[caspersvapors]

amazing singer? please

Pavarotti is an AMAZING singer


IMO there are so many instances of her ruining song that the few times where she may have sounded really good dont really matter...

Theres never been a point where Ive found her vocals more moving than Jerrys or even Bobbys and Phils

[bodiddley]

I have a love/hate thing with Donna. She's ruined so many great songs but sometimes she was just what the tune needed. It's funny, my wife doesn't care for the Dead too much but one of the criterea according to her when I play any GD around the house is it has to be a non-Donna show. She'll say "Who the hell let that chick into the band? She can't even sing in key."

[nicolasalk]

Donna is a GOD

[Henry]

A goddess, please...
Just kidding, what I wanted to say is just, I think she was awful during the first years. I also have an NRPS recording from '73 where she sat in on two songs and was so much out of tune it was almost unbelievable. Loretta Lynn she was not, either. But something happened around '76 or '77 and she greatly improved. Like everything it's a matter of taste, but I find her singing from that time on was sweet. The first time I heard it on DP 10 and went just wow, this is what she really can do. Don't care what some folks say about her, Donna has a place in my heart.

[smile_smile_smile]

did jerry like donna?

[Darkhorse014]

did jerry like donna?

i don think she wulda been in the dead for like 5 years or in one of jerry's bands if he didnt like her.

donna is way way better than brent trying to sing the high parts

[gratephulphish123]

donna is way way better than brent trying to sing the high parts

shes also more of an eyesore, i think when brent got intense it was cool, he wasnt good at high register singing, but he couldnt be beaten for impassioned growling

[smile_smile_smile]

i don think she wulda been in the dead for like 5 years or in one of jerry's bands if he didnt like her.

exactly.
i like donna (she has her sour moments, so did all the members), but my point is that the band must of dug what she was doin her she would've been replaced a long time ago, so why the donna hate?

[Django]

In another post on Donna i covered the sociological importantance of having a woman hippie in the dead, for me as a youngster in the early 70's anyway; but I'll add this about the music.
I was listening to a show from when she was on hiatus having a child and came to this conclusion. Regardless of pitch, the power of her added voice made the big vocal moments stronger. Without her the guys sound kind of hesitant and it lacks punch.

[astroman99]

A goddess, please...
Just kidding, what I wanted to say is just, I think she was awful during the first years. I also have an NRPS recording from '73 where she sat in on two songs and was so much out of tune it was almost unbelievable. Loretta Lynn she was not, either. But something happened around '76 or '77 and she greatly improved. Like everything it's a matter of taste, but I find her singing from that time on was sweet. The first time I heard it on DP 10 and went just wow, this is what she really can do. Don't care what some folks say about her, Donna has a place in my heart.

Yeah something happened , the monitors got better and the band turned down there stage volume, so she could hear herself. Listen to the harmonies on the studio albums,like row jimmy and stella blue, she is on key and beautiful and emotionally moving,

and Jerry loved her, that is why she was in his band.
stop bashing her, and open your ears and hearts, she was a full time member of my fav band, so chill!!!

[st. stephen]

when i bought Live at the Cow Palace one of the first things I noticed was that donna's singing really fits in with the boys...
she's got a few weak moments but that's it and i think in these shows it's really great to have a female vocal it just gives the singing more warmth.
Also Closing Of Winterland - From The Heart Of Me has to be one of the best vocal tunes the Dead ever did, just sooo sweet...
I like her

[smile_smile_smile]

the power of her added voice made the big vocal moments stronger.

exactly!

[bodiddley]

Funny how this post turned into a Donna love/hate fest. Can't we just agree that when she was "on" she was great but when she wasn't she really stunk the joint up? I never bought the whole "couldn't hear herself" arguement about the monitors. She often shared a mic and no one else had that problem. I think she pretty much sucked donkey dick pre-hiatus but then got really smooth post '74.