Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

Chet and Murphy, I, too, love Amagamalin Street. I actually lived that song with a really good friend (he was Chet, I was Murphy) and a mutual woman friend (Maggie). It almost fit our situation, although I did not serve in Viet Nam or live underneath the el. But he did have all of the luck. The line you quoted - "One good pal....." - rings so true to me. My friend is gone now (tragically passed away far too young) but every time I hear the song I fondly remember him and the friendship we had that I will always cherish. If you search Archive.org for some early Dinosaurs shows (1982 - 1984), you'll hear a lot of those Amagamalin Street songs in early versions that are not quite as fleshed out as they are on the final product, especially the title tune. Very interesting to see the genesis of these songs. John Cipollina was brilliant (as always) on the album and with the later line-up of the Dinosaurs.

Here is a true story about Tiger Rose: I also loved loved loved that record. To my ears, Garcia never did better guitar studio work. When I got the CD version with the new vocals I merely liked liked liked the c.d. I understand Mr. Hunter considered the original vinyl version to be "scratch vocals". But I loved loved loved those scratch vocals. I wrote a letter to Robert Hunter registering my opinion. I think I mailed it to the dead p.o. box. About a month later, I get a package in the mail with a brand new sealed copy of the Tiger Rose Vinyl with the original vocals with a personal note from Robert Hunter, saying that I can play this record whenever I wanted to hear the original version. What a gesture! If you read this thank you for that!!! I still have the vinyl but I somehow lost the personal note over the years. So glad to hear Mr. Hunter is returning to performing and I hope he does some west coast shows. I also love Amagamalin Street. Chet and Murphy were the best of friends, but when it comes to Maggie, the friendship ends...one good pal is worth a crowd of folks who don't cry at your bummers and laugh at your jokes.

Just some reminiscing. As a young man, Hunter's "Tiger Rose" was one of my very favorite albums. Right up there with Aoxomoxoa and American Beauty. (still is, really) My first copy was an 8-track tape (gasp!). It was this, original, recording that I fell in love with. Unfortunately, Hunter re-recorded his vocals for the CD re-release in the mid- or late 80's. I think this robbed the album of much of its magic (not surprisingly). I do hope the original recording is re-released someday. I looked on e-bay and apparently the original recording is available on vinyl only. What a shame. There do seem to be some of the original recordings on you-tube- much thanks to the kind soul who uploaded them. Please let's have the original recording re-released!I also find that my second favorite Hunter album "Jack of Roses" is now only available on vinyl. Dang. Somehow, I missed out on "Flight of the Marie Helena" and now it has disappeared completely. The gem "Liberty" is also gone, but I was lucky enough to pick it up a few years ago at a used CD joint. I trust that in time, all these albums will get justice. Just hope I'm still alive to hear them. :/