Bman's Blues Report

I just received the latest release from Grateful Dead's Dick's Picks, Vol Seven and it's a strong set. Opening with Scarlet Begonias the Dead wastes no time whatsoever getting the groove going. Western flavored Mexicali Blues has a great feel and Weir's vocals are strong and clear. Row Jimmy is a nice change up and Garcia plays some shimmery guitar riffs that are actually chilling. Very cool! On Black-ThroatedWind the Dead's blues influences are particularly strong. Lesh's contribution on bass are vital on this track. A cool little (extended) ditty, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo has a real nice swagger and clean guitar solos. Garcia's vocals are spot on and fine! Beat It On Down The Line is of course one of the band's rockers and has great drive. Keith Godchaux lays down some nice piano work on this track and Donna Jean adds nice vocal harmonies. Tennessee Jed has just the right groove and Garcia leads it perfectly. Keith, Jerry, Bob and P...

REAL GONE REVS UP FOR SUMMER WITH RONNY AND THE DAYTONAS 2-CD Set Featuring Their Complete Recordings Highlights June 30/July 10 Slate That Also Includes Limited-Edition Releases from the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Viscounts and Banana and the Bunch, a Deluxe Fanny Reissue and a Timely Grateful Dead Release           Nothing says Summer like surf and hot rod music, and on June 30 Real Gone Music is paying tribute to one of the greatest bands ever to come down the (turn)pike, Ronny and the Daytonas, with a 2-CD, 48-track set featuring four unreleased tracks and notes from “Ronny” himself! Being from Nashville, Ronny and the Daytonas tossed a little country twang into their surfin’ sound; our next artist, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, also turned country on its head by injecting an unapologetic hippie ethos into their country-rock sound. On July 10, we are reissuing their classic The Adventures of Panama Red album on limited edition (...

I just received the newest Grateful Dead release from Real Gone Records, Disk's Picks Volume 12 . Starting Disc 1 with a jam that leads into what many have labeled "the most extraordinary live version of China Cat Sunflower ever recorded". Transitioning with Mind Left Body /Jam into I Know You Rider this is an exceptional recording. Having a little fun with the Beer Barrel Polk a and then Truckin' these guys are really on a roll! Spanish Jam has a lot of fire and a certain spirit that is different from much of what I have heard throughout the other recordings. Very cool! Up next is Wharf Rat and then super closer Sugar Magnolia . The band is tight and on fire.  Disc 2 opens with Eyes Of the World , the encore from the Boston show. Needless to say it is superb. The legendary second set of the Boston show opens with the rare performance of Seastones (Phil Lesh and Ned Lagin's electronic piece). The balance of the concert as recorded includes Sugar Magno...

I just received the newest release, Volume 13 of Dick's Picks from the Grateful Dead and the concert is quite entertaining. Opening with Alabama Getaway Garcia wastes no time getting the crowd on its feet and hopping. A wide open guitar solo in this one sets the pace. Continuing with the high energy rock of Greatest Story Ever Told , Weir leads the way. Settling down into a groove with They Love Each Other Lesh has his bass popping and Brent Mydland opens the door with some cool piano. Garcia uses the funky beat of the track to play some otherwise uncharacteristic riffs. Cool! On Cassidy , the easy country rock feel that the Dead developed so well gives Garcia and Weir the opportunity to get a little more progressive in their approach. Jack-A-Roe has a strong country flavor and is one of my favorites on the release. lead by Garcia on guitar and vocal it has that pure feel. Excellent finger work by Garcia on this track is icing on the cake. The Dead's take on Burnetts...

I just received the latest release of Grateful Dead music from the vault, Dick's Picks Vol. 21. This 3 disc set is a bit different from the others that I have reviewed in that it showcases many tracks by other artists and covered by the Dead. The first disc, recorded at the Richmond Coliseum (1985), opens with Dancing In The Streets popularized mostly by Martha and the Vandellas and Mick Jagger with David Bowie. On this extended track, Garcia opens the door early to a cool jam. Cold Rain and Snow follows being one of my favorite originals on this disc. Lesh plays some of the coolest riffs and the vocal harmonies are right on. A cover of Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster showcases Brent Mydland on keys some excellent slide work by Garcia making it an absolute standout for the entire set. Western style track Me And My Uncle is really done nicely with not only pace and rhythm but also smart guitar riffs. A little more country in Big River , and again Mydland steps up on k...

I just received the newest in the line of Dick's Picks Grateful Dead releases by Real Gone Music and there are some real gems here. This 2 cd set was recorded on March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in California. Hot tracks on disc one are U.S. Blues , Scarlet Begonias , Deal and a great cut of Weather Report Suite . This particular cut is terrific and a special gem. Disc two opens with crowd favorite Playing In The Band and continues into Uncle John's Band . Garcia is really on tonight and his extended soloing on this track is particularly tasty. I am also particularly fond of this particular cut of Morning Dew and the handling of the vocals in particular. Second runs, or a refrain if you wish, on Playing In The Band and Uncle John's Band give the band ample opportunity to jam. Another sparkling guitar solo appears on Bertha . A slower than usual tempo is presented on Sugar Magnolia , the closer on this recording. One more chance for a tight and cohesive isn't missed a...

Real Gone Music has got another gem here with the re release of The Grateful Dead's Dick's Pick Volume 25 . This four CD (HDCD) set includes classic concert recordings from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, CT on May 10, 1978 and the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, MA on May 11, 1978. Consisting of 35 extended tracks, these recordings are certainly for GD/jam connoisseurs but even for your average music listeners there are some real gems here. The Dick's Picks series which started in 1993 was named for Grateful Dead Dick Latvala who selected shows with the band's approval and oversaw production of the releases. After Latvala's death David Lemieux took over responsibility for the Dick's Picks releases. Some of my favorite tracks on this super deluxe set are Ramble On Rose , Deal , Estimated Profit and Eyes Of the World from the New Haven Show but not to miss extensive jamming on Drums , The Other One and Wharf Rat are also sure to be fav...

REAL GONE MUSIC'S FEBRUARY: SHORT MONTH, BIG RELEASE SCHEDULE                   February 26 Releases Include Titles from Fanny, Freddie King, Rod McKuen, Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys, the Hello People and Grateful Dead Los Angeles, California-Real Gone Music's February releases, due out on the 26th of the month, continue to cut a wide swath through the various genres of popular music, with entries ranging from to folk cabaret to electric blues to chick rock to even mime rock! At the front of the line is the first-ever standalone CD release of the debut album from Fanny, the first-ever al l- female group signed to a major label, and a thundering, 54-track double-CD set from blues guitar legend Freddie King featuring all of his King and Federal label singles, both A and B-sides. And Real Gone is, by exclusive arrangement with the artist himself, releasing what are arguably the two signature alb...

Ronald C. "Pigpen" McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973) was a founding member of the Grateful Dead. His contributions to the band included vocals, Hammond organ, harmonica, percussion, and occasionally guitar. In 1994, Pigpen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with the other members of the Grateful Dead. McKernan was born in San Bruno, California, the son of an R&B and blues disc jockey. He grew up with many African-American friends and felt very strongly connected to black music and culture. As a youth, McKernan taught himself blues piano and developed a biker image. In his early teens, McKernan left Palo Alto High School by mutual agreement with the school's principal. He also began using alcohol in his adolescence. McKernan began spending time around coffeehouses and music stores, where he met Jerry Garcia. One night Garcia invited McKernan onstage to play harmonica and sing the blues. Garcia was impressed and McKernan became the blues ...