[HOWEYMAN]

I WAS JUST RECENTLY LISTENING TO A 78' ROUND AND ROUND, JAMMIN TO IT AS USUAL. THE ENDING WINDS UP AND BOBS SINGING AND PLAYING BEGIN TO RIP IT. THEN COMES THE VOICE, OR THE SCREAM. TO ME, DONNA NEVER FIT WITH THE BAND. I MEAN HERE IS A GREAT SONG LEADING INTO A GREAT JAM AND ENDING, THEN DONNA COMES IN AND RUINS IT FOR ME. I MEAN I TURN IT DOWN.
I WILL NEVER KNOW THE LIVE EXPIERIENCE WITH HER PRESENT, BUT A FEW DARK STAR ORCHESTRA SHOWS I SEEN WITH "DONNA" WERE PRETTY GOOD. ITS JUST SEEMS TO ME ANYWAYS THAT SHE WAS MORE A - THAN A +. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OUT THERE?

[Guestie]

viewtopic.php?t=379&start=0&postdays=0& ... highlight=

The 2nd part of this post is pretty cool.

[strumminsix]

Welcome aboard. So you know, typing in all caps is often seen as yelling. Also, it's more difficult to read.

Back on topic...

Donna has repeatedly stated she could not hear herself with the GD. Now if you listen to Keith & Donna or JGB w/ K&D she sounds wonderful.

I think I'm gonna believe Donna with inability to hear all the pieces.

[Billbbill]

I believe I saw where she maintained she could almost never hear herself on the monitors. Convenient excuse or legitimate explanation? I don't know but if you've ever sung onstage and could not hear yourself, you probably know it's pretty difficult to stay in tune.

Either way, while the boys, in many ways, could use help on the vocal end of the equation, I never really warmed up to her. I don't mean that as an attack on her as much as her addition to the mix didn't do much for me. As someone once said (Blair Jackson?) 'on a good night the vocals don't matter much anyway'.

[HOWEYMAN]

First off, sorry about the caps in my first post. this is my first internet forum.
Back to Donna, I want to say I do believe she has a great voice. What I mean, is like on the some studio recordings, like on Terrapin and Shakedown, she sings beautiful. I just feel she didn't fit with the live Dead personna.

[strumminsix]

Well HoweyMan this is a good place to make yourself comfortable!!!!

Again, welcome.

BillBill, I never much cared for her with the GD. In fact, my worst experience with listening to the GD happened with her. I was sitting at my desk listening to some mid-70s with headphones and jamming away to Playin'.

Well, it's the nice fat jam and the boys are really doing their thing and building up to return to the song but before they do she skreeches, shrieks, howls or whatever that thing she does that sounds like a cat being skinned alive.

I jumped 10 feet in the air and no longer can listen to shows that have Playin & her with headphones.

[rollins]

are we gonna split hairs hear, have you ever herd strange man she makes you wanna cry man singing about jesus.

[rollins]

i have to disagree totally i can't believe your descussing this, opinions opinions her voice was in alot of live shows, alot of times she just did vocal harmonics, like in scarlet/fire

quit crying,

[HOWEYMAN]

Ya know, I thought i could kindly discuss issues and opinions on this forum. thats why I registered. Why not talk about it? It was how I felt, and I threw it up there looking for some kind feedback from fellow deadheads. Can I not discuss opinions? are they not allowed here. Man, again I say she (donna) ruined my copy of a 78' show in some parts. thats all, I was trying to be nice about and not hit any nerves. Would the dead have ever placed an additional female vocalist if she wasn't the wife of Keith? I do not believe so. She was there by circumstance and not really because the Dead wanted a female vocalist, I believe. Am I wrong?

[Guest]

hello. To be honest i never really held an opinion about it. Sure iv heard all the convo about not being in tune and bad "no?? monitors. My thought is that she was part of the band. a go along for the ride type thing.

[phpbb]

All opinions are welcome. I thought she sucked in the GD, but I can at least listen to her on JGB tapes. I've always prefered listening to the other women who sang with Jerry.

[ebick]

Ya know, I thought i could kindly discuss issues and opinions on this forum. thats why I registered. Why not talk about it? It was how I felt, and I threw it up there looking for some kind feedback from fellow deadheads. Can I not discuss opinions? are they not allowed here.

Howeyman, don't be discouraged by one or two posters who don't welcome ALL opinions.

[Cosmic C]

I say wowy, wow wow.

Nice little history lesson Kenny. Thanks

[Cosmic C]

In my most humble opinion, I think that not unlike any musician, she had good shows and bad ones. Except the bad ones where really bad.

[Billbbill]

I'm with you strummin. Although I never had a quite as traumatic experience as you. She always seemed like a fifth wheel to me.

As for howeyman, don't sweat it. Ya ain't gonna please everybody so don't think twice about possibly offending somebody. Especially when you've got a legitimate opinion.