Been All Around This World - Jerry Garcia, Traditional
I'll Go Crazy - Jerry Garcia, Brown, James [1]
Take Me - Jerry Garcia, Jones, George
Handsome Cabin Boy Waltz - Jerry Garcia, Traditional
The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest - Jerry Garcia, Dylan, Bob
I'm Troubled - Jerry Garcia, Traditional
Standin' on a Corner [Blue Yodel No. 9] - Jerry Garcia, Rodgers, Jimmie
Nine Pound Hammer - Jerry Garcia, Travis, Merle
I Ain't Never - Jerry Garcia, Pierce, Michael
Sittin' Here in Limbo - Jerry Garcia, Bright, Plummer
Dark as a Dungeon - Jerry Garcia, Travis, Merle
Drink Up and Go Home - Jerry Garcia, Hart, Freddie
This (possibly) final installment in the Garcia/Grisman series leans heavily on a country music repertoire, as the pair tackles tracks by Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Travis (a jazzed-up "Nine Pound Hammer"), George Jones, Mel Ti... more »llis (a bluesy, gently shuffling "I Ain't Never"), and Freddie Hart. They also make detours into the realms of traditional folk, reggae (Jimmy Cliff's "Sittin' Here in Limbo"), soul (Garcia's passionate run through James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy" gets an E for effort), and Bob Dylan (a delightfully understated "Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"). Sure, Garcia's vocal cords might have seen better days, but you can never find fault with his heartfelt, emotionally captivating singing. The picking here is tasteful and low-key, and the overall result is a warm, relaxed stroll through the duo's many musical influences. --Marc Greilsamer« less
This (possibly) final installment in the Garcia/Grisman series leans heavily on a country music repertoire, as the pair tackles tracks by Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Travis (a jazzed-up "Nine Pound Hammer"), George Jones, Mel Tillis (a bluesy, gently shuffling "I Ain't Never"), and Freddie Hart. They also make detours into the realms of traditional folk, reggae (Jimmy Cliff's "Sittin' Here in Limbo"), soul (Garcia's passionate run through James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy" gets an E for effort), and Bob Dylan (a delightfully understated "Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"). Sure, Garcia's vocal cords might have seen better days, but you can never find fault with his heartfelt, emotionally captivating singing. The picking here is tasteful and low-key, and the overall result is a warm, relaxed stroll through the duo's many musical influences. --Marc Greilsamer
"This CD is great! I've been a Garcia/Grisman fan for a while, but never got around to buying this disc. I put off buying it when it came out, primarily because of negative reviews here. One review called it "wildly uneven" and "scraping the bottom of the barrel", which made me think Grisman was just trying to make a buck.
In my opinion, this is one of the best discs of the duo that's been released. Jerry's singing is strong throughout, and the song selection is eclectic, but very nice. The Bob Dylan cover is worth the price alone. I just wish I had bought this when it came out."
Master Musicians at their "laid back" best.
John A. Gregorio | Castalian Springs, TN | 04/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the age when some record companies release EVERYTHING in full cds or as "bonus tracks." Much of this music should have stayed in the can. This is not the case with this cd. In some ways this is a better "soundtrack" than on the great film "Grateful Dawg." You have two friends, in a relaxed atmosphere, playing tunes for the pure enjoyment. Don't let this make you think this is a cd of sloppy playing, with a few moments of brillance making the purchase "worth it." These are two master musicians who on a "bad day" could outplay their peers, and on their "best days" could outplay a few legends!
This album should be brought because it is a great album, period. Lay back, put your feet up and enjoy!"
Garcia-Grisman CD = good music, strong vocals from Garcia
R. Krumm | Urbana, IL USA | 07/21/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If it seemed like Jerry Garcia got better with age, then this CD is proof. His vocals on the first cut "Been All Around This World" sound as good or better than most Grateful Dead tunes. This is an excellent cut, perhaps the best on the CD; a song I've heard The Dead cover before it landed on this CD. Overall, I'd rate this at about 3.5 stars, and I'll round it up to 4 stars for the amazon review. Some of the tunes are great, others are just OK. Other highlights are 'Take Me', a very nice, slow arrangement and 'The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest' Most of the tunes contain very tasty guitar leads from Garcia and the usual excellent work by the Master of the Mando, David Grisman. If you're a fan of the Grateful Dead and/or the Dawg, then this is a must-have."
Another swell Grisman-Garcia album
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 09/02/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Another collection of nice, relaxed, acoustic duets, culled from the many hours of informal jam sessions that these two shaggy roots music old-timers held over the years. Jerry croons country oldies like the George Jones classic, "Take Me" and Merle Travis's "Dark As A Dungeon" and "Nine Pound Hammer," reggae tunes like "Sitting Here In Limbo" and several traditional songs, which help anchor the album's old-timey sound. The sedate, laid-back version of Bob Dylan's epic "Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest" is a highlight, though, honestly, there's no weak link to be heard on this album. These performances are understated and sincere, and though Grisman may have mined his archives several times for similar material, he is certainly not scraping the bottom of the barrel here... Not at all!"
Happy with the Bottom of the Barrel
Kenneth French | Montclair, NJ | 05/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If this release is indeed the bottom of Dawg's barrel, I hope he scrapes a little more off for us. I don't have much to add, but I did want to defend the version of "The Ballad of Frankie Lee & Judas Priest." I loved Jerry's delivery of it; his storytelling tone of voice makes the ballad come to life in a way that equals Dylan's original. Jerry 'got' Bob in a way most who cover Dylan songs don't. This one might not be as truly great as the first Garcia/Grisman or "Shady Grove," but it's still a great listen. Thanks, Dawg!"