Search - Bruce Hornsby :: Furthur

Brother, Can you spare a Penny?

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 09/05/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When Jerry Garcia, Passed in August 1995, The Deadhead Village fell into a Deep Funk. This CD was assembled to Preview what was to Become: "The Furthur Festival".



All the Artists featured here did participate in the Festival, But these tracks are Pre-Festival selections from the years 1972 {Keep On Truckin'} thru 1995-96. Some Cuts are Live; "Spider Fingers" by Bruce Hornsby, "Jack Straw" by Bobby Weir's, Ratdog, whilst others are not; "Fire on The Mountian" by Mickey Hart's, Mystery Box & "Keep on Truckin" by Hot Tuna.



My Favorite, of the Ten Tracks presented here is: "Bertha" in an Smokin' hot Live version as presented by Los Lobos. But, that Great Selection is Flawed as this Song is part of a Much Longer Medley that has been Edited, with all of the great guitar interplay lost. The Ratdog Tracks: "I Need A Miracle", "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" & "Amazing Grace" {Rob Wasserman's Solo Spot from the Live Show}. Were the very first Ratdog Tracks to be released on CD, so for Historical purposes this CD grants Attention.



Two Hidden gems appear on: "Further". John Westley Harding, offers up: "When the Beatles Hit America" a Cool Acoustic Blues/Rap with some Clever Lyrics [ Much like the Best Works of Ray Davies }. And: 'Big Mama's Door" is by Alvin Youngblood Hart and it's like a Long-Lost Dustbowl Classic from the 1930's. I'm glad these two are featured here as they increase this CD's value.



Do you need Furthur? That's your Choice, But, since some of these tracks have never appeared on any other CD's...You'll need to decide...BUT, The Vendors will give this one up for only One Penny, So don't Pass this one up!"