Grateful Dead

The summer months were excellent times to see the band, with not only so many shows, but with so many downright excellent shows. So, in the spirit of the wealth of music from the Grateful Dead’s recorded history during this week, on to the sounds…

Our first installment this week is another unique sequence from 1969, one that starts quite normally, but features a one-time-only segue: from 6/27/69 in Santa Rosa, California, Dark Star>St. Stephen>Green Green Grass of Home. It’s a very strange way to come out St. Stephen, but as with much of what the band tried onstage, it sure did work.

As we mentioned last week, the short tour from June 22, 1973 to July 1, 1973 often falls under the radar, due to the exceptional tours earlier in the year and later in the year. However, it should not be overlooked, as heard in these selection from 6/26/73 in Seattle, Here Comes Sunshine and a typically hot 1973 China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. Also from this tour, at Universal Amphitheatre on 6/30/73 is the first set-closing combination of Black Peter-Playing In The Band. Although this Playing In The Band isn’t quite as long as some of the others from 1973, it does go WAY out there.

Jumping ahead exactly one year to 6/30/74 in Springfield, we are pleased to present an excellent Playing In The Band>Uncle John’s Band>Playing In The Band medley. This one hits not only the deep spaces you’d expect in Playing, but the Uncle John’s Band jam hits some very deep spaces as well. A great jam from a great show on a great tour.

While we’re in the 1970s, a little something we didn’t have a chance to play in May is this Bertha>Good Lovin’ from 5/5/78 in New Hampshire.

Many venues hold special meaning to Dead Heads due the exceptional shows that have been played in them, and Merriweather is certainly one of these venues. From 6/27/84 we have the second set closing jam of Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away and from the end of the first set we have Let It Grow. This is all drawn from the cassette masters, which occasionally do sound very good, as evidenced here.

Next up we have a couple of very cool sequences from the Summer Tour of 1985. First is the second set-opening jam from Saratoga Springs’ ultra-cool SPAC, Feel Like A Stranger>Eyes of the World>Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad>Women Are Smarter. Aside from the very unusual combinations heard here are the segues themselves: seamless. And from the next night in Hershey, PA, on 6/28/85 is the one-time only Jerry triptych: Bird Song>Comes A Time>Deal to end the first set. Before hearing it, his had always been a sequence that on paper looked great, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint to the ears. Great stuff all the way through.

Our next selection requires a bit of a caveat: it is a very good example of many of the matrix tapes from 1987, meaning a combination of soundboard source and audience mic source blended together live at the show. Sometimes, this worked and created a wonderful live sounding tape, at others it wasn’t so successful. This would be one that leans toward the latter. However, the music and sequence are so good, the audio quality can very easily be overlooked. From 6/30/87 at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto is this post-Drums sequence of The Other One>China Doll>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Around and Around>Good Lovin’. The band sure was having fun this night. Be sure to check back in next week for more great music from Canada.

Finally this week is this Minglewood Blues from 6/26/94 in Las Vegas that has it all, including some very inspired playing by Jerry. We haven’t played too much from 1994, but this is a nice little addition.

Check back in next week for some great stuff from 1984, 1970, 1969, 1981, and loads more. It’s always great to hear your feedback, so feel free to write.