| Author | Message | ||
| studiorecluse
Junior Username: studiorecluse Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2005 |
Well, when I started this thread I knew that I was opening a can of worms, but this has definitely played out differently than I had expected. I think that what I am reading here is that (contrary to the above mentioned Akkerman, Carlton and Johnson... and Coltrane for that matter) nobody can name a song where Jerry is brilliant. You like them because you like them. Period. I am reminded of a story of the emperor’s new clothes... (ROFL) Thanks for the ride. Cary | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 293 Registered: 2-2005 |
I have to say I never got the Dead either however I had friends in high school that were fanatics. Keith | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2931 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ok Cary, I'll throw out one. the best examples of Jerry's playing - song and album Unbroken Chain from Mars Hotel It's not the best example, but it's one of my favorite tunes and since the only other suggestion so far, Let It Grow from View From The Vault I, is hard to come by, I'm offering this one as a starting point. (I'm quite surprised that of all the Garcia fans on this board, Charles was the only one to take you up on your challenge.) So give Unbroken Chain a try. When you get to the instrumental part, listen not only to what Jerry is playing but the setting as well; the chord changes, the time signatures, the mood of the piece. Notice his use of synchopation and phrasing. He's not trying to blow anyone away, he's responding to and complimenting what the other instruments are playing. In my view, Jerry's not about showing off and saying see what I can do on the guitar; Jerry plays from the heart. His playing is a conversation with the band and with the audience. Yes he's "noodling"; but in Unbroken Chain he's improvising over some complex chord changes and time signatures, and crafting a nice pleasing statement that fits the mood of the piece, and making it all sound quite natural and easy. It's not the best example of his work, but it's a good example of what he's doing. And it's one of my favorite tunes! It's also a good showcase of Phil Lesh's playing and that of Keith Godchaux. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 854 Registered: 7-2004 |
Cary: Jerry was brilliant on ALL of them, even when he was wasn't! You want a specific song that shows off technique? Try "Crazy Fingers" or "Sage & Sirit" on "Blues for Allah" A specific song(s) that epitomizes playing from the soul? Try "Saint Stephen > The Eleven" off of "Live/Dead". Songs that show off Jerry's broad range and versatility? Try CSN's "Teach Your Children"! Yup, that's Jerry on pedal steel! Or how about the original "Old & In The Way" album - Jerry on Banjo! Or the Grisman recordings - Jerry on acoustic. Jerry as songwriter? Listen to "Ripple" on "American Beauty". All of the material people have named above are illustrative of Jerry's brilliance. Spend some time listening to them. Maybe you'll get it, maybe you won't. Meanwhile I'll listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul. Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2933 Registered: 5-2002 |
Bill's right; it's all so good, it's hard to pick one out. But here are a couple more for you to consider. the best examples of Jerry's playing - song and album Help On The Way/Slipknot from Blues For Allah King Solomon's Marbles from Blues For Allah I love Help On The Way/Slipknot; and I would like to see it make our setlist. My guitar player and I worked on it once; it's quite complex. I wouldn't have thought of King Solomon's Marbles, but I just listened to it closely and it's very complex. Jerry's doing some very neat stuff here, as is the whole band. | ||
| zuperdog
Junior Username: zuperdog Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hah! Funny, Dave! I've also been working on Help on the way/Slipknot with my band. Complex, indeed; also a brilliant show of Jerry's playing. There's a lot more going on there than first meets the ear, as usual. Although, I also have to agree that it's hard to pick just one, I'll second your vote. I also have to repeat that hearing Jerry, or anyone from the Dead for that matter, play on a recording is more than slightly lacking from the "experience" that went along with their playing. There's a reason so many people followed them around the country to see them play, rather than just sit at home and listen to an album. I second the Video/Movie necessity as well. It's at least a step in the right direction... as close as you can get now. Also, try sitting down and jamming along with a song or two. As much as I liked the dead before, I don't think my true admiration for Jerry's playing was there before I sat down and started trying to play what he was playing. Cheers! Rob | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1573 Registered: 9-2003 |
Inclusive of all that was mentioned above, don't forget those 32nd (64th?) notes from the "Terrapin Station" Suite, or how about the sublime envelope filter stuff from the same album's "Estimated Prophet" or Go To Heaven's "Althea"? I could go on forever, ad nauseum. The point is, unlike Yngwie,Carlton, Akkerman, Eric Johnson, etc., Jerry was not a GUITAR God, has never been billed as such, and never wanted to be such. He was a gifted musician that knew how to soulfully communicate through many instruments. I can tell you exactly where to go (in a song or two) for all of the other players mentioned here in order to showcase their guitar chops, but not for Jerry. Jerry was a lot of different things to a lot of different people...remember what I said about if I had to explain? LOL! Cheers and enjoy the music! I know I will, Kevin P.S., too bad SF is so far away, or I'd be spending New Year's Eve with Phil Lesh and Friends groovin' to old Dead ditties (et al) instead of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes...he's a lot closer (i.e., Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ), LOL! | ||
| spose
Member Username: spose Post Number: 80 Registered: 5-2002 |
as much as I dig the Dead..I was always more of a JGB fan. check it.. Jerry Garcia Band After Midnight Eleanor Rigby After Midnight (Reprise) from Kean College, 2/28/80 | ||
| studiorecluse
Junior Username: studiorecluse Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2005 |
THANK YOU. This is what I wanted- I will indeed check out these recordings. It took a little ribbing, but now I have what I was after. Have a wonderful New Years, the lot of you. Cary | ||
| rklisme
Advanced Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 268 Registered: 5-2004 |
Cary I think you answered your own question by saying you just don't get it! I too don't get it and I am not trying to. You could lock me in a room to listen to whatever piece by Garcia or the Dead and the only thing I would want to do is escape. That being said you are dealing with a musical icon and there will be no solid explanation as to why that is, it just is! The great thing about life and music is there are so many choices to enjoy. I am sure all these suggestions that were made to you are fine examples of Jerry Garcia and if you want to listen and learn then you will have to open your mind to that expierence. If you are like me you will just go listen to something that you enjoy. Rory | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 855 Registered: 7-2004 |
Chew on this for a while: Without Jerry, there's probably no Alembic! Happy New Year everyone. We're off to Cirque Du Soleil. Bill, tgo | ||
| kilowatt
Junior Username: kilowatt Post Number: 41 Registered: 12-2004 |
Spose, I was at that Kean College show back in 1980. Now I feel old! I also think, as many of you have stated, you either like the Dead, or you don,t. I personally went to see them well over 150 times. When they were "on", they could be amazing. When they weren't, it could be somewhat grating. One of my favorite live tunes is China Cat/I Know You Rider. The band could really get rolling in the middle part between the two songs. I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!! Pete | ||
| crgaston
Junior Username: crgaston Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2005 |
(Sorry if this seems a bit anachronistic; I started it about 6 hours ago, got distracted, and came back to find it sitting here unposted.) The problem, studiorecluse, lies not in naming a song where Jerry is brilliant, it lies in naming "A" song where Jerry is brilliant. There are literally thousands of shows available, and hunderds of examples of some of these songs. I could say listen to "The Other One", but which version? In a way, because of the nature of the band, you have to have some experience with the music to fully appreciate what it is they are doing. As an analogy, in the context of conversation, if someone makes a relevant quote and you are unfamiliar with what's being quoted, it loses some of it's significance. Also, the music, and this song in particular, evolved heavily over the course of 30 years. Listen to a bunch of examples of "The Other One", and you'd have a much better idea. The easiest way to do that would be to go to www.archive.org , go to the Grateful Dead section, and start reading show reviews to find people's favorites. Maybe some others will offer suggestions as well? I will start you off with two, 4.5.91 (streamable only) and 4.2.90 (available for download). Charles | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 257 Registered: 7-2004 |
Cary - perhaps my post was a bit too lengthy and you didn't get to the section where I attempted to answer your question - so here it is again: Guitar Player magazine did a feature on Jerry in December – here’s a link: http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=4&storycode=11720 Near the bottom of the piece are a couple sections that might be of interest – “Garcia's Raddest Riff” and “10 Radiant Garcia Moments” try to answer Cary’s question. Some of my personal favorites are “My Funny Valentine” from “Live at Keystone” with Merle Saunders. The work he did with Melvin Seals in The Jerry Garcia Band can also be amazing – I love “Don’t Let Go” from “Jerry Garcia Band,” 1991 ... He also played on Ornette Coleman’s “Virgin Beauty,” with interesting results. I will also reiterate Charles' excellent suggestion just above. Stream some of the Soundboard recordings from the late 70s (in my estimation this is an underrated period for Jerry and the whole band) when the band is very often tight, focused and firing on all cylinders. (Message edited by tom_z on December 31, 2005) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2937 Registered: 5-2002 |
Tom; my apologies! When I said above that Charles was the only one to take Cary up on his challenge I was wrong! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 601 Registered: 10-2003 |
Eyes of the World does it for me. I'm not exactly a fan of the laid-back genres that the GD would fall into, but there is a minimalist beauty to Jerry's approach to music that, to me at least, is largely unrivaled in modern music. It's not formula, and it's not breaking some hitherto unbroken musical ground. It's simply fresh, honest and clean. Throw Phil's crafty bass into the mix and it's like listening to a bunch of friends who know each other really really well make music. For years I thought they totally sucked. I've mellowed since then, and really enjoy Jerry's playing. John | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2938 Registered: 5-2002 |
I just read "Garcia's Raddest Riff", cited above by Tom. It seems that the Guitar Player staff votes for Help on the Way/Slipknot too!! <g> | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2939 Registered: 5-2002 |
I like "Eyes" a lot too! It's on our set list and we've played it out a few times now, including last night; though we've yet to play it well. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 856 Registered: 7-2004 |
Ah yes, "Eyes of the World" - one of my all time favorites. Perhaps the biggest case I ever did - front page for 7 weeks - my client (who was acquitted) told me afterwards that he knew he had the right lawyer after I met with him at his house, picked up a guitar that was lying around, and played "Eyes". His words were: "Wow!, my lawyer can play Eyes of the World!" LOL "... you are the song that the morning sings..." Bill, tgo | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 521 Registered: 11-2004 |
Bill, tgo, that's pretty cool. I bet he nearly dropped his teeth when he heard "Eyes". Maybe if your firm advertises you could buy the right to some Dead tunes. Rich | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 289 Registered: 12-2003 |
What album is "Eyes Over The World" on. Is that the GD or the JGB? I've never been a huge Dead fan. In fact, I just bought my first two albums over the summer - Dead Set and Live at the Filmore East 1971. I enjoy some of their less mellow stuff like Bertha, Passenger, St. Stephen, I Know You Rider, Franklin's Tower. Any suggestions for some other slightly up-beat tunes? Jonathan | ||
| spose
Member Username: spose Post Number: 81 Registered: 5-2002 |
my band plays "eyes" from the 72 - 74 era with the big end jam...then we go into Shakedown..the two tunes run over 40 mins. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2940 Registered: 5-2002 |
Eyes Of The World is from Wake Of The Flood. I'm not sure what you would call mellow or up-beat, but just guessing, I can suggest, just to name a few: Estimated Prophet Help On The Way/Slipknot Sugar Magnolia Truckin' Jack Straw China Cat Sunflower Brown-Eyed Woman U.S. Blues | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 258 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oh, no problem whatsoever, Dave - I just remembered that GP had recently published the Jerry feature and it stated - "If you’re new to Garcia’s playing, these songs will reveal his distinctive touch and tones." - and I thought that if Cary was sincerely interested this might be a helpful article that I didn't want him to miss. Plus my first post didn't really get to the point until near the end. Jonathan - as far as up-tempo Dead tunes go, I would add to Dave's list the following: Alabama Getaway Around and Around Greatest Story Ever Told Golden Road Cumberland Blues Mexicali Blues One More Saturday Night Playin' In The Band All Along the Watchtower Not all Grateful Dead originals, I realize, but they do some amazing covers - Dylan, Beatles, The Who, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, etc. Here is a partial list of songs they have performed. http://www.deadstein.com/music/index.htm Tom | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 291 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks guys. Happy New Year! Regards, Jonathan | ||
| glocke
Member Username: glocke Post Number: 92 Registered: 9-2002 |
There are alot of things theat Jerry was brilliant on....One album that always seems to convert the unbeleivers I have met in the past is Europe 72. There are songs on there that are not only the best and most beautifully written examples of the hunter/garcia collaborations, but it showcases some great guitar work by Jerry... Alot of guitar players that are considered "brilliant' (scofield, carlton, etc) I can only listen to for short periods of time. ALot of it is just to jazzzed out for me. Studiorecluse, I will be happy to turn you onto some dead that you would like, if interetsed drop me an email at glocke12@comcast.net. | ||
| glocke
Member Username: glocke Post Number: 93 Registered: 9-2002 |
Also, although I am a BIG dead and Jerry fan, including the JGB and other side projects, Ill be the first to admit that it is an acquired taste. At times there is what may seem to be directionless jamming/noodling during or between songs, but I like that stuff. To me it is a basket of creativity where everyone is throwing ideas into a hat and than trying to see what they can pull out of it... As to the other guitar players that studiorecluse mentioned, they are all great players, but I can only listen to stuff like that(and alot of jazz in general) for short periods of time. It is just to "in the box" and formula driven for me. That being said, I have played jazz in the past (I am probably an intermediate or slightly above intermediate player) and will continue to do so just to keep my chops and ears up, but there is other stuff that to me is much more fun and rewarding to play. Bottome line I think, diiferent strokes for different folks... | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 866 Registered: 4-2004 |
no one mentioned positively 4th st from the live at the keystone jerry and merl cd. so i will and one of my favs the other one from harpur college 1970 a dicks picks cd and widely thought of as one of the best dead shows EVER | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 857 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tom: Fantastic site! I'll definitely be visiting it again (& again!). An important part of the Dead thing for me has always been how they would deconstruct a song to the point were it was an unrecognizable cauldron of sonic parts swirling around, sometimes linking up, sometimes completely discordant. Then you could hear them as, one or two at a time, they would catch a wave as it travelled across the stage. Sometimes the wave would hold together for a moment, and then disintegrate. Sometimes the wave would build, others hopping on, slowly becoming more and more coherent until a new fully formed song emerges from the maelstrom. It that too spacey a decription, or am I just still feeling the effects of last night? It's 2006! Enjoy! Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on January 01, 2006) | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 602 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'm still loaded from last night!...... |
