Styrbjorn Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Seeing as they appear to have a back catalogue larger than Frank Zappa and J S Bach combined, could any kind soul give me a starting point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Seeing as they appear to have a back catalogue larger than Frank Zappa and J S Bach combined, could any kind soul give me a starting point? That's a hard question to answer because to me, their albums fall into a couple of different categories - studio, experimental and live and I like all three for various reasons. They were more known for their live recordings but if you're not familiar with them at all, I'd suggest American Beauty and Workingman's Dead. Not my favorites but just to give you an introduction. I tend to listen to their live albums which I would highly recommend Europe 72, Live Dead and One From The Vault and Two From the Vault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KashmirDevi Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I did the Dead back in the 80's, a lot of East Coast tour dates during that time I hit. I'd have to say a good place to start is the Pig Pen era. I don't collect their boots but I'll send you a PM with some info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigstickbonzo Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 American Beauty is their most popular and easiest to listen to on first glance.. I prefer Workingman's Dead. Anthem of the Sun Aoxomoxoa Blues For Allah Shakedown Street and of course, Europe 72. But their catalogue is vast and great explore. I have every album released before 1988 and still prefer the "Pigpen" years over any. Easy Wind (Live) is just killer with him on vocals and harp. As for Live Dead, there are more boots available for them then Zeppelin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Start with the live stuff...I disliked the Dead till my friend took me...have been a deadhead since (but a ledhead first)!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hammer of the Gods Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Of course people will recommend their live shows, but I REALLY, REALLY recommend American Beauty: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Workingmans Dead was one of my very first album purchases back in the early to mid 70s and it's because of that album that I probably always favored their studio material. Or maybe it was because I never saw 'em live until '89. At any rate, a couple of years ago I caved and purchased both box sets. It was then that I finally heard studio versions of songs I'd previously only heard live. That's when I began to take on a whole new appreciation of live Dead. That said, it seems Workingmans Dead and American Beauty are the most highly recommended albums for folks just lookin' to dig into the Dead. Since they haven't been mentioned yet I'll also throw in suggestions for the double live all acoustic Reckoning (recently expanded for the Beyond Description box) and From the Mars Hotel (also expanded). I don't normally recommend greatest hits albums for starters but in the case of the Dead their back catalog is so expansive it's a good way to get a well rounded overview of their work. For years Skeletons From the Closet has been the go-to album in this regard but in recent a years a more comprehensive collection was released called The Very Best of the Grateful Dead (tracklist below). 1. Truckin' 2. Touch Of Grey 3. Sugar Magnolia 4. Casey Jones 5. Uncle John's Band 6. Friend Of The Devil 7. Franklin's Tower 8. Estimated Prophet 9. Eyes Of The World 10. Box Of Rain 11. U.S. Blues 12. The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) 13. One More Saturday Night 14. Fire On The Mountain 15. The Music Never Stopped 16. Hell In A Bucket 17. Ripple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KashmirDevi Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) Yes, great suggestions! *fixed if for you Jahfin. Sorry that's a pet peeve of yours Edited February 8, 2008 by KashmirDevi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Yes, great suggestions! Thanks, but there's really need to quote the entire post just to say that, especially since it's the post just prior to yours. I don't mean to offend but that's one of my top pet peeves when it comes to messageboards. I really do appreciate your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 'Twas about psychedelic tyme someone started a thread on this HUGE band........"THE BAND THE SQUARES LOVE TO HATE.." :) :) "once a deadhead always a deadhead" LOVE JERRY AND THE BOYS FOREVER!! My fave song by the Dead is "Good morning little schoolgirl" ....NO-ONE covers that classic like the Dead!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) Checking the Dead's website I see they have halted the Dick's Picks series (all of which will remain available) and have started up a new one called Road Trips. So far two installments are available. They also started up a vinyl section although only two titles are available so far (Live/Dead and American Beauty): http://www.deadnetstore.com/Commerce/Produ...22-7fef9a78cc43 Edited February 8, 2008 by Jahfin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Checking the Dead's website I see they have halted the Dick's Picks series (all of which will remain available) and have started up a new one called Road Trips. So far two installments are available. They also started up a vinyl section although only two titles are available so far (Live/Dead and American Beauty): http://www.deadnetstore.com/Commerce/Produ...22-7fef9a78cc43 Yeah man, I was seriously thinking of getting those!! . Are you on the dead.org forum?! Lovely place to be!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Are you on the dead.org forum? No, I'm not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 TAKE A LOOK AROUND SOMEDAY.........you'll love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirchzep27 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 As mentioned, a collection would be good to start with. I have -the arista years, a double cd, very good collection. As for live cds, imo, go with something like a whole show, dozin at the knick or one of the dicks picks instead of -without a net. If you like the stuff zeppelin did, like -achilles, stairway, then check out the song -terrapin station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 The only time I saw the Dead, they did the entire Terrapin Station and alot of drumming, it seemed. It was very different than all the live recordings I had heard, previously. I really like Cold Rain and Snow, Fire on the Mountain, Me and My Uncle - stuff like that. It's a shame that the radio only plays Casey Jones - that's a poor example of what's great about the Dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 The only time I saw the Dead, they did the entire Terrapin Station and alot of drumming, it seemed. It was very different than all the live recordings I had heard, previously. I really like Cold Rain and Snow, Fire on the Mountain, Me and My Uncle - stuff like that. It's a shame that the radio only plays Casey Jones - that's a poor example of what's great about the Dead. Go figure the radio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Checking the Dead's website I see they have halted the Dick's Picks series (all of which will remain available) and have started up a new one called Road Trips. So far two installments are available. Interesting. My brother has I think the first 27 Dick's Picks and he stopped collecting them. Found they seemed to be too similar in set list, which for the Dead is not a common thing. I'll have to mention this new series to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kashmir330 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 The Grateful Dead are one of my favorite bands. Top 10 for sure. I never hear much Dead on the radio. But I only really listen to radio late at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JethroTull Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I've had my days where listening to the Dead seemed like the right thing to do. My sister donated to my LP collection Workingmans Dead, American Beauty and Mars Hotel. I enjoy them all. I've never bought any Dead material with my own funds although I've been contemplating a Best of CD. I'm not adverse to buying a Best of CD of certain artists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) Donna Jean Godchaux grateful to sing again Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, who spent seven years with the Grateful Dead, is touring. "I've never been happier," says the Alabama native, who moved back to her native state 27 years ago. Chronicle photo by Deanne Fitzmaurice Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic She barely escaped with her life - her husband didn't - but the only woman to ever belong to the Grateful Dead doesn't want to think about the dark times before she left the band after seven years in 1979. "I don't like to talk about it because the memories I have of being in that band are the best of my life," says Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, 60, on a rare visit to Marin County since moving back to her native Alabama 27 years ago. You can read the rest of the article here Edited June 5, 2008 by Jahfin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadScreamingGallery Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Donna Jean Godchaux grateful to sing again "I don't like to talk about it because the memories I have of being in that band are the best of my life," says Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, 60, on a rare visit to Marin County since moving back to her native Alabama 27 years ago. I remember her! What an interesting article - although the line I put in bold made me rather sad. I've always tried to live my life in such a way that the best memories of my life were the most recent ones - for some people, though, that's impossible to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Grace Slick said she won't perform anymore, because "no one wants to see some old woman on the stage", many years ago. That's sad she has to think that way, even if it's true in a way. If a performer's voice or musicianship is still intact, there's no reason to have to feel that way. Plenty of performers I still see that are over 60 are actually better now - they're off drugs and more serious than back then. Although older men like Mick Jagger are spoofed on occasionally for still doing what made them famous, woman are particularly picked apart for their looks. I've never put anything into that, it's not a supermodel runway - it's music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 (edited) RIP Jerry Garcia Peaches in the summer time apples in the fall if I can't have the girl I love I don't want none at all shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove I wish I had a banjo string made of golden twine every tune I play on it I wish that girl was mine shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove I wish I had a needle and thread as fine as I could sew sew that pretty gal to my side and down the road I'd go shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove some come here to fiddle and dance some come here to tarry some come here to fiddle and dance I come here to marry shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove every night when I go home wife I try to please her the more I try the worse she gets damned if I don't leave her shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove shady grove my little love shady grove my darling shady grove my little love I'm going back to Harlan shady grove my little love shady grove I know shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove Doc Watson Edited June 14, 2008 by eternal light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 RIP Jerry Garcia I wish I had a banjo string made of golden twine every tune I play on it I wish that girl was mine It's pretty hard to get girls with banjo playing - but I guess Jerry could pull it off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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