Historic / Vintage Dead

++++++++++++++++ Two albums of unauthorisized live-recordings from the Avalon Ballroom in '66. It's no bootleg 'coz the DeaD had sold the rights of the tape to Bob Cohen, who was once part-owner of the Family Dog. These selected highlights of the band's set were prepared for release on a compilation album of bands from the era. That never came about and instead the company released the albums in 1970 to cash in on the groups 1970 successes WORKINGMAN's DEAD and AMERICAN BEAUTY. The albums are out of print now. STEALIN' and LINDY were remnants from the old jug band days. In fact, STEALIN' (an old Memphis Jug Band number) was coupled with DON'T EASE ME IN for their first single release.

nr. 1 Vintage Dead; Those performances weren't meant to stand around forever but it has become one of the most collectible DeaD releases. Fascinating peaks into the bands early sound. Pigpen's presence is felt as the bands original leader and BABY BLUE is a gem. GOLDMINE, JULY 1987

nr. 2 Vintage Dead; This is the better one of the two, offering passable renditions of RIDER, BABY BLUE and DANCING IN THE STREET. All of side two is given over to a rather tedious version of MIDNIGHT HOUR, a song that wasn't that great to begin with. As a document of the DeaD before their Warners contract, the record isn't too bad. Tape-making fans can steer you to much better performances from this era. * * BLAIR JACKSON

nr. 3 Historic Dead; With less than a half hour of music, most of it fairly undistinguished, this album is a bit of a rip-off. Still, the band shows its substancial blues chops in extended work-outs on LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL and THE SAME THING. * * BLAIR JACKSON, THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED, 1983

nr. 4 VINTAGE DEAD An album with the same speedy energy as their debut album. This time it's a live album and I wouldn't have mind if all their albums were live recordings. It has their first vinyl release of the classic I KNOW YOU RIDER. An early Pigpen vocal with a whole lot of vibration and some fierce harmonica on IT HURTS ME TOO. The BABY BLUE can compete with the early Rolling Stones version and the DANCING IN THE STREET is sung with heart and soul. MIDNIGHT HOUR is a classic Pigpen tune. An unpolished album that gives a good example of the DeaD in the early days. * * * * ERIK SCHOTHANS, July 1992

nr. 5 Both VINTAGE DEAD and HISTORIC DEAD are semi-official releases, but essential for anyone who wants to know the early DeaD. GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOLGIRL is quite different from the version on Bear's Choice. On this one everyone go loose, especially Pigpen and Mr. Trips. LINDY could very well be a beautiful DeaD song, but I haven't heard it since this album. Side two has a poor sound quality and STEALIN' ain't that special too, but on THE SAME THING one can hear the improvisational talent the band always had. I would call this music Rock'n'Jazz Roll. * * * (?)

nr. 6 Definitely only a collector's item. Comparisons between I KNOW YOU RIDER on this LP and the latter day versions prove interesting and revealing, and DANCIN' IN THE STREETS is a very acceptable piece of Dead-type 'freaked-out' R&B. HISTORIC DEAD last only for a miserable 29 minutes, with absolutely no information on the sleeve and I don't think it is nearly as good as VINTAGE DEAD. These albums are a valuable part of the Dead's recorded history, or a particularly nasty rip-off. ANDY CHILDS, ZIG ZAG Magazine

nr. 7 Despite the usual imperfections of live recordings, the album stands up strongly against its contemporaries, showing traces of things to come, particularly with the Pig's chopping organ and Garcia's loose, winding guitar, and that 'it would have been a far stronger and more representative set to release than the first Warners album'. Dick Lawson, Frendz