Rating: 9/10

Track Amount: 8

Running Time: 37 minutes and 37 seconds

Genre: Psychedelia.

Band personnel: Jerry Garcia, Donna Jean Godchaux, Keith Godchaux, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir.

Producer: Grateful Dead

Record Label: Grateful Dead Records

Recorded at: CBS Studios

Art Direction: Kelley/Mouse.

Best tracks: U.S. Blues, Scarlet Begonias.

After releasing numerous live albums and embarking on extensive touring before this release, the Grateful Dead needed a break from that aspect of their career and went on what was supposed to be a permanent hiatus from touring. Instead of going into the Record Plant as before, these songs were recorded in the newly refurbished CBS Studios. Even so, the band were under pressure to record new material, they pulled off an album that received mixed to positive reactions from the reviewers of the day. Despite this fact, the Grateful Dead were still able to make new music, although the group did not feel entirely comfortable with the limitations of the studio environment. Jerry Garcia was reportedly at home in the new studio after the change of studio had occurred. In any case, could these West Coast USA Hippies still make great music in 1974? Let’s take a listen and find out.

1. U.S. Blues begins with a very old-school Blues Music feel with varied and interesting instrumentation throughout. The Grateful Dead certainly knew how to grow and adapt to the times. The singing is also beautiful and crystal clear in the mix. All in all, a seriously enjoyable and fun listening experience that has power and energy. This is an update on what the Hippies were up to in 1974. The Grateful Dead certainly knew how to make gorgeous music in many ways, shapes and forms throughout. A really awesome and catchy piece of music that is Classic Rock done in a retrospective style for all to enjoy. Absolutely wonderful music to listen to, and definite proof that these guys could make beautiful and powerful music throughout. The harmonies throughout are irresistibly awesome as well. The guitar and piano solos are also extremely divine to listen to. This is tasty music that Little Feat would definitely be jealous of. A great start to this album, and Blues heavy indeed. A powerful and joyous music statement, through and through. Pure excellence. Very pleasant music.

2. China Doll begins with some sweet acoustic guitar and harpsichord work. This is a magical and beautiful ballad-style song that is very promising. This is a gorgeous song that, although it sounds nothing like Chinese Music at all, is extremely pretty and delicious to listen to. A pretty and different song that has some pleasant musicianship throughout. Very beautiful. The drumming in particular is quite interesting to listen to on this song, and it sounds like a real joy in that area as well. This is the perfect ballad to play for a Chinese lady that one could possibly fancy. Even so, this is another solidly sweet Classic Rock song that has some beauty and finesse about it all. It sounds absolutely gorgeous in its own way. It seems that the Grateful Dead knew how to make gorgeous songs past the peak of the Hippie era, which was around 1967 and the Summer of Love that was part of the Hippie myth. Regardless, this is a very pretty and tuneful song. Fantastic. The outro is really sweet as well.

3. Unbroken Chain is a gorgeous and tripped-out song from the start. The mixture of guitars is sweet and fantastic. This is treated with a ton of effects and sounds, but still retains its originality and freshness throughout. A mixture of awesome singing follows, and this pretty song gets going away nicely. This music is much better than expected or judged by critics in the past. The lyrics are impressionistic and surreal as well, painting a musical picture very perfectly. The high-frequency noise throughout is annoying, but the rest of the song is extremely good to listen to regardless. The piano, guitars and other instrumentation sound absolutely legendary throughout. Grateful Dead fans no doubt will love this album, as will the critical listener. All in all, this tune is seriously cool. Towards the midsection is a Deep Purple-style guitar part, before launching into a pseudo-Latin American Music feel to it all. This is very sweet and sensational to dig. A thoroughly unique and awesome tune is present. In fact, it is the perfect tune for those of you who need to light up a joint and chill out to some very magical music. The guitar playing and performances are truly gorgeously unique and special on this album. This tune runs for nearly seven minutes but does not fail to impress. This does sound great. The music and performances are really awesome to listen to. Period. The Grateful Dead could make gorgeous and pure music. This has a glorious section of harmonies towards the end, and just sounds sweet and divine throughout. An absolutely awesome song to hear. Fantastic and innovative.

4. Loose Lucy is an interesting name for a song. It launches into some pseudo-Country Music instrumentation, with a definite 1970s feel to it all. This song is cheerful, upbeat and interesting to listen to. It utilises subtle humour to match it all as well. Sure, this may come across as fairly sexist today lyrically, but at the time, this sort of music sentiment was very normal. Even so, this music sounds articulate, detailed and very unique. If any group had continued on the Hippie spirit over decades and followed some of the latest trends, it is the Grateful Dead. The liquid slide guitar solos are different as well. A fine tune that deserves to be in your collection. Interesting and quirky. Very awesome.

5. Scarlet Begonias is a sweet-sounding tune from the start, with excellent guitars, drumming and singing, alongside piano and organ. This is definitely a standout song from the Grateful Dead from this album, and is quirky yet catchy to listen to. A sweet and absolutely brilliant song, the organ thrown into the mix is a nice touch as well. This is a song that deserves to be heard by many out there, and it is an instant classic. The array of delicious instrumentation also makes this song very much alive. A pretty and nicely layered song is present, and it sounds absolutely sweet and divine. This music will never die in its appeal, and it sounds majestic and full of good vibes. A dramatic and sweet song that is a standout moment by the Grateful Dead. No wonder that this song is the most popular from this album, it clearly deserves it. There is a bunch of Bee Gees-style falsetto harmonies, bongo drums and harpsichord right at the end. Sweet and tender.

6. Pride Of Cucamonga is not a reference to the second Friday series film, just so you know. That came decades later on. It begins with some sweet, organic and pleasant slide guitar work alongside the usual instrumentation of piano, guitars and drumming. An absolutely sweet and pretty tune, this is layered very much in a wall-of-sound style, just like Phil Spector would do. Even so, this is stunningly awesome and excellent to listen to. The music present seriously deserves more respect than it currently gets. With lyrics about rural travel by car, this is the perfect music for a long drive with your partner and your best friends in the car. This has a drastic tempo change in the second half, before the song returns to action. The piano and melodies are sweet and delicious-sounding, and the group takes various solos throughout. All in all, a fluid and sweet-sounding song. With a generous slice of divine-sounding playing and singing, the Grateful Dead makes the listener grateful for their pleasant music. Fine and fantastic.

7. Money Money is a sweet and pretty tune with some more overdriven sounding guitars, and sounds awesome and driven throughout. The Grateful Dead sings about a money-hungry gold digger lady who is hungry for money. To be fair, in the 21st century, we have a global cost-of-living crisis, and this tune makes more sense at the time of writing than it ever did back in 1974, despite the obvious sexism to it all. Still, this is a good song following the rest of the album along very nicely and sweetly. Remember, this was the era of Pink Floyd, and this song makes a lot more sense in that respect in a musical frame. An absolutely awesome listen. Nonetheless, this song is a cynical yet interesting listen. The drumrolls and harmonies throughout also deserve a good mention. This music is sweet and full of distrust of the Women’s Liberation movement at the time. This sort of music statement would be heavily frowned upon today, all the same. Good but needs a lyrical rewrite.

8. Ship Of Fools is the final song on this album. It begins slowly with a chorus guitar, drumming, bass guitar and simple singing. Nonetheless, again, this does sound very, very good. The Grateful Dead sing about sinking the ship of fools out at sea (likely a metaphor of sorts). Nonetheless, this song is beautifully delivered and very articulate music that sounds super sweet. It has its own unique character, although it sounds somewhat like what Eric Clapton was doing at 461 Ocean Boulevard, released in the same year. Even so, the Grateful Dead do a wonderful job on this song. A very lovely and interesting listen that seriously deserves more credit than it gets. This downtempo and pleasant song is a winner, and it proves that the Grateful Dead had many great songs up their sleeves. The chorus has a real sing-along quality to it all as well. A pretty and interesting song is here to wrap up this album. An absolutely stunning song to conclude this relatively short album with. This song has a guitar solo near the end that is very pleasant. David Gilmour may have paid some attention to this one as well. A glorious and beautiful song that needs to be heard more often. Sublime. It fades out gently.

This is yet again another Grateful Dead album that is seriously underrated. From start to finish, except for Money Money, this album is a very easy and listenable piece of artistry. Sure, that song had some very sexist and degrading lyrics about women, but you can skip that one if you wish. Despite that, this is very much a Classic Rock album that deserves to be praised. Should you listen to this album? If you love 1960s music ideals mixed with 1970s music sounds, look no further. Of course, Punk Rockers will have this, so if you like heavier styles of music, avoid this.