Disco de Grateful Dead: “Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72”

I have been listening to the Dead since 1976 when I saw my first show at the Beacon theatre in NYC. I have heard and colected hundreds of tapes, and more recently, CD's. Believe me when I tell you that, if you like the Grateful Dead, BUY this CD!! The band, in 1972, was at (or beyond!!) the top of it's form. Before the drug problems and comas this was when the Dead were probably one of the best bands bands in the world. The CD starts out with a sweet "Cold Rain and Snow' and takes-off from there. "Playing in the Band" nearly leaves Earth orbit. "Comes a time" is sweet as can be, one of those prortypical slow (Almost frozen in time) Jerry ballads. And check out the Monster Dark Star -> Sugar Mag -> Caution. Caution in '72 - you bet. Fasten your seat -belts and take the phone off the hook.

My only complaint is that whoever did the mix mixed Jerry too loud. I have heard other bootlegs of these shows with a better overall volume balance between all the instuments. Althought I obviously love Jerry's guitar, I prefer a mix that goes more for the overall orchetra or "gestalt" sound. But still, I am very happy with this CD. Actually, more than happy!!

I bought this because I was at the Bickershaw festival, Wembley arena, and the Lyceum. However, thanks to the the 30-year difference and a few other things ;) I remember very little from the shows. I do remember meeting Jerry backstage at Bickershaw and coming out of my first Dead show and looking at the Wembley residents watching TV in their front rooms, and realizing that there were some unlucky people who actually never knew what the Dead were like.

Luckily we still have records like this. I thought the cream of the shows from that tour had been skimmed off with "Europe '72," but to my mind this is better. Clearly it's longer, but there are sublime moments all the time. I wasn't much of a fan of Pig Pen, or Keith and Donna, yet after hearing a few tracks that featured them I was left wishing for more. Ditto for some songs that I used to think didn't show the Dead at their best, but they come on really strong on this set.

Yes, the Dead sometimes sang (and played!) out of tune. Yes, I can see how some people can dismiss Garcia's playing as endless noodling. But if you put that against the astounding ensemble playing and Garcia's abilities when he "hit it" (and he certainly hits it a lot of the time here), you won't care. The Dead were a band that had more ideas in ONE performance of ONE song than most bands had in their entire career.

So definitely a classic Dead album. If you like them, you won't be disappointed.

Bob Weir described the audience of which I was a member the 'coldest, stiffest, audience I've ever played for' - a description I was happy to read again in the inlay for this excellent four CD set.

In our defense, I and many of the others who packed into the newcastle City Hall to experience our very first Grateful Dead concert, were starving for the psychedelic Dead that we had grown to know and love so much. Sure, we also loved Workingman's and American Beauty but we were not so sure about the second live album. The New Musical Express at the time derided it as 'Boogie Dead' and claimed that the band were well passed their peak. I recall at that venue too, dancing was not permitted and bouncers were employed to restrain the audience and return them to their seats or throw them out if they were persistent offenders. The show was indeed great music and I listened in awe to the sheer magnificence of Pigpen and Jerry's fluid guitar runs once they got going. The performance was also marred by the frequent tune ups and by the fact that at 11pm the band was still playing but many of us had to leave otherwise there was no transport home until the next day.

By contrast the Bickershaw Festival was one of those miracle days. The event was cold and wet. Plenty of mud but no frolicking like Woodstock. Instead we all huddled together to keep warm as their was little fuel for fires. We had been rained on again and it was very cold. The New Riders had put on a fine performance and shortly, it seemed, before dusk the band came on to the stage and the sun shone with a fantastic performance including 'Dark Star' which raised our spirits and helped us forget our troubles for the next four hours or so.

Some of those performances are recorded on this album. At some points the tape hiss intrudes but none of it detracts from the performance. I love the whole of side four but my real favourite is side three with an admirableseries of fluid tunes from 'Truckin' through to 'Wharf Rat'.

The set has some of the best official recordings of Pigpen I have heard, especially given that he was in poor health. 'Turn on Your Lovelight' on disc two is AWESOME.

Steppin' Out is the Dead at the height of their power. Their versatility is incomparable. No other band before or since could perform the range of material they do switching easily between genres and yet making it their own. I am a little biased because these were shows that I was at but trying to be as objective as I can I would say that this is one Grateful Dead album that is a must for any collection. Superior to Hunded Year Hall, it is an historical record of the pinnacle years of the band's performance.

Great job on the sound and production. My only reservation is the sparcity of tracks from Newcastle City Hall. Perhaps when the Terrapin project is completed I can make my own CD from the band's own archives.

Excellent, excellent, excellent.

Europe '72 is generally considered to be among the best Grateful Dead tours, if not the best. There are also some things that make it unique- kieth on piano AND Pigpen on organ/vocals (it was his last tour, but pig had plenty left). Garcia plays a Fender stratocaster, giving his playing a different flavor. The band was at an impovisational zenith. This is a good set for fans of the original europe 72 album to get, very good recording too. They did make some excellent choices for Europe '72 though, as the songs which appear again on "steppin out" - China Cat sunflower, Truckin, Sugar Magnolia- are represented with better versions on Europe '72. Steppin' Out might be more desirable for "purists" since it has more uninterrupted song cycles, and the Europe '72 album contains studio vocal overdubs. Phil Lesh plays with incredible power here- muscular and inventive-this is a man possessed...the way he plays his custom Alembic bass is a huge part of the way Steppin' out sounds, there is a ryhymic drive that makes these songs exciting. The whole band plays like a freight train at full speed. All the while pigpen slips in his trademark organ fills and bluesy vocals. Bob Weir had just released his solo album "Ace" and he takes a larger role on this tour. Keith's playing is sophisticated-like finishing brush strokes to complete the picture- beautiful. I don't think Garcia's playing had quite reached his peak, but he comes close enough. The band still had its youth and energy occurring simultaneously with the musical advancement of each member and collectively. This intersection marks Europe '72 out as unlike any other grateful dead tour...some feel it was never equalled. There would not be this many hot shows on one tour until spring 1977- where Garcia's star shines brightly- albeit with a lot less jamming. The instrumental interplay on "Dark Star" and "The other one" is something there would be less of as time went on. After Europe '72 tempos gradually got slower and the jamming/improvising would eventually be reduced to nil. Steppin' out is a fine example of the bands improvisational bent. This CD set is among the best ever put out by the Dead archives- nice photos, notes and sound quality- a must for old and new fans alike. This is classic Grateful Dead.

This release is a "Dead Heads" dream come true. For all of us Pigpen lovers, "Steppin' Out" is a must have. This recording took place during the Deads most creative and energetic musical existence. A lot of the old standards that we know today were debuted on this tour. Buy it, you'll like it (love it!).