Gary Davis blues standard "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and the R&B rave-up "(Turn on Your) Lovelight." Finally, the conundrum of how to bring a lengthy performance experience to the listener has been solved. The album's four sides provided the palette from which to replicate the natural ebb and flow of a typical Dead set circa early 1969.
Tomes have been written about the profound impact of "Dark Star" on the Dead and their audience. It also became a cultural touchstone signifying that rock music was becoming increasingly experimental by casting aside the once-accepted demands of the short, self-contained pop song. This version was recorded on February 27, 1969, at the Fillmore West and is presented pretty much the way it went down at the show. The same is true of the seven remaining titles on Live/Dead.
The rousing rendition of "St. Stephen" reinvents the Aoxomoxoa (1968) prototype with rip-roaring thunder and an extended ending which slams into an instrumental rhythmic excursion titled "The Eleven" after the jam's tricky time signature. The second LP began with a marathon cover of "(Turn on Your) Lovelight," which had significant success for both Bobby "Blue" Bland and Gene Chandler earlier in the decade.
With Ron "Pigpen" McKernan at the throttle, the Dead barrel their way through the work, reproportioning and appointing it with fiery solos from Garcia and lead vocal raps courtesy of McKernan. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is a languid noir interpretation of Rev. Gary Davis' distinct Piedmont blues. Garcia's fretwork smolders as his solos sear through the melody. Likewise notable is the criminally underrated keyboard work of Tom Constanten, whose airy counterpoint rises like a departing spirit from within the soul of the song.
The final pairing of "Feedback" -- which is what is sounds like it might be -- with the "lowering down" funeral dirge "And We Bid You Goodnight" is true to the way that the band concluded a majority of their performances circa 1968-1969. They all join in on an a cappella derivative of Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family's traditional Bahamian distillation. Few recordings have ever represented the essence of an artist in performance as faithfully as Live/Dead.
It has become an aural snapshot of this zenith in The Grateful Dead's 30-year evolution and as such is highly recommended for all manner of enthusiasts. The 2001 remastered edition that was included in the Golden Road (1965-1973) (2001) box set tacks on the 45 rpm studio version of "Dark Star" as well as a vintage radio advert for the album.
by Lindsay Planer
1. Dark Star (J. Garcia, M. Hart, R. Hunter, B. Kreutzmann, P. Lesh, R. "Pigpen" McKernan, B. Weir) - 23:15
2. St. Stephen (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh) - 6:45
3. The Eleven (Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh) - 9:39
4. Turn on Your Love Light (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) - 15:30
5. Death Don't Have No Mercy (Rev. Gary Davis) - 10:30
6. Feedback (Grateful Dead) - 8:52
7. And We Bid You Goodnight (Traditional) - 0:36
Grateful Dead
*Tom Constanten - Keyboards
*Jerry Garcia - Guitar, Vocals
*Mickey Hart - Drums, Percussion
*Bill Kreutzmann - Drums, Percussion
*Phil Lesh - Bass, Vocals
*Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - Keyboards, Vocals
*Bob Weir - Guitar, Vocals
*Robert Hunter - Lyrics
Grateful Dead - Skull and Roses 1971 (Original Double Vinyl release)
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Well, there would be no exaggeration when it states that each of the recordings is a jewel...
ReplyDeleteBeginning from composition opening this album - over twenty-three minutes of music, tangled and diffuse freely like smoke ... of the outbreak Dark Star charms on the one hand an ingenious interweaving of individual subjects and, second, the complete, uncontrolled feelingiem from which were famous bands from the era hippies revolution. St. Stephen (no no, definitely not a piece of Porcupine Tree frontman!) Begins with a gentle guitar, and after a moment of seeming chaos emerged a recognizable riff, quite characteristic of southern rock bands (for a total for such a recording can be recognize the song). Is stylistically close to the record and such bands as the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Grand Funk Railroad. And even Wishbone Ash. But that did not go to church. Stephen ordinary pioseneczka, the group, breaking in the middle of recording the rhythm and making slow, sung almost a capella piece, and then adding vocals characteristic of Jefferson Airplane ... turns all the more. Active flows into ... Eleven. Here it clearly smells of inspiration (or copy - today it is difficult to clearly identify who is who he listened to what point in time) Allman Brothers Band. It should be noted that a brilliant live album Allmanów - At Filmore East is the work a year later by Live / Dead. Eleven itself so obviously and clearly presents the same style as to be sometimes difficult to distinguish who is playing.
And in addition to copyright songs on Live / Dead were also covers. And that's what! ? The most important (and probably the most beautiful song on the album) is a beautiful, dignified, and vigorously executed Revered blues Gery Davis Death Do not Have No Mercy. More than ten-minute masterpiece that should be familiar with every fan of good music.
One of those live albums,that shame no have!
Marios,Thanks a lot
Hopefully Marios can re-up the links?
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance!
Janne A, Grateful Dead - Live/Dead 1969 ...Repaired....
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