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Dead of the Day: 07-09-1995

Soldier Field

Chicago, Illinois

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Only two of the four shows from this date in Dead history are on Archive, and, musically, the 1989 show from Giants Stadium is the standout of the two. But our Dead of the Day is that infamous, melancholy show from Soldier Field in 1995, the last the Dead ever played. The playing is rather poor throughout as Jerry struggles through just about the entire night and several lyrical flubs and poor playing come from the rest of the band as well. However, there are a few nice moments in the show to go along with this tremendous piece of Grateful Dead history.

Recording info
Use alternative player
Identifier:
gd1995-07-09.sbd.miller.114369.flac16
Source:
SBD -> Dat (44.1k)
Notes:
Notes: — Disc change is seamless — Fare you well, fare you well, I love you more than words can tell…
Description:
Set 1 Touch Of Gray, Little Red Rooster, Lazy River Road, When I Paint My Masterpiece*, Childhood’s End, Cumberland Blues, Promised Land Set 2 Shakedown Street, Samson & Delilah, So Many Roads, Samba In The Rain, Corrina, Drums, Space, Unbroken Chain, Sugar Magnolia Set 3 E: Black Muddy River, Box Of Rain * Weir on acoustic
Lineage:
Dat (Tascam DA-20) -> Tascam SS-R05 -> Samplitude Professional v11.2 -> FLAC
Transferrer:
Charlie Miller
Play
Pause
Back
Forw.
Volume
00:00
1
Touch Of Grey
07:31
2
Little Red Rooster
07:46
3
Lazy River Road
07:03
4
When I Paint My Masterpiece
05:48
5
Childhood’s End
04:43
6
Cumberland Blues
04:40
7
Promised Land
04:39
8
Shakedown Street
14:16
9
Samson And Delilah
07:48
10
So Many Roads
11:45
11
Samba In The Rain
06:40
12
Corrina ->
14:48
13
Drums ->
13:52
14
Space ->
13:29
15
Unbroken Chain ->
07:00
16
Sugar Magnolia
09:28
17
Black Muddy River
05:18
18
Box Of Rain
04:53
Choose recording

Musically, be sure to check out the Masterpiece in the first set, which is one of the better the Dead ever played. Bobby nails all the lyrics and delivers some tasty guitar licks while Jerry is up to form, filling in the interstices and then some with beautiful runs. In the second set, the So Many Roads is the real standout. The entire band comes together with a perfectly formed accompaniment to the intense lyrics, making it one of the highlights of the entire tour. And we are certain you will get some chills as Jerry sings those lyrics about a troubled soul and his desire to just “take me home.” The rhythm devils also continue their fiery, transcendent explorations in Drums, as they had been throughout the summer tour of 1995.

Of course, you also need to listen to the Black Muddy River encore, Jerry’s last song and, thus, absolutely haunting in retrospect. After that, on the heels of a tough tour, which saw the entire band worried about Jerry’s health and well-being, the boys decided to put one more song out there, playing the second encore Box of Rain so that they could see the tour out on a more upbeat note.

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Comments

10 responses to “07-09-1995”

  1. Henry Whitworth Avatar
    Henry Whitworth

    This is a tough one. Was driving west away from Chicago as this show was kicking off. The end of a lot of things. My life and the shows had changed so much over a few years and I just didn’t want to be there. It had gotten sad and grim. Just knew I wouldn’t get to see Jerry play again. Heavy memory.

    Reply
  2. Jason L McQueen Avatar
    Jason L McQueen

    To be blunt with you keeping in mind this being the last actual concert performed by The Grateful Dead I think your criticisms are quite harsh and uncalled for. Listening to the show right now I’m still waiting for them to sound like they’re struggling ???? you know maybe you should listen to the music like a fan does. That is all

    Reply
    1. Tom Avatar
      Tom

      I think someone forgot to keep context in mind before they offered their slanted opinion for sure. I was there. It was awesome…Tom

      Reply
    2. Johnny D Cobra Avatar
      Johnny D Cobra

      Thank you Jason you get it

      Reply
  3. camille Avatar
    camille

    Can you recall what band members were playing with The Band that night when they opened up for GD? Thank you

    Reply
    1. Scott Jindra Avatar
      Scott Jindra

      I was not there but I had gotten tickets for my friends who were lucky enough to have 2nd row seats. Reading the comments on this show may be acceptable for the life-long deadheads but seeing the shoreline shows to start the tour the whole band
      seemed like they knew what to expect from a giant snowball gathering speed downhill. Putting a tour together when you dam know it will never really amount to other tour’s, or “wondering if anyone would notice” is quite obvious. After seeing over 125 shows with Jerry, I always walked away with the wind bringing me back to yet another show knowing that it may be the last time you will see Jerry playing his heart out, regardless. After hearing of Jerry’s passing, my wife and myself found ourselves standing in the middle of the “Polo Field” and feeling Jerry’s presence as everyone looked up into the sky when Bobby raised his hands up to help carry Jerry to the golden gates in heaven.
      Does this explain the performance of the last show? Looking back, if you were there then it explained everything about the performances and how any of us would trade all of our tomorrow’s for 1 single yesterday. Please spread love and understanding as we move forward. Our world is pleading for this, right now. Jerry would.

      Reply
  4. Cosmic Charlie Botts Avatar
    Cosmic Charlie Botts

    Had worked the earlier shows in Tampa, and knew it was something different going on, Seeing my first show in ’69 in the Midwest until being in Florida for all the great multiple gigs- never one being a duplicate or “phoned in”, not having to start in Kansas or Iowa and traveling across the country to Pennsylvania before the money & time ran out….it’s a history I was blessed to be able to experience and share…

    Reply
  5. Trannyman Avatar
    Trannyman

    It’s a good show and maybe the best from this generally poor tour. The soundboards are good from this era. Chunky!

    Reply
  6. Vermont Phil Avatar
    Vermont Phil

    Started this tour at the Palace in Auburn Hills. Went to all until the end. The only bummer for me was 7/3. I have always loved every show I have gone to. How many other bands have fans that will cheer, when the artists Fuck up the lyrics? I love the Grateful Dead.

    Reply
  7. Tripp Avatar
    Tripp

    I’ve listened to this show maybe 3 times in it’s entirety before listening again yesterday. It’s much better than I had remembered. The Childhood’s End is fantastic, as is Shakedown. The Corrina is an absolute burner! And the drums. This show is powerful for so many reasons; it elicits the entire range of emotions for me. Grateful that Phil made the call to play Box to close it out. ⚡❤️💀💙⚡

    Reply

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