The Grateful Dead‘s first true archival album, Bear’s Choice, was lovingly produced as atribute to Pigpen shortly after he passed by none other that the Dead’s original soundman and benefactor, Owsley Stanley, aka Bear. Drawing from live shows recorded three years earlier by Bear at the Fillmore East in New York City, Bear’s Choice captures the Dead at an essential moment of their history, as they were about to record Workingman’s Dead (and shortly thereafter, American Beauty), and were transitioning into becoming Americana pioneers, while never losing touch with their psychedelic improvisational roots. Three of the eight songs on the album are sung by Pigpen, with Side 1 being the definitive example of early Acoustic Dead, and Side 2 being electric blues and rock & roll, with Pigpen leading the charge on both tracks on the second side.This has been re-mastered by David Glasser using Plangent Processes from the original analog 2-track tapes recorded live by Bear and has never sounded better.
Grateful Dead: History of the Grateful Dead Vol. 1 (Bear’s Choice) 50th Anniversary Edition
Vinyl:
- Katie Mae (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/13/70)
- Dark Hollow (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/14/70)
- I’ve Been All Around This World (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/14/70)
- Wake Up Little Susie (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/13/70)
- Black Peter (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/13/70)
- Smokestack Lightnin’ (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/13/70)
- Hard to Handle (Live at the Fillmore East, San Francisco, Ca 2/14/70)
Product Dimensions : 0.16 x 12.32 x 12.32 inches; 10.4 Ounces
Manufacturer : Grateful Dead Production
Original Release Date : 2023
Label : Grateful Dead Production
ASIN : B0BW2WR972
Country of Origin : USA
Number of discs : 1