Bear's choice (the history of...)
+++++++++A live album, compiled by Owsley Stanley who had taped everything
on a small Nagra two-track portable, wired into the PA console, during two
Valentine's Day gigs at the Fillmore East in februari 1970, which was just
one month after LIVE/DEAD was released, and the resulting sound quality
is remarkably good... It's a Pigpen memorial album, released in 1973. The
last album the DeaD made for the Warner Br. label and a representive sample
of acoustic tracks from the 70's live shows. The "Bear" is Owlsley.
nr. 1 Oddly titled, may be most notable for the premiere
of the lightning bolt/skeleton design. Excellent Pigpen vocals but the albums
sound quality and weak first side mark it as the band weakest album up to
that point in time.
GOLDMINE, JULY 1987
nr. 2 Een
vrij verrassend geheel. Prettige, relaxte muziek. Garcia's zang komt in
de zachte songs veel beter uit. Op kant twee is prachtig samenspel tussen
Weir en Garcia. Een interessante plaat. Goede kwaliteit, erg sfeer rijk,
maar niets nieuws biedend.
OOR, SEPTEMBER 1973
nr.
3 The band's last album before leaving Warner Bros was a fitting tribute
to their fallen companion Pigpen, who died on March 8, 1973. It's Pigpen
at his best, growling out R'n'B classics like HARD TO HANDLE and SMOKESTACK
LIGHTNING. The record also includes some oddities, considering how much
archival material was available, like a rare and unlikely LITTLE SUSIE,
a song the DeaD only ever played a dozen times.
JAMIE JENSEN
nr.
4 Really a Pigpen Memorial album, although the DeaD would never be so mundane
as to put it that way. Recorded Fillmore East, February 1970, and you had
to be there. rating: C+
ROBERT CRISTGAU
nr. 6 A generally
sloppy and uninspired live album culled from two nights at the Fillmore
East in 1970. Side one is acoustic, they are not particularly good performances.
The singing on DARK HOLLOW and LITTLE SUSIE is weak. BLACK PETER is more
successful but adds little to the original recording. Side two is something
of a Pigpen memorial featuring a fabulous run-through of HARD TO HANDLE
and a slightly tedious version of Howlin' Wolf's great SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING.
All in all, a disappointment. * *
BLAIR JACKSON, THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED,
PLEXUS UK 1983
nr. 7 A beautiful, honest and underrated
album. The DeaD play very relaxed and with heart. Together with RECKONING
their acoustic live high points. The BLACK PETER version might be the definite
one, very simple and direct,shooting an arrow ful of redemption right to
your heart. Side two is a fitting memorial to the Rhythm 'n' Blues power
of the late great Pigpen. * * * *
ERIK SCHOTHANS, july 1992
nr.
8 It's unlike any other 'live' album they've put out. I wouldn't say, as
many have, that the album is exclusively a collector's item, because it's
very pleasant to listen to, and when you know a little bit more about, it
becomes particularly interesting. A good album and worth a lot more than
just the curiosity value that a lot of people have labelled it with.
ANDY
CHILDS, ZIG ZAG Magazine
