Postcards of the Hanging - Grateful Dead Perform the Songs of Bob Dylan

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There are infinite ways to slice-and-dice the Grateful Dead's concert archive--and we'll surely see them all--but an all-Dylan disc is one of the most logical, as Dylan tunes infused Dead setlists for many years. Clearly, Dylan's reliance on blues and folk forms and his exploratory lyrics translated well into the Dead's musical language; in short, Dylan songs are jam-ready. Most of the selections here come from the late 1980s (with Brent Mydland on keyboard) and were played by the band enough times that the compilers had plenty of excellent performances to choose from. Of particular note, however, is a 1973 version of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," featuring Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers, and a 1987 studio rehearsal of "Man of Peace" with Dylan himself sitting in (the rehearsals were way better than their subsequent shows together--see 1987's disappointing Dylan and the Dead for proof). Though Bob Weir handles lead vocals on most of the tunes, Jerry Garcia was the one who really was able to inhabit these songs and convey their deeper, subtle emotions, even when just his guitar was doing the talking. Not coincidentally, the most stirring cuts--"She Belongs to Me," "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"--feature Garcia's passionate lead vocals. Overall, Postcards documents a fruitful partnership between two rock icons, a partnership that was often much better off when the songwriter wasn't actually around to join in. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

When I Paint My Masterpiece
She Belongs to Me
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Maggie's Farm
Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Ballad of a Thin Man
Desolation Row
All Along the Watchtower
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Man of Peace

Customer Reviews:

Simple twist of Dylan.......2006-12-02

This is a pretty good collection of tunes. The copy I have also has the bonus disc with Queen Jane and The Mighty Quinn. The All Along The Watchtower is the one now available on Truckin' Up To Buffalo. It Takes Alot To Laugh features members of the Allman Brothers Band.

dylan and the dead love hate relationship.......2006-06-08

the dead and dylan have a long musical history a poor soul un wisely says that the dead dont do dylans music justice the sheer stupidity of the stament makes me laugh dylan is one of the most influential writers of are time but come on he wrote almost all his songs with three chords because to him the words were everythining and because his musical skill allowed no more the dead on the other hand are an extremely diverse group of incrediable musicians so if you want to here dylans classics played and sung by highly skilled musicians this disc is 4 u if u cant stand the thought of someone other than dylan singing his tunes by dylan butno matter what u do dont get "dylan and the dead" its horrible. because dylan does not have the greatest voice with out a studio but he is a genuis and very close to the dead when jerry died he referred to jerry as more like a big brother rather than a freind...ive seen over 56 dead shows as well as 6 dylan shows and have seen each do each others songs numerous times these songs arent being played by the dead for the first time for some tribute album but for the thousandth time because the dead loved dylan and he loved the dead

When Bob and Jerry hung out, what did they talk about?.......2005-12-04

There is a danger in reviewing the Grateful Dead. As a guy with kids, a job, and a mortgage, I am certain to fumble details that are common knowledge among true deadheads. I apologize in advance.

"Postcards from the Hanging" makes me believe there is a different way to live. It combines the loose, behind-the-beat Dead interpretations of some of the best poetry of the twentieth century. The result is a longing to live cleaner, easier, more creatively, and closer to the heart. This is what art is supposed to do.

So maybe I am not as discriminating as some of the other reviewers (there probably are better verisions), but nervertheless I was moved.

"Postcards" for me combined two sentimental memories. I was taken back to when I was thirteen, taping "Blood on the Tracks" off of Stereo X in the basement on a Sunday night. I was taken back to when I was 21, working in the lumber yard and listening to all-Grateful-Dead Saturdays on Utah's start-up community radio station. How could I resist this combination of two heroes from simpler times?

I was unable to resist another combination--"Dylan and the Dead." Ouch. (Who wanted to include eleven minutes of "Joey"?) Stay away from "Dylan and the Dead." Confidently immerse your ears in "Postcards."

Look, for the Dead to be about psychedelic interpretation of folk music--which on some level they were, they had to do Dylan's work. Dylan was and is the godfather of all post-modern American folk music. The combination is a natural one. For the casual fan of the Dead, this is probably the most accessible package of their Dylan work.

And yes I do agree that Jerry is by far the better voice for Dylan's lyrics. When Bob and Jerry got together, what did they talk about?

Excellent Covers.......2005-08-01

The Grateful Dead is probably the most famous "cover band" of all time. And the artist they covered more than any other was Bob Dylan, and this is their best work covering his songs.

Whether you are a fan or not, or a fan of Bob Dylan or not, you should enjoy this cd very much. "Desolation Row" is the best track on the disc, though "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again", "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" are strong efforts. A previous reviewer recommends "Dylan and The Dead" vs. "Postcards.........", but trust me, this is a MUCH BETTER collection. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. If you are Dead fan it is a must have. If you are not, it is still a great disc to listen to and you will soon be a Dead-head afterwards.

i bet this makes dylan laugh.......2005-04-28

this cd is good backgound music if you like the dead but if you're a dylan fan then this album will make you laugh. the postcards they are referring to are the ones that they are sending from their hanging and because they have good taste they choose to go out singing dylan which i have to admire but do not buy this album if you are a big fan of dylans version which everyone should be because you will be dissappointed. i got respect for the dead but they could never reach what dyaln did music wise. buy dylan and the dead if you really want to hear a good dylan and dead cd because dylan is in his prime on that cd and it will make any true dylan fan smile and say (...)

Postcards of the Hanging - Grateful Dead Perform the Songs of Bob Dylan

Average customer rating:

What did Bob and Jerry talk about when they hung out together?
great concept, terrible execution
THE DYLAN ALBUM YOU SHOULD OWN
A Great Document, Though Not The Best
A Great Document, Though Not The Best

Postcards of the Hanging - Grateful Dead Perform the Songs of Bob Dylan
Grateful Dead
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006314F
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

When I Paint My Masterpiece
She Belongs To Me
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Maggie's Farm
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Desolation Row
All Along The Watchtower
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Man Of Peace

Amazon.com

There are infinite ways to slice-and-dice the Grateful Dead's concert archive--and we'll surely see them all--but an all-Dylan disc is one of the most logical, as Dylan tunes infused Dead setlists for many years. Clearly, Dylan's reliance on blues and folk forms and his exploratory lyrics translated well into the Dead's musical language; in short, Dylan songs are jam-ready. Most of the selections here come from the late 1980s (with Brent Mydland on keyboard) and were played by the band enough times that the compilers had plenty of excellent performances to choose from. Of particular note, however, is a 1973 version of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," featuring Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers, and a 1987 studio rehearsal of "Man of Peace" with Dylan himself sitting in (the rehearsals were way better than their subsequent shows together--see 1987's disappointing Dylan and the Dead for proof). Though Bob Weir handles lead vocals on most of the tunes, Jerry Garcia was the one who really was able to inhabit these songs and convey their deeper, subtle emotions, even when just his guitar was doing the talking. Not coincidentally, the most stirring cuts--"She Belongs to Me," "It Takes a Lot to Laugh," "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"--feature Garcia's passionate lead vocals. Overall, Postcards documents a fruitful partnership between two rock icons, a partnership that was often much better off when the songwriter wasn't actually around to join in. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

What did Bob and Jerry talk about when they hung out together?.......2005-12-04

great concept, terrible execution.......2004-06-26

Maybe its because I saw them play an incredible Tom Thumb and Desolation Row on consecutive nights in '92, but many of the songs on here are just bad. Phil has never been a great vocalist, that's just part of his appeal. But listening to him on this is painful. Bobby omits an entire verse and screws up the Ezra Pound/TS Elliot line in Desolation Row. The bonus disc Quinn just stinks. "It Takes a Train", "Queen Jane" and "She Belongs" are the only decent tracks. I find it hard to believe that David Gans couldn't come up with better takes of these songs. I was so excited to see the track list- then I sat down and listened to it. Anyone who says this is "The Best Ever!" can't possibly have listened to many Dead shows. I'll stick to my boot tapes, thank you.

THE DYLAN ALBUM YOU SHOULD OWN.......2004-01-13

Back in the late 1960's or early 1970's, this would have been huge. Millions of baby boomers were quoting Bob Dylan as if he were Holy Writ and there was considerable mysticism surrounding the Grateful Dead. This album would have been one of the best selling albums for years if indeed it had been released. The trouble is that Dylan's stock in the rock world has fallen precipitously since his "born-again" days in the early 1980's. Although I don't share it, enthusiasm for the Dead has not abated and in fact has grown. Still, the reverence for Dylan has almost completely dissipated and the post-boomer denizens will tell you without a hint of embarrassment that when it comes to old Bob they just don't get it and just don't care they don't get it.

So here we are. What can be said for this album? First thing I must say is that it is better than you would think. For someone who actually grew up listening to Dylan, I found that album very entertaining. Sure, it's the Dead and musically the CD displays the typical Grateful Dead minimalist approach. But with the classic Dylan material it actually works. Dylan in his own recordings usually troubles himself with only a few takes on each song and moves on. What he felt like doing that day is what you get. This has frequently resulted in Dylan presenting his own material in a less than attractive light. The Dead in adapting Dylan actually appear to have given some thought to what would be the best way for them to do the music. Other artists have had a propensity to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the production of their versions of Dylan. The Dead by contrast present Dylan in an understated manner that serves the material well.

Anyone can quibble over the Dead's choices from the Dylan catalogue but I think their selection certainly is respectable. While I would have like to see what they would have done with "Like A Rolling Stone" or "From A Buick 6" (just to name two); you have to admire the Dead for picking "All Along The Watchtower", "Desolation Row" and "Queen Jane Approximately".

This CD also comes with a bonus CD which contains the above mentioned "Queen Jane" and "Quinn The Eskimo". I especially enjoy this last cut. Even after all these years since I first heard Manfred Mann put it out as a single, I can't get over the exotic combination of dark foreboding apocalyptic warning and the goofy suggestion of Quinn the prophet from the north..

This is a wonderful CD that should be easily worth anyone's time to at least give a listen. I always thought the Dead were unusually good when they did other people's material and that is especially true here. Ironically, it just may be that if you are to own just one Dylan album this could well be the one.

A Great Document, Though Not The Best.......2003-12-28

Released as one of a series of CDs dedicated to the "Songs of Bob Dylan" (See another in this series under The Byrds), this CD offers wonderful interpretations by a band that was one of Dylan's greatest interpreters. Both Jerry and Bobby have time and again dug into the Dylan treasure chest for material that they molded into their own seemingly without effort. Why only three stars, then? Well, there are just too many tracks from the Brent-tinkling-on-the-DX7-synth era for my taste. I've seen and heard the Dead play Dylan from the Keith-and-Donna incarnation, through the Brent years, to Dylan and the Dead (at JFK Stadium in Philly no less), and even the Vince and whoever else joined him on keys last lineup. So ... I wish this particular collection would or could have dug out performances from a deeper vault. Finally, check out the Jerry Garcia-Merle Saunders "Live at the Keystone" CD's for some excellent Dylan interpretations. Happy trails!

A Great Document, Though Not The Best.......2003-12-28

Released as one of a series of CDs dedicated to the "Songs of Bob Dylan", this CD offers wonderful interpretations by a band that was one of Dylan's greatest interpreters. Both Jerry and Bobby have time and again dug into the Dylan treasure chest for material that they molded into their own seemingly without effort. Why only three stars, then? Well, there are just too many tracks from the Brent-tinkling-on-the-DX7-synth era for my taste. I've seen and heard the Dead play Dylan from the Keith-and-Donna incarnation, through the Brent years, to Dylan and the Dead (at JFK Stadium in Philly no less), and even the Vince and whoever else joined him on keys last lineup. So ... I wish this particular collection would or could have dug out performances from a deeper vault. Finally, check out the Jerry Garcia-Merle Saunders "Live at the Keystone" CD's for some excellent Dylan interpretations. Happy trails!

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