Jerry
On Broadway comes in two volumes, a four disc and a three disc
package. October 31, 1987 - Four discs that includes the
complete acoustic and electric performances of both the matinee and
evening shows. The Best of the Rest - A three disc compilation of the
Broadway run, two electric and one acoustic.
These Broadway shows were
historic events that consisted of two sets. His acoustic band opened
the shows performing a set of a variety of roots music including
gospel, blues, and war-time songs that was followed by a set from
his electric band. After the Broadway date, they came out West for some gigs and I was
fortunate to see three performances.
Personally, the biggest
charm of the Broadway release is the acoustic material. In 1988 the Almost
Acousticdisc formed a superb compilation of this material.
Including it, now there are four discs of this bands material. From the
Halloween shows, the two sets are similar to Almost Acoustic
and many tracks are repeated, while most of the acoustic material
from The Best Of the Rest has never been released.
The
acoustic band on this tour was a one time line-up and they surely
are enjoyable. Though, they were very similar in personnel to the 1964 band the Black
Mountain Boys that featured Garcia (banjo), Rothman (guitar), and
Nelson (mandolin). If this band was a more permanent ensemble they would
have even stronger musical chops! Related acoustic
blues material.
Only
one track, yet of my favorites tracks from Almost Acoustic is
not repeated on this release, “Oh the Wind and Rain”; a song
that also was performed by Garcia / Grisman on Shady
Groveand performed at their concerts. On the subject of
Garcia / Grisman, several other songs “I Ain't
Never,” “Rosa
Lee McFall,” “Two
Soldiers,” and “Drifting Too Far From The
Shore” (Old and in the Way) were
performed by both line-ups.
From the 10/31 acoustic
sets, Several songs were not on Almost Acoustic, “Short
Life Of Trouble,” “Troubled In Mind,” “Bright Morning
Stars,” “Good Night Irene,” “Two Soldiers,” If I Lose,”
and "Ragged But Right.”
Jerry isn’t the only star
in this band as Rothman and Kosek are outstanding instrumentalists.
As a result, the songs filled with dazzling guitar, fiddle, dobro,
and mandolin riffs and solos throughout. For more details about the
acoustic music we invite you read our Almost
Acousticreview.
From the electric material
there is very little overlap of songs among the four discs, and one
song that is repeated, "Masterpiece" has a guest on the
version from The Best Of the Rest. Referring to the releases
featuring the line-up with Melvin Seals several new live renditions
appear for the first time. At the top of the list is Bob
Dylan's "Forever
Young."Also
significant, IMO, are the two Van
Morrison covers, "And It Stoned Me," and "Crazy
Love," as well as an original, “Run For The Roses."
The Lunt-Fontanne :
10/31/87 set includes two complete electric sets. The matinee
show is well played and offers my favorite track selection of the
four electric discs.Conversely,
the evening matinee is my least favorite as it is so focused on
Reggae with "Stop That Train," "The Harder They
Come," and Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door."
Though, it was likely appropriate for the holiday event to keep an
upbeat, danceable mood rather than perform slow ballads or gospel
songs. That aside, “Werewolves of London Broadway"
is a fun way to open the Halloween performance. They also perform a
superb version of "Cats Down Under The Stars." However,
"Let It Rock" is the star of this disc characterized by
blistering energy.
The electric material from Lunt-Fontanne:
The Best Of The Rest offers oodles of treasures. Disc one is a
bit heavy on the Dylan material representing four songs. The first
four tracks are certainly superb and are among the strongest
electric material from Jerry On Broadway. The only rendition from
the Broadway run of "I'll Take a Melody" (10/19) gets
things off to a great start. Excellent, why didn't they delight
audiences with this one on other dates? Long overdue is a
rendition of Dylan's "Forever Young." Its charm is vocal
interaction between Jerry and the back-up vocalists, even though
Jerry struggles with some of the high notes. Add to that the
excellent dynamics and a strong instrumental. "Forever
Young" floored me when I saw it live. For that matter, so did
"Think," the next song, a rousing blues
standard written by Jimmy McCracklin.
Bob Weir sat in on the last
three tracks, two of which are Dylan songs. The three songs are also
regular rotations in the Grateful Dead's repertoire and the versions
performed by the Jerry Garcia band are ok, a nice rarity for
collectors. Weir sings the two Dylan songs.Also, I prefer the version of "Masterpiece" with
Jerry singing from the matinee on the 10/31/87 package.
The second electric disc
from Lunt-Fontanne: The Best Of The Rest is highlighted by
some outstanding gospels songs; this line-up of the Jerry Garcia
Band performed this style of music well. Both "Like a
Road," and "Lucky Old Sun" are given outstanding
treatment. The latter is followed by Morrison's "And It Stoned
Me." A very pretty version with a melodic guitar solo that has
one wonder, if the solo just follows the vocal line, how does it
sound sooooo good? Thanks Jerry:).
So what is the bottom-line
on Jerry on Broadway? Regarding the electric music, performance wise
the material is a bit better than the previous three releases with
this personnel, but the sound quality is vastly inferior. Regarding the
acoustic material, as a big fan of this style
of music I consider it essential.
1) I’ve Been All Around This World
2) I’m Troubled
3) Short Life Of Trouble
4) Band Introduction
5) Blue Yodel #9
6) Spike Driver Blues
7) Troubled In Mind
8) The Girl At The Crossroads Bar
9) Bright Morning Stars
10) Ripple
11) Good Night Irene
DISC 2
Matinee (Electric)
1) How Sweet It Is
2) They Love Each Other
3) When I Paint My Masterpiece
4) Dear Prudence
5) Run For The Roses
6) I Shall Be Released
7) My Sisters And Brothers
8) Midnight Moonlight
9) Crazy Love (Encore)
DISC 3
Evening (Acoustic)
1) Swing Low Sweet Chariot
2) Deep Elem Blues
3) Blue Yodel #9
4) Ballad Of Casey Jones
5) Two Soldiers
6) Band Introduction
7) Diamond Joe
8) Gone Home
9) Oh Babe,It Ain’t No Lie
10) If I Lose
11) Ragged But Right
DISC 4
Evening (Electric)
1) Werewolves Of London
2) Cats Under The Stars
3) Stop That Train
4) Let It Rock
5) Gomorrah
6) The Harder They Come
7) Knockin’ On Heavens Door
8) Deal
9) My Sisters And Brothers (Encore)
Lunt-Fontanne: Best of the Rest
DISC 1
Electric
1) I’ll Take A Melody
2) Forever Young
3) Think
4) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
5) Simple Twist Of Fate
6) When I Paint My Masterpiece
7) Deal
8) All Along The Watchtower
DISC 2
Electric
1) Get Out Of My Life Woman
2) Like A Road
3) Mission In The Rain
4) Mississippi Moon
5) Evangeline
6) Lucky Old Sun
7) And It Stoned Me
8) Tangled Up In Blue
DISC 3
Acoustic
1) Rosa Lee McFall
2) Drifting With The Tide
3) Calling Your Bosses
4) I’m Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
5) Drifting Too Far From The Shore
6) I Ain’t Never
7) Band Introduction
8) It’s A Long Long Way (To The Top Of The World)
9) Ashes Of Love (Rehearsal)
10) Poison Love (Rehearsal)
11) I’m Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
Electric
Band
Jerry
Garcia - guitar, vocals
John Kahn - bass
Melvin Seals - organ, keyboards
David Kemper - drums
Gloria Jones - vocals
Jackie LaBranch - vocals
Acoustic
Band Jerry Garcia - guitar,
vocals
David Nelson - guitar, vocals
Sandy Rothman - mandolin, dobro, banjo, vocals
John Kahn - acoustic bass
Kenny Kosek - fiddle (Kosek was not at all of the shows.)
Both releases feature detailed liner notes by Blair Jackson, author of
Garcia: An American
Life, photographs, and some fascinating artwork, including pages from the band and crew's behind-the-scenes newsletter, never before published.
From the
Jerry Garcia website.
"jerrygarcia.com is proud to announce two very special new releases in our Pure Jerry series of live concert recordings. These exclusive multi-CD packages celebrate one of Jerry's many musical highs: Jerry Garcia Band's spectacular two-week run on Broadway in New York City in October, 1987.
JERRY GARCIA BAND'S HISTORIC BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT
In October 1987, Jerry Garcia and his colleagues turned on the bright lights of Broadway with a record-setting 18 performance engagement at New York's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre: "Jerry on Broadway: Acoustic & Electric" was masterminded by impresario Bill Graham and featured two acts: Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and Jerry Garcia Band.
Word spread that every show was special, confirmed by the rabid howls of you werewolves who wrote to jerrygarcia.com with demands for the release of the "Jerry on Broadway" run. Show after show, the acoustic band ran through a captivating variety: old timey, spiritual, cowboy, string band, war ballads -- the music at the roots of Jerry's expansive musical vision. Then, after an intermission, Jerry Garcia Band returned with electrifying sets revealing the musicians in peak form. The engagement culminated with matinee and evening shows on Halloween, a wild night by all accounts.
LUNT-FONTANNE, NEW YORK CITY: OCTOBER 31, 1987 (4 CDs)
Lunt-Fontanne, New York City: October 31, 1987 contains every note of Jerry Garcia's matinee and evening performances on Halloween, a four-disc set, two discs each of acoustic and electric Jerry.
LUNT-FONTANNE, NEW YORK CITY: THE BEST OF THE REST (3 CDs)
Lunt-Fontanne, New York City: "The Best of the Rest" is a three-disc compilation culled from the two-week engagement, with two discs of electric JGB and a single disc of all the acoustic songs not performed on Halloween."
Comments or suggestions - webmaster (at) thebestofwebsite.com
