Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How sweet it is to be loved by you., January 24, 2007
It is difficult to write a review like this for a variety of reasons. For a start it is over ten years since the demise of the Grateful Dead due to the premature death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia. Secondly it is just over 30 years since this show was performed although the timing of this issue is impeccable. Third, given the number of recordings by this, the most american of all bands, reviews are most likely to be read by the cogniscenti, the deadhead community, as well as lovers of their music everywhere. Talk about peer review! Aside from all of that I happen to be a naturalised american, from Britain originally, who has loved the dead for so long but was part of a different scene so I have a little different perspective. But here goes...
This album is lovingly playing it's heart out again on my dvd player right now as a glorious HDCD. The quality of the recording is outstanding given that it is a live recording although also broadcast in FM stereo at the time courtesy of the band and Dan Healy. Incidentally, and quite coincidentally I am currently reading Blair Jackson's excellent "Garcia" wherein he explains the genesisi of that particular development.
However, I digress, but to be sure this is excellent sound indeed, well balanced and very true to the band's sound. Personally, I prefer the early jamming Dead above all others, but this show really highlights their performance as the Grateful Dead as a band, an ensemble, playing as one. Sure there is room for jams as exemplified by the excellent Playing in the Band although the jam itself is relatively brief. Above all else, throughout the performance what shines through is the almost telepathic communication between all of the individual band members.
Glenn Lambert's excellent liner notes provide great insight into the songs and the structure of the show and how they combine and I do not wish to replicate that here. This is a show of heart and mind where all of the diffuse elements combine into one and throughout my listenings thus far, the image that constantly comes to mind is the painting that adorned the band's second album Anthems of the Sun. There really is something for everyone here. If you are into the music the interplay between all the players is outstanding and for me one of the greatest insights is how well Keith Godchaux relates to the other, founder members. Some of his often overlooked piano playing is exquisite and delicate while at other times he is rocking. Phil Lesh is also on top of his game throughout and his performance can be heard with great clarity on this recording.
For party animals there is much joy here too. The songs and playing spin a warm cocoon to guide you through three hours of glorious explorations of inner space. Just the right level for a happy new year's party and no drunken revellry here.
Song highlights for me are more personal than anything else. Scarlet Begonias just because I love that particular song, We Bid You Goodnight as a nostalgic nod to the 60's and Live Dead, the jam on Playing in the band are my personal favourites but I must admit, in my hardly unbiased review that I find myself loving this whole thing. All I can say is thank you for multi-disc players which allow the whole thing to be played in it's entirety.
It has been a while since any new material emerged from the Grateful Dead camp but the wait has been worthwhile. If this is the debut performance from the deal with Rhino Records, then this is a hard act to follow but the future bodes well. I look forward to the next release with great anticipation but in the meantime, I will be listing to every nuanced note from these three exemplary discs for days, if not longer, to come.
This is a superb addition, in my humble opinion, to anyone's musical library.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding, January 31, 2007
This particular show, from New Year's Eve 1976, is outstanding in many ways. But of course, being a live Dead recording, we are treated in the press and among the faithful to all of the conceits and prejudices that we tend to bring to the table when we get a "new" release. Playing in the Band on this disk is one of the most amazing I've heard. And yet, I've had friends tell me, "But what about 12/29/77? Now THAT was an amazing Playing!" And when I've expressed my thrill with the overall quality of the show, I've gotten, "But what about 2/11/69? Now THAT was a show!" Which all ultimately tells us what? That the Dead have a huge body of work out there, and that none of us will ever agree on everything. But do note a few things. Playing in the Band here IS excellent, and Morning Dew is absolutely shattering. And as another reviewer has noted, We Bid You Goodnight is sublime. Not to mention the Sugar Magnolia /Eyes suite on disc 2. Heaven. And sonically, the boys have seldom sounded so good. Rhino definitely deserves kudos there.
Yes this release is geared more to the faithful than to the casual listener, but Good Lord, what a gem for a collection. Buy it.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Return to the Cow Palace/a 5 star for the most part, January 25, 2007
My preorder from the band's site came with the bonus disc Spirit Of '76. First of all, the sound quality on here is very good although again Keith's piano playing gets buried under echo quite a bit. The first sets starts good but doesn't really reach a peak until Playing In The Band. This version of Playing make this disc worth the price alone. Perhaps the band was pacing themselves. The second set starts with a classic jam of Sugar Magnolia->Eyes Of The World->Wharf Rat->Good Lovin'->Samson & Delilah. I find the first three more enjoyable due to the overplaying of latter versions of Good Lovin' and the then overplayed Samson. Still, these are good versions. Scarlet Begonias is great and one of the highlights of the Dead in '76. The final disc starts with a cool Around And Around. The band then lanches into Help On The Way/Slipknot! which always does it for me. The band's last show prior to this on 10/15 featured a stand alone Franklin's Tower so that may explain why on here they go into drums instead. The following Not Fade Away is rocking but for me the ballad Morning Dew is much better. The first encore is One More Saturday Night. Next we get something missing from all the FM copies of this show(it wasn't broadcast due to time constrants)the first versions of Uncle John's Band and We Bid You Goodnight since 10/74.
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