NP12: Spring '78

When I finished Spring 1978, my initial reaction was that setlists were repetitive and shows were loose, with a garage rock feel. I still think that, but I’ve also noticed how intensely the drummers are physically making contact, and how loud everyone is trying to be. 

It’s a party, and time has passed since the creative peaks in 1977. Spring ’78 was also a lead-in to Shakedown Street, the Giza shows and a Saturday Night Live performance among other shows and residencies. This tour consists of almost entirely one-off shows around the Midwest, South, and East coast.

This is a standout version of the many “Bertha > Good Lovin” found in ’78. Next, the drummers push through “Dire Wolf” and Bobby growls through “Minglewood”. “Tennessee Jed” is one of the songs that were rearranged with double-time beats during 1978. Others to receive this treatment are “Ramble on Rose” and “Brown Eyed Women”, the latter of which is found here a few songs later. 

Among the highlights on this “Cassidy” are the Godchauxs, both awake and truly connecting with the song. Donna and Bobby’s vocals are well in tune after performing this song so often after returning from the hiatus in 1976. “Peggy-O” comes with yet another unique drum pattern. The drummers were capable of achieving an island groove on this tour, and this “Peggy-O” fits the bill. 

“Passenger” lets Bobby and Donna share lead vocals again, and once again their performances are tight. The “Brown Eyed Women” drum pattern is exotic during the opening verse and the one following Jerry’s solo. It can even sound “wrong” upon first listen, but it’s an intentional rhythm. An energetic “Lazy Lightnin’” closes the set.

“Samson & Delilah” was played in more than half of the shows on this tour, and I’m drawn to Keith and the drummers on this version. Keith has a reputation for being asleep at the bench in this era, but he is alert and turned up on this song. He’s not playing as actively as he did in the early ‘70s, but a little bit goes a long way in ’78.

This “Ship of Fools” is perfectly timed, and it shared this spot in the setlist with “It Must Have Been The Roses” throughout the tour, with some exceptions. I like this “Scarlet > Fire” because “Fire on the Mountain” is so clean. The song can be repetitive, but this version stands out. 

“Dancin’ In the Streets” and Drums are from the infamous “Mescaline Show”: 5/11/78. The show and second set especially can be heard in full on Dick’s Picks 25. Right from the lyrical flub from Bobby on the very first line, you can tell the show will be something special. Listen for Donna laughing into the mic, great bridge section jams, and a vocal round leading into Drums. 

Don’t skip Drums! This is early in the days of a bonafide drum section, when members of the band would stick around and play any unused percussion instrument. Check out the black and white circulating video footage of a show from this tour to see Jerry on a drum kit and steel drums. Space is hellish and dark, and turns into “Not Fade Away” as a Harley is revved (and mic’d) on stage. It is truly loud, the crowd loves it, and the bike revs along to the Bo-Diddley beat. 

By the time “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” closes, amps and vocal mics are peaking all around. Everyone with a vocal mic is screaming, and the guitars are as punk as ever. Jerry pulls what usually feels like a tongue-in-cheek selection: “Around and Around”. This version goes double time about halfway through, which adds enough interest to make it stand out. 

This is the 6th “Werewolves of London”, and the song itself debuted on this tour. It debuted in the Dead’s live set one week after Warren Zevon’s song debuted on the radio charts, making this a rare contemporary cover. If you like loud, brash shows, check out this tour. 

Set One

Bertha > (4.12.78)

Good Lovin' (4.12.78)

Dire Wolf (5.5.78)

New Minglewood Blues (4.22.78)

Tennessee Jed (5.7.78)

Cassidy (5.14.78)

Peggy-O (5.10.78)

Finiculi, Finicula > Passenger (4.21.78)

Brown Eyed Women (6.4.78)

Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication (4.8.78)

Running Time: 57:30

Set Two

Samson & Delilah (4.19.78)

Ship of Fools (5.5.78)

Scarlet Begonias > (4.16.78)

Fire on the Mountain (4.16.78)

Dancin' In the Street > (5.11.78)

Drums > (5.11.78)

Space > (6.4.78)

Not Fade Away > (6.4.78)

Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad > (6.4.78)

Around & Around (6.4.78)

E: Werewolves of London > (5.11.78)

Johnny B. Goode (5.11.78)

Running Time: 99:45

Burn Samson & Delilah and Werewolves > Johnny on Disc 1 to make them fit onto two discs.

Click here to download the MP3s!