Search - Grateful Dead :: Wake of the Flood (Dig)

Here Comes Sunshine

Mike | Philadelphia, PA, USA | 05/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is somewhat of an oddity within the Grateful Dead's canon. It sort of combines the folk-oriented song structures of "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty", along with the more jazz-oriented sound that they would approach more on "Mars Hotel" and "Blues For Allah".



"Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo" is an interesting opener. The lyrics are very folky, but interplay between Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir's guitars, Keith Godchaux's piano, and guest violinist Vassar Clements really makes it different from anything else that they've ever done in that style.



"Let Me Sing Your Blues Away" is a rarity for The Dead. This song is both composed and sung by Keith Godchaux. His voice is probably the least impressive of anybody in the Dead. He sounds like a struggling Pete Townshend. The song however blazes from the saxophone courtesy of Martin Fierro and Donna Jean's vocal melismatics.



"Row Jimmy" is another slow folky song. Godchaux break's his tradition of grand piano with his use of Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes Piano, and Hammond Organ on this song. Garcia utilizes a very "Cosmic Charlie"-esque slide guitar sound during the verse interludes. It's also a rare feature for 4-part harmony between Garcia, Weir, Lesh, and Donna Jean that was hardly ever utilized.



"Stella Blue" yet another slow folky song. It's one of pain and desperation in the vein of "Black Peter" and "China Doll". It even features very Pigpen-like organ playing by Godchaux (something of a tribute to a member who at the time was dying), and a rare post-1972 appearance of Garcia's pedal steel guitar.



"Here Comes Sunshine" feature the Dead's first use of synthesizer, which would be expanded on, on "Mars Hotel".



"Eyes Of The World" is another mold-breaker for this album. It would become the classic concert staple, but the album version stands on it's own. However the usual concert segues between this and "China Doll" were always solid and always a staple.



The albums true shining moment, "Weather Report Suite" the only artistic rendering of Bob Weir and lyricists Eric Anderson and John Perry Barlow.



It's a song in 3 parts;

"Prelude" - is perhaps the quietest thing that they ever recorded. You can hear a snippet of this played by Weir on the Steppin' Out set as a tune up between "Ramble On Rose" and "Black Throated Wind".

"Part 1" - is a mellow song about the change of seasons. It features Keith Godchaux on a mellow Fender Rhodes, and Garcia on pedal steel through a Leslie Speaker, giving it a tone of desperation. Interestingly, the transition to "Let It Grow" at the end of this always give me goosebumps.

"Part 2: Let It Grow" is something of an oddity in the Dead's canon. It once again features that mysteriously rare 4-part harmony that The Dead were never keen on reproducing live, but also breaks some rules with the inclusion of 12-string acoustic guitar courtesy of Dougie Sahm of the Sir Douglas Quintet, and a blazing horn section and Sax Solo from guest musician Frank Morin.



It's a good album by itself, coming after the live 1-2 punch of "Skull and Roses" and "Europe '72", it was time for a studio album, and "Wake Of The Flood" perfectly filled the void, and really showed how versatile musicians Keith & Donna were in the studio, in a way that they were unable to show on "Europe '72"."

ALL THE YEARS COMBINE, THEY MELT INTO A DREAM

t'amant | WA | 04/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A broken angel sings, from a guitar, In the end there's just a song ... (still that song) Come's cryin' like the wind, Down every lonely street that's ever been...(Stella Blue). That song at the end is Weather Report Suite, but the journey through this wonderful album is like a dream in a way.



I have had Wake for almost 30 years, and it was always up there on my list of favorite DEAD albums. I personally was a bit more into Blues for Allah, American Beauty and Workingman's on the studio album front since they really absorbed me as a teen. After all these years, I truly have to say this is the equal (in my mind) to every "best" album of the DEAD you can think of, live or studio! I know many DEAD lovers will quibble, but this in some ways is their most perfect recording...so smooth and pleasant. Not quite the fire and spontaneity of Blues for Allah, but at least as much underlying beauty and musicianship. Not quite as catchy as American Beauty or Workingman's...but just as great songwriting and consistency. The quiet nature of some of the songs require careful and meditative attention to fully appreciate, but is it ever worth it. Stella Blue for instance, is sweet enough to reduce you to Jello. I personally love the Weir song Weather Report Suite - very intricate and well-crafted (the demo on the remaster is great too, bare bones beauty of guitar and vocal). Row Jimmy Row plucks the old soul fibers with it's catchy slow shuffle. This provided much material for concerts of the future.



Here Comes Sunshine MIGHT have made a better beginning and introduction to Wake; The signature chimey, joyful Garcia guitar intro, Lesh bouncing off the walls, takes your spirit immediately to Dead Heaven. That song sticks in your head like gum on hot pavement, has a great hook and the title itself sets up the anticipation and atmosphere (ears will quickly find congruity with the lyrics: "Wake of the flood, laughing water ... get out' the way"). With that change, Vassar Clements nice additions (fiddle) in Toodeloo would be less of an abrupt (intro, new sound) change - that song would nicely lead into Weather Report Suite it seems to me. You will be picking up the pieces of your emotional body double after Stella Blue ... Let Me Sing Your Blues Away would be welcome relief between it and Eyes Of The World (another charming song that wrings-out drops of your love for humanity, if you still have it in you).



I now have both of the unbelievably great box sets to replace the many records and cassettes (and a few older cd's), and the sound quality is something I clearly was missing! They have never sounded so good before! The addition of an earlier (and different) version of China Doll goes further to make this album perfect. There is also a 17 minute live Eyes of the World that kicks! Wake is absolutely one of the deepest DEAD records in my opinion and will certainly reward anyone who opens their ears and lets it soak into their souls. Really people, turn it up and ENJOY --- it doesn't get much better than this (the people who constantly try to tell everyone that only the live albums are worthy are trippin').



It all rolls into one, and nothin' comes for free, there's nothing you can hold for very long ... It seems like all this life was just a dream (Stella Blue again).

PEACE!"

Their best album

Thomas | Santa Rosa, CA | 06/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love Workingman's and American Beauty as much as any Deadhead....but this album is magic. "Mississippi Uptown" is a great track to start off this masterpiece and I've warmed up somewhat to the next track, Keith's "Let Me Sing...." but it is the only weak song on this release. Now the album really begins - "and I say Row, Jimmy, Row...." Jerry takes over on lead vocals and his guitar is so sweet on this track. Then the group slows it down even MORE, if this is possible, with "Stella Blue". More beautiful vocals by Jerry (probably his best vocals EVER were on this album) and by the end of the song you're in a trance with the endearing pedal steel solo. It's hard to follow that tune but the group continues with the lovely "Here Comes Sunshine". It's almost like the Dead were trying to come up with their own version of "Here Comes The Sun" and it succeeds on a joyful, upbeat tune. Then it happens....the best single song the group ever recorded, "Eyes Of The World". Of course Jerry sings it, the lyrics are beautiful, but the lead fills by Garcia are the main reason to love this band. Each solo is better than the last and Jerry's fingers are magical on this cut. If you ever want to turn someone on to the Grateful Dead, just cue up this song, works every time. After he plays every note he can get out of his guitar, Jerry merely hits 2 notes at the end of the tune while Phil solos on bass. Awesome, all-time cut. Bob Weir finally asserts himself with the long and epic "Weather Report Suite" and it's a great album closer. Each part is wonderful. I personally love the last section when Jerry sends notes cascading in all directions while the sax solo blazes on. The Dead never made an album like this before or after. It also was their first release on their new "Grateful Dead Records" company. The album cover itself is classic and timeless. I much prefer it to all of the skulls and lightning bolts. This is a 5 star album all the way and is in my top 10 desert island discs. The Dead catalog is a large treasure of musical genius but this release was the crowning jewel sitting on top. Break out the headphones and drift away.........."