Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Desolation Row
All Along The Watchtower
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Man Of Peace
There are infinite ways to slice-and-dice the Grateful Dead's concert archive--and we'll surely see them all--but an all-Dylan disc is one of the most logical, as Dylan tunes infused Dead setlists for many years. Clearly, ... more »Dylan's reliance on blues and folk forms and his exploratory lyrics translated well into the Dead's musical language; in short, Dylan songs are jam-ready. Most of the selections here come from the late 1980s (with Brent Mydland on keyboard) and were played by the band enough times that the compilers had plenty of excellent performances to choose from. Of particular note, however, is a 1973 version of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," featuring Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers, and a 1987 studio rehearsal of "Man of Peace" with Dylan himself sitting in (the rehearsals were way better than their subsequent shows together--see 1987's disappointing Dylan and the Dead for proof). Though Bob Weir handles lead vocals on most of the tunes, Jerry Garcia was the one who really was able to inhabit these songs and convey their deeper, subtle emotions, even when just his guitar was doing the talking. Not coincidentally, the most stirring cuts--"She Belongs to Me," "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"--feature Garcia's passionate lead vocals. Overall, Postcards documents a fruitful partnership between two rock icons, a partnership that was often much better off when the songwriter wasn't actually around to join in. --Marc Greilsamer« less
There are infinite ways to slice-and-dice the Grateful Dead's concert archive--and we'll surely see them all--but an all-Dylan disc is one of the most logical, as Dylan tunes infused Dead setlists for many years. Clearly, Dylan's reliance on blues and folk forms and his exploratory lyrics translated well into the Dead's musical language; in short, Dylan songs are jam-ready. Most of the selections here come from the late 1980s (with Brent Mydland on keyboard) and were played by the band enough times that the compilers had plenty of excellent performances to choose from. Of particular note, however, is a 1973 version of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," featuring Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers, and a 1987 studio rehearsal of "Man of Peace" with Dylan himself sitting in (the rehearsals were way better than their subsequent shows together--see 1987's disappointing Dylan and the Dead for proof). Though Bob Weir handles lead vocals on most of the tunes, Jerry Garcia was the one who really was able to inhabit these songs and convey their deeper, subtle emotions, even when just his guitar was doing the talking. Not coincidentally, the most stirring cuts--"She Belongs to Me," "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"--feature Garcia's passionate lead vocals. Overall, Postcards documents a fruitful partnership between two rock icons, a partnership that was often much better off when the songwriter wasn't actually around to join in. --Marc Greilsamer
Kenneth M. Goodman | Cleveland, Ohio United States | 03/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps you're wondering whether or not to buy this CD. Well, I bought it and am glad to report...it's good! Don't let that other unfortunate CD, "Dylan and the Dead," steer you away from this. Jerry really shines throughout, voice and guitar.
His solos, for example, on She Belongs To Me are at the level of Morning Dew, i.e., it's like listening to an angel play. I defy anyone to listen to the rousing All Along The Watchtower without concluding that's it's just as good as the immortal Hendrix version. Dickie Betts makes a great guitar contribution on It Takes A Lot to Laugh, and Jerry is A+ on Baby Blue. The last song on the CD, Man of Peace, is a fantastic rehearsal with Bob (Dylan) not Weir, ha ha. Bob's voice is tough and Jerry's guitar phenomenal. On the bonus CD, check out Mighty Quinn. It really swings in a Mississippi Half-Step style. All in all, NICE!"
Won't tell me what it is that i dropped
Alan Thornton | Decatur, GA USA | 03/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Its been a long time since i played tracks over and over again before i got to the end of a new record. These are peak performances, though, that kept me re-listening. When Phil started singing 'just like tom thumb's blues' i thought, oh, no, its too early in the day for a phil song, but then i heard him start to play with the lyrics. 'my best friend the drummer won't even tell me what it is that i dropped!' i was laughing and playing it a second time, then i remembered, i was supposed to be a picky deadhead. and i played it again.There is an Allman's inflected 'It takes a train to laugh...' that features Dickie Betts and Butch Trucks (well, Mickey isn't on the track and the Dead never seems to want to run out of drummers) and a version of 'Man of Peace' with Bob from the Dylan/Dead rehersals in in 1987. The early versions of the package feature and extra disc with a "Queen Jane..." from 12/29/88 and a "Quinn the Eskimo" from 12/30/85. If David Gans keeps producing compilations of the quality of this one, 'Stolen Roses', 'Might as Well...Persuasions sing Grateful Dead' and 'So Many Roads' (where he co-produced with Steve Silberman and Blair Jackson) we might have a quite a few more 'studio' albums that beat some of the good old years when the band was around and around.The notes say that Bobby Weir was really into the project and listend to many of the possible choices. Between him and the GDH mailing list and the Well's deadlit conference and 'big-eared version chooser' David Lemieux (whew) SOMEBODY did a great job of putting the right stuff together for this time and space.
'Postcards'is a great souvenir for a season when Dylan is back on tour and Ratdog is blazin away."
Circles Up And Down The Block
toad | san francisco | 04/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Simply a must have for Dylan fans and Deadheads alike!!! David Gans compiled what I believe to be key performances of these Dylan classics! For those who have been to a few Dead shows, you'll agree that it was always apparent that when a Dylan number was pulled out, it was a special moment... And O.K., sometimes those songs covered Bobby's turn at vocals.Regardless, I cannot think of one Dylan cover I've ever seen that has disappointed! This disc CLEARLY illustrates that from start to finish! Without rating each song, let's cover the highlights... And before we move forward, remember that no one covers a Dylan tune more complete than GD. I've played this disc for Dylan fans who are not Dead fans at all... The general reaction is "wow, I didn't know they could play these songs so well!!!"The "Watchtower" from Rich Stadium is absolutely awesome and it ROCKS! This performance easily rivals the now historic Hendrix version from the Monterey Pop Fest."It Takes A Lot To Laugh..." what more can you say, I've noticed the other reviews listed here make special mention of this incredible version... We're talking 1973 with Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks and Merle Saunders, how could it get any better?"Desolation Row" from the Knickerbocker reels out of control! Bobby's vocals are tight, (how many of us could remember every lyric to this rock anthem)? Definitely one of the highlights of this fine disc."Thin Man" from Meadowlands is Bobby at his best! Cerrralwling in and out of the lyric like a lizard while delivering the message, the way it was intended to be... A sad ballad with an ending we can all relate to, or can't we? One of life's questions."Baby Blue" is almost in a sense a Garcia song. Why? Because Dylan said so. This song was a consistent encore hit at Dead shows as well as Garcia Band shows. This beautiful and intense version from Dane County, 1981 could be a perfect close to "Postcards Of The Hanging." But we're not finished yet! The rehearsal track of "Man Of Peace" from the
Dylan/Dead 87' tour rehearsals "brings it all back home" where it began and where it still stands... The songs of Bob Dylan!As stated in the beginning... Simply a must have for Dylan fans and Deadheads alike!!!"
An unpopular review
Michael J. Manning | INDIANAPOLIS, IN USA | 09/14/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)
"While there are a few shining moments on here... this overall is an unworthy purchase. I confess that my personal prefence in live material sways towards the "Primal" period of 69 - 73. Most of the material on here is from the late 80's and reflects many of the weaknesses prevelant in live recordings from this period: Bobby Weir's often jokey / off key vocals and Jerry's sometimes listless playing. The lone track from the early 70's (#6 - It Takes a Lot to Laugh...) is a peach, featuring Dicky Betts playing ying to Jerry's yang in an extended jam. The last track is the only one actually sung by Dylan & is quite an improvement on the universally panned "Dylan & the Dead" material (and shows what that projecct/tour could have sounded like on record if they had meshed a little bit better).But, then that's just my opinion. And opinions are just like [back cracks]..... everyone has one."
Wonderful when Garcia is singing....
Michael J. Manning | 05/13/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)
"...but Weir's phrasing is just awful. And that falsetto, man! Not to mention Phil Lesh murdering the lyrics to Tom Thumb's Blues: who in their right mind would change a great line like, "I started out on burgandy but soon hit the harder stuff" to "I started out on HEINEKIN but soon hit the harder stuff."...? The stars are for the Garcia material, which is beautiful and sublime, especially "Baby Blue." Weir and Lesh, on the other hand, are hams."