First of two parts featuring the first set of 5/12/91, which opened with a sizzling "Picasso Moon." Also featured in this set: the first of only six modern-day GD performances of Bob Dylan's "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (Jerry sang it at during the encore at RFK Stadium on 6/10/73 with some Allman Bros along for the ride).
Let It Rock, released in 2009, documents the first lineup of the Jerry Garcia Band, featuring the great British-born keyboardist, Nicky Hopkins. If you aren't familiar with the name, I'm quite sure you've heard the licks: The electric piano solo in the Beatles' original single version of "Revolution"; the Rolling Stones classic "She's a Rainbow" (and so much more!); recordings with the Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and countless others. Julian Dawson's biography And on Piano ...Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock's Greatest Session Man is well worth a read. Hopkins and Garcia made amazing music together sporadically over the band's brief lifespan, but Hopkins' chronic health and addiction problems put an early end to this version of the JGB. Let It Rock shows how great they were, and makes me wonder what they could have accomplished if Hopkins had been healthier.
Enjoy!
Jerry Garcia Band, Let It Rock
SUGAREE
Rich Mahan, Hot Chicken Wisdom
LOOSE LUCY
Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, So What
SO WHAT (take 1, 12/6/90)
Grateful Dead 5/12/91 Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View CA
PICASSO MOON
ALTHEA
CC RIDER->
IT TAKES A LOT TO LAUGH, IT TAKES A TRAIN TO CRY
EL PASO
Every Wednesday, we post a program from the Grateful Dead Hour archives for your enjoyment and enlightenment. You can browse or search the playlists at gdhour.com or on the GD Hour Search page, and let me know what program(s) you'd like to hear by emailing me at gdhour@dead.net.
Thank you for listening!
- David Gans
Producer/host
- David Gans
Producer/host