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From: clark@sdcsla.UUCP (Clark Quinn)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Their Music: Grateful or Dead?
Message-ID: <826@sdcsla.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Apr-85 18:25:42 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsla.826
Posted: Wed Apr  3 18:25:42 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Apr-85 05:02:11 EST
References: <284@mhuxr.UUCP>
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Cognitive Science Lab
Lines: 34

> The band members are all superior musicians, and the Dead's continued
> vitality is a tribute to their skill. 

> (Some examples here)

> Note however that except for the first example, these
> moments tend to occur on well defined songs with a beginning, middle and end,
> *not* on those endless jams the Dead are famous for. 
> 
> But those jams! In a word, SLOPPY!!! There is nothing wrong with collective
> improvisation, but too often they just mark time while waiting for someone
> to have a decent idea that the jam can coalesce around. 

Well, Marcel, someone who agrees me with, at least to some extent.  To put
it another way, am I the only dead head who prefers the short version of their
songs, even (perish the thought) studio versions?  I much prefer the live
experience, except when they get into those interminable space jams, at 
which time I (not on hallucinogenics for many years) am likely to want to 
fall asleep.  They are hot when they cook through the known parts of songs,
and I am in bliss, but I tend to get lost in the space.

Oh, well, another vote for net.music.dead.

-- Clark

"I don't know whose back's that strong,"


 Clark N. Quinn
 Institute for Cognitive Science C-015
 University of California, San Diego
 La Jolla, California 92093
 (619) 452-2541 (UCSD): (619) 481-0952 (Home)
 {ucbvax,decvax,akgua,dcdwest}!sdcsvax!sdcsla!clark  OR  clark@nprdc