#new speedway boogie

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Phil Lesh Quintet - “Night of a Thousand Stars,” “New Speedway Boogie,” “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Shakedown Street” (Live, March 6, 2024)

A bunch of “Wheel” teases - that’s who the Phil Lesh Quintet are.

Taking the stage March 6 in New York, the band sung an a cappella section of the Grateful Dead number before rolling into “Night of a Thousand Stars” an original from its 2002 album, There and Back Again. A bit rushed, it was nevertheless a fine performance and a real treat to hear this long-neglected gem from Lesh’s small stable of self-penned material.

The same preference for sprightly tempos marked the version of “New Speedway Boogie” that followed on the band’s generous livestream sampler from the gig. Keyboardist Rob Barraco sung this one and the mid-song jam found the musicians slowly tearing the music apart, eventually devolving to the threads of formless, but not uninteresting, improvisation, before they pieced it back together for the final verse and a cappella conclusion.

A prime example of how post-Grateful, Dead music should be explored.

Warren Haynes was back on the mic for “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” another quickly paced number that found the singer engaging with fellow axeman Jimmy Herring in a thrilling inter-verse duel that continued until bassist Lesh and drummer John Molo nudged the Traffic song toward Jamaica and a reggae jam that eventually led to more vocals and the outro.

Haynes kept on singing when an atypically slow “Shakedown Street” emerged from the post-“Fantasy” silence. The song’s essential backgrounds were rough and the livestream faded before the track ended. Seemingly no great loss, given this “Shakedown” didn’t seem destined to seriously poke around, though Sound Bites’ll never know for sure.

No matter. In the nearly 55 minutes of music that the band gave away, it reinforced why its now-periodic reunions are so highly anticipated and why - when it was a going concern during the aughts - the PLQ was such a beloved institution.

Grade card: Phil Lesh Quintet - “Night of a Thousand Stars,” “New Speedway Boogie,” “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Shakedown Street” (Live - 3/6/24) - B/B+/A-/I

3/7/24

#Youtube #phil lesh quintet #phil lesh & friends #phil lesh #grateful dead #warren haynes #gov’t mule #the allman brothers band #jimmy herring #widespread panic #rob barraco #dark star orchestra #john molo #bruce hornsby and the range #the wheel #night of a thousand stars #new speedway boogie #dear mr. fantasy #traffic #shakedown street

[jt1674]

#grateful dead #new speedway boogie #workingman's dead #one way or another

[gratefulfrog]

ON THIS DATE (53 YEARS AGO)

June 14, 1970 – Grateful Dead: Workingman's Dead is released.

Workingman's Dead is the fourth studio album by the Grateful Dead, released on June 14, 1970. It reached #27 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's & Tapes chart. In 2003, the album was ranked number 262 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The title of the album comes from a comment from Jerry Garcia to lyricist Robert Hunter about how "this album was turning into the Workingman's Dead version of the band."

Garcia has said that much of the sound of the album comes both from his pairing with Hunter as well as the band's friendship with Crosby, Stills and Nash. "Hearing those guys sing and how nice they sounded together, we thought, 'We can try that. Let's work on it a little,'" commented Garcia.

Songs such as "Uncle John's Band," "High Time" and "Cumberland Blues" were brought to life with soaring harmonies and layered vocal textures that had not been a part of the band's sound until then. According to the 1992 Dead oral history, Aces Back To Back, in the summer of 1968, Stephen Stills vacationed at Mickey Hart's ranch in Novato. "Stills lived with me for three months around the time of [CSN's] first record," recalls Hart, "and he and David Crosby really turned Jerry and Bobby onto the voice as the holy instrument. You know, 'Hey, is this what a voice can do?' That turned us away from pure improvisation and more toward songs."

The Grateful Dead's first four albums reinforced their stature as a performing group, with a loose improvisational feel rooted in the blues, rock & roll, and modern jazz. But with the 1970 release of Workingman's Dead, Garcia, Weir, Lesh, McKernan, Kreutzmann, and Hart reined in their many spatial musical elements and found their true stylistic niche in the studio with an engaging blend of country, blues, and folk. Where earlier studio releases strove to recreate the kind of freeform group improvisations that won the Dead a fanatical cult following in the Bay area, Workingman's Dead drew upon a rural American vernacular that was in many ways analogous to that of the Band.

The resulting music has a rootsy, timeless quality, with tight instrumental arrangements, concise solo breaks, and a carefully wrought style of vocal harmonizing. The Dead won extensive airplay with tuneful songs like "Uncle John's Band" and "Casey Jones," while expanding their following well beyond San Francisco. Garcia's slithering pedal steel counterpoint and twangy banjo rolls make for a charismatic new style of bluegrass on "Dire Wolf" and "Cumberland Blues," while "New Speedway Boogie," featuring some of Robert Hunter's best lyrics, is a pointed personal metaphor for the tragic chaos at Altamont the summer before. This remains one of the legendary band's most concise and beautifully executed records.

__________

ORIGINAL ROLLING STONES REVIEW

It's so nice to receive a present from good friends.

Workingman's Dead is an excellent album. It's a warming album. And most importantly, the Dead have finally produced a complete studio album. The songs stand up quite nicely right on their own merits, which are considerable.

"Uncle John's Band," which opens the album, is, without question, the best recorded track done by this band. Staunch Dead freaks probably will hate this song. It's done acoustically for a starter. No Garcia leads. No smasho drumming. In fact, it's got a mariachi /calypso type feeling. Finely, warmly-lush tuned guitar work starts it off, with a statement of the beat and feeling. When Garcia comes in with the vocal, joined by a lot of tracks of everyone else's voices, possibly including his, it's really very pretty. The lyrics blend in nicely with the music. "All I want to know/How does the song go?" "Come hear Uncle John's band/playing to the tide/Come with me, or come alone/He's come to take his children home." Near the end of the song there is an a cappella section done by everyone, sounds like about 62 tracks, maybe 63. Just listen to it, and try not to smile.

The years of playing together have shown handsome dividends. "Dire Wolf" points this out. It's a country song, Garcia's steel guitar work is just right, and everyone sings along to the "Don't murder me" chorus.

The country feeling of this album just adds to the warmth of it. "Cumberland Blues" starts off as a straight electric cut, telling the story of trying to make ends meet in bad times. Slowly, imperceptibly at first, a banjo enters the song. By the end, I was back at the old Gold Rush along with everyone else. The banjo brought me there.

Even the cuts that are not directly influenced by country stylings have a country feel to them. I suspect that this is due to, the band's vocals. Living out on their ranch seems to have mellowed them all, or at least given a country tinge to their voices. "Casey Jones" is not the theme song you might remember from television. "Driving that train/High on cocaine/Casey Jones you better watch your speed." Listen closely, especially to the cymbal work. Then listen to Phil Lesh's bass mixing with Weir's guitar. Now listen to the cymbal again. Yep. They did it. I don't know who's train is better, Casey's or the Dead's. Living sound effects. Just fine.

~ Andy Zwerling (July 23, 1970)

#gratefuldead #grateful #alwaysgrateful #alwaysdead #playdead #workingmansdead #a band beyond description #grateful dead #forevergrateful #foreverdead

[afterthegoldrushes]

one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give one way or another this darkness got to give

#Spotify

[omegatheunknown]

URL music game!

Spell your url with song titles, then tag as many people as there are songs*!

Other People -- Beach House My Head is My Only House Unless it Rains -- Captain Beefheart Even if you Don't -- Ween Golden -- My Morning Jacket All I Do is Lie -- Stef Chura The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret -- Queens of the Stone Age How Simple -- Hop Along Electric Landlady -- Purson Unforgiven -- Metallica Next Levels -- King Geedorah Keepin' the Faith -- De La Soul Next to Normal -- Lucius Outside Now -- Frank Zappa Would? -- Alice in Chains New Speedway Boogie -- Courtney Barnett Not altogether convinced about the through lines of this playlist, but thank you for the tag @love-is-pain-highness

Tag from notifications, absent obligations — @cosmic-hub @onchocerca @written-with-lust @boamerry @entirelydivine777 @orangeflowerhoney @sanleigh @mvrderhoe @takemeeoutofthecity other people scrolling by are... also tagged, if they wanna.

#tag game

[warminghut]

New Speedway Boogie by Robert Hunter

Who can deny? Who can deny? It's not just a change in style One step done and another begun And I wonder how many miles?

I spent a little time on the mountain Spent a little time on the hill Things went down, we don't understand But I think in time we will

Now, I don't know but I was told In the heat of the sun a man died of cold Keep on coming or stand and wait With the sun so dark and the hour so late

You can't overlook the lack, Jack Of any other highway to ride It's got no signs or dividing lines And very few rules to guide

I spent a little time on the mountain I spent a little time on the hill I saw things getting out of hand I guess they always will

[t-underneaththeradardancing]

apres performance

apray  mortem  - idk it wuz something - got great audience reception played to it - a rare performance of lazy af  cuz stage set hadnt planned - new speedway boogie which i usually avoid cuz dont wanna bee scene as deadhead but there wuz reason - and good reception even tho fukked up a verse ( nbd par for courses ) and a chord progression and thot maybe outta tune but maybe trippin - an ok maybe - lose a good thing - anywaves  - as wroted before wuz not 100% of my usual witch is nowhere near 100% of anything to start - brought Baby when planned set for weeks electric but electric and amp jest seem 2 much 2 soon  today - nbd - been bizzier than usual for daze - so anyway - played a 2nd set to smaller audience - much like 1st set not great but emoted performed acted as if - gave what i had

its always weird when - not playing anywhere near best and get good reception - partially cuz t seems to have learned to sell the performance and the real af comes thru - partially maybe played better than thinks - also know EVERY missed and ALMOST - and where i fake a second or got lost - idk 

showed up and played - roll dice hoping for a wild card  

oh yah no recording so will never know actually how it sounded - have definitely played worser lots 

[lastchancevillagegreen]

Monday, 5 February 2024:

Sometimes Just One Second Sloppy Heads (Shrimper) (released 18 August 2023)

My previous post was ostensibly about Sloppy Heads 2017 debut album Useless Smile but I predominantly talked about this album, Sometimes Just One Second, their second album which just came out last August.

When I first heard Shannon's Song I mistakenly believed it was from the 1990s. I'm a sucker for vocals along the lines of Ariella Stok who handles the bulk of the vocal duties. The other vocals are performed by Jimmy Jumpjump (aka Jesse Jarnow) who penned this book and who writes this obsessive blog about the Grateful Dead. I was absolutely clueless of Jarnow's involvement in this band until I began researching it. Furthermore, when I bought these albums I had no idea that James McNew was involved with the band, producing them and playing with the band. I'm not insinuating that McNew is the sole force behind the endless lengthy drones that there songs occasionally erupt into (the 13 minute Still Right Now and the 7 minute cover of the Dead's New Speedway Boogie are pleasing moments) but it sure lends a sense of credibility when the band does explode into a lengthy noisy jam. (Obviously, I'm playing this as I write this entry.)

This album is only available on CD at the moment and good thing: it's a 75 minute tour-de-force that recalls those CDs of yore that would never shut up. But for some reason that doesn't bother me at the moment. You get the lengthy noise tracks and then you get a three minute jewel like Shannon's Song or the brilliant Last Dance Fever. I'm thrilled being over at God's Jukebox (even if my participation has had a steep decline, man, that's an endless amount of work to stay on top of and I do not always have the energy or desire to track everything) knowing there are inroads to discover some new music.

Above is the front and the back of the CD. Below is the gatefold of the digipak in two guises: with and without the CD.

I close out with the CD in close detail.

[parkerbombshell]

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Dead & Company - “Bertha,” “New Speedway Boogie” & “Playing in the Band Jam” -> “Uncle John’s Band” -> “Playing in the Band Reprise” - (Live, July 3, 2023)

Anyone wondering how seriously Dead & Company chose to approach its Colorado fare the well need only listen to the livestream sampler to learn the answer:

Very.

Focused ensemble playing, impassioned - imperfect, yes, but with feeling - singing & a swagger this band only sometimes conjures marked the combination of “Bertha,” “New Speedway Boogie” & “Playing in the Band Jam” -> “Uncle John’s Band” -> “Playing in the Band Reprise.”

The first two numbers opened the show. The latter segue was the end of set one tacked on to the beginning of round two owing to a severe-weather delay.

Whether because of the weather, the finality of the performance or just the vaunted “X” factor, Dead & Company were charged. There’s no point in saying anything about the individual songs - besides “Uncle John’s” being the roughest on account of its vocal arrangement - except listen.

This music - much like the band’s June 27 show at Deer Creek - is the kind that would’ve made Sound Bites head on tour if happened with more frequency.

Alas.

Grade card: Dead & Company - “Bertha,” “New Speedway Boogie” & “Playing in the Band Jam” -> “Uncle John’s Band” -> “Playing in the Band Reprise” - (Live - 7/3/23) - A-/B+/A/B/B+

7/4/23

#Youtube #dead & company #grateful dead #bertha #new speedway boogie #playing in the band #uncle john’s band #bob weir #mickey hart #jay lane #john mayer #jeff chimenti #oteil burbridge

[cnox]

We went to go see Dead & Co. last night in Boston for the Final Tour. First time for the both of us. I haven't been to a Grateful Dead show since '90. (~);} Been following all the other summer dates from home. We drove in the morning, parked at a church, then walked through some community gardens on the way to Fenway. There were a lot of rabbits. At the box office, we asked for the best and cheapest tickets. We hit the lot for a bit for the something cold to drink then entered the stadium to find our seats. They turned out to be great and in the shade. Met a nice dude next to us. 🍄 During Drums and Space we moved to the floor for the second half of the show and ducked out a little early to beat the traffic.

Set 1:

Cassidy Brown-Eyed Women I Need a Miracle Here Comes Sunshine Tennessee Jed China Doll Viola Lee Blues The Music Never Stopped

Set 2:

New Speedway Boogie Dark Star The Other One Lady with a Fan Terrapin Station Drums Space Dark Star on the Big River Jam Black Peter Casey Jones One More Saturday Night

[deadheadland]

Setlist Phil Lesh and Friends Sunday April 23, 2023 - Skull and Roses Fest

Setlist Phil Lesh and Friends Sunday April 23, 2023 - Skull and Roses Fest

Stream Video from Skull and Roses 2023 queued to the start of the Phil Lesh and Friends set on Sunday 4.23.2023 Setlist Phil Lesh and Friends Sunday April 23, 2023 – Skull and Roses Fest Phil Lesh and FriendsSunday April 23, 2023Skull and Roses Fest 💀 🌹Jessica Masons Children pl >St. Stephen >Ballad of Elizabeth Reed China Cat Sunflower gl >Shakedown Street jc >New Speedway Boogie nc Viola Lee…

View On WordPress

#Duane Betts #Duane Betts with Phil Llesh #grahame lesh #James Casey #Jason Crosby #Jennifer Hartswilck #Natalie Cressman #Phil Lesh & Friends #Skull and Roses

[moondeerdotblog]

#NostalgicNuggs

Middle school ☾𐂂

https://music.apple.com/us/album/new-speedway-boogie/316141016?i=316141029

[revelatrix]

if you cut me open with some sort of ethereal dagger you would "see" my soul is approximately the same color as the sound of @courtney-barnett covering the Grateful Dead

#Spotify

[longliverockback]

Grateful Dead What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been: The Best of the Grateful Dead 1977 Warner Brothers ————————————————— Tracks LP One: 01. New, New Minglewood Blues 02. Cosmic Charlie 03. Truckin’ 04. Black Peter 05. Born Cross-Eyed 06. Ripple 07. Doin’ That Rag 08. Dark Star 09. High Time 10. New Speedway Boogie

Tracks LP Two: 01. St. Stephen 02. Jack Straw 03. Me & My Uncle 04. Tennessee Jed 05. Cumberland Blues 06. Playin’ in the Band 07. Brown-Eyed Woman 08. Ramble on Rose —————————————————

* Long Live Rock Archive

#GratefulDead #Grateful Dead #Tom Constanten #Jerry Garcia #Donna Godchaux #Keith Godchaux #Mickey Hart #Bill Kreutzmann #Ron McKernan #Phil Lesh #Bob Weir #What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been #The Best of the Grateful Dead #Best of #Compilation #Folk #1977

[t-underneaththeradardancing]

New Speedway Boogie pt 1 t of Salvation Day