Grateful Dead Sugar Magnolia (Live in Veneta, Oregon 8/27/72) |REACTION|

[@jeffmartin1026]

There was nothing like a Grateful Dead show - a gathering of the tribe - a safe space for all.

[@thatoneguyagain2252]

It's not that Deadheads are a cult, so much as that the band and their fans share a common emotional experience. Their strength and their delight was interacting onstage, with each other and with the crowd. Their studio albums were pretty much just a way to introduce new music into their live set. Live was where the Dead lived. Their concerts were tangible expressions of the optimism that was the best part of the 60's. Somehow, when The Dead were playing, everything was going to turn out all right. I realize that I'm trying to describe the indescribable, so I'll just close with, "you had to be there"

[@armadillotoe]

"I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac." - - - Don Henley

[@jackson9282]

From the outside the Dead look like a cult, but a cult always has a leader and dogma. The Dead have neither and it keeps the entire thing the polar opposite of any cult. Just people simplifying their life's and celebrating the magic they are in.

[@louiseasmith1336]

One of my favs. Saw them sing it several times. 🤩

[@wallyboy6666]

:) One of my favorites from them (esp. this version) Thank you to the Patron who requested it. :) Great reaction, Daniel. :)

[@ChicoEscuela]

Jerry takes country rock into new areas and it fits like your favorite old pair of jeans.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Basically, Grateful Dead is a dance band. I saw them over fifty times and never once was I sitting during the show. Times that by 18,000 and you have yourself a Dead show. Plus lots of colors and cool folks, and as always, the music.

[@tommathews3964]

Ohhhhhhh, you're gonna make a good Deadhead! There's a seat on the bus with your name on it! You're reaching for the volume when Jerry solos, bouncing and smiling, and you love a great bass player, which Phil Lesh certainly is! A "Willys" is a jeep. You would know it as the quintessential "army jeep". They had really stiff clutches and were geared very low, so they did tend to "jump" when starting off. I drove one for a few years at an old hunting club. Rough as hell, but they will really root! I've always thought of "Sugar Magnolia" as a woman who was not only enjoyable to be with "naturally", as in "rolling in the rushes down by the riverside" but also one you can depend on to be reliable and responsible , when maybe you weren't, "takes the wheel when I'm seeing double, pays my ticket when I speed", and loyal, "waits back stage while I sing to you." She's also just a helluva lot of fun, dancing a cajun rhythm and "wading in a drop of dew." After all, she can "make happy any man alive." That piano you like so much, is Keith Godchaux, and that's his wife Donna Jean, who is singing the high harmonies on the outro. Pigpen was in very rough shape in 72 and The Dead brought in Keith who would be the keys going forward until the late 70s. The early to late 70s is my favorite period of the Dead, for sure, followed closely by the later 80s when Brent is really shining. Since you seem to really enjoy the live stuff, might I recommend the "Europe 72" "Skull and Roses" "Cornell 77" releases, and the rest of the Veneta show as great places to go. Cornell is revered among many Deadheads as a holy grail of live shows, and it's great, for sure! There's an excellent "Scarlet Begonias/Fire on the Mountain" (known to Deadheads as a Scarlet Fire) on Cornell 77 that would be excellent for you to react to, since you haven't done either. The Boston, Buffalo, and New Haven shows from 77 follow closely behind Ithaca in popularity. Those are "Betty Board" shows and the sound mix is incredible! Betty Cantor Jackson was known for her sound engineering/mixing prowess and deservedly so! The 70s are jammed with "Betty Boards" which have been faithfully restored, luckily! Fascinating story about the "Betty Board" tapes. Google it sometime! If I only had one album to take to the proverbial "deserted island", "Europe 72" would get serious consideration!! I'm quite sure you would enjoy "The Grateful Dead Movie" as well. Gives you a pretty good feel of the times! Makes me nostalgic!! I'd say I watch it, on average, 5 times a year. You have much to look forward to, my friend!

[@tcanfield]

You are quite the Dead officianado , rubbing it in again about how I missed one of best shows ever in New Haven 77’! I had a final exam at college the next morning, but at least felt good that I saved a couple of teenaged Heads stranded in my hometown and got them to the show on time. But the following year I was living in Humboldt County and hooked up with a crew for a ride down to Santa Barbara for an amazing outdoor show at the UCSB football stadium. Out of the 7 shows I saw, Laguna Seca 87’ (Monterey) was the highlight: back to back shows with a small crowd and perfect spring weather. Got to be there for the filming of the Touch of Grey video, with a drunken Bill K MCing the crowd- “just do whatever it is that you do!” I wondered how many people saw the life size skeletons and thought they were seriously hallucinating!

[@tommathews3964]

@@tcanfield Hell, I missed it too, but did catch a killer Tuscaloosa Alabama 77 show! Check it out if you get the chance. I know it's on "Relisten" and there are taper copies, for sure. 5/17/77. Most of my shows were here in the east, especially southeast. I did manage a New Year's Oakland show in 79 and a Seattle show in 74. I'm pretty envious of you getting to attend the "Touch of Grey" filming! That part in the video when the dog runs across the stage with Mickey's leg still cracks me up! I still enjoy Dead and Company, although, of course, it's not the same, but I'm thankful for them! I think Mayer and Oteil are doing some mighty good work, and Jeff always does. He's been with Bobby long enough to know. The "Shakedown Stream" tonight at 8EST tonight is "Sunshine Daydream/Veneta 72" ironically enough! Guess I'll be watching naked guy on the pole tonight! :)

[@tcanfield]

Tom Mathews : Thanks for the nice reply bro. I’ll have to watch that Veneta footage again. Young Jerry so happy and inspired is a nice sight to see - truly in his prime! I’ve been to that same acreage ( the Kesey family ranch ) for the Oregon Country Fair a couple of times. When Jerry was comatose in 86’, Ken Kesey announced the news from the Main Stage and there was a ripple of shock through the crowd of a few thousand. He directed us to focus our collective thoughts and prayers to help him out. Pretty intense event, when you felt your prayer could matter. That he pulled through was pretty amazing! The following summer I saw a Jerry Band acoustic gig at a beautiful small outdoor venue in my home county of Humboldt , so it was great to see him back at it again - the comeback kid.

[@tommathews3964]

@@tcanfield Wow! Yes, 86 was a scary deal! Thought we might lose him then, sure glad we didn't. There are some fire shows from the late 80s, when, I think, Brent was really at his best and most comfortable. Brent and Jerry had some sparks together! Some of the excellent footage From the Vault is really outstanding! Brent did something, in my opinion, that Jerry really needed.....he pushed him! You could see the chemistry between them for sure! They both had a twinkle in their eye! I think folks will still be talking about this wonderful band when we're long gone. I could see that spark lit in Daniel during his "Sugar Magnolia" reaction. When I saw him turn it up, and that smile broke out on his face, while he was bobbing along, well, you know........ Can't wait for him to get hold of a really good "Eyes of The World" or "Wharf Rat" or "Scarlett/Fire" or "China Rider" or "Bird Song" or "Bertha" or, or, or..... At this stage, I believe "Europe 72" would be right up his alley. Maybe warm up with "Brown Eyed Women" or "Tennessee Jed"!! I think I heard the bus door open and Daniel take a seat!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Great reaction. I think one of the big takeaways from this concert and the Dead in general is Freedom. This song just oozes freedom and is also a romantic romp that is hard not like. They were in many ways a dance band. I think this song was penned and performed in a day at the studio because they needed another song for the album. “She can wade in a drop of dew” that line always made me smile for some reason. iThis concert was filmed and made into a movie called Sunshine Daydream, excerpts available on KZbin. Thanks for reacting to the Grateful Dead, please dew more. 😁 oh a Willis is a type of a Jeep.

[@harlanginsberg7269]

This is just a psychedelic love song to an idealized nature type hippy girl. The Grateful Deads songs are generally not meant to be analyzed as per a specific meaning but rather a poetic literary subjective poem/song. Robert Hunter was more a poet/song writer then a normal rock song writer. The important thing to know is that every instrument does something different every time they play the song it is never the same. In any other jam rock or jazz band ever, one lead instrument jams and everyone else plays their set instrumentation In the Dead every instrument even the rhythm guitar varies what they do during the jamming part of the song. That's why the Dead live is a unique experience unto itself. Also if you see the Dead on Thursday and then again on Friday not one of the songs will be repeated. If you again see them on Saturday again no song is repeated and this is truly remarkable because their concerts were and still are over 3 hours.

[@levanoriginal6464]

Check out "Deal" from 7/4/89. Can find the video Trunkin up to Buffalo. The guitar work with the piano is insane

[@janeschmalfeld4307]

I wasn't at this show, but saw them in 72. We were dancing.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

“Cosmic Charlie”, “I Know You Rider”, “St. Stephen”, “Jack Straw.”, .... so many great Dead songs

[@floorticket]

When I started seeing them in the early 80s they could play about five shows in a row without repeating a song. No other band could do that. Basically Bob and Jerry would trade songs back and forth with Brent getting a song too. This is how they'd never repeat a setlist ... too random to ever happen. Though they were often predictable song-to-song: "Man, they haven't played ____ since Alpine Valley. Bet we get it tonight." That kinda stuff. "Nah, they played that last night, we'll probably get ___ to end the first set." Guessing the next song was a game we played. You could get clues from the notes they played as they tuned up between songs. Good times. "Sugar Magnolia" was pretty much only played in the second set. It was also famed concert promoter Bill Graham's favorite GD song.

[@kingbg3492]

thank you for reacting to the music i've been enjoying for the last 60 years

[@JackCerro]

Serendipitously, you somehow managed to choose to play this concert on its 48th anniversary. The whole show is fire. There is also live video of this show available on youtube. I would recommend the China Cat Sunflower, but be aware of the drug use and nudity. For further auditory bliss, check out the Bertha from this show.

[@ChicoEscuela]

And it was scorching hot over 100F

[@WMalven]

The Dead in the studio is like a kiss through a screen door. To truly experience the Dead, you have to listen to their live music. You see why in this recording. They never could generate the energy and spontaneity in the studio that they had on stage. They were the consummate touring band and performed over 2300 live shows between 1965 and 1995.

[@Bear78420]

Imo, it’s because of what their live following created. No band ever created the caravan of followers that became like a family. All the hippy and jam bands that have came, the dead paved the way for

[@StellaBlueMama]

#FAMILY

[@lhershey5950]

St. Stephen from Live Dead. Jack Straw, Brown Eyed Women and China Cat/Rider from Europe ‘72. Then Bertha, Not Fade Away and The Other One from Skull and Roses. Then you’ll be “On the Bus”

[@axandio]

One of my favorite song with Bob Weir singing.

[@axandio]

[@LtFrankDrebin100]

This kid gets the Dead. I didn’t. For awhile. I hated the Dead until I was 19 and listened to the Dead on mushrooms. I was a classic rock 196Beatles-1972 purist until that point, then I realized I was wrong about the Dead.

[@smileyd419]

not sure if anyone pointed it out but their stage/sound crew did so much for live music by developing gear for setting up stages not to mention Owsley(a.k.a. Bear ) was a audio genius and came up with the wall of sound

[@sammack1564]

Yes, that's a piano in the background... Keith Godchaux

[@garylarue3899]

I saw them in 1973 at Summer Jam in Watkins Glen, NY. It is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest gathering for a concert. There were over 600,000 folks there to see the Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers Band. More people than Woodstock. Brings back some good memories.

[@tcanfield]

Gary LaRue : Wow! Didn’t know it was bigger than Woodstock and was a record. I lived in Conn at the time, but a little too young to go. Luckily a high school buddy turned me on to a Dead Show the next summer (Hartford) ! I’d been to several concerts, but the group-love thing was altogether different and new for me. Like the song goes “ strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand “ !

[@estavillo2112]

Bass great, Lesh filling. My two bass idols: Phil Lesh and Geddy Lee.

[@bodhichitananda]

From a very old deadhead, you need to listen to a few Dark Stars, The Other One, and Playing in the Band from Europe '72 tour, or the Dark Star from this show, Veneta Oregon.

[@ung427]

Yeah, I didn't get the Greatful Dead at all.. I grew up listening to Zeppelin... literally when I was a baby my parents used to take me up camping in the High Sierras in the snow and as we drove through the Forrests, the 8-track under the seat would be playing Battle of Evermore, and all the rest. So, I never got the Grateful Dead until I listed to the Grateful Dead when I was stoned... then I really got the Grateful Dead... and I like all of their songs today..

[@radiodead745]

EYES OF THE WORLD!!! One from the vault would be a great choice!! Phil Leah the bassist absolutely kills it!! I’m a Leah lush and I can’t get my Phil!

[@Jeff-yc2js]

Playing in the band, Dark Star and Bird Song from this album are straight 🔥

[@nealpierson9072]

This song is a good example of what Jerry Garcia talked about with regard to playing in an electric band where the instruments "talked to each other." He had been playing bluegrass banjo before he really started to play electric guitar when forming the band The Warlocks, who shortly thereafter became the Grateful Dead because another band had already named themselves The Warlocks. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. So I think the Dead basically wanted to do that but with electric instruments. Cheers and thanks for the reaction.

[@carolyncarter1983]

I was there. My only totally straight dead show. I was 6 months pregnant. It was a hot August day, the Boys took forever before starting the first set. They were up on stage “noodling” for at least 45 minutes, sun beating down and then the ‘noodling resolved into a Chuck Berry tune, (Promised Land) the crowd roared and then the music morphed into a “hot” Sugaree. And oh yeah, we were dancing. BTW SugarMag is “just” a love song.

[@craiger991gm]

My first experience with The Dead was in Golden Gate Park back in 1969. I was 4 and it is one of my earliest memories. I think it was an acid test as well because I remember my mom telling me not to put ANYTHING in my mouth.

[@Darius58x]

I'm not particuarly a Dead Head bur there is one magnificent track they did It is a profmg song Terrapin Station It blew me away It was orchestrated by the late Paul Buckmaster who did Elton Johns pre rock albums and David Bowie You must give it a spin For some reason the band only played the first half live The song is about 17 mins and in my humble opinion just as good as any of the side long prog classics If you do react use the studio version

[@georgepitts1057]

The Dead were passionately devoted to their fans .... to the point that they had a custom sound system made to carry around .... they spent 40K USD , which today would be more than a quarter million USD !!!!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

That wall of sound PA was pure mad genius

[@jongrass2841]

Great driving music!

[@cojaysea]

Dark Star , you need to listen to Dark Star . When you do you’ll see how different that song is from the folksy rock stuff you heard so far

[@TheNorcalmonkey67]

You are NOT an idiot...the studio versions are just thumbnail sketches of what they did live....hang in there....this particular show's viewed as one of their great performances....There's a "warts and all" approach to the live situation....never the same set twice...

[@floorticket]

That whole "never played the same way twice" is basically true yes, but it was also true of The Allman Brothers Band, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Phish. It's pretty hard to sound exactly like you did the night before unless you're the Eagles, or Genesis or some other polished act. Even the San Francisco symphony is not going to play Beethoven's 5th the same Saturday night as they did on Thursday. Very close, but not the same. The arrow of time is unidirectional. That being said, Jerry most definitely tried to change it up to keep up his interest. Not so much playing songs in radically different keys, but perhaps subtle tempo changes and of course different, improvised keyboard and guitar solos. Oh, and forgetting the lyrics always makes it unique. Just not playing a song for six or seven, seventeen ... seventy shows ... seven years, is going to change the way it's played and received.

[@floorticket]

By "improvised keyboard" I mean Brent Mydland (1979-1990) and Vince Welnick (1990-1995) from when I saw the GD. Bob Weir rarely soloed but would play a bottleneck slide solo on occasion. Bob messed around with chord strumming in his plinky plunky style, so that was always different. And "drums" and "space" were never the same twice. Yep, still holds true: "There''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert."

[@harlanginsberg7269]

When someone says they never played it the same way twice they mean they never tried to play it the same way twice, Bands like The Stones The Who Floyd and most other bands want to sound the same every night. The Dead and the Allman Brothers and other jam bands have no desire to sound the same from night to night that is the difference

[@normanchristiansen1864]

"and the music never stopped !!!"

[@vipercoach225]

welcome aboard!!!

[@donnabruhn6907]

This is my favorite song from the Dead. Yup, we were called Dead heads.

[@JackCerro]

As luck would have it, The Grateful Dead will be streaming live video of a good chunk of this show tonight at 8:00. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3OviX5pr9ybh8k

[@Lebowski55]

You should check out Row Jimmy (Live at Hartford, CT, May 28, 1977)

[@edprzydatek8398]

I think maybe "Sugar Magnolia" is a hippy girl's name like "Moon Child" or "Mountain Girl". "Grate" reaction.

[@billbeliakoff5589]

And another one boards "the bus" ! Welcome aboard !

[@ajschroetlin2196]

Jerry Garcia, as a guitar player, had more soul than any person that ever played, in my opinion. Stevie Ray and Jimi could shred. Guys like Clapton and Bonamassa are technically amazing. Only Jerry makes the hair on my arms stand up, though. ;)

[@edprzydatek8398]

Their rockingest song might be "One more Saturday night". You might want to give it a listen.

[@davelehnen3300]

You could be the first person to react to the beautiful "Watch the North Wind Rise" by Hot Tuna (ex-Jefferson Airplane guys)

[@frankdopp6887]

Was it pretty cool being at a Dead show? Yes. OMG, Yes. Yes it was.

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

There's definitely a magic to live Grateful Dead performances, but their Studio albums are also very good please don't sleep on them. It's a mistake to conflate the two categories, they are really not alike.

[@helenespaulding9372]

It was the vibe of their concerts....they kept the hippy, flower children culture going for a couple of decades. And those who emotionally gravitated to that culture could hang with simpatico people. It was a “tribe” if you will. You really NEED to watch a video of them. You will immediately understand why they were almost a cult....but not really. They weren’t worshipped. Deadheads followed their concerts all over the country.to Be with like minded people. The Grateful Dead were THE band of the wholeSan Francisco summer of love, hippie California movement.

[@jerryfrentress4107]

Side note: Willis was the original Jeep mfg. In low 4 Wheel drive you could get them to literally jump off the ground.

[@bilburns1313]

Willys made the Jeep before American Motors made it - then Chrysler bought American Motors to get the Jeep. Many people say that the Dead's studio albums are kind of boring - that the live versions are best. You can listen to 10 different live versions of the same song - and not really feel like you are listening to the same thing - except with familiarity, you could easily sing along...

[@frankdopp6887]

The thing about the Dead is they embraced the 'live'. Different from most any other band they allowed 'tapers' to record their shows in a special section of the audience. That section looked like some kind of science camp at the arctic circle or something, full of microphones on boom poles and serious looking people. Deadheads would trade these 'shows' on tape. You never met a Deadhead back in the day who didn't have a case full of tapes and if you had some too then a conversation must ensue as to who had what and could any trades or copying be done. Always discussions about which version of the different songs were good, bad, the best, etc... The band itself also taped all the live shows and archived them and would release albums of the various shows. And the crowd you'd see at shows was insane. Hippies, bikers, Yuppies, you name it... All grooving and having a good time together. I came to the shows first - brought by friends. The experience of the shows taught me to love the music. In the end I'm pretty happy I got to see Jerry back in the day. Like I got to see a wonder of the world or something.

[@alansilverman8500]

No she's a dream come true!

[@stevemd6488]

This band defines the never quit attitude. Not a real fan but check out Shakedown Street complete real FUNK.

[@j.frankparnell]

Check jackstraw from same concert, actual video, a view of the old school deadheads at Oregon country fair

[@sammack1564]

JackStraw is great from this performance but I have two words for you .... Bird Song

[@kidpoker007]

Allman Brothers live at Filmore East..... maybe start with Statesboro Blues, then Whipping Post

[@kidpoker007]

Jerry Garcia was an Icon

[@Stephen-nd1sx]

Jerry garcia band let it rock 1982

[@stevenmurano7863]

if you are into reading (i doubt you have much time with all that you do already), i've found books about (and by) the dead to be some incredibly great and entertaining reading. but if ya can't do that, try and find a copy of the 'CLASSIC ALBUMS" dead dvd....it's called 'From Anthem to Beauty'. classic albums series focuses on the making of an album particular artist (hendrix, elton, steely dan and many others). the dead one actually focuses on two albums 'Anthem of the Sun' and 'American Beauty'. it is fascinating and HILARIOUS. 'Anthem' was their second album and very trippy and insane. They were trying to recreate the acid trip on record. the record company was HORRIFIED. there's a part they are talking to the record company Exec and he was talking about a letter he had sent them , telling them they were taking too much time and money, Mickey hart is a maniac...and stuff like that. what to the dead do ? they got out their red pens (or was it crayons) and corrected and graded the guy's letter and send it back :O). so much great stuff in there and a good 'starter' to get a feel for some of what they were about

[@gnpahdc]

Dark Star. Same show. STUPENDOUS for real. Like, do it.

[@jimmccauley4713]

Check out "the Annotated Grateful Dead" book or site for in depth annotation/info on all their songs. By David Dodd. For a very varied exhibition of their talents instrumentally and lyrically play "Terrapin Station" from a live source. Come on and just admit it- you've become a Deadhead! peace- Mojohand

[@dixiechatty958]

A couple of things. If you're interested in more live Dead recordings, check out their album Europe '72. It's the easiest way and their are some great versions of songs there. One of the unique things about Dead shows was that they didn't have set lists. At most, they occasionally set the opening and closing songs. This kept everything spontaneous. Another thing; listen closely to Jerry Garcia's solos. 95% of rock guitarists basically use scales as a framework for solos. Jerry didn't. He wrote melodies with every solo. While he did have some things he would revisit from time to time, overall they were never the same which kept his interest as well as the audience's.

[@dyanalynn6698]

The entire Terrapin Station album from start to finish please 🤞🏻 start with Throwing Stones... you’ll get those lyrics for sure.. so relevant after all these years!!!

[@nancyaugustine9000]

my brother was on the road with the dead for over a decade,,he was a gemologist, and a miner of stones ''crystal dave'' and the actual stone crystals, not meth ok,,his wife made jewelry ,,the dead shows were like an event including artists from everywhere,,they lived in a van and just went to shows year round ,,,when jerry died it ended a lot of peoples whole world including the cottage industry of many many dead heads,,,,,,,xo

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

Also I'm not sure you have to pause Grateful Dead videos, pretty much they don't give a crap about copyright strikes. The only GD vids that get taken down are full show uploads of recent archive releases

[@oakeysmokey]

youtube wont block any grateful dead the dead let us tape their concerts back in the day

[@andyoke50]

I see you are softening to the Dead. There is a plethora of live material to absorb. If you ever have time, maybe an Eyes of the world from '74, An estimated Prophet from '77, *Chinacat Sunflower/I know you Rider from '72 or perhaps a "Playing in the Band" and or "Live" Dark Star if you want to dig deeply into the Psychedelic side. I could go on-Lol

[@ericwoundedarrow5700]

You should do Jack straw. 1/22/78

[@panpdx8919]

The songs are about what you hear and feel in them when hearing, whatever that is.

[@stevenmurano7863]

good one. uh...yeah man.,..you bet yer ass people were dancing...and if you were there you'd have been too. i'm not a dancer, but the dead can get even...shall i said it...the dead dancing (and me). it was quite the thing to behold being among 15, 20 even 50 thousand other people just going NUTS, loving life, forgetting all else and just letting go like that for 3-4 hours. a dead show was often like a 4 hour roller coaster ride....peaks and valleys...but what i found them to be the BEST at was what i call 'winding the clock'.....some of their jams could get SO intense, and so out there that they could control your breathing ....building tension (winding the clock)....until it was at a boiling point, then giving you the payout.....when 50 thousand people get that release at the same moment it is INTENSE, and as good a feeling as one can have (with their clothes on :O). more live dead!

[@ericfestvog2873]

This live recording of "Truckin up to Buffalo has particularly good sound & The Grateful Dead is really on it. It starts out with the ending of another song that video showcases Mickey & Bill their 2 full kit drummers playing side by side in sync with each other. It shows how dynamic this band is/was or whatever, lol. Just give it a listen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2nVh4BufNF3asU

[@Lebowski55]

This dude is comin for Fantano!

[@oldarpanet]

Daniel, I may have heard wrong, but I thought I heard you say that (we) were going to turn you into a "Death Head." Of course it could have been a slip of the tongue or whatever. I just wanted to clarify that the Dead were *NOT* worshipers of death! They needed to change the band's name in a hurry because the one they were using was used by another band that had just charted a song, and the boys were about to go in to a studio to record their first album. The name hunt was on! I read somewhere it was Jerry who happened upon the Grateful Dead, but it may have been Phil or someone else. Anyway, what was found was an encyclopedia entry *The Grateful Dead* (Per wikipedia) (or ) is a folktale present in many cultures throughout the world. " The most common story involves a traveler who encounters a corpse of someone who never received a proper burial, typically stemming from an unpaid debt. The traveler then either pays off the dead person's debt or pays for burial. The traveler is later rewarded or has their life saved by a person or animal who is actually the soul of the dead person; the grateful dead is a form of the donor. The grateful dead spirit may take many different physical forms including that of a guardian angel, animal, or fellow traveler. The traveler's encounter with the deceased comes near the end of the traveler's journey. Of course listening to Sugar Magnolia, Help on the Way, Franklin's Tower you can see pretty clearly they are very much for life, not death. (Though they do sing about death some times...)

[@submandave1125]

You, my fried, have just discovered the wonder that is Jerry Garcia. Distinctive sound and style, but hardly ever the same. Man was a natural voice with the guitar. One of my favorite tracks of his was on a live recording by the Jerry Garcia Band, a cover of "Dear Prudence" by the Beatles. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5fCiGRubL2koa8

[@KarynJustice]

JGB "Prudence" > Beatles "Prudence"

[@Theopengrove]

Please do terrapin station, and Ps. they have two guitarist, two drummers, a bassist and a keyboardist,

[@pamhunter-to4xs]

Cool to be there... Maybe? lo.

[@poetreatsartreats2469]

Live Dead >> ^

[@wildearthfarm4632]

You might try watching the Grateful Dead movie.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

You'll be into Hot Tuna and Canned Heat before you know it... A nice balance for all that prog in your diet... And yes, there was a lot of dancing going on; Or swaying at least.

[@ericfestvog2873]

I bet you didn't know but The Grateful Dead pioneered reverb speakers on stage for better sound quality. If you look up "The Wall of Sound" in 1974 they toured with 3 stories of speakers on stage for the loudest analog on stage experiences ever. Bear Ousley Stanley, their sound man/LSD chemist orchestrated the Wall that took 3 tour busses, just for the speakers alone. It was too big of a burden to haul & set up, so after that tour, they scrapped the Wall of Sound.

[@teacherlion]

Two From the Vault Album...Dark Star track.

[@Jeff-S]

Bob Weir had the idea for this song because of the girl he was dating at the time. Robert Hunter was one of the two wordsmiths in this band and wrote most of this one. To me it's about that new love feeling where two people are crazy about each other and almost idolize each other when that spark is brand new. He's talking about a real girl. No other meaning here. Bob Weir's main lyricist was John Barlow. Weir would some times want to change Robert Hunter's lyrics. This would displease Hunter as it would not fit his intended imagery. Eventually Hunter wrote lyrics solely for Jerry Garcia. But in this case everybody agreed that this song was written well by all who had a hand in it.

[@kevincosta9228]

I think I've said this before, but I'm in total disagreement with the majority of Deadheads who say to ignore their studio albums. Yes, the live shows were transcendent, but only if you were actually there. Listening to recordings of those shows doesn't come close to the actual experience. People, the Dead made a slew of brilliant studio albums, and for someone who wants to learn about who they were/are, they're a crucial reference point. OK, reaching out to both worlds here, and to get an glimpse of another one of their many sides, I suggest the studio cut of Estimated Prophet, then the live version from Cornell University in 1977

[@sammack1564]

Althea and Foolish Heart are my favorite studio songs by them....

[@saintray44]

When it comes to the DEAD don't get too caught up in lyrics. Their forte is live free flowing jams .they only released albums because they had to.they much preferred the road.the sure were the first band to give health care etc to all employees down to roadies.they also allowed you to record their shows openly

[@sammack1564]

He's not a band but Howlin' Wolf was the first musician to offer his band healthcare... Also, don't sleep on Robert Hunter's lyrics, they are great!

[@saintray44]

@@sammack1564 the point of my comment to the you man was.they were never a band that cared about selling records or making a hit on AM radio .the were a fusion band with so many types of music bluyesblue grass country rock jazz the Blues. Sober Hunter is poet for sure. There was no insult made towards him.RIPPLE could have been recorded yesterday or 70 years ago it's timeless. My point was go watch a full concert that was their element I didn't see the hundred times but I saw them in 8 different states

[@janeschmalfeld4307]

A Willie is a jeep.

[@jameshenry8629]

CHECH OUT A ( DEAD &COMPANY ( concert You will love it..be sure you bring a friend OK 👌

[@juanpapworthgrau6034]

Long strange trip Amazon prime

[@foxandscout]

This was a fantastic doc

[@wyattetzel926]

watch the documentary on amazon prime young un

[@stephentmarksberry4484]

It’s all about LSD

[@patricknash1729]

bookmark this for your lyrical analysis - artsites.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/

[@mudshark5393]

Well I like the studio version better than this live performance, maybe you had to be there :) #Ripple #Truckin #FriendOfTheDevil From the same album are also really nice songs. And then there's Alice ... #AliceCooper #BrutalPlanet #MightAsWellBeOnMars #PickUpTheBones

[@stephentmarksberry4484]

LSD

[@theplanetruth]

Out of all tonight’s songs I did not get a notification for this. Maybe lower your brightness. That lighting is just off.

[@swandivemusic]

She = Marijuana.

[@daveking9393]

All good tunes, just not my cup of tea. Many friends enjoy them, follow, go to cover bands etc. I just never got into the "experience" even though I did/do like to party and "part take" and enjoy their TALENTS however it never "took" for me to take the same dive I took for Tull, Rush, Floyd, The Who, Boston, Doors, and many others...

[@ericfestvog2873]

Check out "Brown Eyed Women" by The Grateful Dead. It's another great story song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoHInJebfrOEmdE

[@juanpapworthgrau6034]

You do not have to pause the dead

[@druzil2112plyr]

Good but not the best. Try Cornell '77