The Grateful Dead went into a state of latent activity in the fall of
1974 that lasted until the spring of the following year when the band
reconvened at guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir's Ace Studios to record Blues
for Allah. The disc was likewise the third to be issued on their own
Grateful Dead Records label. When the LP hit shelves in September of
1975, the Dead were still not back on the road -- although they had
played a few gigs throughout San Francisco. Obviously, the time off had
done the band worlds of good, as Blues for Allah -- more than any past
or future studio album -- captures the Dead at their most natural and
inspired. The opening combo of "Help on the Way," "Slipknot!," and
"Franklin's Tower" is a multifaceted suite, owing as much to Miles Davis
circa the E.S.P. album as to anything the Grateful Dead had been
associated with. "Slipknot!" contains chord changes, progressions, and
time signatures which become musical riddles for the band to solve --
which they do in the form of "Franklin's Tower." Another highly evolved
piece is the rarely performed "King Solomon's Marbles," an instrumental
that spotlights, among other things, Keith Godchaux's tastefully
unrestrained Fender Rhodes finger work displaying more than just a tinge
of Herbie Hancock inspiration. These more aggressive works contrast the
delicate musical and lyrical haiku on "Crazy Fingers" containing some
of lyricist Robert Hunter's finest and most beautifully arranged verbal
images for the band. Weir's guitar solo in "Sage & Spirit" is based
on one of his warm-up fingering exercises. Without a doubt, this is one
of Weir's finest moments. The light acoustic melody is tinged with an
equally beautiful arrangement. While there is definite merit in Blues
for Allah's title suite, the subdued chant-like vocals and meandering
melody seems incongruous when compared to the remainder of this
thoroughly solid effort. by Lindsay Planer
Tracklist :
1 Help on the Way/Slipknot! 7:20
Jerry Garcia / Keith Godchaux / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann / Phil Lesh
2 Franklin's Tower 4:32
Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann
3 King Solomon's Marbles 5:16
Jerry Garcia / Mickey Hart / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann / Phil Lesh
4 The Music Never Stopped 4:34
John Perry Barlow / Bob Weir
5 Crazy Fingers 6:42
Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
6 Sage & Spirit 3:07
Bob Weir
7 Blues for Allah 12:33
Jerry Garcia / Donna Jean Godchaux / Keith Godchaux / Mickey Hart / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann / Phil Lesh / Bob Weir
- Bonus Material -
8 Groove #1 (Instrumental Studio Outtake) 5:42
Written-By – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh
9 Groove #2 (Instrumental Studio Outtake) 7:32
Written-By – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh
10 Distorto (Instrumental Studio Outtake) 8:10
Written-By – Jerry Garcia
11 A To E Flat Jam (Instrumental Studio Outtake) 4:35
Written-By – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh
12 Proto 18 Proper (Instrumental Studio Outtake) 4:16
Written-By – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh
13 Hollywood Cantata (Studio Outtake) 4:14
Written-By – Bob Weir, Robert Hunter
Credits :
Bass – Phil Lesh
Drums, Percussion – Bill Kreutzmann
Keyboards, Vocals – Keith Godchaux
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Jerry Garcia
Percussion – Mickey Hart
Reeds, Flute – Steven Schuster
Artwork By [Cover Paintings] – Philip Garris
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Bob Weir
Vocals – Donna Godchaux
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