Completely Conspicuous 506: Wake of the Flood

I'm joined by guest Phil Stacey as we discuss the Grateful Dead's album Wake of the Flood.

Show notes:

- Recorded at CompCon world HQ

- Jay: Knew nothing about this album until recently

- First album on the Dead's own label

- New phase for the Dead: No Mickey Hart, the Godchauxs arrive, Pigpen had died

- Shades of jazz fusion

- Three years after their last studio album, American Beauty

- Material was well-honed in concert before making it to studio recording

- Horns featured throughout

- Phil: Live versions of these songs are better

- Two big shows with Allman Brothers and the Band that summer

- The rise of Frampton

- Nobody cares about live albums anymore

- "Stella Blue" is a standout track

- On the merits and demerits of Rush

- Back when AOR stations would play album sides

- Pulled back on the country influence of previous two albums

- No immediate "hits"

- Touring is one of the few ways bands can make money nowadays

- Ultimately, not one of their best, but a piece of the puzzle

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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.