05-21-1974

Edmundson Pavilion, University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

The Dead kick up some high level Wall of Sound wizardry in this classic 1974 outing. The show is well-known for the Playin’ In The Band, which at forty-six plus minutes, is the longest they ever played. It also happens to be a truly awesome sweep from fecund and joyous to a deathly feedback jam and all the way back again to the promised land. In short, it is a masterpiece. But that Playin’ is far from the only epic material in this show.

Recording info
Use alternative player
Identifier:
gd1974-05-21.mtx.seamons.109887.flac16
Source:
Matrix by Hunter Seamons using Final Cut Pro (SHN > AIFF > Final Cut > AIFF CD tracking via Audacity > FLAC16 via xACT)
Notes:
Description:
Set 1 Me & My Uncle, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down The Line, Deal, Mexicali Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, The Race is On, Scarlet Begonias, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Money Money, Ship of Fools, Weather Report Suite Prelude-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow-> China Doll Set 2 Playin’ In The Band, U.S. Blues, Big River, Stella Blue, Around & Around, Eyes Of The World-> Wharf Rat-> Sugar Magnolia, E: Johnny B. Goode
Lineage:
Transferrer:
Hunter Seamons
Play
Pause
Back
Forw.
Volume
00:00
1
Me And My Uncle
03:08
2
Brown Eyed Women
05:54
3
Beat It On Down The Line
04:08
4
Deal
04:59
5
Mexicali Blues
04:31
6
It Must Have Been The Roses
06:20
7
The Race Is On
03:26
8
Scarlet Begonias
06:17
9
El Paso
05:37
10
Row Jimmy
09:03
11
Money Money
04:53
12
Ship Of Fools
05:55
13
Weather Report Suite ->
17:20
14
China Doll
05:45
15
Playing In The Band
46:36
16
U.S. Blues
06:44
17
Big River
04:50
18
Stella Blue
08:18
19
Around And Around
05:09
20
Eyes Of The World ->
13:54
21
Wharf Rat ->
09:46
22
Sugar Magnolia
09:50
23
Johnny B. Goode
04:00
Choose recording

The first set is delightful from the Me And My Uncle onwards. However, after the last Money Money ever, a particularly immaculate Ship Of Fools comes out. Jerry’s vocals are so resonant, and Keith, who is fabulous all night, puts in these righteous organ fills, giving the tune a rich atmosphere. Then it is on to a mellow, enchanting Weather Report Suite which is crowned by a precious China Doll, which all proves to be a lovely way of seeing the set out.

And when the band comes back, buckle up, because they head right into that aforementioned Playin’ In The Band. The set stays strong through US Blues and Big River before one of the other highlights, Stella Blue, slow and luscious with a beautiful jam on the way out. Then, after Around And Around, the Dead go into a blissful and intricate Eyes, Phil an inexorable force on the bass. What’s more is that Wharf Rat emerges from the back end of of that imaginative tour-de-force of an Eyes. And Jerry rips up that Wharf Rat, soaring on the latter jam. From there, an arguably best-ever Sugar Magnolia blazes forth. Jerry rips these insane lightning fast runs for an absolute barn burner of a set closer. But there is still a romping, frothing Johnny B. Goode for an encore.

Search for shows:

Submit Search

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Just a friendly reminder to abide by the community guidelines in your comment.