Buckle up: this is a long one. You may have heard the oft-derided Dylan and the Dead album… well, forget that! These recordings were culled from the same era, and reveal a more professional performance in addition to rehearsal highlights. The first two discs represent highlights from the June and July tour (I hesitate to call it summer, considering there is a small August tour not included here).
The Grateful Dead played shortened sets on nights when Dylan would grace the stage for the third set, and I've followed suit here. You may notice a certain airy quality to the "soundboard" tapes - that's Healy's UltraMatrix mix. You simply can't get the pure soundboard without the audience mic piped in. It tends to work, and Healy refined the levels as time went on.
The first of two Grateful Dead sets begins with a "Jack Straw" that can stand next to standout performances from other years. Even folks who favor the early ‘70s can find something to like about this raucous take. Following is a "Mississippi Half-Step" with a majestic “across the lazy river” outro. The mix is a little heavy on the drums, but the enthusiasm is felt from everyone on stage and in the audience. This is the first of 7 performances including drums from 7.24.
"Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Ramble on Rose" are loose, and the mix is heavy on the AUD mix. But that only reinforces how much the crowd enjoyed both songs. Don’t ignore Jerry on "Me and My Uncle > Big River" - he’s essentially soloing the entire time. These are uptempo takes, and these versions stand out from the many versions you’ve probably heard already.
In The Dark was released during this tour, and every track on the album was represented throughout June and July. It was normal to hear at least 3-5 album cuts on a nightly basis. "Tons of Steel" is the first represented here, and this is faithful to the recording, for whatever that’s worth. Jerry leads a jaunty "Althea" afterward, with great tones from Brent, Bobby and Jerry. This is the first of 3 consecutive songs from 7.10, presented here in order.
"My Brother Esau" was excluded from the vinyl and CD release of In the Dark, but cassette buyers and live fans got to hear it as early as ’83. By this point, it was on its last leg and would be retired in a few months. This performance is loose but largely flawless, with regard to form and chord changes. The 7.10 mini set concludes with "When Push Comes to Shove" - another album cut. It’s a fun version, and it’s ripe with stock Brent licks. Don’t pay too close attention or they’ll get on your nerves!
"Feel Like A Stranger" was almost always a set opener for this era, but I included it here as the closer for set 1. Brent digs out the as-of-late rare clavinet patch for the jam. This track was taken from 6.14; the same show as Space through the end of the second set.
The second set starts with an album cut: "Hell in A Bucket". This song would become a single - complete with a music video - and the band does their best to sell the song. The outro signals good things for the rest of the set, and "Scarlet Begonias" kicks off before the drummers even close Bucket. Great soloing leads to a surprise "Playin’ In the Band", the jam from which qualifies as a peak for the tour. Playin’ spirals into Drums, following which the show moves from 7.24 to 6.14.
Space heavily teases "Truckin’" before beginning in earnest. The ballad spot is occupied by "Wharf Rat", which since the late ‘70s was only appearing on average twice per month. It transitions smoothly another album cut, "Throwin' Stones". This song spent much of its time in this position on the setlist. The Bo-Diddley beat easily allows for the "Not Fade Away" set closer. This version stretches nearly 10 minutes including the crowd chants. Next up, the Bob Dylan set.
The first of only two "Tangled Up In Blue" performances kicks off the set, followed by the first of two "Gotta Serve Somebody" outings. They’re both from 7.10. I created a matrix mix for "Highway 61", as the soundboard was of poor quality when it came to the high-end. You can hear Dylan laughing just off mic throughout the tour, and this cut features that. He must have loved Jerry on the slide, and everyone must have been especially relieved it wasn’t Weir.
The 2nd and last performance of "I Want You" is featured here. Brent really spent time learning the parts, and he steals the show. The band has never tried to hide that Dylan is their idol, and this performance (along with "Baby Blue" and "Watchtower", featured here and also from 7.24) brims with enthusiasm.
"Ballad of a Thin Man" was performed often on this tour, but I’m endeared by its first performance, featured here. "John Brown" (from the same show, 7.4) follows. It’s a traditional tune and Phil is all over the Shakedown-style groove. I find myself returning to this performance every few months.
The next three performances are from 7.19., starting with "A Simple Twist of Fate" and followed by the only "Heart of Mine" performance. This deep cut from Dylan’s Shot of Love might not have been well received from the crowd, but the drummers create some truly unique patterns while staying true to the album cut.
"Rainy Day Women" and "Queen Jane Approximately" (sung by Dylan, this time) bring it back home for the classic Dylan fans before "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" closes Dylan’s set. Brent’s part is fantastic on the choruses - he definitely spent time crafting riffs for the Dylan sets.
Dylan shared the encore on four occasions, all of which led out of "Touch of Grey". Twice Touch went into "Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door", but I included one of the two "All Along the Watchtower" performances. The Grateful Dead actually tested Watchtower three times in their sets without Dylan on this tour. All told, Dylan performed it roughly half a dozen times with the Dead. The band kept it in their repertoire until the end, with over 110 more performances.
The fourth disc is rehearsal material, and brings together 16 of the most memorable and successful run-throughs. You’ll hear a "Joey" without lyric flubs, Jerry on pedal steel, a few acoustic tunes with banjo, eccentric covers and Dylan deep cuts like "The French Girl", "Wicked Messenger" and "Watching the River Flow". It’s clear everyone is having fun.
The Dead rehearsed with Dylan for some time in late spring ’87, rehearsing more than 70 songs! Sadly, fewer than 10 have been officially recognized and released. Check out the full rehearsal tape if this interests you.
1987 features a good amount of inspired playing, and is one of the last (mostly) agreed upon high points for live shows. There are plenty of pro-shot videos from this tour if you like what you hear.
First Set
Jack Straw (7.10.87)
Mississippi Half Step (7.24.87)
Greatest Story Ever Told (6.30.87)
Ramble On Rose (7.12.87)
Me And My Uncle (7.24.87) >
Big River (7.24.87)
Tons Of Steel (7.4.87)
Althea (7.10.87)
My Brother Esau (7.10.87)
When Push Comes To Shove (7.10.87)
Feel Like A Stranger (6.14.87)
Running Time: 65:20
Second Set
Hell In A Bucket (7.24.87) >
Scarlet Begonias (7.24.87) >
Playin' In The Band (7.24.87) >
Drums (7.24.87) > Space (6.14.87) >
Truckin' (6.14.87) >
Wharf Rat (6.14.87) >
Throwin' Stones (6.14.87) >
Not Fade Away (6.14.87)
Running Time: 76:25
Third Set
Tangled Up In Blue (7.10.87)
Gotta Serve Somebody (7.10.87)
Highway 61 (7.12.87)
I Want You (7.24.87)
Ballad Of A Thin Man (7.4.87)
John Brown (7.4.87)
Simple Twist Of Fate (7.19.87)
Heart Of Mine (7.19.87)
Rainy Dan Women (7.19.87)
Queen Jane Approximately (7.19.87)
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (7.24.87)
E: Touch Of Grey (7.24.87)
All Along The Watchtower (7.24.87)
Running Time: 72:15
Rehearsal Tapes
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Watching The River Flow
Walking Down The Line
Change My Way of Thinking
Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
John Hardy
French Girl
Slow Train Coming
I'm Free
Oh Boy
Joey
Man Of Peace
Wicked Messenger
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Folsom Prison Blues
Stealin'
Running time: 62:30
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