Go to Heaven [Sea Blue Vinyl]

by Grateful Dead

Overview

Time has somewhat mellowed the general disdain that critics and Deadheads alike leveled at Go to Heaven upon its release in May of 1980. Granted, none of these readings come close to their perfunctory live counterparts. However, that argument holds true for a vast majority of the Dead's studio catalog -- which had now grown to include 16 albums. Additionally, this disc marked the beginning of keyboardist Brent Mydland's tenure -- who had joined the band in the spring of the previous year and would remain for a decade. All eight of the songs -- not including "Antwerp's Placebo (The Plumber)," which is a 38-second instrumental percussion track -- had either already worked their way into the Dead's live performance repertoire, or would in due time. These include "Althea," "Feel Like a Stranger," and "Saint of Circumstance," as well as the raucous rock & roll opening cut, "Alabama Getaway" -- which was likewise often the band's opening number in concert during the early '80s. (In a somewhat Prankster-esque sense of irony, "Don't Ease Me In" -- the disc's final number -- also closed many a first set during this era; additionally notable about the track is that it was one of the first songs the band performed back in 1965 -- when they were known as the Warlocks.) In terms of the quality of material, Go to Heaven includes few gems. Primary among them are Bob Weir's "Lost Sailor" and "Saint of Circumstance" pairing. While obviously not as thoroughly developed as it would become in concert, the lilting melody and fluctuating tempos are reminiscent of his "Weather Report Suite" from the 1973 release Wake of the Flood. The groovin' Jerry Garcia-sung ballad "Althea" is yet another example of a tune that would take on bolder and brighter hues as a concert staple for the remainder of the Dead's performance life. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	07/26/2024
Label:	Grateful Dead / Wea
UPC:	0603497828456
Rank:	922

Tracks

1. Alabama Getaway [2024 Remaster]
2. Far from Me [2024 Remaster]
3. Althea [2024 Remaster]
4. Feel Like a Stranger [2024 Remaster]
5. Lost Sailor [2024 Remaster]
6. Saint of Circumstance [2024 Remaster]
7. Antwerp's Placebo (The Plumber) [2024 Remaster]
8. Easy to Love You [2024 Remaster]
9. Don't Ease Me In [2024 Remaster]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Grateful Dead   Primary Artist
Bill Kreutzmann   Drums
Jerry Garcia   Guitar,Vocals
Brent Mydland   Keyboards
Keith Godchaux   Keyboards
Phil Lesh   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Mickey Hart   Drums
Donna Jean Godchaux   Vocals
Bob Weir   Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Bob Weir   Arranger,Composer
Betty Cantor-Jackson   Engineer
David Lemieux   Producer
Joe Gastwirt   Producer,Remastering Engineer
John Cutler   Engineer
Jerry Garcia   Arranger,Composer
Tom Flye   Mixing Engineer
Brent Mydland   Arranger,Composer
Gary Lyons   Engineer,Producer
Bob Matthews   Engineer
James Austin   Producer
Robin Hurley   Associate Producer
Robert Hunter   Composer
Phil Lesh   Arranger,Composer
Mickey Hart   Arranger,Composer
Grateful Dead   Group,Arranger
Jim Welch   Producer,Art Direction
Pete Thea   Engineer
Jimmy Edwards   Associate Producer
John Perry Barlow   Composer
Bob Seidemann   Photography
Hale Milfgrim   Assistant Engineer,Associate Producer
Cameron Sears   Producer
Stanley Mouse   Producer,Art Direction,Illustrations
Robert Gatley   Mixing Engineer
Scott Pascucci   Associate Producer
Peter Thea   Engineer
Bill Kreutzmann   Arranger,Composer
Traditional   Composer
Betty Cantor   Engineer