The Grateful Dead's first true archival album, Bear's Choice, was lovingly produced as a tribute to Pigpen shortly after he passed by none other that the Dead's original soundman and benefactor, Owsley Stanley, aka Bear. Drawing from live shows recorded three years earlier by Bear at the Fillmore East in New York City, Bear's Choice captures the Dead at an essential moment of their history, as they were about to record Workingman's Dead (and shortly thereafter, American Beauty), and were transitioning into becoming Americana pioneers, while never losing touch with their psychedelic improvisational roots. Three of the eight songs on the album are sung by Pigpen, with Side 1 being the definitive example of early Acoustic Dead, and Side 2 being electric blues and rock & roll, with Pigpen leading the charge on both tracks on the second side. This has been re-mastered by David Glasser using Plangent Processes from the original analog 2-track tapes recorded live by Bear and has never sounded better.
Bear's Choice Deluxe Missed Opportunity
While I keep dreaming of a big 1970 Fillmore East box set of all available recordings including Bear's Choice and Dick's Picks Vol. 4 or a February 1970 Fillmore East box set, in lieu of these, it seems that Rhino missed an opportunity to expand this release as a deluxe version by including material from the 2/13 and 2/14 late shows (and maybe the early shows too) not released on Bear's Choice and Dick's Vol. 4. How about a do over?
I agree
They should have expanded bear choice and could have. They also could take some pigpen home recordings or include the album hand me my shot gun to this collection. Maybe include one of my favs hog for you baby that was included on skull fuck 40th. I hope they release a 50th version on cd not listed yet. If it’s just a down load with no extra tracks it will be the first one I would be passing on. One of my favs. It would be cool as a collectible. Side note I always use to go to this bar and I would always put on smoke stack lightning. my friends and I would wait and see how long it would be before the bartender would hit next track on the juke box lol
Not expanded? Really?
What is the point if there is no new material? Everyone already has this. What a disappointment.
I ordered the dig download…
I ordered the dig download for this and it is not working any clues ideas suggestions?
I was going to ask if it was…
I was going to ask if it was working, and what the resolution is? I would have been surprised if it was working.
Ya well I guess I am always…
Ya well I guess I am always hoping for the best.
Waiting For The Download
But I didn't expect it to work right. I'll wait a few days until someone says it's fixed
New Download
I contacted support and they've sent me a new download now so I'm all sorted