Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

Grateful Dead - Veneta, OR 8/27/72: The Complete Sunshine Daydream Concert

It’s a bit out of order, since at this point, we’re settling in to what will be their lineup for the next 6-7 years with the Godcheaux’s in the mix. At this show, everything sounds amazing. The band is well locked in to its catchier sound (that said, the epic Dark Star here is a psychedelic whirlwind starring Phil Lesh’s amazing playing). Great China > Rider here. Playing in the Band is long but not laboriously so (it could be that not listening to this song for 20 mins a pop daily for a whole summer positively influences the experience), and Casey Jones which is a song I am often frustrated at the sloppiness is really tight near the end. The appropo essential performance here though goes to Sugar Magnolia, which has a great crescendo at the sunshine daydream finish between Bon Weir and Donna Godcheaux. And pulling back to look at the forest from the trees here, this is a great show.

The Essential Performance: Sugar Magnolia

Up Next: The Rolling Stones - Ladies and Gentlemen…

[liebzz]

As an aside, that is the 50th live album we have covered on this journey. Many many more to come.

[oasisfan35]

Mule covers are wonderful. I’ve seen Creep by Radiohead twice and both times Mule did it.

I never knew that tune was Humble Pie.

Damn skippy. Their catalog is fairly large by this point (new album in June too) but the endless possibility of covers at their shows always kept things pretty fresh.
This was a damn fun show and just look at the breadth of covers.

That was one of the shows leading up to the New Years show where they did Temple of the Mule.

Yeah, I was also at the 30th though wasn't huge on the Hammerstein as a venue. Although had the Beacon not been being renovated the Orensanz shows may not have happened so I'll take it.

[wease]

Warren is a god amongst men

[liebzz]

All this Warren Haynes talk, so I added some Gov’t Mule shows - including the Orensanz live album on Spotify.

[oasisfan35]

All this Warren Haynes talk, so I added some Gov’t Mule shows - including the Orensanz live album on Spotify.

[wease]

I recommend the Temple of the Mule show and the New Years (or Halloween, I can’t remember) where he covered like 30 Neil Young tunes.

[wease]

There was a Christmas Jam show a few years back where he, Oteil, Jack Pearson and the drummer from Marshall Tucker Band played a set of all MTB tunes. Some DAMN fine playing on that one.

[liebzz]

I recommend the Temple of the Mule show and the New Years (or Halloween, I can’t remember) where he covered like 30 Neil Young tunes.

Amazing. Is it available commercially or is this something to be taken up with a Mule journey?

[oasisfan35]

I recommend the Temple of the Mule show and the New Years (or Halloween, I can’t remember) where he covered like 30 Neil Young tunes.

Amazing. Is it available commercially or is this something to be taken up with a Mule journey?

Both of those were released as MuleTracks but no special packaging releases thereafter... your eventual Mule journey is gonna be somethin'

[liebzz]

Rolling Stones - Ladies and Gentlemen…

The Stones provide an interest antidote to the Grateful Dead. Whereas the Sunshine Daydream Concert, as all Dead shows, constitute their own singular artwork painted in that moment, there’s something to be said for this one, where the Stones are just tearing the shit out of some of their best songs. Granted, the recording itself could be of better quality, but every single version on this is another level performance. 1972, they just released four of the greatest albums ever, and they are stage just demolishing these songs. Absolutely epic.

The Essential Performance: Street Fighting Man

Up Next: Janis Joplin - Joplin in Concert

[liebzz]

Janis Joplin - Janis in Concert

Based on the Woodstock show, admittedly my expectations were low. She is much better being backed by the Holding Company, which rock and blues are well intertwined into that scorched voice that is very singular to her. This is much more my speed here, and she rocks through both hits and deeper cuts pretty ferociously - the band exploding into action at all the right moments.

The Essential Performance: Move Over (could have been any of three or four songs here)

Next Up: Cream - Live Cream II

[liebzz]

Cream - Live Cream II

If the first was a slow roll through lesser known jams, part 2 is a cascade of hits. White Room and Sunshine of Your Love are both fabulous, as are the jams leading in, though the winner here is Politician. I am not as heads over heels for this band as some folks seem to be, but they certainly put on a powerful performance for a trio.

The Essential Performance: Politician

Up Next: The Band - Rock of Ages

[JuanHamm]

Has anyone recommended Townes Van Zandt - Live at the old Quarter?

[liebzz]

Has anyone recommended Townes Van Zandt - Live at the old Quarter?

Not yet.

[96583UP]

Cream - Live Cream II

If the first was a slow roll through lesser known jams, part 2 is a cascade of hits. White Room and Sunshine of Your Love are both fabulous, as are the jams leading in, though the winner here is Politician. I am not as heads over heels for this band as some folks seem to be, but they certainly put on a powerful performance for a trio.

The Essential Performance: Politician

Up Next: The Band - Rock of Ages

i need to listen to more Cream

[Ello Sailor]

Cream's rhythm section absolutely ruled. But that Clapton... what a chode.

[Higgs]

Ginger Baker was also drummer for Aroma of Man. Lest we forget.

[liebzz]

The Band - Rock of Ages

For this one, I listened to the extended version but not the full Academy shows. I know they are there. In any event, the Band with horns doesn’t just work, it’s profoundly great. Basically, they hit all the required tunes, then bring out Bob Dylan for the encore. This is another where quite a few song could make the top performance. I love Get Up Jake, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Across the Great Divide, Rag Mama Rag, The Weight, The Shape I’m In, Up On Cripple Creek, Down in the Flood and the closing Like A Rolling Stone. But…none of those quite top the Genetic Method jam into Chest Fever. That is some great great stuff.

The Essential Performance: The Genetic Method > Chest Fever

Up Next: John Lennon - Live in New York City

[96583UP]

Listened to Cream Live II this morning

Steppin Out is on some next level chit