This 1980 release capped off the Dead’s real prolific streak while also introducing us to the Brent Mydland era. This is another album thay often gets dismissed as “Disco Dead” but really it’s just the cover. Not sure whose idea that was. Weir’s “Feel Like A Stranger” does have a bit of a disco vibe but that is not a bad thing. That song is sick.
This album is rare in that is very light on Garcia/Hunter songs, with only the opening rocker, “Alabama Getaway” and the classic “Althea”, but both of those songs kick. Aside from the aforementioned, Weir also offers up the two-punch, with the epic “Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance” kicking off side two.
The big change on this album is the introduction of Brent Mydland, not only as their keyboardist but as a writing force. While his raspy, MOR style did not always go over well with the fans, he still brought some well written songs that the band loved to play. Here, we are treated to “Far From Me” and ”Easy To Love You”, both of which could have been big singles, if marketed as such.
Despite featuring a lot of highlights, this album is all over the place and if any album has to occupy the “Worst Dead Album” slot, it might as well be this.
Still worth a listen.
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