Jerry Band Garcia - CATS UNDER THE STARS ((Vinyl))

The Jerry Garcia Band's 1978 album, CATS UNDER THE STARS affords the opportunity to hear the original versions of Hunter/Garcia gems that would become staples of the Grateful Dead's live set (the story-song "Rubin and Cherise," the biblical narrative "Gomorrah"). It also hints at a seldom-considered aspect of the band's work from that period; "Palm Sunday" and "Down Home" suggest the strong influence of gospel music, with which Garcia was infatuated at the time. While some of the Dead's outings showed hints of this inspiration, these cuts make those leanings abundantly clear. These spiritually flavored tracks also provide the perfect foil for more polite, studio-spotless (though still effective) items, such as the title track, one of Garcia's glossier efforts.

• RSD Release Date: DDD
• Genre: Rock