Live/Dead [Remastered] - Grateful Dead > Reviews > Metamorphosis of a band.

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	The first stunning live double album released by the mighty Grateful Dead .
Disadvantages:	Not easily accessible to first time "Dead" listeners,especially improvised sections .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This was the first Live Double Album released by these ground-breakers of psychedelic rock.
Spawned in the Haight-Asbury area of San Francisco,this music evolved from folk,bluegrass,jazz and blues roots,and has become a powerful and lasting part of American culture.
This album features a new direction,and a new line-up in the metamorphosis of the band,in that Tom Constanten came along on keyboards in Nov 1968,and Mickey Hart began his still existent double drumming partnership with Bill Kreutzmann.
By the time of it's release on Nov 10th 1969,this unit had played together long enough to be able to flow together,and spark off unique musical conversations hitherto unknown,and taking free-form jazz a step further. The album begins with "Dark Star",starting mid-song.Phil,Jerry and Bob weaving the now familiar improvisational pattern;a quest led by Jerry into realms unknown.In 1969 it was totally uncharted territory!
"St Stephen" features the exquisite poetry of Robert Hunter;on one of his many attempts to describe aspects of the L.S.D experience,but the highlight of this set is the extended "Turn on Your Lovelight",featuring the exuberant,bluesy vocals of Ron "Pigpen"McKernan,turning the gig into a celebration of life.
The "Dead" have always provided an antidote to the horrific morass of American politics,and express a possibly unattainable ideal of how life could be.
Aspects of this ideal live on in the sub-culture of America.Hundreds of good souls fled the city to dwell in the Redwood belt,North of San Francisco,and these communities still exist.Americans who have honed down their lives to the essentials,and want no part in the grasping materialistic values of mainstream America.
"And We Bid You Goodnight" is a nod and a smile to the U.K.brother and sisterhood of the "Incredible String Band",and is a fitting end to the voyage of discovery which this collection of live music represents.