They Were the Best of Bands and the Worst of Bands
Bruce Kendall | Southern Pines, NC | 07/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When these guys were on they were as good as it got back in the late '60's, early '70s. I saw them numerous times at the old Fillmore/Avalon Ballroom and at Winterland, Keyzar Stadium and numerous other venues. The Keyzar show would have been a complete bust, had Waylon Jennings not been on hand to rescue the show. The Dead had OD'ed and they couldn't combine for a note. Pure drivel.
Yet when they had the right "chemistry" there was no finer band in the land. They could take a collective consciousness and pin it on its ear. In fact I lost part of my hearing in my right ear from sticking my head too close to one of those huge stadium speakers to try to find my way into the "source" of the sound one crazy night at Winterland. At least I lived to tell the tale.
To make a long review short, just take your nearest listening device, attach some headphones, and listen to "Turn on Your Lovelight" on this CD. I was listening while out walking the pooch this morning and ended up boogying for about half a mile or so. My neighbors probably thought I was having a grand mal seizure or was practicing my St Vitus' Dance or both, and they were probably right. If that cut isn't one of the best live recordings ever, I don't know what is, and if it doesn't get your tail to wagging, then Jack, you a Zombie! This CD ranks right up there with the Dead's Live in Europe double album as amongst their best. Buy it or download it and alarm your nighbors, too!
BEK"