The Bottom Line
Pros
- Mama Tried
- Looks Like Rain
- Samson and Delilah
- Help On the Way
- Not Fade Away
Cons
- None
Description
- Impeccable performances by one of the best folk-rock bands ever
- 1976 saw the Dead in one of their tightest incarnations, and this performance is a testament to their aritstry
- An excellent live recording by one of history's best live bands
Guide Review - Grateful Dead - Live at the Cow Palace, New Years Eve 1976
In 1976, the Grateful Dead was made up of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Keith and Donna Godchaux. It was quite possibly the best line-up of the Dead's three decades as a force in contemporary music. They had ten years under their belt as an ensemble, and they knew their music, and that of their contemporaries, impeccably well.The songs they chose to perform in this hours-long set included covers of tunes by the great Merle Haggard ("Mama Tried") and the Rascals ("Good Lovin'"), and both are impeccably adapted to the Dead's inimitable style.
Other highlights include Weir and Garcia's fierce guitar solos on their classic "Samson and Delilah," and the intricate interplay on "Looks Like Rain." Disc three features some of the most powerful instrumental moments, with guitar solos on "Help Is On the Way" and the 11-minute version of the classic "Not Fade Away."
In fact, this record could easily serve as a best-of introduction to the work of the Grateful Dead. Little can really be said about the proficiency of this band that hasn't already been noted at some point over the last 40 years. But then, the Grateful Dead has always been better than any critic's lamentations could attest. The best thing to do, really, is to listen to this three-disc collection yourself. It's well worth the time.
