Go to Heaven

Recorded early 1980 with a new producer: Gary Lyons, this album founds itself higher in the US charts than any of their hey day epics. It was the last album with featuring Keith Godchaux. He died in a car accident. The first with new keyboardist Brent Mydland. The cover was selected by the Rock Yearbook as "Worst Sleeve". And rightly so! Could you imagine seeing Pigpen standing on this one? ALABAMA GETAWAY is a Chuck Berry-ish rocker that almost became a hitsingle. ALTHEA is a gently insistent love song. Two songs from Mydland of which FAR FROM ME became a "killer" live song. LOST SAILOR starts off sounding like SAGE AND SPIRIT. It's a tale about freedom and fate. ST. OF CIRCUMSTANCE is a rousing rock anthem about dedication and commitment. Weir's other song, FEEL LIKE A STRANGER summed up all the fake cool and insecurity of the disco-era. DON'T EASE ME IN is an old Texas raver. It was the first and only single by the Warlocks.

nr. 1 FAR FROM ME sounds like an old Doobie Br. out-take. The album was so bad they didn't record another one for seven years. RELIX

nr. 2 New producer Gary Lyons captured the Dead's sound well and without too much tempering afterwards. GOLDMINE, 9/87

nr. 3 Not counting the lovely revamped DON'T EASE ME IN, the best song here is a Garcia/Hunter trifle called ALABAMA GETAWAY. It grieves me to report that it isn't about dope dealers fleeing the troopers. 'Cause without hippiedom, they're lost. Utter wimp: new keybist Brent Mydland. rating: C ROBERT CRISTGAU, RECORD GUIDE THE 80'S,PANTHEON 1990

nr. 4 Produced by superstar producer Gary Lyons, this is unquestionable the Dead's slickest record ever. This horrified many Deadheads, but the bottom line is that Lyons did a superb job of recording the band, capturing the dynamics of the group very well, and most of the songs are quite good. Weir and Barlow are particular standouts, offering the funky FEEL LIKE A STRANGER and complex duo of LOST SAILOR and ST. OF CIRCUMSTANCE. Brent sings lead on two of his own songs, both of which work to a degree, and Garcia's lilting ALTHEA is a joy. * * * BLAIR JACKSON

nr. 4 Their most energic album in ages. From the opening notes of the opening tune you knew they're found their feet again. Two stand outs are ALABAMA and ALTHEA and the whole band is in top form for a rousing version of DON'T EASE ME IN. JAMIE JENSEN

nr. 5 Despite drugs, death, debts and debilitation, the Grateful Dead have remained remarkably stable these past 15 years. Formerly psychedelic standard bearers, they are now an establishment band, playing mature, coffee table AOR. Strangely, this album found itself higher in the US charts than any of their heyday epics - which must say something about the current state of the American rock market. PETE FRAME, ROCK YEAR BOOK 81

nr. 6 I'm still wondering why a band with such a history can sanctionise such a record cover! It took some time to get over this and take the music inside serious...And in fact, the music inside isn't that good either. FAR FROM ME is a nice Mydland song, ALTHEA is a nice Garcia song, but the beauties are coming from Bob Weir this time. It's the clean, sterile production of Gary Lyons that take a lot of charm out of the songs, but in concert they are real favourites of mine. ANTWERP'S PLACEBO, EASY TO LOVE YOU and DON'T EASE ME IN are fillers and I wonder why the band ever put out this album. * ERIK SCHOTHANS, July 1992