Dead Set [LIVE]

Grateful Dead

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: August 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VF2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,658 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rock > Live Albums > Jam Bands

Track Listings

1. Samson and Delilah

2. Friend of the Devil

3. New Minglewood Blues

4. Deal

5. Candy Man

6. Little Red Rooster

7. Loser

8. Passenger

9. Feel Like a Stranger

10. Franklin's Tower

11. Rhythm Devils

12. Fire on the Mountain

13. Greatest Story Ever Told

14. Brokedown Palace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great collection of live GD songs, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This album contains some of the greatest Grateful Dead songs of all time. Words of advice: If you're looking for the long, trippy jams which made the Dead famous, look somewhere else. If you're looking for a collection of tight, live Dead songs that never extend past eight minutes or melt into each other, this one's for you.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OK, and good playing of some classics., December 22, 2001

By	mixer "na1mixer" (Spring City, USA) - See all my reviews

This album, recorded circa 1981, was played and recorded quite well. Some people may look down on this set because the Dick's Picks series is obviously far superior- and they are right. These people must realize that this set was made before the DP series project came into the mainstream. Therefore, considering that, I think that the sound quality should be taken with a large grain of salt (not to mention "Live Dead" and "Europe 72").
The CD starts off with "Sampson and Deliah"- without Donna Godchaux on vocals (almost as annoying as Yoko Ono). Weir gave it his best with loud and fiery vocals.For the new and not as observant,"New Minglewood Blues" was remixed with different lyrics than what the band originally played. Otherwise, good. "Little Red Rooster"- with Weir on slide guitar/Garcia on lead guitar, was a real pressure cooker of blues and rock.
Now, the highlights. Like the other reviewers, I share the opinion that this version of "Friend of the Devil" is unique. Here,unlike the studio version on "American Beauty," the song starts off with a gentle, slower melody- sounding almost like it was played acoustically, but wasn't. Instead of a fast paced song, Garcia played the song slow enough that you can understand the lyrics w o r d f o r w o r d.The drumming was also slowed down to a steady rhythm.
The song "Candyman" was played with the same geltleness as the latter, with pronounced, sharp leads. Also on "American Beauty," this song added a gentle touch to this album.
Phil Lesh (bass, vocals)shined with his lead vocals in "Passenger"- which he co-wrote. With the help of keyboardist Brent Mydland, the set continued with the same good-ole jam style of music.
Even through "Space" and Rhythm Devils" (one of many highlights of the talented percussionist Mickey Hart and drummer Bill Kreutzman), the band exhibited their usual talent of bridging songs together. That is done best when: Hart finishes hammering on "The Beast(a series of large drums)," Garcia first played a note every 3 seconds, every 1 second- abstract chords on his guitar. Garcia, joined by Weir and Hart, plays a variety of abstract chords, then S L O W LY evolves into a melody- which is the beggining of "Fire on the Mountain." Beautiful transition. The set continues until "Brokedown Palace," which consisted of few drum beats and minimal guitar playing, but mostly vocal. Otherwise, a great encore.
Good CD, and a RARE occasion of hearing "Friend of the Devil" being played as it was played the. Buy the CD, and you will enjoy as well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad as some say, November 22, 2002

By	David Field (Merrimac, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this after reading the reviews here, and I was pleased to discover that Dead Set is nowhere near as bad as some make out. Just because it doesn't have the "second set" long jams doesn't make it not worth listening to.

What you DO get is a bundle of shorter songs, similar to the type the Dead played in their first sets. And they're all good! Time after time I was surprised and impressed with the way the band treated numbers that you might think wouldn't yield any new secrets - but they do. There isn't a clunker in the group.

All I can do is echo the positive reviews here. The slow Friend of the Devil is great - I didn't think it would work, but it does. All the tracks stand comparison with other versions of the song, either studio and live.

This isn't the absolute very best of the Dead on record, but considering the Dead were head and shoulders above any other group it's still essential listening.