Grateful Dead
Ladies and Gentlemen
Fillmore
East New York City, NY
April
26 - 29 1971
by Barry
Small
© 12/6/2001
Ladies
and Gentlemen
is from of series of concerts that the Grateful Dead performed between April 25
– 29, 1971, at the Fillmore East in New York City. At this venue Duane Allman sat in with the Grateful Dead on
several songs on April 26 and the Beach Boys on April 27, but none of that
material is included. The New Riders of the Purple Sage performed at this
billing too.
The
first two discs of Ladies and Gentlemen have plenty to offer. They
showcase many songs in their early stages of development including both original
and cover songs. Included are several blues standards that feature Pig Pen. They
hit their country theme with many songs, my favorite being an original
"Cumberland Blues," and many live versions of songs from their classic
CD’s Workingman's Dead and American
Beauty.
Disc
one and two of Ladies and Gentlemen are capped off with songs that are
typical highlights of their concerts in 1971, "Good Lovin'" and
"Turn on Your Lovelight." Both
songs are cover versions that are led by Pig Pen and each clock in at over
twenty minutes.
The
jewel of Ladies and Gentlemen are the ending jams of disc three and disc
four. These two pieces of music are
top shelf material, no question. It
is difficult to choose which piece is better, though, I would give the nod to
the April 29 jam that is on disc 4. The
segment of the show that includes “Alligator” > “Drums” >
“Alligator” > “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” > “Cold Rain and
Snow” is among my favorite 30 minute pieces of music the Grateful Dead have
ever performed. Within that passage the introduction to "Cold Rain and
Snow" is not to be topped. Just
before the vocals, Phil places two bass notes that are just perfect.
Disc
three of Ladies and Gentlemen includes the “Dark Star” themed set
closer from April 28 that features former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom
Constanten sitting in. The "Hard to Handle" begs to be mentioned. It
is version that was performed on April 29. If it is not the best version the
Dead have ever played, certainly it is in the top three. The version from August 6, 1971, from Hollywood,
CA gets many votes for the best.; it is available on Fallout From the Phil
Zone.
Ladies
and Gentlemen is
fantastic. It is four discs and is a lot of money, but it is worth it.
A
+
Page last edited on 06/22/02
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