Cooled Me With A Fan

A cold day like today calls for two heartwarming old chestnuts by bluegrass Jerry, recorded long before he became known as Captain Trips.

Jerry Garcia - Roving Gambler
Jerry Garcia - Sugar Baby

Smoke On You

The Jerry Garcia Band tackles a deep cut from the Dylan songbook at Berkeley's Keystone back in '75. Funky but clean, if you know what I mean...

Jerry Garcia Band - Tough Mama

Play For Life

Hey now, new Dave's Picks alert! Hot on the heels of late last year's wonderful Volume 24, which presented a truly cooking Berkeley show from '72, here's Binghamton '77. It was the last show of the year the two sevens clashed for Jerry and co, but there's lots of energy here, not to mention a setlist to die for. Maybe not up there with the famous Cornell gig from the spring, but definitely worth your precious time.

Grateful Dead - Jack Straw (Live Binghamton '77)

Give It To You

I'm sure the Dead had a groovy time playing at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza back in '78, but for a number of reasons, the recorded results were anything but stellar. Here's the one exception really, featuring Nubian oud player Hamza El Din and his students. Hey now, mighty mellow...

Grateful Dead - Ollin Arageed

Down The Track

Hurray, the vaults ain't empty yet. To wit: there's a brand new volume of Dave’s Picks in the shops, recorded live in Berkeley '72, a fine fine year in Dead live history. It's an impeccable 'Bear' soundboard with Garcia in full flight, so what are you waiting for? Extra extra: it's 30 Days Of Dead month again, with a free mystery download every day over at Deadnet. Hey now!

Grateful Dead - He's Gone (live Berkeley '72)

Not Quite Dead

Let's stay in Dead territory for a while longer, focusing on on 1972 this time. Although it saw no studio release, deadheads everywhere still considered it a remarkably good year. The wonderful Europe '72 live set was a no-brainer of course, and then there were strong solo albums by Jerry Garcia (Garcia), Bob Weir (Ace), and Mickey Hart (Rolling Thunder) to enjoy. The better songs on these would later ease into the Dead's live repertoire, as was the case with the trio of tracks below. Hey now!

Jerry Garcia - Loser
Bob Weir - Looks Like Rain
Mickey Hart - The Pump Song