NP5 - Summer '89

Summer ’89 is among the latest (mostly) agreed upon eras of greatness for the Grateful Dead. Jerry’s voice was in fine shape, the latest batch of songs were well rehearsed, new, fun covers were being explored, and the tours were more popular than ever. This compilation is full of interesting segues and song combos, as well as inspired performances. MIDI had become a mainstay in Jerry’s rig, and he had harnessed its power without going overboard (yet). 

Aside from a 3-show California residency in June, the summer tour ran from July 2 - August 19. Most of the shows in ’89 were part of two or three night residencies, which allowed the band to trot out a wide array of songs with few repeats per venue. The final show of the tour bookends this release, including the opener and part of the encore.

First Set

Everyone but Phil trades verses on “Let the Good Times Roll”, which leads into a hot “Jack Straw”. Keep an ear out for the Phil bombs and thundering toms. “Cassidy” from the very good 8/4 show is next - it breaks the traditional Jerry-Bobby-Jerry-Bobby song sequence, but the performance is too tight to pass up.

"Tennessee Jed" features Bruce Hornsby on accordion, in one of his appearances before joining the band for a few tours from late '90 through early '92. 

“Sugar Magnolia” takes a surprise turn into “Scarlet Begonias” which in turn takes another left turn into “Man Smart, Woman Smarter”. “Sugar Magnolia” segued into “Scarlet Begonias” in ’74 to great effect, and it is repeated here. Of the few instances of “Scarlet” going into something other than “Fire on the Mountain”, “Man Smart” only took the helm here and once more in ’90. It sounds like Jerry is leading the band into “Eyes”, but Bobby takes the wheel. “Eyes” comes out of the “Man Smart” if you’re interested in hearing how this sequence ends without my editorialized ending! 

“China > Rider” is next. The set closes with an ornate 12-minute “Bird Song”. I wonder if this version is one of the longest “Bird Song” performances, but its all about quality, not quantity. 

Second Set

The 7/9 “Shakedown Street” begins the next set. The band has a party with vocals leading into the jam. I snipped it before it segued into “Jack Straw”. Next “Victim or the Crime” follows, in a very complex MIDI-driven version complete with vocal delay and sound effects. It’s a slow take, and I imagine it must be among the most consistent ever played. This version is dark!

The second set suite is largely 8/4, but if the summer ’89 sound is your thing, go check out other second sets from the tour. “Crazy Fingers > Cumberland” would be played once more in ’90, but this first outing seems more improvised and is executed well. Before Brent has a chance to pull out the violin patch, the song dissolves into a disco-infused “Eyes > Drums > Space”

“The Wheel” is no surprise coming out of Space, and the ensuing “Miracle > Stella > ” is not an uncommon combination, either, having been sequenced this way a handful of times with different closers. I opted to replace the “Sugar Magnolia” from 8/4 with the double set closing “Music Never Stopped > Don’t Ease” from 8/17. Mickey goes to town with the electronic toms, which is a funny effect.

“Box of Rain” from 8/19 and “We Bid You Goodnight” from 8/18 close the show. “Goodnight” had been revised earlier on the tour for the first time since the late ‘70s. Phil’s voice was enjoying a renewed stretch of quality during this run, and it is on display for this encore.

Sum it up real quick:
- Sugar > Scarlet > Man Smart
- 8.4 is a big chunk of the second set
- hot Victim Or the Crime

- tight We Bid You Goodnight encore

Set 1:

Let the Good Times Roll > (8.19.89)
Jack Straw (8.19.89)
Cassidy (8.4.89)
Tennessee Jed (7.13.89)
Sugar Magnolia > (7.18.89) 

Scarlet Begonias > (7.18.89)
Man Smart, Woman Smarter (7.18.89)
China Cat Sunflower > (7.17.89)
I Know You Rider (7.17.89)
Bird Song (7.18.89)

Running Time 66:45

Set 2:

Shakedown Street (7.9.89)
Victim Or The Crime (7.19.89)
Crazy Fingers > (8.4.89)
Cumberland Blues > (8.4.89)
Drums > Space > (8.4.89)
The Wheel > (8.4.89)
I Need A Miracle > (8.4.89)
Stella Blue (8.4.89)

The Music Never Stopped > (8.17.89)
Don't Ease Me In (8.17.89)
Running Time 75:16

Encore
Box of Rain (8.19.89)
And We Bid You Goodnight (8.18.89)
Running Time 8:10

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