GRATEFUL DEAD
Go To Nassau (Arista)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

While the surviving members of the Grateful Dead move on individually with a variety of bands and projects, and collectively as The Other Ones, their legendary tape vaults continue to yield treasures for their enduring fan base. Go To Nassau documents a two day run at Long Island, NY's Nassau Coliseum in the spring of 1980. The tour was close on the heels of the release of the album Go To Heaven and the material reflects that, and as so often was the case with the Dead, much of the material is improved in performance.

There's a lot more than new songs on the two discs in this set, though, and some of the classic jams included are the Grateful Dead at their very best. A great rendition of the too seldom heard "High Time" and a terrific "Jack Straw>Franklin's Tower" are cases in point, but for the true aficionado, the high point is likely to be the second set stream that closes the album. "Playin'>UJB>Drums>Space>NFA>GDTRFB>Good Lovin'" is how it might be listed on an aging cassette on a collectors shelf. Awesome might be how it will be listed in your head after a close listen.

As an official Arista release this one will get wide distribution, and it deserves it. It's a fine document of a certain time in the three decade long career of the Dead, and a set of fine music as well.

Track List:

Disc One: Jack Straw>Franklin's Tower * New Minglewood Blues * High Time * Lazy Lightning>Supplication * Peggy-O * Far From Me * Looks Like Rain * China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider

Disc Two: Feel Like A Stranger>Althea * Lost Sailor>Saint Of Circumstance *Alabama Getaway * Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band>Drums>Space>Not Fade Away>Going Down The Road Feeling Bad>Good Lovin'

© 2002 - Shaun Dale