New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage Artist

Anyone who enjoyed {|the Grateful Dead|}'s {|Workingman's Dead|} or {|American Beauty|} and wanted more, then or now, should get {|the New Riders of the Purple Sage|}'s eponymous release and follow it with {|the Riders|}' next two albums. With {|Jerr... Read more

Anyone who enjoyed {|the Grateful Dead|}'s {|Workingman's Dead|} or {|American Beauty|} and wanted more, then or now, should get {|the New Riders of the Purple Sage|}'s eponymous release and follow it with {|the Riders|}' next two albums. With {|Jerry Garcia|} and {|Mickey Hart|} in tow, and {|Jefferson Airplane|}'s {|Spencer Dryden|} playing what drums {|Hart|} didn't, plus {|Commander Cody|} at the piano, {|New Riders of the Purple Sage|} is some of the most spaced-out {|country-rock|} of the period. Even ignoring the big names working with {|John Dawson|}, {|David Nelson|}, and {|Dave Torbert|}, however, this is a good record, crossing swords with {|the Byrds|}, {|the Burrito Brothers|}, and even {|Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young|} and holding its own. Maybe a few of the cuts (especially {|Henry|}) are predictable at times, but mostly, {|New Riders of the Purple Sage|} was full of surprises then (the amazingly sweet, brittle guitars, in particular) and has tunes that have held up well: {|Portland Woman,|} {|Whatcha Gonna Do,|} {|I Don't Know You,|} and {|Louisiana Lady,|} not to mention the eight leisurely paced minutes of acid-{|country|} found in {|Dirty Business.|} There are no added notes, but they'd hardly be vital -- the album is an open book. ~ Bruce Eder Less