Customer Reviews

Wake of the Flood

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wake of The Flood (WOTF) is, IMHO, the single best studio Dead
recording. ... If you
don't like the Dead (...), you won't like WOTF. If you like
the Dead, you must own this disk. First of all, it contains Weather
Report Suite -- one of the Dead's very finest pieces ever. Secondly,
everything else on the album is great too. Check out Stella Blue:
slow? yes -- and soul shakingly sublime. Check out Eyes of the World
-- A classic Dead jam piece. You should also check out other Dead
albums Blues For Allah, Terrapin Station, and From The Mars Hotel.
These are not "pop" records. You will have to listen to
them carefully and learn them. But your efforts will be repaid 1000
times over. Enjoy!

Containing some of their most well-loved songs, Wake of the Flood is a necessary selection for a Dead collection.

Some of the songs on this album continued to be played live by the band even twenty years after it was released. "Mississippi Half-Step" oftened opened shows while the beautiful "Eyes of the World" was often blended into other songs and drums/space solos in concert.

While the review published by Amazon above may reflect the views of some mainstream music listeners, songs on this album have been loved by thousands of Deadheads for years. Referring to any of their music as "country rock," even those songs which were spawned from Jerry Garcia's bluegrass background, illustrates a very shallow understanding of the band's history and the wide variety of musical styles and influences to be found in this album as well as others. These guys were never taking cues from Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, or any of that particular genre.

While some may decry the influence during the 70's of Keith and Donna Godchaux, to many their era was another interesting and diversifying stop on this "long, strange trip" which helps to separate the Dead from so many "classic rock" bands that continue to play the same songs with the same group of band members endlessly with very little innovation.

Try it for yourself and you be the judge! It's a classic!

If I had enough time, and was a halfway decent writer, I'd sit down and write the review that this album deserves. It would be about five pages long, and it would precisely describe the wonderful, amazing moods and melodies of Wake of the Flood.

Where to begin? To summarize the whole of the album: nature-revering, land, water, all growing things loving, unpretentious, feeling good like you just did a good deed, were nice to someone, feeling like maybe the mad world has some good points to it after all, feeling like you could almost sort of dance even though you hate dancing, but instead, you just sort of nod your head lazily, in affirmation of the good grooves, the vibrating strings, the folky singing, as long as you can listen to music like this, you'll be able to get through the day, or a few more hours at least, like lying back on the ideal, the bare earth, or the grass, not much to do in the world but observe it from your vantage, marvel at a few marvelous things, leaves rustling, a bug maneuvering the forest of grass, you feeling like being in love with someone, desiring, yearning, and that's just one song, Eyes of the World, each other song an ideal world sensed, probed, translated into rhythm and melody, next thing you know you're almost bebopping doing a little halfstep toodleoo, gliding down towards the Rio Grande, sun at your back smiling of course, gently upon you, easing you along -- quite hot did I mention? til you meet the surface, and then, cool water of the river round your body, and there's Jerry, with some crazy-legged mariachi guys walking on the banks, and a guy with a ten gallon hat -- is that Bob? --they don't see you, they're just playing some tune, some sort of thing to scare the blues away, only thing is, you don't have any -- why, blues wouldn't come within a hundred miles of this tune, you return to your swimming, dive under, break through the surface again, rays greet you greedily, you climb out, dry yourself off by basking in the sun awhile, like an iguana, like, if you're young, you're a little older and wiser and calmer, or if you're older, now you're a little younger, more naieve, less disenchanted, you eventually stroll into town, go to the tavern, where your friends are, naturally, at this hour even, no doubt playing a game of pool, or maybe just sitting around a table, good tunes coming from the jukebox -- geez, normally they don't have music like this at jukeboxes, sort of sad, sort of hopeful, sort of Stella Blue, sort of Row Jimmy Row -- you say your bit, laugh, regain your strength, and head back out into nature, it's all a little greener now, sky a bit bluer, trees vibrant, full of life and vitality, flowers nodding at you, when the acoustic guitar starts, you pause, startled, and then enrapt, the song begins, moves, flows around you, back on the river, slow currents, you drift, you comprehend the seasons, summer to autumn, autumn to winter, and then...spring, the song cuts loose, thunderclouds burst and batter the ground with big raindrops the size of plums, the earth drinks it up, thank you sister, says the earth, no problem brother, says the sky, then plow breaking earth, spring festivals, you the fool, wandering through the buoyant and gay spectacle, and then Weather Report Suite ends, and dooowwwwwnnnn you go, back to earth, back to dullness and drearitude...it's not fair, why can't every album be like this you bemoan?

This whirlwind of wonderfully cheery tunes always cheers me up when I'm down. Starting with the wonderfully cheery Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Todeloo, the album moves on to Let Me Sing Your Blues Away, a masterpeice that really does. Then, as Jerry himself says when singin' Row Jimmy, it's "not too fast and not too slow," altough admitidly if the preceding Stella Blue was any slower it would be going backwards. Here Comes Sunsine, though, is a nice, steady song followed by the untopable masterpeice Eyes Of the World and the wonderfully witty and powerful Weather Report Suite. All in all, a wonderfull album.

I've been more of a fan of jazz, classical, and "new age" music for decades now. But every once in awhile I indulge myself in the music that was new and happening during my high school years.
I remember reading a Rolling Stone review of "Wake Of The Flood" when it was a new release. I loved the cover, but , being a metal-head at the time, I had no time for the Dead. Well, times and tastes (thankfully) change. Although 90% of my time is spent listening to music that could never fall into the catagory of "popular song/vocal music", I do on occasion find myself pulling out a few recordings of popular music from the deep dark past. And in the early 90's I bought this minor little jem.
I have only maybe about 6 Dead discs. I have to wholly recommend this. especially if one appreciates jazz music at all. Not that this IS Jazz, but jazzers and other more forward-thinking music fans won't shy away from this because it is pretty much a relaxed "laid back" recording.
The sound is very clean and crisp. Maybe it can't hold a light to todays digital studio recordings, but this recording sounds a hell of allot better than most of the muddy sounding recordings of popular music from the early 70's. The guitars are all very clean sounding (which is what should appleal to jazz fans), the "Weather Report Suite" has a nice saxophone solo, and there's snatches of some beautiful pedal-steel guitar throught the album which is very effective without having a country music feel to it.

Jerry's voice is wonderfully soft and relaxed. He doesn't sound at all to be straining and on this recording it really seems he has found his niche as a vocalasit and is quite comfortable in his role.
Too bad there aren't more recordings like this one!

To me, the Dead had 3 studio albums that were completely consistent - Anthem of the Sun, Workingman's Dead and Wake of the Flood (American Beauty is close, but the whole Brokedwown Palace/Till the Morning Comes/Attics of My Life section gets a little boring). Wake of the Flood is SUBTLE - the Dead have moved firmly out of psychedelia into country/jazzy hippie rock. This is their first studio album in 3 years after they made the shift on Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, and there have been some changes. Mickey Hart is gone, Pigpen (Ron McKernan) is dead and they've brought in a goodly amount of studio musicians to add some additional touches that expand the guitar/bass/drum/piano sound to include some brass, violin and other assorted sundries. Oh yes, Keith and Donna Godchaux have joined the band and play respectively piano and background vocals, but for those who don't like Keith and Donna, it's a minimal intrustion that only adds on this album. This is a really beautiful album and even more subtle that AB and Workingman's, but extremely rewarding. The only reason it doesn't have greater recognition is because besides Eyes of the World, there aren't any other standout obvious hits (although Mississippi Half-Step could have made it as a hit). Most people weren't ready to make a largely mellow, beautiful and mature album such as this top the charts, but it's an album of rare beauty and one that deserves far greater recognition. Every track is a winner, and even the slow tracks like Stella Blue and Row Jimmy have so much heart to them that you aren't sitting around waiting for the album to pick up again. Here Comes Sunshine is another mellow one with beautiful vocal harmonies and swirly organ. The Weather Report Suite can be an acquired taste, though it features some of the most beautiful lyrics the Dead ever concocted and is unashamedly beautiful and uplifting. Add to that the rocking tracks Missippi Half-Step and Eyes of the World and the good-timey goodness that is Let Me Sing Your Blues Away, and you have yourself the most underrated Dead classic. This one for me is second only to Anthem of the Sun, but that is an altogether more engimatic, psychedelic and complex affair.

The Grateful Dead with Wake of the flood came into new territory as this was released in 1973. They entered into a new style of `Dead' and left the country-ish material of Workingman's Dead and American beauty and set right into a more Jazzy style. The shows from 1973 depìct this big change because the style of them departed from what was the Dead's typical Other One/Truckin/Wharf Rat/Sugar Magnolia 2nd sets of 71 and 72 (but 72 more varied) into varied, articulate, and diverse 1973 musical maturity.

The songs here in WOTF like Stella Blue, Weather Report Suite, and Eyes of the world breathe new life into the Dead's repertoire.

The folowing years, 1974, 75, 76, and 77 saw these songs grow and flourish in their live shows. In 1973, Eyes of the world became a big song int their 2nd sets (Check out Dicks Picks Volume 1 - 12.19.73).

All in all from a great band like the Grateful Dead these songs remained alive for years and years to come and could be heard at shows up to the 90's. How could you not've enjoyed a soothing 'Row Jimmy' at a show say at Oakland coliseum or an 'Eyes of the world' at riverport amphitheatre in MO. This album deserves 5 stars because of the quality of the songs and their continuity and impact/effect it had on lots of people's (deadheads) lives.

This album represents a leap from the earlier 70's tunes, with the Dead coming into their own and showing a new maturity. Its a fine leap and a very enjoyable listen.

For some odd reason, Amazon posted a critical review for this album from a guy who just doesn't seem to "get it". Don't let that sway you, or you'll miss one fine collection of tunes.

Row Jimmy & Stella Blue are a bit slow for my tastes, although each is well played and Jerry sounds fine. I think 1/2 Step, Sing Your Blues Away, and Let it Grow are pure joy. Jerry plays wonderfully on Eyes of the World - especially the sweet intro.

Never one to follow the crowd, I also like Keith's "Here comes Sunshine" - especially on a rainy afternoon. Although Keith's vocals are weak, the band does a fine job of backing him up and the song holds together just fine with its upbeat tempo.

Let it Grow is of particular interest to me - there are two very fine guitar lines - one acoustic, one electric. Together they weave a tight & beautiful tune with heavy Spanish influence. No live version of Let It Grow can display the same finger-flying dexterity on dual guitar. Doug Sahm is the master behind the 12-string acoustic, with Jerry's wild & wonderful electric woven into the fabric of the song. There are a total of 10 guest musicians on the tracks of "Wake" - making the entire set complex and unique.

This is fine & fanciful Dead - sure to bring a smile to the listener's face time & time again.

Well i aint no deadhead,and i listen to everything from hank williams to sun ra..i always loved the workmans dead/american beauty, and bits and pieces of some of the other earlier stuff,however being a lucky guy i was given a copy of the box set
with all the early albums and was just knocked out by how great ALL , yes i mean ALL, their early albums were/are..i mean why on earth aomoxoma and anthem of the sun and live/dead and europe 72
are NEVER in those greatest ever album lists and always given low ratings in those crappy rolling stone record guids.(SORRY,but dave marsh must rank as the worst rock critic ever..he thinks of even NEIL YOUNG as a very minor artist but jim morrison as a very major one for christsake, gimmee a break)but let me continue..i have since picked up half the dicks picks series and loved all of the ones recorded before say 1981..being a lucky guy i was then given the BEYOND DESCRIPTION box set which contains all the so called bad, late period albums...well i checked out WAKE OF THE FLOOD. and it blew my mind..i was familliar with most of the tracks through the live versions scattered amongst the live albums, but nothing prepared me for the true awesomness of this..jerry,s most wonderful and beautiful collection of songs..eyes of the world..stella blue..row jimmy..mississippi half step..here comes sunshine..are simply stunning...im wondering why on earth this is not rated and why i had never been told about this wonderful album..and BOB WEIR..who im beginning to realise was not only a very strange but also fantastic guitar player...and was/is also a very great songwriter..(cassidy...and looks like rain of his solo lp ace in particular) is also great with the long strange complex WEATHER REPORT SUITE..the only weakish thing i can say about this album is the second track...let me sing your blues away...and its not that terrible a song...so you do not have to be a one eyed dead fan to love this album....please, take my advise..turn off ya computer, get ya wallet out and run to ya local bar and get this record...fetta cheese is great on pizza,s to

...In the end there's just a song, come's cryin' like the wind...(Stella Blue). That song at the end is Weather Report Suite, but the journey through this wonderful album is like a dream in a way. I have had Wake for almost 30 years, and it was always up there on my list of favorite DEAD albums. I personally was a bit more into Blues for Allah, American Beauty and Workingman's on the studio album front since they really absorbed me as a teen. After all these years, I truly have to say this is the equal (in my mind) to every "best" album of the DEAD you can think of, live or studio! I know many DEAD lovers will quibble, but this in some ways is their most perfect recording...so smooth and pleasant. Not quite the fire and spontaneity of Blues for Allah, but at least as much underlying beauty and musicianship. Not quite as catchy as American Beauty or Workingman's...but just as great songwriting and consistency. The quiet nature of some of the songs require careful and meditative attention to fully appreciate, but is it ever worth it. "Stella Blue", for instance, is sweet enough to reduce you to Jello. I personally love the Weir song "Weather Report Suite" - very intricate and well-crafted (the demo on the remaster is great too). "Row Jimmy Row" plucks the old soul fibers with it's catchy slow shuffle. This provided much material for concerts of the future. I now have both of the unbelievably great box sets to replace the many records and cassettes (and a few older cd's), and the sound quality is something I clearly was missing! They have never sounded so good before! The addition of "China Doll" goes further to make this album perfect. There is also a 17 minute live "Eyes of the World" that kicks! Wake is absolutely one of the deepest DEAD records in my opinion and will certainly reward anyone who opens their ears and lets it soak into their souls. Really people, turn it up and ENJOY --- it doesn't get much better than this (the people who constantly try to tell everyone that only the live albums are worthy are trippin'). PEACE!!