Here’s a new project I’ve been contemplating. The idea is to listen to one complete CD in a day for each CD in the Grateful Dead Europe 72 box set. 73 CD’s in total. I’ll be capturing various notes and impressions of each CD. Will it be 73 days in a row? Probably not. Will each CD be listened to in its entirety each day? Probably not that either.
I’m new at this blogging thing. Be gentle.
April 7, 1972 Disc 1, Wembley Empire Pool, London
The Greatest Story Ever Told opens up this first set. I immediately noticed that the band wasn’t quite together-and the vocal harmonies weren’t. Umm. Harmonized. Anyway, gotta start somewhere.
They next perform an awesome version of Sugaree. I learned in a recent video I was watching that to really heighten your listening experience to focus on individual instruments, or vocalists, for 30 seconds at a time. Wow. Bob Weir’s rhythm guitar playing is awesome. I already knew that, but he is a perfect counterpoint to Jerry.
Chinatown Shuffle is said to be a new song. I’m not that familiar with it.
Me and My Uncle is next. I’ve been working on a cover of this song for about a month now, both by myself and with a music buddy. I’ll be saving this in my playlist since the stuff that Jerry does in the instrumental break is way different from the version I learned the song from, on the Skull and Roses album.
China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider, and Big Boss man are next. Followed by Black Throated Wind. Bob Weir does some tasty stuff here also.
Loser is one of my favorite tunes. I’ve always liked slow blues, and although this isn’t technically a blues, it’s close to the form and slow. I’ll learn this one of these days.
Mr. Charlie is next. Another one of my music pals that we were meeting with regularly (Pre pandemic) plays this. I didn’t know it was a Grateful Dead tune.
Pigpen then works his vocal magic on the Jesse Fuller tune Beat It On Down The Line. I was quite impressed with myself that I picked up the turnaround chord progression immediately. 1-6-2-5 for you music geeks. Song is in C. I guess my ear training and practice is paying off.
Tennessee Jed closes the first CD. Pigpen and Keith are both playing keyboards. One on piano, one on organ. I’m not familiar enough with each to recognize their individual styles.