Stolen Roses: Songs of the Grateful Dead

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Grateful Dead wrote dozens of great songs, and all great songs invite interpretation--to be twisted, revised, lengthened, shortened, and messed with. That seems to be the guiding principle of this strange, enjoyable CD, which was compiled by David Gans, host of the syndicated radio show The Grateful Dead Hour. The "stolen" in the title is only half-ironic; the Patti Smith and Dylan tunes were taken from live tapes. This was done with the artist's permission of course, but the sound quality on the disc varies widely, just like some old vinyl bootleg on Trademark of Quality. And though more than half of the songs appear elsewhere, it's a diverse mix, and the six unreleased tracks are all highlights. Any 'Head will appreciate Elvis Costello's forceful, cool delivery of "Ship Of Fools," Widespread Panic's energetic take on "Cream Puff War," and, most importantly, the David Grisman Quintet's lengthy, mind-warping version of "Dark Star." --Mike McGonigal

Tracks:

Cumberland Blues - Cache Valley Drifters
Hight Time - Original cast recording from the World Premiere of the Stage Play 'Cumberland Blues'
Brown-Eyed Woman - The Pontiac Brothers
Friend of the Devil (Live) - Bob Dylan (Previously Unreleased)
Ship of Fools / It Must Have Been The Roses (Live) - Elvis Costello (Previously Unreleased)
Black Peter - Patti Smith Band (Previously Unreleased)
Black Muddy River - The Persuasions - (Previously Unreleased)
Dark Star - David Grisman Quintet (Previously Unreleased)
Ripple - Sex Mob
The Golden Road - The Bobs
Unbroken Chain - Joe Gallant and Illuminati
Franklin's Tower - Wartime Featuring Henry Rollins
Pasta on the Mountain - Leftover Salmon
Cream Puff War - Widespread Panic (Previously Unreleased)
Uncle John's Band - Stanford Marching Band

Amazon.com

The Grateful Dead wrote dozens of great songs, and all great songs invite interpretation--to be twisted, revised, lengthened, shortened, and messed with. That seems to be the guiding principle of this strange, enjoyable CD, which was compiled by David Gans, host of the syndicated radio show The Grateful Dead Hour. The "stolen" in the title is only half-ironic; the Patti Smith and Dylan tunes were taken from live tapes. This was done with the artist's permission of course, but the sound quality on the disc varies widely, just like some old vinyl bootleg on Trademark of Quality. And though more than half of the songs appear elsewhere, it's a diverse mix, and the six unreleased tracks are all highlights. Any 'Head will appreciate Elvis Costello's forceful, cool delivery of "Ship Of Fools," Widespread Panic's energetic take on "Cream Puff War," and, most importantly, the David Grisman Quintet's lengthy, mind-warping version of "Dark Star." --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Two words ----- HENRY ROLLINS!!!.......2001-12-04

Cream Puff War is a favorite of mine. And I spend my life listening to and touring with Widespread Panic. But for Henry Rollins to be on a Grateful Dead tribute album, disgusts me. He's everything the Grateful Dead was not. He's a straight-edge, violent man, who has never, ever performed a good song. Bob Dylan, diserved to be on, and the Stanford Marching Band was alright. But I don't know which came first, the Phish tribute or this. They both have the Stanford Marching Band. TOO PREDICTABLE! Jambands strive on switching it up. Not in good taste.

Very disappointing, even if you like covers of Dead material.......2001-11-13

Let me start by being very clear: I not only like the Grateful Dead, but I really enjoy good covers of their material. In fact I think that, like Bob Dylan, the Dead's best songwriting often becomes most apparent when someone else does the performance. The Grateful Dead often gave wonderful performances, but just as often other artists have done even more wonderful things with the same material.

A case in point is the Persuasions' collection of Dead material, MIGHT AS WELL. Another is the DEADICATED benefit of a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately, this collection lacks any sense of cohesion, and many of the performances are rather simple and uncreative. There are two or three gems on here, especially material by Elvis Costello and the Persuasions, but unfortunately there's a lot of chaff you have to separate to get to the wheat. Worth picking up if you're a diehard fan who just must have all things Dead, but otherwise, don't bother. Check out some of the other cover albums first, or just get one of the better collections of material actually performed by the Dead, like ONE FROM THE VAULT, EUROPE '72, PEAKIN' AT THE BEACON, or SKULL & ROSES.

bad day lifted.......2001-01-15

I was listening to an NPR interview of the producer of this album, having a very, very bad day. It boosted my morale as I heard the reasons about each recording, especially about Elvis Costello annoucing his, until then, love and adminiration of the dead. As the interview ended the last cut on the album was being played. I smiled, I was on a record album reviewed by NPR. The Stanford Band aka LSJUMB, was where I first heard enough dead to like and then love them. Cha, Cha, Cha.

Interpretations of Greatful Dead Songs.......2000-09-20

Many of my favorite Grateful Dead songs are their interpretations of others' music, e.g., Bob Dylan.

Producer David Gans has provided us here with the opposite, interpretations by others of Grateful Dead songs.

Any serious fan of the Grateful Dead will love this album.

My favorite tracks are by Elvis Costello: Ship of Fools/It Must Have Been the Roses, Bob Dylan: Friend of the Devil, and Joe Gallant and Illuminati: Unbroken Chain.

The finale is by the Stanford Marching Band: Uncle John's Band. No kidding....it'll make you laugh!

Maybe one and a half stars........2000-09-19

Some of the trax are pretty cool. Dark Star by Grisman grooves. The tunes by the Cumberland Blues andthe Cache Valley Drifters are really fine. Dylan's "Devil" is kinda nice, but it sounds like a boot. Lots of the trax are funny, like a comedy CD. Like Golden Road by the Bobs, and Ripple by Sex Mob. Uncle John's Band by the Stanford Marching Band is cool but one listen and out!!! That's about it for this CD, too. One listen and out!!! And the cover looks like a boot, too.

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