Grateful Dead-Blues For Allah (1975)

Artist: Grateful Dead

Title: Blues For Allah

Label:  Grateful Dead Records

Format: LP

Cat #: GD-LA494-G

Year of Release: 1975

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1975 Research Craft Pressing

Listed Condition: VG/VG upper right corner clipped

Sell Date: 1/31/21

Sell Price: $17.99

Discogs Last Sold: 1/30/21 $14.95 VG/G+ Comments: solid copy, some light scuffs and hairlines, closer to VG+ excellent play copy, sleeve has top seam and spine split , rest minor edge wear, also incl original insert, still highly presentable (in added poly outer sleeve)

Low: $13.50 VG/VG
Median: $20.00Low: $13.50 VG/VG

High:  $36.99 NM/VG+  Played once. Sleeve has some edge wear. Name Briggs written upper left corner. Inner lyrics sheet like new.

Current low price: $13.99

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 6

Have/Want: 144/92

Where Sold:  Watseka, IL

Time it took to sell: 4 years

Where and When Bought: early to mid 80's, Worcester, MA That's Entertainment $5.99 used

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B

Sad To See It Go:  No

"Love blues for allah!" came the text from the Pinch Point editor after I sent a photo of commentary to come.

During my headphone listen, I had some negative vibes, man.  Yes, "Franklin's Tower" is a standard, as is Donna Godchaux's finest vocal performance in "The Music Never Stopped."  Well, maybe second best, but here she is more of a focal point than my favorite Dead song,  "Terrapin Station."

The "non-standards" are the rest of the album.  More jazz noodling than essentially anything else, replacing psychedelic noodling which I like fine.  I mean, Jerry is Jerry and love him or hate him he made his guitar sound his own trademark.  So I guess the best of these tracks is "Crazy Fingers" which Jerry exhibits, you guessed it, Crazy Fingers after a reggae intro!  The album opener "Help Is On The Way" and "Slipknot" got their share of live attention over the years.

I guess I just assumed I would deem this record better than Shakedown Street, but no, I don't think that's the case.  The fusion era was solidified upon mankind, but Weather Report Suite was last years news.  "Sage and Spirit" was only brought out twice live, once in '75 and an acoustic version from 1980  in NYC..  The title track that follows was only played a handful of times upon release and once in the mid-80's.  

We forgot about the time.

8/19/25-ED NOTE: I rebought this record for $8 at auction and it arrived today along with a nWake Of The Flood Rhino remaster and an original Terrapin Station earlier this week.  I'm digging this a little more with a little volume today than I did. Plus, my record cleaning abilities were put to the test with a small piece of particle crud caused a pop and a skip on otherwise near flawless vinyl.  The cover was already unexpectedly water damaged but now the crud is gone and this original copy sounds great cranking.  Side 1 is A level and I'm enjoying side 2 as second time cleaned up good.  Probably upgraded to A- level in my head.   That is all.  "We forgot about the time!..."