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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 11 2006, 7:44 PM EDT (current) | folkrockman | |
| Aug 11 2006, 7:44 PM EDT | folkrockman | 306 words added, 2 words deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
The musicians: Bob Dylan and the Greatful Dead.
Reviews:
From The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray:
"Dylan & the Dead [1989] Yet another live album, in this case recordings from 1987 that
you’d assume set out to humiliate Bob Dylan and prove how awful such joint concerts were: but in
fact Dylan was given all the tapes and made these choices himself. He can’t remember the words to
any of the songs, the vocal sound is miserable and THE GRATEFUL DEAD are lumpenly uninspired. As
ever with Dylan’s live albums, it would have been possible to compile something distinctive and
compelling instead, in this case from tapes that show Dylan and the Dead making sense as a unit
blessed with the bounty of each partner’s openness to the spontaneity of the moment. Richard
Williams wrote of the ‘wasted majesty’ of this version of ‘Queen Jane Approximately’; this was wishful
thinking. (Wasted, yes; majesty, no.) Dylan’s abject incompetence at groping for the words
makes it rather a form of public self-abasement, excruciating and sad to witness. By the time this
was released, Dylan was more than seven months into the Never-Ending Tour, and feeling rather
better."
From Folkrockman:
"Some have dismissed this album (see above for example), but I find it delightful! It opens with “Slow Train”. I love the Dead’s backup vocals – I didn’t know they did gospel! The music is more rock oriented that some of Dylan’s backup bands. Bob’s voice is pretty good on this one. For most of my life I’ve not listened to live albums but listening to these Dylan records is making me rethink this. The recording quality here is pretty good and you get the feeling. I LOVE Garcia’s guitar leads (“I Want You” for example). It appears that Dylan was feeling pretty good during these gigs – his energy level is very high. The way the songs cut on and off is disconcerting but I’m not sure if anything can be done about it in a record like this. On “Gotta Serve Somebody” I had to smile with the backup vocals which were female on the original. The guitar lead-in to “Queen Jane Approximately” is really cool. “Joey” seems to be the most “Dead” of the songs here. The band sounds great. I don’t think I can get enough different versions of “All Along the Watchtower”. This one is certainly different from both Dylan’s acoustic and rock versions. This leads to another of the album’s strengths – song selection. Ending with the classic “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” with the Dead doing the heavenly vocals, whew! If you’re looking for a smooth studio record, skip “Dylan and the Dead”. But if you want to listen to a good round of songs by some of the greatest artists in rock history, it’s worth a listen!”"
Best Song: Every album's got one...
Really? OK "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is the least awfull
According to Alias
To me, the opening song "Slow Train" is OUTSTANDING. Unlike some critics, I actually enjoy all the songs on this record. -- Folkrockman
Favorite Lyric:
"Now when all the clowns that you have commissioned
Have died in battle or in vain
And you're sick of all this repetition
Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?"
According to Alias
- Slow Train
- I Want You
- Gotta Serve Somebody
- Queen Jane Approximately
- Joey
- All Along the Watchtower
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Notes and Reviews
The musicians: Bob Dylan and the Greatful Dead.
Reviews:
From The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray:
"Dylan & the Dead [1989] Yet another live album, in this case recordings from 1987 that
you’d assume set out to humiliate Bob Dylan and prove how awful such joint concerts were: but in
fact Dylan was given all the tapes and made these choices himself. He can’t remember the words to
any of the songs, the vocal sound is miserable and THE GRATEFUL DEAD are lumpenly uninspired. As
ever with Dylan’s live albums, it would have been possible to compile something distinctive and
compelling instead, in this case from tapes that show Dylan and the Dead making sense as a unit
blessed with the bounty of each partner’s openness to the spontaneity of the moment. Richard
Williams wrote of the ‘wasted majesty’ of this version of ‘Queen Jane Approximately’; this was wishful
thinking. (Wasted, yes; majesty, no.) Dylan’s abject incompetence at groping for the words
makes it rather a form of public self-abasement, excruciating and sad to witness. By the time this
was released, Dylan was more than seven months into the Never-Ending Tour, and feeling rather
better."
From Folkrockman:
"Some have dismissed this album (see above for example), but I find it delightful! It opens with “Slow Train”. I love the Dead’s backup vocals – I didn’t know they did gospel! The music is more rock oriented that some of Dylan’s backup bands. Bob’s voice is pretty good on this one. For most of my life I’ve not listened to live albums but listening to these Dylan records is making me rethink this. The recording quality here is pretty good and you get the feeling. I LOVE Garcia’s guitar leads (“I Want You” for example). It appears that Dylan was feeling pretty good during these gigs – his energy level is very high. The way the songs cut on and off is disconcerting but I’m not sure if anything can be done about it in a record like this. On “Gotta Serve Somebody” I had to smile with the backup vocals which were female on the original. The guitar lead-in to “Queen Jane Approximately” is really cool. “Joey” seems to be the most “Dead” of the songs here. The band sounds great. I don’t think I can get enough different versions of “All Along the Watchtower”. This one is certainly different from both Dylan’s acoustic and rock versions. This leads to another of the album’s strengths – song selection. Ending with the classic “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” with the Dead doing the heavenly vocals, whew! If you’re looking for a smooth studio record, skip “Dylan and the Dead”. But if you want to listen to a good round of songs by some of the greatest artists in rock history, it’s worth a listen!”"
Best Song: Every album's got one...
Really? OK "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is the least awfull
According to Alias
To me, the opening song "Slow Train" is OUTSTANDING. Unlike some critics, I actually enjoy all the songs on this record. -- Folkrockman
Favorite Lyric:
"Now when all the clowns that you have commissioned
Have died in battle or in vain
And you're sick of all this repetition
Won't you come see me, Queen Jane?"
According to Alias
