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Jerry Garcia - Run for the Roses Audio CD

A fair review of the Jerry Garcia "Run for the Roses" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jerry Garcia reviews here, or go back to the Jerry Garcia tabs.

Jerry Garcia Band: Jerry Garcia
Title: Run for the Roses
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Run for the Roses 2: I Saw Her Standing There 3: Without Love 4: Midnight Getaway 5: Leave the Little Girl Alone 6: Valerie 7: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Overproduced But With A Few Worthy Songs
This is a shame since it does feature some excellent songs. Like most of the Grateful Dead studio albums of the late 70's - early 80's, this Garcia solo effort suffers from overproduction. My CD also includes 6 bonus tracks: 1) Fennario 2) Alabama Getaway 3) Tangled Up In Blue 4)Simple Twist Of Fate 5) Dear Prudence 6) Valerie (Alternate Mix). So I am going to comment on those tunes as well.

For me "Run For The Roses" and "Alabama Getaway" are the highlights here. They are played with energy and are catchy enough to work in a studio setting. I like the bluesy "Valerie" and the two Beatles' covers - "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Dear Prudence" are decent efforts. But most of the rest of the album is a disappointment. "Fennario", more commonly known as "Peggy-O", is one of my favorite Dead tunes when played live. But this version lacks passion and groove. "Tangled Up In Blue" is one of Bob Dylan's greatest songs. But here Jerry plays and sings it too speedy and the background singers on the chorus are just flat out corny. Another Dylan song, "Simple Twist Of Fate" is somewhat better. But it doesn't come anywhere close to the sublime version of this song on the Jerry Garcia Band's live album released in 1991. I don't especially like "Leave That Little Girl Alone". But the song did become more interesting to me after I read that Robert Hunter wrote it for his daughter Jessie. She was getting into punk rock and Hunter was trying to stop himself from becoming an overprotective parent. Funny and ironic considering that Garcia and the Dead were icons of the hippie counterculture as well as pioneers in the use of mind altering substances. I doubt that Jessie was doing anything that Hunter himself had already tried many years before. But, of course, papas are inclined to fret over their daughters.

Garcia/Dead completists may still want this. But there are much better albums to purchase first.


sweet
the cover of "knockin' on heavens door" makes it a must have!4 stars for the album, 5 stars for the song!sweet and beautiful sound.


a great solo effort
The title track is the strongest track off of the disc. This is a great solo disc from Garcia. This album suffers from a couple of weak tracks, but it is good anyway.


Great studio Garcia Rock & Roll
Dad had the album. My 1st encounter of any kind was American Beauty. I got into it and the next thing I knew I had amassed a collection of Dead & Garcia albums. Run For The Roses was the one that wore out first! "Leave That Little Girl Alone" is rocking Garcia electric that will give you the chills. It's not Jerry's best studio work. Look to "Garcia" or "Cats Under the Stars" for that. Live Jerry Band is best represented by any of the "Keystone Encores" series. You know what they say about opinions!.


Buy this for "Midnight Getaway"
I recommend it. It's a beautiful, sad song, and Jerry's jazz guitar playing on the track is unique for a studio Dead/Jerry album.


You can see a complete list of all Jerry Garcia discography, or go back to the Jerry Garcia tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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