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History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice)
Grateful Dead
History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice)
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

This digitally remastered 2003 reissue of 'History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1' features a 16-page booklet & four bonus tracks, 'Good Lovin',' 'Big Boss Man,' an alternate version of 'Smokestack Lightnin'' (version...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Grateful Dead
Title: History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice)
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Rhino / Wea
Original Release Date: 1/1/1973
Re-Release Date: 3/25/2003
Album Type: Live, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Jam Bands, Rock Jam Bands, Psychedelic Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 081227440022, 081227440060

Synopsis

Album Description
This digitally remastered 2003 reissue of 'History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1' features a 16-page booklet & four bonus tracks, 'Good Lovin',' 'Big Boss Man,' an alternate version of 'Smokestack Lightnin'' (version 2), & a rare live rendition of 'Sitting on Top of the World'. Previously, this version of History was available only as part of 2001's 'The Golden Road' box-set. Digipak. Rhino. 2003.

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CD Reviews

Bear's Choice and growing up a DeadHead
Dark Star-The Other One | The Bus To Never Ever Land | 10/22/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the things that has always been interesting for me is how Dead albums are viewed when first released and then how differently they're looked at by newer fans over the years. I was raised around the Dead and was about 4 years old when this album was first released. I remember growing up with this album (as well as all that came before it) and it always surprised me how those first generation Deadheads never really cared for this. When Bear was picking the songs for this release, he wanted something that would pay tribute to Pigpen and also feature songs that, for the most part anyway, hadn't already appeared on an album and went back to one of his favorite run of shows 2-13 & 14-70 Fillmore East late shows in New York City (Dick's Picks 4 features more from this great run). Originally it was going to include some pre Dead tunes. While others seemed to not really pay much attention, as a kid, I loved it.



The first side showcases Bob and Jerry's acoustic outing with Bobby's singing on Dark Hollow was/is tear jerking and when Jerry joins in, it's something else. This IS REAL country here and not that phony laid back pop emotionless junk but really heartfelt. I've Been All Around The World is Jerry at his playful best and Black Peter always put me into a trace. The second half featured the electric Dead backing Pig. Smokestack Lightnin' is full of twists and turns. Thundering along in places and very quiet in other places. I love the sound of the guitars and very full of drums. Hard To Handle is straight up rockin'. Years ago, I used to be able to do a good Pig imitation and this was the song. The bonus songs are also great, Good Lovin'(from the early show, 2-13-70) rocks out at a nice clip. The second Smokestack (2-8-70 Fillmore West, San Francisco) shows how different the Dead could take even a basic blues tune in the very next version. Big Boss Man (2-5-70 Fillmore West) blows away the Grateful Dead (aka Skull & Roses) version. Sittin' On Top Of The World (2-8-70 Fillmore West) is again, execellent. I should also point out, that untill Reckoning was released in April 1981, this was the only place that you could officially get acoustic Dead and until the vaul reases starting in the early '90's, this was the only place you could get many of these tunes on record."
Some interesting stuff
kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 01/14/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)

"The album was originally released in 1973 and is taken from concerts in 1970. The original LP was 47 minutes long. The bonus material puts the CD right at 80 minutes. Sound quality is very good. Some of the material is very interesting and has a distinctive sound.



The first tracks are stripped down acoustic numbers. I especially like Dark Hollow (I think it is the best thing on the CD) and Wake Up Little Suzy. The acoustic numbers have a nice bluesy feel to them and make this CD worth getting.



The rest of the tracks are electric, and I don't think they are that special over other Grateful Dead live material. I think Black Peter goes on a little too long.



Smokestack Lightning is your typical 18 minute PigPen driven song. I think he has better songs, like Turn on Your Lovelight.



The bonus material is OK, but does not make it worth buying this CD if you already have the original. Another 18 minute version of Smokestack Lightning is included. It is slightly different than the first one, with less vocals by PigPen, letting the music come through a little more. It is a nice contrast, and proves that the Dead rarely play the same song the same way twice. But, I don't think it is different enough to include. I hate it when different versions of a song are included on a CD. I like to listen to a CD all the way through and it takes away from the experience when you have songs repeated.



The one great bonus track is Sitting On Top of the World. There is a nice, jazzy guitar solo, that is different from what I have heard before.



The full title of this CD was History of the Grateful Dead, Bear's Choice, Vol 1. Other volumes were planned. This was the last Dead album on Warner Brothers records, so something must have been dropped into the transfer to Grateful Dead records.



Rhino records has done a wonderful job in reworking the Warner Brothers albums. The sound quality is excellent, and HDCD technology is used (it is supposed to improve sound quality, even on standard CD players). Bonus material has been added so that every second of the CD is used. The CD's come in nice cardboard cases with multi page booklets. (Note that the re-issues of the later Dead albums don't include the nice packaging)."
Not Their Best
Scott McFarland | Manassas, VA United States | 07/17/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)

"With all due respect to Pigpen, who is featured here, this isn't the strongest collection one could collate of their material. But - it's not bad either. The band's two versions here of "Smokestack Lightening" may not be the GD at their best, but they are the GD in their prime and they do have SOME quality to them. "Hard to Handle", always a hard-charging number, is nice. Side 1 doesn't quite move me, I don't really get the concept here, but I can't say that there's no good music here.If I had one question for Bear it would be - why no live "Easy Wind" here? That was an underrated number that Pigpen could hit out of the park."