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Joined: September 10 2004
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Points: 3888 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Blues for Allah
    Posted: October 20 2005 at 10:41

Blues for Allah was released by Grateful Dead in 1975. After some more commercial records the Dead went back  to experimentation, especially rhythm-wise.The rhythmic work on this record (thanx to the 2 drummers) is among the most complexe in rock (with Zappa). Every time I listen to the record I discover something new.A part from the fantastic rhythm work the overall sound goes more into Jazz Rock, some of Garcia's solos are very original and as always Phil Lesh is a bassplayer and instant composer at the same time.  'Slip Knot' and 'King Salomon's marbles' are breathtaking.
Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear
"Hey there! Rotter's Club!
Explain the meaning of this song and share it"

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Points: 257 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 10:50
Oh... ya.. Grateful Dead... I have all of them... a great band. 
...this is called....BleedingGum ... !
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Points: 7003 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 11:13

No arguments about the status of Blues for Allah - the Dead's proggiest moment and best studio album. Most of the material stayed in their live set until Garcia became one of the actually dead. There's a good live double cd (I think it's Two From The Vault) from the concert where they premiered the album. Jazzy chords, inspired soloing and astonishing rhythmic complexity - stunning stuff. They probably wouldn't get away with releasing an album that namechecks Allah these days, mind you, although I think that if Garcia were alive today he wouldn't let that put him off. 
'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom


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Points: 407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 11:21

To me, Blues for Allah is just a so-so effort.  

Yeah, it's the most progressive thing the Dead ever recorded, but that doesn't make it any better.  The first few tunes are pretty good but the entire second side of the original vinyl version is boring.  As far as their best studio album I'd have to go with Anthem of the Sun or American Beauty.
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Points: 20414 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 11:26
Although Blue For Allah is one of their proggier (but I haer that Al-Qaeda has called for a fatwa for blasphemy), I tend to think of 77's Terrapin Station and its side-long suite as their proggiest!
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Points: 521 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 18:40
It's a superb album. One of their best by far.
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Points: 2530 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 18:51
the silencers (scottish band) had an album called "a blues for buddha"
Originally posted by darkshade:

Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot.
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Points: 1320 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2005 at 19:06
I am a sort of "Deadhead" meaning I adore their music and have almost complete official discography.
Of course they are never considered progressive rock, but albums like "Wake of the Flood", "Blues for Allah" and "Terrapin Station" would probably appeal to many prog fans.
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Points: 825 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2005 at 20:27

YEAH! IM A DEADHEAD TOO!
ITS A GOOD ALBUM BUT I PREFER THEIR LIVE STUFF: LIVE/DEAD AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BOOTLEGS...

                          ...LET THE DARK STAR SHINE
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Points: 1859 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2005 at 20:30
Originally posted by Syzygy Syzygy wrote:

No arguments about the status of Blues for Allah - the Dead's proggiest moment and best studio album. Most of the material stayed in their live set until Garcia became one of the actually dead. There's a good live double cd (I think it's Two From The Vault) from the concert where they premiered the album. Jazzy chords, inspired soloing and astonishing rhythmic complexity - stunning stuff. They probably wouldn't get away with releasing an album that namechecks Allah these days, mind you, although I think that if Garcia were alive today he wouldn't let that put him off. 



I agree with everything, but my favorite of their studio albums is American Beauty.
And above all, is punk
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Dick Heath View Drop Down
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Points: 12818 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2005 at 06:37
Check out Jazz Is Dead's two albums which shows what members  of the jazz world think about GD's music
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Points: 20414 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2005 at 07:14
Originally posted by Fantômas Fantômas wrote:

Originally posted by Syzygy Syzygy wrote:

No arguments about the status of Blues for Allah - the Dead's proggiest moment and best studio album. Most of the material stayed in their live set until Garcia became one of the actually dead. There's a good live double cd (I think it's Two From The Vault) from the concert where they premiered the album. Jazzy chords, inspired soloing and astonishing rhythmic complexity - stunning stuff. They probably wouldn't get away with releasing an album that namechecks Allah these days, mind you, although I think that if Garcia were alive today he wouldn't let that put him off. 



I agree with everything, but my favorite of their studio albums is American Beauty.

Amarican Beauty and Workingman's Dead and Shakedown Street are way too country for me!



Edited by Sean Trane
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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