hey,

I've been hearing a lot of positive thinds about them...but i've also been warned that they realeased both brilliant albums as well as total cr*p...where should i start on these guys. What albums should i buy?

grtz
Kev1n

Q. What does a Gratful Dead fan say when they run out of Drugs?

A. What is that awful music?

kev1n said:

the problem with the dead, is that their studio albums, while good, are not a proper showcase for their music. The grateful dead were a live band first and foremost, but in order to really appreciate the live versions you also have to have a knowledge of the studio versions. I'd say start with "American Beauty" which is probably the best studio album, followed by "Workingman's Dead" then from there move into some of the live stuff, i personally recomend "Europe '72" "The Closing of Winterland","Dozin at the Knick" and "Live/Dead"

albums to stay away from? the only one that comes to mind is "Shakedown Street" They were trying too hard to stay current, and the music suffered.


Oh, and be prepared for songs that last a half hour or more. The dead are all about Improv, and when a groove get's going they keep going untill it can't take no more.
[Edited 9/6/05 15:52pm]

Live:
Europe '72--I'd probably start with this.
One From the Vault

Studio:
American Beauty
Workingman's Dead

I actually like the fan least-favorites Shakedown Street & Terrapin Station. They don't exactly represent what the Dead were all about, but I think they get a bad rap. These two albums show that they were able to be a polished studio band as well.

kev1n said:

You're way too late and this board is the worst place to start. Grateful Dead is best live and it's pretty far removed from anything like Prince (I doubt you will find many who cross over). They don't tour much since Jerry Garcia died and only reformed last year to tour as The Dead. Fortunately, they have an near-comprehensive tapers catalog and an extensive group of fans on the internet. Try www.philzone.com for tapes and more information.

Ive been studying the Dead's (huge and still growing) catalog for a couple of years now.byronic's suggestions are good.I would add the recent "Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack" ,a reasonably priced five disc set derived from a five-night
run at Winterland from 1974.These sets were also filmed and used in the "Grateful Dead Movie" and feature the band at thier peak.

Other good studio albums include:

1968's "Anthem Of The Sun" - psychedelic expirimentation...

1975's "Blues For Allah" - consistantly good

1987's "In The Dark" - contain's the unexpected hit "Touch Of Grey"

Other good live sets include :

1969's "Live / Dead" - the first 16track live LP , more psychedelic fun

1980's "Reckoning" - accoustic set

1980's "DeadSet" - Electric set from the same shows as "Reckoning"

"One From The Vault" - great 1975 show featuring "Blues For Allah "

"Two From The Vault" - Excellent show from 1968


and the "Dick's Picks" series of live sets spanning 30 years is up to #35



Also, on the official website, many of these releases are available to download.
[Edited 9/6/05 16:17pm]

PFunkjazz said:

i don't know about that, i think there are probably a lot more Prince fans who are also into the Dead then you think. their music, while sonically different, have similar emotional impacts. and they are both artists who have created a sort of mythology around themselves and their music, and they're both very into symbols and symbolism. while catagorically, they are different, (pop/funk for prince and folk/rock for the dead) they both defy their categories. I think most Prince fans appreciate that in a band.

and they're both best Live