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Dead of the Day: 11-06-1979

The Spectrum

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

There are several good shows on this date, namely all the 70s ones, but none really stand above the rest. So, we decided to go out to the city of Brotherly Love in 1979 for our Dead of the Day. The first set has some real gems, including the Tennessee Jed and a surprisingly fresh Jack-A-Roe. And the set concludes with a feisty Jack Straw into an always solid Deal.

Recording info
Use alternative player
Identifier:
gd79-11-06.sbd.miller.29735.flac16
Source:
Soundboard
Notes:
flac16; SBD -> Cassette Master (Sony TCD5M/UDXL-II) -> Dat/0 (Panasonic SV3800/48k) Transferred and Edited By Charlie Miller
Description:
Alabama Getaway-> Promised Land, Tennessee Jed, Me & My Uncle-> Mexicali Blues, Candyman, Easy To Love You, Looks Like Rain, Jack A Roe, Jack Straw-> Deal Terrapin Station-> Playin’ In The Band-> Drums-> Black Peter-> Good Lovin’, E: U.S. Blues
Lineage:
SBD -> Cassette Master (Sony TCD5M/UDXL-II) -> Dat/0 (Panasonic SV3800/48k)
Transferrer:
Charlie Miller
Play
Pause
Back
Forw.
Volume
00:00
1
Alabama Getaway ->
06:40
2
The Promised Land
05:46
3
Tennessee Jed
11:37
4
Me And My Uncle ->
03:07
5
Mexicali Blues
06:56
6
Candyman
07:54
7
Easy To Love You
05:21
8
Looks Like Rain
09:49
9
Jack-A-Roe
08:54
10
Jack Straw ->
06:40
11
Deal
06:42
12
Terrapin Station ->
15:36
13
Playing In The Band ->
22:02
14
Drums ->
08:45
15
Space ->
03:59
16
Black Peter ->
11:34
17
Good Lovin’
07:38
18
U.S. Blues
05:41
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The boys do not wait to get rolling in the second stanza, starting off with a wicked, psychedelic Terrapin that thoroughly jams out at the end before sort of dropping right into Playin’. Playin’ is the real highlight of the show as the boys just take off, traveling into galaxies unknown. Jerry is absolutely mesmerizing throughout, the drummers add so much – how about that cowbell! – and Phil throws in some serious runs. Brent also sends up some crazy space-war sound effects in the latter half on top of his own hot playing throughout, making for an even more otherworldly experience. After Drums and Space, a lovely, tender Black Peter comes out, transitioning into a full-throttle Good Lovin’ to send it out. The set might have been short on songs, but it was not lacking in tasty jams. At the end, a US Blues encore finally caps the night.

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Comments

3 responses to “11-06-1979”

  1. Sly Avatar
    Sly

    The “Playin” is everything you describe… (~);}

    Reply
  2. SK Avatar
    SK

    My review of 11/6/79 on Archive.org from 2005:Reviewer: Alpine7784 – favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite – March 22, 2005 Subject: My Favorite Show Of All TimeStrong words, I know. I’ve listened to a lot of shows, and I keep coming back to this one over and over again. The fall of 1979 was a very hot time for The Boys, and I strongly feel this has to do with the addition of Brent. By the time the fall of ’79 came around, he’d been in the band for a little bit and had started adding lots of new voices with the B3, synth and strong piano playing. As a result, everybody else in the band became rejuvinated and the playing is fresh. This led to some of the most cerebral music I’ve personally ever heard.As somebody else has already reviewed the first set, I’ll focus on the second. Terrapin Station is slow, but not lethargic. It is deliberate, like a lazy river; flowing, with purpose, but not in a hurry. Jerry’s leads are sinuous, Brent’s comping is exceptional, and Phil is dropping bombs left and right. After the final lick, you hear Bob start to count for the next song, and you hear Jerry say, “Do it to me!”Then, the epic: Playin’ In The Band. Strong tempo, Bob’s voice in great shape, Brent’s harmonies are right on. After the final verse, Brent immediately siezes the lead right out of the chute. Playing lines on the B3, Brent weaves in and out of the melody suggested by all the string players. After a minute or two, Jerry comes in, Brent switches to a Rhodes-style piano voice, and Bob starts playing Chords From Hell. The drummers are the fascinating thing here; while everybody continues to vamp and solo in 4/4 time, the drummers easily slide into The Eleven. The match is exquisite.The jam that follows is the singular reason why I love this band. Playing spontaneous composition, really reaching for it, this jam is balls-out cerebral, ethereal, and sublime. Jerry and Brent trading leads, Bob comping and Phil suggesting yet another melodic line with his bass, all come together as one. The sum is truly greater than the individuals. Crescendos build, then drop, then regroup and build again. Wave upon wave of intensity, fresh ideas popping out from every twist and turn. This culminates with Brent on clavinet, Phil dropping bomb after bomb, and they all reach the pinnacle moment. Then, everybody just STOPS PLAYING. You’re left hanging there, feeling like Wiley Coyote after going over the cliff, just suspended in mid-air. It is FANTASTIC.The peak-and-valley pattern is repeated over and over here, until Brent slides into some “outside” keyboard runs, leading to the downward spiral into wierdness. This eventually culminates with Phil inducing feedback from his bass, Bob and Brent making bird chirps, and Jerry playing fast arpeggios. Enter Drums.Nothing wimpy here…big, fat bass drums, guiros, giving way to tar and gongs. As Billy starts playing the gongs, Mickey screams, “Yeah man, keep going!” Mickey keeps holding the tar to the microphone, causing it to feed back. It sounds like outtakes from the Apocalypse Now sessions.Space is nice and wierd, with Phil feedback and Jerry’s distorted noodling. Then, a quick slide into Black Peter. Slow, intense, and perfect. Exceptionally soulful, with vocals that are right on. Brent’s B3 playing makes you feel like you’re at a psychedelic church revival.Good Lovin’….it rocks. High energy, lots of tight soloing, and the Bobby scream in the last chorus is amazing.End it all with a hard, tight rendition of US Blues. Thus ends one of the best Grateful Dead sets I’ve ever heard.I’ve probably listened to this set well over a thousand times over the last 20-plus years, and I keep going back to it over and over again. It induces tears and goosebumps in me every single time. This show is one for the ages, and I hope you find it as inspiring and fulfilling as I do.Sean K.

    Reply
  3. Cookydog Avatar
    Cookydog

    This show was a milestone for me. One of my last great journeys into the outer reaches of another realm, that second set still plays in my head. I recall crying twice – during Black Peter and after I realized the band had packed and gone. Miss Jerry guiding me through the cosmo. Kudos to the last men standing for continuing the journey.

    Reply

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