Another deadhead over here, but I love the studio albums as much as the live stuff. Saw them over 100 times back in the day and enjoyed every show, even the tepid ones (including Jerry's last show here in Chicago).
Having a Flashback Friday - Airplane Induced
I was 15 when the Jefferson Airplane released the Crown of Creation at the pinnacle of the psychedelic rock era, and it became a go to album of mine throughout high school and college. We will not go further into the particulars of the situations regarding the playing of this album during that time. On this cold and wet Friday I am sitting in my home listening and enjoying un-induced flashbacks of that era but also reveling in the composition, musicality, musicianship and expression of the dark emotions of this statement of society at that time. While I do not consider it well engineered from an audiophile perspective, it has a wonderful warmth, good clarity despite the warmth, good dynamics, and above average staging/imaging for rock albums of that era. Slick and Balin’s voices are mesmerizing. Kaukonen’s finger picking stylings are soaring and heady. My favorite bassist, Cassidy’s runs maintaining rhythm while often carrying melody, so intricate, warm, and woolly. The messages are dark (There will be no survivors my friend') but I find it transfixing.
For those of the psychedelic rock era, or those who appreciate the music, what are your flashback favs.
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@hifiguy42 It’s not that I do not like the studio albums, I love them. Great tunes on all. But you only get a tease of the counter rhythm/melody play between Garcia, Lesh, and the keyboard group progression over the years (McKernan, Godchaux, Constantine, Hornsby, and Saunders). I much appreciate the studio albums for their musical composition. However, I get to go on an emotional journey in the improvisational complexity and musicianship of the live albums. To me, the latter is what the Dead is about. |
@hifiguy42 It’s not that I do not like the studio albums, I love them. Great tunes on all. But you only get a tease of the counter rhythm/melody play between Garcia, Lesh, and the keyboard group progression over the years (McKernan, Godchaux, Constantine, Hornsby, and Saunders). I much appreciate the studio albums for their musical composition. However, I get to go on an emotional journey in the improvisational complexity and musicianship of the live albums. To me, the latter is what the Dead is about. |
@jimijam - "Successful hills are here to stay...." |
@jsalerno277 all good! There is (was) nothing in the world like a Grateful Dead concert and I don't think there ever will be. I feel, well, grateful that I was able to experience some of that magic. And you are spot on with Phil - guy was a genius. |
- 46 posts total