Definitive Live Dead.
"There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert"--album liner notes.

Most Deadheads I know prefer Live Dead shows over Studio Dead recordings. Europe '72 (1972) is a collection of classic Live Dead performances recorded during the band's tour of Western Europe in early 1972. (If you could only own one live Dead album, this is The One to own. It is not only the Dead's best-selling live album, it is one of their best-selling albums to date.) It is a landmark fusion of rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, country, and improvisational jam. Although it is considered a live album, many of the songs were subjected to later vocal overdubbing. This album represents Ron "Pigpen" McKernan's last tour with the Dead before he died from a stomach hemorrhage in 1973, and this was the last album featuring him as an active member of the band. It was also the first album to feature Keith Godchaux and his wife Donna Jean Godchaux. The album includes the impossible-to-escape-in-the-70's radio single, "Truckin'" (the song that first introduced me to the Dead). The album features Garcia on vocals and guitar, Weir on vocals and guitar, Lesh on bass and vocals, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan on harmonica and vocals, Keith Godchaux on piano, Donna Godchaux on vocals, and Kreutzmann on percussion. I first experienced this album on vinyl. The remastered CD is worth the upgrade from vinyl, featuring the following setlist:

Disc: 1
1. Cumberland Blues (live at Wembley, London, 4/8/72))
2. He's Gone (live at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 5/10/72)
3. One More Saturday Night (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
4. Jack Straw (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
5. You Win Again (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
6. China Cat Sunflower (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
7. I Know You Rider (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
8. Brown-Eyed Woman (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
9. Hurts Me Too (live at the Strand, London, 5/24/72)
10. Ramble On Rose (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
11. Sugar Magnolia (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/4/72)
12. Mr. Charlie (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
13. Tennessee Jed (live at L'Olympia, Paris, France 5/3/72)
14. The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion)(live in Frankfurt, 4/26/72)

Disc: 2
1. Truckin' (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
2. Epilogue (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
3. Prelude (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
4. Morning Dew (live at the Strand, London, 5/26/72)
5. Looks Like Rain (live at Wembley, London, 4/8/72))
6. Good Lovin' (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
7. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, 4/14/72)
8. Who Do You Love? (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
9. Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks) (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, 4/14/72)
10. Good Lovin' (live at Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark 4/14/72)
11. The Yellow Dog Story (live in London, 4/8/72)

G. Merritt

Great CD
The CD came very fast for me to enjoy. The CD was in perfect condition as well as the case and everything!!!

Love it
This purchase was to replace an old, long-lost copy. I've always liked their studio-produced stuff, much to the chagrin of some more serious aficionados. Every once in a while it's nice to hear a nice crisp rendition than to have to pore over tons of bootlegs to find just the one. There are some really good renditions on this 2-disc set. For me, He's Gone and B.E. Women were killer.

Strong Playing
The extended play of this release brings additional live cuts to an already jam packed set. The variety of song writers that the Dead reference here make it worth every penny. At times Donna's voice is hard to take, but the band is tight enough to allow one to overlook those flaws.

Still terrific
I finally got around to purchasing this disc and I'm so glad I did. I've owned the vinyl for over 25 years but haven't been able to listen to it for lack of a turntable. The trend toward the Dick's Pick's and other live Dead releases has come to obscure the traditional live recordings such as this and "Skull and Roses." While many of them are exceptionally good and do provide the intact set feel, I still gravitate back to these old stand-bys. Just personal preference I guess, or nostalgia for those initial discoveries of what the Dead could do when I turned the volume knob up and tuned in so to speak.
This is just a great compilation of live tunes and at the friendly price at which I obtained it through Amazon, I won't spend $30.00 + to hear the same cuts done specifically in England or Germany. If this makes me less the Head, so be it- I left all that silliness in the parking lots of another era. (No, sorry dude, I wasn't at Red Rocks- and you can't have a dollar, either!)
Europe '72 continues to rank up there with Allman Brothers at the Fillmore East as amongst my favorite records of all time. (throw in Santana's "Lotus" as well) It is classic Dead. I need not review the songs here. Not a great fan of what folks seem to call the "Primal" Dead phase, I enjoy the multiple keyboards, bluesiness, and Country swing feel of the recordings here. This is my favorite period of Dead sound (followed closely by the Terrapin era stuff). You can't miss with this record, and if you are new to the Dead's music- its just a great place to start without spending a fortune.
Best,
Rick D
P.S. It's New Years' Eve- and it has not been exciting for a long time without the Dead's New Year's Eve broadcasts to look forward to.