I've been a fan of the Dead for some time, but had only a few albums by them: all studio, none live. I'd heard that this was thier best live effort, and while I have little basis for comparison, I can understand the sentiment. It is a marvelous live album, up there with James Brown at the Apollo, BB King at the Regal, and other now-classic live performances. The dual CD package includes some great bonus tracks, with a wonderful cover of 'Good Love', which is as good as the original cuts to make the album.

This album literally changed my life. I was about sixteen, I think. A friend of mine got me good and high for the first time in my life, then sat me down in a chair, put the headphones on, and left, coming back about half an hour later. By then, I truly believe that my brain chemistry had been permanently altered.

I had no idea music could sound like this. I had never heard ideas spilling out of someone like they came out of Garcia's guitar. Just endlessly inventive, on and on. I also love this album because, compared with some later ones, it's pretty spare. They're not afraid to be quiet. Not a bad moment in this, and an awful lot of transcendent ones.

If you listen to "Jack Straw" you can almost see the two men walking together in Texas, the heat, the tension, the potential for violence that's finally realized, and the realization that the only thing to do is go on.

It's beautiful, and perfectly realized.

"There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert"--album liner notes.

Most Deadheads I know prefer Live Dead shows over Studio Dead recordings. Europe '72 (1972) is a collection of classic Live Dead performances recorded during the band's tour of Western Europe in early 1972. (If you could only own one live Dead album, this is The One to own. It is not only the Dead's best-selling live album, it is one of their best-selling albums to date.) It is a landmark fusion of rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, country, and improvisational jam. Although it is considered a live album, many of the songs were subjected to later vocal overdubbing. This album represents Ron "Pigpen" McKernan's last tour with the Dead before he died from a stomach hemorrhage in 1973, and this was the last album featuring him as an active member of the band. It was also the first album to feature Keith Godchaux and his wife Donna Jean Godchaux. The album includes the impossible-to-escape-in-the-70's radio single, "Truckin'" (the song that first introduced me to the Dead). The album features Garcia on vocals and guitar, Weir on vocals and guitar, Lesh on bass and vocals, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan on harmonica and vocals, Keith Godchaux on piano, Donna Godchaux on vocals, and Kreutzmann on percussion. I first experienced this album on vinyl. The remastered CD is worth the upgrade from vinyl, featuring the following setlist:

Disc: 1
1. Cumberland Blues (live at Wembley, London, 4/8/72))
2. He's Gone (live at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 5/10/72)
3. One More Saturday Night (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
4. Jack Straw (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
5. You Win Again (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
6. China Cat Sunflower (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
7. I Know You Rider (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
8. Brown-Eyed Woman (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
9. Hurts Me Too (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
10. Ramble On Rose (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
11. Sugar Magnolia (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/4/72)
12. Mr. Charlie (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
13. Tennessee Jed (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
14. The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion)(live in Frankfurt, 4/26/72)

Disc: 2
1. Truckin' (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
2. Epilogue (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
3. Prelude (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
4. Morning Dew (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
5. Looks Like Rain (live at Wembley, London, 4/8/72))
6. Good Lovin' (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
7. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, 4/14/72)
8. Who Do You Love? (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
9. Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks) (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, 4/14/72)
10. Good Lovin' (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
11. The Yellow Dog Story (live in London, 4/8/72)

G. Merritt

The CD came very fast for me to enjoy. The CD was in perfect condition as well as the case and everything!!!

This purchase was to replace an old, long-lost copy. I've always liked their studio-produced stuff, much to the chagrin of some more serious aficionados. Every once in a while it's nice to hear a nice crisp rendition than to have to pore over tons of bootlegs to find just the one. There are some really good renditions on this 2-disc set. For me, He's Gone and B.E. Women were killer.