Completely Conspicuous 496: Dead Ahead

I'm joined by guest Phil Stacey as we dig into the catalog of the Grateful Dead, starting with the band's 1967 debut.

Show notes:

- Recorded at CompCon world HQ

- Other podcasts have focused on catalogs of U2, R.E.M., Phish, The Tragically Hip

- Looking at the Dead album by album

- Phil's a tie-dyed in the wool Deadhead, Jay has only superficial knowledge of the band

- Phil: Got into the Dead in the mid-'80s, saw them live in '89

- Attracted by the musicianship, lyrics

- Live is where the band really shines

- Every show was different

- The solo work from Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir was pivotal as well

- Songs would be played live years before it showed up on an album

- Band's biggest hit, "Touch of Grey," was first played live in '82 but became a single five years later

- Jay: More into hard rock, metal as a kid

- Got into alternative and punk

- Would hear some Dead songs on classic rock radio

- The tribute comp Deadicated introduced me to more Dead songs

- Self-titled debut has a different sound than the one they evolved into

- Recorded in four days

- Only got up to #73 on album charts

- Mostly covers of folk and jug band songs

- Band took a lot of speed during recording, which shows in the songs

- Garcia rips on guitar throughout

- Not too much jamming on record

- Psychedelic rock was starting to happen in general

- Live versions of these songs were much longer

- Most Dead shows were 2.5 to 3 hours

- Jay: Really liked "Cold Rain and Snow," "Viola Lee Blues"

- "Sitting on Top of the World" bears some resemblance to Allman Brothers

- Phil: Garcia was very prolific, always playing guitar

- Bob Weir gave up the short shorts for cargo pants

- John Mayer plays with Dead and Co. now

- Surviving Dead guys are in their 70s now

- Not your typical Dead album

- The band didn't like how it was recorded

- Next up: Anthem of the Sun

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The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.