Grateful Dead - the Most Overrated Band Ever?

Interesting topic. There are only a couple of GD tracks I like: Friend of the Devil and the Watkins Glen Soundcheck Jam. I'm not the right generation to have been able to appreciate them. 

I think the observation about live versus album performance is a relevant one. Some years ago I first saw the NPR Tiny Desk concert for Anderson Paak. He is someone I'd never have considered listening to -- totally the wrong genre for me. But, his Tiny Desk performance is absolutely outstanding. As is one on the Tonight Show that I found online, which is profoundly emotional. So, after watching those, I dialled up his music in Roon, and the albums were... boring. I don't know who mastered them, but they are just awful. What an amazing contrast. 

I've seen a few artists record albums during live performances, and the result has often been vastly better than it would have been in a studio. Harry Manx comes to mind, as does Sonny Landreth. So, I don't think it's unique to GD that their albums don't sound so great. I guess we imagine that people who help bands put down albums in the studio are experts, but I believe now that quite a few don't know anything beyond just getting the recording, whereas you want to get the feeling of what the artist is trying to express in their music.

On 4/5/2021 at 12:56 AM, firedog said:

On 4/5/2021 at 12:41 AM, rwwjr44 said:

Is a great single malt Scotch whiskey overrated? No, but it most often is not appreciated when first introduced to the palate. 

 

Single malt is not necessarily equal to good or best. That's one of the reasons blends were invented. 

IMHO, there are even some good blends that are superior to many single malts, if taste is your essential criterion.

If taste is your essential criterion I would go single malt IME. Perhaps like the GD, an acquired taste. Blends and NAS were more likely invented to provide mass higher volume, more affordable alternatives that had the advantage of consistency, even if the latter was consistently very pleasant but not outstanding. Taste is of course a matter of taste

15 hours ago, Currawong said:

I've seen a few artists record albums during live performances, and the result has often been vastly better than it would have been in a studio. Harry Manx comes to mind, as does Sonny Landreth. So, I don't think it's unique to GD that their albums don't sound so great. I guess we imagine that people who help bands put down albums in the studio are experts, but I believe now that quite a few don't know anything beyond just getting the recording, whereas you want to get the feeling of what the artist is trying to express in their music.

Traditional jazz music music for me can be riveting live but lacking when reproduced. It doesn't seem to be about the sound quality ( although it might contribute). perhaps a parallel to the GD and something about being there especially when improvised music is being performed.

7 hours ago, firedog said:

Spector's "wall of sound" referred to his recording technique - large numbers of instruments, especially multiple use of the same instrument - say multiple guitars, multiple pianos, etc. - to create a "wall of sound" on his recordings.

In Spector’s case at the outset it was nearly literal. Since today’s multitracking wasn’t available, he would cram players into a studio until he got the effect he wanted, sometimes physically wall to wall.

On 9/14/2024 at 4:48 AM, Currawong said:

Interesting topic. There are only a couple of GD tracks I like: Friend of the Devil and the Watkins Glen Soundcheck Jam. I'm not the right generation to have been able to appreciate them. 

 

I think the observation about live versus album performance is a relevant one. Some years ago I first saw the NPR Tiny Desk concert for Anderson Paak. He is someone I'd never have considered listening to -- totally the wrong genre for me. But, his Tiny Desk performance is absolutely outstanding. As is one on the Tonight Show that I found online, which is profoundly emotional. So, after watching those, I dialled up his music in Roon, and the albums were... boring. I don't know who mastered them, but they are just awful. What an amazing contrast. 

 

I've seen a few artists record albums during live performances, and the result has often been vastly better than it would have been in a studio. Harry Manx comes to mind, as does Sonny Landreth. So, I don't think it's unique to GD that their albums don't sound so great. I guess we imagine that people who help bands put down albums in the studio are experts, but I believe now that quite a few don't know anything beyond just getting the recording, whereas you want to get the feeling of what the artist is trying to express in their music.

I think you are on to something. Maybe the vast majority of the people who record music can only operate the equipment. And we are expecting too much from them.

On 9/15/2024 at 8:59 AM, bobbmd said:

@Jud I stand corrected and remember reading on Owsley Stanley years ago and his connection to the GD and have a playlist of the few Bears Sonic Journals available for streaming and even contributed to his Foundation years ago because of what it was attempting to do with forgotten but great rock/folk recordings.

i am also sure i read by some Jerry/GD biographers( Dennis McNally was classmate of mine at St Lawrence University class 1969) that not only Stanley but Spector had something to do with amassing that Wall of Sound but i guess I was wrong and your link was great and jarred my memory banks thanks

and @firedog I did not mean to start a spitting contest about sematics in regards to 'The Wall of Sound'--I was under the impression from something I read in some DEAD biographers book or article that Spector and GD had some sort of collaberation I was incorrect and I certainly know the difference between the 2 Walls... but I wanted to point out how the DEAD made McIntosh the world renowned amplifier company it is now--its headquarters are 2 hours from my home and alas I never owned one and at my age my CFO would never allow me to buy even their used equipment!

The Grateful Dead’s wall of sound rarely worked properly, was only used for a short time, took too many roadies to set up and take down, and was too heavy to transport.

3 hours ago, Rt66indierock said:

 

The Grateful Dead’s wall of sound rarely worked properly, was only used for a short time, took too many roadies to set up and take down, and was too heavy to transport.

You sound like a glass half full kinda person ;)