Rating: **
(2 stars)
Title: Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt Live At
Keystone
Company: Fantasy
Catalog:
Year: 1973
Grade
(cover/record): VG/VG
Comments:
minor ring, edge and corner wear; double LP set; gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
Price: $12.00
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First off, we'll readily admit to buying the LP 'cause it was cheap and due to the fact Garcia's face was prominently plastered on the cover. Other than the fact he's a respected keyboardist who briefly replaced The Grateful Dead's Ron McKernan, we didn't know much 'bout Saunders. As such, we weren't sure what to expected from this double album, ten track concert set. Guess what? Capturing the quartet at a July 1973 performance at Berkley's Keystone Theatre,
"Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt Live At
Keystone" isn't half bad. First off, we'll be perfectly honest and tell you there's nothing earth shattering here. The lone group original "Space" is little more than an aimless instrumental (the four players don't even sound like they're on the same tune). Several of the performances are merely routine, a couple (" My Funny Valentine" and "Someday Baby") going on far too long. On the other hand, sounding like they were having fun, the quartet effortlessly rollicked through a diverse set of what sounded like personal favorites. Handling lead vocals and guitar, Garcia was in the spotlight for much of the collection, though all four members acquitted themselves well. Highlights? A nifty cover of Jimmy Cliff's " The Harder They Come", the instrumental "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers" and "". (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt Live At Keystone" track listing:
1.) Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (instrumental) (Johnson - Bowen) - 6:38
2.) Positively 4th Street (Bob Dylan) - 7:45
3.) The Harder They Come (JImmy Cliff) - 6:20
4.) It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry (Bob Dylan) - 7:03
5.) Space (Merl Saunders - Jerry Garcia - John Kahn - Bill Vitt) - 3:53
6.) It's No Use (H. Clark - McGunn - Tickson) - 9:34
7.) That's Alrigh,t Mama (Arthur Crudup) - 4:18
8.) My Funny Valentine (Rogers - Hart) - 18:06
9.) Someday Baby (Hopkins) - 10:13
10.) Like a Road (Don Nix - Dann Penn) - 10:58
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