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.
It is good medicine to go to a concert hall.......
50 years ago today…..
April 7, 1971
Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Set 1: Me And My Uncle-Next Time You See Me-Casey Jones-Playing In The Band-Loser-Me And Bobby McGee-Hard To Handle-Sugar Magnolia
[possible set break?]
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-St. Stephen>drums>jam(x)>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away>Johnny B. Goode
Growing up outside Boston, the Music Hall was our Mecca. Santana in 72, Pink Floyd in 73, Zappa, Steve Miller, and of course the good old Grateful Dead…………….
Unusual Me & My Uncle show-opener (apparently this occurred only one time in 1971). Unusual positioning of Casey Jones. St Stephen from a standing start. Oddness accrues….
It’s unclear if this is two sets, with a distinct set break, or one long set. There is no audible set break announcement after Sugar Magnolia and there is no audible break in the recording between Sugar Magnolia, the tuning that follows it, and the start of China Cat. The available evidence, while not conclusive, suggests one long set.
This show is victim to one of the best known---and most painful---tape edits in 1971. After about two minutes of the jam following drums, the tape apparently ran out. By the time the next tape was set up, it’s already the beginning of Not Fade Away. Sigh………………….
Certainly worthy of a leafy listen…………
Rock on!
Doc
The great problem of the concert hall is that the shoebox is the ideal shape for acoustics but that no architect worth their names wants to build a shoebox
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.....
50 years ago today…..
April 8, 1971
Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Set 1: Truckin'-Bertha-Next Time You See Me-Playing In The Band-Loser-Beat It On Down The Line-Second That Emotion-Sugar Magnolia-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Casey Jones
Set 2: Dark Star>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away-Sing Me Back Home-Cumberland Blues-Greatest Story Ever Told>Johnny B. Goode
Encore: Good Lovin'
O, thou art fairer than the evening air clad in the beauty of a thousand stars……
Here the Dead treat the faithful in Boston to a fine, and in historical hindsight, very underrated show. Both sets start high. Mix with minimal amounts of grease and absolutely no country-Weir-and-western, throw in some Garcia-soul, rock and roll, and jamming and voila!!! Quirky April 1971 gooey goodness!!!
Interesting and unusual positioning of both the Dark Star and the Good Lovin’. And, pray tell, where did Second That Emotion come from?
Please, my friends, check it out!! You won’t regret it!!
Rock on!
Doc
Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship…..
4/8/71
I am very acquainted with the Dark Star because it truly is a "Houston, we have a Dark Star" version - great call on that one Strider. Dark Star is pretty much the reason I get off the couch in the morning. An adventure unto itself. I like playing the 4/8 and 4/26 Dark Stars back-to-back for one 30 minute block-a-bliss. Those 1971 Dark Stars are some of my favorites. A little bit shorter than usual, but there's typically not too much cacophony (sometimes the "atonal" meltdown moments are a bit too close to the edge for me). I hadn't listened to the whole show in a while, but Doc - your write up made me check E72 at the door for a couple of hours yesterday. I'd forgotten how good 4/8/71 is. I'm a little bit finicky with soundboard quality, but this is one of the best audio boards I have from '71. Great show to hear Bobby playing - he's kind of high in the mix. Always cool to hear what he was up to in '71-'72, especially on the improv jams, but he's often too low in the two-track mixes.
The dead of midnight is the noon of thought……
50 years ago today……
April 10, 1971
Mayser Gymnasium, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster Pennsylvania
Set 1: Casey Jones-Me And Bobby McGee-Next Time You See Me-Loser-Beat It On Down The Line-Hard To Handle-Bertha-Playing In The Band-Deal-Good Lovin'
Set 2: Truckin'-Sing Me Back Home-Me And My Uncle-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Cumberland Blues-Sugar Magnolia-Midnight Hour-Uncle John’s Band
If there must be “standard” or (heaven forbid, lol) “average” April 1971 shows, let it be like this.
For many, this show “suffers” for lack of a big jam. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, can’t we all just enjoy some well played rock and roll Dead? As previously, both sets start high, the grease and country/western is back, you get a rare Good Lovin’ to close the first set, and a rarer still Midnight Hour. What’s not to like---or even love---about all that???
Unknown, unheralded, gathering only the faintest of whispers from 1971 aficionados, lost in the glare of what came after, yet still worth a listen!!
Rock on!!!
Doc
Sometimes there is no darker place than our thoughts, the moonless midnight of the mind
I never heard a GD April 71 I didn't like
Thank you for the promotions, Doc
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 4/10/71
& Franklin and Marshall College has never been the same since the Grateful Dead played there 50 years ago today. I love this era!
I go where the sound of thunder is…….
50 years ago today…..
April 12, 1971
Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Set 1: Cold Rain And Snow-Me And My Uncle-Bertha-Next Time You See Me-Playing In The Band-Loser-Cumberland Blues-Hard To Handle-Greatest Story Ever Told>Johnny B. Goode
Set 2: Truckin'>drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Me And Bobby McGee-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia-Deal-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Turn On Your Love Light
A very solid show that one rarely, if ever, hears about. Why is that? Because it was Pittsburgh?
Truth be told, the folks in the steel city got a real treat and seriously good show that night. Hard rockin’ mix of rock & roll, grease, and Bobby. Big jam to open the second set and a Lovelight in the classic show-closing position.
Underrated and worthy of your consideration!
I have turned lots of people on to this show, no complaints so far!!
Rock on!
Doc
Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind - listen to the birds. And don't hate nobody….
4/8/71
yes thanks to keithfan's little essay on dark stars of 71 i became very familiar with 4/8/71 this past feb, it is currently my favorite show during the days between the port chester and fillmore east runs, i also appreciated KF's comparison of it with the 4/26/71 dark star, i have in fact saved a copy of KF's post for future reference, that lead me to go head and request the doc's major reference document on 71 shows, it's a beast, i also benefited from the doc's generosity and acquired a couple shows from him: stony brook 70, hey its almost 71, i had tapes of them in the 80s (and still do) but not the greatest SQ, what they now have on the archive for stony brook is really great
Electricity is really just organized lightning…………
50 years ago today……
April 13, 1971
Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Set 1: Casey Jones-Mama Tried-Loser-Big Boss Man-Me And Bobby McGee-Bertha-Cumberland Blues-Big Railroad Blues-Playing In The Band-Hard To Handle-Sugar Magnolia
Set 2: Truckin'>drums>Good Lovin'-Second That Emotion-Greatest Story Ever Told>Johnny B. Goode
Encore: Uncle John's Band
After the thunderous Pittsburgh show, lightning strikes in Scranton.
It’s tough being sandwiched between Pittsburgh and Lewisburg. Nothing fancy here, just good old rock & roll Grateful Dead. Solid first set, short second set. Hot Hard To Handle. Nice---and rare---Second That Emotion. Here, Good Lovin’ serves as the jam tune. Is that so bad?
Certainly worth checking out if for no other reason than the thunderous, bone crunching, lightning-in-a-bottle, coming apart at the seams, triple headed Hard To Handle jam-battle……
As the man said, kick out that politic bullshit!!
Rock on!!
Doc
I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph
Ethereal minstrel! pilgrim of the sky!
50 years ago today…..
April 14, 1971
Davis Gym, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Set 1: Truckin'-Deal-Me & Bobbie McGee-Next Time You See Me-Bertha-Playing In The Band-Sing Me Back Home-Me & My Uncle-China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider-I Second That Emotion-Casey Jones
Set 2 Bird Song-Sugar Magnolia-Cryptical Envelopment > drums> The Other One > Wharf Rat-Hard to Handle-Not Fade Away> Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad> Not Fade Away> Johnny B. Goode
“In their penultimate Pennsylvania performance, the Grateful Dead…….”
A powerful and deep show, wonderfully designed and perfectly executed by the Dead, crackling with energy, a supernova of a show that blows away almost everything else played that month. How did they do it? Did they all drop acid? I’ll even ignore the fact that there are only two Pigpen tunes. The band is on fire, every tune here works, cosmic reflections of all that was good and pure about the Dead’s music that month. Rocking all over the place, with wonderful slices of country, soul and psychedelia, on this night everything the Dead touches turns to gold and pure bliss. Somehow, some way, on April 14 1971, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the Dead played a show for the ages………
Rock on!!!
Doc
Music is truly love itself, the purest, most ethereal language of the emotions, embodying all their changing colors in every variety of shading and nuance…..
Leedesj
Glad you're enjoying the Dark Stars - and thanks again Doc for not only pointing in the right direction on these unreleased shows, but also updating a lot of the shows I had to better quality audio.
There's another regular poster here who also once gave me what I call "the treasure trove" many years ago at this point. You know who you are bro - this stuff is a blessing. Comes a time when nothing hits the spot like the Dead.
71
im diggin deeper than ever before with the spring 71 stuff, i still have to finish 4/13 which is pretty short and no frills, yet great, but the doc (and the setlist) has me excited for 4/14
anyone else using the "Attics" app to stream archive on an iphone? it works really well for finding shows and listening to them
Pennsylvania / April 1971
What a scorched Earth sweep of PA. Amazing tour. I’ve probably only heard half or less of available 1971 recordings. To line out virgin first time listening on the the 50th anniversary’s has been a big up. Also just learned the Grateful Dead only played Dark Star as a quintet twice. 4/26/71 & 7/31/71. After Manhattan Center April 5th I didn’t see the Dead again until July 31st, Yale Bowl. Certainly Ned Lagin and T.C. sitting in during 71 were unique but only two Dark Star’s from the original five members, wow!
Big Up for Doc@11.
College is a refuge from hasty judgment………….
50 years ago today……
April 15, 1971
David Mead Field House, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania
Set 1: Beat It On Down The Line-Loser-Big Boss Man-El Paso-Deal-Playing In The Band-Bertha-Good Lovin'
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-Me And My Uncle-Next Time You See Me-Sugar Magnolia false start/technical problems-Sugar Magnolia-I Second That Emotion-Truckin' >Not Fade Away >Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >Not Fade Away-Casey Jones
Encore: Greatest Story Ever Told >Johnny B. Goode
After the otherworldly Lewisburg show, the Dead come back down to earth, if only slightly. OK yes, no “big jam”, let’s get over that and savor what’s here. Which is, a rockin’ good show, decent dose of Pigpen, another Good Lovin’ first set closer, a rockin’ end to the second set, and a rare two song encore. What’s not to like about that?
There is some confusion regarding the exact set list for this show. This one is from jerrygarcia.com. The commonly circulating soundboard tape is missing Beat It On Down The Line (if it truly opened the show that would be very unusual for that time period), Loser, China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider, and Me and My Uncle. The SetList Program (www.setlists.net) lists a Midnight Hour encore---which would have been very rare.
It is unclear from circulating recordings if Next Time You See Me led off the second set. If so, that would be very unusual positioning for that song. It probably didn’t---the set list from jerrygarcia.com seems very likely.
In an era where there were many shows without an encore at all, here the crowd is treated to a very rare two song encore.
Attendees at this show almost uniformly describe a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere at the show.
So, perhaps incomplete, but still worth a listen!
Rock on!
Doc
The college graduate is presented with a sheepskin to cover his intellectual nakedness…….
1 AM Approach
Doc @11 must be pulling night shift again. Gives graveyard a deeper meaning.
1971 Grateful Dead is developing a deeper meaning.
oh yeah ned
forgot about that, not nearly as audible as say 2/28, but now i have a good excuse to listen to it again
Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.......
That's 1:56 AM Latvala time, 4:56 AM Florida time....................
Doc
Fantastic April run
All those towns in Pennsylvania where the Dead played must have buzzed for weeks. Permanently changed human beings. (At least a few) Today’s 50 from Allegheny State College 4/15/71 was amazing.
By the way my father was born in Delaware River Valley, Pennsylvania in 1917.
Saturday to Princeton, New Jersey.
The tapes I’ve had for years have been Manhattan Center, Princeton, Fillmore East. Quite a few of the 71 recordings are my first time hearing them.
You don't do classics with a Texas accent
50 years ago today…………….
April 17, 1971
Dillon Gym, Princeton University, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Set 1: Truckin'-Big Railroad Blues-Big Boss Man-Bird Song-Playing in the Band-Hard To Handle-Loser-Mama Tried-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia
Set 2: Good Lovin'-Me and Bobby McGee-Deal-Beat It On Down the Line-I'm A King Bee-Bertha-Sing Me Back Home-Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad >jam >Turn On Your Lovelight
Back in the early days of cassettes tape trading, this was one of the few commonly traded and available April 1971 shows, and reached mythic status based on the extended Pigpen raps during Good Lovin’ and Lovelight. For the second show in a row, it sounds like an equipment problem caused a Sugar Magnolia “false start”. Interesting and rare position for Good Lovin’ in 1971, leading off the second set. This occurred only three times in 1971: 4/17, 4/24, 12/10. The “jam” between GDTRFB and Lovelight is really just riffing on the GDTRFB “outro jam” motif.
Can one safely critique a venerable classic without having to run for cover? LOL I have no idea. In any case, get ready for THE Pigpen show. Yes, Mr. Pen dominates, especially on Good Lovin’ and Lovelight, where he lays down classic raps while the boys in the band back him up ably with wonderful psychedelic snake music. And the “smaller” Pig numbers work as well, particularly the rare and finely performed King Bee and the typically hard rockin’ April 71 Hard To Handle. Throw in a wonderful Bird Song, heartfelt Sing Me Back Home, and the other usual rock and roll and country/western suspects, and there you have it----super solid show. Maybe not the classic it was once considered to be (hey, can I safely say that?), but still highly recommended………………….
Rock on!!!!
Doc
Classics are constantly being re-imagined and transformed, and the originals are none the worse for it; they endure……
You don't do classics with a Texas accent
50 years ago today…………….
April 17, 1971
Dillon Gym, Princeton University, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Set 1: Truckin'-Big Railroad Blues-Big Boss Man-Bird Song-Playing in the Band-Hard To Handle-Loser-Mama Tried-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia
Set 2: Good Lovin'-Me and Bobby McGee-Deal-Beat It On Down the Line-I'm A King Bee-Bertha-Sing Me Back Home-Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad >jam >Turn On Your Lovelight
Back in the early days of cassettes tape trading, this was one of the few commonly traded and available April 1971 shows, and reached mythic status based on the extended Pigpen raps during Good Lovin’ and Lovelight. For the second show in a row, it sounds like an equipment problem caused a Sugar Magnolia “false start”. Interesting and rare position for Good Lovin’ in 1971, leading off the second set. This occurred only three times in 1971: 4/17, 4/24, 12/10. The “jam” between GDTRFB and Lovelight is really just riffing on the GDTRFB “outro jam” motif.
Can one safely critique a venerable classic without having to run for cover? LOL I have no idea. In any case, get ready for THE Pigpen show. Yes, Mr. Pen dominates, especially on Good Lovin’ and Lovelight, where he lays down classic raps while the boys in the band back him up ably with wonderful psychedelic snake music. And the “smaller” Pig numbers work as well, particularly the rare and finely performed King Bee and the typically hard rockin’ April 71 Hard To Handle. Throw in a wonderful Bird Song, heartfelt Sing Me Back Home, and the other usual rock and roll and country/western suspects, and there you have it----super solid show. Maybe not the classic it was once considered to be (hey, can I safely say that?), but still highly recommended………………….
Rock on!!!!
Doc
Classics are constantly being re-imagined and transformed, and the originals are none the worse for it; they endure……
You don't do classics with a Texas accent
50 years ago today…………….
April 17, 1971
Dillon Gym, Princeton University, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Set 1: Truckin'-Big Railroad Blues-Big Boss Man-Bird Song-Playing in the Band-Hard To Handle-Loser-Mama Tried-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia
Set 2: Good Lovin'-Me and Bobby McGee-Deal-Beat It On Down the Line-I'm A King Bee-Bertha-Sing Me Back Home-Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad >jam >Turn On Your Lovelight
Back in the early days of cassettes tape trading, this was one of the few commonly traded and available April 1971 shows, and reached mythic status based on the extended Pigpen raps during Good Lovin’ and Lovelight. For the second show in a row, it sounds like an equipment problem caused a Sugar Magnolia “false start”. Interesting and rare position for Good Lovin’ in 1971, leading off the second set. This occurred only three times in 1971: 4/17, 4/24, 12/10. The “jam” between GDTRFB and Lovelight is really just riffing on the GDTRFB “outro jam” motif.
Can one safely critique a venerable classic without having to run for cover? LOL I have no idea. In any case, get ready for THE Pigpen show. Yes, Mr. Pen dominates, especially on Good Lovin’ and Lovelight, where he lays down classic raps while the boys in the band back him up ably with wonderful psychedelic snake music. And the “smaller” Pig numbers work as well, particularly the rare and finely performed King Bee and the typically hard rockin’ April 71 Hard To Handle. Throw in a wonderful Bird Song, heartfelt Sing Me Back Home, and the other usual rock and roll and country/western suspects, and there you have it----super solid show. Maybe not the classic it was once considered to be (hey, can I safely say that?), but still highly recommended………………….
Rock on!!!!
Doc
Classics are constantly being re-imagined and transformed, and the originals are none the worse for it; they endure……
Princeton 4/17/71
What a great Dead show. Pigpen had a whole lotta that bip bam - biddle a bip bam boom that night.
I don’t believe I’ve listened to that show in 25-30 years. It was very fresh sounding. The concert is renowned for good reason.
Princeton, isn’t that near the Tom Petty School of Rock.
A sledgehammer breaks glass but forges steel
50 years ago today…………….
April 18, 1971
Lusk Field House (aka “the spacecraft assembly building”), SUNY Cortland, Cortland , New York
Set 1: Cold Rain And Snow-Me And My Uncle-Bertha-Me And Bobby McGee-Next Time You See Me-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Casey Jones
Set 2: Sugar Magnolia-Second That Emotion-Truckin'-Hard To Handle-Loser-Playin' In The Band-Around And Around-Good Lovin'-Uncle John's Band
When I was a young child, and I looked up “sledgehammer” in the dictionary, the definition was, to my developing, impressionistic mind, perplexingly short: “See Cortland and Providence 1971, (verb, adjective)”. Took me years to figure that one out…….
The first night of the wonderful, thunderous, inspirational Cortland-Providence-Bangor hat trick.
One of my favorite 1971 shows and a perfect example of “the sledgehammer approach”---loud, fast, bone crunching rock and roll (as the Dead rarely played it), very edgy, skip the subtlety, fasten yer seatbelts and go directly to “pulverize”. Almost everything is a highlight, but things like Next Time You See Me, China/Rider, Truckin’ (check out the truly fierce playing by Garcia near the end), Hard To Handle, the crazed hyperkinetic Around & Around (which proves that the Dead were either the worst—or best---interpreters of Chuck Berry), and the massive Good Lovin’ stand out. If you like your rock and roll Grateful Dead style, this one’s for you! Highly highly recommended!
What time does the balloon go up?
Rock on!!
Doc
Writing is like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer. It always feels good when you finish….
Cancelled isn't a bad word because it happens every day……
50 years ago today………..
April 19, 1971
Physical Fitness Gymnasium, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York CANCELLED SHOW
Apparently about 4500 tickets had already been sold when the show was cancelled on April 1.
Ah, what might have been……………………
Rock on!!
Doc
Don't cancel the process of creativity too early; let it flow…...
4/20/84 Dave's Picks 35
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Feel Like a Stranger is the perfect start to 4/20.
In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer….
50 years ago today………..
April 21, 1971
Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island
Set 1: Casey Jones-Mama Tried-Big Boss Man-Loser-Truckin'>drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Hard To Handle-Cumberland Blues-Bird Song-Me And Bobby McGee
Set 2: Bertha-Sugar Magnolia-Good Lovin'-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Encore: Uncle John's Band-Johnny B. Goode
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was RIA on 4/21/71. The force was with them. Or was it something in the water? Similar in tone to its hard rocking predecessor Cortland, but with “expanded content”, this is an underappreciated, quasi-classic that actually doesn’t get talked about a lot outside of “1971 aficionado circles”. Things get nicely weird early, five songs in they laid down the big jam sequence, followed by a wonderfully crunchy Hard To Handle. Things continue crunchy in set 2, with a non-drum solo Good Lovin’, a nice NFA suite, and an unusual two song encore which is sweet AND rocking. Highly recommended!
Rock on!!!
Doc
It is better to be the hammer than the anvil
There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure………….
50 years ago today……
April 22, 1971
Municipal Auditorium, Bangor, Maine
Set 1: Bertha-Me And My Uncle-Next Time You See Me-Loser-Playin' In The Band-Cumberland Blues-Hard To Handle-Deal-Me And Bobby McGee-Casey Jones
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Greatest Story Ever Told-Beat It On Down The Line-Sing Me Back Home-Good Lovin'-Johnny B. Goode
My friends, this is, without doubt, one of my great Grateful Dead guilty pleasures……….
I love it for the homey, down east vibe, the palpable closeness of the band to the audience, the stage chatter (“Don’t tune Garcia up he sings horrible”, lost car keys, and somebody needs a ride back to Boston), and of course the music, the loosey-goosey psychedelic-meets-Bakersfield that only the Dead could come up with.
OK jamsters, yes there’s no Other One, no Dark Star, not even a Truckin’. Which makes this slightly oddball for 1971. But it’s still great, and I love it! Put your lobster bibs on and dig in!!!
Rock on!!
Doc
I don't think you should feel guilty about pleasure. Defeats the purpose……..
It’s that old same thing
It’s a Maine thing. Been forever and a day, I lived there back in the 60s. I can’t believe I hiked the knife edge on Mount Katahdin summers 66 and 67.
Anniversary show 4/22/86. BCT
35 years ago today I was at the B.C.T. , where the Dead kicked off the show with Box of Rain and Visions of Johanna.
This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top
Strider!!!
You been all around this world.................
Doc
The way we experience the world around us is a direct reflection of the world within us..........
Take a microphone out of my hands, and I'm just plain folks...
Oh yeah, LMAO........
The microphone monitor level test. Four and a half minutes demonstrating that yes, in the early years, the Dead had a sense of humor. And lots of equipment hassles............
Weir: This is all quite meaningless to all of you.............
Pigpen: All quite meaningless to us also.........
Doc
Anytime you give a man in a wig a microphone, anything can happen
Bangor, Maine 4/22/71 microphone check
Priceless. Also the lost Chrysler keys. What a hoot. This morning was my first time hearing this amazing performance. Working in my garden listening to this show with a delightful buzz on. Transcendent. Good Lovin is spectacular. I love the curfew comments by Lesh and Garcia and they launch into Johnny B Goode for the encore. So Rock & Roll!
Only concert I ever went to in Maine were the Youngbloods in some old beautiful theater in Portland in September, 1969.
Why settle for average when amazing is attainable?
50 years ago today……
April 24, 1971
Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Set 1: Truckin'-Deal-Hard To Handle-Me And Bobby McGee-Bertha-Playin' In The Band-Cumberland Blues-Next Time You See Me-Loser-Sugar Magnolia-Casey Jones
Set 2: Good Lovin'-Me And My Uncle-Sing Me Back Home-Greatest Story Ever Told>Johnny B. Goode-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away-Uncle John's Band
It’s a long way from Bangor, Maine to Durham, North Carolina. About 930 miles…..
Sometimes being “average” results from being caught between twin pillars of excellence, it “suffers from comparison”. Stuck between Cortland-Providence-Bangor and the Fillmore East, Durham sometimes seems like the waylaid orphan of April 1971 Dead shows. It ain’t classic, but it ain’t chopped liver either…….
Ric Carter took excellent photos of the show and they are worth checking out. In those images you’ll see that Lesh is playing an SG-type bass, Garcia appears to be using a Guild, SG-like guitar, and Weir has a Gibson, ES175/225-ish guitar. Did they arrive on time, but their guitars didn’t????
Rock on!!
Doc
Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common……
Maybe the universe will get tired of me…..
50 years ago today………….
April 25, 1971
Fillmore East, New York City, New York
Set 1: Truckin'-Loser-Hard To Handle-Me And Bobby McGee-Cold Rain And Snow-The Rub-Playing In The Band-Friend Of The Devil-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Casey Jones
Set 2: Morning Dew-Beat It On Down The Line-Next Time You See Me-Bertha-Sugar Magnolia-Second That Emotion-Good Lovin'-Sing Me Back Home-“Spanish jam tuning”-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
It’s long way from Durham to the Fillmore East. About 480 miles, give or take a little………
Pinballing through New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, North Carolina, and finally back once again to New York, you’d think the Dead would be tired by now…………
On this evening of wonders, they sure don’t sound tired. As so often happened, it appears the Dead upped their game being back in the big apple. They start high, and then soar. The ultra crunchy Hard To Handle. The hyperkinetic Rub. The once-in-71 Friend Of The Devil. The fine China/Rider. The powerful Dew to open the second set. The greasy Good Lovin’. The typically fine NFA suite to close it all out. Maybe not so famous as other shows in this run, but oh so worthy!!
This is classic Dead!!!
Rock on!!!
Doc
Life is one long process of getting tired
Fillmore East, April 25, 1971
Very competent Dead concert. The Morning Dew is at a 1971 peak. The sound of the hall is awesome. The atmosphere exudes electricity. Like the February, 71 Capitol Theater run this will be the first time I’ve listened to all nights in a row. And on the 50th has rocked out!
4/25/81. Sing Out For Sight. B.C.T.
40 years ago today, I was at the B.C.T. to see the Dead put on an acoustic show called Sing Out For Sight. Country Joe was also on the bill. John Kahn sat in for Phil Lesh.
4/25/71 Morning Dew
I don't think I know this one, but I've always enjoyed the 4/29/71 version from Ladies & Gentlemen as much as the Movie Soundtrack version and the Road Trips WoS bonus disc version. I was going to shoot on over to Archive, but this one's already on my phone - what luck. Sounds intriguing: Jerry thought he heard a baby crying but somebody's telling him he didn't. This requires further investigation....
I'm really in a conundrum over those '71 Hard To Handles. They all shine for different reasons. Still running some tests on them.
EDIT - just wanted to add - I have now listened to the Morning Dew and yeah...I really love that Peanut guitar you guys nailed down as Jerry's ax for early '71. Little bit louder and grittier than the Strats he moved on to later in the year. The flourishes he plays at the climax of this 4/25 Dew are fantastic. I'm going to have to revisit '71 Dews now. I think I may have one from 10/24.
I think jamming is the way we begin to communicate…
50 years ago today……
April 26, 1971
Fillmore East, New York City, New York
Set 1: Bertha-Me And My Uncle-Big Boss Man-Loser-Playing In The Band-Hard To Handle-
Dark Star>Wharf Rat-Casey Jones
Set 2: Sugar Magnolia-It Hurts Me Too-Beat It On Down The Line-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Deal-Mama Tried-Good Lovin'-Sing Me Back Home-Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
The Dead have settled in, playing a show that is nicely comfortable and focally intense. The Hard To Handle is funky and fine. The unexpected first set Star transitions into the skull album, beautiful Wharf Rat. Duane Allman sits in to start the second set, where Good Lovin’ boasts some of the greatest jamming of the entire year. Top it off with a heartfelt Sing Me Back Home and a typically solid NFA suite, and there you have it!!
As Bob Weir might say, “Mighty fine, mighty fine…………….”
Rock on!!!
Doc
The great thing about jamming is that you come in with zero preconceptions……
4/26/71 Fillmore East
I’ve only been listening to the Dead for most of the 50th anniversaries. Relisten does not have NRPS. Relisten allows uploading Grateful Dead to my phone so I can listen at home with no cellphone reception. Off the grid. So I hiked out Ridgerunner Ridge and am listening to the New Riders set on Archives.net.
I have the Duane Allman box set that includes Sugar Magnolia from 4/26/71. One of the most amazing box sets ever.
After NRPS set hike home and check in on the
GRATEFUL DEAD
💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡
💡💡💡💡
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
The dreaded double post
Well I did get my shipping notice so that's news