New Riders of the Purple Sage [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster]

Performer: New Riders of the Purple Sage
Artist: Jerry Garcia; Spencer Dryden; Mickey Hart; Commander Cody
Engineer: Steve Barncard; Wally Heider; Steve Barncard
Producer: New Riders Of The Purple Sage; New Riders Of The Purple Sage; Jeff Magid (Reissue)
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Originally released on Columbia (30888). New Riders of the Purple Sage: Dave Torbert (bass instrument, background vocals); David Nelson, John Dawson. Personnel: David Nelson (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); John Dawson (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Dave Torbert (vocals, acoustic guitar); Jerry Garcia (banjo, background vocals); Commander Cody (piano); Mickey Hart, Spencer Dryden (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Jerry Garcia (pedal steel guitar); Commander Cody, Mickey Hart, Spencer Dryden. Audio Mixer: Wally Heider. Liner Note Author: Rob Bleetstein. Recording information: Wally Heider Recording, San Francisco, CA (1971). Photographers: Urve Kuusik; Herbert Greene; Al Vandenberg. Arranger: New Riders of the Purple Sage. Anyone who enjoyed the Grateful Dead's Workingman's Dead or American Beauty and wanted more, then or now, should get the New Riders of the Purple Sage's eponymous release and follow it with the Riders' next two albums. With Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart in tow, and Jefferson Airplane's Spencer Dryden playing what drums Hart didn't, plus Commander Cody at the piano, New Riders of the Purple Sage is some of the most spaced-out country-rock of the period. Even ignoring the big names working with John Dawson, David Nelson, and Dave Torbert, however, this is a good record, crossing swords with the Byrds, the Burrito Brothers, and even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and holding its own. Maybe a few of the cuts (especially "Henry") are predictable at times, but mostly, New Riders of the Purple Sage was full of surprises then (the amazingly sweet, brittle guitars, in particular) and has tunes that have held up well: "Portland Woman," "Whatcha Gonna Do," "I Don't Know You," and "Louisiana Lady," not to mention the eight leisurely paced minutes of acid-country found in "Dirty Business." There are no added notes, but they'd hardly be vital -- the album is an open book. ~ Bruce Eder In the early 1970s, with the likes of the Band, the Grateful Dead, and Crosby, Stills & Nash all turning away from the orgy of the senses that was the '60s, toward a simpler, more deeply rooted place, country rock became de rigeur. Shortly after the Dead made their move from acid tests to hoedowns, their pals Dave Torbert and John "Marmaduke" Dawson followed suit. Torbert and Dawson were the heart of New Riders of the Purple Sage, aided on their debut album by Dead buddies Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart. There's a still-slightly-stoned, morning-after feel here that works well with the New Riders' low-key style. Their cowboy/hippie/outlaw ethic is espoused on the likes of "Last Lonely Eagle" and "Glendale Train" as horse trails meet Haight-Ashbury in an agreeably ramshackle manner. Anyone who enjoyed the Grateful Dead's Workingman's Dead or American Beauty and wanted more, then or now, should get this record and follow that with the Riders' next two albums. With Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart in tow and the Jefferson Airplane's Spencer Dryden playing what drums Hart didn't, plus Commander Cody at the piano, New Riders of the Purple Sage is some of the most spaced-out country-rock of the period. Even ignoring the big names working with John Dawson, David Nelson, and Dave Torbert, however, this is a good record, crossing swords with the Byrds, the Burrito Brothers, and even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and holding its own; maybe a few of the cuts (especially "Henry") are predictable at times, but mostly NRPS was full of surprises (the amazingly sweet, brittle guitars, in particular) and has tunes that have held up well: "Portland Woman," "Whatcha Gonna Do," "I Don't Know You," and "Louisiana Lady," not to mention the eight leisurely paced minutes of acid country found in "Dirty Business." There are no added notes, but they'd hardly be vital -- the album is an open book. [The 2003 CD reissue on Columbia/Legacy adds three bonus tracks, all recorded live at the Fillmore West on July 7, 1971, two of them covers: the Band's "The Weight" and Joe South's "Down in the Boondocks."] ~ Bruce Eder

Rolling Stone (10/14/71, p.49) - "...a uniquely mellow album, and one not without its share of mildly glorious moments...this album stands apart and a little ahead of the rest..." Mojo (Publisher) (8/03, p.118) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...Tight cosmic cowboy stuff..."

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