I know it makes me a horrible Dead-head, but

[NightWatcher]

I absolutely hate Donna Jean Godchaux and the years that she ruined all of the Grateful Dead's albums and live recordings. The only reason that she was allowed near a microphone was because she was married to Keith, the keyboardist from '72 to '79. Her wailing and screaming makes what should be some of the best music ever made, damn near untolerable.

I know it makes me a bad Deadhead, but I dont care. I had to get this off my chest.

see for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52gHcmLav6o

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. She has an amazing voice, but the problem was that...

she was usually unable to hear herself on-stage, hence, the inappropriate singing.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. I had serious issues with Donna Jean...

...even though I felt that the "Europe 72" era of the band was its all-time peak. My two favorite Dead albums are "Skull & Roses" and "Europe"...the passing of the torch from Pigpen to the Godchauxs. I've heard one too many versions of "Playing In The Band" in which Donna let out a gawd-awful blood-curdling banshee wail.

And Weir...what's up, Bob? While you were sleeping with her, you did know she was married, right? The first clue was the fact that she had the same last name as your new keyboard player...

During the peak of the Keith & Donna years, I spoke with a friend who made the AVERAGE Dead Head look like a DEAD HATER...this guy was plugged in for the duration. He tried to explain the Donna thing but it came out sounding like the "lukewarm water / petrified moose" ramblings of Harry Shearer as "Derek Smalls" in "This Is Spinal Tap." He said that Donna provided some kind of Yin-Yang balance between the audience and the band and the drugs, you know, the whole THING, and I just looked at him and said "Randy...she can't SING," and he laughed out loud and that was the end of the conversation.

Most of the Keith-Donna studio albums are clean...obviously...as are the "official" concert CDs, but when you venture over to the Dick's Picks, MAN, is there some brutal, off-key stuff to be found.

And back in the days when I had a donor's star, my avatar...for what it is worth...was the "Steal Your Face" Dead logo, so I guess it makes me a bad Dead Head too, but DONNA...come ON!

:rofl:

[astral]

3. man, I didn't know she couldn't sing

I love her voice on the Terrapin Station album; not terribly familiar with her aside from that.

[malta blue]

4. LOL

I hate it too! :rofl::rofl:

And I don't think I'm a bad deadhead, so neither are you :pals:

[peacefreak]

5. A good Donna era concert

was when she wailed almost on key!

[Schema Thing]

6. The Dead were never meant to be listened to Live

:runs like hell:




:P

[Midlodemocrat]

7. 44-6

:thumbsup:

[piratefish08]

8. It breaks my heart - but I have to agree......

Live recordings from that era were definitely better sans Donna Jean.......

I went to the Dead show in Worcester last weekend (4-18) - GREAT set list! There's a pretty good recording on Archive.org.....

Fuck. I miss Jerry.

[Bennyboy]

9. What is hilarious is that the best era for GD......

is the Donna years. May of 77? Donna. Europe? Donna. 5-08-77? Donna! Closing of Winterland? Donna. The movie? Donna.

Living in the bay area, I got to see her last show (Oakland, a jane Fonda charity benefit, Rock For Life) and Brent's first show (San Jose Spartan Stadium). One was Feb 10 and the other April 10th. 2 months. In that period of time, gas went from 52 cents a gallon to over a dollar and we had lines at the gas pumps.

Rock for life blew me away totally. One of the great shows. First Shadkewon and it rocked for ever. Lazy Lightning, Supplication was simply incredible. We watched "Fun with Dick and jane" before the show.

Then is SJ they made it rain during Looks Like Rain. First show for the beast, too. Loved the keyboard changes from piano to the B3 piano combo Brent used.

I saw Donna a lot and she never was as noticable in the live settings. At least not cringe like, when you hear some of her stuff on tape. I really liked her in the Jerry Band there for a while.

She was also the perfect looking chick for the time and have to admit most of my girlfriends during that period had a certain Donna look about them....

[fishwax]

10. I tend to like her performances

or, perhaps it might be more accurate that performances in which she's really on are among my favorite in the entire catalog.

I agree, though, that there are times where she breaks a show rather than makes it.