Born Cross Eyed - Grateful Dead Song Review

I admit I had to pull up this tune in my library to see if it was the one where they sing "all graceful instruuuuments." (it's not).

As much as I am a fan of Anthem of the Sun, this song doesn't stand out much to me. It is very short and it is a Bobby song. I will give it recognition for being a pretty original tune and Bobby sings pretty well on it. You can hear a version on Youtube if you're so inclined.

Born Cross Eyed Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 6.0

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Brown Eyed Women - Grateful Dead Song Review

Brown Eyed Women is a great fun old Grateful Dead Song. This song came out on Europe '72 and is one of those tunes that Robert Hunter was referring to years later when he pointed out that there was a lot of original music created around that time that he wished had gotten properly recorded in a studio (like Jack Straw, Ramble on Rose, and others).

For me, the Europe '72 version is just a great version of Brown Eyed Women. I love this type of Dead song with Robert Hunter's lyrics harkening back several decades to a past era of American life. He sings about a man who raised a ragged family of farmers and/or moonshiners. The "old man" and Delilah Jones (the mother of twins, two times over and the rest were sins) recur throughout the song and a great tale of love and loss is born.

Brown Eyed Women also boasts one of those memorable refrains to start off some of the verses "..Gone are the days when the...." This song is Grateful Dead songwriting at its finest and I was lucky enough to see this song live at Shoreline Amphitheater on 9/18/1994. I will always listen to Brown Eyed Women when it comes on a tape or podcast.

Brown Eyed Women Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 7.9

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Blues For Allah - Grateful Dead Song Review

Blues for Allah is a really unique and powerful song that is possibly the song that is the furthest departure from "American rock" that the Dead were to make (as far as incorporating world sounds).

Blues for Allah is an eerie middle eastern tune based on a middle eastern scale and set in a non traditional meter. It is also the name of the album on which it originally appears - released in 1975. The lyrics are really great with lines like:

Arabian wind, The needle's eye is thin, The ships of state sail on mirage,
And drown in sand, Out in no-man's land where Allah does command.

When I think of the period of time in which this album was released I picture Garcia with his long dark hair, long dark beard, and apparent fondness for persian heroin. I really like the entire album with the same name but I will say that it is inconsistent. At least the Dead were very ambitious with this album and pushing the envelope of traditional American rock albums by putting several lengthy instrumental songs on it.

The Kezar Stadium show in San Francisco on 3/23/1975 is always the main live version of this song that I can refer to. This show is notable to me because it is very close to the day I was born and is notable also because it was largely an instrumental show without lyrics (at least until the Johnny B. Goode encore). I would recommend hearing this show on archive.org but I can see that it is not posted because the show has been commercially released.

Blues for Allah only was played a few times in 1975. I am kind of surprised now that I look at the Egypt shows (recently released and obtained by yours truly) that this song didn't make the setlists in what would seem to be it's most natural setting - an Egyptian desert. Perhaps Blues for Allah might have been a bit too much of a departure musically to work into the rest of the set, or perhaps the song wasn't very accessible to the Dead's audience at the time. I can only guess at the reasons that Blues for Allah didn't have more of a run in the Dead's setlists but one thing that I do know for sure is that I really wish there were more live verisons of it out there - I would love to hear Jerry and co. use this very unique sounding song as a vehicle for experimentation.

Blues for Allah Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.5

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Blow Away - Grateful Dead Song Review

I admit that I just had to go to youtube.com to hear Blow Away because in my mind I was thinking... "Wait, which Brent song is that again" (all I was able to locate was a studio version from Built to Last).

I love Brent Mydland playing with the Dead. In fact, I love all the Dead's keyboardists. I think Jerry had a great relationship with Brent and you can clearly see them enjoying playing off of each other a lot in the DVDs that I've bought (like the Alpine Valley show). I wonder if Jerry's affinity for Brent helped Brent get a lot of his material on Grateful Dead albums? Some of Brent's songs don't really sound like Dead songs to me, and this is one of them. It's not bad at all, it just sounds like something that Michael McDonald or Starship would play.

Built to Last is a little bit overproduced and the studio version of Blow Away has a "Top 40" background chorus. Jerry's guitar leads sound good on this track. This song get's credit for being an original song (as opposed to a blues song). I am going to seek out a couple of live versions of Blow Away and may change my opinion after hearing them but I'd say this is for the most part just an "okay" song.

Blow Away Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 6.4

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Black Throated Wind - Grateful Dead Song Review

Black Throated Wind is a cool Bob Weir tune from his album called Ace. This is a great road song that starts out about a guy who is hitchhiking and the stars look like "stones from a slingshot on mars." No one will pick this guy up and then he waxes on about a love gone wrong.

To me, the song has always been evocative of a "70's midwestern truck stop lifestyle of denim, long hair, and boots." It's not a country song per se, but it's got a hint of country sensibility and certainly reminds me of middle america. It is a great road song. I was fortunate enough to hear Black Throated Wind at the Oakland Coliseum on 2/26/1994. I was really excited because it is another one of those Grateful Dead "rare gems" that definitely wasn't overplayed.

Black Throated Wind Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.8

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Black Peter - Grateful Dead Song Review

"Alll of my friends come to.... see me last night..."

Black Peter is an extremely revered Dead song from Workingman's Dead. It is almost a surprise to me that this song has the mystique that it does. So many people I've met through the years have raved about Black Peter. It has that kind of "magical quality" of a somewhat rarely played classic Dead song that when it is played at a show the song by itself makes a show (like Casey Jones, Truckin', and many others). I can see in Deadbase X that Black Peter is evenly played a few times a year throughout the entire history of the Grateful Dead. I think the power of the opening phrase "All of my friends..." coming out of nowhere in the 2nd set must really set the crowd off. I was not fortunate enough to ever see a Black Peter live.

I say that I'm surprised about Black Peter's popularity because it is not a rocking or catchy tune. I think it is a very well composed slow song about a character named Peter who is on his deathbed. The whole song seems to be about this person and his sad life waiting to die - so nothing much happens nor is there much of a story.

This is what's great about Deadheads - they don't need every song to be upbeat or have an interesting and obvious storyline to be a classic.

Black Peter Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.9

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Black Muddy River - Grateful Dead Song Review

Black Muddy River, from the album In the Dark is a slow emotional dirge that has an excellent fingerpicked feel, a sad melody, and Robert Hunter's inimicable mysterious lyrics:

"the hot sun chills me to the bone..."

and how about this verse:

"When it seems like the night will last forever
And there's nothing left to do but count the years
When the strings of my heart start to sever
And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears"

That's some really inspired, well written lyrics that give a strong sense of reminiscing, nostalgia, and acceptance.

I don't think I've ever had someone walk up to me and say "you've got to hear this killer Black Muddy River" or "my favorite Dead song is Black Muddy River" but it is definitely a solid tune. If nothing else it just has Jerry and Robert's fingerprints over the whole song- every note. It sounds like a Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead tune (even without any "jam section") - you know what I mean.

I think that in the last few years of Jerry's life he was gravitating towards writing and playing slow emotional dirges like Black Muddy River. I always enjoyed the Jerry ballads most at the shows I saw, and I enjoyed the JGB shows with their numerous "slow jams" mixed in the set list (like Shining Star!).

Many times I've read about this being the last Grateful Dead "Jerry encore" (then Phil played Box of Rain - also I suppose with some lyrical significance). This train of thought reminds me of when my friends used to point out that the last "vocal lead line" Brent sang was "I've got to go but my friends can stick around..." in The Weight (I've never verified this). While finding significance in these occurrences seems morbid and kind of rubs me the wrong way, I am looking at my Deadbase X and Black Muddy River was not played for almost four years and then brought back and played 3 times in the last month of Dead shows (all within 60 days of Jerry dying).

Anyway, I think it's a great song and always takes me to a sad nostalgic place...

Black Muddy River Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.3

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Bird Song - Grateful Dead Song Review

Bird Song

I was eyeing this song since I started the “songs that start with ‘B’ reviews” and during the somewhat painful review of the previous "first set rockers" I couldn’t wait to effuse about Bird Song.

This is a signature Grateful Dead song with what I consider to be Jerry’s signature lick. The main guitar refrain just sounds like the essence of how Jerry built his melodies… simple, rambling, and melodic.

The song also has a very open modal quality to it. The original studio recording (released on Jerry Garcia’s first solo album) was in the key of D (dom) but the Dead version of later years is in E (dom). There are some early live versions of Bird Song that the Dead played which sound very similar to the studio version – and frankly I don’t like these. The song didn’t really gel until sometime in the mid 80s. I would also say that I’m not too big of a fan of the acoustic versions of Bird Song (from around the Reckoning era) either. I think the song needs electricity (and midi) to realize its open modern jazz potential.

So the version that I am really a fan of is on Without a Net. This version is just recorded so well and played so well I’ve never really found a version I like more (but if you know of one, by all means – suggest it to me!). Of course, Jerry plays the midi flute on the Without a Net version and the sound of his guitar on that CD is just impeccable in general. I believe the guitar he was using was Rosebud and I’ve never really heard a better sounding Jerry guitar. I can’t remember the reason he switched to the “lightning bolt” guitar but I’ve seem to remember reading that it had great sustain and was lighter.

Bird Song is about Janis Joplin I’ve been told, but you know… it doesn’t really evoke her in my opinion. To me the song’s lyrics are a wondrous monologue from one entity about another that is the “bird” which seems to me to represent the spirit of woman, a muse, or something else desirable. Sorry to get a little abstract, but the point that I am making is that while I love Janis, I’ve never felt that this song is for or about her. (Cassidy on the other hand is a different story - that song has lines that could only be about Neal Cassady).

This song opens up with the rambling main figure, then there is a verse and a very interesting chorus and great background vocals when they sing “la la la la lAAAAAhhhh…” (you know what I’m referring to - that part is so beautiful). After the second verse the song opens up into the “jam” and I just love the way the jam always starts off with Jerry subtlely noodling over the standard song rhythm, and then the band gradually “stepping out” with him and collectively improvising based on Jerry’s leads. The jam is always spacious and ambitious – really the fact that the key rests on the Dominant I for the entire jam causes this song to really go “out there” and they swell and build with crescendos and then long spacious passages. Often time the jam will have multiple swells and then quieter passages. This is not only some of the most “spacey” improvisational type of playing the Dead did in the 1st set, it is actually one of the more routinely harmonically experimental jams the band had in their repertoire.

The open “jam” part ends with the one of the main guitar riffs pulling it right into the chorus. The jam was usually so far “out there” that I’ve notice this transition back into the song is often not very “tight” as you would expect the Dead would want it, but a worthy tradeoff for the openness of the jam.


Then one more chorus, verse, chorus and then the end of the song. The structure is very simple but the playing is always ambitious. This song reminds me of some of the modal jazz epic songs from the 70s from the likes of Coltrane and Miles Davis. It is just a great, great song with a great history and the entire band participated in it’s evolution from a simple 2 part song to an epic jam vehicle. I saw this song at my first show (Las Vegas, May 15th, 1993) and I can say without a doubt that I had no idea at that moment how great the song was and how I would listen to it hundreds of times for years to come. Now it is definitely a highly beloved Dead song that causes me great emotion when I hear it.

Bird Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.9

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Grateful Dead Concert Recording Review from Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA 12-30-1990

This is a great show and one that represents the Dead in their finest hour (in my opinion). The playing is tight and the crowd is into the show. Jerry is really “on” for the most part. This tape had some crazy sound going on (see Memphis Blues and Looks Like Rain below).

Bertha starts off the show, I’ve stated other places in my blog that I feel that Bertha is a great song… while you’re at a concert but seems to drag on a bit when I hear it on tapes. This version is excellent with spirited piano from Hornsby in addition to Vince’s keys.

Jerry plays Bertha perfectly, has a great solo, and even sings some lines very emphatically (like “Throw me in the JAILHOUSE” ) and the crowd just eats it up.

Anytime there is an opener before Feel Like a Stranger I always think to myself that it is like getting two openers for the price of one! Feel Like a Stranger is one of my favorite openers, although granted it lost a little bit of its swagger after Brent died. This version is great and the first odd sounds in the mix are apparent at about the 14:00 minute mark (of the entire show). Bobby’s guitar (he’s playing great) really comes out in front of everything to the point where it sounds like overdubs. A bit of magic in the recording (or maybe in the air that night).

Candyman is just a great old fashioned Grateful Dead tune and fits perfectly after those two high powered openers. This version is great with Jerry emphasizing all the “crowd favorite lines” (If I had a shotgun I’d blow you straaaaight to heeellll) and the crowd response is audible on the tape at these moments. Jerry goes into the solo with the usual effect on his guitar (kind of like a chorus/tremolo) and the band starts to really push him and he starts playing a really fast solo which is an awesome harbinger of things to come.

Me and My Uncle is a routine song that is mercifully short but this one is well played and goes seamlessly into Maggie’s Farm which is really cool because Vince sings a lead (as well as Hornsby). Vince sings “… I don’t know the words…” when he is caught unprepared which for some reason kind of bothers me because it makes light of the Dead concert which is a pretty awesome affair that a lot of work goes into creating and involves some of the world’s best (or most interesting) musicians. Then again it is just a lighthearted thing to sing and it definitely gets a good crowd response. I am a huge fan of Vince which you will find out if you read much of my blog.

The first bona fide “chills up your spine” moment of the show comes after Maggie’s Farm when Jerry starts playing the intro to High Time and you can feel the excitement of the crowd as they quickly realize it (I actually thought it was To Lay Me Down for a few bars). The crowd response to Jerry’s first line, “You told me good bye…” is great.

Next is Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again which is a rare gem and one of the (not so many) Bobby songs that I really like. During this song the drums completely cut out of the recording a couple of times. It is so abrupt (and cuts in and out right at the beginning of a measures) that I at first thought it was intentional, but it am pretty sure it was a microphone/recording error. I’ve never heard anything like this in any other Grateful Dead recording.

Tennessee Jed follows and this is a song that I loved to hear live but not a personal favorite to listen to on tapes. I did notice that this version is a really rocking rendition and Jerry is at the top of his game.

Valley Road closes the 1st set and this is not one of the Hornsby songs I like (Stander on the Mountain is the only one I can think of at this time that I have an affinity for). I would’ve been really disappointed to be at this gig and have this close out the first set.


Set II

One reason I really like this show is that it has an interesting setlist. The 1990s are my favorite era for the Dead even more than the 1980s. I have discussed elsewhere on my blog how I think that the 1980s are more consistently rocking, but the 1990s are more interesting. Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo is case in point because I always associate this song with opening the first set.

I like the entire Mississipi Half Step song but of course the part that really pulls at my heart strings is the beautiful ending progression where Jerry sings “Acroooooss the Rio Graaande-ooo.” He delivers in fine form on this version.

Looks like Rain is next and is a somewhat surprising down-tempo change to the set. Still, it is a great song and a great version. One part that I’ve always really liked about this song is Jerry’s delicate lyrical “bird like” (as in the animal not the Jazz musician) trills at the end when Bobby is saying “Turning grey and it looks like rain.” The unique sonic quality of this show is on display again at around the 5:00 mark of the song when Bobby’s guitar comes forward in the mix so much (and he’s playing great while singing) that it honestly sounds like it is overdubbed. Then there is some thunder sound effects and it creates a great feeling for this excellent version of Looks Like Rain.

Crazy Fingers begins shortly after Looks Like Rain.

You will learn from my song reviews that Crazy Fingers is my favorite Dead song (if I had to choose – which is so difficult to do). As soon as you can hear the opening notes where Jerry outlines the G and C chord in 6/8 time it sends chills up my spine EVERY TIME. This is a great 90’s version and while I listen to this I am thoroughly convinced that this is going to be a Dead concert for the ages… until…

Jerry murders the final verse. The final verse of Crazy Fingers is my favorite verse of any Dead song and Jerry sings the wrong verse. Now, I am a huge Jerry fanatic and I think he can do no wrong for the most part. In fact I used to love it when he flubbed the lyrics when I was at the concert and sometimes it would earn the biggest audience cheer of the whole night- as if to show how much unconditional love and support there was in the room. However, in this case, I have to say that it is such an extreme and egregious mistake that it kind of casts a shadow over the rest of the concert and robs the show of a lot of momentum and it seems Jerry loses a little bit of the energy that he never really regains in the show. I could be imagining this because he pulls out an excellent solo on the outro of Crazy Fingers, but I still think it was the moment in which this show turned from one that was going to be “for the ages” to being “a great Dead show.” Still, here’s few things better in life than listening to “a great Dead show…”

Our buddy the professor at KOPN does an admirable job in delivering the Dead hour but in this case the show goes from Crazy Fingers -> Me and My Uncle ->Drumz…. so there must’ve been some technical difficulties, but oh well, I am sure the Playin’ was great and I’m sure I’ll get to hear it someday.


Drums begins with the standard drums solo as usual and then sound effects begin - good and scary- whipping around and panning left and right .

You can hear the crowd roar as some band members (presumably Jerry) step out on stage and the Space begins. There are a lot of interesting sound effects including a marimba in a disjointed atonal theme.

Jerry busts out flute sound effects and then the trumpet sound which he uses to play an eerie theme that reminds me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Terrapin begins without much fanfare, but continuing on my thread of Jerry losing a step after Crazy Fingers, he sounds a little hoarse and unenthusiastic. Don’t get me wrong I love Terrapin every time I hear it. The band behind him sounds great and Jerry plays a great solo in the middle of the “Lady with a Fan” verses, and there is also a great group improvisation section leading into the “since the end is never told” transition into Terrapin Station.


The buildup at the end of Terrapin Station is well executed, but I think it could’ve used a little more juice in the drums (I always like it when Terrapin precedes Drums – that last section usually explodes with Mickey and Billy starting to “take off.”)

Phil starts a interesting 1-5 pedal tone during the end of Terrapin Station and forces the jam awkwardly into Sugar Magnolia. Of course there is a great crowd reaction to this and that is a beautiful thing to hear. Sugar Magnolia seems the quintessential NYE song, I know Bill Graham loved it. I definitely got a chill listening to the end of this Sunshine Daydream although I could’ve sworn Morning Dew was coming next for some reason.

US. Blues encore– this one always makes me feel like I’m in a time warp, and I always picture the cartoon at the beginning of the Grateful Dead Movie. Although I was born in 1975 I still have a little memory of the spirit of the 70's and this song is a great rock song from this era. The lyrics are lighthearted and it is a great encore - to the best of my knowledge it seemed to end shows that were excellent. A great ending to a great show.

I could only imagine how great it would have been to have been there and seen this great concert and yet known that New Years Eve was still to come...

Big Railroad Blues - Grateful Dead Song Reviews

Big Railroad Blues

Continuing yet again on the theme of the songs that start with B’s – largely 1st set blues/rockers that aren’t exactly the tunes that get my heart pumping, we arrive at Big Railroad Blues.

Big Railroad Blues is an energetic blues song that Jerry sings - so it has that going for it.
It has a really catchy melody and of course being a blues is a reliable vehicle for Jerry et al to rip and deliver a good consistent song. Just like the last song reviewed (Big River) it also was performed throughout the entire Grateful Dead band’s history.

Big Railroad Blues is a bit “ho hum” but to me distinguishes itself because Jerry sings it and the tempo is upbeat enough to be noteworthy (what Dead songs are played at a higher tempo than Big Railroad Blues? I can’t think of any).

Big Railroad Blues Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 6.4

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Big River - Grateful Dead Song Review

Big River

This is a rough patch of song reviews because there seems to be a lot of 1st set “blues/rockers” in this ‘B’s’ and that’s not my cup of tea.

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record about this concept but Big River falls into that category (yet again) of songs that rock live – and serve their purpose as a rockin’ tune to get the crowd moving but are somewhat mundane to listen to on tape after all these years.

Don’t get me wrong, Big River has a lot going for it. It is a great composition by (I think Johnny Cash?) and I love the song structure - which is a refreshing departure from the traditional I-IV-V structure. Also, I love Dead songs that have the bouncy I-IV bass progression (like Cumberland Blues, Maggie’s Farm, etc). Another thing that Big River always delivers is that Jerry rips during this song and it seems almost as if he doesn’t even need to try and think about it because it is just always so consistent. The Dead played this song throughout their entire twenty odd years listed in Deadbase X so Jerry must’ve known how to play this progression like the back of his hand.

So Big River is actually a pretty good 1st set rocker after all and I will give it a much higher song score than it’s counterparts like Me and My Uncle and New Minglewood Blues.

Big River Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.1

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Big Boss Man - Grateful Dead Song Review

Big Boss Man

As stated in my blog manifesto I am somewhat of a blasphemer because I much prefer the late 80’s/90’s Dead over the mid 70’s. In that regard I will also say that while I love Pigpen, I just don’t listen to that much Pigpen era Dead and when I do, I prefer many of their more psychedelic “acid rock” exploratory jams (ie. The Eleven) over blues vehicles like Big Boss Man.

Couple that with the fact that Big Boss Man doesn’t usually (to my knowledge) have a “rave up” jam in the middle and you have a rather mundane Grateful Dead blues rock song with (in my opinion) not much of a Grateful Dead “stamp” on it. There are other songs like this including Mr. Charlie and Hurts Me Too that I just don’t have much love for.

One reason that Big Boss Man does stand out is that Jerry revived it in the eighties as an opener and I can only imagine how great that would have been to be at that first concert (or any concert where Jerry revived this tune). I actually prefer these versions of Big Boss Man.

Big Boss Man Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.5

Bertha - Grateful Dead Song Review

Bertha

Bertha was a great rocker, and when the Dead were around I really liked it. The main version I originally familiarized myself with was the one off of the Skull and Roses CD, and it is a catchy upbeat song. I have a great memory of rocking out to it on the lawn at Shoreline, having just ran into a bunch of my Deadhead friends on 8/26/1993 (I missed the opener Hell in a Bucket that night - those must've been some crazy days for me to be all the way at Shoreline and not get my a** inside for the opener…).

Years later, Los Lobos also played Bertha as an encore when I saw their concert at the Fillmore and we rocked out to it (the song is on Los Lobos excellent greatest hits).

But as much as I liked Bertha during the Grateful Dead’s concerts and touring days, I have to say that in the 14 years that have gone by since during which all I’ve had are tapes to listen to from the past – I’m kind of tired of hearing Bertha. It has a pretty one dimensional rock structure in G, not much of a jazzy feel, Jerry doesn’t step out on it too much, and is about 2 verses too long.

Bertha Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 7.1

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Believe it or Not - Grateful Dead Song Review

Believe it or Not

A great ballad, a wonderful song. I love the version on the So Many Roads box set, and I’ve heard at least one live version that had heartfelt singing at the end, but was sloppily played by the band and Jerry, probably owing to it not being played often. It has the same coda as Gomorrah and that riff is killer, I don’t blame Jerry at all for trying to get more mileage out of it.

This song’s lyrics were written by Robert Hunter (I just had to look and verify that in the songbook – it is kind of difficult to tell, isn’t it?). This song has a kind of classic “Old Timey” ballad feel to it almost like a period piece. I’m surprised the song didn’t make it into the JGB repertoire – it would have been the perfect fit.

If anything, I would say this song should score higher because it is a Jerry Ballad that he sings a soulful repetitive phrase at the end of (like So Many Roads and Standing on the Moon) but it's "old timey" lyrics and traditional composition just make it feel a little less like a Grateful Dead Song.

Believe it or Not Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.1

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Been All Around this World - Grateful Dead Song Review

Been Around this World

Sing it with me: "Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand..." This is another nice mellow old-timey American folk song (that is kind of indistinguishable from (Oh Babe It) Ain't no Lie in my opinion).

This song is probably known often as I've Been All Around this World. Again (just like Ain't no Lie) there is a great version at the Jerry/John Kahn Oregon State Prison show from May 5th, 1982. Man, I can just imagine that scene unfolding - does anyone have pictures of this show? I would love to see Jerry and John playing in front of a bunch of inmates.

This song was also on the acoustic album Reckoning as well. It is a great fingerpicking song that Jerry sings with a lot of character.

Been All Around this World Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 7.8

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Beat it on Down the Line - Grateful Dead Song Review

Beat it On Down the Line

Sing it with me:

“Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom…. Well this JOB I GOT…”

BIODTL. Okay this song falls into the category of “first set rockers that Mike doesn’t particularly like.” I actually never saw this song, it was pretty rare in the final few years of the Dead during which I was able to see shows. I know this song (like Bertha and Promised Land) would be great to rock out to at the show and therefore it serves its purpose well.

However, most songs that are this kind of “traditional” rock cover songs are songs I usually skip right by when I listen to tapes and podcasts. The exceptions to this are the cover songs that the Dead really put their musical stamp on (like Iko Iko), or a song like El Paso where Jerry is soloing throughout the entire song (even right over Bobby’s verses). I don’t know, maybe if Jerry sang this one I would like it a little more.

Beat it On Down the Line Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.1

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Baba O'Riley - Grateful Dead Song Reviews

This is a great song by the Who which is probably more often referred to as Teenage Wasteland. The song as played by the Grateful Dead is definitely an interpretation of the synth-heavy Who song (which is so dense and complex it would seem to seem to impossible to recreate in a live setting). The song would feature Vince starting off with a keyboard loop (that was only vaguely reminiscent of the original Who song) and Jerry would play a repetitive lyrical pattern.

Vince sang this song and it always led into Tomorrow Never Knows (a Beatles' song from Revolver). This is a great 2 song medley that was played several times in 1992 and rarely thereafter. The drums were played in the spirit of the Who's version of Baba O'Riley, and the strong guitar chords at the appropriate moments added some excitement. The crowd would respond with loud cheers when Vince would sing "they're all wasted."

The bootleg I used to have of this song many years ago is my first reference point but I seem to remember there was a didgeridoo but it has been many years since I had that recording (and if I remember it was a "filler" on the end of a cassette - so I am not even sure what show it was from). The only other reference point is the incredible Dick's Picks Volume 27 from Oakland Coliseum 12-16 and 17-1992 show. That is an incredible example of excellent 90's era Dead. I really like it because it is the final incarnation of the band (no more Hornsby - although he was great) playing in one of my favorite venues: Oakland Coliseum.

I listened to this song over and over on that old lost cassette, because I appreciated the electronic sensibilities of the song medley, the modal qualities of Tomorrow Never Knows, the sound of that didgeridoo (I think) and the response of the crowd. Witnessing the Dead play Baba O' Riley into Tomorrow Never Knows was something only a small handful of Dead fans ever got to do and it must have been great to be there.

Baba O'Riley Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.4

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Attics of My Life - Grateful Dead Song Review

Attics of My Life

The second bona fide Grateful Dead classic song in the "A" section (the first being Althea).

What can I say about Attics? One of the most beautiful songs ever written. Incredibly original. Very soulful lyrics. It was the song that when I first got that American Beauty cassette in high school, I think I probably fast forwarded right through it after hearing it once.

Now, it ranks as one of the all time favorite songs. I don't know how to describe this song, it really defies categorization in a genre. It seems to be a love song, and it is a slow ballad. I feel that it has an almost Irish quality to it, but I can't really say why. The song is sung in 3 part harmony and I think the Crosby Stills and Nash guys had to help the Dead accomplish this disciplined vocal style. It is just pure soul and it has very abstract, psychedelic lyrics written of course by Robert Hunter.

The lyrics are so great that it is tempting to post them all, but will focus on the "goosebumps" part which I guess you could refer to as the bridge or "B" section (the song has an AABA structure):

In the book of love's own dream, where all the print is blood

Where all the pages are my days, and all the lights grow old

When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me, you flew to me

Then of course after the verses there are additional vocalizations where the band continues to harmonize (ie. "to meeee to meeee-eee") that I find to be really emotional. A great version of this song is the acoustic "Phil Lesh and Friends" show from Berkeley in 1994.

Note that this Phil Lesh and Friends actually was the Dead (as opposed to his post Jerry band of late).

Also note that people who got to witness this song (and this entire show) are critical of it on the archive.org message board below the media player in that link. How can these people take themselves seriously? Oh wait, that's basically why I started this blog is to air my (sometimes negative) opinions on the world of the Grateful Dead. Music (and reality I guess) is a beautiful thing because it is so subjective. To each his own.

Attics of My Life Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.9

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Around and Around - Grateful Dead Song Review

Around and Around

This song is a mellow rocking groove that I am almost certain was not originally a Dead song. There was a lot of excitement around the playing of this song in my memories of being a Deadhead so it had a kind of revered status in the echelon of Dead songs. I think this is possibly because it was played regularly during the mid 70's publicly acknowledged "golden years" of the Dead (not by me, read the manifesto) and then more sporadically later. I remember when we got to Vegas 1995 on Saturday night (we could only make the last show) everyone was raving about the Dead playing The Race is On and Around and Around that no one even told me we missed Morning Dew (I found out much later).

I personally find it to be a rather predictable shuffling blues song that affords little in the way of surprises.

Around and Around Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 6.0

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Althea - Grateful Dead Song Review

Althea

Ahhhh, Althea. Now I finally get to review a true Grateful Dead classic song. This is an incredible song that appeared on Go To Heaven and even more notably on the live CD Without a Net. I saw 'even more notably' because by the time Without a Net was recorded the song had really evolved into a ripping and soulful first set Jerry tune. A friend of mine once told me he was die hard into hip hop and metal until he heard Althea from Without a Net and that was the watershed moment that began his life as a Deadhead.

The intro is one of the more memorable Dead licks - an electric finger plucked outlining of the main chords that recurs throughout the song. Jerry's vocals about his interaction with Althea have a great swagger and humor to them. It really brings out Jerry and Robert Hunter's sense of humor with memorable lines like:

Althea told me "Now, Cool down Boy

Settle back, easy Jim"

or how about this one:

I told Althea I was a roving sign,

I wasn't born to be a bachelor

Althea told me, "okay that's fine"

Now I'm tryin' to catch her

Then this song also inevitably had a ripping solo and build up in it too (after "you know this space is getting hot"). An absolute classic first set song and really you couldn't ask for more than for Jerry to play this one in the first set (well, I guess you could hope for a Bird Song too, but that seems almost greedy).

Althea is a song that I will never, ever fast forward through. When it starts, it is going to play until it is finished.

Althea Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.4

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Alligator - Grateful Dead Song Review

Alligator

Alligator is a classic. Alligator definitely has a structure and lyrics and theme and chorus, but when I think of Alligator I think of free form acid rock jamming. I have heard my Deadhead friends refer to the combination of Alligator and Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) from Anthem of the Sun as "Alligator Caution" (much like "Scarlet Fire" or "Eyes Estimated").

This song is great, there is a kazoo sounding instrument that plays a sarcastic theme and then Pigpen sings about "ridin' down the river in an old canoe" and a run in with "a mean ol' alligator." Then the band goes off in a group improvisation and then I guess at some point on Anthem of the Sun the song changes to Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks). I still think of that as part of Alligator if memory serves and also I believe the Dead were trying to make many track listings on Anthem for the purpose of maximizing royalties. That practice created the interesting result of a bunch of phrases being seemingly arbitrarily assigned to musical passages. For instance there is a song that is entitled The Faster We Go the Rounder We Get and another called Quadiblet for Tender Feet. These latter seems to have Phil's personality stamped all over it.

Suffice to say though that Alligator is a treat. This is an acid rock classic. The song part is catchy and the jam is always aggressive and old school. I think I heard that Phil brought this song back, he's good like that. I hope they did it justice.

Alligator Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.5

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Alice D. Millionaire - Grateful Dead Song Review

Alice D. Millionaire (I don't have this song)

Can someone send me this song? I don't have it. In one of the many books on the Dead that I've read, I seem to remember that it was written as a play on a headline/caption in the paper (SF Chronicle?) that read "L.S.D. Millionaire." I don't remember who the subject of that caption/article was but perhaps it could have been Owsley?

Anyway, I seem to remember that one of the "post Jerry" Dead projects played this song. Probably Phil Lesh and Friends - he seemed to be really dedicated to bringing back songs that the Dead had long retired.

I will come back and update this with a review once I hear the song.

Alice D. Millionaire Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: N/A

Table of Contents - Articles/Show Reviews/Opinion Pieces

My Grateful Dead Blog Manifesto


An Open Letter for the Release of all 1990s Audio and Video Footage of the Grateful Dead


On Lightning Bolt - Jerry Garcia's Controversial Final Guitar

1993 Was So Great- Incredible Grateful Dead Era

RIP Grateful Dead Manager Jon McIntire

DVD Review - View From the Vault IV

"For Deadheads Only" Music Explanation

Concert Review - Grateful Dead at Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, NV 6/26/1994

Concert Review - The Dead at the Los Angeles Forum on May 9th, 2009

Review of Grateful Dead Podcasts

Concert Recording Review - Grateful Dead at Telluride Town Park in Telluride, CO on 8/15/1987

Concert Recording Review - Grateful Dead at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on 12/30/1990

Alabama Getaway - Grateful Dead song review

Alabama Getaway

This is a great rock song from the album Go to Heaven. This song falls into the category of music I call "for Deadheads only." This category of music describes songs that are beloved to Deadheads but utterly unknown to the public at large. I do believe this song actually was released as a single or at the very least the Dead played it on Saturday Night Live (if memory serves).

This song sounds like a 70's rock song that a Southern boogie woogie rock band would play. The word "honky tonk" comes to mind. The lyrics are about a character named Alabama who is a reckless casanova and gets into trouble a lot. The lyrics remind me of Tennessee Jed for some reason.

I would have loved to have seen this song live, but it wasn't meant to be. I can see in my Deadbase X that the band did revive the song in 1995 for the first time since Brent's passing.

Alabama Getaway Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.0

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

(Oh Babe It) Ain't No Lie - Grateful Dead Song Review

(Oh Babe It) Ain't no Lie

This song is great, a mellow acoustic traditional American song. I think this song is often referred to as "Oh Babe, it Ain't No Lie" and you can just imagine some folk singer singing it in the early 20th century somewhere back east. Elizabeth Cotten wrote this song and she is a venerable great American songwriter who definitely had a great contribution to the canon of American folk music.

This song is always nice to listen to but is kind of indistinguishable (to me) from (Been) All Around this World. I like the version of this that Jerry played at the Oregon State Prison on May 5th, 1982. I found someone has samples from this show available here: Jerry at Oregon State Prison Audio. Jerry was really on for this entire show - so you should check it out, but the fingerpicking in this particular song is really beautiful.

(Oh Babe It) Ain't No Lie Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 7.9

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Grateful Dead Song Reviews - Table of Contents

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. One new song will be reviewed in each post. I'm also going to start out by rating each song on a scale of 1.0-10.0. I am a huge fan of the Grateful Dead but very opinionated which is why I make the blog. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so please keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

(Oh Babe It) Ain't No Lie

Alabama Getaway

Alice D. Millionaire

All Along the Watchtower
Alligator

Althea

Around and Around
Ashes and Glass

Attics of My Life

Baba O'Riley
Beat it on Down the Line
Believe it or Not
Been all Around this World
Bertha
Big Boss Man
Big River
Big Railroad Blues
Bird Song
Black Muddy River
Black Peter
Black Throated Wind
Blow Away
Blues for Allah
Brown Eyed Women
Born Cross Eyed
Box of Rain
Brokedown Palace
Broken Arrow
Built to Last

C.C. Rider
California Earthquake
Candyman
Casey Jones
Cassidy
Caution
Childhood's End
China Cat Sunflower
China Doll
Chinatown Shuffle
Cold Jordan
Cold Rain and Snow
Comes a Time
Cosmic Charlie
Corinna
Crazy Fingers
Cream Puff War
Cryptical Envelopment
Cumberland Blues

Dancin in the Street
Dark Hollow
Dark Star
Day Job
Days Between
Deal
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Death Don't Have No mercy
Deep Elem Blues
Desolation Row
Dire Wolf
Do it in the Road
Doin that Rag
Don't Ease Me in
Don't Need Love
Dupree's Diamond Blues

Easy Answers
Easy to Love You
Easy Wind
El Paso
Estimated Prophet
Eternity
Eyes of the World

Far From Me
Fire on the Mountain
Foolish Heart
Friend of the Devil
Franklin's Tower

Gimme Some Lovin
Gloria
Golden Road
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad

Good Lovin
Greatest Story Ever Told

Hell in a Bucket
Help on the Way
Hey Mona
He's Gone
High Time
Here Comes Sunshine
Hey Pocky Way
Hurts Me Too


I Know You Rider
I Fought the Law
I Will Take You Home
Iko Iko
(Used to Love Her) It's All Over Now
It Must Have Been the Roses
It's All Over Now Baby Blue

Jack a Roe
Jack Straw
Johnny Be Good
Just a Little Light

Katie Mae
King Bee
Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Last time
Lazy Lightning
Lazy River Road
Let it Grow
Let the Good Times Roll
Liberty
Looks Like rain
Loose Lucy
Loser
Louie Louie
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds