Grateful Dead | A Beautiful "Tighten Up" Jam

TIGHTEN UP JAM
The Tighten Up Jam was a very common Latin-style jam theme in 1970. It's often called a proto-Eyes jam since Weir plays two repeating jazzy chords that are rhythmically similar to the opening of Eyes of the World, but they're from the Archie Bell & the Drells tune.
Its first appearance I'm aware of was on 8/30/69, where Weir plays the chords as Garcia's changing a string during Dark Star; it gets a full band performance on 10/25/69. After that they played it steadily for a year, in many Dark Stars and after March '70 in most of the Dancing in the Streets. They apparently dropped it in 1971, except for a surprise appearance on 10/31/71. As we'll see it was normal for the Dead to use a jam-theme interchangeably between two different songs like that, and Tighten Up works well in both of them. (It's surprising it took so long for them to play it in Dancing, since it's similar to the usual Dancing two-chord jam pattern - on 12/11/69 for instance, the Dancing is extremely close to a Tighten Up.)
There used to be a webpage devoted to the Dead's Tighten Ups, but it's disappeared. These are the performances I've found so far; I've probably missed a few (I think there are some in Lovelights as well), but this is the most complete listing available.
10-25-69 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd69-1...
11-2-69 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd69-1...
12-26-69 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd69-1...
1-2-70 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
3-1-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
3-21-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd1970...
4-3-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
4-15-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
4-24-70 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
5-2-70 Dancing (Dick's Pick)
5-6-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
5-8-70 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
5-24-70 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
6-6-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd1970...
6-24-70 second Star - www.archive.org/details/gd_nrp...
7-12-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd1970...
9-17-70 Star - www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...
10-5-70 Dancing (Download Series with 2/4/70)
10-24-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-1...
10-30-70b Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd70-1...
11-8-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd1970...
12-17-70 Dancing - www.archive.org/details/gd1970...
10-31-71 Star (Dick's Pick)
(I might add that Deadlists claims there's a Tighten Up in the 2/2/70 Star, but there isn't.)
The Tighten Up and Feelin' Groovy jams have often been confused, even by Latvala who should have known better! There were Dark Stars where they did both of these jams, but the 1970 Dancings generally have Tighten Up jams, not Feelin' Groovy jams. The easy way to check: is Weir repeating two chords or four chords?
Sometimes the two themes are done back-to-back. Check out the Dark Stars from 11-2-69 or 1-2-70, which have the same structure after the first verse: - a space, weird & wild, - then the Feelin' Groovy jam, almost sounding more fully developed than it was in later years with different variations, and when that dies down, - the Tighten Up jam, again done fully & at length; when this is done it's time for the second verse.
www.archive.org/details/gd69-1...
www.archive.org/details/gd70-0...

[@anthonykimball7463]

The "tighten up/beginnnings" jam performed by the group several times between 1969 and 1971 is my most favorite grateful dead instrumental segment. This jam was one of the primary reasons why the dead were such an extraordinary live act in their prime period.

[@bodeezo]

I loved that Era when they incorporated other artists songs during Dark Star. Mind left body, 59th St Bridge, Tighten Up.

[@phatstax2011]

They also incorporated Tighten Up Jam in many pre-disco Dancing in the Streets of the era.

[@Yp311-l2r]

beautiful jam

[@owennandkylie2379]

i heard this off of 10/31/71 and i remember being like “wow this dark star jam is crazy as hell mannnn” i didn’t even know it was a common jam as it was my first time hearing it💟☮️

[@jackstraw4129]

High from the past/present or future. Jerry playing Peanut. Nice. I had to go check my collection. There is a reason why fall/winter of 73 was the first DP and 10/31/71 was the second. Cheers.

[@parttime9070]

Don't forget, they played a lot of shows with Santana in the line up.. The influence runs deep with lots of SF bands..

[@jackstraw4129]

Well done. Inciteful and backed up with tracks. Right on brother. NFA. @2:30 seems to be where they move into the A Beautiful Jam in 2/18/71.

[@paulscotton6489]

It doesn't get any better than this.

[@MyCleverHandle]

gorgeous. delicious. all other ouses. yum!

[@franklinrussell3042]

Superstitious

[@wendydobson9404]

The suitcase of infinite felonies on the counter next to the amp…

[@jimkeogh8552]

Thank you for this auditory dose of memory enhancement. I’ve been able to access “The Other One” from roughly the same era which I love, but I was wondering if I could ever recall this more organic jam until I came across this post. Again, much gratitude and respect.

[@NicholasOsella]

Please never delete this video, the info in the description you wrote is absolutely PRICELESS!!!!

[@ianf.8012]

He did

[@fordummieslikeme7575]

deadessays.blogspot.com/2010/01/deads-early-thematic-jams.html?m=1

[@jamesjones-rp6cl]

Just Beautiful!!

[@franklinrussell3042]

Dig Jerry’s big ol boots in this picture! Been chipping them rocks

[@bluecollar825]

Ballin' and shinin' that steel jack hammer!👍 PS-not in those boots tho lol

[@franklinrussell3042]

Dr. Says you better stop balling and shining

[@jaykemm3472]

Love it

[@robertb1610]

Beautiful!

[@jayflaherty5260]

Excellent!

[@jamesadams1812]

Awesome jam

[@michaelderose397]

Gonna go listen to the original song by Archie Bell and the Drells, but I must say it’s not unusual to be loved...Tom Jones. Anyone hear it?

[@dannyharkins8888]

Yessir

[@MyCleverHandle]

You bet. I also hear joy, pure and simple, as a great base to other stuff too. Van Morrison has used the same phrasing and chords, and I can hear The Stranglers in here too. Maybe some Stevie Wonder too? Love it, anytime anyhow, anywho!

[@jamesfairfield3593]

Made this Jerry topics Day Subscribed

[@Randomclip27]

The best and last one tighten up jam unfortunely

[@davidbetz9231]

Fuck yeah! (Can I say that here?)

[@hbme1390]

🤸🕺💫

[@jimkerans6251]

what date show is this from? which song?

[@hmm4214]

Dick's Pick's Volume 2, Dark Star it's from 10/31/71

[@glennwiltsee7405]

@@hmm4214 this jam made me fall in love with the Dead

[@ary7091]

Anyone know the chord proggression?

[@stevenjohnson243]

e to b minor

[@constipatedlecher]

Amaj7 Bm7/E

[@ayambrodizzle247]

I’d have to grab my guitar but sounds like a major 7th to a major 7th a 4th up and then repeat. Maybe Emaj7 - Amaj7. That’s the chord progression for the actual song “Tighten Up”

[@ayambrodizzle247]

Major 7ths and minor triads are very close to each other note wise. Amaj7 would be like C#’m

[@pgee4342]

O-H

[@patrickreilly7256]

Wow...look how thin Jerry is.

[@jimmyfeathersmith1333]

10/31/71?

[@lorenzogalasso6252]

jimmy feathersmith yep

[@hallpassbluegrass2856]

After a dark star?

[@glennwiltsee7405]

@@hallpassbluegrass2856 Middle of the second jam in DS