The Music Never Stopped: Roots Of The Grateful Dead

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Compilation producers: Henry Kaiser, David Gans. Includes liner notes by Blair Jackson. Personnel: Marty Robbins (vocals). An interesting concept: a compilation of the original versions of 17 songs frequently covered by The Grateful Dead in concert. Thoughtfully assembled, it showcases several aspects of their eclectic roots, encompassing jug band folk, country & western, Appalachian mountain music, country blues, '50s Chicago electric blues, R&B, Dylan, Guthrie, Holly, Berry, and more. Some of the recordings are very famous (Dylan's "It's All over Now, Baby Blue," Holly's "Not Fade Away"); others are downright obscure (Obray Ramsey's "Rain and Snow," the rare original version of "Morning Dew" by little-known Canadian folkie Bonnie Dobson). If you're a Dead fan, this is a valuable, very listenable collection of some of their key influences. It may seem churlish to point this out to Deadheads, but if you're not a Dead fan, you'll find this to be a first-rate collection of roots music that's much more enjoyable than hearing The Dead's interpretations of the same tunes. ~ Richie Unterberger

Entertainment Weekly (11/3/95, p.65) - "...The vast sonic territory runs from rural blues to Dylan; toss in a scarifying R. Crumb cover illustration, and it's a must for Deadheads and the unconverted alike." - Rating: A+ Musician (2/96, pp.92-93) - "...pokes through the Dead's record library, exposing the eclecticism of the band's sources in rock, folk, country and blues works by Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Reed and Howlin' Wolf..."

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25