Wake Of The Flood Outtakes (1973)Stunning Unreleased Studio Recordings
1973 was a turning point for the Grateful Dead. Only a few months after the death of PigPen McKernan, the Dead began work on their first studio album since 1970's commercial breakthrough, American Beauty. They'd left Warner Bros., started two record labels (Round & Grateful Dead Records), opened their ranks to outside players (Keith & Donna Godchaux) and began recording what would become the exquisitely wonderful Wake Of The Flood. Three years between studio albums was an eternity in the early 70s and the band's growth was immediately evident, displaying a new found depth in their writing and playing - as evidenced by the ambitious "Weather Report Suite" and the fragile beauty of "Stella Blue." Having worked some of this material out on the road before recording, it's no surprise these studio outtakes sound nearly as finished as the finished LP. You'll hear tapes spooling, count-offs, cut-offs and miscues... and some gorgeous instrumental articulation. These tapes are well known in Dead trading circles, but should be appreciated by anybody interested in the early, creative choices of what many still consider the greatest rock band America ever produced. (@192/VBR) Links in Comments
Here Comes Sunshine (5:10)
Here Comes Sunshine (1:25)
Let Me Sing Your Blues Away (3:33)
Let It Grow (8:13)
Row Jimmy (7:29)
Eyes Of The World (5:46)
Weather Report Suite Prelude (2:14)
Weather Report Suite Prelude (1:49)
Weather Report Suite Part 1 (6:13)
Stella Blue (6:59)
Stella Blue (6:38)
Here Comes Sunshine (5:06)
Here Comes Sunshine (4:54)
Let Me Sing Your Blues Away (3:26)
29 comments:
Ooooo!
thanks, man
Cool post. I believe it would be Round Records.
Thanks for the catch.
thanks - steve.
Great stuff. Thanx...
"what many still consider the greatest rock band America ever produced".... and many more consider the most overrated by a delusional cult. I love your taste Willard but in this instance... nah.
I don't like Opera. But, when I see the dedication and utter devotion it generates among its followers, I don't brand them as "delusional." I may not understand the music but I'm smart enough to understand that I'M the one who's missing something.
Many consider The Beach Boys America's greatest band.... many consider the Miles Davis Sextet America's greatest band... many consider the Grateful Dead...
Before coming to that conclusion, every fanatic has immersed themselves, listened to every offering and felt a part of every creative nuance.
If you haven't done any of that... then you can't understand, can you?
You don't have to agree with anyone's opinion of greatness. But you obviously haven't put in the time, beyond some casual listening, to give your opinion any validity whatsoever. So, why are you proudly broadcasting your lack of insight?
Bottom line is... you simply missed out. Just like I did with Opera. Overrated? Either do your homework or move on. Don't blame your lack of insight on others.
You go, tiger.
Must not forget the inimitable Doug Sahm also played 12-string guitar on one of their songs off this album. Another remarkable musician who died way too soon.
Chaz
I do enjoy the Dead, and I don't underestimate their studio output, as some (even Deadheads) do. This is lovely stuff from a band who were a unique combination of reckless and reflective, disciplined and anarchic. I still find it a minus that they never really had the vocalist they needed - all their vocals sound like demos to me, every last one - but still, the sound is what made them the Dead, creaks and squeaks and all. I don't think anyone is really going out on a limb with Wake Of The Flood, though - me, I always rated Terrapin amongst their finest achievements, and that includes the fantastic orchestration. That and Blues For Allah, and ...
But ...
My vote for Greatest American Rock Band goes, in spite of tough competition, to the Allman Brothers. Truly, we are not worthy.
Thanks for this.
Thanks for the thoughtful assessment. I've never been a Deadhead, myself. Only seen 'em once. And, I've cherry picked their catalog over the years. Blues For Allah and the acoustic ones (American Beauty & Workingman's) float my boat the most, but that's just me. ABB? Great band, especially with Duane. Be careful though... some might think you're delusional.
I only saw the ABB once, too, but that was enough. Brothers & Sisters era, with Dickey Betts (a massively underrated force in the band - imagine the Fillmore concerts without his incendiary lead, or Peach and Brothers without his country-sprung tunefulness). Never saw the Dead, but I have most of their catalog, and enjoy most of that. The difficulty with the Dead is maintaining an independent stance - all that on-the-bus-off-the-bus crap alienates most and blinds the rest. Me, I just like 'em.
Oh, for Pete's (Jerry's?) sake.
I'm personally delighted that many, many fine folks find the Dead so, er… *important*. But the fact, is "overrated" pretty much sums things up quite succinctly.
And, golly, I know it's your site, but need you be so rude and hostile ("don't blame your lack of insight on others")? Some of my dearest friends have loved the Dead and all their various adjunct tidbits for the full run of the band—and I've heard just about everything imaginable from those quarters for the past forty-two years.
It just isn't very good stuff. Rubbish for stoners, actually. Still, I'm glad fans of the band find it all so swell.
Just sayin'.
Rubbish for stoners? Rude and hostile?
I forgot to thank you for featuring the cool Rick Griffin graphics for the cd cover. He had such a distinctive & masterful graphic style. Griffin was always my favorite of the so-called "underground " cartoonists, just as his greatest legacy will always be his concert posters from the sixties. I've always loved his album art the most. This particular cover is actually adapted from the original record labels. Love that crow.
Besides, we all know the Doors are the greatest American band ever...
HELLOOOOO PEOPLE. I thought I'd wandered on to the wrong site at first, all this my band is better than yours hoohaa is the sort of thing I read and laff at on other sites. Thought we were above all that here. 'Best band in the world/USA/UK/Universe' sooooo not important. If you don't agree with a personal choice be polite enough not to say so. There are posts on this site I don't like and posts I do. I've always preferred to say thanks for the likes and not diss the bits I don't like. Be polite people, we are so much better than this here.
Mal
A cooler head has prevailed. Thanks Mal. Though, I'm still up for hearing favorite American bands. Although I couldn't - with good critical conscience - rank them very high in terms of importance, The Doors (thanks pj) might be my personal favorite mentioned so far (except maybe the Beach Boys). But, that's today.
... especially with Morrison.
I am a deadhead; saw them many dozens of times, mostly early/mid 80s; own a decent collection. (I listen mostly to jazz.) People who prefer, say, the Doors are prioritizing other aspects of the music-listening experience than I am. That's OK with me--why argue?
Thanks, Willard, for this and the variety, too.
Exactly. It's apples and oranges, which is why "favorite" is the operative word here, not "most talented."
The key for me in finally appreciating the Dead was when I began to see them not as a "rock band," but more as a roots/traditionalist kind of ensemble. Their audience is obviously the rock crowd, but their approach to music I think is more rooted in the same ancient folk trails that begat Dylan, and not the R&B or blues that inspired your more typical rockers. Even when they're not overtly playing folky stuff, I think the underlying sensibility is there. Gotta agree on "Terrapin," great record.
Best American band? I can't let the discussion continue without wavin' my Velvet Underground banner. Alas, no strangers to the "overrated" charge themselves.
We're sticking with favorites (over best) and will mark you down for VU. Thanks.
Just to stir things up again, may I offer another choice for favorite American band: the Band (which really stirs the pot since 4/5th's of the group were Canadian.) Why is it the best-sounding examples of our own home-grown sound are imports? The Beatles & Stones are prime examples of this. Anyway, these guys did more to start the Americana/roots revival than any other band, (& managed to keep their own playing with Dylan in that there basement.)
Sure, we sometimes forget America is a continent, not a country, so why not The Band? They personify "Americana." LOVE the Basement Tapes. Robertson is one of my favorite guitarists.
Good to see Terrapin getting another nod. Wasn't it the album that made Robert Hunter bail? A string section?! A choir?! On a Dead record?! I always thought it was just beautifully done - perhaps the best ever example of orchestrated/arranged rock music, and a perfect blend of SF freakery and LA professionalism.
(Favorite American band today: The Monkees).
I've never been a Deadhead, and in fact I was a virulent ANTI-Deadhead for a period in my teens (to the constant annoyance of my Deadhead friends), but even I came around. They may not be the Greatest American Rock Band Ever, but they were great songwriters (something you can't say for ANY of the modern "jam bands"), and plenty experimental in their own unique way too (what other stadium-filling band could could subject its fans to a half hour of free-form "space" noodling nearly every show?)
These outtakes are all great and new to me -- and I consider myself a lapsed (but still 'brainwashed') deadhead. Some lovely moments in there.
You didn't have to have seen them live to 'get' the Dead, but it's true to say it certainly helped if you had some herb to help you.
As for the 'best' band of all time... my vote (today) would be Little Feat - Sailing Shoes era of course.
thanks as always Willard.
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