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THE BEST OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD LIVE is the ultimate live collection, a two-disc set with recordings selected from the band’s official live albums on Warner Bros. and Arista, plus a few tracks from their many archival live releases, beginning with “St. Stephen” – from the group’s first official live album, 1969’s Live/Dead – and ending with the poignant “So Many Roads,” taken from the band’s final concert at Chicago’s Soldier Field in July of 1995
“We wanted to follow up the 2015 The Best Of The Grateful Dead studio set with a live counterpart, and have focused our efforts on the band’s primary live albums as well as some key tracks from archival concert releases,” says band archivist and producer David Lemieux. “Just as there was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, there is also nothing like a live Grateful Dead recording; it’s no secret that as good as the Dead’s studio recordings were, they excelled in front of an audience, and this set provides an overview of just how great the Dead were live in concert.”
THE BEST OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD LIVE will also be available as Apple Lossless and HD FLAC digital downloads on release day.
Stereotypes
Don’t be mislead by them.
Charles Manson was a hippy. There goes the stereotype that all hippies are friendly.
All Dead Heads are friendly and unselfish. Also not true.
My 2 cents
I think, as far as Dead complitations go, this has a decent selection. While there are certainly omissions, and this is release #4 with the 3/29/90 Eyes (plus Without a Net, Wake Up, S'90-TOO), the song choices and flow look palpable.
Definitely for super hardcore collectors and new fans. I have at least one version of everything in this set, so a low priority acquasition for me personally. The vinyl might be cool just for the dancing skeleton artwork.
My formal introduction to the Dead was first seeing them live on 7/1/84 Pine Knob when I was 16 years old. My first album introductions about this same time frame were "Anthem of the Sun", "Live Dead", "E'72", "Dead Set" and "Reckoning". As far as compilations go, I think I actually heard "What a Long Strange Trip" before "Skeletons From The Closet".
A friend of mine purchased the "Dead Zone" boxed set when it first came out, which covered 10 years of releases. "Bears Choice" was another I heard early on in the '80's.
I believe "Reckoning" was the actual first one I purchased myself, followed by "Anthem of the Sun", then "Live Dead" then it snowballed from there.
If you know a potential newbie who might be into the Dead, and depending how progressive their ear/personal tastes lean, I would recomend going big and take them straight to "Live Dead". If they like that, they pass the acid test.
edit - forgot to mention that "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty" were early introductions for me as well. For a new fan that might be more into songs, singer/songwriting, I would suggest these two plaus "In The Dark".
"In The Dark" brought the masses in, and I still believe that's one of their top four or five studio albums (right along with Anthem, American Beauty, Workingman's and Blues for Allah....though Wake of the flood is nice).
Myself, I tend to stear away from compilations, unless I'm not familiar with a band, then I take the sample size taste test. If I really dig it, I may do my darndest to be a completist, within budget.
manson was no hippie
Manson was a product of a really messed up family and the US penal system. He preyed on 'hippies' and manipulated a cult following.
Manson - Hippies
So, I'm curious: what's a hippie? I first heard of the term from the back of a Bobby Darin LP, back in 1959 or so. I really don't think anyone can agree on a definition, besides the most common one having to do with long hair, beards and drugs(per Wikipedia)
Definitions depends on culture generation etc
20 years ago at work I was explaining to a young brother the difference between hippies and freaks ( something about 1 political the other not...SF v Berkeley) anyway I told him I was a freak and jis eyes bugged out....No no not Rick JamesAll depends on where you stand
Love on Haight
Love on Haight: The Grateful Dead and San Francisco in 1967
https://guides.library.ucsc.edu/gratefuldeadarchive/exhibits
http://exhibits.library.ucsc.edu/exhibits/show/love-on-haight
Reckoning and Anthem
Reckoning and Anthem were my first two albums too. I was just starting to get into the Dead and tripping. I was probably turned on by the pictures on the covers. But they turned out to be a couple of favorites still 30 years later. Soon after hearing these I started touring and my life has changed and is still changing dramatically. Grateful Dead.
4/21/72 Beat Club, Bremen, West Germany (full show on video)
...a taste of the classic era. For the old of soul and young at heart. ;=P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Uu57h7H18
"you bring home one van of
"you bring home one van of Hippy Murderers and suddenly that's all your about"
Live CD Collection
Nice set, although I wish they included a China Cat>I Know You Rider from '72.
Live CD Collection
Nice set, although I wish they included a China Cat>I Know You Rider from '72.
Compilations
It always surprises me how Dead compilations are constructed. They have always had an image, in England, of playing very far out "acid rock". So it is likely that anyone interested in hearing them, who has not done so before, would be expecting something a bit more out there than a simple collection of songs. Compilations like this one seem to present the band as song based rather than jam based.
It was ever thus. I was quite shocked when I bought my first Dead album-Working Mans Dead, back in 1975. It sounded alright-but it was hardly cutting edge. The next one I got Steal Your Face was even more of a surprise. It was only when I heard Anthem that I heard something I could relate to. From that point on my interest snowballed. But to give newcomers a sense of the bands power, I would base a compilation more on extended jams-Dark Star-St Stephen-The Eleven, The Other One, Playing in The Band and so on and so forth.
Definition of a "hippie."
When I was a kid, growing up in Boulder, Colorado, hippies were everywhere. It was a beautiful place, in the '60's, and a great state of mind.Anyway, my father's favorite joke, at that time, was his definition of a hippie: "A Jack that looked like a Jill that smelled like a John." He thought this was one of the funniest things he had ever heard. I guess after four or five martini's anything is....funny!
Needless to say we often had very loud discussions about the Vietnam war. We would rant and rave at the dinner table until my little redheaded mother would tell us to be quiet.
God I miss all my hippie friends.
Mr. Pete-------------->
aging hippie
nice collection - glad no unreleased tracks
Good to see them regenerating previously released material to attract more future fans and glad there's not an "unreleased" track which may have made me contemplate an unnecessary purchase.
Prices do see steeper on this summer tour at least at Great Woods (Xfinity Ctr) vs last two at Fenway. Wished it was at Harborlights (BoA Pav) instead.
Careful at Great Woods - they used to use an undercover cop that looked like an older hippie complete with Tie Dye. Seen him in action a bunch of times. Nabbed a buddy back in the 90's.
Scarlet fire estimated
How can thete been a live list without those 3 from may 77 i mean really. That is Dead 101 friendsPeace and love Greg
For the ultimate intro to
For the ultimate intro to Live GD, I recommend "Without a Net"
I agree w/ daverock
When you limit yourself mostly to Warner/Arista choices, you limit a lot of the great live jam material. Within those confines, I'd like to have at least seen some of the hybrid Anthem tunes. Nothing from from GDead Records and later Rhino archival releases (plus DP recordings) certainly short-change any truly great live compilations. Also, "career-spanning" tends to weaken the collection. I do like the few selections from Skull F*ck and Europe.
Re: For the ultimate intro to
I would supplement with the "So Far" DVD. It's kind of like the concept of Dead show in a nutshell. I also really like the Uncle John's on it. Btw, that DVD should to be sold individually instead of just as a part of that big DVD collection.
So Far-JimJohn
I had completely forgotten about the "So Far" dvd. I bought it on video when it came out, about 1987, and played it so many times. Nevertheless, when I first read your post, I thought it was a strange idea to show this to someone who had never heard the band, as a means of turning them on. But when I think back, 30 years ago, I can remember doing precisely that. I took it round to my parents house to watch, so they and my brother could see what the band was all about. I also lent it to a girl I had started going out with about that time too.
Its many years since I have seen it-I never got a dvd of it. In fact I don't even know if one came out in England. My favourite track, apart from "Uncle Johns", was the "Playing In The Band". I can remember liking the way the film synchronised with the music. I also seem to remember images from a pack of Tarot cards being shown during "Terrapin Station.
grateful dead live best of
how can you have a best of live grateful dead with out any pigpen tracks. rewriting history again. a total disgrace.
grateful dead live best of
how can you have a best of live grateful dead with out any pigpen tracks. rewriting history again. a total disgrace.
Where are the selections from
Where are the selections from STEAL YOUR FACE (1976) and DYLAN & THE DEAD (1989)? It's a shame these albums don't get any love because I sure love them! "Stella Blue" "IT Must Have Been The Roses" "Mississippi Half Step" are all great tracks from Steal Your Face. "Joey", "Knockin on Heaven's Door" "All Along the Watchtower" from Dylan & The Dead
WITHOUT A NET also is conspicuous in its absence. China/Rider, Let It Grow. Of course the selected Eyes of the World is also on Without a Net
I'm in, to hell with it.
Like many I probably have all of this, but I'm intrigued enough to hear these songs in this order. I pre-ordered it on amazon with that new Doors thing coming out.
Almost the same with the Long Strange Trip soundtrack, which I oddly enough enjoyed immensely. Sometimes a particular song juxtaposition elevates the proceedings.
Long Strange Trip
I am not buying this new one-but I thought Long Strange Trip was excellent. I only got it for the Dark Star-but I found myself listening to both cds all the way through. Like you, I have got most of it-but not all-and what I have got works well being placed in this strange new concept.
Anthem 50th
Are there any rumblings about an Anthem of the Sun 50th anniversary release?
Fingers crossed they treat us to something similar as last years Grateful Dead release with a nice vintage 67 or 68 show tacked on. I really have no interest in purchasing the album again, but I will if I can pick up 67-68 along with it!
Anthem 50th
The Grateful Dead 50th anniversary album was released in November 2016 four months before the 50th anniversary of it's original release. Anthem was released on July 18 1968 so if they release it four months prier to it's 50th that would be March 18th. Hoping that it is released with the February 2 1968 Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR.
Anthem 50th ?
We have all been hopefully expecting a commemorative edition of Anthem to be released-along with a complete show from 1968,- but has there been any official indication that this might happen? I haven't seen anything. It would be a real wasted opportunity if nothing is released. The first album was okay, but Anthem was the classic. That was the one that got me into them in the first place.
Happy 50 2-14-68
I was 8 this day.my mom was my Valentine http://gratefulseconds.blogspot.com/2018/01/50th-anniversary-of-valenti…
one more cup of best of
the track list is very good but seems like yesterday papers. It just remains me the run of acoustic shows of october 1980. Multitracks recording,and the playing seems at the level of Europe 72 shows. Even with the not so widely choice of songs, it should diserve a little boxset with 2 or 3 shows of the Warfield and 2 or 3 from Radio City Hall? Thank you for putting whole this good musicof the vault in the daylight.
andyman 1970 ticket price
i bought my tickets for $41 each. not sure where you are shopping but these are very reasonable for the times.
Re: Where Are Selections
These are only Arista and Warner Bros albums. 'Stael You Face' was GD's own label, 'Without A Net' was Columbia.
Greatful dead live best of...
...this is a two part series! Part two is not far behind my friends :) ...
Tomorrow Never Knows
amazon says I'll have this Sunday before 8pm, along with the Doors Isle of Wight package.
I know what I'll be listening to on the way to and from work Monday morning.
Bravo!
The Doors of Perception
I just returned from the package store with some Jameson and Corona Premier. The steaks are grilled and the dishes done; now for a break.
The new Doors Isle of Wight is recently out. All the background is all over the web, but it's a historic show with 600,000 or so in attendance... the Doors took the stage at 2am. Morrison was mostly sober.
First, I listened to the cd. I was nonplussed; I mean, the Doors were a unique musical force with a sound like no other before or since, but maybe an average live band. The "Light My Fire" caught my ear first, with Morrison in full voice at the end.
The real treat here for Doors loyalists is the blu-ray. Bathed in somber red light with a simple backline, this is a stripped-down-to-the-music-only performance. Gone is all the drama and histrionics of the Lizard King. Morrison grips the mike stand like Mark Lanegan, all voice and no bullshit.
The video begins with quality footage of the stage setup, concertgoers, and a motorcycle ride through the surrounding towns and villages. It really draws you in. Throughout the show, the band gets tighter and tighter, from the machine-gun snare drum of Densmore to the classical/jazz/bluesy psychedelia of Robbie Krieger's Gibson SG, to the anchor of the band, Ray Manzarek, frontstage at that awesome keyboard setup of his, resplendent in white jacket. Ray's backing vocals are a force behind Jim on this night.
Jim is in very fine voice and has the audience enraptured, as only so few could... Jerry Garcia comes to mind.
I'll add that I saw The Doors of the 21st Century at Red Rocks ten or fifteen years ago, the Coors Light Mountain Jam, whenever the hell that was. The Cult's Ian Astbury handled the vocals. He'd lost weight, cut his hair into the full Morrison and was clad only in black T-shirt and jeans.
He mesmerized, obviously having studied Jim like a method actor, two songs in you thought you were in 1968. And, I shit you not, it began to rain lightly right as "Riders on the Storm" began, with lightning dancing across the sky over downtown Denver. Anyone who was fortunate enough to have been there can attest to this miracle.
In closing, Isle of Wight is a must-have for the die-hard fan or completist. For those looking for Jim to lead them to ecstasy a la Dionysus, you might look elsewhere, but this is definitely worth at least one viewing/listen.
"Best" of GD Live cd
Upon first listen, the sound is very good. The vocals in particular have been enhanced and sound beautiful.
I see the strategy in hyping songs available on unlimited catalogue releases, in order to drive sales, and I don't disagree with it from that perspective.
The inclusion of "Blow Away," I think they could take back. To draw upon the immense body of work available and include a Brent Mydland lead vocal seems a bit suspect, and it's not a stellar track.
The package and booklet are nice enough. This one can live in my car.
radio broadcast compilations
i have linked to what they did on dead, but they have lots of others including doors.
stumbled on to this on ebay via the 71 set that was up for sale for $65 or so.
http://www.odmcy.com/catalog/index.php/catalogue?search=grateful%20dead…
What's it take to get to the later dates?
I was listening to 8/6/89 at Sacramento, CA
What a gem. Too bad we don't hear more music from this era!
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