Search - Grateful Dead :: Fallout From the Phil Zone

A great medley of peak Grateful Dead recordings

Shawn Moses | Baltimore, MD | 05/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-cd set is a sort of GD sampler platter, selected by bassist Phil Lesh from 30 years of live performances. The half-hour "In the Midnight Hour" is hilarious (at one point, Pig tries to get Bobby to dance with a girl in the audience!). There is also a tearfully beautiful version of Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" recorded just a few months before Jerry's death - the way he pours his own pain into the song is simply heartbreaking. There's not a single track that I don't like in this set, and some, such as "Hard to Handle" and "Jack-a-Roe," are my favorite versions in my collection. There's not much continuity in the album - you would never mistake this for a recording of a single concert - but the playing is outstanding throughout."

CD is good, Too Hard To Handle Is Incredible

Mark A. Seka | el cerrito, ca | 07/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are some nice selections on this disk (the first Jack A Roe performed by the Dead), but nothing that is a truly must have, other than the Too Hard To Handle. The track is from an audience mic of a 1971 performance and the sound quality is exceptional. I grew up going to Dead shows in the 80's and was accustomed to the crowd interaction when the crowd had a well versed familiarity with the Dead's material. Here there is this raw excitement you can hear from the crowd's reaction. The way that they respond to Jerry's solo is just like an old fashioned revival - the energy just keeps escalating in the crowd response and Jerry in turn just keeps ratcheting up his playing until the house sounds like it going to come down. Amazing!"

Hard to Handle

Paul | Amherst, MA USA | 02/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a strange mix of great Dead songs, you can tell each track is really significant to Phil. Great versions of New Speedway Boogie, Viola Lee Blues, Music Never Stopped, and a 30 minute Midnight Hour with Pigpen at the top of his game. However, the highlight of this 2 disc set is by far, HARD TO HANDLE, containing one of the best Jerry solos captured on tape."