the book of the dead, 7

Bird Song is as lovely as the title implies and has the added advantage of featuring a riff that is supremely satisfying to play on guitar, either electric or acoustic, if you’re so inclined. Garcia’s first and best solo record deserves more recognition than it’s gotten, perhaps overlooked because of a perception that by 1972 the Grateful Dead had nothing left to say that coudn't be said best on stage.  I guess I shouldn’t generalize. This is really only my perception. But Garcia, along with Weir’s Ace, are the exceptions that prove the rule.  Even the Dead’s often celebrated Wake of the Flood, released the following year, sounds somewhat muted and restrained by comparison with the way the record’s songs sound live.  One thing that’s especially interesting about all these Dead and Dead related records from the 70s is that the spaced-out, hopped-up vibe of 60s Dead has become almost entirely a thing of the past.  Bird Song, for instance, is very good 70s rock, pensive and mellow, but with just enough of a GD-style edge to keep it from veering into soft rock (not that there’s anything wrong with 70s Mellow Gold). Another nice thing about Bird Song is that it’s one of a handful of Dead songs that got better with age. There are performances of the song from the 80s that give me goose bumps, tight as hell but also imaginative and exploratory.  For now, though, here’s the version from Garcia, which is also pretty great.