Grateful Dead & Etta James - Hard To Handle 12-31-1982

Grateful Dead w the Tower of Power horns & Etta James perform New Years Eve 1982.

[@crystal5011]

I was at this show and I'm thrilled to see this clip. Wow- what memories.

[@1953jazzman]

The ultimate jam band more than holds their own with Etta James! I was stunned by how effortlessly Jerry improvised solo after solo in tandem with Etta's freewheeling delivery - and she was obviously impressed and enjoying it thoroughly!

[@JeffLafrenz]

I was only 15 and this was the first Dead show that I had ever been to after being raised my Deadheads all my life. Was certainly a trip.

[@lonewolffullmoon]

The Great Etta James She has Left the building! RIP Baby We LOVE you!

[@MrBuzky2]

I have read about this show for years, but haven't ever seen it. Thank you!

[@crystalmollica9291]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Cant get enough of the GD and with Etta and her powerful voice and with the horns....mmm...mmmm....mmmm..... just amazing! They all sound awesome together! =) Thanks ya'all!

[@valentine614]

I love u etta u were and still are the only woman that can sing At last. Nobodies song can touch that i love u. RIP

[@Kripesake]

I like the double drum set-up.

[@achiappanza]

Oh MY GOD I can't believe this footage exists! This was my first GD show and I am so thrilled to know a professional video was shot that night. Anybody got tips on how I can find the whole thing? That was a pivotal night in my life. R.I.P. Etta!

[@sneakerfacevids441]

The whole show was filmed and you can probably find it on KZbin.

[@casable]

Heard this many times but never having seen it before makes me appreciate how awesome Etta James is. I always loved the Pigpen versions but watching this gives a whole new perspective.

[@wayhighradio4197]

2021 still clapping hands

[@darazn1]

I love the way these guys just move the beat around.

[@chuckieluv]

one of my 1st bootlegs. raise a glass to the old maxell XLII cassette tapes!

[@icecoldhubbas]

Who knew I'd ever get to see this?! Thanks for posting!!!

[@amesy126]

All I know is Jerry and the Dead could back any great singer that lived and were happy to do it and now he and Etta are probably up there with Stevie, Jim, John and all the others just singing and having a good ol' time, laughing at all of our obstinence!

[@123Builttolast]

Baddest Blues Band Ever!!!!!Love you Girl!!!!GN

[@thnks4thecrml]

The most perfect voice in all genres. Thank you and I love you, Etta!

[@migrantbrainpick]

wow amazing she is all woman and her eyes were HUGE!!!.

[@justinbutts]

I think it was Jerry that said when Pig was on, the GD were just a backup band. Love 3:00 or so when Etta looks at Jerry and he is so humble he doesn't look her in the eye...he was so genuine and charming. If your watching this because of Etta, look for an early GD Hard to Handle and enjoy

[@chynnadawl9022]

My gawd! Look how happy Jerry is! He loves this shiz!

[@TheDoxster]

True musicians--thanks for posting

[@qbea5]

RIP you Great Blue Soul! Thank you! Thank you!

[@abitaamber1]

RIP Etta, you will be missed.

[@chuckieluv]

YEAH !!! 1983 YEAH!!! GRATEFUL DEAD YEAH !!!

[@lavacountry]

Etta is playing here, Las Vegas, at the Hilton Feb 20-21. We saw her last year at the Orleans, Hadn't seen her since New Years Eve 1982 with the Dead and only getter better.

[@michellesupport89]

RIP Etta. Lappy from WPLR in New Haven sent me here.

[@frog442]

HOLY SHIT!!! Why have I not heard this before?!

[@PeteAuster]

RIP Etta, you will be dearly missed...thanks for all that Soul!

[@lukeshiva]

I introduced Etta James at UC Santa Cruz where she was inebriated or who knows...it was strange and surreal and sad...but fascinating that she released her last album while in the throws of a dementia diagnosis. Surely want to hear that - RIP Etta...

[@jjshooter420]

agree, I believe it is 4-28-71, my favorite hard to handle, and you are right on with your description of that !!!!!!! Have a tape of it, and there is a guy just yelling, wooohooo the whole time during the jam, and it justs puts you right into the fillmore!!

[@stevesewall]

unbelieveable such beautiful funk didn't think the dead could come close to doing with they do here - and etta - she set this whole thing up and brings it off so unbelievable 3:40 how she goes on!

[@stepdvs]

It's hard to believe this was 30yrs. ago...just the other day!

[@andrewmccourt6112]

This is just amazing!

[@spdrcr039]

Righteous! Good Thoughts, Vibes and prayers to Etta and her battle with leukemia!

[@wayhighradio4197]

epic

[@phylliseynon6136]

I was there :))

[@PCPrabbit]

the best thing ever

[@mfldvp]

This is her best night & it was a great night. She's definitely in the upper echelon of singers.

[@MartinPell]

We love you, Etta!

[@tunnelboy777]

RIP Etta! One of the most memorable evenings of my life!

[@teddyh1962]

Awesome...!!!

[@EaglesNester]

Oakland...I have a friend who says "that Etta show wasnt New Years Eve.. it was 12-30-82, the night before New Years. I remember because I went to every show of that run at the Oakland Auditorium EXCEPT New Years Eve. (Couldnt get tickets) On NYE I listened to the show outside the venue - Bill Graham had set up loadspeakers outside. The band had an off night anyway. The night before was the one with Etta doing this song." but i don't know, i wasn't there myself

[@56BUICKRiviera]

Etta James can really belt out a tune.

[@bookmedia67]

Wow! What a killer version of Shakedown. Very funky indeed.

[@bertbrains]

uh...ya think... at a GD New Year's show? Got that right and so was i and everyone else there...nothin betta than Miss Etta! Here's your queen of r&b baby!

[@lunadagirl]

OH HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JurassicBlueberries]

My First New Years Show, Uncle Bo Bo rode in on a Giant Mushroom !

[@PhilWorley]

R.I.P. Your influence will live on!

[@MrJmpphd]

@lukeshiva I was there, agree she was under the influence of something. Did you see John Lee Hooker play there a few years earlier? Great performance!

[@44elisdad]

Hard to believe it, but I was there, I actually got to shake Bill Grahams hand that night. I believe John Cipollina was around that night as well. RIP Etta, John, Jerry, Brett, Bill, and everybody else who has not made it this far.

[@SPUNKY3333]

WHERE WAS THIS NEW YEARS EVE PERFORMANCE VENUE? TOTALLY PRICELESS & AWESOME!

[@eliotrosewater5110]

Oakland Auditorium, now the Henry Kaiser Auditorium?

[@elizabethstephens9639]

I was plenty old enough to have seen her live or maybe even have met the woman. I never did. only recently have discovered HER music- fuck the commercials and the Beyonce bulllllllshit- HER music is magnificent. I so regret not having seen her perform, so many thanks to those who share on youtube! By the fucking way....who wasn't fucked up at a GD show? Please, our addictions are part of who we- our adorable, loveable and often times talented selves. it's time we all stop believing the lies that addicts are junk. Nah, everyday people with gifts and beauty to share w the world. Etta is a case in point....peace.

[@Cloud2013]

I love the way you can't understand 1/2 the words. Check out the whole show on the internet archive: search for grateful dead 1982-12-31 and grateful dead 1982-12-30

[@coyote023]

We were backstage for this show usually i do not dig it because there are way to many people on new years eve back there but it was kool this nite and yes etta james got dosed and it turned out to be a great show. I was foolish enough to get a drink from the bar and about 15 minutes later it was fairly obvious there was a whole lotta liquid going on. I miss those days

[@heroclassworker]

@EasyAce This tells you how much you know about the Dead.

[@netdaddy]

RIP ETTA

[@bamapatriot205]

hauntingly familiar with the Pigpen dynamic!

[@Bingogh]

Anyone have "Tell Mama" from this same show? That would be a nice upload!

[@easyace4985]

This tells you how great Etta James (and the TOP horns) were---that they could take a distinctly un-funky outfit like the Dead and turn them into a funk machine, for one number at least . . .

[@stefanofocacci]

I have a tape of this show somewhere. If I I remember well, they also played "Tell Mama"...

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Hi Jerry!

[@solaidback21]

Actually for those that have jokes, Etta was very clean durning this period having come out of rehab earlier in that year for the last time. Being clean of one of the most addictive drugs Herion is very much an accomplishment. Read her Book Rage To Survive,

[@yahudiprince]

awesome! go gettum bob !

[@coyote023]

@modcraft13 Bro, backstage this night was so off the hook you could count the people that didn"t drink a huge puddle on one hand.That was then and to have that much fun at just about each and every nite those was the days and boy do i miss "em

[@elocrian]

Smiles indeed :D

[@Koinzidenz]

Five Stars

[@3thingsuneed]

so sweet!!! i can see Etta taken a toke but dose? nah.. I'd have to see it to believe that one..

[@TallBrianFromNapa]

Yea, ya gotta love Jerry and Etta, but for my money nothing beats Jerry (and the boys) and Pigpen's rendition of this song from the Fillmore East 4/71...check it out on the 4 CD release "Ladies and Gentlemen...The Grateful Dead"! Pigpen's rap is killer and the back-and-forth between Phil and Jerry that leads to an "x-factor intense" crescendo, capped by Pig bringing it all home (BaaaaaY-Beee, Here I am...) with the final chorus. The ultimate example of the Dead w/Pigpen blues/rock jammin'!

[@alfreditchkock]

@gbmar The best I've been able to find are the sound board recordings. Try searching google for grateful dead 1982 12 31 torrent, you might be able to turn up a video. I'm happy with the sound boards.

[@mardebcin]

@bobrich1QEDJ5 well i think you should check out Shakedown Street, Dancing in the Streets , and The Music Never Stopped by The Grateful Dead especially 77-82 and you might change your opinion.

[@Cloud2013]

watch the whole show on the internet archive Search on grateful dead 1982-12-30 and grateful dead 1982-12-31

[@Chenangobango607]

rip etta

[@MrLeavs]

first nye,great time

[@vaperjeff]

@stevebeat Wait...how is this an anti-drug ad???? This is awesome. I don't know what you or your girl are talking about.

[@cnedwick]

agreed. does anyone have a link to more vids of this show?

[@bicyclereporter]

this isn't NYE, rather 12-30-1982 per deadlists on NYE she sat in for the entire 3rd set.

[@ccdeweese]

@zenbrenzz That really is sad that you heard it first by the black crows...my sympathy.

[@Lea99Jones]

"Who the hell dislikes?" The

[@bmtink]

it was at the "KAISER"

[@wayhighradio4197]

are those ears real on drummer

[@yguaray]

First YT video I've seen were was actually there. Not to be too egotistical but, unlike others on achrive.org I only review shows I attended thus; I know the facts. In this case, was also lucky due to working to get in free to have seen them rehearse w/ Horns (no E), but it was funny 'cause Garcia at first didn't want to bother thinking the tunes were too easy. Yes they are, but they hadn't done them since '71 yet he got up them eventually. They also did this the night before! Augy San Diego

[@easyace4985]

@heroclassworker I know enough to know that the Dead were many things (good things, from 1966-69), but "funky" wasn't exactly one of them after Pigpen died . . .

[@TucumcariTimmy]

Seems as though Bobby was Etta's choice for "pretty little thing".

[@-thirteen]

@coyote023 are you saying then that Etta is tripping her face off during this clip?

[@JESSKISS19]

yeah

[@buffaloborn71]

@frog442 i know ! lol....unreal....esp. considering it's a new years show....still crazy stuff i haven't heard of...

[@thnks4thecrml]

Tanked or not. Etta takes the stage!

[@vaperjeff]

Apparently, as the story goes...backstage Bobby Weir was fawning all over Etta James, bowing down to her and professing his love and admiration....and Etta kept saying, "somebody please get this white boy away from me!"

[@slosh77]

is this the only song she sang for them that night?

[@GreatMooglyGoogly]

I think they dosed Etta. And I think Etta could handle it!! :)

[@jr31105]

@stepdvs 29 years ago... 30 at the of this year

[@ashbyguy]

@lunadagirl Bobby be lookin' at Etta.

[@UngratefulLiving420]

@bobrich1QEDJ5 are u kidding? type in "Grateful Dead Hard to Handle" in the search and click on first video. Back when Pigpen was in the band they played it all the time, and tore the roof off every time they did. I suppose by 82 they didnt play it as much so were somewhat rusty, but id consider this genre to be right up their alley.

[@sturryslim]

What is herion anyway?

[@lunadagirl]

Etta be lookin' at Bobby.

[@TheLuxuriusHippy]

Check out Bobby at the 1:15 mark & again at 1:50--too damn funny . . .

[@TheMrCompletely]

@folkhippy dude they were just having fun and pulling songs off the shelf that Etta knew and could rock out on...I think you are taking this a bit too seriously, just IMO

[@jr31105]

@jr31105 end of this year*

[@easyace4985]

@EasyAce oops - meant to say (1966-71)

[@jockamofeena]

Etta Say Relax (Yo)