Grateful Dead - Three from the Vault
Three from the Vault has a history that dates back almost to the beginning of the Dead’s archive unfolding, it was to be the follow up to the One and the Two and then for whatever reason it languished in the vaults. Of interest is that this is the first show without Mickey Hart until the last shows when the band retired in October 74. This has always been a good thing for me, I’ve always found Kreutzmann the better drummer and more fluid with his approach without Hart banging away behind him. It’s also the first “Bird Song” and “Deal,” inclusive of several second versions (including Playin’ in the Band), and the second of a long stint in Port Chester, all adding up to what’s a rather embyronic new Dead. I’d even go as far as to say that this through 77 this is probably one of my least favorite eras of the band. After listening to dozens of 20 minute PITBs, a 5 minute one doesn’t satisfy and to be honest very few of these songs I’d consider better than average versions. On the other hand it’s a multitrack that sounds about as good as you’d expect, although why they didn’t pick one of the other nights instead is kind of strange. I guess they just had to get this one out.
Pulsar - Angers 1/27/78
There’s very little live Pulsar lying around and not really any from the classic era you could call good quality, but even through the murk and multigenerational decay, you realize you’re witnessing a rather mighty progressive rock band at their peak on this one (not to mention the others, even better performances but worse quality). I suspect it wouldn’t be feasible to ever see a live Pulsar album, but I’d snap it up in a moment. This is long enough to cover just about the entirety of the second and third albums as well as a track or so from Pollen and everything is basically played by the book. Pulsar’s combination of Pink Floyd melancholy and spaciness combined with France’s symphonic rock tradition definitely made them a major in the field and they prove they could pull it all off live on a stage. If only…