I'm wondering if this is just me, or if others feel this way:

While I really like JG's solo studio albums, with the exception of the Cats Under The Stars Tour double bill double bill with the Bob Weir band & Maria Muldaur on BG vocs, I really am not that fond of the Garcia band live albums, though I LOVE most live Dead.

Am listening to V.1 of the most recent JGB live series, & going "meh".

Anyone else feel that way? I'm also wondering why? I could listen to most live Dead (with the exception of Pigpen & Donna G material) for hours & be in total bliss, but frequently live JGB really seems to bore me. And it isn't the song choices, it's definitely the arrangements & performance.

I think it tends to go to a comfortable, cozy and unchallenging place and just stays there. It never gets out of the beanbag chair.

I love the Jerry Garcia Band and Jerry's other side projects. There's certain aspects of the Jerry Garcia Band I like better than the Grateful Dead..........and vice versa.. It's apples and oranges.

I love the cover songs and that his more soulful arrangements on things. Still lots of soloing......and "Don't Let Go" becomes his big space thing. My favorites are "I'll Take A Melody" and "Simple Twist Of Fate."

True, I don't necessarily think the selections of his current series have always been great choices. The mostly OOP (and I missed out on some) Pure Jerry series was better. The 1989 Nassau Coliseum show from the box set is great too.............(I was there)

What I find so interesting when comparing the two bands is how they reflect (along with the other side projects) how wide of a talent and Jerry was. Yes the two bands allowed him to stretch out and do what he does best, but they are very different - not only as bands, but his execution within them.

I will say (and I think I did when the first of Garcia Live series came out), that Vol 1 was a missed opportunity. I was underwhelmed by it, and while one can point to any of the archival series and point to some less than stellar releases, I felt for an inaugural release they really messed up (and considering how Pure Jerry floundered after a short series of releases, there would have been more care). On a whole I have not been overly impressed with the Garcia Live series. However I feel there are some really good examples of live JGB out there, they just are not necessarily in a series. Despite the "sacrilege" of live releases which cherry pick versus full shows, I do like
Jerry Garcia Band (1991) - which is IMO a great representation of one of the last incarnations
How Sweet It Is - basically a single disc (a flaw) extension of above
Don't Let Go

Now, I wish they would have continued on the Side Trips releases, but that dropped off after Vol 1.

So like the Dead, there are personal favorites of the eras and bands, but I feel that in many ways the archival releases have not been as successful (not meaning in a $ sense) as the Dead archives from a selection standpoint. I am not slamming the various series, as I listen to them frequently and enjoy them, and there are some volumes in both of them that I find very very good, but on a whole, I can appreciate Geff's POV.

Geff, if you have not listened to Jerry Garcia Band (1991), I'd be curious what you thought as it pertains to your 'arrangements and performance' position. If you still find them lacking, then I don't know what to tell ya (other than "you're wack" - I kid), other than JGB is not your cup o' tea (which means: "you're wack" - I kid, again).

I agree with NoURider's analysis, including that 1991 set. My favorite though is probably the earlier Jerry Garcia Almost Acoustic album. I've gone to that one much more often than the others.

I don't think I have 1991. What is the full title?

Here is a link...it would need to be in in imwanized for in imwan credit.... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002VM1/?tag=imwan-20

This is the release I spoke of.

Thanks........... I'm afraid you're going to think I'm wacked; though I haven't played that one in years.