This is one of the rare shows that has been officially released (nearly) complete, when only a soundboard portion circulated. A night out with the Dead at the Fillmore in '66 was just the usual - they played it 46 times in '66/'67 (along with other Bay Area spaces, though this is the "Independence Ball"). This isn't the cream of '66, but the sound quality is nice. Before Primal Dead, there was Rudimentary Dead; in between garage/club band and Psychedelic Ballroom Dead. You listen to a show from this early for different reasons (one being the curios). Bear separated the vox into one channel, using the tech of the day to minimize bleed. We do not have the previous 12 shows; the previous confirmed show we have is 5/19/66 at the Avalon. We also don't have the next four, until 7/16/66 at The Fillmore.

First Set. The SBD comes in late on Nobody's Fault. Most of the set is similar to all shows from the era, though I Know You Rider sparkles. There's a fade-in to Just a Hand to Hold. Next Time You See Me is so uptempo! Bill's drumming stands out on Viola Lee. Blair picks this version, with a fine quote, "feral intensity with parts interlocking by kismet". They were becoming more potent by the month, as seen in the improving Big Boss Man. This would really have been something else in the pre-Satanic Majesties/Sgt. Peppers/Village Green Preservation rockverse. Sitting on Top of the World is both rudimentary and explosive. Keep Rolling By is followed by a Teddy Bear's Picnic tuning.

Second Set. Minglewood + Bobby vox = ouch! Cold Rain & Snow is super-speedy, and a perfect example of the '66 arrangement (i. e., the album version). Proof they were a blues band: Tastebud. The Beat it on Down the Line-6 is right when they started counting-in. Garcia is ahead of his time here, but otherwise it's rough. Though, like most young bands, the rhythm section speeds up on almost every song in summer '66, here the tempo slows. Cream Puff War is simpler than it would become just weeks later, but it has a jam section that's surprising. Fontella Bass's Don't Mess Up a Good Thing was only a year old. Booker T issued an instrumental version at the same time the Dead began began covering the song. You can tell that Cardboard Cowboy was too cumbersome to work out - even though it was the shortest thing they ever wrote (it sounds like early Airplane). The 7/29 version is best. Gangster of Love and You Don't Have to Ask were also short-lived. On the latter Bobby sings off-key and though it's not as good as 7/16, check out @1:20, when Jer leads the abrupt key change. The Wilson Pickett original of Midnight Hour was also then-current, and though it was just a 2½min single, the boys had already started jamming it out - to 15min! They had also given a section of the show to Pigpen's aud interactions. You had to be there for this one.

1st Set:  C+
2nd Set: C
Overall = 2½ stars [full show]

Highlights:
I Know You Rider - Jer looks a year ahead
Sitting on Top of the World - some explosive Jer
Cold Rain & Snow - perfect example of the '66

SOURCES: Complete on 30 Trips, though several tracks have fade-ins with the beginnings clipped. Don't Mess Up a Good Thing & Gangster of Love are on Rare Cuts. Cream Puff is on Definitive Live Story. The SBD tracks are mislabeled and play:
Dancing in the Streets
I Know You Rider [cut]
Just a Hand to Hold [beginning cut]
Next Time You See Me
Viola Lee Blues
Big Boss Man
Sittin' on Top of the World [cut]
The 139751_sbd_miller has correct labels, and adds the first 7" single tracks (in iffy quality).

This is missing several songs of the set:

8. Unknown (missing)
9. Bring It On Down The Line (missing)
10. Cream Puff War (missing)
11.Don't Mess With A Good Thing (missing)
12. No Left Turn Unstoned (Cardboard Cowboy) (missing)
13. Gangster of Love (missing)
14. You Don't Have To Ask (missing)
15 In the Midnight Hour (missing) (Nice extended version with Pigpen's vocals)

Jeffrey Norman did an amazing job bringing this gig back to life for the 30 Trips box set.

Even though the songs are named incorrectly, this is a sweet one !! Nice stage banter, and a short glimpse of things to come. Strong early Viola etc. Love it!


Happy 50th Grateful Dead !

Dancin' In The Street [7:41]
I Know You Rider [1:59#]
He Was A Friend Of Mine [#4:19]
Next Time You See Me [3:04]
Viola Lee Blues [8:25]
Big Boss Man [3:56]
Sittin' On Top Of The World [2:29#]

These timings include stage talk.

Timings from Deadlists (http://www.deadlists.com/default.asp?http://deadlists.com/deadlists/showresults.asp?KEY=7/3/66)

Dancin' In The Street [7:17]
I Know You Rider [1:49#]
He Was A Friend Of Mine [#6:55]
Next Time You See Me [2:56]
Viola Lee Blues [7:21]
Big Boss Man [3:29]
Sittin' On Top Of The World [2:32#]

The title's on the player are different than on the description, but the description is obviously correct. First Dancin' I've seen thus far. Some serious cut-off action going on. Great HWAFOM and NTYSM like always. Not a fan of the acoustics of the venue, although they understandably didn't have their wildest selections this early. Off kilter playing (not bad by any means)... But altogether couldn't quite pull off 4 stars for me.

`

~^|\_@|@_/|^~
~<->/<->\<->~

1966 Soundbard.

Classic 1966 Sound.

Here's one way to download this show:

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Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE from 1966.

PS: Get em' while you can, get em' while they're free, get em' now or you'll be sorry...the Man giveth and the Man taketh away...WTTW

what happened to he was a friend of mine? It is no longer on the playlist. Nor is VLB.

Terrific stuff from the past. They were great before most of us knew it! If you already have this one, listen to it again! If you don't have it yet, maybe you do and just forgot where you put it. Get it now!

Loved "He was a friend of mine" and "VLB"

Can't beat this stuff for raw emotion and energy!

Hey Guys, Just wondering if anyone out there has this show and could help me out..it's my birthday show and I'd love to have a copy of it. my email is Pfitz73@aol.com

Keep It Real!

typical san fran's groovy sound...
tripping early raw dead...
...delicious stuff...

If you do think I could get it I love it that jerry's trippin hard you can tell just from the way he's singing, in I know you rider and viola lee. It's rather upbeat and loose on jerrys part. If anyone has it please E-mail me at Stainlessmusic@hotmail.com (my band's e-mail for Wild Geranium )

if you would like this show, email me:
rvadubfan@yahoo.com

lossless


-blake

Viola Lee Blues is a prime example of why those of us that have an appreciation for Blues combined with this band are called Deadheads. Very energy riden Viola Lee Blues.

great sound.

This is the earliest He Was A Friend Of Mine on the Archive. It's unfortunate that it cuts quickly at the start - what's missing? Compared to other versions, this one is short (4 minutes), peppy and fast with a rock beat, Pig's organ is squeeling along. The voices sound great and very clear on this recording. Jerry's voice does a funny fluttering thing. Some of the later versions of He Was A Friend Of Mine in the Archive extend to 7, 10, and 14 minutes, most at a slower pace than this one.

Dancing In The Streets, as sung with their best early attempts at harmony, is a sweet early version.

The song soon became an extended set piece as can be heard on the psyched-out version of Sept. 16th, '66 (used on the Vintage Dead album).

He Was A Friend Of Mine brings it all back home.
With that vibrato sound of Jerry's early vocals, and emotion in his delivery this is a particularly heartfelt version.
The song always makes me think of my father, a down to earth '60s dude, he was a friend of Luria Castell (founding Family Dog member) back in '63.
The song also invokes memories of a friend to all of us who recently passed on - the founding father of the Family Dog, Chet Helms, who ran the beloved Avalon Ballroom as only a true hippie can, loosely.
Avalon Ballroom was THE place to party thanks to Chet.

Viola Lee Blues moves along at a nice clip - and passes the acid test after Jerry's loopy spoken intro.

Big Boss Man is delivered with a snarl by Pigpen.

Sitting On Top Of The World is hard and fast...
who says they never knew how to play this even when they played it?

Next Time You See Me, a regular cover they performed mostly in 1966 before reviving it in 1969 (having played it once in 1967 and about 4 times in 1968 - going by what's available here in the archive.)
I saw it with Jerry joining in happily with Pigpen on vocals, at the Fillmore West on August 19, 1970.

By 1970 their repetoire seemed tinged with a touch of nostalgia for these hazy lazy crazy days of summer '66, before "love" tore the Haight apart.

The official Vault collection of 1966 Oddities includes 2 live songs with this July 3rd date: the very rare Pigpen sung "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing" and something even more intriguing entitled "Gangster Of Love".

A few chops and cuts here and there, to be expected with the early reels, but the sound overall is excellent.

Friend of Mine is so nice. Check out young Jerry's kind vocals. And that intro is funny :) Also, the vocal harmonies on Dancin' is very tight and sounds like they were inspired by the Beach Boys.

i came back through and found these unrated '66 shows... Get this one right now-really nice sound quality, groovy setlist. this early stuff is really material you should get to know if you love this band... Plus check Jerry out introducing Viola Lee- he's obviously tripping his brains out! It'll bring a knowing smile to your lips... This show fits neatly on one CD w/ 3-25-66, w/ only the Next Time repeated...