The Way You Do The Things You Do-by The Jerry Garcia Band

[Wewus432]

I just heard a cover of that Sam and Dave song(I think that's a Sam and Dave) by The Jerry Garcia Band. That is the best version of that song I've ever heard. I love the bass riff in that song. Despite all his drug and health problems Jerry Garcia WAS an amazingly [b]prolific[/b] artist. He did 4 or 5 albums with David Grisman that I've never even heard much about, plus The Jerry Garcia Band, The Dead, Old and In The Way, etc. I'm just starting to realize what a great body of work he left behind. As you guys know I'm a piano tuner. Well I worked the Dead show in Charlotte about 6 months before Jerry died. So my last memory of him is him pulling into the Charlotte Coliseum in a van, as I was standing on stage about 100 ft. away, and he jumped out with his guitar case in his hand like he was ready to rock. My first thought was DAMN he's fat, and he was. God, I wish someone would have been able to get through to him about taking care of his health and we'd still have him. I am NOT a DeadHead by any means but I do appreciate more than ever what a great, great, artist Jerry was. I hope you guys don't mind too much the name dropping, it has been one of the highlights of my career in the piano business to work with some famous people, and it's just a part of who I am.

[Alndln]

[quote]Originally posted by TheWewus: [b] God, I wish someone would have been able to get through to him about taking care of his health and we'd still have him. .[/b][/quote]From what I hear he was in a lot of physical pain plus he was a diabetic,how he dealt with those things might be questionable,aside from whatever abuse he may have inflicted upon himself earlier on.That aside,he was a great spirit and wonderful musician when he was playing well.I'm not a deadhead either but I enjoyed them from time time through the years.Good memories.

[Kris]

Have you heard Jerry Garcia Band's "Run for the Roses"? One of my favorites... I love how light and upbeat it is...

[Tim Mayock]

I think he brought something great to many covers his version of when the hunter gets captured by the game is also really great.

[Super 8]

[quote]Originally posted by TheWewus: [b]I just heard a cover of that Sam and Dave song by The Jerry Garcia Band. That is the best version of that song I've ever heard. I love the bass riff in that song. [/b][/quote]Oh yeah, I know that tune well. From the live double CD. There are VERY few sour moments on that CD. The whole thing is just fantastic. Some wonderful cover versions (EVERYBODY in a cover band should be required to listen to this CD! This is how covers should be done!) Very inspired playing. Jerry was NOT the cleanest picker in the world. But MAN could he improve a solo! He was really a very talented and inspired guitarist. The drummer is great, and those are some of the best sounding live recorded drums I've heard! The kick thumps, but you 'feel' it more than hear it. I think that snare drum sounds great. Punchy, thick, warm, very dynamic. I love it. Bass guitar sounded great! That guy on the B3 must have just stepped out of a Gospel church, he just wails on that thing. In fact, his solo on "That lucky ol sun" has brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion -It's THAT moving! Really, I could go on and on about this CD. It's just an incredible recording. I am not a Deadhead either. In fact, I played in a Dead cover band some years ago, and my bandmates were constantly going on and on about all of the bootlegs they had, and would play them for me. I really heard very little that I was impressed with. It seemed like they would 'plod' through one song and on to the next. That's not to say I didn't find anything I liked, just not enough to make me understand why these guys were so hooked (aside from the acid trips). So I was extra impressed when I heard the Garcia Band live CD. It sounded very little like the Grateful Dead to me. Obviously, I recommend it highly.

[Dogfur]

[b]That guy on the B3 must have just stepped out of a Gospel church, he just wails on that thing. In fact, his solo on "That lucky ol sun" has brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion -It's THAT moving![/b] Melvin Seals! Rememebr that name. I'll say it again - Melvin Seals! He is the shit! Anybody even remotely interested in Hammond licks and tones needs to hear this guy, he is incredible. I saw Garcia Band shows when Jerry was at his worst, and Melvin made up for it 10X. That double CD is really some fine music, a completely different departure for Garcia. I think it is the best of all the live Garcia band releases ( and the only one released while Jer was alive ).

[george costanza]

Actaully the song's by Smokey Robinson & Bobby Short & was first recorded by the Tempations not Sam & Dave (if they ever did it). I'll give Garcia his due as a musician & I think much of his best was outside the Dead (which, let's face it crapped out on their early potential by the mid 1970s when the basically became the same sort of retreads as the Beach Boys). Unfortunately I always thought his guitar tone & lines were strangely lacking in any legato or sustained quality---sort of like he was playing an electric banjo. The great tragedy is that JG never felt comfortable abandoning the platform of the Dead. Books on his later days all suggest that he felt trapped in there & one can only presume that contributed somewhat to his unhappiness & loss of desire to live.

[Bunny Knutson]

[quote]Originally posted by george costanza: [b]... the Dead (which, let's face it crapped out on their early potential by the mid 1970s when the basically became the same sort of retreads as the Beach Boys). [/b][/quote]I must say that I completely disagree with this statement. IMO, the Dead of the late '80s and early '90s (the best part of the Brent Midland era) was the apex of the band's live performances, based on listening to many show tapes and attending about 15 shows. That's just my latecomer's opinion (I didn't start going to Dead shows 'til 1988). I only attended one Garcia Band show, and to me, it didn't measure up at all to a Grateful Dead show. Jerry was a very expressive guitar player, and I miss him. :cry:

[Wewus432]

Bruce Hornsby was a semi-regular member of The Dead for the last 5 years or so. His playing added a different dimension to their sound that I liked a lot. The Dead and the different guys in the band had such looooooooong and varied careers I don't see how you can say they crapped out early. They have a huUge body of work, still in the making. Have you heard Weir's band RatDog? They're great. Everybody in that band is a great musician. The bass player Rob Wasserman is one of THE best in the world. Hey Now, [b]What A Long Strange Trip It's Been.[/b] :D