Grateful Dead was Americana music. Their sound, their musical ambitions and their repertoire continually evolved over their 30-year journey. As for "Sugaree", 1977 was THE MONUMENTAL YEAR for the song in live performance, the band stretching out the jams with gathering - smoldering - EXPLODING intensity. Virtually EVERY reading that year will blow your minds. SERIOUSLY. Love for y'all from Middletown, Pennsylvania. 😀 JERRY GARCIA LIVES
If you could NOT afford to have yourself buried a good Samaritan would pay for your burial. You became " the Grateful Dead " and when this good Samaritan need some kind of spiritual assistance in the future YOU the person whose burial, he paid for would return to assist him in his hour of need. originally called " the Warlocks " another band had that name and so one night Jerry and Phil opened up a dictionary and closed their eyes and put their finger on the page and saw they had chosen the name " Grateful Dead " The other ones were not too happy with it at first but adapted. Hey!!! There's a really wonderful Dead song! Titled The Other Ones!!! I've had some of my most mystical experiences in this life at a Dead show and miss them very much! Good job guys!!!
At that time, Phil, the bassist, had written two songs and neither had a title. The first was written with eleven beats to the bar, so when they wanted to rehearse it they called it “The Eleven,” which eventually became its name. And then they’d rehearse “The Other One.” True story.
The Dead played this song so many times, sometimes it was laid back and chill like this version, other times it was an absolute banger.....thats the beauty of the Grateful Dead.......its never the same, but its always good....
As to the name: Grateful Dead (or grateful ghost) is both a motif and a group of related folktales present in many cultures throughout the world. The most common story involves a traveler who encounters a corpse of someone who never received a proper burial, typically stemming from an unpaid debt. The traveler then either pays off the dead person's debt or pays for burial. The traveler is later rewarded or has their life saved by a person or animal who is actually the soul of the dead person. The grateful dead spirit may take many different physical forms including that of a guardian angel, animal, or fellow traveler. The traveler's encounter with the deceased comes near the end of the traveler's journey.
The Dead werent famous for the records they made; they were a travelling cultural event that bordered on religious. Seeing them live as a 16 year old in 1973 was as impactful as any school I ever attended.
Not religious really. But in every culture and every religion there is something called ecstacy. Jubilation you might say. And the Dead represent those traditions that are almost all gone.
Garcia has many influences - Hispanic- Folk - Hippie Dippie - LSD culture - Jam band - Western/country - Rock - Cant put them in a category - Set list was different everynight - Garcia was the heart and Soul - Bobby and the band were great - Robert Hunter who wrote the Lyrics was amazing
Jerry's first instrument was the banjo. He was in a bluegrass band and he had the hilarious quote of "Me play in a rock n roll band? Never gonna happen!" 😂
Everyone will tell you to do a live show, and that's completely true, but it's also true that some of their records really reveal an important aspect of who they are. If you want the real art-band Grateful Dead listen to Aoxomoxoa (which is a palindrome) if you want to feel their full on FM radio manifestation listen to American Beauty If you want the nearest thing to 'who they are' listen to Workingman's Dead. Listening to all 3 of these albums will give you a good background in the material you will hear in a live show, and give context and meaning to start off on'es understanding of the live experience. To get the live experience really sussed, you'll need to go through the live shows in a historical fashion, AND know a thing or two about Ken Kesey, The Beats, and LSD in America. Finally, one really needs to listen to these albums in there entirety, espcially the first and 3rd... do your audience and yourselves a favor, get the full experience by listening to the whole album all at once... well, if you want the maximum high that is... :)
Yes to all of this. Then fast forward to the 1990 live album Without A Net to gain an appreciation for how all of it follows a trajectory to 1990's, and straight through to this very day.
@walterlippmann6292 I used to have the "From Anthem to Beauty" making of DVD. I can't remember if it was Anthem of the Sun or Aoxomoxoa that had a producer of engineer quit. They wanted to record "thick air." Apparently, they broke him. He got up and walked out, never to return, muttering, "Thick Air. They want to record Thick Air."
Yes indeed. They were far more than simply their music vibe. They were an experience. Ken Kesey - glad to see you mention him! if y’all didn’t live in that world of the original hippie movement, read Tom Wolfe’s book “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”. He documents those crazy days and how his merry band followed the Grateful Dead. It’s a trip man ✌️☮️ P.S. Hung with Tom once in his crazy house with his trippin merry band once and it was just that. You know, I just now remembered about that!
Two years later, around spring 1977 they would be jamming this song out for 15 to 20 minutes with a lot more fireworks on display at times. For better or worse, the Dead's music was constantly evolving.
There is a six episode documentary about the Grateful Dead called 'Long Strange Trip" and even though I'm not one of their biggest fans, I am very glad I watched it.
Excellent suggestion, @kathyk5319. The documentary is almost 4 hours long, which might be a bit much for the casual viewer, but it tells a good story and you get to hear a lot of great songs. I think most people with even a mild interest in the band would appreciate it, and La and Che seem to fall into this category.
The meaning of Grateful Dead goes way way back. A poor man died and there was no family or friends to pay for a funeral but a stranger paid for it knowing that he'd never get that money back. The Dead was Grateful indeed...
This song was written by Garcia and Robert Hunter (the Dead’s official lyricist) and the studio version appeared on Garcia’s first solo album (“Garcia”) which was released in 1972. It made regular appearances on the setlist of the Dead and every side project that Garcia had over the years. Nice choice!
Thanks for doing this. Another in my top 10. You cannot put the Dead in a box and say this is who they are. They cover the whole spectrum of music. Excellent reaction fellas. Appreciate you 🙏 ❤
Love your channel! You have great reactions. I like the fact that you are confused about the music. There is so much variety in the songs and jams. In concert, the Dead could bring you high and low. They could make you smile and feel melancholy in a matter of minutes. Check out "Eyes of the World" next. A jazzy Grateful Dead song. The studio version is good, but it shines live. Here are a couple of good versions - P.N.E Coliseum 5/17/74 from the Box Set Pacific Northwest: '73-'74, you'll love the bass, and if you want to get really jazzy - the version on "Without a Net" from 1990, with guest Branford Marsalis on soprano sax.
You listen to one song and you understand what’s going on in that song and you become interested in it and you do it over and over again. And then you get another song and you learn what’s in that one and you begin to understand the language of that one. And over time you build up this collection of songs and you listen to them enough so that you begin to see an arrangement in a sequence and a narrative of the band’s performances as represented by these songs, which, you know, are little snapshots from each year, each tour. To start with you’re not really aware of one year being different from another. But after a while, you begin to realize that 1971 sounds like this… and 1973 sounds like this… Later you learn that there was variation even within that year, within that week, within each night. That’s part of the appeal. You start to understand what’s going on in the music. You hear the patterns. You hear the deviations from the patterns. The differences from recordings make it seem alive. You’re really hearing how each musical performance represents an evolution or devolution of the band over time. It’s an endlessly fascinating body of work to say this one- this one is good in this way, and this one’s not good in this way. And this one is really good, and this is why.
Love watching your curiosity and desire to learn about this legendary band in real time; your authenticity is palpable! Most are confused when hearing them for the first time, because of assumptions. They are highly skilled, very spiritual and consist of endless layers. The 'Grateful Dead' originated in historical folk tales describing an altruist who happened upon a mob who wouldn't bury a peer because they died before paying their debts. The altruist gave their last cent to afford him a proper burial. Hence The 'Grateful Dead'
That's the beauty of the Grateful Dead, such a deep and wide cataloge of music. As far as the name goes it was plucked out of the dictionary at random by Jerry. The definition of the term "grateful dead" is interesting in and of itself. Worth looking it up. Enjoy the ride guys, it's a fun one and happy to be here as you do!
To me, the Dead is a jam band with influences from folk, blues, rock, bluegrass, and beyond. They were primarily a live band, while the studio albums are wonderful, the fan base would follow the Dead from city to city to hear the different live variations of each song. Deadheads would record the shows live and trade around the bootlegs of the shows, to be a true Deadhead was to follow them and also collect the bootlegs.
Not a fan, and never bought a single album, but if you've got a pulse and half a brain, you've got to appreciate the Dead's premiere position in the annals of music history
almost walked out of a Dead concert in Rochester, NY. Buddy and I were headed for the door when they suddenly hit us with.....something. Realized we needed to stick around and let them get our groove on. Turned into a good show
There are certain bands that I love more and more as I get older. All bands that I either liked or couldn’t get into and now I listen to these Bands as much as any and the Dead is right there! The Dead Kansas Blue Oyster Cult Yes Gentle Giant Frank Zappa Genesis Alice Cooper
Hey La and Che, thanks for this one! You could react to every song from this 1974 Winterland performance as far as I am concerned. They're all here on the internet for us to enjoy. Suggest the Sugar Magnolia take next
You asked why two microphones. This is from one of the "wall of sound" shows. Wall of sound was this very large sound system, wikopedia has info on that. Anyway they put all the ampliphiers behind them on stage but that caused feedback.....so they sung into the top mike and the bottom mike would pick up the sound coming from behind them and somehow they engineered it so there would be no feedback......that was the reason.
Any track from their Europe 72 triple album would be worth checking. The thing with the Dead is they had eras each typified by different personnel and repertoire of songs. Like a sports team that retains a name and general culture from year to year, performance to performance, they are essentially the same but each time you experience them it is different and you only know that when it works it really works but it doesn't always come off. This song you just played could just have easily been twenty minutes long with guitar solos if they were feeling it that way that night.
"Estimated Prophet " Bobby Weir is lead vocal on that one. There are a lot of good live versions out there. They do a great live version of the classic "Dancing in the Street" too
One of my favorite reactions of yours was to Kid Charlemagne. Now, when I see you react to the awesome Grateful Dead, I automatically think of Owsley Stanley (Kid Charlemagne) Loved this one,too!
Stephen Stills (from CSN&Y) said that when he was a kid, learning to play guitar, he got really into folk music, because that’s what college kids were listening to at the time. I thought that was a good way to put it. All of these guys (Gerry Garcia in particular) were really interested in folk music, in addition to the early rock n roll they heard as kids. Add some r&b radio, so blues. Then you get the Beatles and then everyone gets electric guitars, grows their hair long, takes LSD and forms rock bands in no particular order. That may be all you need to know about the sound of this band. But also, they’re from San Francisco, and they weren’t in a hurry to sign a record deal, and didn’t care that much about recording hit singles.
"Sugaree" is a very significant song for me. At my first show, 9/6/80 Lewiston, Maine, it was the third song they played, and it affected me a lot, and put me "on the bus". Then, several years later, i met a beautiful young lady who had a dog named...Sugaree. Too cool. With Jerry Garcia on his "Wolf" Guitar and The Wall Of Sound behind the band, how could it not be GREAT. Some more Dead songs? Here you go: "U.S. Blues", "Help On The Way>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower", "Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain", "Unbroken Chain", "Stagger Lee", "Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream".
Please keep doing dead reactions. I think they are the most eclectic band ever. It's an experience. You may not enjoy everything, but you will often be blown away. They took more chances then any other band
The Grateful Dead’s music is so varied. So many songs for so many people. I’m a big fan of the mid-70s live shows, but the kid’s gotten into their early albums which have a totally different vibe. It’s all good. Try listening to “The Other One” or “The Eleven” for more unexpected music.
The Dead have a distinctive sound which you'll recognize once you listen enough. Jerry Garcia was a top-tier guitar player and had an unmistakable guitar tone. The Dead's sound technicians starting with Oswley Stanley perfected the wall of sound system for picking up each player’s output in their shows back in the 60s/70s and then broadcasting distortion-free sound to the audience.
Keep digging. Anything live from 1972 “Sunshine Daydream” is a good video/DVD to mine, anything off Europe 72, and pretty much every show between 72-74, all of 1977-78, and 88-90.
To me the Dead draws the listener into a musical presence or reality. If the listener gives up pretense and expectation and feels the music - rhythmically, lyrically with one’s mind/spirit/soul/body you get to the core of their music. It’s really letting oneself go and becoming one with the music, the vibe, the band and if live, all the other beings experiencing. Listening and letting go leads to experiencing. Band’s name then makes sense
In 1980 I saw the cartoon version of lord of the rings and then went to see the dead at Pauley Pavillion. The whole time I was on LSD AND SHROOMS and the whole day was incredible. The Dead played 4 hours. Just like Zeppelin did when I saw them in 76.
You cannot understand the Dead unless you have seen them live on good acid. I saw them in 76 at RFK Stadium with the Allman Brothers. My life changed that day.
Im playing catch up! And so happy to do it! Love it that you guys do the Dead! If you were there and you didn’t have to be high but it really did enhance the whole experience!
They are a psychedelic folk rock blues band. Mainly jam band. This song is how the “dead “ are grateful” to be buried for free if they are unclaimed. The Grateful Dead
Never been a huge fan here, but I have many friends who are still die hard Deadies. One of them even attended Jerry's funeral! I really love a few of their songs, though....one being Estimated Prophet.
I was told that they took the name of a 1920's spiritualist poem about people who free ghosts. The band went through changes, the albums are landmarks.. the shows were happenin to the max. In the shows they'd start one song and jam into another jam into another and finish the first an hour later. The Wheel into Eyes of the World was a good one. The band distributed live show tapes, it may be going on still.
Any Dead song starts in studio, and Jerry Garcia said few studio recordings capture the sound of the Dead, so every Live performance is different, same song, but differ tempo, solos, arrangements etc, no cookie cutter with the Dead. So may I suggest do studio track, then live version of same tune. Two songs in studio that Jerry Garcia was very pleased with ..." Althea" and " West LA Fade Away"..( a song for the Chateau Merrimont in LA, where John Belushi died) Garcia loved the studio production and performance of these two songs.
This song isn't one that I would send to someone new to the Dead. Personally, if it was played at a show I attended, it would betime for my bathroom break run. It's a "change of pace" "take a breath" song in the show. But you guys handled it well. There is a mystery to the band which is deep to unravel and very worthwhile. If you follow it, then you will be hooked in a good way. Because you guys love music, and not gimmicks. This is about the music..and maybe about the family that everyone feels a part of. I look forward to the next Dead tune.
Sugaree is a take off on a traditional blues song entitled Shake Sugaree. Elizabeth Cotten was a co writer who also wrote Going Down the Road feeling bad and Oh babe it ain't no lie, both covered by the Dead.
They are a band of many sounds, and that’s why they’re so unique. Always puts a smile on my face when Jerry sings. The man has 4 fingers on his right hand, but can still wail on the guitar.
The only way I can describe the Dead is that they're immensely listenable. Similar to a group like Steely Dan or The Band. You can just put on any Dead album and enjoy whatever you're doing.
Hey guys You guys are a Great listen, you take no time self promoting ,very refreshing!! Suggestion> could be grateful dead 's most pristine live recording 1975 great American music hall Franklin's tower . I know you will love it ✌️
30 years, 3200 + concerts that most lasted well over 3 hours, you can't sum it all up in 10 songs. As the world changed, so did their music, from the psychedelic 60's, to folk, jazz, blues, and even some classic Rock and Roll .... it's all in the Grateful Dead box ..........
If you want to hear a selection that absolutely freaked people out at the time cause it was soooooo very different - try Terrapin Station (song)(studio version). Storytelling was all part. The Dead were able to play about anything - and they did !
If you’re looking for an example of something that encompasses the Grateful Dead’s music, check out Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklins Towers from 8/13/75. While no single song can define them, this performance catches much of what they were all about: Groove, harmony, joy and love! “If you get confused, listen to the music play!”
The microphones in this video indicate it was done with the wall of sound. This was the most sophisticated sound system anyone ever built. It was powered by more than 50,000 watts, all the speakers were behind the performers. You see two microphones. One was sung into. The other was 180 degrees out of phase and is the reason there was no feedback. Look it up. It is very interesting. It was built from Stanley Owsley LSD money. This band was unique in many ways. They don't seem to be your cup of tea, but you have given them a very fair play.
As to the iconography: The ubiquitous Skull & Lightning Bolt logo (Stealy) is credited mostly to Augustus Stanley Owsley III who was one of the Dead's original sound men. He also funded them somewhat in the beginning. He was also a chemist who was one of the most prolific acid chefs of the sixties. He was the hero (?) of the dead song "Alice D. Millionaire" (LSD Millionaire). He designed the logo to mark their equipment cases. The lightning bolt has 13 points. "M" is the 13th letter of the english alphabet. In the counterculture it stood for Marijuana. You should understand that at this point everything was illegal except LSD. That followed soon after. A similar thing happened in the motorcycle culture. At the same time, the Hell's Angels were exploding into America's consciousness. Honda was trying to convince Americans that "You meet the nicest people on a Honda!". Soon, there were 10's of thousands of Honda Cubs running around. The President of the American Motorcycle Association made the public statement that "only 1% of American motorcyclists" were of the "Outlaw" variety. It seemed like the next day bikers were sporting a "1%" patch on their colors. They were also fond of a patch with the number "13".
If you could put your finger on the Grateful Dead, you would be the first one ✌️ they are worth the trip. Look up why they call themselves the Grateful Dead. It’s deeper than it appears.
Had a coworker disbelieve that I knew anything about JGB.... she asked me who was Legion of Mary...I said that it was JGB ..11/74-- 6/75..of course they gained the permission of the sisterhood of the nuns in SF..Legion of Mary 😊😊
You guys need to do a reaction to an entire live show from each era of the band in order to begin to understand the gravity of this band's accomplishments. You can also start off Dick's Picks #1 which is one of my favorites because of the many different genre's they touch on in the various tracks!
HA they are a mystery. They’re deep. They’re hard to figure out. But when you do, oh brother. BTW La and CHe you’ve heard this song before, it’s a Jerry Garcia original but you’re heard Tedeschi Trucks do it too.
Most people only react to faster Grateful Dead songs but slower Grateful Dead songs are, in my opinion, the most beautiful music ever created.
Oh my, I was on leave from the army in 1972 and my friends took me to a Dead concert at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, my life was changed!😊
Brokedown Palace ❤
Attics ❤
Jerry's voice is so burned into my soul, I tear up immediately.
Grateful Dead was Americana music. Their sound, their musical ambitions and their repertoire continually evolved over their 30-year journey. As for "Sugaree", 1977 was THE MONUMENTAL YEAR for the song in live performance, the band stretching out the jams with gathering - smoldering - EXPLODING intensity. Virtually EVERY reading that year will blow your minds. SERIOUSLY. Love for y'all from Middletown, Pennsylvania. 😀
JERRY GARCIA LIVES
“reach out”
Saw them at Englishtown, NJ that year. 120,000 people in attendance. Bertha from that show is epic. Among "Dick's Picks".
@@PaulImprotaThe Mississippi Half-Step from Englishtown is their Magnum Opus.
And they are alive with dead & co....cant wait for Sphere in jist over a week!
If you could NOT afford to have yourself buried a good Samaritan would pay for your burial. You became " the Grateful Dead " and when this good Samaritan need some kind of spiritual assistance in the future YOU the person whose burial, he paid for would return to assist him in his hour of need. originally called " the Warlocks " another band had that name and so one night Jerry and Phil opened up a dictionary and closed their eyes and put their finger on the page and saw they had chosen the name " Grateful Dead " The other ones were not too happy with it at first but adapted. Hey!!! There's a really wonderful Dead song! Titled The Other Ones!!! I've had some of my most mystical experiences in this life at a Dead show and miss them very much! Good job guys!!!
“reach out”
Great Summary man!
At that time, Phil, the bassist, had written two songs and neither had a title. The first was written with eleven beats to the bar, so when they wanted to rehearse it they called it “The Eleven,” which eventually became its name. And then they’d rehearse “The Other One.” True story.
@@submandave1125 Yes! I believe I read that in Phils book, which was a good read!
The Dead played this song so many times, sometimes it was laid back and chill like this version, other times it was an absolute banger.....thats the beauty of the Grateful Dead.......its never the same, but its always good....
As to the name: Grateful Dead (or grateful ghost) is both a motif and a group of related folktales present in many cultures throughout the world.
The most common story involves a traveler who encounters a corpse of someone who never received a proper burial, typically stemming from an unpaid debt. The traveler then either pays off the dead person's debt or pays for burial.
The traveler is later rewarded or has their life saved by a person or animal who is actually the soul of the dead person. The grateful dead spirit may take many different physical forms including that of a guardian angel, animal, or fellow traveler. The traveler's encounter with the deceased comes near the end of the traveler's journey.
The song ripple is the perfect Sound of the Grateful Dead.
The Dead werent famous for the records they made; they were a travelling cultural event that bordered on religious. Seeing them live as a 16 year old in 1973 was as impactful as any school I ever attended.
“reach out”
I wish I hadn't taken them for granted and went to see them live at least once. If wishes were horses...lol
Not religious really. But in every culture and every religion there is something called ecstacy. Jubilation you might say. And the Dead represent those traditions that are almost all gone.
A band beyond description. The music plays the band.
“🎉reach out🎉
Mysterious - yes. Intentionally so I do believe.
Garcia has many influences - Hispanic- Folk - Hippie Dippie - LSD culture - Jam band - Western/country - Rock - Cant put them in a category - Set list was different everynight - Garcia was the heart and Soul - Bobby and the band were great - Robert Hunter who wrote the Lyrics was amazing
many more influences too. Garcia exuded the power to transcend.
Started and finished playing bluegrass though.... Check out Old and In The Way
Jerry's first instrument was the banjo. He was in a bluegrass band and he had the hilarious quote of "Me play in a rock n roll band? Never gonna happen!" 😂
Hippie dippie was an influence? Jam band was an influence? No. He created those genres by combining his influences of bluegrass, blues, and rock.
Everyone will tell you to do a live show, and that's completely true, but it's also true that some of their records really reveal an important aspect of who they are. If you want the real art-band Grateful Dead listen to Aoxomoxoa (which is a palindrome) if you want to feel their full on FM radio manifestation listen to American Beauty If you want the nearest thing to 'who they are' listen to Workingman's Dead. Listening to all 3 of these albums will give you a good background in the material you will hear in a live show, and give context and meaning to start off on'es understanding of the live experience. To get the live experience really sussed, you'll need to go through the live shows in a historical fashion, AND know a thing or two about Ken Kesey, The Beats, and LSD in America. Finally, one really needs to listen to these albums in there entirety, espcially the first and 3rd... do your audience and yourselves a favor, get the full experience by listening to the whole album all at once... well, if you want the maximum high that is... :)
Yes to all of this. Then fast forward to the 1990 live album Without A Net to gain an appreciation for how all of it follows a trajectory to 1990's, and straight through to this very day.
I like the studio version better than this version.
aoxomoxoa is underrated
@walterlippmann6292 I used to have the "From Anthem to Beauty" making of DVD. I can't remember if it was Anthem of the Sun or Aoxomoxoa that had a producer of engineer quit. They wanted to record "thick air." Apparently, they broke him. He got up and walked out, never to return, muttering, "Thick Air. They want to record Thick Air."
Yes indeed. They were far more than simply their music vibe. They were an experience. Ken Kesey - glad to see you mention him! if y’all didn’t live in that world of the original hippie movement, read Tom Wolfe’s book “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”. He documents those crazy days and how his merry band followed the Grateful Dead. It’s a trip man ✌️☮️
P.S. Hung with Tom once in his crazy house with his trippin merry band once and it was just that. You know, I just now remembered about that!
I always liked "Me and my Uncle" as one of my favorite live songs, great story and clever tale
“reach out”
Sugaree and Peggy o. Personification of beauty
I'm loving the Quadrophenia cover in the background 😎
“🎉reach out🎉
Gosh. Thank you for reacting to early live Dead. Such beautiful music. I miss Jerry so much, he's sounds so perfect here
Two years later, around spring 1977 they would be jamming this song out for 15 to 20 minutes with a lot more fireworks on display at times. For better or worse, the Dead's music was constantly evolving.
“reach out”
Popular Grateful Dead song is Touch of Gray.
Often incorrectly referred to I Will, Survive.
There is a six episode documentary about the Grateful Dead called 'Long Strange Trip" and even though I'm not one of their biggest fans, I am very glad I watched it.
“reach out”
Excellent suggestion, @kathyk5319. The documentary is almost 4 hours long, which might be a bit much for the casual viewer, but it tells a good story and you get to hear a lot of great songs. I think most people with even a mild interest in the band would appreciate it, and La and Che seem to fall into this category.
@@rhodnett8444 Worth watching just for the bit about the Wall of Sound, the amazing sound system they built for live performances.
The meaning of Grateful Dead goes way way back. A poor man died and there was no family or friends to pay for a funeral but a stranger paid for it knowing that he'd never get that money back. The Dead was Grateful indeed...
That's interesting. I just assumed it was about ego death.
This song was written by Garcia and Robert Hunter (the Dead’s official lyricist) and the studio version appeared on Garcia’s first solo album (“Garcia”) which was released in 1972.
It made regular appearances on the setlist of the Dead and every side project that Garcia had over the years.
Nice choice!
Jer looking and sounding so young and sweet. Long before the heroin.
Thanks for doing this. Another in my top 10. You cannot put the Dead in a box and say this is who they are. They cover the whole spectrum of music. Excellent reaction fellas. Appreciate you 🙏 ❤
Unless it's a Box of Rain...😉✌🎶💜
Love your channel! You have great reactions. I like the fact that you are confused about the music. There is so much variety in the songs and jams. In concert, the Dead could bring you high and low. They could make you smile and feel melancholy in a matter of minutes. Check out "Eyes of the World" next. A jazzy Grateful Dead song. The studio version is good, but it shines live. Here are a couple of good versions - P.N.E Coliseum 5/17/74 from the Box Set Pacific Northwest: '73-'74, you'll love the bass, and if you want to get really jazzy - the version on "Without a Net" from 1990, with guest Branford Marsalis on soprano sax.
“reach out”
Seconded
You listen to one song and you understand what’s going on in that song and you become interested in it and you do it over and over again. And then you get another song and you learn what’s in that one and you begin to understand the language of that one. And over time you build up this collection of songs and you listen to them enough so that you begin to see an arrangement in a sequence and a narrative of the band’s performances as represented by these songs, which, you know, are little snapshots from each year, each tour. To start with you’re not really aware of one year being different from another. But after a while, you begin to realize that 1971 sounds like this… and 1973 sounds like this… Later you learn that there was variation even within that year, within that week, within each night. That’s part of the appeal. You start to understand what’s going on in the music. You hear the patterns. You hear the deviations from the patterns. The differences from recordings make it seem alive. You’re really hearing how each musical performance represents an evolution or devolution of the band over time. It’s an endlessly fascinating body of work to say this one- this one is good in this way, and this one’s not good in this way. And this one is really good, and this is why.
Terrific song and a show stopper when live in person
Love watching your curiosity and desire to learn about this legendary band in real time; your authenticity is palpable! Most are confused when hearing them for the first time, because of assumptions. They are highly skilled, very spiritual and consist of endless layers. The 'Grateful Dead' originated in historical folk tales describing an altruist who happened upon a mob who wouldn't bury a peer because they died before paying their debts. The altruist gave their last cent to afford him a proper burial. Hence The 'Grateful Dead'
eyes of the world will help.... Without a Net Album
“reach out”
The Dead had their Country nights, or their Blues nights, or their Fire on the Mountain nights. We never knew, but we adored it all.
Great Dead Song. Love it! Try "Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo", "Ramble on Rose".
“reach out”
The undefinable quality is what makes them great and have such longevity.
🎶 I've been to Sugar Town, and I shook the sugar down 🎶 - Bob Dylan
They're pretty much a genre all their own. A blend of rock, psychedelia, folk bluegrass all rolled into one.
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That's the beauty of the Grateful Dead, such a deep and wide cataloge of music. As far as the name goes it was plucked out of the dictionary at random by Jerry. The definition of the term "grateful dead" is interesting in and of itself. Worth looking it up. Enjoy the ride guys, it's a fun one and happy to be here as you do!
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ONE OF MY FAVS
Cried like a baby when i heard this live...and then after everytime!❤❤❤ oh Jerry!
The Grateful Dead are one of those bands I like more and more the older I get!!! More Dead La & Chi!
Thanks guys great reaction!
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To me, the Dead is a jam band with influences from folk, blues, rock, bluegrass, and beyond. They were primarily a live band, while the studio albums are wonderful, the fan base would follow the Dead from city to city to hear the different live variations of each song. Deadheads would record the shows live and trade around the bootlegs of the shows, to be a true Deadhead was to follow them and also collect the bootlegs.
Exactly. This rabbit hole goes wayyyy deep and it will take these guys a long time to get to really know their music ✌💖
Dupree's Diamond Blues is my favourite Grateful Dead song. Fast and to the point
Not a fan, and never bought a single album, but if you've got a pulse and half a brain, you've got to appreciate the Dead's premiere position in the annals of music history
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Anal?😢😢...not on my watch buster! Too young for this shit....🎉
This song is perfect for sittin' back on your porch an a lazy summer day and smokin' a nice big spleef!
almost walked out of a Dead concert in Rochester, NY. Buddy and I were headed for the door when they suddenly hit us with.....something. Realized we needed to stick around and let them get our groove on. Turned into a good show
There are certain bands that I love more and more as I get older. All bands that I either liked or couldn’t get into and now I listen to these Bands as much as any and the Dead is right there!
The Dead
Kansas
Blue Oyster Cult
Yes
Gentle Giant
Frank Zappa
Genesis
Alice Cooper
Hey La and Che, thanks for this one! You could react to every song from this 1974 Winterland performance as far as I am concerned. They're all here on the internet for us to enjoy. Suggest the Sugar Magnolia take next
Really enjoying these reactions, I’ve been a fan of the Grateful Dead since I was 15 years old, and they are still mysterious to me as well.
Always been a favorite
Terrapin Station is amazing and you should listen to both studio and live. Studio version has a orchestra making it a must and live is magical too
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You asked why two microphones. This is from one of the "wall of sound" shows. Wall of sound was this very large sound system, wikopedia has info on that. Anyway they put all the ampliphiers behind them on stage but that caused feedback.....so they sung into the top mike and the bottom mike would pick up the sound coming from behind them and somehow they engineered it so there would be no feedback......that was the reason.
Any track from their Europe 72 triple album would be worth checking. The thing with the Dead is they had eras each typified by different personnel and repertoire of songs. Like a sports team that retains a name and general culture from year to year, performance to performance, they are essentially the same but each time you experience them it is different and you only know that when it works it really works but it doesn't always come off.
This song you just played could just have easily been twenty minutes long with guitar solos if they were feeling it that way that night.
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"Estimated Prophet " Bobby Weir is lead vocal on that one. There are a lot of good live versions out there. They do a great live version of the classic "Dancing in the Street" too
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Go Spurs Go! Thanks for another great reaction ya'll
One of my favorite reactions of yours was to Kid Charlemagne.
Now, when I see you react to the awesome Grateful Dead, I automatically think of Owsley Stanley (Kid Charlemagne)
Loved this one,too!
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Stephen Stills (from CSN&Y) said that when he was a kid, learning to play guitar, he got really into folk music, because that’s what college kids were listening to at the time. I thought that was a good way to put it. All of these guys (Gerry Garcia in particular) were really interested in folk music, in addition to the early rock n roll they heard as kids. Add some r&b radio, so blues. Then you get the Beatles and then everyone gets electric guitars, grows their hair long, takes LSD and forms rock bands in no particular order. That may be all you need to know about the sound of this band. But also, they’re from San Francisco, and they weren’t in a hurry to sign a record deal, and didn’t care that much about recording hit singles.
"Sugaree" is a very significant song for me. At my first show, 9/6/80 Lewiston, Maine, it was the third song they played, and it affected me a lot, and put me "on the bus". Then, several years later, i met a beautiful young lady who had a dog named...Sugaree. Too cool. With Jerry Garcia on his "Wolf" Guitar and The Wall Of Sound behind the band, how could it not be GREAT. Some more Dead songs? Here you go: "U.S. Blues", "Help On The Way>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower", "Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain", "Unbroken Chain", "Stagger Lee", "Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream".
Please keep doing dead reactions. I think they are the most eclectic band ever. It's an experience. You may not enjoy everything, but you will often be blown away. They took more chances then any other band
Nothing like the good ol Grateful Dead
Wow, what a snoozer of a rendition. I like this song with this kind of put me to sleep.
The Grateful Dead’s music is so varied. So many songs for so many people. I’m a big fan of the mid-70s live shows, but the kid’s gotten into their early albums which have a totally different vibe. It’s all good. Try listening to “The Other One” or “The Eleven” for more unexpected music.
The Dead have a distinctive sound which you'll recognize once you listen enough. Jerry Garcia was a top-tier guitar player and had an unmistakable guitar tone. The Dead's sound technicians starting with Oswley Stanley perfected the wall of sound system for picking up each player’s output in their shows back in the 60s/70s and then broadcasting distortion-free sound to the audience.
Keep digging. Anything live from 1972 “Sunshine Daydream” is a good video/DVD to mine, anything off Europe 72, and pretty much every show between 72-74, all of 1977-78, and 88-90.
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"PLEASE forget you knew my name"!
To me the Dead draws the listener into a musical presence or reality. If the listener gives up pretense and expectation and feels the music - rhythmically, lyrically with one’s mind/spirit/soul/body you get to the core of their music. It’s really letting oneself go and becoming one with the music, the vibe, the band and if live, all the other beings experiencing. Listening and letting go leads to experiencing. Band’s name then makes sense
In 1980 I saw the cartoon version of lord of the rings and then went to see the dead at Pauley Pavillion. The whole time I was on LSD AND SHROOMS and the whole day was incredible. The Dead played 4 hours. Just like Zeppelin did when I saw them in 76.
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Was Bill Walton there?
You cannot understand the Dead unless you have seen them live on good acid. I saw them in 76 at RFK Stadium with the Allman Brothers. My life changed that day.
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Grateful Dead 🌹 morning Dew 72 will blow your mind.
such a beautiful song
Im playing catch up! And so happy to do it! Love it that you guys do the Dead! If you were there and you didn’t have to be high but it really did enhance the whole experience!
This song right here is one of my favorite Dead tunes. Wish I went to see them with my brother when he asked me back in the day 😢.
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They are a psychedelic folk rock blues band. Mainly jam band. This song is how the “dead “ are grateful” to be buried for free if they are unclaimed. The Grateful Dead
Never been a huge fan here, but I have many friends who are still die hard Deadies. One of them even attended Jerry's funeral! I really love a few of their songs, though....one being Estimated Prophet.
I was told that they took the name of a 1920's spiritualist poem about people who free ghosts.
The band went through changes, the albums are landmarks.. the shows were happenin to the max.
In the shows they'd start one song and jam into another jam into another and finish the first an hour later. The Wheel into Eyes of the World was a good one.
The band distributed live show tapes, it may be going on still.
Any Dead song starts in studio, and Jerry Garcia said few studio recordings capture the sound of the Dead, so every Live performance is different, same song, but differ tempo, solos, arrangements etc, no cookie cutter with the Dead. So may I suggest do studio track, then live version of same tune.
Two songs in studio that Jerry Garcia was very pleased with ..." Althea" and " West LA Fade Away"..( a song for the Chateau Merrimont in LA, where John Belushi died)
Garcia loved the studio production and performance of these two songs.
always amazed to watch Jerry play such beautiful music while missing a finger.
.."just don't tell them you know me..."Such a classic line. Rock on.
Love listening to the Dead ☮️
Not Fade Away - Going Down the Road Feeling Bad - Not Fade Away from 11/15/71 Austin, TX. Key pieces for the puzzle.
This song isn't one that I would send to someone new to the Dead. Personally, if it was played at a show I attended, it would betime for my bathroom break run. It's a "change of pace" "take a breath" song in the show. But you guys handled it well. There is a mystery to the band which is deep to unravel and very worthwhile. If you follow it, then you will be hooked in a good way. Because you guys love music, and not gimmicks. This is about the music..and maybe about the family that everyone feels a part of. I look forward to the next Dead tune.
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Nonsense! That’s what Phil songs are for 😂
I’ve always felt that this was his favorite song. Or perhaps better said that this song was the most him.
Oh so many...but I hear ya
Sugaree is a take off on a traditional blues song entitled Shake Sugaree. Elizabeth Cotten was a co writer who also wrote Going Down the Road feeling bad and Oh babe it ain't no lie, both covered by the Dead.
When you think you've got The Grateful Dead figured out, it's time to think again. The word that describes their song catalogue is: ECLECTIC.
They are a band of many sounds, and that’s why they’re so unique. Always puts a smile on my face when Jerry sings. The man has 4 fingers on his right hand, but can still wail on the guitar.
4 1/2 I believe is the number you meant
The only way I can describe the Dead is that they're immensely listenable. Similar to a group like Steely Dan or The Band. You can just put on any Dead album and enjoy whatever you're doing.
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Hey guys You guys are a Great listen, you take no time self promoting ,very refreshing!! Suggestion> could be grateful dead 's most pristine live recording 1975 great American music hall Franklin's tower . I know you will love it ✌️
30 years, 3200 + concerts that most lasted well over 3 hours, you can't sum it all up in 10 songs. As the world changed, so did their music, from the psychedelic 60's, to folk, jazz, blues, and even some classic Rock and Roll .... it's all in the Grateful Dead box ..........
If you want to hear a selection that absolutely freaked people out at the time cause it was soooooo very different - try Terrapin Station (song)(studio version). Storytelling was all part. The Dead were able to play about anything - and they did !
Watching both of you swaying to the music, just getting picked up by the groove says it all!
If you’re looking for an example of something that encompasses the Grateful Dead’s music, check out Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklins Towers from 8/13/75. While no single song can define them, this performance catches much of what they were all about: Groove, harmony, joy and love! “If you get confused, listen to the music play!”
Need to check out American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead albums. 1970. Huge huge!
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The microphones in this video indicate it was done with the wall of sound. This was the most sophisticated sound system anyone ever built. It was powered by more than 50,000 watts, all the speakers were behind the performers. You see two microphones. One was sung into. The other was 180 degrees out of phase and is the reason there was no feedback. Look it up. It is very interesting. It was built from Stanley Owsley LSD money. This band was unique in many ways. They don't seem to be your cup of tea, but you have given them a very fair play.
Watch a whole show.
They're a live band that takes you on a ride.
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As to the iconography: The ubiquitous Skull & Lightning Bolt logo (Stealy) is credited mostly to Augustus Stanley Owsley III who was one of the Dead's original sound men. He also funded them somewhat in the beginning. He was also a chemist who was one of the most prolific acid chefs of the sixties. He was the hero (?) of the dead song "Alice D. Millionaire" (LSD Millionaire). He designed the logo to mark their equipment cases. The lightning bolt has 13 points. "M" is the 13th letter of the english alphabet. In the counterculture it stood for Marijuana. You should understand that at this point everything was illegal except LSD. That followed soon after.
A similar thing happened in the motorcycle culture. At the same time, the Hell's Angels were exploding into America's consciousness. Honda was trying to convince Americans that "You meet the nicest people on a Honda!". Soon, there were 10's of thousands of Honda Cubs running around. The President of the American Motorcycle Association made the public statement that "only 1% of American motorcyclists" were of the "Outlaw" variety. It seemed like the next day bikers were sporting a "1%" patch on their colors. They were also fond of a patch with the number "13".
"Morning Dew"
Welcome on the bus 🚌. Guys
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Don't forget, this sound melded quite well with drugs. lol
well alright!
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This is vintage Jerry. Strongly suggest Morning Dew from 5/8/77 Cornell. It will blow you away.
If you could put your finger on the Grateful Dead, you would be the first one ✌️ they are worth the trip. Look up why they call themselves the Grateful Dead. It’s deeper than it appears.
You should check out one of Jerry Garcia's side projects called The Legion of Mary. They are way funkier than the Dead.
Had a coworker disbelieve that I knew anything about JGB.... she asked me who was Legion of Mary...I said that it was JGB ..11/74-- 6/75..of course they gained the permission of the sisterhood of the nuns in SF..Legion of Mary 😊😊
You guys need to do a reaction to an entire live show from each era of the band in order to begin to understand the gravity of this band's accomplishments. You can also start off Dick's Picks #1 which is one of my favorites because of the many different genre's they touch on in the various tracks!
HA they are a mystery. They’re deep. They’re hard to figure out. But when you do, oh brother. BTW La and CHe you’ve heard this song before, it’s a Jerry Garcia original but you’re heard Tedeschi Trucks do it too.
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Althea should be next on the playlist.