PDXDeadhead is referencing the 1986 tour w/Petty. That was a hot one.

HOWEVER, this was the practice round for the 1987 summer tour where the Grateful Dead opened up for their "Dylan/Dead" combo: hence the title, Alone and Together.

These studio takes are interesting, for sure, though some tracks are cringe-worthy. If Dylan had been a little more keyed into performance back then, and had Jerry, et al, been a bit more disciplined, this could have been an amazing tour.

As it was, though, there are some real gems. For my 2¢, the Joey on the live release, and the studio rehearsal Joeys, plus the combo's version of Slow Train are the best they had to give.

Saw them right after this on tour, man it was a hot one.
He hung out in seats overlooking rear of stage, nice perch to survey the scene.

Jerry warming up in his tiny trailer, Weir and new GF, who was probably 17, if that, at time, and Dylan were smoking a number.

This was as Petty finished the set, right before Dylan took stage.

Temp. was well over 100 degrees F and we cooked in the stadium, as did Dylan in his leather pants.

Yes, wow, this is awesome. Are the rehersals of them doing any of the dead songs available too? I would love to hear that.

I fyi, as able to download these by lookin at the source, downloading the m3u file and plucking the links out of it individually downloading the tracks.

fantastic!!!

This recording is absolutely essential
to appreciate the Dylan/ Dead era.
Some of these tunes had been played live already by the Dead or would be added to the rotation after that Summer 87 tour.
Three takes of Oh Boy! and i don't think they ever played it with Dylan. The covers of 50's tunes are a great part of the later years of the Grateful Dead.( I am especially fond of the cover of 'Do you wanna Dance?')
Boy in the Bubble probably NOT ideal for the Dead and especially not a Dylan tune. But i agree with MzLIZ that it is a excellent song!. (Jerry sounded like he was the most versed with the song and even he was already humming and bailing on the lyrics.)
The version of JOEY on the official album
is the best thing I have heard from the tour.
I do like that Garcia does the lead vocals on Senor!

Reduce the set to 45 songs and you'll hear the most memorable dylan eighties live show so far.

Sounds better than my transferred cassettes. I always thought that the best of this stuff was better than what I heard at Shoreline, which is far from an optimal setting.
I agree with whomever pointed out that this tour,( and most tours), would have been better with multiday stops at smaller venues.

It gave me a chuckle to read at the top of the notes to this recording that it's "Bob Dylan singing as a member of the Grateful Dead." Are you sure that it's not the Grateful Dead backing up Bob Dylan?

There is a lot of good stuff here. What music lover has never dreamed of sitting in on a private rehearsal with players as great as these?

I suggest tracks 1-6 can be skipped unless you're into some very random chatter and barely-organized musical warm up.

Starting at track 7 ("Times They Are a-Changin") Bob and the Boys are ready to get down to business and we can enjoy more or less complete songs.

Thank you very much for solving my what to get for picky pickin' musicians on my Xmas list this year!!! bThis link is worth moer than solid gold.

Such a generous donation by the benefactors to IA, and to the Free World.

Apparently there was some bad album after the tour they are rehearsing for here, glad to say I never heard it and reading the reviews below now I know why not.

Background according to Wikipedia "Bob Dylan":

In 1986 and 1987, Dylan toured with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, sharing vocals with Petty on several songs each night. Dylan also toured with The Grateful Dead in 1987, resulting in a live album Dylan & The Dead. This received negative reviews: Allmusic said, "Quite possibly the worst album by either Bob Dylan or the Grateful Dead."

I don't know if "Boy in the Bubble" made the cut on the album, but I'm pretty sure I've not heard it before performed by the Dead or Dylan. This is from one of my all-time favorite Paul Simon albums, an its a winner in rehearsal...I could go on and on about what I love about this recording, but instead here is a concert story:

I did the show at the Humphrey Dome and we had a great time. After the first set, everybody in the cheap seats spontaneously and en masse rushed down to and over the several foot drop to the playing field and overwhelmed the completely unprepared concert security force. What a hoot!

In the ensuing melee, my little concert bag got separated from me. Thank God, I was traveling light and the only thing of any hassle value to replace was my driver's license. Three days later, my DL showed up in my mail box. Only at a Dead show, right?

Also per Wiki, and believe me they don't have the half of it as to Dylan's AKA's, the guy likes to pretend he's not from around here but we see him all the time:

Birth name Robert Allen Zimmerman
Also known as Elston Gunnn, Blind Boy Grunt, Bob Landy, Robert Milkwood Thomas, Tedham Porterhouse, Lucky/Boo Wilbury, Jack Frost, Sergei Petrov
Born May 24, 1941 (age 73)
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Origin Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres Rock, folk, blues, country, gospel
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, writer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica
Years active 1959–present[1]
Labels Columbia, Asylum
Associated acts Joan Baez, The Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Grateful Dead, Traveling Wilburys, Mark Knopfler
Website bobdylan.com

This, these, practice sessions were the catalyst for Dylan to get back to where he is today. Any artist is greatfull to have one career, Dylan is such a camealon he changes himself infront of us and we have no idea it is happening. Well the story goes, as told by Bob, that about an hour or two into the first practice session Dylan , wearing his hoddy sweatshirt just blows out of "Front" intending to go home anywhere that isn't a studio space. As he is walking he passes by a bar where a Jazz Trio is playing. He walks in orders a drink and while give himself the time, becomes one with the music. As he describes it, It didn't matter what song they played or if they were techniquely proficient it was in the way they played and the dedication they pledged to support the song regardless of what turn it took or where it was going to. These were three musicians who were playing to give life to the music. It was at that momment they he refound his religion. The religion of "the song". Nothing is more important or has the ability lead the way wherever you want to go. That is what he lost in the 1980's. After an hour he went back to Front Studio and the rest is history. It doesn't mean it was clear sailing from that point on it just means he found the one thing that he lost. Hearing Dylan tell the story is fascinating. I miss Jerry dearly and feel blessed to have had the run i did. Over 400 shows over sixteen years. The the first moment I understood the music they were creating did I find my religion . Nothing matter more than "the song". Thnaks for letting me ramble on like that. I hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season. lstern62

What a priceless piece of history. I missed out on the Dylan/Dead tour and these tunes are obviously works in progress but what is there are these beautiful jewels that tug at the old heartstrings and at times had me in tears......the Dead during one of their peaks and combined with the timeless power of Dylan's songs. And to hear Jerry on the pedal steel....what a gift. Brent's playing is understated but adds such nuance and color......he was so fukin good.

Blessings to all those who made it possible to hear this.

May 24, 2014 (Bob Dylan's Birthday!) Some nice pedal steel accompaniment by Mr. Garcia. As is well-known, Jerry played the pedal steel guitar on Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Teach Your Children Well" ... which was his first time at it, bein' good enough to keep!

~LSDexitOzAmericaDotOrg

The boys having fun and learning at the same time. It's what its all about for them, Love em..

Just flat out gorgeous......Just for the Hank Williams cover alone. A master class, off the cuff.

Oh boy, there are gems a-plenty here; as big a Dylan fan as I am the Dead, this one's got nerdgasm - in sans serif - written all over it.

Many of these tracks are duplicated and/or superfluous (unless you're a completist), but the performances are different enough in either band quality or tape quality to not warrant skipping over *too* much....although there are some real head-scratchers here...hey, it's a rehearsal bootleg, so...

Just a few of the many highlights:
- the Dead bringing to life that forgotten Shot of Love track Dead Man, Dead Man. I've never heard it like this before, *yow*!
- you wanna talk Basement Tapes? The French Girl!
- Joey - totally passionate.
- Jer on the banjo for Rollin', John Hardy, Oh Boy, and a couple others. So much fun!
- TANGLED UP IN BLUE. Faaaaaack - this is just downright *funk-a-delic*. Ever hear outright danceable Dylan? Not until you've heard this mother - crankkkkkk it up! The Wicked Messenger follows a bit later in this same, totally groovy vein.
- Bobby sings the Boy in the Bubble, Jerry sings the (2nd) Senor.
- Around Under Your Spell the tape quality actually does take on more Basement Tapes-like sound - a bit ragged, but still listenable.
- Kristofferson's They Killed Him. Absolutely devastating stuff. Another lost-in-the-80s track.

So, really, the good is five PLUS stars, but I'm rating the overall package here, which has a lot of throwaways. The good is essential. Couldn't we link to this somehow on the normal channels for setlists so more people get the pleasure? At LEAST from that Tangled Up in Blue?

this is really top notch. jerry's guitar on john brown is the perfect accent to dylan storytelling. five billion stars...thanks for sharing!

Hey Now!

I grew up in Saa Rafael and passed "Club Front" many times on the way to getting my car fixed...(the area is full of repair shops and it was the site of the VW dealership!)...boy, if I had known what was going on in that little warehouse!

This is just an awesome set of songs...thank you!!!

This was great to hear, blows any previous Dylan/Dead recordings away IMHO; I wasn't able to sit down and listen through in one sitting but I did manage to keep coming back to pick up where I left off.

Thank you for sharing this!

"I Want You" is so much better than that pos "Postcards" album. Everything here sounds better. Wish we could buy this. Thanks for putting itup!

GREAT recordings -- a glimpse behind the scenes. You'll recall the great (http://preview.tinyurl.com/bphbk54) Herb Greene (http://www.herbgreenefoto.com/) photo of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead -- these recordings really capture the essence of that photo.

And, really, of what turns out to have been probably the best year of my life, saw a bunch of Dead shows... still in my 20s, life was still wide-open. It was great. It's a joy to hear this music again. And these are of such excellent quality!

It just doesn't get much better than this.

Jerry doesnt say much, plays his guitar, and the Bobs spout nonsence all the while, i love it!

checkout stealin 66 to 87 w/banjo bob dylan!
amazing ,only better if live on tour !
so much clearer than live, no disrespect to bob.
Sbds r so helpful for getting the lyrics down!

Does Shane Treacy,the sunflower man, play on this?

This is one hell of a recordings. Fantastic!

And guys, i've this album. Mail me nakulkabra23[at]gmail[dot]com

I'll get this album to you.

--
For the love of dead
@tripppable

Some of this is really wonderful. Some of it is just for collectors.

Now this is what music is all about! This is what should have been put out instead of the lp back when they were touring. It would have represented what they were doing a lot better than the lame thing that was put out.

wow this is one of the best on the site, i nneed it playing in my car!!

somebody please offer this for download somewhere...

This work is history. These sessions cover everything!!! GREAT recordings!! All the ballads are moving! Very cool to hear the band communicating.

O.M.G!cartwheels

Arguably one of the best songwriters ever and one of the best bands ever rehearsing. I caught a couple of these shows. they we're good - strange - weird and very interesting. Excellent stuff. I miss Jerry.

Definitely #45, #26, and #22.

Jerry’s guitar work on “Simple Twist of Fate” is tops and pedal steel on “Tomorrow is A Long Time” is enough to bring tears. The Joey is Dylan’s vocal extravaganza.

This is a great work from some of the best American musicians ever

Unpolished and unpredictable, this is a great collection of rough cuts. The best portion is Disc 5, the dozen or so tracks prior to the Grateful Dead Hour at the end of this set. It sounds like Garcia and Dylan sessions for Down in the Groove, or at least it sounds nothing like the other rehearsal tapes, which leads me to wonder if it might be of a different provenance. It's mixed differently, and the backing band doesn't sound like the Dead -- it's tighter than one might expect, like they're session pros. Anyway, I'm just surmising here. The version of Senor where Jerry seems to be teaching the song to the band (with Dylan chiming in with backing vocals) is priceless. Very entertaining.

All I can say is, 'The French Girl' (track 17) may be one of the best songs on this compilation. With Jerry on pedal steel, it practically brings tears to the eyes. Its a wonderful song and Dylan even remembers the words!

I can't say that all of these songs are listenable, especially to basic Dylan and Dead fans. But for a huge Dylan and GD fan like me, I can get down on it.

'Joey' smokes, where in this version "they threw him in the hole one time, for what?? For trying to cause a strike!!"

'Walkin Down the Line' is fun but they repeat the same verses over and over.

'Heart of Mine' is a treat, especially the pedal steel version. 'John Hardy' is a Garcia-banjo-lead hoedown.

Other than that, I just discovered these tunes-so I'll need several more listens before I can review any further.

Anyone keeping up w/Dylan's itinerary on pollstar would know he's much more than going through the motions.He'll be 69 years old in 2 weeks and he's out there taking his poetry to the people.He's got nearly 30 shows from Limerick Ireland to Bordeaux France to Bucharest Romania this summer, and he spent last fall and winter touring the southern hemisphere.
What he's not doing is laying on his ass for 3 years doing nothing, then putting out a shitty c.d. and backing it with a 25 stadium tour and then spend most of his interviews griping about copywright infringement. Music is supposed to be played IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
The so-called super groups live some sort of lavish lifestyle in the south of France til their pocketbooks get a little flat, then bring their tired and redundant loud acts out to back up their first c.d. in 3 years(usually 50 minutes of tedium and one catchy ditty).Yep we're talking about Eagles, Stones, aerosmith,rob zombie,and anybody else you hear crying about their genius material being downloaded

Alot of this sounds better than some of the live concert material... it is a real pleasure to hear this knowing it will never be officially released.... I live in San Rafael and it is magical music made here...

This is more interesting than most material i have listened to from the Dylan & The Dead tour. Its hard to say why this material did not gel as well in a live concert setting.

Maybe instead of touring mostly stadiums (after all, that was Mega-Dead time) they could have booked smaller venues that could have, perhaps, better captured the ambiance that this rare gem seems to bring out.

These rehersals seemed more focused and energetic than the release, or any of the other tapes that exist. Get it!

Feels like we're privy to something private and magical with this huge recording. Love it! Like being there for the rehearsal...

As a huge Dead and Dylan fan this is tight. Much better than the Dylan & the Dead album resulting from the tour.

Anyone know where I can download this in MP3 format (I know, I am not technologically savvy)?

Dylan mentions how the Dead pushed him to give new life to some of his old masterpieces in his great book Chronicles and how he struggled with it at club front. After reading the section, I wondered if this would be on the archive... sure enough.

Much, too much. Thank you.

What a sweet find...

I always had misgivings about the Dead/Dylan CD that was commercially released...The songs sounded rushed and I would emotionally flat-line....

But this compilatation is not that way....don't ask me why 'cause Dylan is still Dylan ... I always figure he'll always have that "i'm just going through the motions" attitude....

There are so many songs ... Maybe it was because my first listening ... and I'm usually spell-bound in my first listening to Dead material...but the songs are mixed up real good...

Anyway....I ain't much of a critic ... I am just so pleased I had a chance to hear this one ... I now will forever remember the Dead/Dylan combo favorably....

Great sound quality, amazing historic stuff here... No jamming, but For what it is I give it 5

there is some really great stuff here. its pretty mucha dylan dead studio album, some songs are rough, some have dylan hacking up a hair ball mid-song but for the most part there is some good playing an its great to hear jerry on the steel guitar on some tracks, highly reccomend this and the other dylan/dead shows that were just added to the archive.

What a great bunch of songs, Keep it coming!