History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)

Infobox Album | Name = History of the Grateful Dead,
Volume One (Bear's Choice)
Type = Live album
Artist = Grateful Dead


Released = July 13, 1973
Recorded = February 13 – 14, 1970
Genre = Rock, folk rock, country rock
Length = 47:28
Label = Pride Records (1973)
Rhino Records (2003)
Producer = Owsley Stanley
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o1r67ub0h0jk link]
*"Rolling Stone" (mixed) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thegratefuldead/albums/album/237281/review/6209934/history_of_the_grateful_dead link]
Last album = "Europe '72"
(1972)
This album = "History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)"
(1973) | Next album = "Wake of the Flood"
(1973) |

"History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)" is a live album by the Grateful Dead. It offers concert highlights from the Grateful Dead's February 13 and 14, 1970 performances at the Fillmore East. "Dick’s Picks, Volume 4" also chronicles these performances. The album was released on July 13, 1973 and is a tribute of sorts to Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who died while the album was being prepared. The "Bear" of the title is Owsley Stanley, underground chemist turned Dead sound man. Fans often simply refer to the album as "Bear's Choice". [http://www.thebestofwebsite.com/bands/grateful_dead/reviews/Bears_Choice.htm]

The album was originally intended to be a first in a series, but "Volume Two" never came to be because this was the band's last album on their deal with Warner Bros. Records.

The album was remastered in 2001 as part of "The Golden Road (1965-1973)" box set and later released as a separate album in 2003.

Track listing

ide one

#"Katie Mae" (Hopkins) – 4:44
#"Dark Hollow" (Browning) – 3:52
#"I've Been All Around This World" (traditional) – 4:18
#"Wake Up Little Susie" (Bryant, Bryant) – 2:31
#"Black Peter" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:27

ide two

#"Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) – 17:59
#"Hard to Handle" (Isbell, Jones, Redding) – 6:15

2003 reissue

#"Katie Mae" (Hopkins) – 4:44
#"Dark Hollow" (Browning) – 3:52
#"I've Been All Around This World" (traditional) – 4:18
#"Wake Up Little Susie" (Bryant, Bryant) – 2:31
#"Black Peter" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:27
#"Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) – 17:59
#"Hard to Handle" (Isbell, Jones, Redding) – 6:29
#"Good Lovin'" (Clark, Resnick) – 8:56
#"Big Boss Man" (Dixon, Smith) – 4:53
#"Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) – 15:11
#"Sitting on Top of the World" (Chatmon, Vinson) – 3:20

Track production details

*"Katie Mae", "Wake Up Little Susie", "Black Peter" and "Smokestack Lightnin'" - recorded on February 13, 1970 at the Fillmore East in New York City.
*"Dark Hollow", "I've Been All Around This World" and "Hard to Handle" - recorded on February 14, 1970 at the Fillmore East in New York City.

Personnel

Grateful Dead:
*Jerry Garcia - acoustic guitar, lead guitar, vocals
*Bob Weir - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
*Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - acoustic guitar, organ, percussion, harmonica, vocals
*Phil Lesh - bass
*Mickey Hart - drums
*Bill Kreutzmann - drumsProduction:
*Dave Collins - pre-mastering assistant
*Joe Gastwirt - pre-mastering
*Owsley Stanley - producer

Charts

Album - Billboard

ee also

*Grateful Dead
*Grateful Dead discography
*Owsley Stanley
*Dick's Picks Volume 4