Songs of Their Own - #1 "Black Muddy River" Luther Dickinson & Anders Osborne

Today, in partnership with Telefunken, JamBase is pleased to publish the first video of our Grateful Dead covers project Songs Of Their Own. Over the past few months we recorded fantastic sessions with touring bands as they passed through the Bay Area to play at mainstays in our thriving local music scene. With the excitement building for the upcoming Fare Thee Well shows, we thought the best way to contribute was to pay tribute to the the Grateful Dead’s influential original songbook. Expect these videos to keep hitting your screens day after day leading up the final Fare Thee Well show in Chicago on July 5th. These videos were shot at JamBase’s San Francisco office and in empty venues and backstages around the Bay Area, as well as a few shot remotely which are in the pipeline. We started with a list of 100 Grateful Dead originals (exclusively their tunes, not covers they made famous) and no songs were allowed to be covered twice.
Leading off, our first video is Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson performing “Black Muddy River” from the In The Dark album. Anders and Luther stopped by our SF office before their show with N.M.O. at The Fillmore a couple of months ago. They hadn’t fully decided on their song selection and were toying with the idea of either “Bertha” or “Black Muddy River.” After hearing just a couple bars of “Black Muddy River,” the JamBase team strongly encouraged the pair to cover it. Right before we pressed record, we mentioned to Anders that “Black Muddy River” was the last song Jerry Garcia sang with the Grateful Dead at Soldier Field in 1995. After a heavy pause, he simply replied, “Wow, I wish you hadn’t told me that before we recorded this.” What followed was one-take and an absolutely heartfelt rendition of the song.
Audio and video recorded and edited by: Jake Alexander

[@JohnDoe-lv5lu]

Whoever's the audio engineer for this series deserves a gold medal for their work. All of these videos sound fantastic.

[@robertnoble6956]

Telefunken mics help a lot with that

[@Whatsinanameanyway13]

There's nothing like great source material to make an audio engineer look great. Not to discount the engineering on these tracks, but having artists that sound good on their own, along with great gear, makes for a much easier job in general.

[@markgreenhouse100]

spot on, John.

[@lisbethbird8268]

Plus, the seamless Terrapin artist medley. Was just now, marvelling.

[@JCSteel2112]

This song is so haunting in nature....

[@c.rwalker6588]

If I could "like" this song every time I listened to it, I would.

[@lindarobison7830]

Aint jerry

[@guillaumedescoteaux5367]

Jerry is feeling the beat of this one from above and agreeing to every single note I'm sure

[@aliens27311]

@@guillaumedescoteaux5367 agreed. jerry would approve

[@patrickwayne912]

@@lindarobison7830 People like you are absolutely miserable; both Garcia, Hunter & every member of the rotating cast from Hornsby to Mayer to Oteil to Joan Osbourne and even Trey Anastasio and the list goes on and on until you're blue in the face - would find this beautiful as would anyone who appreciates what The Dead were and continue to be; and do you know why? Because "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED." It didn't end at Soldier Field in '95 in the show in a marred by technical difficulties where Jerry had to dust off The Tiger in the pouring rain and play one of the most soulful renditions of So Many Roads, one of the most beautiful Dead songs ever written and walk offstage and look and Phil and say "Always a hoot." Lived another month after that. If all you want to listen to is Jerry there are countless a, endless amount of live Jerry Garcia band stuff for you to listen to where you don't have to whine and complain. Do you do this on every Joe Russo's Almost Dead video and Dark Star Orchestra video too? What about when they originally rebranded themselves The Dead right after Jerry died? What about The Other Ones? Ratdog? Why are you even watching? There have been countlessiterations of The Grate Dead over the years and there will continue to be for as long as music exists because they have made some of the most beautiful music that has ever existed. You are lacking in the most major component of the namesake of the original band, GRATITUDE. Jeryy, while he's up there standing on the moon would applaud this. You don't know your ass from your elbow. I bet you're a blast that shows! 😄

[@lindarobison7830]

@@patrickwayne912 your right patrick, i had that coming. Thank you for tellin me what an asshole i am. Im really sorry an all the people you spoke of are great. I wish i would have wrote that to myself. Thank you again, i feel like a fool. Forgive me? Peace to you patrick

[@theron1313]

Damn, I don't know whether to smile or cry

[@kellywade900]

Just do both, I am.

[@jamessmoot2057]

Both

[@MoeltonLava]

Anders voice is perfect for that song, that was fantastic

[@xandernewton1995]

This is my favorite version of this song hands down. You can tell these 2 feel the music note by note memory by memory.

[@realgoodmind]

Needed to hear this today. Anders is the most underrated musician in the country today I think. He should be a household name.

[@Crinkle65]

🙏🏼 amen

[@atonvent]

I saw that show at Soldier Field. It was eerie. Jerry struggled all show. He absolutely killed this, like he knew it was his last.

[@kip4966]

this, and So Many Roads - I make it a point to play the last Soldiers Field version just about every dang day

[@1953jazzman]

Earth-shatteringly beautiful cover of the Garcia-Hunter classic!!!

[@eddiecharles9469]

I come back to this tune once or twice a year, and tonight it hit me real hard. Hope everyone reading this is doing alright. Love>Fear

[@keitha4834]

@@eddiecharles9469 just did the same and re-wound it for another listen...

[@johntallanger4036]

Really, really, good.

[@matthewoboyle6010]

Luther is a MONSTER guitar player. And Anders is absolutely phenomenal as a guitar player and vocalist.

[@exdemocrat9038]

Luther is one of the best musicians around. North Mississippi Allstars are an amazing band, especially live in concert.

[@direwolf8124]

I would definitely attend a concert by these guys. Great job

[@amberwoodstudio]

Beautiful ❤

[@jamessmoot2057]

Black Muddy river was the first Grateful dead song I heard and it's my favorite one still to this day I heard it back in 91 I went to my only dead show at RFK stadium on June 26 1995 I saved my lunch money $2 day the whole school year so I could go my mom said I could go if I paid for it she didn't know then but she paid for it I substituted my school lunch for a different kind of food that was The music of the Grateful Dead i was 16 years old .

[@bpbatlaw]

I really love this version of a pretty somber tune. Anders' vocal is moving and Luther's slide completely gorgeous. Great sound. The slide shimmers and glows like Jerry's pedal steel!

[@fluxahelmi]

great playing and singing, great music, thanks a lot...👏👏❤

[@TheLuxuriusHippy]

Extremely well done--Anders sings with a lot of depth & emotion, and Dickenson on slide is simply superb. Very impressed.

[@The93ssfd]

Dickinson.

[@davidb.1428]

RIP Robert Hunter

[@quartzimaging]

Very nice rendition of a timeless tear-jerker. The song is so classically simple, yet it is one of the most powerful of all the Hunter/Garcia tunes. And of course that is really saying something.

[@MichaelShellGLPA]

I love this rendition Thank you for sharing. Jerry is smiliing somewhere! !

[@asudbury817]

This might be best and most authentic version of someone covering The Dead.

[@nealduncan912]

You should check out the Billy Strings dead covers if you haven't already.

[@augustwest4233]

Lovely rendition. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

[@klippdachs]

Great singing! Thanks for posting this gem!

[@nicolelane9334]

made me cry

[@dustinhedin]

That's one Mahdy river.

[@Nighthunter8164]

So beautiful interpretation and slide guitar gave spice to the masterpiece - Thank You

[@evenstev]

Thank you! This captures the soulfulness of the musicians in a wonderful way.

[@richards8834]

Fantastic, what a joy to hear! Thanks that made my night.

[@michaelhunter1093]

BEST COVER EVER!!!

[@danbaker4856]

Cannot stop watching this, what a beautiful version ❤️

[@flatpicker75]

y'all win. hands down. no questions asked.

[@mechcavandy986]

One of my favorite Jerry songs. I've thought about having this played at my funeral.

[@048LIB]

I just decided to at mine.

[@luisalonsoecheverria]

It's a toss up between this and "Brokedown Palace"!

[@catdaddy3302]

Indian Andy me too.

[@mechcavandy986]

We might throw in some Billy Preston too, just to bring up the tempo.

[@brauliocavalcanti3703]

had the same thought!

[@AFrownAndAFatMan]

Perhaps the best cover I've heard of the song. So much heart!

[@mikepettit529]

That was spectacular. Smiles for everybody that had to do with this. Both artists delightful.

[@lingeringlead]

RIP America’s Poet

[@w.l.graves7228]

very excellent ! thank you !

[@robertmoore3107]

It simply does not get better than this. Perfect. Thank you, gentlemen. Well done.

[@jesseandtinaayers]

I think this is close to a definitive version of this song.

[@MyMomo17]

86 what a Beautiful time to remember this song. You touched my heart. Missing Jerry.

[@kasmatt]

2 guitar greats, 1 great song. Bliss!

[@1_kindbud]

Such rich acoustic tones, heartfelt vocals

[@zolamando]

Luther is so good. They both are...

[@catdaddy3302]

Luther is such an intricate multifaceted guy. That's how The Dead has always been. I used to see him in a punk rock band in Memphis when he was a teenager. It does my heart to see him do this. "World Boogie Is Coming!"

[@samuelbardani7147]

unbelievable cover by two of the best most soulful active musicians today

[@nameerbaker8158]

Tears me up, every time.

[@jrs7180]

Had the pleasure of hearing Anders sing this at Jerry's 75th a few years ago. Beautiful

[@pageluvva]

This right here, is why I get out of bed every morning...........

[@discodalton6555]

Wow. I started last week in the middle, went to the end, and went back to the first one today. Glad I did. It was amazing, soulful, emotive, and timely especially after listening to the shows this weekend. By far my favorite.

[@trampledbylambs]

Wow ..just ..wow !!!

[@hunzilla3122]

Epic

[@lindarobison7830]

Luther an anders hit my soul on black muddy river

[@thesociableloner6165]

Holy Shit!! I needed this!! Perfect

[@lucasr5716]

I agree. Beautiful. Please Luther and Anders please record more like this .

[@austinoliver142]

Luther Dickson is a boss

[@ScottBanbury]

Thanks, Luther.

[@billmcintosh220]

A crystal voice sings..When it seems like the night will last forever. I have cried sand and stones. Life whoops yer ass. Sing me a song of my own.

[@siscoismyhomey]

Their faces right after say it all man, so good.

[@keithsr.]

One of my top 3 favorite of all time! You should be proud to have created such a beautiful rendition! Thank you! (~);}

[@schott2826]

just beautiful.....

[@bklynwmn]

LOVE IT!!

[@frankieu2598]

I gotta say, I think Jerry would be proud. I get it. I am. Thanks fellas! I will walk alone…

[@joshbarrett1654]

Beautiful.

[@armanddelduca1509]

perfect!

[@lindatulett5048]

That was beautiful guys.

[@stuartbowenjr8393]

Spectacular. Beautiful playing, perfect singing, he did his best on it. Tender close.... nice work guys! When the last rose of summer pricks my finger.... I will walk alone and sing me a song of my own.

[@jackh577]

Love this so much!! Thank you.

[@zach0520]

Simply brilliant!

[@dalaicavalcanti8106]

Amazing! You guys made my day!

[@beaujohnson1922]

I love Anders like no other but Luther steals the show here... Outstanding!

[@danielgoldberg1371]

Glad I found this. Great great great.

[@golfinguer]

Maravillosa!

[@McLainCausey]

Love these boys. Absolutely stunning.

[@pressguy660]

Just beautiful. So moving. Thank you guys.

[@cfelago]

My goodness this is gorgeous.

[@stevebarry8540]

fking great song and songsters. I have had that voice before, and I am trying to find it again. I hit piercing notes, not rounded ones some too often, and sing hard instead of melodiously. Nice fking song, I don't hear much, I could say this about.

[@edwardjackson2545]

Absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you so much for this.

[@pressguy660]

This is so beautiful, so emotional. Brilliant.

[@scccott]

Love.

[@brauliocavalcanti3703]

You guys are awesome!

[@larryschmid3834]

Nice picking and grinning guys. Great job with a lot of feeling. Thanks.

[@lindarobison7830]

Awsome i love this

[@kevinhusen5883]

Awesome!

[@rferrarifjr]

So good. Just, so good.

[@AlbertCoRecords]

Amazing rendition of a truly great song.

[@adansaucedo2759]

amazing cover!!!my new favorite and I'm barely in the beginning of the song!!!wooohoooo!!!

[@travelinshoes]

absolutely beautiful jerry would be proud

[@akshaychowdhry1]

Amazing performance! Love this version thank you for sharing

[@gabrielhirsch5279]

Amazing

[@philipcorrell7449]

Love it! Great job, guys.

[@MrBustanutization]

Pure, sad, and sweet that was.

[@robertviejo9048]

super nice, really!!! Thanks for posting!!!

[@wehaveasituation]

Great job!

[@lkbwheewhee53]

Gorgeous

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

🤘🔥🤘Epic.

[@susanjean9026]

Very nice guys!

[@gratefuldev23]

Mighty good.

[@TheAlexrogo]

A+ work Gentlemen.

[@jpjouster]

Awesome!!!! Yeah baby!!!! Killer cover!!!! Thank you!!!

[@EllisDarby]

That's GOT TO BE Jim Dickinson's laugh as the close. Wonderful.

[@EllisDarby]

Sorry, that Comment was intended for kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6arZ2uubcafjKc

[@gloparker3482]

True talent.

[@elburns64]

Wow! That went deep!

[@markiscottvideo]

Sweet Great Slide sound!