Grateful Dead

I don't think the song is about the inmate about to be gassed, it's about a friend singing his last song to the inmate that is about to be gassed.

"Let my guitar-playing friend do my request" The friend being haggard.

So it's more about the third person in the room (Haggard) and his feelings.. more of a requiem. A moment of reflection and remembrance. At least that's my take on the lyrics.

Not that there's much good that goes on in San Quinten.. Haggard was in for I think armed robbery, but it was a life changing moment.. he decided he didn't want to die in prison and turned his life around, and as far I know did not continue with a life of crime.

I think that's the point of the song. Poignant and soul felt. Nothing good about it except perhaps change and later (hopefully) redemption.

But the emotional content is there.. and that's what attracts me.

Not that you have to like it.. quite raw and honest. It's not really GD like except for the emotional content. ..sometimes that's all it takes.

....game was in the background, but that little tease made me turn my head.

I remember watching Sunshine Daydream at Meet Up At the Movies, and being sooooo into the whole film. Then the band broke into Sing Me Back Home, and very shortly thereafter, the tears were streaming down my face. For me it was a wonderful moment. One of the people I was with later mentioned that they cried during that part too.

Copperdome, I initially thought you had removed the color from the Dave's Picks banner, in order to allow more of the art to show through, but in comparing your work to the actual cover, I'm now not seeing much difference? What am I missing?

I am with you on the SMBH being underwhelming. It's not that's its a bad song but it's the story. Merl singing a sad song for a death row inmate? Unless I'm wrong he should have written about the victim of this cretin. I don't know the whole story but if your on death row it's a clue. Sorry if I offended anyone.

My daughter (age9) and I just finished a movie and I flipped on the Chargers vs Raiders game after. As they were going to commercial they played a short 4-5 second funky musical section of Shakedown, no lyrics. She looks up at me and says “really the Grateful Dead”. I say “yeah you’re right....that’s pretty good, but can you name the song? She smiles and thinks about it...”isn’t it that shakedown song”?

It’s ingrained in her....she can’t help herself! Love her!!!

Edit: Ha Kevin Brandon...just saw your post...also she could not name the date or venue, so there is still work to do.

Watching a little Thursday Night Football and they go to commercial with a little Shakedown Street. For you Non Football fans out there the Oakland Raiders are Playing the Los Angeles Chargers

Love that song! Not a country fan at all, but that song is freakin' awesome! I can understand keithfan on it being a bummer, but how is the terrible tale of August West any more cheerful? I love Wharf, too, so not a knock on that classic.

Also, I'm in agreement on the awesomeness of that Stella Blue. Glad it was placed there and not after Dark Star; as a stand alone, it was a thing of beauty. Haven't gotten to listen to disc 3 yet, but, thus far a good release, nothing mindblowing yet, hopefully that will change with the big jam sequence.

....what's left of it is glorious.
Edit. That Tubes video is somehow..... hypnotic. Vince. Second from stage right. RIP my man.

Well, I FINALLY got through this release in my travels around town, and I have to say, I was shocked by what the actual highlight of the show was for me.

I still stand by my original post noting that Disc 1 is not particularly engaging, though there are some decent highlights. Discs 2-3 hold much more promise, but believe it or not, the unique jam on Disc 3 was not my highlight. Nor was Playing in the Band or even Here Comes Sunshine.

Nope, the absolute hidden gem in this show is the beautiful standalone Stella Blue towards the end of Disc 2. I'm a big Stella Blue fan, and I've always loved the '72-'73 versions with the original lyric "can't keep from cryin.'" Seriously, give this thing another listen. It's just about perfect. Jerry's tone, playing--everything. Freaking awesome.

I'd pay $25 just for this Stella Blue. Sure, there's plenty of great stuff on Disc 3, especially the run from He's Gone through SMBH. A very nice He's Gone with an extended gospel-y outro, a good Truckin' into the jam, and so on. But I'll be going back to that Stella.

Dang, I love this band.

Now that is some serious stuff. If that song doesn’t move you, you have no soul. Love the WR fake into it on this release.

Thanks for the back story Jim. I never knew it.

Cover songs like SMBH are immortal. She Belongs to Me and Visions of Johanna are in that category.