Terrapin Station - GRATEFUL DEAD***

Estimated Prophet/Dancin' In The Streets/Passenger/Samson & Delilah/Sunrise/Terrapin Station

At the time of the release of Terrapin Station the progressive band Grateful Dead were reaching the end of a decade of fashionable admiration by popular music influencers. Their commercial appeal would now become much diminished. (US:28 UK:30)

“An excellent release featuring lots of Donna Godchaux's beautiful vocals. The smooth reggae stylings of Estimated Prophet are brilliant although a rather lame rendition of Dancing In The Streets misfires. The entire side two is taken up by the incredible Terrapin Station which in my opinion is the pinnacle of the Dead’s career.”

“Extremely inconsistent, this album contains two of the Dead's best songs hands down - Estimated Prophet and Terrapin Station, along with two of their worst Dancing In The Streets and Sampson & Delilah, and one completely uncharacteristic song, Sunrise. Given the inconsistent material, overall the album is mediocre but the title track is truly outstanding in every way and is entirely unique for this band.”

“Dancing In The Streets is ridiculously bad. Side two is the only reason to own this long play and it is a good reason. Terrapin Station is a monster, one of the best studio tracks the Grateful Dead have ever done.”

“A bit of reggae, a dash of disco, some blues rock, a soft rock ballad for Donna, and a side of prog excess. I guess the band felt they had their bases covered. “

“Mostly pretty boring, including a questionable cover of Dancing In The Streets, but the epic, multipart title track pulls the album up from total mediocrity.”

“A very good album mainly because of its brilliant second half which is seven songs played into one long sixteen minute masterpiece filled with great guitar work. It’s the first side that needs to be stronger. Estimated Prophet is an amazing song and a great one.”

“Terrapin Station represents the Dead in their declining years. That doesn't mean there aren't some interesting and truly enjoyable moments here. It merely says that the halcyon days were indeed behind them.”