Grateful Dead Recommendations?

[digitaldave]

I often hear people mention the Grateful Dead, but I don't think I've ever heard any of their music

. I found a link here to a bunch of their live recordings, and I'll be checking some of them out. But since I know nothing about them, I don't know where to start

. Are there any 'classic' shows that I should download, and are there any great studio albums that I should get? A 'greatest hits' CD perhaps?

Thanks

.

 

[viator122]

Someone else can help you out with specifics, hopefully, but I know there was a show at Cornell in the 1970s that's considered among the best.

 

[jefemeister]

I really like the "One from the Vault" album. It's a live show, great performances, and awesome sound quality. It was a major studio release, not a bootleg.

 

[tyrion]

Rather than start downloading Dead shows, you should pick up Dusseldorf - Rockin' the Rhein or Europe '72. Either will give you a taste of the Dead live. I believe the Cornell show referred to above is 5/8/77 and probably can be found on internet archive. RFK 6/10/73 is another show that I enjoy. There is always the various Dick's Picks which are usually pretty good.

 

[NiceCans]

Two I'd say are worthwhile downloads
(have them and was there for both

)

Grateful Dead live at Capitol Theater (1978-11-24)

Hershey Park Stadium (1985-06-28)

 

[catachresis]

Yes, yes, I know that true Deadheads only pay attention to the live shows. My big faves, such as they are, are studio albums. For the best they offer in early 70s country-pop smithery, let me recommend.

American Beauty - their paeon to the life of the traveller
&
Workin'man's Dead - their elegy to how much it sucks to be a wage-slave

On top of that, you could check out the 'concert album' Europe '72.

I went to one of the last Dead concerts: something about the ubiquity of naked sorority girls and beemer-driving fratboys renewed my respect for the utopian ideals of the 60s. Save my life, buy me a ticket and a vegetarian burrito.

 

[NiceCans]

Also try the album "Grateful Dead" (1971) affectionately known as "Skull & Roses" an excellent live double album, Lot's of energy!

AMG's review

 

[Chiboy]

Great advice already. If you want to spend some $$$, the So Many Roads box set is fantastic, and shows a great progression from 1965 to 1995. Although I suppose not for "beginners".

I think American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, Europe '72, and Blues for Allah, Reckoning are great albums. Whoops, and Live Dead. If you want to d/l shows from archive (what a GREAT resource), maybe try for one from the 2/27-3/2/69 run, one from the 10/16-10/20/74 run, anything from 5/77. Read the comments on each show and go from there.

Maybe rent the newish DVD The Grateful Dead Movie. It is from the 10/16/74-10/20/74 run mentioned above and gives a great feeling for what it was like to see a show. I have both the VHS and the new DVD...

Good luck!

 

[bjjp2]

Two more votes for "American Beauty" for a studio album and "Europe '72" for a live album.

 

[brb9911]

if you're on archive.org, give 5/26/72 a try ... the ratings there are fairly accurate, i've found.

if you like this, PM me for more reco's ...

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by catachresis Yes, yes, I know that true Deadheads only pay attention to the live shows. My big faves, such as they are, are studio albums. For the best they offer in early 70s country-pop smithery, let me recommend. American Beauty - their paeon to the life of the traveller & Workin'man's Dead - their elegy to how much it sucks to be a wage-slave On top of that, you could check out the 'concert album' Europe '72. I went to one of the last Dead concerts: something about the ubiquity of naked sorority girls and beemer-driving fratboys renewed my respect for the utopian ideals of the 60s. Save my life, buy me a ticket and a vegetarian burrito.

I hate The Dead, but know a thing or two.

I completely agree with this post. Ditto x 2.

 

[Chiboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brb9911 if you're on archive.org, give 5/26/72 a try ... the ratings there are fairly accurate, i've found. if you like this, PM me for more reco's ...

This is a great suggestion. The Truckin'>Morning Dew on Europe '72 was from this show, but this is the complete uncut version without the middle cut out!

 

[digitaldave]

Thanks for all the tips everyone

. I've downloaded the Strand Lyceum gig suggested by brb9911, so I'll give that a go first. I only got the VBR mp3 version, but it imported in to iTunes no problems, even had the tags already set up so no work for me

.

 

[gratefulshrink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitaldave I often hear people mention the Grateful Dead, but I don't think I've ever heard any of their music . I found a link here to a bunch of their live recordings, and I'll be checking some of them out. But since I know nothing about them, I don't know where to start . Are there any 'classic' shows that I should download, and are there any great studio albums that I should get? A 'greatest hits' CD perhaps? Thanks .

digitialdave, I am a card-carrying deadhead, so I could make enough suggestions that your eyes would glaze over. I'll just ask you which period(s) of their music do you like best? 1966-67 garage band/psychedelia? 1968-69 acid rock? 1970 country and western/folk rock (Workingman's Dead and American Beauty are essential rock albums, let alone essential GD albums)? 1971 bar-band rock and roll? 1972-74 jazz-rock?

I personally think they went way downhill after 1977 (Garcia got slow and sick, and was too messed up on dope). But there are so many treasures prior to 1977, that it all equals out......

 

[bundee1]

American Beauty is great and its an HDCD. I love the album although I got started on a greatest hits from BMG. Ill try some of the other stuff suggested as well. Ive been wanting to expand my GD collection for a while.