I will occasionally post a new playlist here so that you can get an idea of my musical tastes - and with the hope that you will discover something new to you that strikes your fancy.
As always, I encourage you to buy music you love in lossless formats for the best listening!
These simple music players allow us to stream very good quality mp3 files (320kbps) without long delay. So if your computer has a decent soundcard and speakers or headphones, this should be an excellent audio stream! Enjoy . . .
Reflections from Dead Days
Obviously, I need to get a couple tracks up from the Dead. After all, much of my formative life experiences had the Grateful Dead as part of the soundtrack... But where to begin?
After due deliberation, I've carefully chosen a a couple selections from Alpine Valley on August 7, 1982.
I was at this show with brother Tom, and it's in my pantheon of live music experiences!
It began for us with miracle tickets for this sold-out show. We had tickets in hand for the next night, but decided to try our luck at the venue for this night too. What did we have to lose? In the worst case, we would at least have a good time in the lot.
Well, wouldn't you know it but we encountered a guy with two extra tickets on the main floor. If fact, they were amazing seats about 15-20 rows back and in the relative center. I was just paying face value - no haggling on either side - when some jackass tries to "outbid" me. Luckily, the seller decided he'd rather have Tom and me sitting with their very kind group, and he brushed off the money.
Althea - This Garcia/Hunter composition was one of the "simple" songs usually found in the first set - the party set ... But one thing I liked about the Dead is that even these "simple" songs had a lot going on musically and lyrically. And I could tell that Jerry really enjoyed playing this number - it was fresh, and Hunter's lyrics seemed to resonate for him ... as they did for me and others.
Let It Grow - This explosive jam followed to close out the first set. Turn it up and enjoy one of my favorite Weir/Barlow songs. (I used to play this one on the guitar for my kids... It did not sound like this.) The band takes this 4 minute song - and inserts an amazing 8 minute improvisation. The Dead were quite good at amp'ing the energy at a show. If you've felt that, this track will help you feel it again.
Morning Dew filled the "Jerry Weeper" slot at the end of the night. You know, the introspective "return home" from the wild boundary-busting free-form edges of the second set. (I literally wept during the Stella Blue at my first show.) This song followed a 30+ minute performance of Playing in the Band>Drums/Space>The Wheel>Playing... Morning Dew was always a favorite of mine - and I love the way it builds musical tension to great peaks, and then resolves into very delicate moments. This performance highlights Garcia's subtlety in tone and articulation. He was always considered a "guitar player's" guitarist - in this recording you can hear why. You'll also hear why I think Bob Weir is such a fantastic rhythm player.
Here's a fantastic video from the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ... This really reminds me of the great shows I saw in the late 70's... And this is how I remember Garcia.
Here's also an interesting article for you Deadheads, guitar players and other geeks:
