Grateful Dead

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Shawn Colvin's version of "Viva Las Vegas", at the very, very end of "The Big Lebowski" movie is a recent song that (for me) has transcended time and space. It brings me back to my electric daze without ever having been an actual part of that scene. I think it's the fact that the song is a cover of one of Elvis' very popular radio songs which was still very much a part of the music scene when I was a kid and discovering life on The Bus. "You know what the trouble about real life is? There's no danger music."

High School times. We would be driving down a gravel road out in the midwest countryside on a weekend night and put this song on the 8 track. We would gun the car where there was a small hill with railroad tracks at the top and go flying through the air and try not to lose control when we landed and bottomed out as the car slid on the gravel. Man was that fun, boy was that stupid. When I think about all the similar things that people have done while listening to this song it makes me think that it should maybe be named Born to Be Stupid. I will never get sick of this song. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

"LeopardSkin PillBox Hat"

Saw John Fogerty's "Long Road Home" last night on cable. Sooooo cool that John Molo was on drums for that gig! Anyway, it reminded me of my original core of albums I owned when I stumbled on The Bus, which included "Cosmos Factory" and there was just something about "Run Through the Jungle" that still brings back memories of those times. "You know what the trouble about real life is? There's no danger music."

And going the road feeling bad. 2 songs my buddy Bob loves. We used to hang out together most everyday. That is till we had to grow up get real jobs and move on. We speak and email from time to time, but sure do miss them good old days!! Love ya Bob!!! You're my best friend for sure, and will always think of you when I hear them 2 songs!!

This song takes me back o seeing Easy Rider on the big screen back in '69. I think I was 11 and felt so cool sneaking into an "R" rated movie with my friends. I either thought I was somehow fooling the guy at the ticket booth by looking like I could be close enough to 17 or that I was sort of invisible. Actually, the guy was just letting everyone in to the matinee. Had my mind thoroughly blown at that flik and a whole new world came into view. Born To Be Wild and the freewheeling lifestyle of Captain America and Billy was forever etched into my mind...out on the road. A few days later, I had my sisters sit up on the roof of our house and watch me ride my bike down a big hill that was across the street while Born To Be Wild was played over and over on my cheesy little plastic record player. They told me I looked pretty cool riding to the music. *many years later I would be riding that motorcycle on my own adventures but retired after a couple of spills...and chills but I'm alright. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Look out of any window Any morning, any evening, any day" Robert Hunter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees brings back a certain memory of a drunken night in the basement of a certain thumpa thumpa thumpa scene, in a galaxy far away in a polyester land long forgotton... ( -;

A definite favorite in my family. We love the Byrds Untitled album that it was on. One disc was live and one studio. Now in a greatly expanded CD version, very nice. I can go on and on about the Byrds and all the talent that gathered there over the years and moved on to other groups and continues to be around and still putting out tunes. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

At the exact moment I was reading Hard Rain posted by GRTUD the intro to Knockin' On Heaven's Door came rolling out of the radio...talk about tingling...wooo! anyway I read on as Bob told his story which was often told by Jerry as well. OK, I'm alright but that was a rush! I'm not sure of the history 'cuz my memory is sketchy with some occasional clarity but maybe the Joan and Bob clip was from the Rolling Thunder Revue Tour / Clara and Renaldo film with Dylan in face paint supporing the Desire release and possible film release which I was very fortunate to have seen live on the local tour stop. It featured performances by Bob, Joan, Roger McGuinn, with Scarlet Rivera, Mick Ronson and a stage of great musicians. The clearest memory from that show was when Roger broke into Chestnut Mare. All in all, a wonderful night of great music... And there ain't nothing like those "Memphis Blues". OK I'm not trembling anymore...must have just been "A Simple Twist Of Fate". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Look out of any window Any morning, any evening, any day" Robert Hunter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think my auditory recall is as strong as my olfactory. Your eyes would get tired reading my list of songs and/or albums that bring a lump to my throat, the watery eyes and the silly, wilted and quivering smile that evokes questions, from others, if they see it. It's intersting that this forum just started. I've actually been on a kick, lately, of playing my old, live GD tapes that have been collecting dust in boxes since the Dick's Picks Volumes and other great CD releases began. They seem to be oozing with sentimentality. I believe it comes from the people and experiences I had while trading and copying them over. Why did I pick certain fillers to squeeze onto the reel? The sound of tape waver, delay and hiss has an intrinisic nostalgia that is unmatched. I'm flooded with images of roadtrips over the years where The Grateful Dead became the soundtrack from my tape deck- show after show, song after song. If I were to put out an abbreviated list of songs/albums this would be it- starting with the Grateful Dead, first, since this is dead.net. (this is in no particular order- it's as it comes to mind. How can you put a value on what moves your spirit?) *any Clementine/ New Potato Caboose combination *5/22/77- 2nd set *5/2/70 *Downhill From Here- my first shows *Lovelight>Stella Blue>Lovelight (Richfield Coliseum Spring '94- unforgettable!!!!) *any Wharf Rat (actually if I have to pick one it would be the 1st- the Dark Star sandwich is phenomenal [Capitol Theater '71- ESP must work]) *any Comes a Time, Black Peter, High Time or Brown Eyed Women *any Terrapin Station (really goes without saying) *the transition between Scalet/ Fire makes my hair stand on end, and then my eyes water while I sing along and air guitar to Fire on the Mountain I really could go on forever, but I digress. Let's move away from the Grateful Dead and go to JGB ;) *Jerry doin' Dylan- particularly "Simple Twist of Fate" and "I Shall Be Released" *Jerry doin' Cliff- "Strugglin' Man'" or "Sitting Here in Limbo" *"Forever Young" *Some of the instrumental jams from Reconstruction blow me away *Legion of Mary in general Ok, onto the greater world of music: No doubt, Van Morrison drips with nostaligia and sentimentality (geez, he's Irish for god's sake)- *Astral Weeks or St. Dominic's Prevue *Any Dylan and The Band combination- Basement Tapes in particular *Dylan's "Desire" and "Blood on the Tracks" albums *Melanie "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)- simply one of the most powerful songs of all time *"Green is the Colour"- Pink Floyd *"Don't Let Me Down"- The Beatles *Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On" album *Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" album *Miles' "Kind of Blue"- I used to fall asleep to this album every night. I guess my dreams are entwined with it. *U2's "Joshua Tree" *The Cure's "Staring at the Sea (Singles)" *Bob Marley's "Song's of Freedom" (Box Set)- my number one pick for the deserted island and........one more for fun and to make you go,.....hmmm. *Siamese Dream"- Smashing Pumpkins (one of the greatest albums ever) These seem to be just the tip of the iceberg. The wellspring seems infinite. Music has the power to encompass every emotion. It is the universal language. Now, I have to go play some of these songs, and just maybe they'll reminded me of other songs, other friends, other times or other loves. But, if I get confused I'll just listen to the music play. Thanks for posting this forum so I can get feelin' good, finish my coffee and get to work, damnit.