Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) [Neon Orange Vinyl] [B&N Exclusive]

by Grateful Dead

Overview

The Grateful Dead's second live release was an eponymously titled double LP whose cover bears the striking skull-and-roses visual motif that would become instantly recognizable and an indelibly linked trademark of the band. As opposed to their debut concert recording, Live/Dead (1969), this hour and ten minutes concentrates on newer material, which consisted of shorter self-contained originals and covers. Coming off of the quantum-leap success of the studio country-rock efforts Workingman's Dead (1969) and American Beauty, Grateful Dead offers up a pair of new Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter compositions -- "Bertha" and "Wharf Rat" -- both of which garnered a permanent place within the band's live catalog. However, "The Other One" -- joined in progress just as Billy Kreutzmann fires up a blazing percussion solo -- sprawls as the album's centerpiece. The Dead also begin incorporating several traditional folk, blues, and R&B cover tunes, such as Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," Kris Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee," as well as a few that had been in their songbook for several years, including John Phillips' "Me & My Uncle" and "Big Boss Man," a blues standard popularized by Jimmy Reed. Their formidable improvisational chops have begun to take on new facets of lean intricacy as Mickey Hart (percussion) and Tom Constanten (keyboards) were no longer in the band. Additionally, the arrival of Keith Godchaux (organ) and his wife, Donna Godchaux (vocals), had yet to occur. As such, the Grateful Dead spent the spring and summer of 1971 in their original five-piece configuration -- which is when these recordings were documented. The Golden Road (1965-1973) (2001) box set features a remastered version of Grateful Dead and includes two additional covers -- Buddy Holly's "Oh, Boy!" as well as Leiber & Stoller's "(I'm A) Hog for You" -- plus an unmarked vintage radio spot for the album. Enthusiasts should note that this era is likewise represented on the four-CD Ladies and Gentlemen...The Grateful Dead (2000) archival release. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	07/16/2021
Label:	Bmg Special Products
UPC:	0081227879198

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Grateful Dead   Primary Artist
Merl Saunders   Guest Artist
Bill Kreutzmann   Drums,Percussion
Bob Weir   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Jerry Garcia   Guitar,Vocals
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan   Drums,Organ,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards,Percussion
Phil Lesh   Bass,Drums,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Mickey Hart   Drums,Percussion
Tom Constanten   Keyboards
Pigpen   Organ,Congas,Vocals

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Sonny West   Composer
Betty Cantor   Engineer
Bill Kreutzmann   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Bob Weir   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Bill Tilghman   Composer
David Lemieux   Reissue Producer
Chuck Berry   Composer
Joe Gastwirt   Pre-Mastering
Fred Foster   Composer
John Phillips   Composer
Rudy Clark   Composer
Jerry Garcia   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Noah Lewis   Composer
Merle Haggard   Composer
Norman Petty   Composer
Mike Stoller   Composer
Buddy Holly   Composer
Arthur Resnick   Composer
Al Smith   Composer
David Hassinger   Producer
Bob Matthews   Engineer
Billy Candelario   Equipment Technician
Kris Kristofferson   Composer
David Glasser   Digital Mastering
Luther Dixon   Composer
Dick Bogert   Engineer
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Mark Pinkus   Executive Producer
Robert Hunter   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Phil Lesh   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Rex Jackson   Stage Technician
Mickey Hart   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Grateful Dead   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Dave Collins   Pre-Mastering Assistant
Ram Rod   Equipment Technician
Doran Tyson   Associate Producer
Gene Anthony   Photography
Steve Parish   Equipment Technician
John Hagen   Equipment Technician
Sonny Heard   Stage Technician
Artie Resnick   Composer
Larry Garcia   Composer
Charles Harding   Composer
Ivette Ramos   Associate Producer
Laurence Shurtliff   Equipment Technician
Mark Raizene   Equipment Technician