Garcia's first LP using the band name Jerry Garcia Band and his first LP on the Arista label. Includes only one song that was performed by the Dead. Keith and Donna Godchaux who were at the time members of the Garcia Band contribute to the music.
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Track listing:
1. Rubin And Cherise (Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter)
2. Love In The Afternoon (John Kahn / Robert Hunter)
3. Palm Sunday (Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter)
4. Cats Under The Stars (Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter)
5. Rhapsody In Red (Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter / John Kahn)
6. Rain (Donna Godchaux)
7. Down Home (John Kahn)
8. Gomorrah (Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter)
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Musicians:
Jerry Garcia - guitar, vocals
Donna Jean Godchaux - vocals
Keith Godchaux - keyboard, vocals
John Kahn - basses, keyboards, guitars, orchestration
Ron Tutt - drums, percussion
Merl Saunders - organ
Maria Muldaur - vocals
Steve Schuster - flute, clarinet, saxophone
Brian Godchaux - violin
Candy Godchaux - violin
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Other credits:
Recorded and mixed at Le Club Front
Engineers - Betty Cantor Jackson and Bob Matthews
Assistants - Harry Popick, Steve Parish, Bill Candelario and Ramrod
Cover Art - Kelley Mouse Studios
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Garcia discussed this LP in an interview in the late 80's.
"The record I worked hardest at and liked best was Cats Under The Stars. That was kind of like my baby. It did worse than any other record I ever did. I think I probably gave away more copies than I sold. It was amazingly, pathetically bad. But I've learned not to invest a lot of importance in 'em, although it's nice to care about your work."
"Cats Under The Stars is my favorite one. That's the one that I'm happiest with, from every point of view in which I operate on that record. We did all those tunes on tour right after the album came out, with John and Maria, Keith and Donna and I think Ronnie Tutt was still playing drums with us on those first few tours."