Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, October 2005
The legend of Jerry Garcia continues to grow with the passing of time. As more recordings are unearthed and issued remastered, it becomes more apparent than ever that the man was a guitar genius. Personally, I had not delved too far into the Grateful Dead catalog (although I saw them live while I was living in California) or Garcia’s solo work. Now that I have had the opportunity to hear Garcia Plays Dylan and The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1: Legion Of Mary it comes as no surprise to me that Jerry has a new fan onboard.
Garcia Plays Dylan is a superb representation of some of the best tracks from the Dylan catalog. What makes this entire set so enjoyable is the improvisation that you could always count on at live Dead or Garcia show. It does not take long before you forget that what you are hearing is Dylan songs. Jerry was masterful at taking anyone’s music and making it his own. He offered a veritable smorgasbord of blues, rock, bluegrass, and jazz all rolled into one big musical platter of tasty delights. The remastering of the original tapes taken from live shows is superb. The sound is outstanding, Garcia’s guitar, while never wavering, sounds crisp and biting, and the rest of the instruments are equally amazing.
“Tangled Up In Blue” was the standout track for my ears, the jamming that goes on is out of this world, and the backup singers do a fine job giving it a more of soulful sound than the original. I have to hand it to one of my favorite all time labels, Rhino, they consistently deliver the goods, and it does not seem to matter what artist they are covering. The sound quality, artwork, and liner notes are always first class.
If you think you would enjoy this set then I have another one for you, The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1: Legion Of Mary. It is an incredible live two CD set as well, that features the rock fusion of Garcia and his band at the height of their powers. Both of these sets are worthwhile purchases and surely, you will enjoy them for years to come. After all, there is always something new to discover while listening, no matter how many times you have heard it.
The reason that you are seeing so many releases come pouring out is that Garcia lived to play and played to live, period. And we all thank him for that. I am glad the live recordings where done so freely over the years, and it is because the bands associated with Garcia were cool about it. I do not expect the flow of live material to stop, considering all the shows that the Dead and Jerry played before he died. I am sure when Dylan heard this he was quite pleased.
Rating: 4.5/5
More about Garcia Plays Dylan:
Track Listing: Disc One: "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Tough Mama" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Positively 4th Street" (Legion of Mary) / "Wicked Messenger" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Simple Twist Of Fate" (Jerry Gacia Band) / I Shall Be Released (Jerry Garcia Band)
Disc Two: "When I Paint My Masterpiece" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "She Belongs To Me" (Grateful Dead) / "Forever Young" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Tangled Up In Blue" (Jerry Garcia Band) / Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power)" (Jerry Garcia Band) / "Visions Of Johanna" (Grateful Dead) / "Mighty Quinn (Quinn, The Eskimo)" (Grateful Dead) / "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (Grateful Dead)
Musicians:
Jerry Garcia - guitar...
Contact:
Website: www.jerrygarcia.com
Note: will open new browser window
Discography
- Garcia (1972)
- Garcia and Saunders - Live At The Keystone, Vol. 1 (1973/1988)
- Garcia and Saunders - Live At The Keystone, Vol. 2 (1973/1988)
- Garcia ("Compliments Of Garcia") (1974)
- Old And In The Way - Old And In The Way (1975)
- Reflections (1976)
- Cats Under The Stars (1978)
- Run For The Roses (1982)
- Garcia and Saunders - Keystone Encores (1988)
- Almost Acoustic (1988/2005)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Jerry Garcia Band (1991/2005)
- Garcia and Grisman - Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (1991)
- Garcia and Grisman - Not For Kids Only (1993)
- Garcia and Grisman - Shady Grove (1996)
- Old And In The Way - That High Lonesome Sound (1997)
- Old And In The Way - Breakdown (1997)
- Jerry Garcia Band - How Sweet It Is (1997/2005)
- Garcia and Grisman - So What (1998)
- Garcia and Grisman - The Pizza Tapes (2000)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Don't Let Go (2001/2005)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Shining Star (2001/2005)
- Garcia and Grisman - Been All Around This World (2004)
- Jerry Garcia Band - After Midnight (2004)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Outtakes, Jams & Alternates (2004) (only avail. in All Good Things set)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Theatre 1839 July 29-30, 1977 (2004)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Lunt-Fontanne, New York City: October 31, 1987 (2004)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Lunt-Fontanne, New York City: The Best Of The Rest Of October 1987 (2004)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Keystone Berkeley: September 1, 1974 (2004)
- All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (2005) (7 CD set)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Merriweather Post Pavilion: September 1 & 2, 1989 (2005)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Warner Theatre: March 18, 1978 (2005)
- Jerry Garcia Band - Legion Of Mary (2005)
- Garcia Plays Dylan (2005)
- Live At The Shoreline (2005) (DVD)
Grateful Dead:
- The Grateful Dead (1967)
- Anthem Of The Sun (1968)
- Aoxomoxoa (1969)
- Live/Dead (1969)
- Workingman's Dead (1970/2001*)
- American Beauty (1970)
- The Gratefull Dead (live) (1971)
- Europe '72 (1972)
- History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (1973)
- Wake Of The Flood (1973)
- The Grateful Dead From The Mars Hotel (1974)
- Blues For Allah (1975)
- Steal Your Face (1976)
- Terrapin Station (1977)
- Shakedown Street (1978)
- Go To Heaven (1980)
- Reckoning (1981)
- Dead Set (1981)
- In The Dark (1987)
- Built To Last (1989)
- Without A Net (1990)
- One From The Vault (1991)
- Infrared Roses (1991)
- Dead Ringers: Touch Of Grey (1991)
- Two From The Vault (1992)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 1 (1993)
- Hundred Year Hall (1995)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 2 (1995)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 3 (1995)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 4 (1996)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 5 (1996)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 6 (1996)
- New Year's Eve At Winterland (1996)
- Dozin' At The Knick (1996)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 7 (1997)
- Fallout From The Phil Zone (1997)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 8 (1997)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 9 (1997)
- Live At The Fillmore East 2-11-69 (1997)
- Terrapin Station, Capital Centre, Landover, MD, 3/15/90 (1997)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 10 (1998)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 11 (1998)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 12 (1999)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 13 (1999)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 14 (1999)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 15 (1999)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 16 (2000)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 17 (2000)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 18 (2000)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 19 (2000)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 20 (2000)
- View From The Vault, Vol. 1 (2000)
- View From The Vault, Vol 2. (2001)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 21 (2001)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 22 (2001)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 23 (2001)
- Grateful Dead Documentary (2001)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 24 (2002)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 25 (2002)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 26 (2002)
- Steppin Out With The Grateful Dead: England '72 (2002)
- View From The Vault, Vol. 3 (2002)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 27 (2002)
- Go To Nassau (2002)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 28 (2003)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 29 (2003)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 30 (2003)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 31 (2004)
- Rockin' The Rhein With The Grateful Dead (2004)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 32 (2004)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 33 (2004)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 34 (2004)
- The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack (2005)
- Rare Cuts And Oddities 1966 (2005)
- Dick's Picks, Vol 35 (2005)
- Truckin' Up To Buffalo: July 4, 1989 (2005)
- Fillmore West 1969 (2005)
|
