcia. The title track is the strongest track off of the disc. This album suffers from a couple of weak tracks, but it is good anyway.