Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2CD
“For the Grateful Dead's second live album, released two years after its predecessor LIVE/DEAD, the band delivered an equally magnificent, but entirely different, Grateful Dead sound. Whereas LIVE/DEAD was a perfect sonic encapsulation of the band at the peak of their Primal Dead era, SKULL & ROSES captures the quintessential quintet, the original five piece band, playing some of their hardest hitting rock 'n' roll (‘Johnny B. Goode,’ ‘Not Fade Away’), showing off their authentic Bakersfield bona fides (‘Me & My Uncle,’ ‘Mama Tried,’ ‘Me & Bobby McGee’), and some originals that would be important parts of the Dead's live repertoire for the next 24 years (‘Bertha,’ ‘Playing In The Band,’ ‘Wharf Rat’). Of course, the Dead were never defined by one specific ‘sound’ and amongst the aforementioned genres and styles the band brought to this album, they also delved deeply into their psychedelic, primal playbook with an entire side dedicated to their 1968 masterpiece ‘The Other One.’ This is one of the most deeply rich and satisfying tracks preserved on an official Grateful Dead album, up there with LIVE/DEAD's ‘Dark Star’ and EUROPE '72's ‘Morning Dew.’ SKULL & ROSES sounds as fresh today as the first time I heard it in 1985, and as fresh as it was upon its spectacularly well-received release in 1971.” - David Lemieux
Not only did SKULL & ROSES serve up supremely fine tunes, it was also the one that scored the Grateful Dead their very first Gold record, introduced the world to the iconic skeleton babe Bertha, and asked the questions - Who are you? Where are you? How are you? - giving birth to the first official generation of Dead Heads.
DEAD FREAKS, old and new, get ready to reunite on June 25th with the release of GRATEFUL DEAD (SKULL & ROSES): EXPANDED EDITION. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the 2CD set will feature the album’s original 11 tracks, newly remastered from the stereo analog master tapes by Grammy® Award winning engineer David Glasser using Plangent Process Speed Correction. We're topping it off with more than an hour of previously unreleased live recordings taken from the much-requested July 2, 1971 performance at the Fillmore West, the band’s final performance at the historic San Francisco venue. Standouts include the 17-minute Pigpen spectacular “Good Lovin’,” an achingly beautiful take on Merle Haggard’s “Sing Me Back Home,” and a spell-binding version of “The Other One” that rivals the one captured on the original Side 2.
Looking for something more byte-sized? The GRATEFUL DEAD (SKULL & ROSES): EXPANDED EDITION and the original edition will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at Dead.net, on release day. You can pre-order it now.
4/26/71
Smoking hot. Had not listened to the complete show. Dark Star into Wharf Rat is stellar. First set no less. Also the three songs with Duane Allman 2nd set were just exactly perfect. Duane was so intuitive in his blending with the Dead. Really great Fillmore East Grateful Dead concert.
Of course The Beach Boys will be camp………….
50 years ago today………
April 27, 1971
Fillmore East, New York City, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Mama Tried-Bertha-Next Time You See Me-Cumberland Blues-Me And Bobby McGee-Loser-Hard To Handle-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Casey Jones
Set 2: Sugar Magnolia-Deal-Me And My Uncle-Bird Song-Playing In The Band-Dire Wolf-Searchin'-Riot In Cell Block #9-Good Vibrations-I Get Around-Help Me Rhonda-Okie From Muskogee-Johnny B. Goode-Sing Me Back Home-Uncle John's Band-Turn On Your Love Light
If you’re looking for a wonderful, near perfect set of Bakersfield Dead, this first set is the one for you. Exceptionally well played and one of my favorite first sets of the year.
How to explain the second set, one of the most unusual of the year? I’m not a lover OR a hater of The Beach Boys. It was probably fun at the time, but I’m not sure it’s aged very well. Even without The Beach Boys this would have been a nice little set, one that’s capped off with a classic Lovelight!!
Certainly worth a listen!!!
Rock on,
Doc
If the Beastie Boys and the Beach Boys and Pet Shop Boys can stay boys, so can we……
4/26/71
I haven't been listening to the anniversary 1971 shows, but I popped this one in yesterday. I immediately liked the much thicker sound here compared to the 73-74 shows I have been into lately. The highlights for me were the great shimmering Dark Star, Hard To Handle and the Duane inflamed Hurt Me Too. As a whole, more rooted in the soil than 73-74.
Where is 4/16/71 available?
Where is this show available? Archive, Relisten, somewhere else...? Thanks.
Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.......
Did you mean 4/26? No 4/16/71 show. 4/26 is probably at LMA, or I could send you a copy............
Rock on!!
Doc
Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.......
Yes, I meant 4/26/71, since several people commented on it below.
Thanks, I found it on archive.org
NRPS 4/27/71
New Riders of the Purple Sage & Ridge Runner Ridge work well together. Callin on the rain.
We must not let daylight in upon the magic….
50 years ago today……
April 28, 1971
Fillmore East, New York, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Beat It On Down The Line-Loser-El Paso-The Rub-Bird Song-Playing In The Band-Cumberland Blues-Ripple-Me And Bobby McGee-I'm A King Bee-Bertha
Set 2: Morning Dew-Me And My Uncle-Deal-Hard To Handle-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>
The Other One>Wharf Rat-Sugar Magnolia-Dark Star>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
My fellow rockers, this is without doubt my all-time favorite Grateful Dead show. Clearly and forever my “desert island show”. Nothing else comes close. Which is not to say it’s perfect. That being said, this well known and deservedly classic Dead show crackles with an energy and intensity that even the Dead themselves could only rarely conjure.
The exquisite, beautiful El Paso. The raucous, raunchy, exceptionally executed Rub. Weir’s phenomenal playing on the superb Cumberland Blues. Ripple, oh Ripple! The rare King Bee and the rarer still Bertha set closer. The dense, moving, thunderous Dew to open the second set. The blistering white noise intensity of the hands-down best ever Hard To Handle. The skull album Other One----still my favorite after all these decades! The short, sweet Star, the flubbed St. Stephen, the crispy NFA that follows.
I first heard this show broadcast on a college radio station outside Boston in 1980. It rocked my world then, it continues to rock my world now………..
One of the top ten Dead shows of all time. The other nine, we’ll debate later……..
Clearly I’m biased, and unapologetically so!! Decide for yourself………….
Rock on!!
Doc
Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth…..
We must not let daylight in upon the magic….
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.............
Oops, double post, my bad (lol), apologies to all.
BUT, if there HAD to be a double post, today was a good day for it!!!
Rock on, and on!!!
Doc
Art is knowing which ones to keep...............
Flub First Note on Bertha
OK I've just listened to the remastered Bertha and it sounds fab. But why oh why did they choose to include the false first chord that Jerry played. No guys I'm not bitching about whether the fade in or not was truer to the original Shull and Roses album. Just the false start -- they could have edited to start with the first strummed chord from Jerry.
To me -- this just shows complete artisitc insensitivity. Do you really think we all want to listen to the false start for ever more. Do you really think Jerry would have wanted it left in ???
All generalizations are false, including this one..........
Good morning rockers!!
On this day of days, YES we want everything!! Warts and all!!!
Keep it rockin' and real!
Doc
To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.....
Why Not...
According to DB 50, supposedly all five shows were slated for a box but like fall 80 they had chopped up the tapes etc and too much was “unusable”. Said they had some of the Duane stuff ready but couldn’t get the licensing.....
Duane stuff licensing
In the past few days someone said that one of the songs with GD was in the Duane Box.
Might be easier to work out an agreement with the Duane estate than with ABB.
Or it’s just a one way street from GD to ABB.
4/28/71
4/28/71......looks like we have 14 out of 24 songs from this show on Ladies & Gentlemen. Not a bad ratio. L&G really is something special. It came out way before I officially got on the bus. Were you guys that have been in this thing since One From The Vault completely blown away when Ladies & Gentlemen hit the stores? I can only imagine.
It is not even the beginning of the end…..
50 years ago today…………
April 29, 1971
Fillmore East, New York City, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Bertha-It Hurts Me Too-Cumberland Blues>Me And My Uncle-Bird Song-Playing In The Band-Loser-Dark Hollow-Hard To Handle-Ripple-Me And Bobby McGee-Casey Jones
Set 2: Morning Dew-Minglewood Blues-Sugar Magnolia-Black Peter-Beat It On Down The Line-Second That Emotion-Alligator>drums>jam>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Cold Rain And Snow-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Greatest Story Ever Told-Johnny B. Goode
Encore: Uncle John's Band-Midnight Hour-And We Bid You Goodnight
Don’t get me wrong, this is a very fine show, with more than its fair share of oddities and rarities. I enjoy the quirky goodness of any show that has a Dark Hollow and a Ripple, the Black Peter is wonderful, the Dew is powerful, and who doesn’t love an Alligator? And I sure do savor the CR&S coming out of GDTRFB, and the three song encore was the only time that happened all year.
All that being said, almost without fail, this show was rated the best show of 1971 in Deadbase polls, which I never understood. Solid show—absolutely. Great last Fillmore East show by the Dead---you bet. Even so, maybe a teeny tiny microscopic step down from the previous night……………
Rock on!!!
Doc
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning……
Grateful Dead / NRPS 1971
After April 29, 1971 there are very few Grateful Dead concerts left as the original five members. Also very few New Riders of the Purple Sage performances left with Garcia on pedal steel guitar.
A half century since the last time those bands played the Fillmore East, my mind is blown.
Back to NRPS 4/29/71, despues , los Grateful Dead
@KeithFan OFTV > Further
I remember OFTV coming out in 1991 and being pretty stoked.
At the time, I was hoping we'd get like 4-6 releases a year and they'd just start hooking us up with killer archival recordings. (sound familiar?)
By the time TFTV was released in May '92, I was into other stuff.
21 and living at the beach, there was a whole lot of other fun things going on.
There was some pretty great music happening around that time too, stuff you could see in smaller venues & clubs.
Caught one GD show in '93 when they came to town, it was fun.
But after that dropped out of the Dead scene for quite awhile.
Popped back in for a spell after Jerry past, there were like 6 or 7 Dick's Picks, Hundred Year Hall, etc, found out all kindsa good tapes were circulating.
Collected a bunch of fresh tapes... again.
Then the bros I was hanging with started "upgrading" to CD & Dat.
I didn't want to deal with CD trading, it was a pain in the ass, and Dat seemed like it was for pretty hardcore peeps back then, expensive too.
Dropped out again.
Did a bunch of other cool shit.
Then one fateful day, as luck would have it, working a job that provided lotsa web surfing time (in around 2010-2011), I saw something that caught my eye.
It read "HOLY S&%T the Grateful Dead to release complete Europe '72 Tour" (or something to that effect).
This! I had to find out more about.
I hadn't listened to the GD in around 10 years.
I was pretty excited and a little shocked they were going to release the complete Europe '72.
The price tag was steep.
That's cool, I thought.
About time! I thought.
Then, as I looked a bit more into it, I found out the Fillmore West '69 box set had been released.
Goddamn!
I really want to hear that, I thought.
That was it, I was back in.
Started collecting again, was hardcore in no time.
Here we are around 10 years later, I got a lot of the GOGD!
It's definitely the best time ever to be a Grateful Dead collector.
Best time ever...now!
GOGD - ironically, living in England, it has been a better time to listen to The Dead since 1995 than it was before, when they were a fully functioning band. I started collecting tapes about 1987, but much as I loved them, the sound quality was obviously variable. And that's being charitable. Friends taped the first two vaults releases and initial Dicks Picks for me, and then about 1995 I got kitted out with a cd player. I have always delayed getting into new fangled things.
I'll be glad when Dave's 38 goes up for sale.
18:00 BST
DaP #38 should be available to order from 10am PT which is 18:00 in the UK (BST). Presumably, that will be when the seaside chat and #38 comments will appear.
I have had an email shipping notice overnight but UPS haven’t got the package yet. Something to look forward to.
Where is it then?
Thanks, Colin . I'm beginning to wish I'd subscribed now. Hope yours arrives soon.
In the house
GOGD - thanks ! My order went through okay, so I am back in the house. I haven't received order confirmation yet, but I'm not worried. Lets hope all who want this release are as lucky.
Listening to the Dead in the 80s - I had all the albums by then, but there was so little coverage of them in the music papers that I assumed they had split up sometime in 1982. No access to tapes, no live shows obviously - bleak days indeed. 1987 was In The Dark of course, then finding the Dead fanzine Spiral Light, and through them the taping scene. By the time they hit England in 1990 I wasn't listening to much else.
We need to work to keep from getting rusty
50 years ago today…………….
May 29, 1971
Winterland, San Francisco, California
Casey Jones-Me And Bobby McGee-It Hurts Me Too-Promised Land-Loser-Playin' In The Band-Hard To Handle-Me And My Uncle-Truckin'>drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Sing Me Back Home-Cumberland Blues-Sugar Magnolia-Deal-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Over the years, there has been some disagreement over the true dates of the May 1971 shows and the setlists. Deadbase AND the Dead’s own website list them as the 29th and 30th. While there is some dispute from eyewitnesses, for now I think I’ll go with what the Dead themselves claim.
Apparently the acid flowed like water, described as a mini-acid test by some, creating psychic problems for others. The music itself is fairly straightforward, hard rocking, mid-1971 Dead, no bells & whistles, and probably not enough greasy Pigpen………..
A poor-to-fair audience recording of the complete show circulates. There are fades/edits at the beginning and ends of virtually every individual song. There are no audible between-song banters or set break announcements. A soundboard recording (Miller remaster) of Truckin’ through the end of the show does circulate. Not first tier, or even second, but still worth a listen………..
For excellent documentation/discussion of the show, see: http://deadsources.blogspot.com/2012/07/may-29-1971-winterland.html
Rock on!!!
Doc
The moment a musician doesn't play, things start to get a bit rusty……
The graveyards are full of indispensable men.....
50 years ago today…..
May 30. 1971
Winterland, San Francisco, California
Set 1: Bertha-Me And Bobby McGee-The Rub-Loser-Playing In The Band-Next Time You See Me-Morning Dew-Promised Land-Good Lovin'
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Sugar Magnolia-Cumberland Blues-Big Boss Man-Me And My Uncle-Deal-Truckin'-Turn On Your Love Light-Uncle John's Band-Casey Jones
Encore: Johnny B. Goode
Sonically similar to May 29, yet oddly different enough as well. Rare Rub, unusual late first set Dew, crankin’ Good Lovin’ to close the first set, nice China/Rider to open the second set, rappin’ Lovelight. Not a lot of big jams, decent dose of grease, not the worst and not the best……
A poor to fair audience recording circulates, for completists only. Miller’s circulating soundboard copy has a portion of Know You Rider, and the remainder of the second set, but without the encore. Most of the second set and encore was released on vinyl LP in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2012.
Rock on!!!
Doc
Personally I have no bone to pick with graveyards
Skull & Roses bonus
Does anyone know why they're only putting 10 songs from the 7/2/71 show out?
Cancelled isn't a bad word because it happens every day……
50 years ago today………..
June 14, 1971
Central Park, New York, New York
CANCELLED SHOW?
Bill Graham clearly references this proposed gig at the start of the April 29 Fillmore East show: “……on June 14, these gentlemen will be in Central Park………”, but for whatever reason, the show never took place.
Rock on!!
Doc
Stated clearly enough, an idea may cancel itself out
P.S. Re 7/2/71, that's all there was in the vault........
The Ark, Boston, April 21-23…
The Ark, Boston, April 21-23, 1969. Hey Dave, please release this wonderful show!
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known....
Mornin', rockers!!!
Less than a week to go.........................
Rock on,
Doc
Waiting for the spark from heaven to fall......
In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport….
50 years ago today…..
June 21, 1971
Chateau d’Herouville, Herouville, France
Speaking of cooking, the Dead bring some American musical cuisine to French soil…..
Set 1: Truckin'-Loser-Me And Bobby McGee-Next Time You See Me-Morning Dew-Me And My Uncle-Hard To Handle-China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-Promised Land-Deal-Playing In The Band-Big Boss Man-Black Peter-Bertha
Set 2: Casey Jones-That's It For The Other One>Wharf Rat-Sugar Magnolia-Sing Me Back Home-Johnny B. Goode
Cleary one of the most unusual, interesting “venues” that hosted the Dead in 1971. Built in 1740, on the remains of an even earlier chateau. At one time, the residence of Chopin. Painted by Van Gogh. After a fire in 1969, a 16 track recording studio was built there. There is no “seating capacity”—the Dead’s show was outside, on the grounds of the chateau.
Bakersfield, Pigpen, country/Weir/western, rockers, soulful, jamming, everything the French could expect from les morts reconnaissants…………
High quality audio AND video exists of this show. Definitely worth a listen. And a look !!!
Profitez et soyez bien!
Rock on!!!
Doc
Poor France, thy fine climate, rich vineyards, and the wishes of the learned avail nothing; thou art a destitute beggar, and not the powerful friend thou wert represented to me…..
This will be released soooon...
Looking forward to it very much
:)))
Arrived
My copy has just dropped through the door.
I notice some people are getting their Garcialive 16 today. Amazon in the UK say it comes out on 2nd July so I’ll have to wait a week. Luckily I have a lot of new stuff to listen to while I wait
Edit Oddly my first attempt to post failed. I had to remove the final full stop (period?) before it was accepted. Apologies for the poor punctuation
Colin
True--I got both Skull & Roses AND GL 16 yesterday (the 24th) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Went through Bull Moose, so maybe that helped?
Actually got two copies of S&R, so thought I had screwed up and put two in the cart when ordering, but checked and no. But when I went to ask Bull Moose how to return the extra copy they accidentally sent, I realized that I had ordered one copy on an order back in April, then inadvertently ordered another copy on an order from a week or so ago. Sucks getting old! :)
Stillwaters Is Getting Upset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not really, just impatient. Haven't gotten my Skull & Roses yet, not GL16.
Waiting for the box set announcement . . .
The subject line was a Seinfeld reference in case you didn't recognized it.
For 50 years it's been said…
For 50 years it's been said that the sublime NFA-GDTRFB-NFA was performed at the Manhattan center on 4/5/71.
On this release, the streaming versions liner notes, claim it came from the Fillmore East on the same date.
Is this a mistake? Or a 50 year old long overdue correction?
Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.....
That is clearly a mistake. That S&R NFA is definitely from the 4/5 Manhattan center show.
There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night.............
Doc
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.....
Skull & Roses
I'll be glad when this release has come and gone, to be honest. A one disc compilation from various shows with studio overdubs, as I understand it. To me, it has been superseded by the live shows from this era that have since been released. I thought it was great back in the 70s-in fact I even had a tee shirt with the cover on around 1976. But 1976 is now a long time ago. The bonus disc doesn't look all that, either.
It seems that on this re…
It seems that on this re-release, all the songs from the original release that were Not recorded at the Fillmore East. Have been "mistakingly" labled as being from one of the Filmore East shows...
In the grand scheme of things... Does it matter?
No!
But the Dead have the most extensive, maticulosly curated catalog of live music out there.
For over 5 Decades now, there have been countless people who have argued and fought over, sourced and documented and made sure this info is as accurate as possible.
To goof on undisputed by anybody tracks, is just laziness
For my money...
The partial July 2, '71 show on disc two is top notch. Not the best Big Boss Man, but that's Pigpen and his man, Jerry, so I'm good. The rest are choice cuts and true to the original album's era.
Rec'd in Denver.
Now I'm ready for the box set announcement!
Skulll & Roses source
Anyone notice the cd version of S & R shows it's made in Germany (Just like the RSD Olympia LP that I purchased)?
Seems they've moved production to Germany. Olympia box show Germany manufacture, too. Maybe b/c it's a more reliable source with covid affecting many other production facilities.
Slip Case?
Is this the first 50th Anniversary release without a 3D slipcase? Mine doesn't have one. Thanks.
Slipcase...
The 50th anniversary releases of the studio albums were Deluxe Editions and came with a slipcase, whereas S&R is an Expanded Edition and comes sans slipcase. Anyone have a better explanation?
Another explanation
Everything gets worse if you give it long enough.
Another Question
Why did this live album get the 50th anniversary treatment? I thought the initial announcements suggested only the studio albums were being treated in this way.
I’m happy to get it but why treat this album differently to LiveDead?
Why indeed
SIMON: that sounds right
DAVEROCK: ouch, don’t worry, be happy amigo...I’d attach the you know what (that rhymes with stink) of that goofy song...but, ya know.....
COLIN: was wondering the same thing, only because why not Live Dead then, which would of ment some fine 69?
No Live Dead
I wonder if Skull and Roses has been so treated because there isn't a 1971 studio album to commemorate, whereas for 1969 they had Aoxomoxoa to focus on. But it does seem like an omission, not celebrating Live Dead with a 50th. Any bog standard "history of rock" mentions it as one of the greatest live albums ever made.