Grateful Dead - Smokestack Lightning (2/19/1971)

The Grateful Dead doing Smokestack Lightning on 2/19/1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on 2/19/1971. A Betty Board recording.

[@notgoingdownwithoutafight1606]

This was recorded 1 day shy of my first birthday. The Dead were played in my home growing up and for that I'm eternally grateful.

[@jimparker7778]

I love these shows from early 1971. I attended a St. Louis show in March that year. Pigpen was still strong and Bobby was becoming a confident player. Nobody played the harp like Pigpen.

[@Emberalis_Starr]

Miss him soul much!! I'm an StL Deadhead 😊❤

[@chrisjones5390]

Pig and the boys NEVER disappoint. There is nothing in the world like it.

[@lzrdkng79]

Sometimes, The Dead is like a good conversation with an old friend

[@Marltonskate]

Thomas Travis well put

[@mtnhaah]

I agree with this sentiment so much that I just took a screen shot of it, including the reply from John, to keep around. Listening to the Dead takes me back to the happier, more centered, more light-hearted me.

[@waltermaravilla3635]

With a good topic of discussion.

[@alexspsychedelicchannel2521]

Yeah like Howling Wolf? Lol

[@clancykobane9102]

or an old conversation with a good friend.

[@denniscampbell6185]

One thing I find very interesting is that Pig sounded amazing right to the end of his days with the Dead. Listen to any of his performances in 72, it seems to me that the fact that he knew his days were numbered actually made his performances more, well, soulful.

[@jordankay9818]

He knew his time was coming 😢

[@direwolf8124]

I get frustrated when I put a dead jam on and people just talk over it. Greatest band ever

[@neildhan]

I recall with great disdain, picking up my then-girlfriend, now ex-wife, in the car late one night, listening to Live/Dead, and her immediately turning the stereo off. I don't know why I was surprised that things didn't work out. ;)

[@Mr.FinbarJLutter]

@@neildhan hahaha gotta give her the dead test to see if she's "wife material"

[@neildhan]

@@Mr.FinbarJLutter Right, man. That's a mistake I will not make again. Love me, love the Dead!

[@sierras.2467]

@@neildhan dead and zelda? Lol

[@SmallvillenerdTwo]

nah I think grateful dead is good background music

[@karenciavarini6708]

Thanks for this. Love and miss the pigpen years. The best dead there is.

[@augie7484]

Howlin Wolf was a perfectionist however I don’t think he would’ve objected to this version of a great tune! Pigpen and the crew do justice in paying homage to one Mr. Burnette!

[@fubarsaltdog6460]

Phil is laying some HEAVY shit down on the bottom end right here!

[@Blue_Dream_Microgreens]

If he was okay with the stones playing his music, then I have a hard time believing that he wouldn't like the dead too...

[@johnnynbk]

What a cracking blues band they were. One of the best ever.

[@jimparker7778]

Listen to how well Billy was holding it down on drums single handed. They were a 5-piece in those days.

[@TiTzyMagee]

The best of him will always be remembered while the b.s. long forgotten. This is the gift of music. God bless the grateful dead.

[@johnstanda9730]

74 was my first Dead show. I wish I could have seen Pigpen live.

[@teheod960]

Howlin' Wolf....

[@tamarajoquintanilla9467]

You know it

Spoonful and Killing Floor the Wolf like the Dead are true Americana Still the best country on earth despite Trump

[@AVDiDomenico]

Jerry thought it was the end when Pig died. We're so glad he was wrong. Rest Easy, Pigpen, we miss you and Love you!

[@franciscojoaquina877]

Jerry said "Without Pigpen there would have been no Grateful Dead." He was my neighbor in Palo Alto when I was a kid.

[@bobmahler5379]

Listen to Grateful Dead with Pigpen, and it’s not much of a stretch to say that he and Jerry were equally important early on. The Dead were a fine blues band with Ron, and I love their songs that include his harmonica playing. Some of his raps went on too long IMO, and of course they were still a great band after he left, but they lost a certain aspect without him.

[@grecorobert97]

Out of all the 60's groups that played this tune, these guys did it best everytime.

[@gunner42frever]

love this song

[@skiingbuzzard]

I heard if Pigpen was around to day he would have just gotten a liver transplant. Suck he died at 27. He has so much soul in his voice. I love the Dead with him.

[@xSwordLilyx]

I was gonna say you were wrong but I saw he kicked alcohol. They don't give livers to people who don't give it up but you're right, would have just gotten a transplant. So sad. I really expected him to keep drinking. That's what they do, knowing full well they don't give livers to alcoholics.

[@ugfbkifvfetgfjjdf9587]

💀❤️♣️

[@SuperDeadAhead]

Grateful Dead = Church!!

[@Geekypoodle]

One of my favourite bands performing a song from my favourite blues artist

[@VampyKat17]

one of Bear's Choice and Three from the Vault... I listen to this everyday on my commute.

[@Kdublu]

Betty! Thank you for recording this!

[@andrewlaw4488]

real , honest, music

[@tonywhitmore3299]

Thanks for posting this- from UK, I haven't heard this version for years - thanks again

[@thomasroberts7021]

Bitter sweet and a hard one to get through without shedding a tear. Fare the well. Never gonna see me no more. Why cant you hear me cryin? Woo ooo

[@Maddox.strauss]

Thank you Ron.

[@alexbrewer5799]

O,what I'd give to take a trip back in time to THAT show !

[@fontenoyjoe]

I like this version

[@josephjackson5088]

Damn, what a band!!! Thx

[@fuok69]

great version of this song

[@glitterystar4]

I’m listening to 2/13/70 but couldn’t find the singleton Smokestack lightning. Oh boy am I digging this! Especially because TIGDH cut off drums. And this came on. LOL! Pigpen understands my woe. I’m loving these heavy blues.

[@Richvids48]

pigpen was the living blues

[@eriki4042]

yup

[@wildernesstrance]

What a beautiful soul

[@gt-37guy6]

Thomas travis, although the last post for this video was years ago, this was eerily along the lines I was thinking. Old friends are not around anymore...sitting here Friday night...was thinking ...well I guess I'm hanging out with these guys for a while...life sure changes...

[@ericfabian8856]

I have had cassette tapes of this show, and the other shows from this run at The Cap, yet I don't recall ever hearing this version of Smokestack Lightning. Wow !! What a treat ! One of the better ones, fer sure !

[@Bob-jn6ys]

Whoa smoking stack lightning

[@alexthompson5726]

fucking glorious

[@OdySlim]

I found this on the web. Origionally written by Howlin Wolf. I believe this has set a record for being covered. Quote: "Smokestack Lightning" has been interpreted numerous times by various artists. In the early to mid-1960s, it became a live staple of British beat groups, including the Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, the Animals, the Groundhogs and the Who as well as American groups, such as Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Electric Prunes, and the Wailers. The song has also been performed or recorded by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Fenton Robinson, Lucky Peterson, John Lee Hooker, John Mayer, Bob Dylan, Gillan, Mike Harrison, Soundgarden, Widespread Panic, moe., Gov't Mule, Lester Butler, George Thorogood, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Big Head Todd and the Monsters.

[@grecorobert97]

It's a good fuckin' song!!! Very cover-worthy!

[@liminalsoup3005]

And yet no one has a better version than Howlin Wolf.. my fave is the one where he never actually sings the lyrics "smokestack Lightening".. you can find it on youtube: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foWnm3eVisl9j9U

[@bilbospacebagginz3304]

What's up Ody, it's Bilbo

[@guacasauwrisflex4044]

It's actually originally written by Bo Diddley Recorded by Howlin' Wolf in '59

[@hubertsumlin9697]

@@guacasauwrisflex4044 written by bo diddley? i don't mean to be rude but that's not at all the case. Bo Diddley is Elias McDaniel, Howlin' Wolf is Chester Burnett. I've never seen it credited to anyone but Wolf, who was still in Memphis when they cut it. Bo was in Chicago.

[@afegus9]

... Pigpen was the best in his day , for sure ... he was not faking it , he was living it . Beware of what alcohol will do to you , you start sucking on the bottle and you end up the bottle is sucking on you

[@wtangodelta1715]

you got that fuckin' right mate. It will never let you go~it took me 20 fuckin' years of trying to put it down before I finally got clear of the shit. My brain is starting to work right again after almost 2 years. A quart of whiskey a day to cold turkey in a hospital...hellish visons of angels and demons fighting right over and all around me. It took 15 months before the demons quit hissing at me from the shadows and that ain't no shit homey. WORTH IT>!

[@johnnynbk]

Pig was a wine drinker. Don't think that beer or wine can't harm you like Hard Liquor because it can. God bless.

[@bobmahler5379]

I’m going off topic here, but you reminded me of what a friend of mine (Hi Bert!) used to say about cigarettes. He knew smoking is bad for you, and is expensive, but he did it anyway until health problems forced him to quit. He used to say, “I don’t smoke. The cigarette smokes. I’m just the sucker.”

[@violablues67]

This is Howling Wolf... Thrue and true. Love the dead

[@Bunbeck-pf9iw]

I loved the way he dressed ! So bad of a man , who would not love that ? ❤️🐰🐇🌹🕊️🪽💀☠️⚡️🥀👽🪐🛸🚀✨🌟💥🤩🥳

[@mike129995]

Great music, and a little bit of William Tell at the very end. Very cool.

[@fubarsaltdog6460]

Nostalgia time traveling with the Pigpen.

[@Byrontheone]

Lord can't you heard me crying. O Lord can't you hear me cryin'?

[@johnnynbk]

OH LORD!

[@douglasgillies495]

I lived within a short drive to the Capitol. I was very fortunate to see so many wonderful concerts there and at the Filmore East when it was all going on back in the day. This is not a video, but a fairly good audio recording of this. Really gets Phil's bass and Pig Pen's vocals down nicely.

[@mandybethel5474]

My mom sent me this song on my 43 rd birthday last August 3 rd

[@micksoiseth2652]

Interesting recording and a decent version of the song by the Dead. The Yardbirds did the definitive version of Smokestack Lightning on their album Rave Up. One of the finest live recordings ever made in my opinion. Raw and rocking.

[@abexartgallery4401]

This is the greatest version of this song in history

[@greyskydawg5284]

Hooked me first time I heard it.

[@Sunshines771]

The best music ever ❤ sunshine ☀️

[@johnm3152]

Pig...with Owsley at the board I suspect (~);-} Great post !

[@Bunbeck-pf9iw]

Pigpen was it for awhile , to bad for him to have to leave us so soon !? We sure loved his sexy voice ! ❤️🐰🐇🌹🪽🕊️🌎💀☠️⚡️🌙👽🪐🛸🚀😘😍🥰💥🥀✨🌟💗🥳🤩😇all my love to the folks who put this out ? I have it on a bootleg album !

[@NancyDrewe]

So good. Thank you, thank you. :))

[@blakeepitts]

Oh hey look kids, the sound of America in all its glory...

[@simonrichmond4935]

the Dead are very underrated in England. a legendary band.

[@allanbriggs807]

Same in Australia.

[@thecapothedon]

Shoutout to them for paying homage

[@potatoturtle3530]

ah , my birth month and year , love me some PIGPEN

[@jeffholt3807]

My favorite

[@chuckhallman2864]

Thanks Hooter!!!!!

[@floydj2018]

my 7th birthday, wish i'd heard tnem that early

[@josephjameswaligora9652]

my mom was a member of the hells angels in the early sities and used to talk about how this rock n roll band and the dutch boy shot at her with a bolt action k98 rifle in dutchess county New York. later the industry became windows at IBM.

[@jimdoolittle6717]

I totally agree I wish I sas him live but didn't start the dead til a year later

[@danielgoodyouarroyo7773]

BLUESNISIMO , HOWLING IN BLUE DARK LIGHTING FOR EVER . HAPPY DAY HPPY LIFE

[@peachesb-georgia1125]

You guys did a good job 👍...

[@philsteakfreeman]

Gritty as Pig.

[@thothagata3544]

#Magic

[@DukeRaul]

Frickin' P H I L !!!!!! 🌹🎸🐔🌞

[@keithschilhab7759]

You know...that notion just crossed my mind. Especially as they dig in to it around the 4:15 mark an after.

[@bluesmanleo]

Written by Willie Dixon for Chester "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett. Oh yeah. Play this version and the original on my radio show "Bluesland" on KCSB 91.9 FM. Been awhile since I've played it. So good. Going to have to play it again soon.

[@GuitarSwan]

Willie Dixon didn't write this. It's a Wolf composition.

[@bluesmanleo]

Thanks Guitar Swan. I stand corrected.

[@patrickreilly7256]

"Chetty Burn It Down...!!!"

[@justinj1zalientoxic]

This is the best I've heard pig pen sing

[@Mrbeahz1]

Please go find more recordings of him!

[@RaySchutz]

yes.

[@susanrospond]

Sweet and Groovy ....Gratzi!

[@wtangodelta1715]

BettyBettyBetty!!!!

[@freedomisntfree2089]

I love their cover but there's just something about Howlins gritty soul vocals that can't be beat

The Wolf could dust that harp

[@phillygdead79]

great pic

[@ArtFernandez1]

Chester Arthur, Howling Wolf!!

Dig it

[@11jimcleveland]

yeah, totally agree but this song is great!!

[@Jenevershed]

Never underestimate Pig

[@ArtFernandez1]

wow!!!

[@davecorcoran9188]

Hey Travis, It’s a really good old friend. I wish we could share a brew/smoke I bet we are old friends. Tourhead 1977 thru 1983.

[@tommcnally3646]

Something about Pigpen that's so cool 😎

[@andrewlongauer1593]

Nice !

[@user-uz9lq8zy4d]

Dam I need a trip

[@bob733333]

No Mickey. This was the first show without him until '74.

[@thefamily6304]

can't think of many tunes that compare to this //// Pigpen can turn anything in to gold,,,,

[@apachejake47]

Howlin Wolf would like this version I think.

[@philagerryberry7148]

Went to this show as you can hear Jerry go's nuts playing for Big Ron,( PigPen), They played as one is was a great thing to see at the time , Ron only made it to UK 72. He was sick the whole time their ,so they had to pick up at the time Donna & Keith G. to take if he got really sick and was unable to play, that didnot happen.

[@Bunbeck-pf9iw]

I have a bootleg album with this song on it + I bought it in London on my class trip in 1972 after I got divorced to go back to school to get my diploma for my dad ! My other sisters got pregnant so had to quit ! I stayed married for 5 years but they let me back into school , with my new classmates standing behind me all the way ! 💙🐰🐇🪽🌹☠️💀⚡️🥲😘🥰😍💦💧👻👽🪐🛸🚀☮️😊

[@NoRosesForMe]

He was the Dead as far as Im concerned. l♥ve Jerry too. These 2 fellas are very deat to me personally. And many other people Im sure. xx Love to ya'll. "Jen"

[@johnm3152]

Oops, Betty at the board. Just reminded me of Bears Choice on first listen. Still was/is one great underrated recording !!

[@Mrbeahz1]

Someone's caught Billy's right foot loud and clear!

[@dreamwell2020]

Pigpen was the soul of this band.

[@petercasey175]

Absolutely

[@xoopbeepbop8592]

I love GD but quicksilver messenger service really makes this song good and im pretty sure they played the song before GD but i still love this song no matter who plays it

[@stevedavis3506]

Jeff Zebrasky its actually a howlin wolf tune....GD cover is good skynard does a cover...but I still havent heard anyone do it better than the wolf himself....

[@davidferrara1105]

+William Dennis "it shits on all of them" Dude...

[@clancykobane9102]

This is the Dead in one song

[@menimi87]

[@danielorlando8172]

This man drank himself to death by the age of 27. To swim in the ocean of his Fury is a tempest not one living soul can ever understand

[@williamdennis9383]

Widespreads version is soooo sick too

[@dannc4894]

I love pigpen

[@ArtFernandez1]

Stop your Train and don't forget Howl'in Wolf, Chester A. Arthur.

[@sabrinabaran5491]

Pigpen❤️

[@Ticktoclock]

The Mother Board of Rock n Roll

[@Ticktoclock]

I'm still smokin this on this tokeen Train though ain't bein "NO" doin this in veighn. still simple and plain perhaps got troubled in this insane mundane it's always that Dame

[@jggallow01]

Living life hard - Ronny did. He went out satisfied, I gather.....

[@jasonspeth2414]

The Mighty Pig!

[@ultracosmic247]

a couple of four disc sets, Ladies And Gentleman 1971 NYC and Stepping Out 1972 European Tour are epic must have great listening. I've always thought Ron's Smokestack, School Girl and Midnight Hour would have fit nicely if he was a member of 1969-70 Steve Miller Bands fourth and fifth albums. This Jam here is something like Credence Clearwater would have been playing if they were jammers.