I'm a full-blown Deadhead of many years , lived on Dead tour, played keys in Dead cover bands, and I totally agree---- a lot of the studio work is EXCELLENT. and for first time listens, a safer bet for introducing new fans.... ✌🎶💜
I preferred the studios when I got on the bus. Took a few years to fully appreciate all those live tapes. American Beauty, Workingman's, Mars, all amazing studio albums
Yes exactly as jaquestraw1 has it: at first the studio work is polished and clean, and you prefer it. But once you know the songs well, then when you hear excellent live versions, it steps up to a higher level.
Yeah, generally agree-studio albums help you learn the tunes well, then you can appreciate the good live shows-but…Cornell ‘77 can be appreciated by all!
They usually play Scarlett Begonias straight into Fire on the Mountain. Called Scarlett Fire. Treat yourself and go listen to the live Cornell 77 Scarlett Fire. Arguably one of the best and very accessible.
That’s exactly what I was going to recommend: Cornell 5/8/77 Scarlet -> Fire. After hearing that studio version of Scarlet, I think they’ll be blown away by what rhe band did with it live! 🔥 ⚡️
I’ve been listening to the Dead for over 50 years, I saw my first live show in 1972 and I agree with you guys about the studio recordings. Unfortunately, that only takes you so far because a lot of their greatest songs were never released in studio versions (“Bertha”, “Wharf Rat”, “Brown Eyed Women”, “He’s Gone”, “So Many Roads”, etc). But, there’s more than one way to be a Deadhead - so it doesn’t matter where or how you “got on the bus”, just enjoy the ride. Carry on, fellas!
I find it very satisfying to watch two young brothers grooving to The Dead, it's really nice. One way I like to explain the Dead to new listeners is that it's a super tight band that makes music that sounds so loose and easy. Also they have such a wide variety of styles and types of music not all of it is for everyone. Drums are proper dope on this track.
Scarlet begonias is my favorite Grateful Dead tune. As a 30 year deadhead, I will take your studio reactions anytime!! That probably is best, get familiar with the song from the studio version and then you can think about branching out. One big difficulty for us deadheads with the studio versions, is you don’t get the lengthy guitar solos by Jerry, or a lot of the improvisation with Jerry, Bob, and Phil, during extended breaks. Now that you’ve listened to the studio version of Scarlet begonias, maybe try a live scarlet begonias. My favorite is from Barton Hall on May 8, 1977.
This was a great choice. Whoever suggested this gets a 🎉 Now that you’ve listened to the studio versions of both Scarlet Begonias and Fire on the Mountain you really should check out the live version. Spring of ‘77 not only has awesome versions of these two songs paired together the quality of the recordings are incredible! Thanks to Betty. Some say the Cornell version is the best in that run of shows but the Richmond one is mind blowing as well. Your channel is my favorite for all the songs you react to but I especially love when you react to the Dead. LOL at reverse Deadhead. Listening to any of those spring 77 shows may change that. 😊
Totally valid to prefer the studio productions, especially if you haven’t had a live experience with this music. This has become a go-to song for me to play for the uninitiated (along with Althea). It just hits.
I love Phil's other song on Mars, Pride of Cucamonga (phonetically @ least). Check out the album cover in a mirror. Reflections shows Ugly Rumors on front.
I hear you guys about the studio stuff, but the right live stuff is what takes you deep in another way. There's a lot of forgiveness that the audience gave them over the years around performance, it was about intent and vibe over perfection. But the right live shows are transformative. Europe 72 is a great example of the combo, live basic tracks to get the vibe and overdubs to improve the performances ... as I understand it. Also, watch The Grateful Dead Movie to get a good glimpse into their 70s scene. Nice recordings in that too.
"Pride of Cucamonga" and "Unbroken Chain" were two of [FROM THE MARS HOTEL's] finest moments, emblematic songs cut from the Grateful Dead cloth. MARS HOTEL also premiered the classic Dead songs, "China Doll", "U.S. Blues", "Ship Of Fools" and "Scarlet Begonias". - Excerpt from The Rough Guide to Rock
The thing about their studio recordings is that they’re more like suggested guidelines for how the song might be played… But when they hit that improv pocket on stage, there is no comparison.
I’m glad you did the studio version of this song! I think there’s a bunch of dead songs that are best represented by the studio version.. this along with Althea are 2 big examples. I do love a lot of there live music but I agree with you the studio versions are underrated by many
Hey guys, I think maybe you need to learn the studio stuff better to fully appreciate the live. Seeing them would help too but... While I can't claim to be a hardcore Deadhead because I only saw them 5 or 6 times (hahaha) but I appreciate both the studio and live versions. The important thing is to keep listening to them! (I am in the top 1/2% of Dead listeners on Spotify though and have a Dead sticker on my 20 year old car!) Peace!
If you’ve never experienced a live Grateful Dead show then I can see how listening to live recordings might be basically like listening to a crappier-sounding version of the studio-polished record, but with ten-minute improvisational jams. With very few exceptions, I think you need to have bought a ticket and danced in the moon glow with the deadheads and seen the Dead with your own eyeballs in their natural habitat to have the context that would allow one to fully and meaningfully enjoy live recordings of their music.
You should give later live shows a try the quality of the recordings is much better, try something from (Without A Net) a try. Great job on all reactions guys!!
"Well I ain't often right, but I've never been wrong, seldom turns out the way it does in the song. Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right." Words by Robert Hunter, Music by Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia and the boys, and Donna Jean.
"Seldom turns out the way it does in the song", is a very clever mind bender ! If Jerry is saying it SELDOM turns out the way it does in the song, in a song, doesn't that mean it OFTEN turns out the way it does in the song ?
You need to listen to Scarlet Fire from Cornell 77. I think you’ll finally understand what they could do live. And it combines the two studio songs you’ve liked the most.
The live grateful dead that is great across the board is the "grateful dead movie" soundtrack. One example of a live version that blows the studio version away is "St Stephen", from the "Live Dead" album. Check it out.
Here are some other great studio cuts - "Estimated Prophet", "Sugar Magnolia", "The Music Never Stopped", "Althea", "Dire Wolf", and "That's It For The Other One"
The Dead tight at the hip , Lesh laying it down hard . Jerry going off on the guitar , Bobby keeping it down , running off lesh’s bass - with two drummers .
Hey La and Chi, you should try to get the best of both worlds and listen to some of the Grateful Dead official live releases... the Live Dead Album, Europe '72 or Live at Barton Hall, Cornell are all good choices... you can get both the quality mix and live improvisation that they are reknown for.
Scarlet/Fire...pretty much any 1977 version but the one from 5/8/77 at Barton Hall (Cornell University) in Ithaca,NY is part of a show that's in the Library of Congress for it's cultural relevance. Check the whole show out,melts in your brain,not in your hands.
IMO One of the Deads few studio recordings that is actually good . So much of their studio stuff was SO much better when they played it live . Like many others I'll often site this as my favorite Grateful Dead song .
Thank y'all so very much! You cats landed on one of my favorite Dead tunes. I may be an old school musician/singer/songwriter from the SoCal High Desert , but I have to totally agree with the two of you on the notion of a "backward Dead fan". I'm right there with you guys. I have zero regrets and no shame about it in the least. I also found the Dead's studio work more concise and focused than a vast majority of their live performances. I love the fact that you're family members doing what y'all do on your channel! It's also fulfilling to hear young musicians coming out with first impressions similar to my own from way back in the day. What really blows me away is the fact that you two often use the same words to describe what you're taking away from your initial listening experiences! Jamming with you guys is on my bucket list. Keep putting out your awesome videos. Stay tight with each other. It's a trip to watch you guys interacting so well. It gives me hope. 😊
Having seen the GD many times over the 70’s and 80’s I can understand your affinity for the studio versions. But the experience of a live show with some psychedelic’s and a group of friends company made the Dead Shows what they were. AMAZING!
"Death Don't Have No Mercy" live. It's a cover of a Gary Davis song. I love The Dead live and studio equally. Their albums Workingman's Dead and America Beauty are gems.
I like the term 'reverse Dead fan" haha. I think you are right that it's good to start with a "baseline" in the studio versions and then branch out to various notable concerts to see how they stretched and tweaked the songs live. For example, Morning Dew is a very straightforward okay song in studio (their first album actually in 67), but when people say "listen to Morning Dew", they are saying to listen to a live version of it, like in Europe '72 or '77. The reason is that song is meant to be played live with its crescendos, dynamics, and solos. Some songs 100% agree just listen to the studio. For example, this one is a great studio one. Also, the whole albums of Workingman's Dead and American Beauty should be listened to in their studio version.
Yes! The Cornell 77 Scarlet>Fire is one of the best. But also listen to Copps Coliseum, i think it is 3/22/90, Jerry goes into some deep MIDI synth on that one.
Yep,see what the template is ,..and then you’ll appreciate the legs they give these songs later live (77 Cornell is one of the crystal clear sounds for scarlet/fire …bass guitar drums keys all clear for your 👂 ear!✌️❤️77 Cornell try it..the songs grow as the years go ,that’s what they do .good work!
I bought a 5 disc boxset of the Dead, and it took me all over. I think the first time you hear it influences your preference. If you hear the live first, you might like that but if you studio first, then that one wins. I am like you guys, more preference to Studio, but there are some live ones I love. Like you said, you need to really sift thru to find the RIGHT live version for you. It’s totally valid to be preferring studio.
I love that you are both enjoying the Dead. They are a genre of their own at times. Never my favorite band, but certainly one of several favorites. So far I think you've only listened to songs Jerry sings, try a couple Bobby Weir songs. Sugar Magnolia is a good place to start.
You can absolutely still be a Deadhead. You love their music, that's what really counts. My favorite Robert Hunter lyric is from this song. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right."
HIGHLY recommend giving live another specific chance to blow your mind by reviewing ANY SONG played on 5/8/1977...no need for video either ..go for the high quality audio
Yes! Good choice. Yes, the live versions are fun too, but this, the original studio recording, is soo cool. Yeah, “well, I ain’t often right, but I’ve never been wrong …” ❤
If you like the studio sound, you need to break out Terrapin Station and listen to that title song. It's an incredible production over 10 min long but worth every second. You'll also dig the groove of Estimated Prophet and don't miss the short banger Passenger.
Studio versions are exactly what the band wanted you to hear - and so committed it to vinyl. Many of the Deads albums are from live recordings - all excellent. Myself been to 100s of shows, '70-'81
When this album came out, the news was that The Grateful Dead was breaking up. But if you take the album cover, turn it upside down and hold it to a mirror, those green and red letters spell out Ugly Rumors.
You’re 100% correct, you find the studio tracks you like first and then find the live versions you like. The exception to that rule are the Europe 72 and Without a Net live albums. Every live version of songs on those 2 albums, one from early in their career and the second capturing the peek of their latter years, are superior to the studio recordings of those songs. Also they did post recording vocal enhancements on both albums. If you two want can’t miss good live versions of their songs, go to those 2 live albums. Trust me, I’ve heard everything they’ve ever done.
The live Dead experience is enjoyed for two main reasons, the extended jams and seques from one song to another, and the fact that you were usually stoned as hell at the show, so you didn't care about the strained vocals or bum notes played. I agree, I enjoy the studio recordings more, to really appreciate the songs and the music being played.
The studio recordings are amazing music. The live performances, I believe, are meant to be experienced… well live, because it is a whole experience. They’re a jam band. Just have to understand the Dead. None like ‘em.
I'm a Dead Head from the mid 70s, and it actually grieves me when people say don't bother listening to the studio albums. Their albums capture their musical history and journey, which is more vast and varied than any other band I can think of. From the psychedelic pop '60s and blues to the hard core psychedelic, to the country/folk/bluegrass, ragtime, through prog rock, fusion rock, disco, R&B, you name it. If you throw in Jerry's solo albums you can include just about every genre of music that exists. Getting to know the depth of their musical catalog gives proper foundation to appreciate the concert jams.
My older bro was big dead head while I was bangin Sabbath out my room he was blasting this (que the weed smoke for effect). Tx fellas I appreciate the GD again 👍
I agree guys. The Dead's fantastic musical expression, like many great artists, shows best on vinyl. Especially first listens studio work are the best path.
The added bonus of the studio in this case is that it has two Phil songs. I don't think you'll find too many Dead shows with two Phil songs. Let alone Unbroken Chain and Pride of Cucamonga.
Scarlet Begonias is one of my favorite Dead songs. Short but great on the album. Great start for a jam band session. I'm sure that many, many commenters have mentioned the Cornell 1977 live recording as one of their best. The Live Europe 72 album is great.
It’s not the production quality that is loved on their live stuff. A) It’s the experience & memories of being there & B) It’s the always different, improvisations, guest appearances, etc….
If you guys ever make a visit to Minneapolis every Sunday night at the driftwood bar the shotgun ragtime band plays two sets of the dead.12 plus years every sunday.i am the percussionist. I think this Sunday is number 650# .
i've been a GD fan for decades, and i still often prefer the albums over the live sets... i'll listen to live GD music and enjoy it, and i have my preferred eras, but i've always been an albums guy, just in general. Albums are like works of art... musical sculptures. And i love to sit and listen to a particular album and enjoy the inspiration that was flowing through the air in that moment (or day, or week, month, year) that led that particular recording to sound like it does. The cultural, technological, musical influences that all came together for that "moment" as it were, captured in time. Albums are like time machines in that way, and that's why i love them so much.
Ok since y’all have heard this and Fire on the Mountain, check out the live Scarlet Begonias/FOTM (aka Scarlet Fire) from Cornell 05/08/77. It’s the best live album in my opinion (and it’s one that’s up there for most Dead Heads), and it’s their best live performance period. You have to listen to them together tho, you can’t listen to one then the other, they morph into eachother.
As someone who does usually point to live dead as being the true dead experience I like your guys take on studio vs live. I started with the studio records too and they brought me to a place where I could appreciate the live sound more because of what I knew from the studio. I think you should continue exploring the studio cuts and then when you find a tune you’re crazy about then start digging into the live versions just like you said. Either way it rules to see people discovering some of the greatest music out there, keep doing what you’re doing in your own way ✌️
"I like the studio stuff better" - So refreshing to hear somebody say this....I can hear the collective gasp of deadheads everywhere haha I think what you're hearing is that while they were a great live band (jams) they were not very tight all of the time. Some nights were great and some nights were sloppy as hell - its he human experience - but in the studio its always tight, the vocals are audible with harmonies in tune. The only thing missing is Jerry Garcia's heavenly guitar
I agree with you guys. I’ve been listening to the Dead since the early 70’s and I’ve always liked their studio albums. I almost always prefer studio to live versions of any band.
I’m with you. They are very good in the studio. The live recordings are sometimes lacking production value, but the deadheads really don’t care. This is true for many live albums , there only a few I like. The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East is one of the best sounding live albums of the 70s
If you haven't gotten to it yet, you guys really should listen to the first few songs from Grateful Dead's Blues for Allah. They go together in a kind of suite. It's about as tight and funky as you'll ever hear these guys. Then they do an awesome live version on One From the Vault (the best GD live album imo).
I don't blame you all for anything. I feel the same way about live versus studio. The thing that makes the live versions more popular with a lot of people is not necessarily because it sounds better. It's because they usually play a unique version live. Sometimes it's something simple like slowing it down. Other times it's because they'll just go off in some sort of Freestyle Jam that takes you on a "journey" to who knows where..?
I think that the live versions are great once you really know the songs. Some of my favorite live recordings have mistakes in the lyrics but killer solos and transitions that are unique.
I'm a full-blown Deadhead of many years , lived on Dead tour, played keys in Dead cover bands, and I totally agree---- a lot of the studio work is EXCELLENT.
and for first time listens, a safer bet for introducing new fans....
✌🎶💜
I preferred the studios when I got on the bus. Took a few years to fully appreciate all those live tapes. American Beauty, Workingman's, Mars, all amazing studio albums
Yes exactly as jaquestraw1 has it: at first the studio work is polished and clean, and you prefer it. But once you know the songs well, then when you hear excellent live versions, it steps up to a higher level.
lisarainbow, right again as usual. Good to see you commenting on Airplay Beats, these guys are starting to get into the boys BIG TIME.
Yeah, start with the studio stuff and move to the live stuff from there
Yeah, generally agree-studio albums help you learn the tunes well, then you can appreciate the good live shows-but…Cornell ‘77 can be appreciated by all!
They usually play Scarlett Begonias straight into Fire on the Mountain. Called Scarlett Fire. Treat yourself and go listen to the live Cornell 77 Scarlett Fire. Arguably one of the best and very accessible.
That’s exactly what I was going to recommend: Cornell 5/8/77 Scarlet -> Fire. After hearing that studio version of Scarlet, I think they’ll be blown away by what rhe band did with it live! 🔥 ⚡️
Yes !!
100% agree, amazing sound in that concert!!
Yes yes yes yes!
This is the one, search no more!
“Once in a while you (can) get shown the light…in the strangest of places if you look at it right “
One of the finest set of lyrics ever written!
I’ve been listening to the Dead for over 50 years, I saw my first live show in 1972 and I agree with you guys about the studio recordings.
Unfortunately, that only takes you so far because a lot of their greatest songs were never released in studio versions (“Bertha”, “Wharf Rat”, “Brown Eyed Women”, “He’s Gone”, “So Many Roads”, etc).
But, there’s more than one way to be a Deadhead - so it doesn’t matter where or how you “got on the bus”, just enjoy the ride.
Carry on, fellas!
I always wanted to be "......." the Pranksters were ahead of their time
I find it very satisfying to watch two young brothers grooving to The Dead, it's really nice. One way I like to explain the Dead to new listeners is that it's a super tight band that makes music that sounds so loose and easy. Also they have such a wide variety of styles and types of music not all of it is for everyone. Drums are proper dope on this track.
When I met my future best friend/husband, he never answered the phoen "hello" - he answered
" Mars Hotel". I miss him So much ❤ Jerry too.
Scarlet begonias is my favorite Grateful Dead tune. As a 30 year deadhead, I will take your studio reactions anytime!! That probably is best, get familiar with the song from the studio version and then you can think about branching out. One big difficulty for us deadheads with the studio versions, is you don’t get the lengthy guitar solos by Jerry, or a lot of the improvisation with Jerry, Bob, and Phil, during extended breaks. Now that you’ve listened to the studio version of Scarlet begonias, maybe try a live scarlet begonias. My favorite is from Barton Hall on May 8, 1977.
This was a great choice. Whoever suggested this gets a 🎉
Now that you’ve listened to the studio versions of both Scarlet Begonias and Fire on the Mountain you really should check out the live version. Spring of ‘77 not only has awesome versions of these two songs paired together the quality of the recordings are incredible! Thanks to Betty. Some say the Cornell version is the best in that run of shows but the Richmond one is mind blowing as well.
Your channel is my favorite for all the songs you react to but I especially love when you react to the Dead.
LOL at reverse Deadhead. Listening to any of those spring 77 shows may change that. 😊
You've never been dancing in the dirt with a bunch of truly free souls!
Totally valid to prefer the studio productions, especially if you haven’t had a live experience with this music. This has become a go-to song for me to play for the uninitiated (along with Althea). It just hits.
Mars Hotel was one of their more successful studio albums. "Unbroken Chain" is another cut on it and really worked well.
I love Phil's other song on Mars, Pride of Cucamonga (phonetically @ least). Check out the album cover in a mirror. Reflections shows Ugly Rumors on front.
Now this is how to start your day!! 🙂
I hear you guys about the studio stuff, but the right live stuff is what takes you deep in another way. There's a lot of forgiveness that the audience gave them over the years around performance, it was about intent and vibe over perfection. But the right live shows are transformative. Europe 72 is a great example of the combo, live basic tracks to get the vibe and overdubs to improve the performances ... as I understand it. Also, watch The Grateful Dead Movie to get a good glimpse into their 70s scene. Nice recordings in that too.
I'd say the biggest reason the fans prefer the live dead is because that's where you get the freestyle jamming the band is known for.
"Pride of Cucamonga" and "Unbroken Chain" were two of [FROM THE MARS HOTEL's] finest moments, emblematic songs cut from the Grateful Dead cloth. MARS HOTEL also premiered the classic Dead songs, "China Doll", "U.S. Blues", "Ship Of Fools" and "Scarlet Begonias". - Excerpt from The Rough Guide to Rock
Love when Phil sings. Both great songs.
The thing about their studio recordings is that they’re more like suggested guidelines for how the song might be played… But when they hit that improv pocket on stage, there is no comparison.
This is great!!...can't believe you guys are reacting to this song.....
I suggest two tunes with Pigpen on vocals. MR. Charlie from Europe 72 and Easy Wind from Workingman's Dead. Enjoy.
I’m glad you did the studio version of this song! I think there’s a bunch of dead songs that are best represented by the studio version.. this along with Althea are 2 big examples. I do love a lot of there live music but I agree with you the studio versions are underrated by many
Hey guys, I think maybe you need to learn the studio stuff better to fully appreciate the live. Seeing them would help too but... While I can't claim to be a hardcore Deadhead because I only saw them 5 or 6 times (hahaha) but I appreciate both the studio and live versions. The important thing is to keep listening to them! (I am in the top 1/2% of Dead listeners on Spotify though and have a Dead sticker on my 20 year old car!) Peace!
Estimated Prophet is great live. Love how Jerry jams on that one. So many good versions. Hard to pick one.
one of my fav bobby songs
Welcome La and Che, the Deadhead tent is large 😊! There’s lots to love
If you’ve never experienced a live Grateful Dead show then I can see how listening to live recordings might be basically like listening to a crappier-sounding version of the studio-polished record, but with ten-minute improvisational jams.
With very few exceptions, I think you need to have bought a ticket and danced in the moon glow with the deadheads and seen the Dead with your own eyeballs in their natural habitat to have the context that would allow one to fully and meaningfully enjoy live recordings of their music.
You should give later live shows a try the quality of the recordings is much better, try something from (Without A Net) a try. Great job on all reactions guys!!
I grew up in Berkeley and have been to a hundred shows---the key to a live concert was rampant psychedelics---even from the stage. 😆
Studio is much more focused - I am glad you did this studio version.
"Well I ain't often right, but I've never been wrong, seldom turns out the way it does in the song. Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right." Words by Robert Hunter, Music by Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia and the boys, and Donna Jean.
Franklin's Tower. Story just like Fire on the Mountain. Rhythm that is pure dance. You will like it.
"Seldom turns out the way it does in the song", is a very clever mind bender !
If Jerry is saying it SELDOM turns out the way it does in the song, in a song, doesn't that mean it OFTEN turns out the way it does in the song ?
You need to listen to Scarlet Fire from Cornell 77. I think you’ll finally understand what they could do live. And it combines the two studio songs you’ve liked the most.
The live grateful dead that is great across the board is the "grateful dead movie" soundtrack. One example of a live version that blows the studio version away is "St Stephen", from the "Live Dead" album. Check it out.
Here are some other great studio cuts - "Estimated Prophet", "Sugar Magnolia", "The Music Never Stopped", "Althea", "Dire Wolf", and "That's It For The Other One"
The Dead released a 2 CD set named Without A Net of full live performances over a single tour.
"It never turns out the way it does in the song".
The Dead tight at the hip , Lesh laying it down hard . Jerry going off on the guitar , Bobby keeping it down , running off lesh’s bass - with two drummers .
"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!" ;) E.G.
LMAO the backwards Dead Heads. I got to stop getting high for guys, my belly hurst from laughing.🙏🍁
The absolute best part of their live performances was being there.
La and Che you are on fire 🔥!! Excellent song, band and most of all. Excellent reaction fellas!! Appreciate you 🙏 ❤
Hey La and Chi, you should try to get the best of both worlds and listen to some of the Grateful Dead official live releases... the Live Dead Album, Europe '72 or Live at Barton Hall, Cornell are all good choices... you can get both the quality mix and live improvisation that they are reknown for.
Scarlet/Fire...pretty much any 1977 version but the one from 5/8/77 at Barton Hall (Cornell University) in Ithaca,NY is part of a show that's in the Library of Congress for it's cultural relevance. Check the whole show out,melts in your brain,not in your hands.
You guys seem to come from the production world, so it makes perfect sense that you connect more with their studio stuff. No crime in that!
IMO One of the Deads few studio recordings that is actually good . So much of their studio stuff was SO much better when they played it live . Like many others I'll often site this as my favorite Grateful Dead song .
The starkest exceptions to the "live over studio" rule are "Workingmans Dead" and "American Beauty." These are two of the best recordings of the '70s.
One of my favorite studio albums is Workingman's Dead... you will not be disappointed!
Thank y'all so very much! You cats landed on one of my favorite Dead tunes. I may be an old school musician/singer/songwriter from the SoCal High Desert , but I have to totally agree with the two of you on the notion of a "backward Dead fan". I'm right there with you guys. I have zero regrets and no shame about it in the least. I also found the Dead's studio work more concise and focused than a vast majority of their live performances. I love the fact that you're family members doing what y'all do on your channel! It's also fulfilling to hear young musicians coming out with first impressions similar to my own from way back in the day. What really blows me away is the fact that you two often use the same words to describe what you're taking away from your initial listening experiences! Jamming with you guys is on my bucket list. Keep putting out your awesome videos. Stay tight with each other. It's a trip to watch you guys interacting so well. It gives me hope. 😊
God bless the good ol' Grateful Dead! 💀🌹
When they were on, when the magic worked live. There was nothing like it.
Having seen the GD many times over the 70’s and 80’s I can understand your affinity for the studio versions. But the experience of a live show with some psychedelic’s and a group of friends company made the Dead Shows what they were. AMAZING!
At a Dead show everybody is your friend.
Love that Parliament album cover sitting back there
"Death Don't Have No Mercy" live. It's a cover of a Gary Davis song. I love The Dead live and studio equally. Their albums Workingman's Dead and America Beauty are gems.
This is one song you MUST do live.
I like the term 'reverse Dead fan" haha. I think you are right that it's good to start with a "baseline" in the studio versions and then branch out to various notable concerts to see how they stretched and tweaked the songs live. For example, Morning Dew is a very straightforward okay song in studio (their first album actually in 67), but when people say "listen to Morning Dew", they are saying to listen to a live version of it, like in Europe '72 or '77. The reason is that song is meant to be played live with its crescendos, dynamics, and solos. Some songs 100% agree just listen to the studio. For example, this one is a great studio one. Also, the whole albums of Workingman's Dead and American Beauty should be listened to in their studio version.
Yes! The Cornell 77 Scarlet>Fire is one of the best. But also listen to Copps Coliseum, i think it is 3/22/90, Jerry goes into some deep MIDI synth on that one.
Saw Jerry and the Dead 50 ish times. Always looking forward to the Jerry tunes.
Yep,see what the template is ,..and then you’ll appreciate the legs they give these songs later live (77 Cornell is one of the crystal clear sounds for scarlet/fire …bass guitar drums keys all clear for your 👂 ear!✌️❤️77 Cornell try it..the songs grow as the years go ,that’s what they do .good work!
Twiller Heaven. God I miss those days.
I bought a 5 disc boxset of the Dead, and it took me all over. I think the first time you hear it influences your preference. If you hear the live first, you might like that but if you studio first, then that one wins. I am like you guys, more preference to Studio, but there are some live ones I love. Like you said, you need to really sift thru to find the RIGHT live version for you. It’s totally valid to be preferring studio.
I love that you are both enjoying the Dead. They are a genre of their own at times. Never my favorite band, but certainly one of several favorites. So far I think you've only listened to songs Jerry sings, try a couple Bobby Weir songs. Sugar Magnolia is a good place to start.
You can absolutely still be a Deadhead. You love their music, that's what really counts. My favorite Robert Hunter lyric is from this song. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right."
HIGHLY recommend giving live another specific chance to blow your mind by reviewing ANY SONG played on 5/8/1977...no need for video either ..go for the high quality audio
Yes! Good choice. Yes, the live versions are fun too, but this, the original studio recording, is soo cool. Yeah, “well, I ain’t often right, but I’ve never been wrong …” ❤
Gotta do a live version .. they are a live band .. 5-8-77
YES!! Grab someone, dance. Close. Real close.
If you like the studio sound, you need to break out Terrapin Station and listen to that title song. It's an incredible production over 10 min long but worth every second. You'll also dig the groove of Estimated Prophet and don't miss the short banger Passenger.
They were one in a million
Studio versions are exactly what the band wanted you to hear - and so committed it to vinyl. Many of the Deads albums are from live recordings - all excellent. Myself been to 100s of shows, '70-'81
I was stoned when I clicked on...I'm even more now!
When this album came out, the news was that The Grateful Dead was breaking up. But if you take the album cover, turn it upside down and hold it to a mirror, those green and red letters spell out Ugly Rumors.
You’re 100% correct, you find the studio tracks you like first and then find the live versions you like.
The exception to that rule are the Europe 72 and Without a Net live albums. Every live version of songs on those 2 albums, one from early in their career and the second capturing the peek of their latter years, are superior to the studio recordings of those songs. Also they did post recording vocal enhancements on both albums. If you two want can’t miss good live versions of their songs, go to those 2 live albums. Trust me, I’ve heard everything they’ve ever done.
The live Dead experience is enjoyed for two main reasons, the extended jams and seques from one song to another, and the fact that you were usually stoned as hell at the show, so you didn't care about the strained vocals or bum notes played. I agree, I enjoy the studio recordings more, to really appreciate the songs and the music being played.
My personal favorite Dead song studio version is “Althea” . Off of Go To Heaven a very well produced album.
The studio recordings are amazing music. The live performances, I believe, are meant to be experienced… well live, because it is a whole experience. They’re a jam band. Just have to understand the Dead. None like ‘em.
I'm a Dead Head from the mid 70s, and it actually grieves me when people say don't bother listening to the studio albums. Their albums capture their musical history and journey, which is more vast and varied than any other band I can think of.
From the psychedelic pop '60s and blues to the hard core psychedelic, to the country/folk/bluegrass, ragtime, through prog rock, fusion rock, disco, R&B, you name it. If you throw in Jerry's solo albums you can include just about every genre of music that exists.
Getting to know the depth of their musical catalog gives proper foundation to appreciate the concert jams.
My older bro was big dead head while I was bangin Sabbath out my room he was blasting this (que the weed smoke for effect). Tx fellas I appreciate the GD again 👍
I'll risk the sacrilege and recommend Sublime's 1992 cover of "Scarlet Begonias" too.
Workingman's Dead , American Beauty and Terrapin Station my fave for studio albums . And any old head had a copy of Europe '72 .
I agree guys. The Dead's fantastic musical expression, like many great artists, shows best on vinyl. Especially first listens studio work are the best path.
The added bonus of the studio in this case is that it has two Phil songs. I don't think you'll find too many Dead shows with two Phil songs. Let alone Unbroken Chain and Pride of Cucamonga.
Starting with the studio material is good in that now you get to hear how the band explored/enjoyed their songs on stage.
If you like studio Dead with great production, you’ll love Unbroken Chain, off their album From the Mars Hotel, sung by bass player Phil Lesh.
Check out “Dead Ahead” concert video/movie played on Halloween in New York(1980). Very well done and sounds fantastic.
Scarlet Begonias is one of my favorite Dead songs. Short but great on the album. Great start for a jam band session. I'm sure that many, many commenters have mentioned the Cornell 1977 live recording as one of their best. The Live Europe 72 album is great.
It’s not the production quality that is loved on their live stuff. A) It’s the experience & memories of being there & B) It’s the always different, improvisations, guest appearances, etc….
Check out the studio version...."West L.A. Fadeaway" A complete different direction....
If you guys ever make a visit to Minneapolis every Sunday night at the driftwood bar the shotgun ragtime band plays two sets of the dead.12 plus years every sunday.i am the percussionist. I think this Sunday is number 650# .
i've been a GD fan for decades, and i still often prefer the albums over the live sets... i'll listen to live GD music and enjoy it, and i have my preferred eras, but i've always been an albums guy, just in general. Albums are like works of art... musical sculptures. And i love to sit and listen to a particular album and enjoy the inspiration that was flowing through the air in that moment (or day, or week, month, year) that led that particular recording to sound like it does. The cultural, technological, musical influences that all came together for that "moment" as it were, captured in time. Albums are like time machines in that way, and that's why i love them so much.
Ok since y’all have heard this and Fire on the Mountain, check out the live Scarlet Begonias/FOTM (aka Scarlet Fire) from Cornell 05/08/77. It’s the best live album in my opinion (and it’s one that’s up there for most Dead Heads), and it’s their best live performance period. You have to listen to them together tho, you can’t listen to one then the other, they morph into eachother.
The Studio Recordings are the definitive versions
As someone who does usually point to live dead as being the true dead experience I like your guys take on studio vs live. I started with the studio records too and they brought me to a place where I could appreciate the live sound more because of what I knew from the studio. I think you should continue exploring the studio cuts and then when you find a tune you’re crazy about then start digging into the live versions just like you said. Either way it rules to see people discovering some of the greatest music out there, keep doing what you’re doing in your own way ✌️
Donna Jean Godchaux singing harmony on this.
"I like the studio stuff better" - So refreshing to hear somebody say this....I can hear the collective gasp of deadheads everywhere haha
I think what you're hearing is that while they were a great live band (jams) they were not very tight all of the time. Some nights were great and some nights were sloppy as hell - its he human experience - but in the studio its always tight, the vocals are audible with harmonies in tune. The only thing missing is Jerry Garcia's heavenly guitar
Time signature. 11/8.
you guys need to check out throwin stones ,ramble on rose,althea, and of course terrapin station will blow your mind
Listen to the live Cornell 5/7/1977 version of Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain and then tell me which version you like better.
The best version
I agree with you guys. I’ve been listening to the Dead since the early 70’s and I’ve always liked their studio albums. I almost always prefer studio to live versions of any band.
I’m with you. They are very good in the studio.
The live recordings are sometimes lacking production value, but the deadheads really don’t care.
This is true for many live albums , there only a few I like. The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East is one of the best sounding live albums of the 70s
All deadhead started with the albums then went to shows to see what they would do on improv
If you haven't gotten to it yet, you guys really should listen to the first few songs from Grateful Dead's Blues for Allah. They go together in a kind of suite. It's about as tight and funky as you'll ever hear these guys. Then they do an awesome live version on One From the Vault (the best GD live album imo).
I don't blame you all for anything. I feel the same way about live versus studio. The thing that makes the live versions more popular with a lot of people is not necessarily because it sounds better. It's because they usually play a unique version live. Sometimes it's something simple like slowing it down. Other times it's because they'll just go off in some sort of Freestyle Jam that takes you on a "journey" to who knows where..?
I think that the live versions are great once you really know the songs. Some of my favorite live recordings have mistakes in the lyrics but killer solos and transitions that are unique.