[.ca] Grateful Dead - Classic Albums: Anthem To Beauty

From Amazon.com:
This installment of the Classic Albums series follows the making of two Grateful Dead albums, the fiercely experimental Anthem of the Sun and the understated masterwork American Beauty, which spawned melodic gems like "Sugar Magnolia" and "Ripple." Between the archival scenes and contemporary interviews with band members, the DVD shows a band making seismic inroads in pop music--and five young guys coming to terms with artistry, mortality, and, yes, the pursuit of happiness. There is priceless footage of Neal Cassady driving Ken Kesey's bus and of the Dead, surrounded by martini-sipping hipsters, on Playboy After Dark. The best scenes involve band members talking about specific songs (you will never hear Phil Lesh's "Box of Rain" again without thinking of it as a gift to his dying father) or deconstructing a tune by playing each track separately. Intimate and surprisingly cohesive, Anthem to Beauty is a rare glimpse into how the Dead's magic was made. --Anne Hurley

The Best Documentary on the Dead (so far):
I think I originally saw this when it aired on PBS. I may have missed the beginning, but it was so good, that I had to track down my own copy. What makes this documentary so good is that it really gives you an insider's look at what went into making these early albums. It also has some moving personal moments, such as when Phil Lesh desribes his father's illness in relation to the song, "Box of Rain". This is a must-have for any fans of early Dead.

Real Dead:
This is plenty of entertainment for a fan or anyone who wonders what the Dead were like. Some good music and studio footage, although low quality at times (expected).

Got what I wanted with this:
I bought this knowing what I was getting and I enjoyed what it does have. Probably not for the grizzled dead head that toured with them and lived the lifestyle. For the fans that really like the music and don't know a lot of the behind the scene stuff, this is a good DVD with some good information and home videos. Rhino should have packaged and labeled it different. That is why I deduct one star.

Documentary of a band evolving:
This video details the Grateful Dead's evolution in the studio from experimenting and learning (at Warner Brother's expense) about the recording process to applying that knowledge to American Beauty, in my opinion their best studio album ever. Phil Lesh takes the viewer on a tour through 16-track cuts of both the albums. David Grisman demonstrates mandolin parts he would have liked to played on the rest of Ripple. Robert Hunter talks about writing the lyrics for the songs on American Beauty. Video include rare footage from Hugh Hefner1s television show of Jerry and T.C. playing Mountains of the Moon and the band performing Saint Stephen. The down side is the songs are not complete. I like documentaries and the Dead so I loved this video. If you are looking for Concert footage better choices would by Downhill From Here or View From The Vault.

A profile of two classic Dead albums:
This DVD profiles two of the Dead's early studio releases. Both releases differ greatly in approach. This documentary captures these differences while showing the creative growth of the band as a whole. Anthem of the Sun is an explorative work that attempts to emulate the essence of a live Dead show. The studio sessions were somewhat chaotic and offered the Dead more of an education on how to make an album than a relaxed setting in which to focus on songwriting. American Beauty is centered on the art of songwriting, lyricism, solid vocals and harmonies. Less emphasis is given to soloing. They abandon the psychedelic explorations of the studio in favor of returning to their roots and drawing upon the country and bluegrass influences that run so deep. A beautiful picture is drawn of the band's creative process through old footage shot in the studio during the recording of both albums, on the road while on tour, and rare footage from their early days in San Francisco. Interviews with Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter and others fill-in the gaps of a unique period in the band's history. Produced after Garcia's death, some interviews become emotional. Jerry does appear many times through earlier interview footage. This is a must have for any Dead fan and a wonderful introduction for budding fans.