Grateful Dead with Stephen Stills — L.A., CA (12/10/69)
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Black Peter, Me & My Uncle, Cold Rain & Snow, Mama Tried > High Time, Easy Wind, Dire Wolf, Casey Jones*, Good Morning Little School Girl*, Morning Dew*, Black Queen* > Turn On Your Love Light*, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Cosmic Charlie
*Stephen Stills on guitar and vocals
Grateful Dead — London, ENG (9/11/74)
I: Scarlet Begonias ; Mexicali Blues ; Brown Eyed Women ; Beat It On Down The Line ; Sugaree ; Jack Straw ; Row Jimmy ; Me And Bobby McGee ; Tennessee Jed ; Big River ; It Must Have Been The Roses ; Playing In The Band
II: Seastones > Eyes Of The World > Jam > Space > Jam > Wharf Rat > Space; Around And Around ; Ship Of Fools ; Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad > Sugar Magnolia
E:) U.S. Blues
“Me and My Uncle”
Being that this was the Dead’s most performed song in concert (616 times!), you’d think the song was theirs. Not so. It was written by John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas in a tequila soaked evening with Judy Collins, Stephen Stills and Neil Young that he didn’t even remember, which leads us to this interesting anecdote:
- “John often used to tell the story behind “Me and My Uncle”. Years ago he began receiving publishing royalties from a song on a Judy Collins record with which he was unfamiliar. It was titled “Me and My Uncle”. He called Judy to let her know of the mistake because he hadn’t written any such song. She laughed and told him that about a year before, in Arizona after one of her concerts, they had a ‘Tequila Night’ back at the hotel with Stephen Stills, Neil Young and a few others. They were running a blank cassette and John proceeded to write “Me and My Uncle” on the spot. The next day, John woke up to the tequila sunrise with no recollection of the songwriting incident. Judy kept the cassette from that evening and then, without informing John, recorded the song for her own record. Over the years the song was recorded by several people, and eventually became a standard of the Grateful Dead. John used to joke that, little by little, with each royalty check, the memory of writing the song would come back to him.”
Did You Know??
A young, five year old Courtney Love was photographed with the extended Grateful Dead family for the back cover of 1969′s Aoxomoxoa. Courtney’s father, Hank Harrison was an early manager for the band and a roommate of Phil Lesh. If you look real close, she’s the little girl to Pigpen’s left.
Los Lobos/Jerry & Bob — “This Land Is Your Land”
Woody Guthrie’s classic folk song performed almost 21 years ago, on 7/2/89.
Grateful Dead — Copenhagen, Denmark (4/14/72)
Way the hell back when I was in high school, the Grateful Dead would always treat Atlanta to a spring run. This was when the band was getting pretty near the end, but were certainly still able to play soul shaking sets. Today we have a mid-70′s, spring-ish day in Atlanta that’s perfect for some good ole Grateful Dead. Here’s a classic show from ’72.
Set 1
Bertha
Me And My Uncle
Mr. Charlie
You Win Again
Black Throated Wind
Chinatown Shuffle
Loser
Me And Bobby McGee
Cumberland Blues
Playing In The Band
Tennessee Jed
El Paso
Big Boss Man
Beat It On Down The Line
Casey Jones
Set 2
Truckin’
It Hurts Me Too
Brown Eyed Women
Looks Like Rain
Dark Star ->
Sugar Magnolia
Good Lovin’ ->
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) ->
Who Do You Love? ->
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) ->
Good Lovin’
Ramble On Rose
Not Fade Away ->
Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad ->
Not Fade Away
Encore
One More Saturday Night
40 Years ago today…
The Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and Fleetwood Mac appeared at The Fillmore East in NYC. The Dead’s setlist looked a little something like this:
Early Show: The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment, Dire Wolf, Casey Jones
Late Show: Not Fade Away, Cumberland Blues, Cold Rain & Snow, High Time, Me & My Uncle, Dark Star > Spanish Jam* > Turn On Your Love Light**
Encore: Uncle John’s Band
Wanna listen? Steam here.
Grateful Dead — Alfred, NY (5/1/70)
How do you like your Dead? Song or jam based? Well, with this show all bases are covered.
(Acoustic Dead:) The Race Is On, Wake Up Little Susie, New Speedway Boogie, Cold Jordan, Uncle John’s Band (NRPS Set, Garcia on pedal steel: Dirty Business, Last Lonely Eagle, Cecilia, Rainbow, Louisiana Lady, Honky Tonk Women) (Electric Dead:) Drums > Not Fade Away, Hard To Handle, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment, High Time, Turn On Your Lovelight
Grateful Dead — “Looks Like Rain”
“Time for a crying song, folks.” One of Bobby’s many shining moments from Rockaplast ’81. Check out their version with Jerry playing pedal steel from Dick’s Picks 30 at The Academy of Music in NYC from 3/28/72.
Grateful Dead — Veneta, OR (8/27/72)
Promised Land
Sugaree
Me and My Uncle
Deal
Black Throated Wind
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider
Mexicali Blues
Bertha
Playing in the Band
He’s Gone
Jack Straw
Bird Song
Greatest Story Ever Told
Dark Star
El Paso
Sing Me Back Home
Sugar Magnolla
Casey Jones
Grateful Dead — Alfred, NY (5/1/70)
Acoustic: The Race Is On, Wake Up Little Susie, New Speedway Boogie, Cold Jordan, Uncle John’s Band; Electric: Drums > Not Fade Away, Hard To Handle, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment, High Time, Turn On Your Lovelight
R.I.P. — Brent Mydland (1952-1990)
Keyboardist number 4 for the Grateful Dead and perhaps their most well rounded on the ivories player, Brent Mydland passed on this date in 1990. Keith filled in for Keith Godchaux after he and Donna split from the band in early ’79. Brent struggled with being labled as “the new guy” during his 11-year tenure in the band, but set himself apart from the previous players with his mastery of the B-3. I’ve always found the following version of “I Will Take You Home” moving, as his daughter Jessica was seated beside him on his bench as he performed. Check it out:
Grateful Dead — San Francisco, CA (3/23/75)
Blues For Allah>
Stronger Than Dirt>
drums>
Stronger Than Dirt>
Blues For Allah>
Johnny B. Goode
*First “Blues For Allah” – first “Stronger Than Dirt” – with Merl Saunders and Ned Lagin – without Donna – FM broadcast KIOI-San Francisco – Students Need Athletics Culture & Kicks (SNACK) benefit – also: Doobie Brothers; Graham Central Station; Mimi Farina; Jefferson Starship; Joan Baez; Santana; Tower Of Power; Bob Dylan with Neil Young.
Grateful Dead — American Beauty (Rolling Stone 1970)
Sometimes we like to check out old school album reviews. Here’s a great one from Andy Zwerling of Rolling Stone in 1970.
For once a truly beautiful album cover is more than matched by the record inside. The dead just refuse to keep within any normal limits, and I hope that it stays that way for a long time. Workingman’s Dead was a lovely album, lush, full, and thoroughly real in musical and lyrical content. American Beauty is a joyous extension of the last album. If possible there is even more care on vocal wok. Everyone in the band sings, and sings well alone and together.
A complete contentment shines through the vocal work on this album. A full contentment. The instrumentation is rich with sound that moves through, under, and into the listener. Damn it all, the album is American beauty, of the best possible kind. The positivity of the Dead just can’t be kept down. Look at the cover. “American Beauty” can also be read as “American Reality,” thanks to Mouse Studios. If more of the American reality were this album, we’d all have a lot more to be thankful for.
“Box of Rain” takes plenty of time, and moves surely. The band isn’t in any great hurry. Layers of music weave in seemingly simple patterns—deceptively simple patterns. Phil Lesh’s singing is just right. The chorus is fine: “A box of rain will ease the pain/And love will see you through.” “Believe it if you need it/If you don’t just pass it on.” Praised be Bob Hunter. Countrified Dead is so nice to listen to.
From “Box of Rain” they zip into “Friend of the Devil,” which is a snappy little country number, with some extremely fine bass and acoustic guitar interplay. Jerry Garcia’s voice now makes him a perfect wobbly cowboy.
Pigpen drops by with “Operator.” Pigpen songs are always enjoyable, because they’re Pigpen songs. That would be enough, but they are often good too, which is an added bonus, and this one certainly is good. Pigpen growls as ever.
“Ripple” and “Brokedown Palace” are coupled by a vocal chorus, a little reminiscent of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but only in a complimentary sense. The songs meld together and are strongly pretty and sad, as is “Attics of My Life,” which has some very, very nice harmony work.
The two songs that come closest to being rockers on the album are “Till the Morning Comes” and “Truckin.” “Truckin” is just the story of the Dead—going on the road, losing old friends, gaining new ones, trying to keep everybody happy, trying to play some nice music for people, and succeeding on all counts.
The Dead are getting pretty big commercially now, and if ever a band deserved it, it’s them. They have given us all something to treasure with this album. It’s one for now, and one for the kids in 20 years too. American Beauty’s like that, you know. (link)
Grateful Dead — “Ramble On Rose”
From RCMH, 1980.
32 Years ago today…
The Grateful Dead played one of, if not their most famous concerts ever at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Betty Cantor recorded the show, which is perhaps one of the cleanest, clearest soundboards you’ll ever find. The Scarlet>Fire is legendary.
05/08/77
Barton Hall (Cornell University) – Ithaca, NY
Set 1:
New Minglewood Blues
Loser
El Paso
They Love Each Other
Jack Straw
Deal
Lazy Lightnin’
Supplication
Brown-Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Row Jimmy
Dancin’ In The Streets
Set 2:
Scarlet Begonias
Fire On The Mountain
Estimated Prophet
St. Stephen
Not Fade Away
St. Stephen
Morning Dew
Encore:
One More Saturday Night
The Dead — Philadelphia, PA (5/2/09)
Set 1:
On More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He’s Gone>
Uncle John’s Band>
Mason’s Children
Set 2:
Good Lovin’
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drums>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen
Revolution
Help On The Way
Slipknot!>
Franklin’s Tower
Encore:
Samson And Delilah
How Obama resurrected The Dead
AP:
LOS ANGELES – He’s still got a little work to do on the economy, but already President Barack Obama has accomplished at least one task that had appeared all but impossible just a year ago: He’s put The Dead back on the road.
As the core surviving members of the Grateful Dead, once the world’s biggest concert draw, barrel across the country for the first time in five years, bass player Phil Lesh says they have Obama, and also Lesh’s youngest son, Brian, to thank.(more…)
10 Years ago today…
The “meat” of the sandwich and probably my favorite show of the three day run. If you don’t have this show, get it NOW!!!
Phil & Phriends — 4/16/99 — The Warfield — San Francisco, CA
1. Help on the Way->Slipknot!# 23:17
2. Franklin’s Tower 13:42
3. Wish You Were Here 10:46
4. Tennessee Jed 08:06
5. Stella Blue 09:20
6. Alligator 14:45
Cont.’d
1. Bertha-> 09:13
2. Prince Caspian-> 14:17
3. St. Stephen-> 15:60
4. The Eleven-> 08:08
5. Unbroken Chain 10:10
Cont.’d
1. Chalkdust Torture 11:30
2. Mountains of the Moon* 09:11
3. Scarlet Begonias-> 10:26
4. Fire on the Mountain 12:07
5. Organ Donor Rap 06:02
6. Ripple 06:49
Phil & Phriends — 10 Years ago today…
Worlds collided. This band had confidence and swagger, you could tell from the first notes of Viola Lee Blues. A truly magical show that continued for two more nights. Warfield Theater (4/15/99) San Fran.
Set I:
2. Viola Lee Blues
3. Big Railroad Blues
4. Jack-a-Roe
Set I (cont.):
1. Cosmic Charlie
2. Wolfman’s Brother -> Space ->
3. Uncle John’s Band -> Jam
Set II:
1. Alabama Getaway
2. Sugaree>
3. Like a Rolling Stone >
4. I Know you Rider
5. Row Jimmy
Set II (cont.):
1. Shakedown Street
2. The Wheel
3. Not Fade Away
Phil talking
Encore:
4. Tamborine Man
* Phil and Steve, with Phil’s kids
The Dead — Greensboro, NC (4/12/09)
Set I: Jam > The Music Never Stopped, Jack Straw, Estimated Prophet > He’s Gone > Touch Of Grey > I Need A Miracle > Truckin’
Set II: Jam > Shakedown Street > All Along The Watchtower > Caution (Do Not Step On The Tracks) > Drums > Space > Cosmic Charlie, New Potato Caboose > Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower
Encore: Donor Rap Samson & Delilah
“Bertha” through the years…
First released on Grateful Dead or Skull & Roses or Skull Fuck, the song isn’t about some chick that Jer’ didn’t want to “come around here anymore”, but was about an unbalanced floor fan that would chase members around their Front Street studio. Anyway, we found this cool video on YouTube posted by user Townshend1969 that shows the diffrent styles and tempos the band employed through the years of playing “Bertha”. Really cool compilation if you ask me, check it out:
“The Star Spangled Banner”
History:
On September 3, 1814, Francis Scott Key and John Stuart Skinner, an American prisoner-exchange agent, set sail from Baltimore aboard the ship HMS Minden flying a flag of truce on a mission approved by President James Madison. Their objective was to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, the elderly and popular town physician of Upper Marlboro, and a friend of Key’s who had been captured in his home. Beanes was accused of aiding the arrest of British soldiers. Key and Skinner boarded the British flagship HMS Tonnant on September 7 and spoke with Major General Robert Ross and Admiral Alexander Cochrane over dinner, while they discussed war plans. At first, Ross and Cochrane refused to release Beanes, but relented after Key and Skinner showed them letters written by wounded British prisoners praising Beanes and other Americans for their kind treatment. (more…)
Phish before the New Jersey Nets game on 6/12/03.
Jerry, Bob & Vince at Candlestick in ’93.
Umphrey’s McGee at the White Sox/Yankees game on 4/24/08
Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All Star game.
Happy Birthday — Billy Kreutzman
Drummer and original Grateful Dead drummer Billy Kreutzmann turns 63 today. Billy was the Dead’s sole drummer until Mickey Hart joined the band in September 1967 and once again when Mickey left the band on sabbatical in 1971. Of course Mickey joined the band again in October of ’74 and shared drum duties with Billy until the band disbanded after Jerry’s death in August of ’95. Click here to download the Billy Kreutzmann Trio (Billy, Scott Murawski, Oteil Burbridge) from Gathering Of The Vibes ’08. Here’s Drums-Space from 12/28/90:
