Grateful Dead - Save Your Face: The Tighten Up Jam (1969-1971)

Grateful Dead
Save Your Face: The Tighten Up Jam (1969-1971)
By John Hilgart
saveyourface.posthaven.com/gr...
This mix compiles 25 performances (two hours) of the “Tighten Up Jam” by the Grateful Dead, including several adjacent “Feelin’ Groovy Jams.” The jam typically appeared in the variable middle of “Dark Star” and as a side-trip prior to the final chorus of “Dancin’ in the Streets.” Visit the above link for additional details and a download URL.
Track List
1 - Tighten Up (10/31/71 - final performance) 0:00
2 - Tighten Up (10/5/70) 6:12
3 - Feelin' Groovy ＞ (1/2/70) 8:50
4 - Tighten Up (1/2/70) 12:48
5 - Tighten Up (5/24/70) 17:56
6 - Feelin' Groovy ＞ (10/25/69) 22:33
7 - Tighten Up (10/25/69) 25:40
8 - Tighten Up (5/6/70) 28:17
9 - Feelin' Groovy ＞ (11/2/69) 33:23
10 - Tighten Up (11/2/69) 39:07
11 - Tighten Up (9/18/70) 42:12
12 - Tighten Up (4/15/70) 44:15
13 - Tighten Up (4/12/70) 49:58
14 - Tighten Up (6/6/70) 56:42
15 - Tighten Up (10/30/70) 1:02:39
16 - Tighten Up (5/2/70) 1:04:49
17 - Tighten Up (8/30/69 - first recorded performance) 1:11:53
18 - Feelin' Groovy ＞ (12/26/69) 1:16:47
19 - Tighten Up (12/26/69) 1:18:41
20 - Tighten Up (4/3/70) 1:22:15
21 - Tighten Up (6/24/70 - lo-fi) 1:25:59
22 - Tighten Up (11/8/70 - lo-fi) 1:30:29
23 - Feelin' Groovy ＞ Tighten Up ＞ Feelin' Groovy (4/24/70 - lo-fi) 1:34:22
24 - Tighten Up (10/24/70 - lo-fi) 1:41:41
25 - Tighten Up (9/17/70 - lo-fi) 1:45:57
*Note: This account is not managed by John and I take no credit for his work. I am just making it available here for more people to enjoy. You can find more of John's great work at saveyourface.posthaven.com/.

[@richierugs6544]

there are people that walk among us who think this music sucks----bless them for they know not what they hear

[@anthonykimball7463]

Whoever the person was who took the time and effort to assemble this, I really cannot thank you enough. These jams were some of the ABSOLUTE HIGHEST MUSICAL PEAKS that the GD attained during their 30-year lifespan and never fail to transport me to a place of utter bliss when I listen to any of them (even the ones that only got taped by an audience member). Beyond awesome. 👍

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hey Anthony! All credit for the Save Your Face mixes goes to John, you can find a link to his blog in the description if you'd like to check it out. I agree, his work is an immensely valuable contribution to the community.

[@dacethejackofhearts7209]

Amen to that and thanks so much John , this is an amazing piece of work involving time dedication and a great collection and knowledge of the boys sets im sure

[@brianbiechele1958]

@@LostMyDayJob I also thank. Yes. Hight of Western Civilization.

[@Tmrfe0962]

Amen brothers and sisters…it’s the simple things that enrich our daily comings and goings, to have this in the “background as I work, drive and contemplate my blessings…really a heartfelt thank you for your effort. Has made a difference in this servants day. Peace…

[@ScottWilbour-bk9mj]

The dude who lost his job😊

[@bambubatu]

Holy smokes. That tingly feeling is startin up again.

[@hubertsumlin9697]

These theme jam collections and edits are just priceless. They fall right smack in the middle of whatever my lane as a deadhead is. Never knew I needed em til they got here! I have some ideas for future collections but it seems greedy to mention them. Please know that your work is valued and deeply enjoyed, thanks!

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hey thanks for saying that Hubert! Don't be shy about suggestions either, John is pretty open to fan ideas. If there's a cool one you have in mind I'm sure he'd like to hear it ✌

[@tunahead8872]

Can listen to this all day. Thx so much. Primal Dead .

[@NicholasOsella]

from Khoi Le's video entitled "Grateful Dead | A Beautiful "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. If you follow KZbin into seeking out the actual video described, it will have more links and information available. Tighten Up Jam is a nuance settled into Dead lore..one like Phil's Spazz and Mind Left Body a personal favorite. Another awesome video idea! Thanks Day Job. Nick

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hey Nick! Thanks so much for the great background info 🙏

[@NicholasOsella]

@@LostMyDayJob of course, i'm a professional youtuber But my day job is listening to the Grateful Dead.

[@NicholasOsella]

@@LostMyDayJob also thank YALL for the work you do....your channel is really interesting!! It makes me think how much tape trading has progressed....Jerry would smile to hear the work y'all do.

[@hubertsumlin9697]

@@NicholasOsella hey, I enjoyed your comment... i wonder if you're aware of some research that claims the TIGHTEN UP tag is something of a misnomer...created by early tapers (public servants) for whom that R&B tune was the most familiar frame of reference. This line of thinking says that an equally important if not far more likely source for these breezy major-7th passages is the late 60's R&B instrumental hit SOULFUL STRUT by a band called Young & Holt....it's my personal experience that STRUT is a MF'er of an earworm, not easily forgotten once heard. I heard it on A.M. radio as a kid and loved it ever since. Someone should ask Bob or Phil if TIGHTEN UP or SOULFUL STRUT were the flashpoints for all this improvisation or if tapers and loons like us are just projecting. I recently heard the movement on Miles Davis's "Flamenco Sketches" that Bobby distilled is into his SPANISH JAM riff. This stuff fascinates me to no end! Best Wishes Nicholas!

[@dlm9293]

@@hubertsumlin9697 wait a sec, is this THE Hubert Sumlin?! 🤔

[@TheBrianc301]

Thank You for giving this gem to our community

[@docwill184]

Fillmore/Winterland veteran here & I really couldn't tell you if I've heard any of these. Those were times NEVER to be revisited...

[@jamesk9287]

Ahhhhh!!........breath deep and get high.

[@darwinblinks]

Yet one more reason I consider 68-74 the greatest GD

[@ScottWilbour-bk9mj]

Except 77

[@daskitten1]

thank goodness you lost your day job & had the time to put this beauty together...thx

[@Randomclip27]

Last thighten up jam 31 10 1971 clounbus Ohio is amazing

[@klaussmith]

I believe the 1st family is that Columbus Ohio version, a Dick's Picks.

[@klaussmith]

1st Jam

[@Randomclip27]

@@klaussmith Yes it's Dicks Picks 2. In this video the first jam is the last one they played. In my opinion it's the best, it's strange to think it's the last.. if they had continued to play it in the following years would it have improved more and more? Who knows what golden jams they might have made. Who knows why they stopped playing it even though it turned out so well...

[@jondavid3641]

It’s so cool to realize they were all in their 20s in 1969.

[@robertconnelly5379]

This is wonderful. Almost 2 hours of this?! Incredible.

[@stevepeters3961]

So wierd. I was just listening to Dark Star 2/13/70. It’s my new fav and it was because of, in my mind, how “tight” Bobby is

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Great, probably the best Dead jam ever the first one 10/31/71. I always called it "beautiful day jam".

[@jondavid3641]

Love this Dead period, 69-71, probably my fave. They were all filled with such youthful enthusiasm.

[@Matt_Grateful]

Well, this is just awesome! The Dead are the gift that keeps on giving. They never cease to amaze me. Thanks for sharing, beautiful stuff! ⚘️✌️⚡️👁❤️💀🎸

[@Z33803]

I like tight jam

[@user-rd1kg4gq3y]

Jerry's still the Leader of the Band, never left. JGB

[@molliehurley3541]

he’s with bob and the band every single time they take the stage

[@krissantos5170]

holy guacamole 🥑😀... this takes the enchilada🫔

[@walthouse1945]

Absolutely love your music ❤😊 Thank you, Im " Grateful " 🎉

[@marshallbearing6472]

I can't put Into words how much I appreciate this. Thanks.

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hey thanks Marshall, no problem so glad to hear it!

[@clarkrobertson7982]

Love it! Haven't heard this!

[@ducopieterse7103]

Dank voor het plaatsten. Groet uit Amsterdam oost.

[@racecar6278]

Is this a re-upload? Either way. Probably my favorite jam in the bands repertoire, reminds me of a first warm spring day and life coming back to the earth.

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hi RaceCar! I think I did have this one posted under my old KZbin channel (RIP) but can't remember for sure lol.

[@tomcarl8021]

"Hi, everybody, I'm Archie Bell, and we are the Drells.. And we not only sing, but we dance as good as we want to.. And we'd like to do a little something we call "The Tighten Up"...

[@patrickkeilty826]

15:26 Nope never heard this one before, but yep this is pretty much what I'm hearing in my head most of the time when music is not playing. Thank You So Much For This Friend

[@ScottMoyer-ns1lv]

Same...... Awesome Wharf jam zzzzz's

[@walthouse1945]

Absolitely love your music ❤😊 Thank you, Im " Grateful " 🎉

[@jimmywilson2919]

Thanks. I needed that.

[@michaelc.ateoate979]

This is easily your best compilation buddy my plants in the greenhouse are loving you.. and don't forget always tighten up!..

[@LostMyDayJob]

Those plants know what's up!

[@susiefairfield7218]

Awesome LMDJ especially Gr8ful for the Time stamps..gonna listen chronologically

[@LostMyDayJob]

Hey cool idea Susie!

[@johnnewell7047]

I love long jam songs, but 1969 - 1971 is a lot! 😂🥰

[@birdieputts4384]

I just got so much done listening to these jams.

[@MarkMasters...]

Fantastic job & much appreciated. Yowza!!👍🕺

[@richardcaross792]

So Much Thankyou. Life is Good ,, very good when music can take me to my place on stage behind the drums. Thankyou for this Gift.

[@CheapSkateGrower]

Such a great mood setting jam to get you smiling and moving ⚡️ 🌹

[@entheo302]

Heard this many times, but had no idea what it was called or that it was such a thing throughout their oeuvre. Very cool. Thanks!

[@williamswanson6424]

The mid song jams were what got me hooked on the Grateful Dead. The singing and songwriting were good but didnt compare to their improvisational abilities.

[@skgate]

in space later ✌🏼

[@pamartin]

I'm re-reading Living With The Dead again. This is a great companion to the book. Thank you.

[@ICU2HI]

LOVE THE TIGHTEN UP LOVE THE DEAD HAD NO IDEA THIS EXISTED SO AMAZING THANK YOU (cap locks was on not yelling) I am that happy about this

[@georgerebic1240]

I remember listening to 2-13-70 Dark Star and then they went into this, which is the first jam on this collection, while my friend and i were painting a house. Id heard this several times on my tape and adored it but this was the first time he heard it and he ran down the stairs and said what the hell is this. I didnt know it was tighten up so i just said i dont know. It was fun to see him so blown away. Thanks, John!!!

[@GratefulGrackle2668]

Grate job on this❤

[@timothymorris2128]

Brilliant

[@trentinthetrees]

when people say they dint like the dead I just assume they have no soul and also dislike jazz

[@benc1796]

My favorite era, this is so comforting. Big work trip tomorrow, setting this one on repeat, thanks LMDJ!!

[@richierugs6544]

Jerry is goin from galaxy to galaxy with every note, at least that was what i was feelin when i saw them in this period 5th row with a little help from purple barrels that someone was givin away at the front door

[@morningdew5872]

🌴⚡🙏⚡🌴

[@stevemiller9837]

Das cool stuff, you surprise me everyday brothaman. Cheers to you!

[@LostMyDayJob]

Thanks so much Steve, Cheers to you as well!

[@CaptainInfraBass]

Thx from France my friend ! What a beautiful job 👌🙂🇲🇫

[@archstanton2719]

Track one, Eyes jam , before Eyes existed.

[@PaulAndrews08]

Beautiful - it would be cool to here this chronological order

[@warninghippiewithcamcorder5456]

pleasantly stunned to find this...was trying to find out how the Tighten Up dance was done; it's been lost to time...this jam compilation opens a new door for me, even though I was an early Deadhead...

[@williambuchanan4623]

This is completely awesome. Thank you so much for compiling this! What a gift!

[@stugerson4838]

❤Thank You YOU for this ❤ !!!!!😅😊

[@johnbonner841]

So beautiful ❤️ Thanks🎉

[@larkspurrose3136]

Elevated ❤❤❤

[@vijayvadlamani6696]

Thank you!

[@DouglasF68]

OK. must shout out Stax records for this and Simon & Garfunkel. ❤😊

[@Rogerio-kj5lg]

This is great, thank you

[@oBALLISTICAo]

Fantastic. Wish I had this in FLAC format.

[@ScottWilbour-bk9mj]

5000 views only 200 likes😢 this is awesome ❤

[@cocreatechange852]

Feels so sped up. I checked my playback, and it’s normal. So I guess I just got used to older years and slowed down Bob. Even the cat is confused. Lol. @frank.rising Miss you here. ❤️

[@ScottWilbour-bk9mj]

Pig pen days😊

[@panoptijohn]

瞑想ですね。

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

Around 12:30 they seem to dip into Soulful Strut by the Young-Holt Trio

[@Randomclip27]

I can't find the concert the 10 5 1970 jam is from. Does anyone know if the date is correct?

[@graysondaniels7301]

Hello heads!! I tried to figure it out, is it Amaj7 to Gmaj7 ??

[@danielsteinle2084]

Gbmaj7 > Db13sus4 will work for ya

[@justicesomeday]

i shared your channel on twitter !!! is that ok

[@kristopherkerry7524]

Absolutely brilliant....my favorite early jam

[@walthouse1945]

Absolutely love your music ❤😊 Thank you, Im " Grateful " 🎉