Marking the 30th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's first full-fledged European tour, the four-disc Steppin' Out will delight collectors wishing to dig deeper than the terrific original three-LP (two-CD) Europe '72. Cullin... more »g performances from seven English shows from the spring of 1972, this set has much more of a "live" feel than the Europe '72 release, which had polished up the Dead's rougher edges, introduced a bunch of new songs to record, and in general been intended to serve as a "studio" record. Of particular interest here is a rippling, sprite reading of "Sitting on Top of the World" (sung by Jerry Garcia), a couple of lesser-known Pigpen originals ("Chinatown Shuffle" and "The Stranger"), and versions of chestnuts "Hey Bo Diddley" (in a "Not Fade Away" sandwich) and "Rockin' Pneumonia" that most folks have not heard Deadified. There's also a wonderful and lengthy "Dark Star"/"Sugar Magnolia"/"Caution" combo from Wembley Empire Pool on disc 4. While this collection shouldn't replace Europe '72 in your stack, it's a worthy complement for fans of this era in Dead history. --Marc Greilsamer« less
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's first full-fledged European tour, the four-disc Steppin' Out will delight collectors wishing to dig deeper than the terrific original three-LP (two-CD) Europe '72. Culling performances from seven English shows from the spring of 1972, this set has much more of a "live" feel than the Europe '72 release, which had polished up the Dead's rougher edges, introduced a bunch of new songs to record, and in general been intended to serve as a "studio" record. Of particular interest here is a rippling, sprite reading of "Sitting on Top of the World" (sung by Jerry Garcia), a couple of lesser-known Pigpen originals ("Chinatown Shuffle" and "The Stranger"), and versions of chestnuts "Hey Bo Diddley" (in a "Not Fade Away" sandwich) and "Rockin' Pneumonia" that most folks have not heard Deadified. There's also a wonderful and lengthy "Dark Star"/"Sugar Magnolia"/"Caution" combo from Wembley Empire Pool on disc 4. While this collection shouldn't replace Europe '72 in your stack, it's a worthy complement for fans of this era in Dead history. --Marc Greilsamer
CD Reviews
Boycott copy protected CDs
mpbritt | San Francisco, CA | 12/21/2002
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This disk is defective because it does not conform to the Compact Disc Digital Audio format. It is not a true "CD" as we have come to know it. Do not buy it because you will not be able to play this disk in your computer CD drive, or convert the songs into MP3 to play in your MP3 player. By "copy protecting" this disk, Arista records is attempting to deny you your rights of fair use."
Maximum Upgrade Sound
krishna sherchan | usa | 07/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like many DeadHeads I have heard much of this material before, most recently on CD-Rs of exceptional quality. Still, the sound here is a big step up in depth and ambience, making the collection a must have (I guess for GD addicts it's all must have but this time I really mean it). In any case, the E72 shows represent a peak in the Dead's creative output matched, possibly, only a few other times in their career. The compiled version of Other One>El Paso>Other One and the Dark Star (not a comp - most of disc 4 is from April 8th 72) are a healing journey for which I am grateful indeed. Another fave of mine is the Black Throated Wind, which was never better than in 72. This set is a great companion to the original E72 (recently augmented and rereleased on the Golden Road set), and will stay in my CD changer for some time to come! And I suspect that GDMusic is saving 5/25/72 for a release yet to come...."
Why the Dead Were Among the Very Best
Mitchell D. Wilson | Berkeley, CA United States | 07/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What is amazing about this recording, in addition to how alive and textured it sounds, is that the Dead were extremely polished and tight (as they would be from the early '70's on), while still able to tap into their late '60's improvisational, blues/boogie vibe. Here they are at a critical time of transition between the Pig Pen inspired rapping of Good Lovin' and Lovelight (both versions here are arguably the best ever put out on record by the Dead), and the tight, countrified sound they struck throughout the early and mid-70's (after Pig Pen got sick and eventually died in 1973). Unlike the original Europe '72, which is brilliant in many ways, yet distant and overly polished in feel, these recordings have a risk-taking intensity that is inspiring and awesome. Jerry Garcia feels free to explore a wide variety of textures, styles, and sounds (he plays slide in the middle of the Good Lovin' jam, for example). His second solo on "Sittin' on Top of the World" is worth the entire price of admission: it's boogie jazz, and you hear why Garcia was a true original. No one else could play like that. Phil Lesh is loud and often ferocious on bass. Kieth Godchaux adds sense and color on piano. And Bill Kreutzman (free of the bombast of Mickey Hart) repeatedly turns the band on a dime with expert drumming. Among other highlights is a beautiful "Uncle John's Band" marked by mournful harmonies and a dark, churning jam to finish. "Mr. Charlie" sports another bluesy, funky Garcia solo (much better than the Europe '72 version). The "Dark Star" is relentless--the Dead refuse to stop exploring the spaces hidden in that piece. This is the Dead at their very best. And in this music you hear how important Pig Pen was to the band. Finally, it's important to play this music loud."
Just astounding
David Field | Merrimac, MA USA | 08/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this because I was at the Bickershaw festival, Wembley arena, and the Lyceum. However, thanks to the the 30-year difference and a few other things ;) I remember very little from the shows. I do remember meeting Jerry backstage at Bickershaw and coming out of my first Dead show and looking at the Wembley residents watching TV in their front rooms, and realizing that there were some unlucky people who actually never knew what the Dead were like.Luckily we still have records like this. I thought the cream of the shows from that tour had been skimmed off with "Europe '72," but to my mind this is better. Clearly it's longer, but there are sublime moments all the time. I wasn't much of a fan of Pig Pen, or Keith and Donna, yet after hearing a few tracks that featured them I was left wishing for more. Ditto for some songs that I used to think didn't show the Dead at their best, but they come on really strong on this set.Yes, the Dead sometimes sang (and played!) out of tune. Yes, I can see how some people can dismiss Garcia's playing as endless noodling. But if you put that against the astounding ensemble playing and Garcia's abilities when he "hit it" (and he certainly hits it a lot of the time here), you won't care. The Dead were a band that had more ideas in ONE performance of ONE song than most bands had in their entire career.So definitely a classic Dead album. If you like them, you won't be disappointed."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1