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Customer Reviews: Average Rating:  Rating :  - (4.5 stars) WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN ! (this collection could've been more extensive, but it's still a winner)
The Grateful Dead began their "long, strange trip" in San Francisco in 1965 (originally as "The Warlocks"). Of course, they later became a legendary jam band that filled concert stadiums and sold millions of albums. Their sound was a laid back and psychedelic mix of rock, folk, country, jazz, gospel and bluegrass that included extra long improvisational instrumental jams.
Although reluctantly, singer and lead guitarist Jerry Garcia was seen as the face of the band by many fans. The group disbanded after Garcia's death at 52 from a heart attack in 1995. Other original members Bob Weir (guitar), Phil Lesh (bass), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums) also consistently stayed with the Dead for the duration.
The Dead's dedicated fans are known as "Dead Heads", and some have even followed the band from city to city as they toured, attending every concert. The band also allowed fans to record their shows providing there were no profits made from the recordings.
The Very Best of the Grateful Dead (2003) includes seventeen songs that have been digitally remastered (to perfection), but are in no particular order. The song selection is on the mark, but keep in mind that this is the radio-friendly side of the band, and there is only one live selection, One More Saturday Night from Europe 72. Now, I'm no Dead Head (even though I did see them live once), and this collection really works for me. Nobody asked me before this was released, but if they had, I would've suggested that they add a second disc with all live material. Oh, well.
There are five songs here from the album American Beauty, and two each from Workingman's Dead, Blues for Allah, and In the Dark. The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) from the band's 1967 self-titled debut is the oldest song on the album, and Touch Of Grey, their Top Ten single from 1987, is the newest. The liner notes include an essay on The Grateful Dead's history, and information on each song including songwriter, album, release date, and producer. There are also some cool photographs of the band. The skeleton and roses on gold album cover is perfect.
For the casual Dead fan this is the way to go. It beats Skeletons From The Closet: The Best Of The Grateful Dead by a long shot, and the sound quality here is perfect. I knocked off a half star because the songs aren't in chronological order. That doesn't ruin this for me, but I do prefer that feature in Best Of collections. Anyway, The Very Best of the Grateful Dead is still recommended, and very enjoyable. The Dead made some great music.
When I first listened to this, I was surprised at how much The Grateful Dead's music had been a part of the musical landscape in my life over the years. These songs triggered memories of people and places I haven't thought of in years. Truckin', Casey Jones, Sugar Magnolia, U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band, A Friend Of The Devil, Touch Of Grey. Oh, the memories!
What a long, strange trip it's been...
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