| Jerry Garcia's fourth solo album was the first to be released
under the collective title of the Jerry Garcia Band, although the change
was primarily in name, as there was little alteration in the personnel between
this disc and the non-Grateful Dead tracks from his previous studio effort,
Reflections (1976). However, unlike his previous effort, Cats Under the
Stars contains all new original material. Garcia's longtime collaborator
and bassist, John Kahn, also serves up a pair of melodic contributions.
These include the brief gospel-flavored interlude "Down Home,"
featuring some ingenious lead non-verbal vocalizations from Donna Jean Godchaux
underneath an equally affective melody. Kahn also joins Robert Hunter on
the slinky and slightly Caribbean-tinged "Love in the Afternoon."
Once again Garcia and lyricist Hunter come up aces with some of their
most poignant collaborative efforts. Chief among these is the bittersweet
love triangle of "Rubin and Cherise." Drawing upon elements
of mythology, Shakespeare, and even incorporating some rather Bob Dylan-esque
phrasing, Hunter reveals one of his crowning lyrical achievements. The
biblically derived "Gomorrah" recalls the same sympathetic and
hapless humanity which likewise embodies compositions such as "Wharf
Rat" and "Foolish Heart." The title track, "Cats Under
the Stars," is a lilting, up-tempo rocker that was quickly adopted
by Garcia fans and Deadheads to refer to the unspoken union connecting
themselves with the band. Of arguably equal aesthetic pleasure is Anton
Kelley's Egyptian-influenced cover artwork, which would become the subject
of many a car window sticker and T-shirt. Many Deadheads and critics alike
feel as if Cats Under the Stars is Garcia's best non-Dead effort, and
sadly it would not be reprised on his final studio album to feature the
Jerry Garcia Band, Run for the Roses. -- Lindsay Planer (AMG)
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Grateful Dead 
Plattentipp 
