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Stolen Roses: Songs of the Grateful Dead
Various Artists
Stolen Roses: Songs of the Grateful Dead
Genres: Country, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

The Grateful Dead wrote dozens of great songs, and all great songs invite interpretation--to be twisted, revised, lengthened, shortened, and messed with. That seems to be the guiding principle of this strange, enjoyable CD...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists
Title: Stolen Roses: Songs of the Grateful Dead
Members Wishing: 6
Total Copies: 0
Label: Arista
Original Release Date: 8/8/2000
Release Date: 8/8/2000
Genres: Country, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Americana, Tributes, Folk Rock, Roots Rock, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 078221407328

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The Grateful Dead wrote dozens of great songs, and all great songs invite interpretation--to be twisted, revised, lengthened, shortened, and messed with. That seems to be the guiding principle of this strange, enjoyable CD, which was compiled by David Gans, host of the syndicated radio show The Grateful Dead Hour. The "stolen" in the title is only half-ironic; the Patti Smith and Dylan tunes were taken from live tapes. This was done with the artist's permission of course, but the sound quality on the disc varies widely, just like some old vinyl bootleg on Trademark of Quality. And though more than half of the songs appear elsewhere, it's a diverse mix, and the six unreleased tracks are all highlights. Any 'Head will appreciate Elvis Costello's forceful, cool delivery of "Ship Of Fools," Widespread Panic's energetic take on "Cream Puff War," and, most importantly, the David Grisman Quintet's lengthy, mind-warping version of "Dark Star." --Mike McGonigal

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CD Reviews

An uneven tribute that doesn't come close to the original...
Jac Polsgrove | Tucson, Arizona | 08/10/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this CD up on the second day it was out, which also happened to be Aug. 9, the fifth anniversary of Jerry Garcia's death. I was hoping this would be a fitting fifth anniversary tribute, but it falls flat for the most part. The 77-minute CD opens with a nice Cumberland Blues by the Cache Valley Drifters, then slumps with a theatre troupe's performance of High Time and a weak version of B.E. Woman by the Pontiac Brothers. Then comes the worst part of the CD, an audience recording of Dylan doing Friend of the Devil. The performance is undated, but surely Dylan could've provided a soundboard. The audience recording is poor and Dylan's voice is whiney. I saw him in San Diego a month ago and he was great, so this performance is probably from his lost whiney period of a couple of years ago. What I'd hoped would be the CD's high point, the David Grisman Quintet doing a 10-minute Dark Star, instead turned out to be b-o-r-i-n-g, with none of the subtle nuance and dancing notes that trickled from Jerry's guitar in this eternal Dead classic. Surprisingly, one cut that I thought would be bad turned out just the opposite: Henry Rollins doing Franklin's Tower. OK, you can't tell it's Franklin's, but Rollins -- and I'm not a fan of his -- takes the tune and makes it his own. Probably the most enjoyable moment comes from a sad, plaintive version of Black Peter that Patti Smith cut on 8/9/95, the day of Jerry's death. She and band were in the studio working on Gone Again when they heard of Jerry's death. An impromptu version of Black Peter came from Patti's soul and its deep darkness conveys the sadness of that day five years ago. For Dead fanatics like myself, this CD is OK. For the average person, find someone who's got the CD and tape Patti Smith. (An a capella Black Muddy River by the Persuasions is also a brief treat.) Overall, though, this album is just like the recent Gram Parsons tribute CD: it only serves to remind the listener just how great the original was. Nothing comes close to the real thing..."
The Music Never Stopped...
Jac Polsgrove | 08/09/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Eclectic. This is the word that I would use to describe this Grateful Dead tribute disc. I have heard about the disc for quite some time now, and I must say that I am pleased with the results. From the bluegrass styling of the Cache Valley Drifters ("Cumberland Blues") and Cumberland Blues Cast ("High Time") to the rocking riffs of Widespread Panic ("Cream Puff War") and The Pontiac Brothers ("Brown Eyed Women")-plus everything in between. Listening to the disc just reminds of me how many influences there were to the Grateful Dead's music: bluegrass, folk, jazz, and rock. And hearing the vocal harmonies on "Black Muddy River" (by the Persuasions) reminds me of the first time I had heard "Uncle John's Band" on the Workingman's Dead album-those boys were no slouches themselves.Anyway, my favorite tracks on this disc are the Bob Dylan cover of "Friend of the Devil" and the "Dawg-music" take on "Dark Star" by David Grisman. I have given this disc a four star review on account of the Wartime cover of "Franklin's Tower"-it just doesn't seem to fit within the flow of the disc (in my humble opinion). This will probably be the one track that I skip over on this otherwise fine tribute to the Grateful Dead. In the end, it's all about the music. And it is quite apparent that the music and legacy of the Grateful Dead has touched a great number of people in number ways. I give two thumbs up to the producers, the artists, and lastly, the Dead, themselves, for putting out a great disc. I hope that Garcia is smiling, like he always had been, in the astral plane."
Interpretations of Greatful Dead Songs
Gary Nallan | Asheville, NC | 09/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many of my favorite Grateful Dead songs are their interpretations of others' music, e.g., Bob Dylan.Producer David Gans has provided us here with the opposite, interpretations by others of Grateful Dead songs.Any serious fan of the Grateful Dead will love this album.My favorite tracks are by Elvis Costello: Ship of Fools/It Must Have Been the Roses, Bob Dylan: Friend of the Devil, and Joe Gallant and Illuminati: Unbroken Chain.The finale is by the Stanford Marching Band: Uncle John's Band. No kidding....it'll make you laugh!"