07-23-1967

Straight Theater

San Francisco, California

Early in 1966, several San Francisco hippies, led by Reggie Williams, wanted to open a music venue and community center for the Haight. Over the next year, they renovated an old, dilapidated vaudeville and movie theater at 1702 Haight Street, converting it into the Straight on the Haight. The Grateful Dead, who had played several benefits for the effort, headlined a soft opening – The Straight Theater Christening – on June 15, 1967, the night before the start of the Monterey Pop Festival.

Recording info
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Identifier:
gd1967-07-23.aud.sorochty.125462.flac16
Source:
Source Info: track 1 – aud recording > ?? > CD > wav > flac; track 2 – aud recording > ?? > flexi-disc > ?? > cassette x? > wav > flac
Notes:
Track 1 is longer and contains three short sections that were edited out for the flexi-disc included in first printings of Hank Harrison’s book. Track 2 is shorter and traces back to an old transfer of a copy of the flexi-disc. The source for the file is Dave Sorochty’s unknown gen cassette. An html web page containing an annotated transcript of the flexi-disc is included in this torrent. The flexidisc transcript is in the left column, and the right column contains an attempt at a transcript by Sorochty of the three sections missing from the flexi-disc. There have been two other versions of this recording included in previous shn/flac sets – both are incomplete: The first is only about 2:12 in length, and traces back to the longer version. It contains a bit of the material not found on the flexi-disc and then cuts off right after: “They were, they were German you know. So I. He’s sick, 2, 2-4, 4-4//” This was included in three of Alan Bershaw’s acid test compilations – shn/flac set numbers 5406, 5411, and 5418. All contained the same exact shn file (same exact md5). The second is only about 8:17 in length, and also cuts off. This copy traces back to the flexi-disc. It was filler in gd67-11-10.sbd.sacks.1612. It is side A of the flexi-disc followed by side B up to: “but no water polo…what are we gonna…? you all are surrounded…I’ve never found who was//” Some information on the flexi-disc From an old internet auction of Harrison’s book (despite what it says below, it was actually double sided): Manufactured By– Eva-Tone Soundsheets– EV-97721AX1 Flexi-disc, 7″, 33 ? RPM, Single Sided, Clear, Square Included with the first edition of “The Dead Book. A Social History Of The Grateful Dead” by Hank Harrison (published in 1973 by Links Books, New York – London, ISBN: 0-8256-3001-0). from the last page: ‘This recording represents the voice of Neal Cassady at the grand opening of the Straight Theater in September 1967. Neal went to Mexico shortly after this recording was made, and he never returned. (…) This recording is an edited version of a longer performance. The Grateful Dead are in the background making Prankster music and the totality is reminiscent of the acid tests.’ Dave Sorochty August 17, 2013
Description:
Set 1 Jam*, *W/ Neil Cassidy, the jam may have been from another Straight Theater Show Straight Theater Opening 3rd Night – Other artist(s): The Phoenix; The Wildflower; Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Lineage:
Transferrer:
Dave Sorochty
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Forw.
Volume
00:00
1
Neal Cassady backed by the Dead// (longer version)
16:00
2
Neal Cassady backed by the Dead// (shorter version from flexi-disc via Sorochty’s cassette)
11:14
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But on this day in 1967, the Dead shared the bill at the Straight Theater with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Phoenix, and Wildflower. At some point in the evening, the Dead invited Neal Cassady up on stage with them. Jerry introduces Neal, and then Cassady proceeds to rap – surely on acid and who knows what else – for about fifteen minutes while the Dead occasionally jam a little in the background. At the end of our recording, Pig and the band start in on what seems like a luscious Lovelight. But, unfortunately, the tape cuts out.

There are some rumors of a more complete recording out there, including more of the Lovelight and what might be the first Dark Star. The recording here is an interesting piece of history, no doubt, but we would love to get our ears on more.

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