Afleveringen
-
"Behind the Scenes with Rob Bleetstein: Archiving the Legacy of the NRPS"
Larry's guest, Rob Bleetstein, is known for his role as the host of the live concerts on the Sirius XM Grateful Dead station and as the voice of Pearl Jam Radio. In today's episode, he discusses the recently released live album "Hempsteader" by the New Riders Of The Purple Sage (NRPS), where he serves as the archivist and producer.
The New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band that emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969, with original members including some from the Grateful Dead. Their roots trace back to the early 1960s folk and beatnik scene around Stanford University, where Jerry Garcia and David Nelson played gigs together. Influenced by American folk music and rock and roll, the band formed, including Garcia on pedal steel guitar initially.
The discussion delves into the background of the NRPS, their albums, and notable tracks like "Panama Red," written by Peter Rowan and popularized by the band. The album "New Riders of the Purple Sage" features Garcia on pedal steel guitar and includes tracks like "Henry," a humorous tale of marijuana smuggling.
Throughout the show, various NRPS tracks are highlighted, showcasing the band's eclectic style and songwriting. Additionally, news segments cover topics such as the DEA's agreement to reschedule marijuana and updates from the music industry, including rare concert appearances and tour plans.
Overall, the episode provides insights into the NRPS's music, their influence on the country rock genre, and relevant news in the marijuana and music industries.
Larry's Notes
Rob Bleetstein who many folks know as the host of the three live concerts played every day on the Sirius XM Grateful Dead station. Also the voice of Pearl Jam Radio. And, most importantly for today’s episode, the archivist for the New Riders Of The Purple Sage and the producer of the Hempsteader album.
Today, featuring recently released NRPS live album, “Hempsteader” from the band’s performance at the Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead, NY on June 25, 1976, just shy of 48 years ago.
New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969 and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead.[2] The band is sometimes referred to as the New Riders or as NRPS.
The roots of the New Riders can be traced back to the early 1960s Peninsulafolk/beatnikscene centered on Stanford University's now-defunct Perry Lane housing complex in Menlo Park, California where future Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia often played gigs with like-minded guitarist David Nelson. The young John Dawson (also known as "Marmaduke") also played some concerts with Garcia, Nelson, and their compatriots while visiting relatives on summer vacation. Enamored of the sounds of Bakersfield-style country music, Dawson would turn his older friends on to the work of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens and provided a vital link between Timothy Leary's International Federation for Internal Freedom in Millbrook, New York (Dawson having boarded at the Millbrook School) and the Menlo Park bohemian coterie nurtured by Ken Kesey.
Inspired by American folk music, rock and roll, and blues, Garcia formed the Grateful Dead (initially known as The Warlocks) with blues singer Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, while Nelson joined the similarly inclined New Delhi River Band (which would eventually come to include bassist Dave Torbert) shortly thereafter. The group came to enjoy a cult following in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties through the Summer of Love until their dissolution in early 1968.
In 1969, Nelson contributed to the Dead’s Aoxomoxoa album in 1969. During this period Nelson and Garcia played intermittently in an early iteration of High Country, a traditional bluegrass ensemble formed by the remnants of the Peninsula folk scene.
By early 1969, Dawson had returned to Los Altos Hills and also contributed to Aoxomoxoa. After a mescaline experience at Pinnacles National Park with Torbert and Matthew Kelly, he began to compose songs on a regular basis working in a psychedelic country fusion genre not unlike Gram Parsons’ Flying Burrito Brothers.
Dawson's vision was prescient, as 1969 marked the emergence of country rock via Bob Dylan, The Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, the Dillard & Clark Band, and the Clarence White-era Byrds. Around this time, Garcia was similarly inspired to take up the pedal steel guitar, and an informal line-up including Dawson, Garcia, and Peninsula folk veteran Peter Grant (on banjo) began playing coffeehouse and hofbrau concerts together when the Grateful Dead were not touring. Their repertoire included country standards, traditional bluegrass, Dawson originals, and a few Dylan covers ("Lay Lady Lay", "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", "Mighty Quinn"). By the summer of 1969 it was decided that a full band would be formed and David Nelson was recruited to play lead guitar.
In addition to Nelson, Dawson (on acoustic guitar), and Garcia (continuing to play pedal steel), the original line-up of the band that came to be known as the New Riders of the Purple Sage (a nod to the Foy Willing-led Western swing combo from the 1940s, Riders of the Purple Sage, which borrowed its name from the Zane Grey novel) consisted of Alembic Studio engineer Bob Matthews on electric bass and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead on drums; bassist Phil Lesh also played sporadically with the ensemble in lieu of Matthews through the end of the year, as documented by the late 1969 demos later included on the Before Time Began archival release. Lyricist Robert Hunter briefly rehearsed with the band on bass in early 1970 before the permanent hiring of Torbert in April of that year.[8] The most commercially successful configuration of the New Riders would come to encompass Dawson, Nelson, Torbert, Spencer Dryden (of Jefferson Airplane fame), and Buddy Cage.
After a few warmup gigs throughout the Bay Area in 1969, Dawson, Nelson, and Torbert began to tour in May 1970 as part of a tripartite bill advertised as "An Evening with the Grateful Dead". An acoustic Grateful Dead set that often included contributions from Dawson and Nelson would then segue into New Riders and electric Dead sets, obviating the need to hire external opening acts.
With the New Riders desiring to become more of a self-sufficient group and Garcia needing to focus on his other responsibilities, the musician parted ways with the group in November 1971. Seasoned pedal steel player Buddy Cage was recruited from Ian and Sylvia's Great Speckled Bird to replace Garcia.
In 1977 and 1978, NRPS did open several Dead and JGB shows, including the final concert preceding the closure of Winterland on December 31, 1978.
In 1974, Torbert left NRPS; he and Matthew Kelly co-founded the band Kingfish (best known for Bob Weir's membership during the Grateful Dead's late-1974 to mid-1976 touring hiatus) the year before.
In 1997, the New Riders of the Purple Sage split up. Dawson retired from music and moved to Mexico to become an English teacher. By this time, Nelson had started his own David Nelson Band. There was a reunion performance in 2001. In 2002, the New Riders accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from High Times magazine.
Allen Kemp died on June 25, 2009.[13][14] John "Marmaduke" Dawson died in Mexico on July 21, 2009, at the age of 64.[15][16]
Pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage died on February 5, 2020, at age 73.
(Rob – this is mostly notes for me today so I can sound like I know what I’m talking about. I’ll go through some of it to set some background for the band, but feel free to take the lead on talking about those aspects of the band, and its musicians, that you enjoy most or find most interesting – keeping in mind that our target audience presumably are fans of marijuana and the Dead.)
INTRO: Panama Red
Track #1
Start – 1:49
Written by Peter Rowan
“Panama Red” is well known in the jam-grass scene, but it’s perhaps not as widely known that Peter Rowan wrote the song.
It was originally a 1973 hit for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the first popular version with Rowan singing and playing it came when the supergroup Old & In the Way, released their eponymous album in 1975, two years after their seminal time, in 1973, and a year after they disbanded.
Jerry Garcia was the connective tissue between the two projects, playing pedal steel in the early New Riders and banjo in Old & In the Way.
“I wrote ‘Panama Red’ after leaving my first project with David Grisman, Earth Opera, around the summer of the Woodstock music festival [1969],” Rowan explains.
“It’s a fun song because it captures the vibe of the time. I was from the East Coast, but I found there to be more creativity on the West Coast during that time period.
“Nobody wanted to do ‘Panama Red’ on the East Coast. I took it to Seatrain [the roots fusion band in which Rowan played from 1969 to 1972], and when it eventually became a hit, the manager of Seatrain claimed it. I never saw any money, even though it became the title of an album for the New Riders of the Purple Sage [1973’s The Adventures of Panama Red].
“The subject was "taboo" in those days. You did jail time for pot. So that might have scared commercial interests. But Garcia was a green light all the way! "Oh sure" was his motto, both ironically and straight but always with a twinkle in his eye! After Seatrain management kept all the money, Jerry suggested I bring the song to Marmaduke and Nelson!"
“When David Grisman and I got back together for Old & In the Way in 1973 with Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and John Khan, we started playing it.”
From the NRPS album “The Adventures of Panama Red”, their fourth country rock album released in October 1973. It is widely regarded as one of the group's best efforts, and reached number 55 on the Billboard charts.
The album includes two songs written by Peter Rowan — "Panama Red", which became a radio hit, and "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy". Another song, "Kick in the Head", was written by Robert Hunter. Donna Jean Godchaux and Buffy Sainte-Marie contribute background vocals on several tracks.
SHOW No. 1: Fifteen Days Under The Hood
Track #4
1:55 – 3:13
Written by Jack Tempchin and Warren Hughey. Jack Tempchin is an American musician and singer-songwriter who wrote the Eagles song "Peaceful Easy Feeling"[1] and co-wrote "Already Gone",[2] "The Girl from Yesterday",[3]"Somebody"[4]and "It's Your World Now".[5]
Released as the opening song on the NRPS album, “New Riders”, their seventh studio album, released in 1976
SHOW No. 2: Henry
Track #6
1:19 – 3:05
"Henry", written by John Dawson, a traditional shuffle with contemporary lyrics about marijuana smuggling. From the band’s debut album, “New Riders of the Purple Sage”, released by Columbia Records in August, 1971.
New Riders of the Purple Sage is the only studio album by the New Riders to feature co-founder Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead on pedal steel guitar. He is also featured on the live albums Vintage NRPS and Bear's Sonic Journals: Dawn of the New Riders of the Purple Sage.
Mickey Hart and Commander Cody play drums and piano, respectively, on two tracks—"Dirty Business" and "Last Lonely Eagle".
Then, there’s a swerving left turn away from romance tunes on this album with ‘Henry‘, whose titular hero has stepped right out of a Gilbert Shelton underground comic. At a frenetic pace the story of Henry’s run to Mexico to fetch twenty kilos of (Acapulco?) gold unravels, with Henry driving home after sampling the wares “Henry tasted, he got wasted couldn’t even see – how he’s going to drive like that is not too clear to me.” It’s a joke, but a joke that sounds pretty good even after repeat listens.
SHOW No. 3: Portland Woman
Track #9
:34 – 2:00
Another Marmaduke tune from the NRPS album released in August, 1971.
A bittersweet love song progressing from touring boredom to be relieved by a casual hook-up with the pay-off with the realization that the Portland Woman who “treats you right” has actually made a deeper connection “I’m going back to my Portland woman, I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
SHOW No. 4: You Never Can Tell
Track #15
:51 – 2:26
You Never Can Tell", also known as "C'est La Vie" or "Teenage Wedding", is a song written by Chuck Berry. It was composed in the early 1960s while Berry was in federal prison for violating the Mann Act.[2] Released in 1964 on the album St. Louis to Liverpool and the follow-up single to Berry's final Top Ten hit of the 1960s: "No Particular Place to Go", "You Never Can Tell" reached number 14, becoming Berry's final Top 40 hit until "My Ding-a-Ling", a number 1 in October 1972. Berry's recording features an iconic piano hook played by Johnnie Johnson. The piano melody was influenced by Mitchell Torok's 1953 hit "Caribbean".
The song has also been recorded or performed by Chely Wright, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Jerry Garcia Band, Bruce Springsteen, the Mavericks, and Buster Shuffle. JGB performed it almost 40 times in the early ‘90’s.
The song became popular again after the 1994 release of the film Pulp Fiction, directed and co-written by Quentin Tarantino. The music was played for a "Twist contest" in which Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) competed (and were the only contestants shown in the film). The music added an evocative element of sound to the narrative and Tarantino said that the song's lyrics of "Pierre" and "Mademoiselle" gave the scene a "uniquely '50s French New Wave dance sequence feel".
OUTRO: Glendale Train
Track #17
1:30 – 3:14
Still another Marmaduke tune from the “New Riders of the Purple Sage” album released in late summer 1971.
MJ News:
Just one MJ News story today important enough to take a few minutes to talk MJ: DEA’s agreement to reschedule MJ to Schedule 3 from Schedule 1.
DEA Agrees To Reschedule Marijuana Under Federal Law In Historic Move Following Biden-Directed Health Agency's Recommendation - Marijuana Moment
Benefits: banking services, no 280(e) restrictions on what expenses retailers can deduct and allows for full medical research of MJ.
Negatives: Still illegal, all drugs on Schedules I, II and III must be prescribed by a licensed health care provider with prescription privileges and can only be dispenses by licensed pharmacists.
Music News:
A few quick hits re Music (no real need to get into any of these but I like to see what’s going on so I don’t miss anything interesting, these are the first things that get cut when we decide we want to keep talking):
Jaimoe makes rare public concert appearance with Friends of the Brothers in Fairfield CN, plays ABB hits
Jaimoe Takes Part in Rare Public Concert Appearance, Revisits Allman Brothers Band Classics (relix.com)
Mike Gordon sits in at the Dodd’s Dead Residency at Nectar’s in Burlingtron, VT as part of “Grateful Dead Tuesday”. Plays He’s Gone and Scarlet (we have some Phish fans as listeners so try to toss a few bones to them)
Listen: Mike Gordon Offers Grateful Dead Classics at Nectar's (A Gallery + Recap) (relix.com)
David Gilmour may be planning first tour since 2016, won’t play any Pink Floyd songs from the ‘70’s – like the old Doonesbury strip where Elvis comes back from the Dead, Trump hires him to play in one of his casinos and at the start of the show, Elvis announces that he is only playing the songs of the late great John Denver.
David Gilmour Plots First Tour Since 2016 (relix.com)
Roy Carter, founder of High Sierra Music Festival passes away.
Roy Carter, High Sierra Music Festival Founder, Passes Away at 68 (relix.com)
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Neil Young's 2024 Tour with Crazy Horse: A Legendary Performance"
Larry Mishkin discusses the creation of the song "The Music Never Stopped" by Bob Weir and John Perry Barlow. Weir explains his collaborative process with Barlow, where they developed lyrics together over the phone, inspired by Barlow's description of a scene from Wyoming. Weir also reflects on the importance of lyrical and musical cohesion, and the song's debut and history of performances, including at venues like the Great American Music Hall and the Palladium. The discussion transitions to Neil Young's recent tour with Crazy Horse, highlighting the band's performance and Young's energy despite his age. He also mentions upcoming events and concludes with a focus on the Grateful Dead's performance of "St. Stephen" and other songs from 47 years ago.
Grateful Dead
April 30, 1977 (47 years ago, tomorrow)
Palladium
NYC
Grateful Dead Live at The Palladium on 1977-04-30 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Audience Tape
This is another good show from 1977, but the recording quality is actually not bad considering this is an audience recording. Since then the show has been commercially released as the first volume of the Grateful Dead Download Series if you want to hear the crisper soundboard recording.
Highlights from this show are the first set Mississippi Half Step and even Looks Like Rain is played with a passion that is moving even if the song always is not. In the second set, the Dead start off with a Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain (pretty good), swing into a fun mid-set Good Lovin (common for that time, but for the last 15 years, it was almost always a set closer as an alternative to Sugar Mag) or an encore tune (send everyone home with a smile), Friend of the Devil , Estimated Prophet. And then they blow the doors off the place with a St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Stella Blue>St. Stephen sandwich that must be heard in full to be truly appreciated. It’s pretty awesome to hear Stella Blue transition back into the St. Stephen, an unusual pairing to say the least. Close with a Saturday Night and then yet another 1977 Terrapin Stationencore.
INTRO: Music Never Stopped
Track #2
0:00 – 1:26
Hunter Weir tune, released on Blues For Allah (Sept. 1,1975).
Bob: As a lyricist I’m glacially slow. I can generally get the job done, but it takes too damned long. So I like to work with people who have a little more facility with that—you know, John Barlow, Garrett Grant, Robert Hunter.
Or I may have a general notion of the color of the rhythm and the harmonic or melodic development, and I’ll sit with a guy and we just fire blank verse at each other until we start to corner that color—and then often the song will fall right out of the sky. Other times, I may have no notion of where the song wants to go, in which case I’ll let whoever I’m working with surprise me. . . .
“The Music Never Stopped” is a song that we wrote over the telephone. I had this business going [plays opening guitar riff, Example 13 below]. So I played this over the phone to John, and he just started spitting stuff at me. The first line came out, “There’s mosquitoes on the river / Fish are rising up like birds.” He was living in Wyoming at the time on a ranch, and he started describing a situation that I’d seen with him, where it was late summer on a dry year and things were hot and kind of dull and dead.
So where are we going to take this? Well, first I figured the verse is going to have to be twice as long as I originally figured, because if you’re starting with an image that thick, you have to get into some detail about it. “It’s been hot for seven weeks now / Too hot to even speak now / Did you hear what I just heard?” That last line came after some deliberation. It’s a pregnant line, sort of like a leading tone in a harmonic development.
The success of the endeavor, if you’re working with a lyricist, depends on how closely the lyric marries the music. With Barlow or Gerrit Graham or whoever, there’s a lot of back and forth. I guess I get to be the decider, because the words are going to have to come from my lips. And so I have to be able to tell the story.
I have to be that character, because my job is to get the hell out of the way and let the character tell the story, musically and lyrically. When I’m standing in front of the microphone, I may look like me, but I’m not.
If the character arrives with a really defined face and features, then it’s easy for me to do my job.
Fun version because almost always a first set closer and here it is opening the show. Love that.
236 times
First: August 13, 1975 at Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA
Last: June 28, 1995 at The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palladium:
The Palladium (originally called the Academy of Music) was a movie theatre, concert hall, and finally nightclub in New York City. It was located on the south side of East 14th Street, between Irving Place and Third Avenue.
Designed by Thomas W. Lamb, it was built in 1927 across the street from the site of the original Academy of Music established by financier Moses H. Grinnell in 1852. Opened as a deluxe movie palace by movie mogul William Fox, the academy operated as a cinema through the early 1970s.
Beginning in the 1960s, it was also utilized as a rock concert venue, particularly following the June 1971 closure of the Fillmore East. It was rechristened the Palladium on September 18, 1976, with the Band live radio broadcast,[1] and continued to serve as a concert hall into the following decade.
In 1985, the Palladium was converted into a nightclub by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, after their success with Studio 54. Japanese architect Arata Isozaki redesigned the building's interior for the club.[2]
Peter Gatien owned and operated the club from 1992 until 1997.
The Palladium closed in August 1997 following its purchase by New York University.[3] In August 1998, the building was demolished in order to build a twelve-story residence hall that students affectionately referred to as Palladium Hal
The Dead also played there when it was called the Academy of Music in a series of seven shows on their way to Europe for the ’72 tour. One of the those shows, the entire March 28, 1972 performance plus selections from March 25, 1972 and March 27, 1972 were released as Dick’s Picks Vol. 30
This five night Palladium run, of which today’s show was the second, is famous for a lot of reasons including the part of 1977 when the Dead put together a string of some of their best shows ever, peaking on May 8, 1977, just over one week later, at Barton Hall in Ithaca, NY. All five of these shows are well played, great tunes, and a very grooving feel that you can still pick up off of the CD or down load 47 years later. I had most of these shows on tape and wore them out from so much playing. Love that they previously released this show as Download Series Vol. 1 and the new Dave’s Picks release, No. 50!!, is the May 3, 1977 show including some extra songs from the next night as well as the annual Dave’s Picks Bonus Disc that is even more songs from the May 4th show). If you are not listening to Dave’s Picks, you are missing out on quality recordings of some of the best shows ever.
How hot was the band, check out this extended jam at the end of ½ Step, the second to last song of the first set (ending with a great Promised Land) and be sure to listen for Jerry and Keith going back and forth throughout this clip:
SHOW No. 1: Mississippi ½ Step
Track #11
7:06 – 9:29
Garcia/Huner tune released on Wake of the Flood in 1973. Also live versions included on Steal Your Face, Dick’s Picks Vol. 1, Without a Net and who knows how many other Dick’s/Dave’s Picks releases, etc. If you want to hear it, you can find it, easily.
First performed July 16, 1972 at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut. Followed "Me and My Uncle" and led into "Sing Me Back Home," which closed out the first set. A staple of the repertoire ever since.
236 times (exact same as Music Never stopped!)
First: July 16, 1972 at Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT, USA
Last: July 6, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheater Maryland Heights, MO
Music News:
Neil Young Tour
SHOW No. 2: St. Stephen
Track #1
0:00 – 1:49
Blah Blah Blah, everyone knows about St. Stephen. Dead’s Fluffhead apparently. Because of its true melodic nature and strong lyrics, it existed long outside and after the end of Primal Dead. Still only played a total of 187 times:
First: May 24, 1968 at National Guard Armory, St. Louis, MO, USA
Last: October 31, 1983 at Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael
But post Dead hiatus year, they started making song sandwiches often based around this song. This four song sandwich at the end of the show is so good that I had to feature all of it at the expense of some other really great tunes like Bertha, Peggy O, Looks Like Rain, Promised Land, and any tune in the second set.
This sandwich is just too cool to ignore or not give it proper due. Here is the first layer change:
SHOW No. 3: St. Stephen>Not Fade Away
St. Stephen
Track #19
4:10 – end
INTO
Not Fade Away
Track #20
0:00 – 1:15
Great switch out of St. Stephen and into an amazing opening jam of NFA. I wanted to try and catch the opening lyrics but the jam went on for almost 4 minutes which is too long even for these extended clips.
MJ News
Check out this next transition that they pull off seamlessly:
SHOW No. 4: Not Fade Away>Stella Blue
Not Fade Away
Track #20
14:15 – end
INTO
Stella Blue
Track #21
0:00 – 1:30
Beautiful how they downshift on cue from the raucous NFA into the gentle and beautiful ballad mode required for Stella Blue. Jerry’s voice is so strong and clear. Really a treat.
Not even getting to the last tune of the encore today. Not enough time but had to close out the episode with the final sandwich transition, from Stella back into an immediate upbeat St. Stephen that is so strong I told Dan we could not edit out any of it! What a great (almost ending) to such a great show. Deadheads walked out knowing there were still 3 more to go! Like going to bed and already being told the next day is a snow day!
Thank you all for listening. Please be sure to join us next week when I am joined by Rob Bleetstein of Grateful Dead Radio (show host), Pearl Jam radio and he is also the Curator for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. He is joining us to discuss, among other things, the newly released NRPS live album “Hempsteader”. If you haven’t heard it yet, check it out. I’m looking forward to hearing from Rob how this was all put together and what the NRSP are up to these days.
Also, a Birthday shoutout to very good buddy, Sam who is turning old tomorrow. At his age, the actual number doesn’t matter but we love him anyway.
ENCORE: Stella Blue>St Stephen
Stella Blue
Track #21
7:50 – end
INTO
St. Stephen
Track #22
Start - end
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Brent Midland's First Show 45 Years Ago Today RIP: Dickey Betts, A True Brother
Larry Mishkin begins with a discussion about the significance of April 20th (420 Day) and reminisces about a Grateful Dead concert from 45 years ago on April 22nd, 1979, which marked Brent Midland's first show with the band. He delves into Brent Midland's impact on the band and his musical contributions. He also touches on recent concerts by Phish and the Sam Grisman Project.
Later, there's a surprising revelation that Tucker Carlson is a Grateful Dead fan, and it reflects on the diverse fanbase of the band. Larry also mourns the passing of Dicky Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, highlighting his musical legacy and contributions to Southern Rock. Additionally, he mentions Betts' collaborations with the Grateful Dead and concludes with a tribute to him.
Vangst Jobs 2024 Jobs Report - https://www.vangst.com/2024-jobs-report
Grateful Dead
Spartan Stadium
San Jose CA
April 22, 1979 (45 years ago)
Grateful Dead Live at Spartan Stadium, San Jose State U on 1979-04-22 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Brent Mydland’s first show
INTRO: Jack Straw
Track #1
0:07 – 1:41
Brent in on the harmonizing from the first song
SHOW No. 1: Minglewood Blues
Track #6
2:14 – 3:57
Brent’s first solo!
Music News:
Phish
Sam Grisman
Dickey Betts
SHOW No. 2: Promised Land
Grateful Dead w.Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium
Track No. 26
2:28 - end
Grateful Dead Live at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on 1973-06-10 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
SHOW No. 3: Passenger (Back to April 22, 1979 show)
Track #10
Start – 1:34
Brent joining in on the vocals
There are several original songs in the Grateful Dead repertoire with a one-time-only lyricist. In the case of “Passenger,” the added quirk is thrown in of someone other than the composer singing the song. So we have a song written by Peter Monk, with music by Phil Lesh, and sung by Bob Weir and Donna Jean Godcheaux on Terrapin Station.
Lesh wrote the song, admittedly based on Fleetwood Mac’s riff for their song “Station Man.” Lesh said, in an interview in Dupree’s Diamond News, “What's weird about that song is I sort of did it as a joke. It's a take on a Fleetwood Mac tune called ‘Station Man.’ I just sort of sped it up and put some different chord changes in there..."
Monk’s lyrics for the song have been the source of quite a bit of debate. There are quite a few alternate hearings, especially around the line: “Terrible, the only game in town,” which many, including myself, hear as “Parable, the only game in town.”
“Passenger” was first performed on May 15, 1977, at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis (released on the May 1977 box set). It was performed regularly through1981, with its final performance on December 27, 1981, at the Oakland Auditorium.
Terrapin Station, which included the studio version of the song, was released on July 27, 1977. “Passenger” was released as a single, with “Terrapin Station” on the B side.
Great tune. I’m sorry I never got to hear it live.
Bootleg album: Live at Moe’s Place – open with it, used to listen to it at good friends’ Dinie and Janet’s place in Ann Arbor. Really jams.
Played 99 times
First: May 15, 1977 at St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO, USA
Last: December 27, 1981 at Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, CA
MJ News
SHOW No. 4: Shakedown Street
Track #24
5:00 – 6:41
Brent with music fills and vocals
ENCORE: Blue Sky
Eat A Peach
Blue Sky (youtube.com)
3:00 – end
College acquaintance and fellow Deadhead used to say that whenever she listened to this album, she would play Blue Sky twice and THEN play the album all the way through picking up a third Blue Sky. I tried it and discovered she was right on about that.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
Phil Lesh's Triumphant Return: A Musical Journey 25 Years Ago Today
Larry Mishkin provides a retrospective analysis of a significant musical event from April 15th, 1999, focusing on Phil Lesh's return to the stage after surgery, marking the first Phil and Friends show. He discusses the lineup, including Trey Anastasio and Paige McConnell from Phish, and highlights their performance of various songs, notably "Viola Lee Blues" and "Hello Old Friend." The discussion also touches on recent music news, including the cancellation of the Skull and Roses festival and a tribute event for Jimmy Buffett featuring Paul McCartney and the Eagles. Additionally, it anticipates Fish's upcoming performances at the Las Vegas Sphere venue.
Phil Lesh & Friends
April 15, 1999 (25 years ago)
Warfield Theater, S.F.
Phil Lesh and Friends Live at Warfield Theater on 1999-04-15 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Lineup:
Phil Lesh - Bass
Steve Kimock - Guitars
John Molo - Drums
Trey Anastasio - Guitar
Page McConnell – KeysINTRO: Hello Old Friend
Track # 1
0:10 – 1:47
25 years ago, Phil Lesh & Friends featuring guitarist Trey Anastasio and keyboardist Page McConnell of Phish kicked off their landmark three-night run at The Warfield in San Francisco on this date in 1999. Guitarist Steve Kimock and drummer John Molo rounded out the lineup of one of the most memorable collaborations the jam world has seen.
This was the first ever performance of Phil & Friends and quite a memorable group of Friends to be playing with at a storied S.F. music venue.
The shows also marked Lesh’s return after undergoing liver transplant surgery at the age of 58 due to chronic hepatitis C infection. The April 15 concert kicked off with Phil and his sons Brian (??) And Grahame Lesh (12), backed by guitarist Steve Kimmock, in front of the curtain, performing Eric Clapton’s “Hello Old Friend” as a fitting first song back for Phil. Both boys are strong musicians and Grahame, who graduated from Stanford in 2010 with a music degree, is a regular touring member of Phil and Friends in addition to playing with his own band, Midnight North.
Phil Lesh’s surgery took place at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida on December 17, 1998, barely 4 months earlier. Lesh, who was 58 at the time, had been suffering from internal bleeding caused by hepatitis C, which he was diagnosed with in 1992. He received the liver of a young man named Cody and his since started encores of his concerts by preaching the importance of becoming an organ donor.
"Hello Old Friend" is a country rock song, written and recorded by the British rock musician Eric Clapton. The track was released in October 1976 as the first of two singles from Clapton's 1976 studio album entitled No Reason to Cry.
the AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann notes, "Hello Old Friend" is the best pop/rock song on the album. He goes on describe the title as a "identifiable" Clapton piece of music.[2]Rolling Stone journalist Dave Marsh called the song "a whimsical and silly slice of attempted innocence".[3]Billboard said that it has a reggae feel similar to that of "I Shot the Sheriff."[4]Record World called it "a midtempo number constructed around a network of acoustic and slide guitars.”
The Grateful Dead never played the song in concert.
The five-piece then showed off its firepower with a 34-minute “Viola Lee Blues.”
SHOW No. 1: Viola Lee Blues
Track # 2
31:30 – 33:01
In a 1999 interview with Jambands.com, Lesh revealed that it was Anastasio’s idea to do “Viola Lee” and talked about how he started listening to Phish and also how the collaboration came about. Read an excerpt below:
“[Phish’s music]…was absolutely entrancing, it was just gorgeous…but I couldn’t hear the piano well on the live tapes, so I went back to the CD’s and started listening to Page and what he was doing, and so I said “Well…” and my wife said “Come on, Come on, give them a call.” Somehow I got their phone numbers, and I gave them both a call. We talked about it, and they said we’d love to do it, and so we set a date, and we started calling back and forth, and like I said earlier they brought in a dozen Grateful Dead tunes I never would have thought of doing, but they wanted to [do] them. And we got together at rehearsal and the first thing we did together was “Viola Lee Blues,” and from there on out it was like now let’s do this one, and let’s do this one. It was real rehearsal in the sense that the Grateful Dead rarely was. Grateful Dead rehearsals were kind of comical. We believed in public rehearsals.”
A long time favorite of Phil’s, he picked it as one of the live tunes for the GD album, Fallout From The Phil Zone – a collection of some of Phil’s favorite live tracks of various Dead tunes released on June 17, 1997. In the liner notes he said this of the song: “The definitive early Grateful Dead jammin’ tune, the first one we ever really stretched out beyond all recognition, by using what we called then “shifting gears” – which is really nothing but a twenty minute accelerando, influenced by the North Indian music that we were listening to a lot at that time.”
Played only 44 times by the Band
First: March 19, 1966 at Carthay Studios, Los Angeles, CA,
Last: October 31, 1970 at Stony Brook Gymnasium in Stony Brook, NY
Also played June 27, 2015 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA 50th Anniversary shows
MUSIC NEWS:
Skull and Roses called off, no refundsAfter the exploratory, bar-setting, “Viola Lee,” the quintet would run through more material from the Dead canon with Trey and Page harmonizing on “Big Railroad Blues,” Phil singing “Jack-a-Roe” and Phil, Trey and Page harmonizing on “Cosmic Charley”
SHOW No. 2: Cosmic Charlie
Track #5
3:25 – 5:12
Old Time Music and Hope Barnett:
Grateful Dead was known for their unique and poetic songwriting style, and “Cosmic Charlie” is no exception. Released in 1969 on their album “Aoxomoxoa,” this song has captivated fans for decades with its enigmatic lyrics and psychedelic sound. Exploring themes of spirituality, love, and the human experience, “Cosmic Charlie” takes listeners on a sonic journey unlike any other.
The meaning behind “Cosmic Charlie” is open to interpretation, as with many of the band’s songs. Some believe it was inspired by the vision of a fictional character named Cosmic Charlie, who travels through different dimensions, spreading joy and love. Others see it as a metaphor for the human longing for connection and transcendence. The lyrics, although cryptic at times, convey a sense of wonder and mystery that invites listeners to delve deeper into their own consciousness.
The overall message of “Cosmic Charlie” seems to be one of embracing the cosmic and spiritual aspects of life. It encourages listeners to let go of their inhibitions, explore the unknown, and seek connection with the universe. The song invites individuals to tap into their inner selves and discover the hidden realms of existence.
While “Cosmic Charlie” was never released as a single and did not enjoy mainstream success, it holds a special place in the Grateful Dead’s discography and the hearts of their fans. Its eclectic and unique style showcased the band’s experimental tendencies and cemented their reputation as pioneers of the psychedelic rock genre.
Love hearing Trey and Page singing along on this old timey Dead gem.
Played 45 times by the Dead (38 in 1969 and 1970, 1 in 1971 and, inexplicably, 6 in 1976.
First: January 17, 1969 at Robertson Gymnasium, University of California Santa Barbara Campus, CA, USA
Last: September 25, 1976 at Capital Centre, Landover, MD, USA
1984 Deadheads would pass around a petition asking the band to play the song again and also pass out cards before the show with the lyrics just in case they played it.
Finally, for the Phish fans in the crowded Warfield, the first Phish tune of the run (and only one that night), “Wolfman’s Brother.”
SHOW No. 3: Wolfman’s Brother
Track # 6
1:30 – 2:58
On this one, writing credit goes to the entire band plus long time Phish lyricist, Tom Marshall.
Released on Hoist (stylized as (HOIST)) is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on March 29, 1994, by Elektra Records. At the time of its release, Hoist was Phish's best selling album to date, peaking at No. 34 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on August 19, 1996, and remains the band's best-selling studio release, outsold in their discography only by the platinum-certified A Live One.
Old Time Music: Mike Wells
Music has a unique way of connecting with our emotions, memories, and experiences. It has the power to transport us to a different time and place, evoking feelings we may have long forgotten. One song that has always resonated deeply with me is “Wolfman’s Brother” by Phish. This track, featured in their 1994 album “Hoist,” holds a special meaning and significance for both the band and their dedicated fanbase.
the lyrics of “Wolfman’s Brother” have a universal appeal. They invite listeners to reflect upon their own encounters with enigmatic figures or forces that have left a lasting impact. It encourages us to confront the demons that haunt us and search for understanding and resolution.
Listening to “Wolfman’s Brother” live is an entirely different experience. The band’s extended jams and improvisations add a new layer of depth and intensity to the song. It becomes a collective experience, with the audience joining in as the lyrics are chanted by thousands of voices.
Phil spoke with Jambands.com about wadding into the Phish catalog:
I had thought maybe we would do this tune or that tune, and in the end, we only ended up doing one tune that I thought we would do, and that was “Prince Caspian,” and then they brought up those other three, “Wolfman’s Brother,” which I had never heard, and “Down With Disease” and “Chalkdust Torture,” which I hadn’t heard either until we played them at the rehearsal, and then I went and got the CD’s and checked them out. But then I started listening to their other stuff, their other stuff is real interesting, but you can tell by listening to that that they need their forty hour weeks, because they really need to get that shit down.
Never played by the Dead.
MJ NEWS – One Toke Over The Line!!!
STRAINS:
Strawberry Shortcake – a wonderful nighttime indica strain that that has a tart strawberry taste and leaves you with a good face melt and some couch lock. Wait until you get home before diving in. No great if you are with a group of people who are looking for your active participation in whatever they are doing! But wonderful to relax and get ready for a good night’s sleep.
Blue Dream – every now and then I swing back to one of the all time greats. Nice for daytime and early evening use. Just have to be sure that whatever they are calling Blue Dream is really Blue Dream. It does have a fairly distinctive taste and smell so if you are familiar with the strain, you should be able to tell if you have the real stuff.
Tang – a wonderful sativa that is energetic without providing the standard “sativa crash” as it wears off. Also nice because of it’s ability to “cut through” any buzz you may already have and provide a new uplifting effect.
After a first set-closing “Uncle John’s Band,” the second frame got underway with Lesh leading on “Alabama Getaway” and “Sugaree,” the latter of which featured the band taking things out again and stretching the song to over 20 minutes. Phil once again stepped to the mic for a cover of the Bob Dylan classic “Like A Rolling Stone” that saw Trey and Page joining him on the chorus – I love that tune, the first Phil & Friends show I ever saw, featuring the Quintet, at the Riviera Theater in Chicago with good buddy Jimmy they opened with a 15 minute version of this tune into a 30 minutes cover of Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, just too many other good tunes from this show - and led into a spirited “I Know You Rider.” Anastasio then fronted the quintet on a sweet version of “Row Jimmy”
SHOW No. 4: Row Jimmy
Track #12
2:10 – 3:55
Garcia/Huner tune, Wake of the Flood is the sixth studio album (and tenth album overall) by the rock band the Grateful Dead. Released on October 15, 1973, it was the first album on the band's own Grateful Dead Recordslabel. Their first studio album in nearly three years, it was also the first without founding member Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who had recently died. His absence and keyboardist Keith Godchaux's penchants for bebop and modal jazz (rather than McKernan's tendencies toward the blues and rhythm and blues) contributed to the band's musical evolution. Godchaux's wife, vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, also joined the group and appears on the album.[8]
The release fared better on the pop charts than their previous studio album (1970's American Beauty), reaching No. 18.
After three live albums in a row, the Grateful Dead wanted to record studio versions of songs written since Keith Godchaux had joined the band. At the time of recording, five of the songs on the album (and part of a 6th) had been in live rotation for up to a year and a half, as arrangements were road-tested and finalized. Referring to this period, bassist Phil Lesh explained, "We'd learned to break in the material at shows (under fire, as it were), rather than try to work it out at rehearsals, or in the studio at tremendous expense."
Describing Godchaux's influence, drummer Bill Kreutzmann characterized the album as "Keith's coming out party." Remarking on the evolution in style, he remembered:
Jerry brought "Row Jimmy" into us one day, and it was really difficult to get a grip on it at first. It has a slow tempo, which makes it seem like it would be easy, but it calls for a slight reggae groove layered over a ballad. Rhythmically, the lengths aren't traditional. They're not just twos and fours. It's deceiving. Basically, you have to play the song in half-time with a double-time bounce on top. It's trickier than it sounds. But once I locked into it, "Row Jimmy" became one of the best songs in our repertoire.
Played 274 times
First: February 9, 1973 at Maples Pavilion, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, a show we featured earlier this year.
Last: June 21, 1991 at Knickerbocker Arena in Albany
Cannot say enough about Trey’s strong vocals on this tune. This is 16 years before the 50th reunion shows where Trey would play lead guitar for all five shows (2 in Santa Clara and 3 at Soldier Field). And at this point, Phish had only covered one Dead tune in concert: Terraping Station on August 9, 1998 at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater on the third anniversary of Jerry’s death. Since that point, it is still the only time Phish has covered a Dead tune in concert. Why only that one? Who knows. Trey is certainly more than qualified to cover any Dead tune and the other guys have all played with various Dead members from time to time. One of the great mysteries of the Phish world (at least for me).
This was followed by a crowd-pleasing “Shakedown Street” which saw the band stretching their legs once again for a nearly 20-minute excursion. Next, “The Wheel” led into a 15 minute version of the classic closer “Not Fadeaway” to bring set two to a conclusion. After Phil’s donor rap and band intros, Phil & Phriends closed out Night One of the run with Phil singing lead Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which they did in the style of The Byrds.
OUTRO: Mr. Tambourine Man
Track #18
0:00 – 1:28
Leave you with one of my favorite Bob Dylan tunes.
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released as the first track of the acoustic side of his March 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The song's popularity led to Dylan recording it live many times, and it has been included in multiple compilation albums. It has been translated into other languages and has been used or referenced in television shows, films, and books.
The song has been performed and recorded by many artists, including the Byrds, Judy Collins, Melanie, Odetta, and Stevie Wonder among others. The Byrds' version was released in April 1965 as their first single on Columbia Records, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart, as well as being the title track of their debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man. The Byrds' recording of the song was influential in popularizing the musical subgenres of folk rock and jangle pop, leading many contemporary bands to mimic its fusion of jangly guitars and intellectual lyrics in the wake of the single's success. Dylan himself was partly influenced to record with electric instrumentation after hearing the Byrds' reworking of his song.
The song has been in Dylan's live concert repertoire since it was written,[10] usually as a solo acoustic song, and live performances have appeared on various concert albums and DVDs. An early performance, perhaps the song's live debut, recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 17, 1964.
Great version, again with Trey and Page joining in. I think Phil surprised them with pace of the tune right at the start, but everyone catches up and it’s a fun song to hear in concert. Great way to close out night 1 of this 3 night return to the stage run for Phil. Best part is that 25 years later he is still going strong at 84!
Phil and Friends have covered it 6 times
First: at this show!
Most recent: October 5, 2000 at Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA (doesn’t seem correct to me because I’m fairly certain I’ve seen Phil perform this live since 2000, but so far cannot seem to come up with the place, date or folks he was playing with. Happens sometimes!
Finally, this show marks the first instance of Phil’s famed “Donor Rap” that precedes the encores of all of his shows
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"From Europe 1972 to Las Vegas Residency: The Music World Buzz"
On today's show Larry Mishkin discusses various topics related to music, particularly focusing on the Grateful Dead and their Europe 1972 tour. He shares personal anecdotes, insights, and analysis of specific songs from the tour, such as "Bertha" and "Mr. Charlie." Additionally, the he covers upcoming events in the music world, including Fish's residency in Las Vegas and an upcoming album honoring Stanley Mouse, a renowned psychedelic poster artist. He also mentions the charitable aspect of the album's release, aiming to provide preschool scholarships to underprivileged children. Larry concludes with a discussion of a specific performance of "Dark Star" from the Europe 1972 tour, highlighting Pigpen's rare involvement with the keyboard during the song.
Grateful Dead
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool
Grateful Dead Live at Wembley Empire Pool on 1972-04-08 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Second show of Europe ’72 tour
INTRO: Bertha
Track # 1
0:00 – 1:22
SHOW No. 1: Mr. Charlie
Track # 3
:43 – 2:07
Pig/Hunter
"Charlie: white men regarded as oppressors of blacks.--used contemptuously. Also Mr. Charlie, Boss Charlie.
An article by John Cowley, "Shack Bullies and Levee Contractors: Bluesmen as Ethnographers," in The Journal of Folklore Research, vol. 28, nos. 2/3, pp. 135-162, recounts the story of the Lowrence family, a set of seven brothers, the oldest named Charley, who were notorious contractors of cheap labor, mostly African American, to build the levees alongside the Mississippi in the 1920's. A number of songs quoted in the article refer to "Mr Charley" specifically in this context, giving rise to speculation on the part of Alan Lomax that he may have "discovered the identity of the elusive "Mr. Charley." Cowley's article goes on, however, to quote a comment by Alan Dundes on Lomax' article that 'Mr. Charley' "would appear to date from antebellum times." But the repeated reference to a "Mr. Charley" by southern bluesmen was undoubtedly in reference to Charley Lowrence.
OR this is a song about heroin abuse. After McKernan died, the GD quit performing it. The "drums" apparently refer to a throbbing noise in the ears while in the throes of using heroin. The "shotgun" refers to a loaded syringe. Sad. Eurpoe '72 is, in my opinion, the quintessential GD album and McKernan really carries it. He died at the insanely early age of 23 or so.
Does not appear on any Dead studio album. Released on the original Europe ’72 album in 1972
Played 51 times
1st: July 31, 1971 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven CT
Last: May 26, 1972 at Lyceum Ballroom, London, England
SHOW No. 2: Dark Star
Track # 19
20:19 – 21:51
I love this clip. A very famous Dark Star, first on the tour, exchanged with The Other One each night as the long spacey and trippy tune in the midst of the mostly Americana Dead. Check out how pig’s organ makes an appearance. By that point, it was mostly Keith on the Grand piano, but this performance, and others on this tour, Pig jumps into the psychedelic mix with Keith. Very cool to hear that. After this tour, Pig was basically done.
When it comes to the early years of the Grateful Dead, it cannot be overstated just how important Ronald Charles McKernan - known as Pigpen to his friends and fans - was to the band.
In a perfect world, he would’ve been playing with them all the way up through the band’s conclusion after the death of Jerry Garcia, but instead things went a different way, with Pigpen’s unrelenting alcohol abuse resulting in hospitalization in August 1971, at which point doctors told him that he needed to stop touring, which he did...until he started again in December 1971. It didn’t last: Pigpen’s final show with the Grateful Dead took place on June 17, 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, after which he’s quoted as having said, “I don’t want you around when I die,” at which point he cut off all ties with his fellow band members. Unfortunately, he got his wish: his landlady was the one who found him dead on March 8, 1973, of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
SHOW No. 3: Sugar Magnolia
Track # 20
1:18 – 2:52
SHOW No. 4: Caution
Track #21
15:00 – 16:35
The lyrics, although simple, carry a profound message. The protagonist seeks guidance from a gypsy woman, hoping to find answers to their internal struggles. Asking, “What’s wrong with me?”, they are seeking a solution or a way to alleviate their pain. The gypsy woman tells them that all they need is a “mojo hand,” implying that a physical object has the power to change their fortunes and bring about well-being.
In African American folklore, a mojo hand refers to a magical charm or amulet believed to bring luck, protection, or power. By singing about a mojo hand, The Grateful Dead taps into the rich tapestry of blues and folk traditions, adding a touch of mysticism to the song.
“Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)” is a timeless piece of music that captures the essence of The Grateful Dead’s exploratory spirit. The song’s meaning goes beyond its surface-level interpretation, delving into deeper human desires for guidance and personal transformation.
For me, this song serves as a reminder that sometimes we must look beyond ourselves for answers or support. Whether it be through music, spirituality, or community, seeking solace in something greater can provide the strength and encouragement needed to navigate life’s challenges.
The Grateful Dead’s live rendition of “Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)” is a testament to the band’s unique ability to captivate and touch the souls of their listeners. It serves as a timeless reminder of the power of music to connect, inspire, and offer solace in all walks of life.
Anthem of the Sun is the second album by rock band the Grateful Dead, released in 1968 on Warner Bros/Seven Arts. It is the first album to feature second drummer Mickey Hart. The band was also joined by Tom Constanten, who contributed avant-gardeinstrumental and studio techniques influenced by composers John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. The album was assembled through a collage-like editing approach helmed by members Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh (along with soundman Dan Healy), in which disparate studio and live performance tapes were spliced together to create new hybrid recordings. The band also supplemented their performances with instruments such as prepared piano, kazoo, harpsichord, timpani, trumpet, and güiro. The result is an experimental studio amalgam that is neither a pure studio album nor a live album.
In 1972, a more commercial alternate mix of the album was officially released to capitalize on the band's recent success. A 2018 reissue on Rhino Records collects both the 1968 and 1972 mixes. The album was ranked number 288 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, in both the 2003 and 2012 iterations of the list.[7][8] It was voted number 376 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[9]
Played 71 times
1st:
November 3, 1965 at Mother's, San Francisco, CA, USALast: October 27, 1979 at Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, MA, USA
OUTRO: Saturday Night
Track # 22
2:08 – 3:56
From ACE
Ace is an album by Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir. His first solo album, it was released in 1972. Weir's fellow bandmates in the Grateful Dead back him on the album, and all but one of the songs became staples of the band's live shows
Great song. In later years, only on Saturdays, but in the beginning, it would be played whenever Bob was in the mood.
Usually an encore, but every now and then a second set closer or once as an opener. Since we knew on a Saturday they would play the song, the game was to guess when. Encore was almost always the sure winner, except when it wasn’t.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Exploring the Sweetness of 'Candyman': A Grateful Dead Classic"
Larry Mishkin reflects on a Grateful Dead show from 44 years ago on April 1st, 1980, where the band played a prank on April Fool's Day, starting with a Chuck Berry tune and then transitioning to their usual instruments to perform the song again. Larry also talks about the significance of the song "Candyman" and its role in the Grateful Dead's repertoire, as well as Billy Joel's milestone 100th residency concert at Madison Square Garden. Larry also talks about "Friend of the Devil" and its origins, penned by lyricist Robert Hunter in collaboration with Jerry Garcia and John Dawson.
Grateful Dead
April 1, 1980 (44 years ago)
Capitol Theater
Passaic, NJ
Grateful Dead Live at Capitol Theater on 1980-04-01 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
April Fool’s Day
Opener that’s keeping with the theme
INTRO: The Promised Land
Track # 2
1:14 – 3:18
Chuck Berry tune with the Boys having a bit of fun to celebrate April Fool’s Day:
Jerry and Brent on Drums
Bobby on keyboard
Billy on bass and background vocals
Mickey on rhythm guitar and singing lead vocals
Phil on lead guitar
Kind of plodded through the song, but the fans loved the idea and the effort
They then went back to normal instruments, played the tune again and killed it!
A fun opener with a good reality check for the dosed fans in the crowd.
SHOW No. 1: Candyman
Track #4
4:56 – 6:30
Garcia/Hunter masterpiece
The song Candyman is part of the album American Beauty, which found its way into the world in November 1970. American Beauty is an album that is cherished by many, as it brings stories and emotions that feel both personal and universal. Candyman, with its blend of sweetness and shadow, invites listeners to delve into a world that is rich, complex, and thoughtfully spun. The album, with its varied tales and emotions, continues to be a friend to listeners, offering stories that explore the many sides and shades of life’s journey.
The thought-provoking words of Candyman were penned by Robert Hunter, and the compelling music was created by Jerry Garcia. These two artists worked together to create many of the Grateful Dead’s memorable songs. Their collaboration in Candyman offers a rich story that allows listeners to explore and imagine a world that is sweet, slightly shadowed, and full of interesting adventures. The images and tales spun by the words and music invite people to think, feel, and maybe even find bits of their own stories within the tale of the Candyman.
Played a total of 273 times. Almost always a Jerry first set tune alternated with Loser, West LA, and a few others
First played on April 3, 1970 (10 years earlier than today’s show) at Armory Fieldhouse in Cincinnati, OH
Last played on June 30, 1995 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
SHOW No. 3: Friend of the Devil
Track #8
3:36 – 5:20
Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter told Relix that "Friend of the Devil" was the closest that the Grateful Dead ever came to creating "what may be called a classic song." Many Deadheads may disagree, but it's an interesting perspective from the man who penned the words for the majority of the Dead's most iconic pieces.
Whether or not "Friend of the Devil" is the sole "classic" Dead tune, it's hard to argue that the band tapped into the outlaw's zeitgeist to find a timeless song with this one. Dead chronicler extraordinaire David Dodd, for one, agrees. "No other Dead tune gets played quite so often," Dodd writes in Greatest Stories Ever Told.Jerry Garcia and John Dawson of New Riders of the Purple Sage (NRPS) wrote the music for "Friend of the Devil." Hunter wrote the lyrics, but Dawson played a critical part in that area, as well.
In his online journal, Robert Hunter recounted writing the lyrics for "Friend of the Devil" in a single afternoon in Madrone Canyon. He actually created the song with the intent of playing it with NRPS, after the band had asked him to be their bassist. This is why he first unveiled the song to David Nelson and John Dawson in their home in Kentfield. At that point, Hunter explains, "The 'Sweet Anne Marie' verse which was later to become a bridge was only one of the verses, not yet a bridge."
Where things get really interesting in this story is where Hunter tells us that the chorus originally went:
I set out running but I take my time
It looks like water but it tastes like wine
If I get home before daylight
I just might get some sleep tonight
Notice how the line "A friend of the devil is a friend of mine" doesn't play into that chorus? This is where Dawson comes in.
After showing the guys the song, Hunter explains, the band went down to the kitchen for espresso. "We got to talking about the tune and John said the verses were nifty except for 'it looks like water but it tastes like wine,' which I had to admit fell flat. Suddenly Dawson's eyes lit up and he crowed "How about 'a friend of the devil is a friend of mine.' Bingo, not only the right line but a memorable title as well!
We ran back upstairs to Nelson's room and recorded the tune. I took the tape home and left it on the kitchen table. Next morning I heard earlybird Garcia (who hadn't been at the rehearsal - had a gig, you know) wanging away something familiar sounding on the peddle [sic] steel. Danged if it wasn't 'Friend of the Devil.' With a dandy bridge on the 'sweet Anne Marie' verse. He was not in the least apologetic about it. He'd played the tape, liked it, and faster than you can say dog my cats it was in the Grateful Dead repertoire."
It's interesting to wonder whether or not the song would still have become a staple if Dawson hadn't popped those lyrics. The line, "a friend of the devil is a friend of mine" isn't the only great thing about the song, but it's definitely a critical part.Hunter dipped out of NRPS almost as fast he dipped in, and so the song became a Dead tune.
Certainly a popular tune with the band and the Deadheads. Played 310X, almost always a first set tune.
First – March 20, 1970 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester
Last – June 2, 1995 at RFK Stadium in D.C.
SHOW No. 4: I Used To Love Her But It’s All Over Now
Track # 9
3:15 – 5:00
"It's All Over Now" is a song written by Bobby Womack and his sister-in-law Shirley Womack.[1] It was first released by The Valentinos, featuring Bobby Womack, in 1964. The Rolling Stones heard it on its release and quickly recorded a cover version, which became their first number-one hit in the United Kingdom, in July 1964.
The Valentinos recorded the song at United Recording in Hollywood on March 24, 1964,[2] and released it two months later.[3] It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 27, 1964, and stayed on the chart for two weeks, peaking at number 94.
The Rolling Stones landed in New York on June 1, 1964, for their first North American tour, around the time the Valentinos' recording was released. New York radio DJMurray the K played the song to the Rolling Stones. He also played the Stones' "King Bee" (their Slim Harpo cover) the same night and remarked on their ability to achieve an authentic blues sound. After hearing "It's All Over Now" on that WINS show, the band recorded their version nine days later at Chess Studios in Chicago. Years later, Bobby Womack said in an interview that he had told Sam Cooke he did not want the Rolling Stones to record their version of the song, and that he had told Mick Jagger to get his own song. Cooke convinced him to let the Rolling Stones record the song. Six months later on, after receiving the royalty check for the song, Womack told Cooke that Mick Jagger could have any song he wanted.
The Rolling Stones' version of "It's All Over Now" is the most famous version of the song. It was first released as a single in the UK, where it peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the Rolling Stones their first number one hit.[5] It was the band's third single released in America, and stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks, peaking at number 26. Months later it appeared on their second American album 12 X 5. The song was a big hit in Europe and was part of the band's live set in the 1960s. Cash Box described it as a "contagious cover of the Valentinos' click" and "an infectious thumper that should head right for chartsville."
Dead played it 160 times, always a first set Bobby tune.
First on Sept. 6, 1969 at Family Dog At The Great Highway in S.F.
Last on July 2, 1995 at Deer Creek in Indy/
This version is great with the Brent solo leading into the Jerry solo. Check out the entire clip.
SHOW No. 4: Shakedown Street
Track #19
4:30 – 5:57
When people think of the Grateful Dead, they often think of free-flowing improvisational music. However, the band was known for many things, including their ability to construct incredibly catchy songs with deep meanings. This is exemplified in one of their most iconic songs, “Shakedown Street.”
Shakedown Street, the title track of the Grateful Dead’s tenth studio album, released in 1978, has been interpreted in countless ways over the years.
According to Hunter in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, “Shakedown Street” was a place where the underbelly of society came out and did its trading. “It was a place for freaks, weirdos, and people who didn’t fit in anywhere else. It was one of the only places where they could socialize and be themselves without fear of persecution.”
The lyrics of “Shakedown Street” talk about this place where everybody is welcome, regardless of who they are or where they come from. As the song says, “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart. Just gotta poke around.”
The song is a reflection of the band’s values and the alternative society that they represented. It highlights the idea that people should be treated equally, without judgment, and that everyone should be able to express themselves.
Played 164X
Popular show opener, second set opener and occasionally, as here, an encore. Great way to end a show rocking out hard for 10+ minutes and then going home.
First: August 31, 1978 Red Rocks
Last: July 9, 1995 Soldier Field – played it right up until the end!
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"From Outlaw to Entrepreneur: The Evolution of Cannabis Farming"
Larry Mishkin is joined by Nick Erickson from Full Moon Farms in California. Nick shares his family's long history in California, dating back to the Gold Rush era. He discusses his introduction to cannabis cultivation, growing up around marijuana plants, and his experiences with law enforcement raids during the outlaw era of cannabis farming.
He explains the transition from illegal to legal cannabis cultivation in California after the state's legalization in 2016. He highlights the challenges and benefits of operating a legal cannabis farm, including the importance of testing for safety and quality control.
The conversation delves into the evolution of cannabis culture, the emergence of scientific understanding around terpenes, and the increasing focus on quality and sustainability in cannabis farming. Erickson emphasizes the significance of terroir, microclimates, and genetic diversity in producing unique cannabis strains with distinct flavors and effects.
Overall, the transcript provides insights into the experiences of a legacy cannabis grower navigating the transition to a regulated market while maintaining a commitment to craft cultivation practices.
https://fullmoonhumboldt.com/
Grateful Dead of the Day
March 25, 1972 (52 years ago)
New York Academy of Music
Grateful Dead Live at Academy of Music on 1972-03-25 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Concert in NY immediately before their departure for Europe for the ’72 tour.
INTRO: How Sweet It Is
Track No. 12
2:30 – 4:00
MID-SHOW: Nobody’s Fault But Mine
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Slate Quarry U.K. 1994
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - Nobody's Fault But Mine (Slate Quarry UK 1994) (youtube.com)
OUTRO: Next Time You See Me
Track #15
:30 – 2:06
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Grateful Dead's Notable Tracks from 1977 plus a cure for Female Orgasmic Disorder"
Larry Mishkin covers the Grateful Dead show from March 18th, 1977, at the Winterland arena in San Francisco, showcasing notable performances of songs like "Sugaree" and "Peggy-O." He delves into the history and significance of these songs within the Grateful Dead repertoire. Additionally, the discussion extends to the cannabis industry, highlighting the financial strategies of marijuana companies to minimize tax obligations under Section 280E of the IRS Code. He also touches on the opening of Nevada's first legal marijuana consumption lounge, signaling a shift in cannabis regulations in the state. Finally, Larry addresses the proposal to add Female Orgasmic Disorder (FOD) as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana use in Illinois, reflecting evolving perspectives on cannabis as a therapeutic option for various health conditions.
Grateful Dead
March 18, 1977 (47 years ago)
Winterland, S.F.
Grateful Dead Live at Winterland Arena on 1977-03-18 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
TITLE: 1977 Winterland: The Dead Bust Out Fire On The Mountain and Take Their One and Only Attempt At Terrapin Flyer.
Just a month after the Swing Auditorium show that we previewed a few weeks ago, Dead went home to Winterland for a string of shows. This one stands out for a few reasons that we will get to as the show goes on.
INTRO: Sugaree
Track #4
7:25 – 9:05
"Sugaree" is a song with lyrics by long-time Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and music by guitaristJerry Garcia.[1] It was written for Jerry Garcia's first solo album Garcia, which was released on January 20, 1972. As with the songs on the rest of the album, Garcia plays every instrument himself except drums, played by Bill Kreutzmann, including acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and an electric guitar played through a Leslie speaker. Released as a single from the Garcia album, "Sugaree" peaked at #94 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1972 and was Garcia's only single ever on that chart.
Elizabeth Cotten, a North Carolinafolksinger, wrote and recorded a song called "Shake Sugaree" in 1966.[3] The chorus of Cotten's song is "Oh lordie me/Didn't I shake sugaree?" Hunter was aware of this song when he wrote "Sugaree."
The song was first performed live by the Grateful Dead on July 31, 1971, at the Yale Bowl at Yale University, as was the song "Mr. Charlie". The Dead played it 362 times in concert. Last played on July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
A classic rocking Dead tune, usually a first set number, I’ve seen it as a show opener, first set closer, and encore. In this clip they really rock it but it’s only a small peak at this 15 minute version of the tune. Well worth pulling it down on Archive and checking out the entire number. You won’t be sorry.
SHOW No. 1: Peggy-O
Track #6
4:20 – 6:00
Traditional, credit for the Grateful Dead version generally go to Jerry but some say Bill had a hand in writing it.
This song derives from the earlier Scottish traditional song Bonnie Lass of Fyvie-o. Fyvie is thought to have been a staging post between Aberdeen and Fort George in Scotland. This song does occur with a number of title variations. It is possible that Fennario is a corruption of Fyvie-o.
Similar traditional songs also occurred in the UK; Handsome Polly O and Bonny Barbara O, though these are less similar to the modern Peggy-O song.
The title Peggy-O is used on Grateful Dead recordings. The version of Peggy-O that is included in the Jerry Garcia box set All Good Things is a previously unreleased studio recordings from Spring 1979 and is given the title Fennario. The Fennario title is also used on concert recordings of The Dead and Phil Lesh & Friends.
Although not released on a Dead studio album, the song was included on the remastered recordings of both Terrapin Station and Go To Heaven.
The Grateful Dead first performed Peggy-O in December 10, 1973 at the Charlotte Coliseum in N.C.. It was then played in every year through to 1995 usually no more than a dozen times each year though it was played more regularly during the 1977 to 1981 period. Played a total of 265 times. The last performance was on July 5, 1995 at the Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO (just outside of St. Louis).
In this clip, I really enjoy Jerry’s strong voice, the solid jamming and some stealth piano contributions from Keith.
SHOW No. 2: Fire On The Mountain
Track # 9
1:46 – 3:30
Hunter/Hart (not Jerry!)
Released on Shakedown Street on November 8, 1978, last song on first side of album.
First time ever played – one of the reasons I chose this show over a number of other great shows on this date – others include a smokin “early” Dead show in 1967 at Winterland and 1971 at the Fox Theater in St. Louis coming fast on the heels of the Dead’s epic six night Capitol Theater run in Port Chester in late February.
This is another of those songs with a long and complicated genesis story, perhaps not worth getting into too much detail about here, but the rough outlines at least are important to note. The lyrics, according to Robert Hunter in Box of Rain, were “Written at Mickey Hart's ranch in heated inspiration as the surrounding hills blazed and the fire approached the recording studio where we were working.”
Hart, credited with the music for the song, recorded a proto-rap version of the song for an unreleased album entitled Area Code 415, recorded in 1972 and 1973. It was also included on a Mickey Hart album entitled Fire on the Mountain, recorded in 1973-74. It appeared as an instrumental entitled “Happiness is Drumming” on Hart’s 1976 studio album, Diga. And it finally began showing up in the Grateful Dead repertoire, sung by Jerry Garcia, in 1977, undergoing a number of variants of the lyrics until it settled into the form that was eventually recorded and released on Shakedown Street, in November 1978. There’s a lot of other detail I haven’t mentioned—possibly worthy of some historian taking it apart piece by piece, but you get the rough idea.
On March 18, 1977 at Winterland Arena, San Francisco. "Fire" appeared for the first time, closing the first set, following its eternal partner, "Scarlet Begonias." This combination of tunes, which frequently enclosed some wonderful jamming, came to be known as "Scarlet Fire." There were a handful of occasions on which “Fire” appeared without “Scarlet Begonias,” but not many. approx 15 out of the total 253 performances. It remained steadily in the repertoire from then on, and was played for the final time on July 2, 1995, at the Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.
This clip being the song’s first live performance and almost a year and half before it’s commercial release, there are noticeable differences between this version and the one we al know and love. But they go there very quickly as only two months later on May 8, 1977 the Dead played the Barton Hall show that many declare to be the best Dead show ever. While that may or may not be true, what is true is that the version of Scarlet Fire is awesome and certainly befitting a show many do consider to be the finest Dead show of them all.
Many more were to follow and the lucky ones who were in Winterland this night got to witness how it all started.
SHOW No. 3: Terrapin Flyer
Alhambra
Track # 17
:53 – end
INTO
Drums
Track # 18
Start – 0:44
This is another reason I chose this show for today’s episode. This represents the only known instance of the Dead playing the Terrapin Flyer part of the full Terrapin Suite from the Album (released on July 27, 1977) out of the traditional parts. Although Jerry does not sing the lyrics from this part of the suite, he jams the very distinctive melody. Interestingly, this is only a few weeks after the debut of Terrapin at the Swing Auditorium on Feb. 26, 1977. Here, the Dead were trying out this sixth of seven parts of the suite and for whatever reason did not like what they heard or didn’t enjoy playing it or, more likely, practicing it, so it was dropped from live performances even though the primary and opening parts of the suite, Lady with a Fan into Terrapin Station, were played a total of 303 times.
These are the fun little discoveries that even after 40+ years of listening to, following and learning about the band keep it fun, interesting and amazing.
As for the recording of the entire suite, Keith Olsen was chosen to produce and the band temporarily moved to Los Angeles, as Olsen preferred to work at Sound City, where he had recently achieved success producing Fleetwood Mac's 1975 comeback album.
Olsen had a method for reining in the Dead: "During the cutting of the basic tracks it was pretty hard to get every member of the band in the studio at the same time ... so [Steve] Parish went out to the hardware store and got these giant nails and a great big hammer and as soon as everybody was in, he hammered the door shut from the inside ... we didn't have drifters from the other studios coming in to listen. We didn't have people leaving to go screw around elsewhere. We started getting work done."[18] With Fleetwood Mac, Olsen had a hands-on approach, orchestrating the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and influencing song choice, arrangements and sequencing. He entered the Grateful Dead project with similar expectations, imagining a concept album or song cycle. Olsen said that Davis told him "I need a commercial record out of them."[18] This caused some friction during the sessions as well as with the end results. Kreutzmann said "He'd have us play the same thing over and over again, and we're not really the type of band that can put up with that. ... Our very identity is based on the opposite principle."[
SHOW No. 4: Not Fade Away
Track # 19
14:00 – 15:40
Written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. Holly and the Crickets recorded the song in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957, and it was released as a single (B side to “Oh Boy”) on October 27, 1957 on the Brunswick label. The rhythmic pattern of "Not Fade Away" is a variant of the Bo Diddley beat, with the second stress occurring on the second rather than third beat of the first measure, which was an update of the "hambone" rhythm, or patted juba from West Africa. Jerry Allison, the drummer for the Crickets, pounded out the beat on a cardboard box.[3] Allison, Holly's best friend, wrote some of the lyrics, though his name never appeared in the songwriting credits. Joe Mauldin played the double bass on this recording. It is likely that the backing vocalists were Holly, Allison, and Niki Sullivan, but this is not known for certain.
First played by the Dead on February 19, 1969 at the Fillmore West in S.F., it was played by the band a total of 561 times and last played on July 5, 1995 at the Riverport Amphitheatre outside of St. Louis.
This is an absolutely ripping version of this tune so much so that I featured only the jam – everyone knows the lyrics, but the jam in this 20 minute version is better than any singing I could have featured.
OUTRO: Around and Around
Track 21
4:59 – 6:46
Very appropriate to end on a Chuck Berry tune given that today is the seventh anniversary of Chuck’s death in 2017 at the age of 90.
"Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single "Johnny B. Goode". Release on March 31, 1958 on Chicago’s own Chess Records checking in at a brisk 2:20.
Many bands have covered the song including, most famously, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and, of course the Dead who played it 418 times, first on November 8, 1970 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY and lastly on July 6, 1995 at the Riverport Amphitheatre outside of St. Louis – very appropriate since Chuck was born in St. Louis and died in Wentzville, just outside of the city.
This is one of the better version of the tune that I have heard. It checks in at over 8 minutes and the boys just jam it out, throw in a few false endings and finally wrap it up, followed only by Uncle John’s Band before the boys say goodnight to the Winterland crazies and head home for a rare post show night in their own beds.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"From Chicago to Egypt: Collecting Dead Memorabilia and Memories with Jay Blakesburg"
Larry Mishkin features a nostalgic recounting of a Grateful Dead concert from March 11th, 1993, at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois. The discussion covers various aspects of the event, including the venue's challenges, the band's performance, and reflections on specific songs played during the show.
Larry also touches on recent music events, such as Phil Lesh and Friends' performances and upcoming Phish summer tour dates. It also highlights an exhibition by photographer Jay Blakesburg and his collection of Grateful Dead memorabilia, along with personal anecdotes related to Dead history.
Grateful Dead
March 11, 1993 (31 years ago)
Rosemont Horizon
Rosemont, Illinois (Chicago)
Grateful Dead Live at Rosemont Horizon on 1993-03-11 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Final night of 3 show run March 9 – March 11 (Tuesday – Thursday)
INTRO: Help On The Way
Track #1
:20 – 2:06
Released on Blues For Allah (1975)
Played 111 times
First time: June 17, 1975 at Winterland, S.F.
Last time: June 22, 1995 at Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
SHOW No. 1: When I Paint My Masterpiece
Track #6
1:36 – 3:12
"When I Paint My Masterpiece" is a 1971 song written by Bob Dylan. It was first released by The Band, who recorded the song for their album Cahoots, released on September 15, 1971. Dylan himself first recorded the song at New York's Blue Rock Studio when he was backed by Leon Russell and session musicians, including Jesse Ed Davis on lead guitar, appeared on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II, released November 17, 1971, with Russell credited as the producer.
Dylan and The Band performed the song together live, in the early hours of January 1, 1972, at a New Year's Eve concert by The Band; a recording was released as a bonus track on the 2001 CD reissue of The Band's live album Rock of Ages.
Douglas Brinkley, while interviewing Dylan for the New York Times in 2020, noted that "When I Paint My Masterpiece" was a song that had grown on him over the years and asked Dylan why he had brought it "back to the forefront of recent concerts". Dylan replied, "It’s grown on me as well. I think this song has something to do with the classical world, something that’s out of reach. Someplace you’d like to be beyond your experience. Something that is so supreme and first rate that you could never come back down from the mountain. That you’ve achieved the unthinkable. That’s what the song tries to say, and you’d have to put it in that context. In saying that though, even if you do paint your masterpiece, what will you do then? Well, obviously you have to paint another masterpiece".
According to his official website, Dylan played the song live 182 times between 1975 and 2019.[4] Five live performances of the song from Dylan's 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour were released on the box set The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings in 2019. The live debut occurred at the War Memorial Auditorium in Plymouth, Massachusetts on October 30, 1975 and the most recent performances occurred on the Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour in 2023.
Played 146 times
First: June 13, 1987 at Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA
Last: July 9, 1995 at Soldier Field, Chicago
My favorite Dylan cover. Would rotate in first set with other Dylan covers including Queen Jane Approximately, Stuck Inside of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again and Desolation Row.
SHOW No. 2: So Many Roads
Track #7
:39 – 2:21
So Many Roads was first performed by the Grateful Dead on February 22, 1992. It was then played regularly through to the last performance of the song on July 9, 1995. In total the song was played just over 50 times.
Jerry Garcia spoke about So Many Roads in an interview with Dave DiMartino in 1992;
“It's Hunter writing me from my point of view, you know what I mean? We've been working together for so long that he knows what I know. The song is full of references to things that have to do with me....
“....Hunter is the only guy that could do that. He can write my point of view better than I can think it, you know what I mean? So that's the kind of relationship we have. And he frequently writes tunes from my point of view that are autobiographical. There actually biographical I guess. He's the one writing them, but even so they express my point of view - and more than that they express the emotional content of my soul in a certain way that only a long-term and intimate relationship with a guy as brilliant as Hunter coughs up ... I can sing that song, feel totally comfortable with it.”
Robert Hunter's comments on the origins of this song in the notes in Box Of Rain: Lyrics 1965-1993;
“One afternoon, Jerry was playing some unstructured changes on the piano. Figuring they might be forgotten otherwise, I clicked on my tape recorder. Ten years later I found the tape and listened to it, liked it, and set these words to it. Listening to the pitifully recorded and time-degraded tape, Jerry protested that, although he liked the words, his changes were not very good and unfinished besides. This didn't seem to be the base and I requested that he at least give it a run through. The result was one of the better received new GD songs and one that almost got away.”
Never released on a Dead studio album but was a centerpiece of the Dead’s first Box Set: So Many Roads, 5 disc retrospective of the band from 1965 to 1995.
Many commentators said this was the best one ever. When I saw the show, we were still just all hearing the song fort the first few times and getting used to it. Over time, it has become a favorite thanks to Hunter’s lyrics and Jerry’s playing and singing. Very emotional.
SHOW No. 3: Iko Iko
Track No. 9
4:04 – 5:38
"Iko Iko" (/ˈaɪkoʊˈaɪkoʊ/) is a much-coveredNew Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians and the traditional confrontation. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written and released in 1953 as a single by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and his Cane Cutters but it failed to make the charts.
The story tells of a "spy boy" (i.e. a lookout for one band of Indians) encountering the "flag boy" or guidon carrier for another "tribe". He threatens to "set the flag on fire". Crawford set phrases chanted by Mardi Gras Indians to music for the song. Crawford himself states that he has no idea what the words mean, and that he originally sang the phrase "Chock-a-mo", but the title was misheard by Chess Records and Checker Records president Leonard Chess, who misspelled it as "Jock-a-mo" for the record's release.
The song first became popular in 1965 by the girl groupthe Dixie Cups, who scored an international hit with "Iko Iko". In 1967, as part of a lawsuit settlement between Crawford and the Dixie Cups, the trio were given part songwriting credit for the song. In 1972, Dr. John had a minor hit with his version of "Iko Iko".
Second set opener. From intro, it was hard to tell if they were going into Women Are Smarter to Iko. Really enjoyed Women Are Smarter, but always extra happy when it turns out to be Iko. Great version. Jerry very energetic and really getting into it.
Played 185 times
First: May 15, 1977 at The Arena in St. Louis
Last: July 5, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis (first and last time in St. Louis!!)
SHOW No. 4: Space
Track #15 (note that there are 2 “Space” tracks, this is the first one, Track 15)
4:25 – 5:42 (The Island – Ken Nordine)
Ken Nordine (April 13, 1920 – February 16, 2019) was an American voice-over and recording artist, best known for his series of word jazz albums.[2] His deep, resonant voice has also been featured in many commercial advertisements and movie trailers. One critic wrote that "you may not know Ken Nordine by name or face, but you'll almost certainly recognize his voice.”
In 1955, he provided the voiceover on Billy Vaughn's version of "Shifting Whispering Sands", which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He subsequently attracted wider attention when he recorded the aural vignettes on Word Jazz (Dot, 1957). Love Words, Son of Word Jazz (Dot, 1958) and his other albums in this vein feature Nordine's narration over cool jazz by the Fred Katz Group featuring Chico Hamilton recording under an alias.
Nordine began performing and recording such albums at the peak of the beat era and was associated with the poetry-and-jazz movement. However, it has been observed that some of Nordine's writings "are more akin to Franz Kafka or Edgar Allan Poe" than to the beats.[8] Many of his word jazz tracks feature critiques of societal norms.[9] Some are lightweight and humorous, while others reveal dark, paranoid undercurrents and bizarre, dream-like scenarios. Nordine's DVD, The Eye Is Never Filled was released in 2007.[9]
Nordine hosted the weekly Word Jazz program on WBEZ, also carried on other stations, from the 1970s for over forty years.
In 1990, Nordine was approached by Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead to be the anchor for their New Year's Eve radio broadcast from Oakland, California.[13] For the broadcast he recorded some improvisations with Garcia, drummer Mickey Hart and Egyptian musician Hamza El-Din.[13] This subsequently led to an album Devout Catalyst, released on the Grateful Dead's own label in 1991[13] and Upper Limbo in 1993[14] and an appearance with the band live at a show at Rosemont, Illinois, in March 1993.
Ken Nordine died February 16, 2019.
OUTRO: Days Between
Track No. 18
4:51 – 6:51
“Days Between,” a late song in the Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia songbook, was perhaps their last collaboration on a big, significant song, one that ranks with “Dark Star” and “Terrapin Station” as ambitious and intentionally grand. (I was talking the other day with a friend, about Garcia’s playing and songwriting, and the thought came up that Garcia, like few others, was unafraid of grandeur, and could successfully pull it off. Same with Hunter.)
It appeared like the ghostly ships it describes, as if gradually from a fog and only slowly revealing itself as something very big, towering above everything around. It’s hard to say it any better than Phil Lesh did in his autobiography, Searching for the Sound:
“Achingly nostalgic, ‘Days Between’ evokes the past. The music climbs laboriously out of shadows, growing and peaking with each verse, only to fall back each time in hopeless resignation. When Jerry sings the line ‘when all we ever wanted / was to learn and love and grow’ or ‘gave the best we had to give / how much we’ll never know,’ I am immediately transported decades back in time, to a beautiful spring morning with Jerry, Hunter, Barbara Meier, and Alan Trist—all of us goofing on the sheer exhilaration of being alive. I don’t know whether to weep with joy at the beauty of the vision or with sadness at the impassable chasm of time between the golden past and the often painful present.”
Each verse in the song contains fourteen lines, and each evokes a different season of the year, although not in sequence. The first verse contains the lines “Summer flies and August dies / the world grows dark and mean.” I can’t hear that line without thinking about August West, in Wharf Rat, and, by extension, Garcia himself. “The singing man is at his song / the holy on their knees.” Who is the singing man, if not Garcia, when it comes to Hunter and his words?
Played 42 times by the band, always in the second set, almost always out of drums
First: February 22, 1993 at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CA
Last: June 24, 1995 at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
This was just the second time it was ever played
“Gave the best we had to give, how much we’ll never know”
No chorus in this song, just verses that keep building on each other.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Birthdays, Breakouts, and Psychedelic Jams: The Legendary Grateful Dead Concert of '77"
Today’s show comes from February 26, 1977 at the Swing Auditorium. The show not only opens the fabulous ’77 campaign and contains the first live versions of two of the truly great Dead tunes – Terrapin Station and Estimated Prophet – but it throws smoke and spits flames. The concert marked the debut of songs like "Terrapin Station" and "Estimated Prophet." Larry Mishkin delves into the significance of these songs in the Dead's repertoire, their musical and lyrical qualities, and the overall atmosphere of the concert. They also provide insights into the venue's history and its importance in rock and roll culture.
Additionally, the conversation touches on other topics, such as the Fish concert series in Cancun, Mexico, and the significance of certain Grateful Dead songs like "The Wheel" and "Slipknot." Larry share personal anecdotes related to the music, including experiences at concerts and the culture surrounding marijuana use, inspired by a Commander Cody song.
INTRO: Terrapin Station
Track # 1
5:51 – 7:27
Garcia and Hunter
Probably that point right where Deadheads think they’ve seen it all. The psychedelic rock, Pig’s blues, Americana, Wake of the Flood, Mars Hotel and Blues For Allah. So if you had tickets for this show, you had no idea what you were in for, where the Dead were about to take you, a completely different direction, as close as the Dead would ever come to a rock-opera number. And there was no waiting, lights went out and . . . . . . . . . . . . . TURTLE MUSIC!! Clocking in just shy of 11 minutes, it’s not quite the masterpiece it would become, but pretty amazing none the less. Nothing else existed at that time quite like it. But from the opening notes you know it is a winner, destined for greatness in the pantheon of great Dead tunes. One that you could hear every show and never grow tired of or bored with it.
The title track from the album released on July 27, 1977, five months after this show. First studio album since they had returned to touring. Terrapin Station is the ninth studio album (fourteenth overall) by the Grateful Dead, It was the first Grateful Dead album on Arista Records The cover artwork was produced by Kelley/Mouse Studios, who had created several previous works for the band. Though a terrapin appears in the lyrics only as a place name, dancing terrapins feature prominently in the artwork and afterward became part of the large iconography associated with the Grateful Dead. The front cover image takes the idea of a "terrapin station" literally. The back cover features a stylized, one-eyed skull with a crossed bone, feathers and roses, in keeping with the imagery that had evolved around the Dead.
This clip is the famous and beloved transition form Lady With A Fan into Terrapin Station, the first two parts of the seven part suite clocking in at 16:23.
The other five parts are: Terrapin; Terrapin Transit; At A Siding; Terrapin Flyer and Refrain.
The Grateful Dead only performed the Lady With A Fan and Terrapin Station. Dead and Co. have played the entire suite. Fun to hear, but not the same as if Jerry was playing it. Too bad he never did.
Played 303 times
First: This version right here that we just played for you
Last: July 8, 1995
SHOW No. 1: Estimated Prophet
Track #4
1:54 – 3;26
Bob and John Barlow
"Estimated Prophet" was written in septuple time. Bobby’s lyrics for the song (finished with writing partner John Barlow) examine a character's delusions of grandeur and California's propensity for false prophets. The song also quotes "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel".[13][14] Drummer Bill Kreutzmann said "It's a great song but when [Weir] brought it to us, something was off. It needed a groove. It was in quick4 but it didn't swing. Yet. For my homework that night, I combined two fast sevens and played half-time over it. The two sevens brought the time around to an even number – the phrasing is in two bars of seven, so technically the time signature is in. But that's getting technical. In layman's terms, 'Estimated Prophet' suddenly grooved."
Released on Terrapin Station, this was its debut performance and it was well received. A fan favorite and regular part of the Band’s playlist for the rest of their careers.
390 times total
First: This is it right here.
Last: June 28, 1995 at the Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit
SWING AUDITORIUM
Built in 1949, the Swing Auditorium had a maximum capacity of around 10,000, but it probably sold out at only around 6000 for this Dead show. The venue’s ascent into rock and roll fame began in 1962 when a man named Bob Lewis started promoting concerts there. In the ensuing decades, Lewis brought all the legends into the Swing, including Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and, of course, the Grateful Dead. But what really solidified the Swing’s place amongst the hallowed venues was the American debut of the Rolling Stones there in 1964. With a mere ten-song set, the Stones stoked the hall into a fervor. The band had to drop their instruments and run for the exits before the crowd rushed the stage. For their part, the Dead played the Swing only four times before it was razed after a small plane crashed into the building on September 11, 1981.
SHOW No. 2: The Wheel
Track #9
:30 – 2:09
Released on January 20, 1972 as the final track on side 2 of Jerry’s firs solo album, “Garcia”. The psychedelic closer it exhibits Garcia's short-lived infatuation with pedal steel guitar. great to hear in concert, although relatively short in length. Almost always a second set song and, it is high energy and always a great way for the band to transition out of Space.
Played 259 times
First: June 3, 1976 at the Paramount Theater in Portland Oregon
Last: May 25, 1995 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle
SHOW No. 3: Slipknot
Track #14
11:30 – 13:10
Released on Blues For Allah in 1975
Plays a key role in a key suite and is often overlooked. The bridge between Help On The Way and Franklin’s Tower it often gets lost in the jam out of Help and then into Franklin’s. But it is almost always there and always a great piece of improvisational music that rarely sounds exactly the same, except for the distinctive intro/outro. Similar to I Am Hydrogen in Phish’s Mike’s Groove run of songs
Played 114 times (Help = 111 times; Franklin’s = 222 times)
First: October 20, 1974 at Winterland in San Francisco
Last: June 22, 1995 at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, NY
SHOW No. 4: Eyes Of The World
Track #17
5:35 – 7:07
Released on Wake of the Flood on October 15, 1973
Many a Deadheads “secret” favorite tune. It’s that good. Played fast, played slow, almost always in the second set and often times as a companion piece with Estimated Prophet, the coveted “Estimated Eyes” jam. In the first part of the 1980’s second sets often opened with Scarlet>Fire Estimated>Eyes OR Help>Slip>Frank Estimated>Eyes
Played 382 times
First: February 9, 1973 at Maples Pavilion at Stanford in Palo Alto
Last: July 6, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO, just outside of St. Louis
OUTRO: Dancin’ In The Streets
Track #18
7:40 – 9:13
“Dancin' in the Streets" is a cover of Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" from the early days of the band, given a new arrangement that prominently features singer Donna Godchaux. For the studio version, a funk-influenced guitar figure was added to a four-on-the-floor disco beat and polished with a commercial production contemporary to the era.
Released by the Dead as the second song on Terrapin Station.
Played 131 times
First: July 3, 1966 at the Fillmore in San Francisco
Last: April 6, 1987 at Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey
Dead would play this tune in spurts:
28 times in 1970
27 times in 1976
14 times in 1977 and 1978
A bit of a comeback in 1984 and 1985 – 6 times each year, b
Once in 1987
Gone
Mishkin Law, LLC
500 Skokie Blvd.
Suite 325
Northbrook, IL 60062
Cell: (847) 812-1298
Office Direct: (847) 504-1480
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Reflecting on the Grateful Dead's Capitol Theatre Shows and Toby Keith smoking with Willie Nelson"
Larry Michigan discusses the Grateful Dead's historic show at the Capitol Theatre on February 19, 1971. Larry reminisces about the atmosphere of the venue and the significance of the performance, highlighting the debut of several iconic Dead songs. The discussion delves into the band's evolving musical style, particularly the transition from psychedelic blues to Americana influences. He explores the historical context surrounding the show, including Mickey Hart's departure from the band and the impact of manager Lenny Hart's embezzlement. He also touches upon the significance of the show's release in the "From the Vault" series and discuss other notable releases in the Dead's catalog. Additionally, Larry provides updates on Bob Weir and Wolf Brothers' postponed performances with the National Symphony Orchestra and share news about upcoming music releases.
Grateful Dead
February 19, 1971 (53 years ago)
Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY
Grateful Dead Live at Capitol Theatre on 1971-02-19 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
The second of the legendary six night run at the Capitol Theatre in late February, 1971:
Feb. 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24
INTRO: Loser
Track #3
2:55 – 4:24
Hunter/Garcia tune that was released on “Garcia”, Jerry’s first solo album, in January, 1972, the last song on side one of the album. It was a standard first set tune, part of a rotating number of Jerry first set ballads including Candyman, It Must Have Been The Roses, High Time, Row Jimmy, To Lay Me Down and others. A very sweet melodic tune that tells a great story by way of a beautiful piece of music.
SECOND time played
Played a total of 353 times
First time: “Last”night 2.18.71
Last: June 28, 1995, The Palace of Auburn Hills, outside Detroit
THIS SHOW:
Last year we covered the Feb. 18th show famous as the debut for Bertha, Greatest Story, Loser, Wharf Rat and Playin In The Band and the Beautiful Jam out of Wharf Rat and back into Dark Star. It was also Mickey’s last show before his almost three year hiatus before he returned for the final 1974 show before the band’s 1975 year off
February 19th show is just as historical: The band’s first show without Mickey since he joined the band in 1967. Many people theorize that this was Mickey’s response to his father, Lenny Hart who was the band’s manager stealing almost $155,000 of the band’s assets before disappearing. Although he was eventually located by a private detective hired by the band and arrested in San Diego on July 26, 1971, convicted and spent six months in jail, the money was never returned. The song, “He’s Gone” is based on Lenny Hart’s embezzlement and disappearance. Ashamed by his father’s actions, Mickey left the band after the 2.18.71 Capitol Theater show returning full time in 1975. Lenny died of natural causes on Feb. 2, 1975. According to Dennis McNally, "Mickey went to the funeral home, cleared the room, took out the snakewood sticks that had been his inheritance, played a traditional rudimental drum piece, "The Downfall of Paris" on Lenny's coffin, and split."
Starting with this show, the band became a very lean mean fighting machine with just five members (Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Bill and Pig) until Keith jointed the band seven months later in September. On this night, the band played the five songs debuted the night before and debuted Deal and Birdsong.
Pig also has a strong showing this night leading the band through four standouts:
Hurts Me Too
Smokestack Lightning: the third to last time it would be played with Pig in the band
Easy Wind: the second to last time it would be played without Pig in the band
Good Lovin
This really marked the beginning of the band’s hard shift away from psychedelic blues (Primal Dead) to the more Americana style music that began with Workingman’s and American Beauty. Within a year, Pig would be very ill with just enough energy left for the Europe ’72 tour. But this night, he was rocking the house like only he could do. Here is the first of his four featured songs:
SHOW No. 1: Hurts Me Too
Track # 5
2:08 – 3:42
Great showcase number for Pig featuring his singing and harp playing. We got just a bit of Jerry’s lead but all this great music is too long to fit into one clip – don’t want Dan getting mad at me!
"It Hurts Me Too" is a blues standard that is "one of the most interpreted blues [songs]".[1] First recorded in 1940 by Tampa Red in Chicago, the song is a mid-tempo eight-bar blues that features slide guitar. It borrows from earlier blues songs and has been recorded by many artists. Release on May 10th with Tired of Your Reckless Ways on the B-side.
In 1949, Tampa Red recorded a variation of "It Hurts Me Too", titled "When Things Go Wrong with You".[9] It was recast in the style of a Chicago blues, with electric guitar and a more up to date backing arrangement. The song was a hit and reached number nine on Billboard'sRhythm & Blues Records chart in 1949.[10] (The original "It Hurts Me Too" was released before Billboard or a similar reliable service began tracking such releases, so it is difficult to gauge which version was more popular, although the former's title won out over the latter's.) Although the song retained the refrain "When things go wrong, so wrong with you, it hurts me too", Tampa Red varied the rest of the lyrics somewhat. This would become the pattern for future versions, in which succeeding artists would interpret the song with some of their own lyrics.
Noted covers:
Elmore James
Junior Wells
Grateful Dead – with Pig singing the vocals. Was first released by the Dead on Europe ’72 album. After Pig left the band, the song was retired.
The Dead played the song a total of 59 times
First: May 19, 1966 at the Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco
Last: May 24, 1972 at the Lyceum Ballroom in London (last show of Europe ’72 tour
“FROM THE VAULT”:
This entire show was released by the Dead as “Three From The Vault” in 2007. The “From The Vault” series, launched by the Band in 1991 with One From The Vault – August 13, 1975 at The Great American Music Hall, with first live performance of the songs from Blues For Allah. In 1992 the Dead released “Two From The Vault” – August 23 and 24, 1968 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Then, along came Dick Latvala and his Dead scene changing Dick’s Picks series which was wildly popular, so much so that the In The Vault Series was put on hold. For 15 years. Until 2007 when they circled back to the original series of live releasees with Three From The Vault which features the same show we are talking about today from the Capitol Theatre. That was it for In The Vault releases. The Dead did have several other “Vault” like releases – multi-track recordings including Hundred Year Haul, Dozin’ At The Knick, Fallout From the Phil Zone, Terrapin Station, Live At the Fillmore East 2.11.69, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Grateful Dead, Nightfall of Diamonds, Trucking Up To Buffalo and so many more. They just stopped calling them “From The Vault”. Dick’s Picks, of course would go on to have a total of 36 releases, the last few releases coming after Dick’s death in 1999. Which led into the still wildly popular Dave’s Picks from David Lemieux who took over for Dick and now has 49 releases and still going strong. And “short” lived, but generally popular “Roadtrips” series. And all of the box sets that are all amazing but too numerous to name except for the Complete Recordings, the four-night run at the Fillmore West from Feb. 27 to March 2, 1969 – four shows with the band at the peak of Primal Dead, and Europe ’72 which consists of the live recordings for all of the shows on that tour. Another milestone for the Dead in terms of their ever expanding reputation for Jam Band, psychedelic, and amazing song catalogue, even at that “early” stage of the band’s existence.
SHOW No. 2: Playin In The Band
Track # 7
2:23 – 4:05
By: Weir and Hunter
"Playing in the Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and rhythm guitaristBob Weir composed the music, with some assistance from percussionist Mickey Hart.[1] The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live albumGrateful Dead. It then appeared in a more polished form on Ace, Bob Weir's first solo album (which included every Grateful Dead member except Ron "Pigpen" McKernan).
The instrumental break of "Playing in the Band" was introduced as early as the February 19, 1969 "Celestial Synapse" show at the Fillmore West, in which it appears somewhat indistinct from the preceding and following jams.[5] The completed song was also included on Mickey Hart's 1972 solo album Rolling Thunder within "The Main Ten", making reference to the song's time signature of 10/4. "The Main Ten" appears on Dick's Picks Volume 16, from their performance at the Fillmore West on November 8, 1969. On that set, it appears in the middle of "Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)".
During a Bob Weir and Wolf Bros concert livestream on February 12, 2021, Weir credited David Crosby with the composition of the main riff. Weir stated, "David Crosby came up with the seminal lick... and then he left. We were out at Mickey's barn. So Mickey said, 'Make a song out of that'. Next day, I had it"
It has since become one of the best-known Grateful Dead numbers and a standard part of their repertoire, usually as a second set pre-drums jumping off point for jams to who knows where. According to Deadbase X, it ranks fourth on the list of songs played most often in concert by the band with over 600 performances.
If you download this show from Archive.org, and play this track, at the 3:20 mark during the mid-song jam, they get to the point where they would normally dive back in but instead, Bobby plays on for an almost additional 30 seconds and then just dives back in to the song. He is clearly still working it out. Over the course of the Europe ’72 tour, it was played almost every night as Bobby finally worked it out
This is all really good stuff.
SECOND time ever played
661 times (No. 1)
First – “last: night’s show, Feb. 18, 1971 Capitol Theatre
Last: July 5, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO outside of St. Louis.
SHOW No. 3: Greatest Story Ever Told (The Pump Song)
Track #13
Start – 1:41
By Weir, Hart and Robert Hunter (some give credit to Rev. Gary Davis)
Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis (born Gary D. Davis, April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972),[1] was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. Born in Laurens, South Carolina and blind since infancy, Davis first performed professionally in the Piedmont blues scene of Durham, North Carolina in the 1930s, then converted to Christianity and became a minister. After moving to New York in the 1940s, Davis experienced a career rebirth as part of the American folk music revival that peaked during the 1960s. Davis' most notable recordings include "Samson and Delilah"[2] and "Death Don't Have No Mercy"
Released on:AceRolling Thunder, as "The Pump Song"Dead SetDick's Pick's, vol. 6Europe ’72 box setLots of other releasesPer Hunter: "Also known as "Pumpman" and "Moses"--I wrote this to the rhythm of the pump in Mickey Hart's well."
Released on Ace on May 1, 1972
First song on the album with Bobby setting a rocking tone
Another tune that was played almost every night of and refined during the Europe ’72 tour
283 times
First: “last night” 2.18.71
Last: June 27, 1995 at the Palace at Auburn Hills outside Detroit
SHOW No. 4: Bird Song
Track #15
:42 – 2:15
By Garcia and Hunter
Second song on Garcia
Robert Hunter originally wrote the song as a tribute for Janis Joplin. Phil Lesh now sings "All I know is something like a bird within him sang", transfering it Jerry Garcia instead A regular for the Dead, and still played by Dead and Co., Bobby and Phil and Friends.
Beautiful song, even for the fist time you know it’s going to be special.
Played 301 tines
First: This is it!
Last: June 30, 1995 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
OUTRO: Deal
Track #17
Start – 1:33
May 16, 2023 by Chris Huber of Chill
One of the Grateful Dead’s live staples, and many gambling songs is the Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia collaboration, “Deal”. First performed on February 19th, 1971, the song was in regular rotation until the end, both for the Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.
“Deal” saw studio release as the opening track to Jerry Garcia’s 1972 debut solo album, Garcia, which also contained several other classic Grateful Dead live songs including “Sugaree”, “Bird Song”, “Loser”, and “The Wheel.
Although it would move around a bit in the set list early on, this debut version is consistent with the ultimate tradition of the song closing out the first set. Even in JGB sets it was a first set closer. And would always leave you waiting through the break to see how they were going to kick off the second set and keep the show moving along. For a first time played, this version stays true to the version we all know and love from a few years later.
Played 428 times
First: This is IT
Last: June 18, 1995, Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Thank you.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Changing Beats: Goose's Drummer Departure and New Musical Ventures"
Larry Mishkin dives into a live performance of the Grateful Dead's Mardi Gras Show from 1986. The discussion highlights the additional set by The Nevels, a brief comparison of songs played, and the significance of the venue, Kaiser Convention Center. The conversation transitions to Goose, a contemporary jam band, announcing a change in drummers and their new album release. Larry also touches on the Grateful Dead's record-breaking achievement of having the most Top 40 albums on the Billboard 200. Lastly, it explores the origins and themes of the Grateful Dead's song "Cassidy," drawing connections to individuals associated with the band and the Beat Generation. Throughout, there's a mix of musical analysis, historical context, and personal anecdotes, offering a comprehensive exploration of the music and culture surrounding these iconic bands plus the latest cannabis news.
Grateful Dead
February 12, 1986 (38 years ago)
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center
Oakland, CA
Grateful Dead Live at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center on 1986-02-12 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Show Title: Dead and the Neville Brothers Rock Oakland Celebrating Mardi Gras
A short Dead show by Nevilles played a set after turning it into a marathon evening of great music
INTRO: Sugaree
Track #3
Start – 1:35
Jerry comes out smoking on this crowd favorite to get things rocking (second song after Hell in a Bucket). Released on the Jerry’s first solo album, Garcia, in January, 1972.
Played 362 times
1st at on July 31, 1971 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, CN six months before its release
Last played on July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field in Chicago
Kaiser Convention Center is a historic, publicly owned multi-purpose building located in Oakland, California. The facility includes a 5,492-seat arena, a large theater, and a large ballroom.[2] The building is #27 on the list of Oakland Historic Landmarks.,[3] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[4]
The building is located at 10 10th Street, in the Civic Center district of the city. It is next to the Oakland Museum, Laney College, Lake Merritt, and near the Lake MerrittBARTstation.
he Beaux-Arts style landmark was built in 1914; the architect was John J. Donovan.[3] The structural engineer was Maurice Couchot.[5] Originally known as the Oakland Civic Auditorium, it was renamed in honor of Henry J. Kaiser after a 1984 renovation.
The city closed the facility in 2006 and its future was uncertain for a decade.[1] In 2006, Oakland voters defeated a ballot proposition advocating a library space in the building.
The facility was owned by the City of Oakland until 2011, when it was sold to the local redevelopment agency for $28 million.[6] However, the redevelopment agency was dissolved by the State of California in 2012,[7] so ownership reverted to the city of Oakland.
In 2015 the city chose a local developer, Orton Development, Inc. to renovate the facility. The plans are to turn it into a commercial space, with the Calvin Simmons Theater being renovated as a performing arts venue. The building is also supposed to be registered as a national historic landmark.
In the 1950s and 1960s the Roller Derby played there hundreds of times.
Elvis Presley performed at the convention center on June 3, 1956, and again on October 27, 1957.
On December 28, 1962, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to an audience of 7,000 at the auditorium to mark the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.[13]
Ike & Tina Turner performed at the Oakland Auditorium on January 13, 1967.
From 1967 through 1989, the Grateful Dead, an American rock band, performed at the convention center 57 times. Their first 23 concerts at the convention center were billed at "Oakland Auditorium", and later, starting in 1985, the venue changed to "Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center". In the 80's the band started performing "runs" of shows over the course of three to seven days.[
SHOW No. 1: Tons of Steel
Track # 4
1:07 – 2:40
A “new” Brent song, released on In The Dark in 1987. Love the harmonizing with Phil – “She wasn’t built to travel at the speed a rumor flies, these wheels are bound to jump the tracks, before they burn the ties.” Crowd loves it too – any excuse to hear Phil sing – this is just about a month before the Hampton show where Phil broke out Box of Rain, Deadheads couldn’t get enough of him.
David Dodd:
Brent wrote the words and music for “Tons of Steel.” It was first performed on December 28, 1984, at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco (now Bill Graham Civic). The other first in the show was "Day Tripper." I was there! It sounded like a hit to me. But then, I was completely disconnected from whatever it was that passed for hit-making in the 1980s.
It was performed fairly regularly throughout 1985 through September 1987, making its last appearance on September 23 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. That seems odd to me, because it was dropped from rotation just a little more than two months after it was released on In the Dark, in July. Any thoughts?
So, it’s a song about a train. One of the prime motifs in Grateful Dead lyrics. Quick—name five Grateful Dead songs with trains! No peeking!
What do trains evoke in Dead lyrics? Everything from danger (“Caution,” “Casey Jones”) to adventure (“Jack Straw”) to love (“They Love Each Other”) to farewell (“He’s Gone”) to whatever that thing is that we feel when Garcia sings about wishing he was a headlight... (and take a look at the back cover of Reflections sometime).
Played 29 times
First played December 28, 1984 S.F. Civic Auditorium (NYE run)
Last played September 23, 1987 at the Spectrum, Philly
SHOW No. 2: Cassidy
Track #6
2:20 – 4:09
"Cassidy" is a song written by John Barlow and Bob Weir[1] and performed by the Grateful Dead, Ratdog, and Phil Lesh & Friends.[2] The song appeared on Bob Weir's Ace, and the Grateful Dead's Reckoning and Without a Net albums.[3]
The song was named after Cassidy Law, who was born in 1970 and was the daughter of Grateful Dead crew member Rex Jackson and Weir's former housemate Eileen Law.[1] The lyrics also allude to Neal Cassady, who was associated with the Beats in the 1950s[4] and the Acid Test scene that spawned the Grateful Dead in the 1960s. Some of the lyrics in the song were also inspired by the death of Barlow's father.[5]
The song was quoted in the admiring and admirable obituary of Barlow in The Economist.
One of my favorite songs, a great sing a long.
I really like this version because it gets nice and trippy. Always good for a helping define the mood of the show, usually about mid to late first set. A very fun tune.
Played 339 times
1st: March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in Daley City, just outside S.F.
Last: July 6, 1995 Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO outside of St. Louis
SHOW No. 3: Willie and the Hand Jive
Track # 14
1:23 – 3;05
Played with the Neville Bros. but without Phil who left the stage for this one song.
Willie and the Hand Jive" is a song written by Johnny Otis and originally released as a single in 1958 by Otis, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart.[1][2] The song has a Bo Diddley beat and was partly inspired by the music sung by a chain gang Otis heard while he was touring. The lyrics are about a man who became famous for doing a dance with his hands, but the song has been accused of glorifying masturbation,[2]though Otis always denied it.[3] It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Crickets, The Strangeloves, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard, Kim Carnes, George Thorogood, The Bunch, and in live performances by The Grateful Dead.[4][5] Clapton's 1974 version was released as a single and reached the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 26. Thorogood's 1985 version reached No. 25 on the BillboardRock Tracks chart.
The lyrics tell of a man named Willie who became famous for doing a hand jive dance.[1][2] In a sense, the story is similar to that of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode", which tells of someone who became famous for playing the guitar and was released two months before "Willie and the Hand Jive".[1] The origin of the song came when one of Otis' managers, Hal Ziegler, found out that rock'n'roll concert venues in England did not permit the teenagers to stand up and dance in the aisles, so they instead danced with their hands while remaining in their seats.[2][5] At Otis' concerts, performers would demonstrate Willie's "hand jive" dance to the audience, so the audience could dance along.[2] The dance consisted of clapping two fists together one on top of the other, followed by rolling the arms around each other.[2] Otis' label, Capitol Records, also provided diagrams showing how to do the hand jive dance.
Eric Clapton recorded "Willie and the Hand Jive" for his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. Clapton slowed down the tempo for his version.[12] Author Chris Welch believes that the song benefits from this "slow burn".[12]Billboard described it as a "monster powerful cut" that retains elements from Clapton's previous single "I Shot the Sheriff."[13]Record World said that "Clapton slowly boogies [the song] into laid-back magnificence.
George Thorogood recorded a version of "Willie and the Hand Jive" for his 1985 album with the Destroyers Maverick.[27] His single version charted on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, peaking at #25, and reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1][28]Allmusic critic James Christopher Monger called the song one of Thorogood's "high points.
Other artists who covered the song include: Johnny Rivers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Sandy Nelson, The Tremeloes, Amos Garrett, Ducks Deluxe and Levon Helm.[4]Lee Michaels released a version of the song on his 1971 album, 5th
To my surprise, played 6 times by the band, all in ’86 and once in ‘87
This is the fist time they ever played it
Last: April 4, 1987 at the Centrum in Worcester, MA
SHOW No. 4: In the Midnight Hour
Track # 16
2:20 – 4:01
Played with the Nevilles, Phil back on stage
Again, Jerry’s playing really stands out.
"In the Midnight Hour" is a song originally performed by Wilson Pickett in 1965 and released on his 1965 album of the same name, also appearing on the 1966 album The Exciting Wilson Pickett. The song was composed by Pickett and Steve Cropper at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis, later (April 1968) the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Pickett's first hit on Atlantic Records,[1] it reached number one on the R&B charts and peaked at number 21 on the pop charts.
Wilson Pickett recorded "In the Midnight Hour" at Stax Studios, Memphis, May 12, 1965. The song's co-writer Steve Cropper recalls: "[Atlantic Records president] Jerry Wexler said he was going to bring down this great singer Wilson Pickett" to record at Stax Studio where Cropper was a session guitarist" and I didn’t know what groups he'd been in or whatever. But I used to work in [a] record shop, and I found some gospel songs that Wilson Pickett had sung on. On a couple [at] the end, he goes: 'I'll see my Jesus in the midnight hour! Oh, in the midnight hour. I'll see my Jesus in the midnight hour.'" and Cropper got the idea of using the phrase "in the midnight hour" as the basis for an R&B song.[3] More likely, Cropper was remembering The Falcons' 1962 song "I Found a Love," on which Pickett sings lead and says "And sometimes I call in the midnight hour!" The only gospel record Pickett had appeared on before this was the Violinaires' "Sign of the Judgement," which includes no such phrase.[4]
Besides Cropper, the band on "In the Midnight Hour" featured Stax session regulars Al Jackson (drums) and Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass). According to Cropper, "Wexler was responsible for the track's innovative delayed backbeat", as Cropper revamped his planned groove for "In the Midnight Hour" based on a dance step called the Jerk, which Wexler demonstrated in the studio. According to Cropper, "this was the way the kids were dancing; they were putting the accent on two. Basically, we'd been one-beat-accenters with an afterbeat; it was like 'boom dah,' but here was a thing that went 'um-chaw,' just the reverse as far as the accent goes."[5]
Pickett re-recorded the song for his 1987 album American Soul Man.
"In the Midnight Hour" t has become an iconic R&B track,[citation needed] placing at number 134 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[citation needed] Wilson Pickett's first of two entries on the list (the other being "Mustang Sally" at number 434).[citation needed] It is also one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,[citation needed] Pickett's only such entry. In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."[7] In 1999, "In the Midnight Hour" recorded in 1965 on Atlantic Records by Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Covers:· The Grateful Dead regularly performed the song in concert from 1967 onwards, most notably with extended improv vocals by frontman Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. It was occasionally the Dead’s “midnight song” at their NYE shows – I saw them do it in 1985 at midnight on the 31st. Fun way to start the new year although I was always partial to Sugar Mag at NYE midnight.
57 times played
1st: December 10, 1965 at the Fillmore in S. F.
Last: October 17, 1994 at MSG, NYC
OUTRO: Johnny B. Goode
Track #17
Start – 1:40
We just featured this song from a different show, but this version demands recognition. Played with the Nevilles – great mash up of musicians, singers, the whole thing is just great. Interestingly, not the encore, but the last song of the second set (US. Blues was the encore, a ripping version, but no Neville Bros so I went with JBG instead to hear them one more time).
Chuck Berry tune
Dead played it 283 times
First played: September 7, 1969 at The Family Dog at the Great Highway, S.F.
Last played: April 5, 1995 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum, Birmingham, AL
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Uni Dome Bliss: Jerry's Guitar Magic Illuminating Iowa Nights"
Larry Mishkin discusses a Grateful Dead concert from February 5, 1978, held at the Uni Dome at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He emphasizes the exceptional performance, particularly focusing on the Scarlet Begonias and Fire on the Mountain combo, which he compares favorably to the renowned Barton Hall show from May 1977. Larry praises the guitar work of Jerry Garcia and highlights the unique qualities of this less-discussed but outstanding 1978 show. Additionally, he briefly touches on recent music news, including the Dead and Company's residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas and the upcoming Days Between event at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, featuring Government Mule and other legendary musicians.
February 5, 1978 (46 years ago)
Uni-Dome
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Grateful Dead Live at Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa on 1978-02-05 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Show Title: The Dead Warm Up A Cold Iowa Night in 1978. Dead & Co scheduled to play the Shere. Alcohol v. Cannabis v. Tobacco – You already know the answer to this one!
INTRO: Bertha
Track #1
3:24 – 5:13
Great Jerry solo
SHOW No. 1: Samson & Delilah
Track # 12
1:30 – 3:10
Bobby’s mic not working so they have to improvise and keep jamming
Played 365 times, often on Sunday – “It being Sunday . . . “
First played June 3, 1976 Paramount Theater in Portland, OR
Last played July 9, 1995 at Soldier Field, Chicago
SHOW No. 2: Scarlet Begonias
Track #14
3:20 – 5:10
One of the best ever, great jamming
SHOW No. 3: Fire On The Mountain
Track # 15
7:15 – 9:02
Again, one of the best ever (and one of Rob’s favorites!). No lyrics here, just Jerry jamming away
SHOW No. 4: The Other One
Track # 18
6:10 – 7:40
Loud, solid, Phil!!!
OUTRO: Around & Around
Track #20
3:58 – 5:35
Not always everyone’s favorite, but this is a ripping version, they change the tempo on a dime and rock it out to end the second set.
"Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single "Johnny B. Goode".
Covered by:
Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones covered the song on their EP, Five by Five and second U.S. album 12 X 5 in 1964. Besides the band members it featured Ian Stewart on piano. In October 1964, they performed the song as part of their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. They played it on a regular basis on their tours in 1964 and 1965. In 1964 the Stones opened their famed TAMI Show with the song. After more than a decade they performed the song again at the Knebworth Fair on August 21, 1976. It was also included on the 1977 live album Love You Live, from the El Mocambo club gig in Toronto. After that, it has only been performed occasionally, most recently during the band's 2012 U.S. tour at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on December 15
David Bowie - English musician David Bowie recorded the song in 1971, produced by Ken Scott, under the title "Round and Round". Originally slated for inclusion on his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, it was ousted by "Starman" at the last minute.[4] Regarding the song, Bowie stated in 1972: "It would have been the kind of number that Ziggy would have done onstage...He jammed it for old times' sake in the studio, and our enthusiasm for it probably waned after we heard it a few times. We replaced it with a thing called 'Starman'. I don't think it's any great loss, really.
The Animals
Eric Burden
Pearl Jam
Meat Loaf
.38 Special
Maureen Tucker (Velvet Underground)
The Germs (American punk rock band
Guided By Voices
And more . . . . . . .
Dead played it 418 times, very high up in the overall song rankings.
First played: Nov. 8, 1970, Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY
Last played: July 6, 1995, Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights (St. Louis), MO
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
Bob Dylan's Extended Tour and Upcoming Phil Lesh and Friends Concert
Larry Michigan relives a classic Grateful Dead show from exactly 37 years ago on January 29th, 1987, at the San Francisco Civic Center. The performance marked the middle night of a three-night run celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Larry delves into the opening song, "Hell in a Bucket," reminiscing about the quirky banter and Bobby's guitar troubles. Larry shares amusing anecdotes, including the infamous "Police on a Joyride" mix-up in a Chicago Tribune article. The podcast crew laughs about past experiences and the unique anticipation of a Grateful Dead show.
He also reflects on the significance of the Chinese New Year celebration during the shows and the dragon dance that captivated the audience. The conversation shifts to Jerry Garcia's remarkable comeback after a diabetic coma in 1986, making these shows even more special.
As they discuss the performances of "Hell in a Bucket" and "Sugaree," the hosts highlight Jerry's exceptional guitar playing and the overall energy of the band during this period. Larry also shares the latest cannabis news and provides with updates on upcoming music events, including Phil Lesh and Bob Dylan's tours, and a nod to the Live Dead and the Brothers tour.
Grateful Dead
January 29, 1987 (37 years ago)
San Francisco Civic Center
S.F., Ca
CHINESE NEW YEARS SHOW with the Dragon Dance during DrumsThis three night run (Jan. 28 – 30) were the last shows played by the band within S. F. city limits, after this, shows at Shoreline, Oakland Auditorium, Oakland Stadium, Greek Theater, maybe Berkeley Community Theater or Henry J. Kaiser.Barely one month since Jerry returned from his diabetic coma on Dec. 15, 1986.Bobby’s dog, Otis, died earlier in the day before the show. Best known from Reckoning, Ripple when in the middle of a verse the dog walks on stage and Jerry says, “that’s Otis”. Good stuff.I was at this show and the next nightWent with my good buddy Tommy who lived in the areaGrateful Dead Live at San Francisco Civic Auditorium on 1987-01-29 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
INTRO: Hell In a Bucket
Track #1 (Don’t be fooled by Finiculi Finicula intro - the song starts after a brief noodle, this is the correct track)
1:55 – 3:33
SHOW No. 1: Sugaree
Track #2
1:19 – 3:02
SHOW No. 2: Drums
Track # 13
2:30 – 4:00
Features the Chinese Dragon Dance portion of the Drums
SHOW No. 3: Scarlet>Fire
Track #9: 7:50 – end
Track #10: Start 0:41
This is the transition between the two songs just keep taping from the end of Scarlet through the beginning of Fire
SHOW No. 4: Stella Blue
Track # 14 (On the Archive page for this track it shows I Need A Miracle > Stella Blue, just use the time signatures below to get to the Stella Blue part
7:06 – 8:44
OUTRO: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Track #15
1:23 – 2:53
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Bertha, Birthdays, and Cannabis: A Time-Traveling Adventure"
Larry Michigan from Michigan Law in Chicago sets the stage for a time-traveling journey back 46 years to the Carter Court on the campus of the University of Oregon. Larry shares his excitement for an upcoming show and invites listeners to join him on a musical adventure.
As the episode unfolds, Larry delves into a Grateful Dead classic, "Minglewood Blues," providing historical context and anecdotes about its significance in the band's repertoire. He then shifts gears to reminisce about a memorable performance in Michigan in 1995 and discusses the origins of the song, originally recorded in 1928 by Noah Lewis.
The podcast takes an unexpected turn as Larry reflects on the magic of Dead concerts, the unique energy of live performances, and the timeless appeal of traditional songs. He shares personal experiences, including stories from concerts in the '80s and '90s, emphasizing the communal spirit and energy that defined those moments.
Larry briefly discusses his encounter with Kelly Clarkson's unexpected cover of Radiohead's "Creep," expressing admiration for her talent and the transformative power of unexpected musical renditions. He also touches upon his anticipation for the upcoming Fish Fest in Delaware, sharing the excitement of attending with his son and friends.
The episode closes with a celebration of the iconic Grateful Dead opener, "Bertha." Larry expresses his love for the song, describing it as always happy, uplifting, and a perfect show opener. He shares some historical facts about "Bertha" and reminisces about its unique charm in different concert settings.
In essence, this episode captures the essence of the Deadhead Cannabis Show – a blend of nostalgic reflections, musical insights, and the anticipation of upcoming live events. Larry's storytelling style engages listeners, creating a sense of shared experiences within the Deadhead community. Whether discussing classic tunes or unexpected cover songs, the podcast provides a delightful journey for both Deadheads and cannabis enthusiasts alike.
Key Themes:
Time-traveling to a Grateful Dead concert in 1978.Anecdotes about "Minglewood Blues" and its historical roots.Reflections on the communal spirit of Dead concerts in the '80s and '90s.Kelly Clarkson's surprising cover of Radiohead's "Creep."Anticipation for the upcoming Fish Fest in Delaware.Celebration of the iconic Grateful Dead opener, "Bertha."Episode Highlights:
Larry's vivid descriptions of past Dead concerts and the unique energy they held.The unexpected connection between Kelly Clarkson and Radiohead.Larry's excitement for attending Fish Fest with his son and friends.The timeless appeal and crowd-pleasing nature of "Bertha" as a show opener.Closing Note: This episode masterfully weaves together music, personal anecdotes, and anticipation for future events, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for listeners. The blend of nostalgia, humor, and shared enthusiasm for the Grateful Dead and live music showcases the unique charm of the "Deadhead Cannabis Show."
LARRY'S NOTES
Grateful Dead
January 22, 1978 (46 years ago)
McArthur Court
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Grateful Dead Live at McArthur Court, U of Oregon on 1978-01-22 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
INTRO: Minglewood Blues
Track #1
Start – 1:47
SHOW No. 1: Jack Straw
Track #7
2:57 – 4:38
SHOW No. 2: Bertha
Track # 10
3:30 – 5:07
SHOW No. 3: Close Encounters
Track #17
2:30 – 3:50
SHOW No. 4: St. Stephen
Track # 18
6:00 – 7:32
OUTRO: U.S. Blues
Track #21
3:18 – 4:49
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Grateful Dead's Night Amidst Ann Arbor's Championship Riot: A 1989 Michigan Celebration"
Larry Mishkin reflects on his experience in 2024, discussing the success of the Michigan Wolverines in football and their celebration. He reminisces about the Michigan men's basketball team's 1989 championship and the Grateful Dead's subsequent concerts in Ann Arbor. The podcast features excerpts from the Grateful Dead's performances and shares anecdotes, including a story about Jerry Garcia and Bobby Weir getting stuck in an Ann Arbor celebration after a national championship win, highlighting the connection between the Grateful Dead and Michigan celebrations. The episode also pays tribute to a late friend and celebrates the recent success of the University of Michigan.
.Produced by PodConx
Larry's Notes:
Ann Arbor timeline for the first week of April, 1989:
April 1, 1989 – Hash Bash
April 3, 1989 – Michigan beats Seton Hall in Seattle to win NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament
April 5, 1989 – Grateful Dead play in Crisler Arena, home of the champion basketball team (first show in Ann Arbor since 1979)
April 6, 1989 – Grateful Dead play in Crisler Arena
When Michigan won the football national championship last week by beating Washington in Houston, made me think there is a history here – M wins a Natty and we play/go see live the Grateful Dead. Can’t break the chain now.
Links:
April 5, 1989: Grateful Dead Live at Crisler Arena on 1989-04-05 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
For Intro, Show No. 1 and Show No. 2
April 6, 1989: Grateful Dead Live at Crisler Arena on 1989-04-06 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
For Show No. 3, Show No. 4 and Outro
INTRO: Feel Like A Stranger
4/5/89
Track #1
2:02 – 3:32
Album: Go To Heaven
Total: 208
First: March 31, 1980 at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, USA
Last: July 5, 1995, Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights (St. Louis), MO
Love this version, late ‘80’s, when Bobby sings, “Yes and it feels, most like runnin’ a red light”, love that “most like”
Also sings, “bout like running a red light”; “just like running a red light”;
SHOW No. 1: Franklin’s Tower
4/5/89
Track #2
3:24 – 4:38
Album: Blues For Allah
Total: 222
First: June 17, 1975 at Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA, USA, (next on Aug. 13th, Great American Music Hall, S.F. – One From The Vault)
Last: June 22, 1995, Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
During the Help/Slip/Frank hiatus (until Oct at Hampton), Stranger>Franklin’s a very common opener)
SHOW No. 2: Not Fade Away
4/5/89
Track # 19
5:29 – 6:59
"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly (originally under his first and middle names, Charles Hardin) and Norman Petty (although Petty's co-writing credit is likely to have been a formality[3]) and first recorded by Holly and his band, the Crickets.
Holly and the Crickets recorded the song in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957, the same day the song "Everyday" was recorded.[1] The rhythmic pattern of "Not Fade Away" is a variant of the Bo Diddley beat, with the second stress occurring on the second rather than third beat of the first measure, which was an update of the "hambone" rhythm, or patted juba from West Africa. Jerry Allison, the drummer for the Crickets, pounded out the beat on a cardboard box.[3] Allison, Holly's best friend, wrote some of the lyrics, though his name never appeared in the songwriting credits. Joe Mauldin played the double bass on this recording. It is likely that the backing vocalists were Holly, Allison, and Niki Sullivan, but this is not known for certain.[1]
"Not Fade Away" was originally released as the B-side of the hit single "Oh, Boy!" and was included on the album The "Chirping" Crickets (1957). The Crickets' recording never charted as a single. In 2004, this song was ranked number 107 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"
Covered by: Rolling Stones (1964, their first big hit)
The Rolling Stones' version of "Not Fade Away" was one of their first hits. Recorded in January 1964 and released by Decca Records on February 21, 1964, with "Little by Little" as the B-side, it was their first Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number three.[5]London Records released the song in the US on March 6, 1964, as the band's first single there, with "I Wanna Be Your Man" as the B-side.[6] The single reached number 48 on the U.S. BillboardHot 100 singles chart.
Rush
Tanya Tucker
John Scofield
Florence and the Machine
Dead
No album (on 1971 Grateful Dead (band’s second live album)
Total: 560
First: February 19, 1969 at Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA,
Last: July 5, 1995 Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights (St. Louis), MO
SHOW No. 3: Althea
4/6/89
Track No. 6
3:47 – 5:20
Album: Go To Heaven
Total: 272
First: August 4, 1979 at Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, CA, USA
Last: July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field, Chicago
SHOW No. 4: Scarlet Begonias
4/6/89
Track No. 10
4:00 – 5:30
Album: From The Mars Hotel (June 27, 1974)
Total: 317
First: March 23, 1974 at Cow Palace, Daly City, CA, USA
Last: July 2, 1995, Deer Creek Music Theater, Noblesville (Indianapolis) IN
Most often paired with Fire On The Mountain
OUTRO: Brokedown Palace
4/6/89
Track No. 21
3:00 – 4:43
Album: American Beauty
Total: 218
First: August 18, 1970 at Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA
Last: June 25, 1995 at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Marijuana Dispensaries and Predictive Football: A Quirky Comparison"
Larry is excited about Michigan's win over Alabama and in tribute to their upcoming January 8th college football championship game against Washington he features a Grateful Dead concert from January 8th, 1978. He detail the song "Jack Straw" and its history, especially focusing on the singer distribution due to Jerry Garcia's laryngitis during the San Diego show.
The conversation veers into the significance of the songs "Lazy Lightning" and "Supplication" within the Grateful Dead's repertoire, reminiscing about experiencing these songs live. It briefly touches on personal events, birthdays, and music preferences.
The host humorously correlates the predicted football game winner to the number of Grateful Dead performances and marijuana dispensaries in Michigan and Washington. They discuss cannabis-related legislation and the market dynamics in these states, concluding with light-hearted references to personal travels and cannabis availability across regions.
Produced by PodConx
Grateful Dead
January 8, 1978
Golden Hall Community Concourse
San Diego, CA
Grateful Dead Live at Golden Hall, Community Concourse on 1978-01-08 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Jerry has laryngitis so he did not sing
Donna filled in for him
INTRO: Jack Straw
Track #2
0:07 – 1:38
Not on any studio album. Featured on Europe ‘72
First time played: October 19, 1971, Minneapolis (Keith Godchaux’s first show)
Last played: July 8, 1995, Soldier Field, Chicago
Total times played = 476 (No. 11 on list of all time songs played)
SHOW No. 1: Lazy Lightning>Supplication
Track #8: 3:00 – end and then straight into
Track #9: 0:00 – 1:15
DAVID DODD: The pair of songs was recorded on the Kingfish album, with Bob Weir as a member of the band. Barlow notes that he wrote the song in Mill Valley in October 1975. The two tracks opened the album, which was released in March 1976.
The Grateful Dead first played the pair in concert on June 3, 1976, at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon. That show also included the first performances of “Might As Well,” “Samson and Delilah,” and “The Wheel.” “Lazy Lightning” was always followed in concert by “Supplication,” and the final performance of the two songs took place on Halloween, 1984, at the Berkeley Community Theater.
“Supplication” was played by itself, according to DeadBase X, on one occasion subsequently, although it was also played as an instrumental jam more frequently over the years. The final “Supplication” was played 597 shows after the last “Lazy Lightning>Supplication,” on May 22, 1993 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Interestingly, “Supplication” was played one other time separately from “Lazy Lightning,” on September 24, 1976, when it was sandwiched in the middle of a “Playing in the Band.”
a very strong case could be made that “Supplication” is no more a separate song from “Lazy Lightning” than “Sunshine Daydream” is from “Sugar Magnolia.” It’s a coda, carrying forward the same themes—only the form of the verse has changed.
Lazy Lightning – 111 total times played
Supplication – 123 total times played
SHOW No. 2: Estimated Prophet
Track #14
2:35 – 4:15
Weir/Barlow
Released on Terrapin Station released on July 27, 1977 (first studio album released by the band after it returned to live touring after its 1975 hiatus.
DAVID DODD: “Estimated Prophet” was first performed by the Grateful Dead on February 26, 1977, at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, California. The Dead also premiered “Terrapin Station” at that show. They played it 390 times in the years that followed, with the longest time between performances being 15 shows—mostly it stayed at the every third or fourth show rank. Its final performance was on June 28, 1995, at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It appeared on Terrapin Station, released July 27, 1977.
Blair Jackson quotes Weir, discussing the song, in his biography of the band: “According to Weir, he and Barlow wrote the song from the perspective of a crazy, messianic zealot, a type which one invariably encounters in Deadhead crowds now and again. As Weir explains: ‘The basis of it is this guy I see at nearly every backstage door. There’s always some guy who’s taken a lot of dope and he’s really bug-eyed, and he’s having some kind of vision. He’s got a rave he’s got to deliver.’ “
This is one of those songs, and there are quite a number of them in the Dead’s repertoire, in which a not-entirely-sympathetic character is brought to life, and, in the course of being brought to life, is made more sympathetic. I’ve always thought this was a big strong suit of theire songs, whether in “Wharf Rat” or in “Jack Straw”; whether in “Candyman” or “Friend of the Devil.” Not only is it a recurring trope in the lyrics, but I think it is key to understanding the whole body of the songs, and perhaps literature generally.
SHOW No. 3: The Other One
Track # 16
13:30 – 15:07
The imagery conjured up by Bob Weir, in his portion of the suite, “That’s It for the Other One,” on Anthem of the Sun, is clearly and intentionally a psychedelic ode to the Pranksters and all that entailed. Whether the singer was “escapin’ through the lily fields,” or “tripping through the lily fields,” or “skipping through the lily fields” (all versions of the line sung by Weir at various points, according to several extremely careful listeners), the fact is that it was akin to Alice’s rabbit hole, because of where it led.
“The bus came by and I got on...that’s when it all began.”
That line captures so much, in so many different ways, in so few words, that it is a model of what poetry can do—over time, and in a wide variety of circumstances, the line takes on a wide spectrum of association and meaning.
The Dead, of course, were quite literally on THE bus, along with Cowboy Neal (see earlier blog entry on “Cassidy”) and Ken Kesey and Ken Babbs and Mountain Girl and many others whose names are legend among our tribe. What must that have been like? Surely, worthy of a song or two. And Weir came up with a couple of winners, between “The Other One” and “Cassidy.”
There is something wonderfully cartoonish about the scenes described in the lyrics. A “Spanish lady” hands the singer a rose, which then starts swirling around and explodes—kind of like Yosemite Sam left holding a lit firecracker, leaving a smoking crater of his mind. The police arrest him for having a smile on his face despite the bad weather—clearly, this kid is doing something illegal. Weir’s interview with David Gans (along with Phil Lesh) cited in The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics refers to a particular incident:
Gans: Now, I remember a version from a little bit earlier, maybe late in ’67, you had a different set of lyrics; the first verse is “the heat come ‘round and busted me”...and then there was a second verse that was about “the heat in the jail weren’t very smart,” or somethin’ like that...
Weir: Yeah, that was after my little...
Lesh: Water balloon episode?
Weir: I got him good. I was on the third floor of our place in the Haight-Ashbury. And there was this cop who was illegally searching a car belonging to a friend of ours, down on the street—the cops used to harass us every chance they got. They didn’t care for the hippies back then. And so I had a water balloon, and what was I gonna do with this water balloon? Come on.
Lesh: Just happened to have a water balloon, in his hand... Ladies and gentlemen...
Weir: And so I got him right square on the head, and...
Lesh: A prettier shot you never saw.
Weir: ...and he couldn’t tell where it was comin’ from, but then I had to go and go downstairs and walk across the street and just grin at him...and sorta rub it in a little bit.
Gans: Smilin’ on a cloudy day. I understand now.
Weir: And at that point, he decided to hell with due process of law, this kid’s goin’ to jail.So, as to the debut. If we take Weir and Lesh at their word, that the first performance of the song as it now stands coincided with the night Neal Cassady died, in the early morning hours of February 4, 1968. And sure enough, there is a performance of “The Other One” on February 3, 1968, whose verses correspond to the verses as we all know them, for the first time, at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The song was a fixture in the repertoire from then on, performed at least 586 times that we know of. The only year in which it was not listed as being performed was 1975, the hiatus year.
Part of the suite of songs, That’s It For The Other One from Anthem of the Sun. Made up of four sections: "Cryptical Envelopment", "Quadlibet for Tenderfeet", "The Faster We Go, the Rounder We Get" (the part everyone knows as “the other one”), and "We Leave the Castle". Like other tracks on the album, is a combination of studio and live performances mixed together to create the final product.
appears that way on Anthem of the Sun, bracketed by Garcia’s “Cryptical Envelopment.” But it stands alone most of the time in performance—“Cryptical” was dropped completely from 1973 through 1984, reappeared for five performances in 1985 (the 20th anniversary period—it was broken out following a lapse of 791 shows at the June 16, 1985 Greek Theater show (I WAS THERE!!) in Berkeley), then disappeared again for the remainder of the band’s career
I. "Cryptical Envelopment" (Garcia)[edit]"Cryptical Envelopment" is one of the few Grateful Dead songs with lyrics written by Garcia. It was performed from 1967 to 1971 (when it was then dropped), and brought back for a few performances in 1985. Post-Grateful Dead bands such as Dead & Company have returned to performing the song, sometimes as a standalone track separate from the rest of the suite.
II. "Quadlibet for Tenderfeet" (Garcia, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir)[edit]"Quadlibet for Tenderfeet" is a short jam section linking "Cryptical Envelopment" and "The Faster We Go, the Rounder We Get". Transitions between studio and live performances are very audible during this section.
III. "The Faster We Go, the Rounder We Get" (Kreutzmann, Weir)[edit]One of the few Grateful Dead songs to have lyrics written by Weir, "The Faster We Go, the Rounder We Get" became one of the Dead's most-played songs (being performed a known 586 times[2]) and most popular vehicles for improvisation, with some performances reaching 30+ minutes in length. The song's lyrics reference the influence of the Merry Pranksters and in particular Neal Cassady.[2] Additionally, the line "the heat came 'round and busted me for smilin' on a cloudy day" refers to a time Weir was arrested for throwing a water balloon at a cop.[2] This section ends with a reprise of "Cryptical Envelopment".
IV. "We Leave the Castle" (Constanten)[edit]The only Grateful Dead composition written by Tom Constanten, "We Leave the Castle" is an avant-garde piece featuring prepared piano and other studio trickery.[
While the "We Leave the Castle" portion of the song was never performed live by the band, the first three sections were all featured in concert to differing extents. "Cryptical Envelopment", written and sung by Jerry Garcia, was performed from 1967 to 1971, when it was then dropped aside from a select few performances in 1985. "The Faster We Go, the Rounder We Get", written by Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir and sung by Weir, became one of the band's most frequently performed songs in concert (usually denoted as simply "The Other One").
The Other one– performed 549 times
First played: Oct. 31, 1967 at Winterland, S.F.
Last played: July 8, 1995, Soldier Field, Chicago
That’s It For The Other One – performed 79 times
First played: October 22, 1967 at Winterland, S.F.
Last played:
Cryptical Envelopment – performed 73 times
First played: Oct. 21, 1967 at Winterland, S.F.
Last played: Sept. 3, 1985 – Starlight Theater, K.C.
SHOW No. 4: Truckin’
Track # 17
4:22 – 6:03
The lyrics were written under pressure, in the studio, during the recording of American Beauty (Nov. 1970) (released as a single backed by Ripple in Jan. 1971), with Hunter running back and forth with hastily-written verses that somehow, despite the fact that were purpose-written on the spot, seem to have some pretty good staying power. There are rumors that he originally wrote “Garlands of neon and flashing marquees out on Main Street” as an intentionally hard-to-sing line, just to enjoy watching Weir try to wrap his mouth around them, eventually relenting and substituting “arrows of neon,” just to make it possible to sing.
The music credit is shared by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Phil Lesh. Hunter gets the credit for the lyrics. And Hunter took the bare bones outline of some of the band’s adventures and misadventures and fleshed them out with memorable features, highlighting their trips around the country with specific references to places and occurrences. In the process, he came up with a chorus consisting of a couple of phrases that are now, eternally, in the cultural psyche: “Sometimes the light’s all shining on me / Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me / What a long strange trip it’s been.”
At some point, Hunter was accused of using a cliché in that final phrase of the chorus. When something you make up becomes such a commonly-used turn of phrase that your own invention of it is accused of being cliché, that’s some measure of wordsmithing success, I would say.
Truckin’” was first performed on August 18, 1970, at the Fillmore West. The show opened with an acoustic set, and “Truckin’” was the first song. Other firsts that night included “Ripple,” “Brokedown Palace,” and “Operator.” The song was performed 532 times, placing it at number 8 in the list of most-played songs, with the final performance on July 6, 1995, at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
OUTRO: Johnny B. Goode
Track #19
1:10 – 2:51
Johnny B. Goode" is a song by American musician Chuck Berry, written and sung by Berry in 1958. Released as a single in 1958, it peaked at number two on the Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on its pre-Hot 100 chart.[1] The song remains a staple of early and later rock music.
"Johnny B. Goode" is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music. Credited as "the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll stardom",[2] it has been covered by various other artists and has received several honors and accolades. These include being ranked 33rd on Rolling Stones's 2021 version[3] and 7th on the 2004 version of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"[2][4] and included as one of the 27 songs on the Voyager Golden Record, a collection of music, images, and sounds designed to serve as a record of humanity.
Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about a semi-literate "country boy" from the New Orleans area, who plays a guitar "just like ringing a bell", and who might one day have his "name in lights".[5] Berry acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical and that the original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play.[6] As well as suggesting that the guitar player is good, the title hints at autobiographic elements, because Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue, in St. Louis.[5]
The song was initially inspired by Johnnie Johnson, the regular piano player in Berry's band,[7] but developed into a song mainly about Berry himself. Johnson played on many recordings by Berry, but for the Chess recording session Lafayette Leake played the piano, along with Willie Dixon on bass and Fred Below on drums.[5][8] The session was produced by Leonard and Phil Chess.[8] The guitarist Keith Richards later suggested that the song's chords are more typical of compositions written for piano than for guitar.[9]
The opening guitar riff of "Johnny B. Goode" borrows from the opening single-note solo on Louis Jordan's "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" (1946), played by guitarist Carl Hogan
A cover version is featured in the film Back to the Future (1985), when the lead character Marty McFly, played by actor Michael J. Fox, performs it at a high school dance.
Played 283 times, almost always as an encore or show closer (back in the days where there were no encores)
First played on Sept. 7, 1969 at Family Dog on the Great Highway, S.F.
Last played on April 5, 1995 at Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum in Birmingham, AL
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"The Tragic Consequences of Strict Drug Policies: Remembering Lee Sun-kyun"
Larry Michigan, starts off by wishing everyone a happy new year and reminiscing about the Grateful Dead's legendary New Year's Eve shows. He decides to feature songs from the Grateful Dead's New Year's Eve show in 1981 at the Oakland Coliseum. Larry describes the chaotic countdown and the band's energetic performance at midnight. He also pays tribute to John Cutler, a Grateful Dead sound technician and producer who recently passed away. Larry discusses the strict anti-drug policies in South Korea and the tragic death of Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, who was subjected to relentless media scrutiny for his alleged marijuana use. He criticizes the punitive approach to drug abuse and emphasizes the need for rehabilitation rather than punishment. Larry also predicts that the University of Michigan's football team will win their game against the University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl based on his "Deadhead Cannabis System." The episode concludes with a discussion of the Grateful Dead's performance of "Dark Star" at the New Year's Eve show and the significance of the song's rarity.
Timestamp Chapters:00:00:36 - Introduction and New Year's Eve celebration
00:04:22 - Featuring songs from the Grateful Dead's New Year's Eve show of 1981
00:05:52 - Discussion on the song "Iko Iko" and the energy of a Dead New Year's Eve show
00:33:48 - Tragic story of Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun and the strict anti-drug policies in South Korea
00:38:00 - Predicting the winner of the Michigan vs. Alabama football game using the Deadhead Cannabis System
00:42:00 - The encore set featuring Dark Star and other songs
Note: The timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly when listening to the actual podcast episode.
Grateful Dead
December 31, 1981
Oakland Coliseum
Grateful Dead Live at Oakland Auditorium on 1981-12-31 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
*With Joan Baez **With Matt Kelly ***With John Cipollina. Bill Graham flies in on a joint - also: NRPS - only "Banks Of The Ohio" - final "Bobby McGee" - final "Bye Bye Love" - final "Children Of The 80s" - last "Dark Star": 01-20-79 [232] - final "Lucifer's Eyes"INTRO: NYE Countdown
Track No. 20
6:35 – 7:35
SHOW No. 1: Iko Iko
Track No. 21
:26 – 2:00
SHOW No. 2: The Boxer (with Joan Baez)
Track No. 3
0:00 – 1:35
SHOW No. 3: Bye Bye Love (with Joan Baez)
Track No. 6
0:00 – 1:14
SHOW No. 4: Dark Star
Track No. 31
4:20 – 6:00
OUTRO: It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Track No. 34
1:41 – 3:45
Talk about the dead show/NYE shows in general
Korean Actor who committed suicide because he was being investigated for MJ use
Dead U. at Stanford with David Gans
RIP John Cutler
And more
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Tunes of the Season: Phish, Grateful Dead, and Merry Jams"
Larry Mishkin discusses Christmas-themed songs performed by various artists, including The Who and Grateful Dead. Larry delves into The Who's rock opera "Tommy," particularly focusing on the song "Christmas" and its critical reception. He transitions to discussing Grateful Dead's rendition of Chuck Berry's "Run, Rudolph, Run" performed at the Felt Forum in 1971 and analyzes its significance in the band's repertoire.
Larry further explores the potential residency of bands like Dead & Company at the Sphere in Las Vegas, following U2's shows there. He touches on Phish's upcoming performances at the same venue and discusses the difficulty in acquiring tickets for these highly anticipated shows.
Later, Larry reminisces about New Year's Eve shows by various bands, specifically mentioning Grateful Dead's memorable performances during the countdown. He also features unconventional Christmas renditions by Phish and Jerry Garcia with David Grisman.
.Produced by PodConx
Theme – Rock n Roll Christmas
If you were in the Mishkin household earlier this morning, you might have heard this blasting out of the speakers:
INTRO: Christmas
The Who
February 14, 1970
University of Leeds, Leeds, England aka “Live At Leeds”
The Who - Christmas - Live At Leeds (with Footage) (youtube.com)
2:00 – 3:17
"Christmas" is a song written by Pete Townshend and is the seventh song on The Who's rock opera Tommy. On the original LP, it opens the second side of the album. Tommy is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Who, first released on 19 May 1969.[2] Primarily written by guitarist Pete Townshend, Tommy is a double album and an early rock opera that tells the story of Tommy Walker and his experiences through life.
The song tells how on Christmas morning, Tommy's father is worried about Tommy's future, and soul. His future is jeopardized due to being deaf, dumb, and blind.[2] The lyrics contrast religious themes such as Christmas and Jesus Christ with Tommy's ignorance of such matters. The rhetorical question, "How can he be saved from the eternal grave?" is asked about Tommy's condition and adds speculation as to the nature of original sin and eternal salvation. In the middle of the song, "Tommy can you hear me?" is repeated, with Tommy responding, "See me, feel me, touch me, heal me."
"Christmas" was praised by critics. Richie Unterberger of AllMusic called it an "excellent song."[5]Rolling Stone's Mac Randall said it was one of several "prime Pete Townshend songs" on the album.[6] A review in Life by Albert Goldman considered it beautiful and highlighted the song's "croaking chorus".[7] James Perone said it was "perhaps one of the best sleeper tracks of the collection."
Townshend came up with the concept of Tommy after being introduced to the work of Meher Baba, and he attempted to translate Baba's teachings into music. Recording on the album began in September 1968, but took six months to complete as material needed to be arranged and re-recorded in the studio. Tommy was acclaimed upon its release by critics, who hailed it as the Who's breakthrough. Its critical standing diminished slightly in later years; nonetheless, several writers view it as an important and influential album in the history of rock music. The Who promoted the album's release with an extensive tour, including a live version of Tommy, which lasted throughout 1969 and 1970. Key gigs from the tour included appearances at Woodstock, the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, the University of Leeds, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. The live performances of Tommy drew critical praise and revitalised the band's career.
Live at Leeds is the first live album by English rock band the Who. It was recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970, and is their only live album that was released while the group were still actively recording and performing with their best-known line-up of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon.
The album was released on 11 May 1970 by Decca and MCA in the United States,[2] and by Track and Polydor in the United Kingdom. It has been reissued on several occasions and in several different formats. Since its release, Live at Leeds has been ranked by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time
SHOW No. 1: Run Rudolph Run
Grateful Dead
Felt Forum at MSG, NYC
December 7, 1971
Track No. 10
Grateful Dead Live at Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden on 1971-12-07 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
0:11 – 1:54
Run Rudolph Run"[2][3][4] is a Christmas song written by Chuck Berry but credited to Johnny Marks and M. Brodie due to Marks' trademark on the character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.[5][note 1] It was published by St. Nicholas Music (ASCAP) and was first recorded by Berry in 1958, released as a single on Chess Records.
It has since been covered by numerous other artists, sometimes with the title "Run Run Rudolph".[16] The song is a 12-bar blues, musically similar to Berry's popular and recognizable song "Johnny B. Goode", and melodically similar to his song "Little Queenie", the latter of which was released shortly after, in 1959.
During its initial chart run, Berry's 1958 recording peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1958.[22] Sixty years later, the single re-entered the Hot 100 chart at number 45 (on the week ending January 5, 2019), reaching an overall peak position of number 10 on the week ending January 2, 2021, following its third chart re-entry, becoming Berry's third top-ten hit and his first since 1972's "My Ding-a-Ling". In doing so, it broke the record for the longest climb to the top 10 since its first entry in December 1958, at 62 years and two weeks.
This Ciip:
Out of Brokedown Palace and into You Win AgainPlayed a total of 7 times.This was the first timeLast: December 15, 1971 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MISHOW No. 2: Little Drummer Boy
Phish
July 3, 1999
Coca Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
Phish - The Little Drummer Boy - 7/3/1999 - Atlanta, GA (youtube.com)
Start to 1:30
Out of Contact to close the second set. Played it again as the first encore (into, Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailery starring Page’s dad, Jack, on vocals and kazoo.
"The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a Czechoslovakian popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.[1] First recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years, and the song has been recorded many times since.[2] In the lyrics, the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the Nativity of Jesus. Without a gift for the Infant, the little drummer boy played his drum with approval from Jesus' mother, Mary, recalling, "I played my best for him" and "He smiled at me".
Phish has only performed the song three times during the month of December – the debut performance segueing out of “Mike’s Song” and into “Whipping Post,” a tease during the 12/28/94 “Weekapaug Groove,” and jammed out of the “YEM” vocal jam (12/2/99) (which melted down until Jon was left singing it to close the set). But the song was jammed out of season during “My Friend, My Friend” (3/18/93) and “Stash” (7/15/93), and teased during “Weekapaug Groove” and “Big Ball Jam” (4/9/94), “Wilson” (8/13/97), “Silent in the Morning” (7/4/99), and "Wilson" (4/16/04).
This version is generally considered to be Fishman’s most memorable version.
SHOW No. 3: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
November 9, 1991
Warfield Theater, S.F.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Jerry Garcia - Bing video
Start – 1:37
Out of The Two Sisters to close second set
"God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" is an English traditional Christmas carol. It is in the Roxburghe Collection (iii. 452), and is listed as no. 394 in the Roud Folk Song Index. It is also known as "Tidings of Comfort and Joy", and by other variant incipits.
An early version of this carol is found in an anonymous manuscript, dating from the 1650s
it appeared in a parody published in 1820 by William Hone.
Story here is the way Jerry and David play so tight, trading off leads and filling in gaps. A great sound for a traditional tune. There are many sides of Jerry and we don’t get to see all of them. Nice to take a break from the traditional Dead stuff and take a look in at what else Garcia was doing during that creative period of his life.
SHOW No. 4: Stagger Lee
Grateful Dead
December 30, 1985
Track No. 6
Grateful Dead Live at Oakland Coliseum on 1985-12-30 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive
Start – 1:32
As is made clear by the opening lyrics, this is a tale about events that unfolded and played out on Christmas: “1940 Xmas Eve with a full moon over town”. On some occasions, Jerry was known to substitute in “Christmas” Eve.
"Stagger Lee", also known as "Stagolee" and other variants, is a popular American folk song about the murder of Billy Lyons by "Stag" Lee Shelton, in St. Louis, Missouri, at Christmas 1895. The song was first published in 1911 and first recorded in 1923, by Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, titled "Stack O' Lee Blues". A version by Lloyd Price reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.
The historical Stagger Lee was Lee Shelton, an African-American pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri, in the late 19th century. He was nicknamed Stag Lee or Stack Lee, with a variety of explanations being given: he was given the nickname because he "went stag" (went to social events unaccompanied by a person of the opposite sex); he took the nickname from a well-known riverboat captain called Stack Lee; or, according to John and Alan Lomax, he took the name from a riverboat owned by the Lee family of Memphis called the Stack Lee, which was known for its on-board prostitution.[2] Shelton was well known locally as one of the Macks, a group of pimps who demanded attention through their flashy clothing and appearance.[3] In addition to those activities, he was the captain of a black Four Hundred Club, a social club with a dubious reputation.
On Christmas night in 1895, Shelton and his acquaintance William "Billy" Lyons were drinking in the Bill Curtis Saloon. Lyons was also a member of St. Louis' underworld, and may have been a political and business rival to Shelton. Eventually, the two men got into a dispute, during which Lyons took Shelton's Stetson hat.[5]Subsequently, Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left.[6] Lyons died of his injuries, and Shelton was charged, tried, and convicted of the murder in 1897. He was paroled in 1909, but returned to prison in 1911 for assault and robbery. He died in incarceration in 1912.
The Grateful Dead frequently played and eventually recorded a version of the tale which focuses on the fictionalized hours after the death of "Billy DeLyon", when Billy's wife Delia tracks down Stagger Lee in a local saloon and "she shot him in the balls" in revenge for Billy's death.
Based on the traditional song "Stagger Lee", "Stagolee" or "Stack O'Lee." Robert Hunter wrote a version that he performed solo, and Jerry Garcia subsequently re-ordered the lyrics and rewrote the music for the Grateful Dead's version. More recently Bob Weir has also been performing some of the older traditional versions with Ratdog.
Dead released it on Shakedown Street, Nov. 8, 1978
Played 146 times by the Dead
1st: August 30, 1978
Last: June 18, 1995 Giants Stadium
OUTRO: Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
CW Post University, Greenvale, NY
December, 19756
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (Live at C.W. Post College, Greenvale, NY - December 1975) - Bing video
2:15 - 4:00
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" is a Christmas song featuring Santa Claus, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie and first recorded by Harry Reser and His Band.[1] When it was covered by Eddie Cantor on his radio show in November 1934 it became a hit; within 24 hours, 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records were sold.[2][3] The version for Bluebird Records by George Hall and His Orchestra (vocal by Sonny Schuyler) was very popular in 1934 and reached the various charts of the day.[4] The song has been recorded by over 200 artists including Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, the Crystals, Neil Diamond, Fred Astaire, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Chris Isaak, the Temptations, The Pointer Sisters, the Carpenters, Michael Bublé, Luis Miguel, and the Jackson 5
A rock version by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band was recorded on December 12, 1975, at C. W. Post College in Brookville, New York, by Record Plant engineers Jimmy Iovine and Thom Panunzio.[14][15] This version borrows the chorus refrain from the 1963 recording by the Crystals.[16] It was first released as a track on the 1981 Sesame Street compilation album, In Harmony 2, as well as on a 1981 promotional, radio-only, 7-inch single (Columbia AE7 1332).[17][18] Four years later, it was released as the B-side to "My Hometown," a single off the Born in the U.S.A. album.[19] Springsteen's rendition of the song has received radio airplay perennially at Christmastime for years; it appeared on Billboard magazine's Hot Singles Recurrents chart each year from 2002 to 2009 due to seasonal air play. Live performances of the song often saw the band encouraging the audience to sing some of the lyrics with—or in place of—the band's vocalists (usually the line "you'd better be good for goodness sake", and occasionally the key line "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" as well). Sometimes, concert crowds would sing along with the entire song, and the band, who were known to encourage this behavior for the song, would do nothing to dissuade those audiences from doing so, instead welcoming the crowds' enthusiasm. This version remains a Springsteen concert favorite during the months of November and December (often concluding the show), and the band is among the few that keep it in their roster of songs during the holidays.
Dead & Co at the Sphere?
Phish – sold out fast
Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
-
"Sailing Through Sounds: JRad's Revelations & Dylan Surprises"
Larry Mishkin discusses JRad (Joe Russo's Almost Dead) December 1st concert at the Riviera nightclub in Chicago. He talks about the band's unique covers, including Grateful Dead songs, and their ability to recreate the sound of the original artists. He highlight the performance of "Foolish Heart" during a previous show, describing its musical construction and its significance in the Grateful Dead's live repertoire.
Delving into the band members' backgrounds, emphasizing their musical talents and contributions to JRad. It provides detailed information about each member's musical history and collaborations, discussing Joe Russo's drumming, Marco Benevento's keyboards, Dave Drywitz's bass, Tom Hamilton's guitar, and Scott Metzger's diverse musical styles.
He also reviews JRad's surprise performances, such as their rendition of Bob Dylan's "Tell Me Mama," a song exclusively performed during Dylan's 1966 world tour. Larry expresses surprise at how JRad, despite being younger and not following Dylan in 1966, managed to perform the song so well.
Additionally, he briefly touches on the issue of marijuana prohibition on cruise ships, by criticizing the strict enforcement against cannabis use, considering the changing attitudes toward marijuana. The discussion also touches upon ticket availability for concerts by bands like Phish and rumors surrounding potential performances.
.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
JRAD
December 1, 2023
The Riviera Nightclub
Chicago
Joe Russo's Almost Dead Live at The Riviera on 2023-12-01 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Episode title: JRAD Rocks The Riv in Chicago on 12.1.2023: channel Dylan and Dire Straits
Happy Birthday Keith Richards (80!)
INTRO: Foolish Heart
Track #3
5:45 – 7:17
SHOW No. 1: Tell Me, Momma
Track #4
0:57 – 2:33
Tell Me, Momma is a song written by Bob Dylan and performed exclusively during his 1966 World Tour with the Band (then known as the Hawks). It was used to introduce the second half of a concert, when Dylan switched from an acoustic solo performance to an electric performance backed by a band. The song was not recorded on a studio album, nor was it ever performed again by Dylan in concert.
Dylan's May 17, 1966 live performance of the song was released in 1998 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert.[1] In 2016, all Dylan's recorded live performances of "Tell Me, Momma" from 1966 were released in the 36-CD boxed set The 1966 Live Recordings, with the May 26, 1966 performance released separately on the album The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert. The boxed set contains all the live versions of "Tell Me, Momma" ever performed by Dylan and his band.
SHOW No. 2: Fire On The Mountain
Track #7
0:30 – 2:05
SHOW No. 3: Before They Make Me Run
Keith Richards
ROLLING STONES: Before They Make Me Run (Promo - 7" Single Version) (youtube.com)
1:54 – 3:21
Today Keith turned 80. Cannot let that milestone go unnoticed.
Richards was born in and grew up in Dartford, Kent. He studied at the Dartford Technical School and Sidcup Art College. After graduating, Richards befriended Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Brian Jones and joined the Rolling Stones. As a member of the Rolling Stones, Richards also sings lead on some Stones songs. Richards typically sings lead on at least one song a concert, including "Happy", "Before They Make Me Run", and "Connection". Outside of his career with the Rolling Stones, Richards has also played with his own side-project, The X-Pensive Winos. He also appeared in three Pirates of the Caribbean films as Captain Teague, father of Jack Sparrow, whose look and characterisation was inspired by Richards himself.
In 1989, Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2004 into the UK Music Hall of Fame with the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him fourth on its list of 100 best guitarists in 2011. In 2023, Rolling Stone's ranking was 15th.[1] The magazine lists fourteen songs that Richards wrote with Jagger on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.
My favorite “Keith tune” in the Stone’s songbook. 1978 version.
"Before They Make Me Run" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, featured on their 1978 album Some Girls.
English musician, songwriter, singer and recording producer who is an original member, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of the Rolling Stones. His songwriting partnership with the band's lead vocalist Mick Jagger is one of the most successful in history. His career spans over six decades, and his guitar playing style has been a trademark of the Rolling Stones throughout the band's career. Richards gained press notoriety for his romantic involvements and illicit drug use, and he was often portrayed as a countercultural figure.
Written by guitaristKeith Richards, the song is a response to his arrest for heroin possession in Toronto in February 1977. The criminal charges and prospect of a prison sentence loomed over the Some Girls recording sessions and endangered the future of the Rolling Stones.[2]
In the lyrics, Richards reflects unapologetically on his lifestyle up to that point. The line "it's another goodbye to another good friend" in the first verse can be interpreted as referring to Gram Parsons, Richards's close friend who died in 1973 from a drug overdose,[3] and/or to heroin itself: Richards had sought medical treatment for heroin addiction following his arrest in Toronto, and his resolution to overcome his addiction would be a significant factor in his upcoming trial.[4]
Richards recorded the song in five days without sleeping.[5] Originally entitled "Rotten Roll", the song was recorded in a Paris studio in March 1978 during one of Mick Jagger's absences from the Some Girls sessions.[6] The completed track, "a high-energy rock & roller",[7] features Richards on lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, and bass; Ronnie Wood on pedal steel guitar, slide guitar and backing vocals; Charlie Watts on drums; and Jagger on backing vocals.
Richards first performed the song in concert on the New Barbarians' tour of North America in 1979; it was not until the Steel Wheels Tour in 1989 that it entered the Rolling Stones' concert repertoire
SHOW No. 4: Romeo and Juliet
Track #13
1:54 – 3:21
"Romeo and Juliet" is a rock[1][4][5] song by the British rock band Dire Straits, written by frontman Mark Knopfler. It first appeared on the 1980 album Making Movies and was released as a single in 1981.[6] The song subsequently appeared on the Dire Straits live albums Alchemy and On the Night, and later on Knopfler's live duet album with Emmylou Harris, Real Live Roadrunning (though Harris does not perform on the track).
The song itself, written by Knopfler, was inspired by his failed romance with Holly Vincent, lead singer of the short-lived band Holly and the Italians. The song speaks of a Romeo who is still very much in love with his Juliet, but she now treats him like "just another one of [her] deals". Knopfler has both stated and implied that he believes Vincent was using him to boost her career. The song's line, "Now you just say, oh Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him," refers to an interview with Vincent, where she says "What happened was that I had a scene with Mark Knopfler and it got to the point where he couldn't handle it and we split up.
OUTRO: Hard To Handle
Track #17
5:00 – 6:45
Otis Redding recorded Hard to Handle in late 1967, shortly before his death. It was released as a single in June 1968. By 1969, it was being covered by a number of people, and surprisingly, the Dead seem to have been one of the first. If anyone were to think of the least likely groups in ‘69 to cover some funky new R&B, the Dead would probably be on that list. They hadn’t shown any interest in picking up new R&B covers since mid-1967, when they started doing Lovelight – since then, they had focused on their original ‘acid-rock’ material. Many old covers dropped out of their setlists, and from summer ’68 through winter ’69, their shows were almost exclusively devoted to Anthem & Live/Dead suite material, with a few new Aoxomoxoa songs dropped in.
But by March 1969, they seem to have felt the need for something new – the Live/Dead album was in the can, and their repertoire had not varied much in months. Aside from a couple sluggish, misbegotten renditions of Hey Jude that winter, Hard to Handle was their first new cover song in over a year. Over the course of the spring, they would gradually bring in more cover tunes, bringing back many songs they had stopped playing in previous years, and the shows would start to reflect a wider set of influences.
Pigpen probably emulated Otis, and of course this song would have matched his strutting stage persona; it may have been his idea to cover it. The Dead must have known they could not recapture the tight, snappy Stax horn sound of Redding’s original, and they didn’t even try. Instead they adapted it to their loud, heavy, lumbering two-drum, two-guitar style – of course adding a big guitar solo. Pigpen had a set way of singing the song from the start, closely following Redding’s phrasing, which would vary little over the next couple years; but the band would go through some dramatic changes in the way they played the song. (The next year, a bit lighter on their feet, they would also attempt James Brown’s ‘Man’s World’ – not one of his funkiest efforts – but would only play it for about five months.)The Dead had long been fans of Otis Redding – in 1966-67, Pigpen was performing his ‘63 song ‘Pain in My Heart.’ (Though the impetus to cover it may have come from the Rolling Stones’ version.)
Redding came to the Fillmore in December ’66 – musicians were clamoring to Bill Graham that he needed to book Otis. When he came, according to Graham, “Every artist in the city asked to open for Otis. The first night, it was the Grateful Dead. Janis Joplin came at three in the afternoon the day of the first show to make sure that she’d be in front… Every musician then into music came.” *
The Dead opened for Redding on 12/20/66; the next two nights, other bands opened. (The Dead went to play in Santa Clara.) Bill Graham was permanently impressed: “By far, Otis Redding was the single most extraordinary talent I had ever seen. There was no comparison, then or now... That was the best gig I ever put on in my entire life.” * Janis also mentioned that Otis was a particular inspiration to her. (I believe Ralph Gleason also wrote a review of one of the shows for the Chronicle, which I’d like to see.)
When Garcia & Lesh appeared on Tom Donahue’s FM show in April ’67, they played Otis’ cover of ‘Day Tripper’ and reminisced about the show. Otis had an 18-piece band with him, and Garcia recalled that Otis did his standard show, “where the band would get up and play some numbers, and a girl singer would come up” and warm up the audience before Otis appeared.
Lesh: “It was kind of scary to work with Otis… He tore it up!”
Garcia: “Otis is really heavy… He tore the place apart… When he came on stage, it was like the whole place got about six times as big, and the band just got real snappy – it was so fine, and the music was really good.”The Dead debuted Hard to Handle at the Black & White Ball (Hilton Hotel, S.F.) , 3/15/69 – the very first song of the show! In their eagerness to tackle it, they perhaps neglected to rehearse it a few more times… They have trouble keeping together in the precise arrangement, and sometimes stumble around erratically before syncing up again. Garcia plays swooping slide throughout, but seems to have little idea what to do with it, so there’s not much of a solo and they just sort of stagger forward aimlessly for a while. Pigpen is also a little confused about the verses. At the end the band thinks Pigpen’s finished, but he continues with another verse, so they bring it to an abrupt end.
Last played on December 31, 1982 at the Oakland Civic Auditorium. Played it a total of 120 times.
Other stories:
Cruise Ships have a very strict NO CANNABIS rule. That sucksPhish tix for the Sphere are out. Did you get any?.Produced by PodConx
Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show
Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin
Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt
Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg
Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/
Recorded on Squadcast
- Laat meer zien
