Page 129 Blues for Allah

Over a period of four years, Grateful Dead and Round Records had put out no fewer than 14 albums, and Round Reels a feature-length concert film. It had been an incredible flood of experiences goin’ down the road with the Dead. Garcia was spending his time overseeing the film project — when he wasn’t working on Blues for Allah or playing with the Garcia Band or producing albums with some of his bluegrass heroes. The Good Old Boys sessions at Mickey’s studio were a special time for all concerned, as Garcia had a chance to produce artists he had long admired: Don Reno (banjo), Chubby Wise (fiddle), Frank Wakefield (mandolin) and David Nelson (guitar). Two days of pure bluegrass heaven for all of us, but especially for Garcia. Lotsa laughin’ n’ apickin’. It was a good ol’ time. -Steve Brown

Allah Means Business

Blues for Allah is the first of our albums that’s really grown on me. I’ve always been happy with our albums but I’ve rarely listened to them after they’re finished. This one’s different. It indicates a new point of departure for our music. We wanted to free ourselves from our own cliches, to search for new tonalities, new structures and modalities. I think we succeeded. We’ll still play a lot of our old stuff, of course, but we’re all pleased with new areas to explore. – Phil

The trouble report was created at Mickey Hart’s Barn recording studio. Somebody showed up with the blank form and of course the guys started filling it out with the types of trouble that are really important, like #12 “bring your own smoke, producers and engineers never do” -Jerilyn

Photo Credits: Album art – Phil Garris, Photos – unknown