Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2CD
“For the Grateful Dead's second live album, released two years after its predecessor LIVE/DEAD, the band delivered an equally magnificent, but entirely different, Grateful Dead sound. Whereas LIVE/DEAD was a perfect sonic encapsulation of the band at the peak of their Primal Dead era, SKULL & ROSES captures the quintessential quintet, the original five piece band, playing some of their hardest hitting rock 'n' roll (‘Johnny B. Goode,’ ‘Not Fade Away’), showing off their authentic Bakersfield bona fides (‘Me & My Uncle,’ ‘Mama Tried,’ ‘Me & Bobby McGee’), and some originals that would be important parts of the Dead's live repertoire for the next 24 years (‘Bertha,’ ‘Playing In The Band,’ ‘Wharf Rat’). Of course, the Dead were never defined by one specific ‘sound’ and amongst the aforementioned genres and styles the band brought to this album, they also delved deeply into their psychedelic, primal playbook with an entire side dedicated to their 1968 masterpiece ‘The Other One.’ This is one of the most deeply rich and satisfying tracks preserved on an official Grateful Dead album, up there with LIVE/DEAD's ‘Dark Star’ and EUROPE '72's ‘Morning Dew.’ SKULL & ROSES sounds as fresh today as the first time I heard it in 1985, and as fresh as it was upon its spectacularly well-received release in 1971.” - David Lemieux
Not only did SKULL & ROSES serve up supremely fine tunes, it was also the one that scored the Grateful Dead their very first Gold record, introduced the world to the iconic skeleton babe Bertha, and asked the questions - Who are you? Where are you? How are you? - giving birth to the first official generation of Dead Heads.
DEAD FREAKS, old and new, get ready to reunite on June 25th with the release of GRATEFUL DEAD (SKULL & ROSES): EXPANDED EDITION. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the 2CD set will feature the album’s original 11 tracks, newly remastered from the stereo analog master tapes by Grammy® Award winning engineer David Glasser using Plangent Process Speed Correction. We're topping it off with more than an hour of previously unreleased live recordings taken from the much-requested July 2, 1971 performance at the Fillmore West, the band’s final performance at the historic San Francisco venue. Standouts include the 17-minute Pigpen spectacular “Good Lovin’,” an achingly beautiful take on Merle Haggard’s “Sing Me Back Home,” and a spell-binding version of “The Other One” that rivals the one captured on the original Side 2.
Looking for something more byte-sized? The GRATEFUL DEAD (SKULL & ROSES): EXPANDED EDITION and the original edition will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at Dead.net, on release day. You can pre-order it now.
Most jokes state a bitter truth…..
50 years ago today…..
November 7, 1971
Harding Theater, San Francisco, California
Set 1: Truckin'-Brown-Eyed Women-Beat It On Down The Line-Hideaway-Sugaree-Jack Straw-Tennessee Jed-Cumberland Blues-El Paso-Big Railroad Blues-Comes A Time-Mexicali Blues-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Ramble On Rose-Me And Bobby McGee-Loser-Sugar Magnolia-Dark Star>drums>The Other One>Me And My Uncle>The Other One>Deal-Brokedown Palace-Playing In The Band-Casey Jones-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Encores: Johnny B. Goode-Uncle John's Band
Deadicated to bolo24, because I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail……
Great and classic show and a long-time personal favorite. It has pretty much everything you could ask of the Dead in this era. Rockers, Cowboy songs, hot jams, the unusual coupling of Dark Star and The Other One, an unbelievably smoking NFA transition jam (maybe the best ever?), plus even the often-expected equipment difficulties, AND jokes from the audience! The circulating broadcast copies are excellent quality and highly recommended. The band sounds loose, and the crowd sounds juiced. OK yes there’s no Pigpen, but still highly highly recommended, a classic of the first rank!!
Rock on!!
Doc
It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes
Radical politics tend to be simple minded…..
50 years ago today……
November 11, 1971
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia
Set 1: Bertha-Me And My Uncle-Sugaree-Playing In The Band-Tennessee Jed-Jack Straw-Casey Jones-Me And Bobby McGee-Big Railroad Blues-Mexicali Blues-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Truckin'-Sugar Magnolia-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away-Johnny B. Goode
This is deadicated to John McCook…………
With the right vibes and the right people, it's easy to create something magical…..
Ah, what might have been! Sometimes, radical politics and rock and roll don’t mix well. And sometimes, the vibe effects the music……
Based on first hand accounts, as well as the audible stage banter on the circulating soundboard tape, this may be one of the most “unpleasant” shows of 1971. This is a difficult show to evaluate. Unlike some shows like Chateau d’Heronville and Terminal Island, which at least have “venue novelty value”, here the vibe is cold, confrontational, even hostile. Did the negative vibes effect the music? Hard to judge nearly fifty years after the fact, but I think that somehow it did.
The first set is about as long as most from this period. The “continuity” or “flow” is severely disrupted after Bertha. As usual, there are “equipment problems”. The second set is markedly shorter than most second sets from the Fall tours (six songs), there is no big jam number, and there is no encore. All that being said, overall the playing is pretty decent, and the Truckin’ and the NFA are strong. Still, I think this show generally falls well below the level of the other November 1971 shows. In fact, I’ve always thought of it as a somewhat oddball show, but maybe it’s just me……………
Rock on!!
Doc
Beautiful things can happen when you act intuitively and instinctively in a moment of anxiety and do something radical…..
If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be…..
50 years ago today……
November 12, 1971
San Antonio Civic Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas
Set 1: Truckin'-Loser-Beat It On Down The Line-Sugaree-Jack Straw-Tennessee Jed-El Paso-Brown Eyed Women-Mexicali Blues-Black Peter-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Ramble On Rose-Me & My Uncle-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>The Other One> Cryptical Envelopment reprise>Big Railroad Blues-Sugar Magnolia-Casey Jones-Johnny B. Goode
Deadicated to claney, fadedin7, Chris Grand, rodrigodiaz, twoxdad, deadegad, Eric3000, Forward, Dennis, and dharwin, because of the persistence of memory….
After the pandemonium of Atlanta the Dead rebound quite nicely here in San Antonio. A longer show, with a looser feel, a minimum of technical difficulties, and nice Texas-via-Bakersfield flavors. The second set includes a massive, 21 minute Other One that ranges from soft and spacey to raucous and rockin’. What some might call “a nice little show”, definitely underrated and worth a listen!
We have deep depth…..
Rock on!!
Doc
It gets late early out there……
I don't know one note from another……
50 years ago today……..
November 14, 1971
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, , Texas
Set 1: Bertha-Beat It On Down The Line-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-El Paso-Sugaree-Jack Straw-Big Railroad Blues-Me And Bobby McGee-Loser-Playing In The Band-Tennessee Jed-You Win Again-Mexicali Blues-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Truckin'>drums>The Other One>Me And My Uncle>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Sugar Magnolia-Johnny B. Goode
Deadicated to Matt's_On_The_Way, boblopes, Hoopsie, lowspark75, muleskinner_blues, Gary Farseer, DaveStrang, Guss West, Ridin that Train, and Coconut Phil, because gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind….
This show was relatively unknown until it was partially released as part of the Road Trips series in February 2010, and now, eleven years later, one still hears very little about it.
The 16 song first set, one of the longest of the year, is very fine, with major Bakersfield flavors. Nice early first set China/Rider. Serious dose of country-western-Weir material. The first live version of Hank Williams’ You Win Again, a cover song I always enjoyed. I thought Garcia did it well………..
The second set is slightly shorter, with a more convoluted Other One than in San Antonio, with the somewhat typical Other One/MAMU/Other One sandwich leading into Wharf Rat.
Very solid show, underrated, definitely worth checking out!
Rock on!!
Doc!!
No matter how I struggle and strive, I'll never get out of this world alive…..
Twilight is the time we see best…..
50 years ago today…..
November 15, 1971
Austin Municipal Auditorium, Austin, Texas
Set 1: Truckin'-Bertha-Playing In The Band-Deal-Jack Straw-Loser-Beat It On Down The Line-Dark Star>El Paso>Dark Star>Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Me And My Uncle-Ramble On Rose-Mexicali Blues-Brokedown Palace-Me And Bobby McGee-Cumberland Blues-Sugar Magnolia-You Win Again-Not Fade Away>China Cat Sunflower Jam>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Encore: Johnny B. Goode
Deadicated to cedarview, GR8FL22, rhodymike, Mr. Jack Straw, Nanno-1974, lebowski99, glynnt54, stoltzfus, dancin dean, and Zomby D Wulf, as memory may be a paradise from which we cannot be driven, it may also be a hell from which we cannot escape……
Back in the day this was one of the first Fall 71 tapes I ever had, and it was an instant favorite. While yes San Antonio and Fort Worth are very fine, Austin may be the penultimate 1971 Texas Dead show. It oozes quirky gooey goodness, from the blazing opening Truckin’, through a first set Star AND a spontaneous jam, to a great NFA suite with even more jamming. And if you’re a fan of Cumberland Blues (like I am!), this is one smokin’ version! Extremely solid, great show, get it!
Rock on!!!
Doc
The darkness of death is like the evening twilight; it makes all objects appear more lovely to the dying.
Without music, life is a journey through a desert…..
50 years ago today…….
November 17, 1971
Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Set 1: Truckin'-Sugaree-Beat It On Down The Line-Tennessee Jed-El Paso-Big Railroad Blues-Jack Straw-Deal-Playing In The Band-Cumberland Blues-Me And Bobby McGee-You Win Again-Mexicali Blues-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Ramble On Rose-Sugar Magnolia-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>The Other One>Me And My Uncle>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Deadicated to Strider Brown, because memory is a net full of holes, the most beautiful prizes slip through it…..
And all around is the desert; a corner of the mournful kingdom of sand…….
A very fine show and another personal favorite. I’ve advocated for this show for decades, and always hoped a good FM or SBD copy would someday magically appear. Yes, until that day came, at least once a year I would break out my old, not-entirely-but-almost-unlistenable copy and revisit it. Strong playing, good songs, nice jams. Highly recommended, especially now that it’s available in impeccable sound quality!!!
You should not see the desert simply as some faraway place of little rain. There are many forms of thirst……
Rock on!!
Doc
The rules of survival never change, whether you're in a desert or in an arena…..
He who has a why to live can bear almost any how…..
50 years ago today…..
November 20, 1971
Pauley Pavilion, University of California @ Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Set 1: Bertha-Me And My Uncle-Sugaree-Beat It On Down The Line-Tennessee Jed-Mexicali Blues-Brown Eyed Women-El Paso-Big Railroad Blues-Jack Straw-Cumberland Blues-Playing In The Band-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Truckin'>drums>The Other One>Ramble On Rose-Sugar Magnolia-You Win Again-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Deadicated to sepp the promoter, mikegordon, mickyfun, desertgirl, maisenberg, double-zero sol, jamesegal, uptownww, tubeguitaramps, dickelliott, csteitz, ortise, blue planetary storm, rlbilsky, progguy, stevehcohen, martyweinberg, andychatfield, drummingclown420, and jackstrawfrommaine because memory narrativises itself……..
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing here and what does it all mean? And he may look at you and say something weird but y’know it’s all in the game of life and there’s nothin’ you can do about it………….
Some where between Albuquerque and Los Angeles, Truckin’ went straight to the top of the charts in Turlock, California………
Sure wish the commonly circulating soundboards of this show were better quality. Perhaps some day it will be cleaned up and officially released, so that it can get the respect it deserves. Solid, well played, underrated and underappreciated…………….
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less………
Rock on!!
Doc
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us……
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see………
Fifty years ago today…………
It was a day between, a travel day, now, fifty years later, giving us time to ponder the deeper mysteries of music, because there is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres…..
I have been asked by a fellow traveler in 1971 Grateful Deadness to post a comparative analysis of two December 1971 Dead shows. I won’t tell you where his own tastes lead…….
Monet or Renoir? Joyce or Dostoevsky? Ellington or Mingus? Whitman or Frost? Wells or Bradbury? Rubies or emeralds?
Second Felt Forum or Second Fox Theater????
Every precious gem radiates and luxuriates in its own unique brilliance. One mustn’t necessarily outshine the other. Must we be forced to choose that single one that touches our hearts, and ears, most deeply?
The "1971 challenge" is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I generated a single page/single post rough draft ezrly, and while it's nice, I'm not totally satisfied with it. After all, 12/5 vs 12/10 is serious 1971 Grateful Deadness. LOL it's like Ali vs. Frazier, Cowboys vs. Steelers, chocolate chip cookie dough vs. pistachio.
The analysis itself isn't that hard, as long as you try to apply uniform criteria to both shows. And in attempting to be "objective" (always an issue while trying to analyze/criticize any art form), one has to try to put aside personal, subjective feelings and opinions. Which in this case, is truly difficult. I'm very familiar with both shows, but 12/5 has been a favorite of mine for a long long time.
When comparing different years, one comparative factor is "style". Here, that's not an issue since the shows are only 5 days apart. Which is actually good, because that factor is quickly eliminated and therefore one can concentrate exclusively on "content". Which means things like lengths of first and second sets, characteristics of the big jams, encores, etc. Naturally, the two shows have a lot in common, but there also have some very important differences as well.
For any and all who wish to weigh in, vote early, and often!!
Tomorrow: Felt Forum---how much does weirdness count?
Rock on!!!
Doc
What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit…..
Where's your will to be weird?
Felt Forum December 5 1971
Set 1: 15 songs. Opener: Bertha. Closer: One More Saturday Night. 7 Garcia, 5 Weir, 3 Pigpen.
Substantial, top notch first set. Perhaps the greatest one-off ever, revealing Garcia’s old soul. Muddy Water sounds so well rehearsed, as if it had been in the repertoire forever. Garcia’s picking is so so sweet. Solid Weir and Pigpen material. Excellent first set.
Set 2: 15 songs, plus one ‘loose jam”. Opener: Truckin’. Closer: NFA reprise. 5 Weir, 7 Garcia, 1 Pigpen, 2 “group” (NFA, NFA reprise). Encore: Johnny B Goode. Big jam: Dark Star.
A Truckin’ for the ages. A nonverbal—but certainly not silent---version of their signature psychedelic opus. Fine jamming in the NFA suite. Really fine second set.
We should revel in the gooey exotic weirdness of the Felt Forum show. Twists and turns, peaks and valleys, Pigpen and Bakersfield, rock and roll, Grateful Dead. In December 1971, did it get any better than this???
Overall rating: classic of the first rank.
Tomorrow: Second St Louis, Rodney Dangerfield’s favorite December 1971 show…..
Rock on!!
Doc
Embrace your weirdness!
I respect music, I do, I love it…………..
Fox Theater December 10 1971
Set 1: 12 songs. Opener: Bertha. Closer: Casey Jones. 6 Garcia (including two back-to back), 4 Weir, 2 Pigpen.
Well played, somewhat Garcia-centric first set. No major surprises or weirdness. Appears “typical” for late 1971, which still means “excellent”. Even so, clearly, on this evening the goodies were delivered in the second set.
Set 2: 14 songs. Opener: Good Lovin’. Closer: NFA reprise. 5 Garcia, 5 Weir, 1 Pigpen, 2 “group” (NFA, NFA reprise), 1 loose jam (sometimes labelled “China Cat” jam”, which lasts perhaps one minute, does that count as a song?).
Encore: One More Saturday Night. Big jam: The Other One.
Really fine Good Lovin’ to open, here Pigpen reveals his old soul, the only time it was played this month. Excellent big jam, as the Other One bobs and weaves along, seamlessly transitioning into and out of Sitting On Top Of The World. Typical fine late 71 jamming in the NFA suite. Rockin’ Saturday Night to close the show.
Now, after all these decades, we are treated to the full sonic majesty of the second Fox Theater. Now, without doubt, it shall get its due respect………..
Overall rating: Excellent!!
Rock on!!!
Doc
To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth……
Never cut what you can untie……
I’m not big into analyzing—or choosing--one show over another. I like what I like, but I am interested in what criteria folks use to judge what is “best”. The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.
Style? Content? Quantity over quality? What is the value, if any, of weirdness? Whose tunes are “better”? Decisions, decisions, decisions, every song is like a painting. Speaking of which, Renoir-Dostoevsky-Mingus-Frost-Bradbury-Rubies. Just for the record….
Honestly, I love BOTH shows. One is “merely excellent”, while the other is “quirkily classic”. Which one is which? The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions. By constant contemplation of excellence, we clear our selfhood of all dross and impurities. Freedom comes with the impossibility of choosing…..
This may surprise no one, but if I had to choose a “desert island show”, it would not be either of these shows, although clearly, both are exceptionally fine, and worthy!!! Music is the best means we have of digesting time…..
Tomorrow brings December, be prepared! He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter……
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest, the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life……
Rock on!!
Doc
Truly fertile music, the only kind that will move us, that we shall truly appreciate, will be a music conducive to dream, which banishes all reason and analysis. One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate reason.
So that we might have roses in December……
Yo! Rockers!!!
We’re in the home stretch. Cold winter beckons, warming music arrives……..
This is not the winter of our discontent. The anniversaries of eleven fine shows await. Two bona fide classics, maybe more, all worthwhile. October good, November better, December best. Be prepared!
Rock on!!
Doc
A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened…..
The Earth is like a child that knows poems…..
50 years ago today……
December 1, 1971
Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Set 1: Truckin'-Sugaree-Mr. Charlie-Beat It On Down The Line-Comes A Time-Jack Straw-The Rub-Tennessee Jed-El Paso-Big Railroad Blues-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Ramble On Rose-Me And Bobby McGee-Big Boss Man-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>The Other One>Me And My Uncle>The Other One-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Deadicated to Albert, where ever he may be. Don’t go all existential on me…..
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. After an absence of eighteen shows, Pigpen returns, albeit in a slightly subdued mode. But it’s good to have some grease back………..
This was the first show with both Pigpen and Keith Godchaux. It includes the final performance of The Rub, which is actually a pretty decent, hard rocking version. The Other One reprise has some nice, energetic “interior jamming” before they return to the Other One theme and the second verse, after which they fairly abruptly stop. This is followed by extended tuning prior to the start of Not Fade Away.
Hard to assess the first set due to “suboptimal sound quality” of the first set audience recording, but it seems well played and well received. The second set is very fine, highly recommended!
Rock on!!
Doc
I have just returned from Boston. It is the only thing to do if you find yourself up there……
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs……
50 years ago today…..
December 2, 1971
Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Set 1: Bertha-Playing In The Band-Mr. Charlie-Sugaree-Beat It On Down The Line-Black Peter-Next Time You See Me-Jack Straw-Tennessee Jed-Mexicali Blues-Smokestack Lightning-Big Railroad Blues-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Sugar Magnolia-Deal-El Paso-Brokedown Palace-Uncle John's Band-Not Fade Away>Turn On Your Love Light>Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away-Johnny B. Goode
Deadicated to Ken Kirk and Joe Lydon, for all the shows we shared together……
Maybe not a top-tier classic, but it has its own quirky gooey goodness. One of only two 1971 shows with both Black Peter and Brokedown Palace, and the only 1971 show with both Smokestack Lightning and Turn On Your Lovelight.
Back in the very early years of my crazy tape trading daze this was one of the first “local Dead show recordings” I had, so it has a special place in my Grateful Dead heart of hearts. It never seemed like the greatest Dead show ever, yet I still treasured it then---AND now.
Definitely worth a listen…………
Rock on!!
Doc
There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke…..
The busy have no time for tears…..
50 years ago today…..
December 4, 1971
Felt Forum, New York City, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Sugaree-Mr. Charlie-Beat It On Down The Line-Tennessee Jed-Jack Straw-Run Rudolph Run-You Win Again-Me And Bobby McGee-Comes A Time-El Paso-Smokestack Lightning-Cumberland Blues-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Ramble On Rose-Me & My Uncle>The Other One>Mexicali Blues>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Casey Jones
Encore: Johnny B Goode
Deadicated to evilyn2003, Mr.Dc, dissident1980, Maine Dave, Across the Rio, cosmicdavid, Lost Dantian Tapes, Dantian's Wei Lu, Heart of Dantian, Sydney Prentice, and Grayteful, because how cruelly sweet are the echoes that start, when memory plays an old tune on the heart…….
The food that feeds us all, the Grateful Dead………
We shouldn’t let the intense cosmic quality of December 5 overwhelm the other shows from this fine run. Here is a solid, well played show that you almost never hear about. The first set is long, well played, and has some nice, slightly oddball tunes like Run Rudolph Run, You Win Again, Comes A Time, and Smokestack Lightning. Equipment difficulties appear to be at a minimum. Admittedly, the second set is short, but does have the quirky, heavily Weirish jam sequence. Maybe not a top tier show, but certainly worth a listen…………
Rock on!!
Doc
To have no time for philosophy is to be a true philosopher…..
Yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why…..
50 years ago today…..
December 5, 1971
Felt Forum, New York City, New York
Set 1:Bertha-Beat It On Down The Line-Big Boss Man-Brown-Eyed Women-I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water-Jack Straw-Mr. Charlie-Tennessee Jed-El Paso-Deal-Playing In The Band-Next Time You See Me-Comes A Time-Casey Jones-One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Truckin'-Ramble On Rose-It Hurts Me Too-Sugaree-Sugar Magnolia-Dark Star Jam>Me And My Uncle>Dark Star Jam>Sitting On Top Of The World-Me And Bobby McGee-Big Railroad Blues-Mexicali Blues-You Win Again-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Encore: Johnny B. Goode
Deadicated to jrpaulson2009, canonico, pauldaley1, pony, b o, dirtrider5, alain, neveralull, ed.head, ords120, djaspen, manofort, zygster, mistercharlie, saintstevie, rockysgraetful, the tailgunner, doctorpat, and punster61, because weirdness accrues….
A new member of the family, a vote for male chauvinism, the youngest old timer, the erudite strong backbone of the organization, a very very youthful, ebullient and a very very dirty softball player, and the godfather of rock and roll play a show for the ages……
Was there something in the water? One of the greatest, weirdest, most loved, and most bootlegged shows of 1971, which has just about everything 1971 Dead that anybody could reasonably expect---equipment problems, rowdy crowd, rock and roll, Pigpen, cowboy songs, soulful Jerry, ethereal Truckin’, Dark Star, fiery Not Fade Away suite. I have probably gone through more versions of this broadcast than any other single Dead show I’ve ever had. If a clean soundboard were to suddenly surface---and circulate!---I could die a happy man. Truly very, very deserving of official release. Please, TPTB, make it so!!!!
Who was Uncle Sal???
Rock on!!
Doc
This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top…..
There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief…
50 years ago today……
December 6, 1971
Felt Forum, New York City, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Loser-Mr. Charlie-Jack Straw-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Run Rudolph Run-El Paso-Tennessee Jed-Mexicali Blues-Black Peter-Next Time You See Me-Casey Jones
Set 2: Big Railroad Blues-Me And My Uncle-Ramble On Rose-Playing In The Band-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>The Other One>Me And Bobby McGee>jam>The Other One>jam>Wharf Rat-One More Saturday Night
Encore: Uncle John's Band
Deadicated to GM and JF, because music is essentially built upon primitive memory structures….
Beneath all the madness, a bundle of joy, the Grateful Dead…..
It can be really tough being the show that comes immediately after a classic. While this one isn’t as weird and cosmic as the previous evening, it’s a well played, high quality, enjoyable December show. Not top tier, but still recommended………
One recognizes one's course by discovering the paths that stray from it…..
Rock on!!
Doc
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise…..
Sorrow is held the eldest child of sin…..
50 years ago today…..
December 7, 1971
Felt Forum, New York City, New York
Set 1: Cold Rain & Snow-Beat It On Down The Line-Mr Charlie-Sugaree-Jack Straw-Next Time You See Me-Tennessee Jed-El Paso-Brokedown Palace-Run Rudolph Run-You Win Again-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones
Set 2: Sugar Magnolia-Ramble On Rose-Big Boss Man-Mexicali Blues-Brown Eyed Women-Me & My Uncle -Smokestack Lightning-Deal-Truckin'-Not Fade Away>Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad>Not Fade Away
Encore: One More Saturday Night
Deadicated to Alan Richman, because some men's memory is like a box where a man should mingle his jewels with his old shoes…..
A solid, well played, if unspectacular show. For some, the lack of a “big jam” might knock this two a notch or two. There’s some good stuff here, but you have to dig for it. Decent dose of Pigpen (including a rare Smokestack Lightning, which, while good, is not “rave worthy”), cowboy tunes, and an up tempo closing segment. Definitely worth a listen.
You cannot create experience. You must undergo it……
Rock on!!
Doc
The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind…..