Comments for Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses)

A live album of more country-oriented material. Only "The Other One" has the psychedelic jams of "Live/Dead". But this shows the Dead are great interpreters of classic American music, and they can do originals in that style that are just as good.

Although this record might be less consistent than say "Live Dead", there are a number of very good cuts that, along with much of "Europe ''72" define their sound during the early seventies. Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Big Boss Man, Wharf Rat, and Not Fade Away/Goin'' Down the Road, were and on this album are, great listening.

This album is very good-though somewhat inconsistent. Theyare settling into more of a format that would define theirsound from here on in-country, mellow rock & blues standards"Wharf Rat," "Bertha," and "Big Railroad Blues" are the best songs. Double album on 1 CD.