Artists/Bands you can't live without

[AnotherSpin]

No - can someone explain the Grateful Dead to me? - 'cos I just don't get it.  I quite enjoy Aoxomoxoa, but everything else I've listened to leaves me mystified.  I read somewhere that the performance of Dark Star on Live/Dead represents the peak of their recorded legacy - well, 20 minutes in and I'm still waiting for it to start.  I know "you had to be there", and that they regarded studio albums as a poor substitute for live shows, hence the releases of all the concert material.  They are clearly a band of very wide culture and interests - Phil Lesh, for example, funded the Marco Polo recordings of Havergal Brian's symphonies - but I'm still waiting to find the way in.  Recommendations, please!

For me, the Grateful Dead are incredibly important; along with Dylan, they represent the largest chunk of non-classical music in my listening. I currently have a massive archive of their music, which, in addition to nearly all official releases, includes hundreds and hundreds of live recordings made by tapers at concerts.

I can't explain what makes the Dead so good; even I don't fully understand what happened in the mid-70s when I first heard Terrapin Station. It's also hard to explain why I've been listening to their live shows, often in amateur-quality recordings, for all these decades. The words of someone else come to mind, about how the Dead played on a level that other rock bands didn't even know existed.

It's also hard to recommend anything specific. All I can do is share what I personally consider especially important. Among live recordings, I particularly value those from 1976–1980, as well as 1972–1974. The May 1977 recording - Cornell 5/8/77 - is often mentioned, and while it's indeed excellent, the other May recordings or even the entirety of 1977 is mostly outstanding. Alternatively, you could try the New Year's Eve concert album Closing of Winterland.

As for studio albums, Terrapin Station, Blues for Allah, and Mars Hotel are especially dear to me. Many would name American Beauty.

Regarding Dark Star, there are over 200 recordings available, with the longest running over forty minutes. You could listen to all of them

[Karl Henning]

No - can someone explain the Grateful Dead to me? - 'cos I just don't get it.  I quite enjoy Aoxomoxoa, but everything else I've listened to leaves me mystified.  I read somewhere that the performance of Dark Star on Live/Dead represents the peak of their recorded legacy - well, 20 minutes in and I'm still waiting for it to start.  I know "you had to be there", and that they regarded studio albums as a poor substitute for live shows, hence the releases of all the concert material.  They are clearly a band of very wide culture and interests - Phil Lesh, for example, funded the Marco Polo recordings of Havergal Brian's symphonies - but I'm still waiting to find the way in.  Recommendations, please!

My impression is that it is largely a "you had to be there" phenomenon. I never was, but the band had an astonishingly loyal audience for live performances, and they seem to be the poster child for Live Performance is one thing, Laying it Down in the studio is another. I'm another outsider, so my answer isn't really helpful. 

[AnotherSpin]

My impression is that it is largely a "you had to be there" phenomenon. I never was, but the band had an astonishingly loyal audience for live performances, and they seem to be the poster child for Live Performance is one thing, Laying it Down in the studio is another. I'm another outsider, so my answer isn't really helpful.

I have never been to a Grateful Dead concert, and moreover, my fascination with the Dead's music mostly began after 1995.

[Karl Henning]

I have never been to a Grateful Dead concert, and moreover, my fascination with the Dead's music mostly began after 1995.

I get that, and I salute you. I did say largely. Really the chap to explain the Dead to an heathen such as the likes of me, is @Sergeant Rock 
The two tunes from the Dead I most frequently groove to are "Touch of Gray" and "Alabama Getaway." 

[AnotherSpin]

I get that, and I salute you. I did say largely. Really the chap to explain the Dead to an heathen such as the likes of me, is @Sergeant Rock
The two tunes from the Dead I most frequently groove to are "Touch of Gray" and "Alabama Getaway."

So, you might consider yourself a grayhead  

[Number Six]

No - can someone explain the Grateful Dead to me? - 'cos I just don't get it. 

I don't think I can. 

I tried off and on for about 20 years, starting with Skeletons from the Closet as a college freshman in 1992. I bought several albums throughout college, but it never clicked. 

Later, seeing Linda Cardellini dancing to "Box of Rain" on Freaks and Geeks (see below) literally sent me to Hastings to buy the American Beauty album. I liked it, but I did not get on the bus that day, either. 

In years to come, my brother became something of a Deadhead and tried to get me into them. Again, I liked what I heard, but I did not get it. No bus ride for me. 

Then one day a little over 10 years ago, I had been listening to a lot of Jefferson Airplane and digging Jorma's guitar. I wanted more of that bluesy psych 60's sound, and somehow I ended up at the first GD album. "Viola Lee Blues" played, and that was it. The bus came by, and I got on hard that day.  

Since then, I have had periods where I listened to 80 or 90% Dead music week to week. These days, it's more like phases of a few days on here and there. But in response to your original question? It's my opinion, based on experience, that you don't find the Dead's music. There's no shame in not digging it.

When the moment is right, the music finds you. 

[Karl Henning]

I don't think I can. 

I tried off and on for about 20 years, starting with Skeletons from the Closet as a college freshman in 1992. I bought several albums throughout college, but it never clicked.

Later, seeing Linda Cardellini dancing to "Box of Rain" on Freaks and Geeks (see below) literally sent me to Hastings to buy the American Beauty album. I liked it, but I did not get on the bus that day, either.

In years to come, my brother became something of a Deadhead and tried to get me into them. Again, I liked what I heard, but I did not get it. No bus ride for me.

Then one day a little over 10 years ago, I had been listening to a lot of Jefferson Airplane and digging Jorma's guitar. I wanted more of that bluesy psych 60's sound, and somehow I ended up at the first GD album. "Viola Lee Blues" played, and that was it. The bus came by, and I got on hard that day. 

Since then, I have had periods where I listened to 80 or 90% Dead music week to week. These days, it's more like phases of a few days on here and there. But in response to your original question? It's my opinion, based on experience, that you don't find the Dead's music. There's no shame in not digging it.

When the moment is right, the music finds you.

Most interesting. 

[Number Six]

Most interesting.

I have chosen to take my singular personal experience and apply it to everyone. What? 

[AnotherSpin]

I don't think I can. 

[..]

When the moment is right, the music finds you.

I don't think I ever consciously chose the Grateful Dead as the rock band I would listen to for decades. But that's how everything else in life works. Many people believe they've made and continue to make choices, whether important or trivial, it doesn't matter. But that's not the case. Similarly, one could say that it's not we who find, but rather we who are found.

[Number Six]

one could say that it's not we who find, but rather we who are found.

On a side note, thank you for clipping my post! On this forum, it's common for people to reply to really long posts right after the original post, and it's frequently unnecessary and annoying IMO. 

[Madiel]

he band had an astonishingly loyal audience for live performances

Indeed, at one point at least they were regarded as having the most loyal fan base of any musical act.

I know because I was part of the fan base that was considered in at least one reckoning as the second most loyal. It was both slightly annoying and mildly interesting to find out who was in first place. I always meant to check them out but still haven't done so.

[hopefullytrusting]

My impression is that it is largely a "you had to be there" phenomenon. I never was, but the band had an astonishingly loyal audience for live performances, and they seem to be the poster child for Live Performance is one thing, Laying it Down in the studio is another. I'm another outsider, so my answer isn't really helpful.

I think that is simply the nature of "jam bands". Phish is quite similar to the Grateful Dead, and if you ever hear their live recordings (their ramblings, as it were) versus their studio albums - you can definitely hear a difference, length being one major consideration, and how high the audience was being the other - I think drugs play a major role in your ability to "jam".

[AnotherSpin]

I think that is simply the nature of "jam bands". Phish is quite similar to the Grateful Dead, and if you ever hear their live recordings (their ramblings, as it were) versus their studio albums - you can definitely hear a difference, length being one major consideration, and how high the audience was being the other - I think drugs play a major role in your ability to "jam".

The theme of drugs and the ability to jam inevitably arises in any conversation about the Grateful Dead. However, no one has proven that drugs and jamming alone are enough to transform another band into the next Grateful Dead. Phish often gets mentioned in this context, and Trey Anastasio even played with the Dead, but...

[AnotherSpin]

In terms of jam bands, Goose's live recordings are quite remarkable.

[DaveF]

My impression is that it is largely a "you had to be there" phenomenon. I never was, but the band had an astonishingly loyal audience for live performances, and they seem to be the poster child for Live Performance is one thing, Laying it Down in the studio is another. I'm another outsider, so my answer isn't really helpful.

On the contrary, it is very helpful.  I may be drowning, but at least I can wave to you.

[Karl Henning]

I read somewhere that the performance of Dark Star on Live/Dead represents the peak of their recorded legacy - well, 20 minutes in and I'm still waiting for it to start.

Tangentially, I've ment to listen to this for, erm, forever, and your post has been the motivation.

[AnotherSpin]

Tangentially, I've ment to listen to this for, erm, forever, and your post has been the motivation.

In that case, be aware that Dark Star is available in more interesting versions than on Live/Dead. This composition was performed differently every time.

[Karl Henning]

In that case, be aware that Dark Star is available in more interesting versions than on Live/Dead. This composition was performed differently every time.

I can well imagine. What are one or two versions you would especially suggest?

[AnotherSpin]

I can well imagine. What are one or two versions you would especially suggest?

I don't think my answer will fit, but I like almost all versions of Dark Star. That moment in the concert, when the first sounds of Dark Star are heard, it seems as if time stops, space folds up and disappears. Or, unfolds, and every object in the sky can be touched with your hand, or peeked behind.

Okay, you can start here:
8-27-1972 (Veneta)
2-13-1970 (Fillmore East, also released as Dick's Picks4)
11-11-1973 (Winterland)

These concerts can be found at archive.org or downloaded at etree.org