Blues for Allah
Encyclopedia
Blues for Allah is the eighth studio album
by the Grateful Dead
. It was recorded between February 27 and May 7, 1975 and originally released on September 1, 1975. It was the third release under the band's own label
, Grateful Dead Records
, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros. Records
.
It was the first album with Mickey Hart
in over four years, and the band's first album since their short hiatus from touring in 1974. Possibly because of late arrival, Mickey Hart's picture does not appear on the back cover.
The album's title track was only performed a handful of times in 1975 and never played again after that, while several other tracks on the album were performed regularly for the rest of the Dead's career.
The album was released for the first time on CD in 1995 by Arista before being remastered, expanded, and released as part of the Beyond Description (1973-1989)
12-CD box set in October 2004. The remastered version was later released separately on CD on March 7, 2006 by Rhino Records.
:
Additional performers:
Production:
Singles - Billboard
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. It was recorded between February 27 and May 7, 1975 and originally released on September 1, 1975. It was the third release under the band's own label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Grateful Dead Records
Grateful Dead Records
In 1973, the Grateful Dead established their own record label, Grateful Dead Records. The band released several vinyl record LPs on this label in the mid-1970s, including Wake of the Flood in 1973, From the Mars Hotel in 1974, Blues for Allah in 1975, and a live double album, Steal Your Face, in...
, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
It was the first album with Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
in over four years, and the band's first album since their short hiatus from touring in 1974. Possibly because of late arrival, Mickey Hart's picture does not appear on the back cover.
The album's title track was only performed a handful of times in 1975 and never played again after that, while several other tracks on the album were performed regularly for the rest of the Dead's career.
The album was released for the first time on CD in 1995 by Arista before being remastered, expanded, and released as part of the Beyond Description (1973-1989)
Beyond Description (1973-1989)
Beyond Description is the second twelve-CD boxed set retrospect of the Grateful Dead's studio and live albums. It covers their time with Grateful Dead and Arista Records from 1973 to 1989....
12-CD box set in October 2004. The remastered version was later released separately on CD on March 7, 2006 by Rhino Records.
Side one
- "Help on the Way" (Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Robert HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
) – 3:15 - "Slipknot!" (Garcia, Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
, Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
, Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
, Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
) – 4:03 - "Franklin's Tower" (Garcia, Kreutzmann, Hunter) – 6:37
- "King Solomon's Marbles/Stronger Than Dirt Or Milkin' The Turkey" (Lesh) – 5:15
- "The Music Never Stopped" (Weir, John Perry BarlowJohn Perry BarlowJohn Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
) – 4:35
Side two
- "Crazy Fingers" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:41
- "Sage & Spirit" (Weir) – 3:07
- "Blues for Allah" (Garcia, Hunter) - 12:25
2004 reissue bonus tracks
- "Groove #1" (Garcia, K. Godchaux, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, Weir) – 5:45
- "Groove #2" (Garcia, K. Godchaux, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, Weir) – 7:35
- "Distorto" (Garcia) – 8:14
- "A to E Flat Jam" (Garcia, K. Godchaux, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, Weir) – 4:39
- "Proto 18 Proper" (Garcia, K. Godchaux, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, Weir) – 4:18
- "Hollywood Cantata" (Weir, Hunter) – 4:14
Personnel
Grateful DeadGrateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
:
- Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals - Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals - Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
- keyboards, vocals - Donna Jean Godchaux - vocals
- Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
- bass - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
- drums - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
- drums
Additional performers:
- Steven Schuster - fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, reedsReed (instrument)A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument. The reeds of most Woodwind instruments are made from Arundo donax or synthetic material; tuned reeds are made of metal or synthetics.-Single reeds:Single reeds are used on the mouthpieces of clarinets...
Production:
- Philip Garris - Cover, illustrations
- Joe Gastwirt - remastering
- Dan HealyDan Healy (soundman)Dan Healy is an audio engineer most famous for his work with the American rock band the Grateful Dead. He succeeded Owsley "Bear" Stanley as the group's chief sound man...
- engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixing - Robert Taylor - assistant engineer
Bonus tracks production details
- "Groove #1" - instrumental studio outtake on February 27, 1975
- "Groove #2" - instrumental studio outtake on February 27, 1975
- "Distorto" - instrumental studio outtake on February 28, 1975
- "A To E Flat Jam" - instrumental studio outtake on February 27, 1975
- "Proto 18 Proper" - instrumental studio outtake on February 27, 1975
- "Hollywood Cantata" - studio outtake on May 7, 1975
Reissue production credits
- David Lemieux, James Austin - reissue producers
- Reggie Collins - annotation
- David Fricke - liner notes
- Sheryl Farber - editorial supervision
- Rob Zi Taylor - assistant engineer
- Cameron Sears - executive producer
- Jimmy Edwards, Robin Hurley, Hale Milfgrim, Scott Pascucci - associate producer
- Joe Gastwirt - mastering, production consultant
- Eileen Law - research
- Ed Perlstein, Richard McCaffrey - photography
- Hugh Brown, Steve Vance - design, reissue art directors
- Vanessa Atkins, Steven Brown, Betty Cantor, Steven Chean, Brett Cohen, Bill Inglot, Bob Matthews, Jeffrey Norman, Randy Perry - project assistants
Charts
Album - Billboard| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Pop Albums | 12 |
Singles - Billboard
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "The Music Never Stopped" | Pop Singles | 81 |