Let's hear your Grateful Dead covers

[reeve21]

I've not had time to make any recordings or work up any new songs lately, but in the interest of not letting this thread "go dead" I dug up this Althea that I did several years ago. I remember hearing this tune for the first time live, before it was released on an album, and it grabbed me immediately. It's long and boring and has no chorus....perfection

[raysachs]

Originally Posted by reeve21

I've not had time to make any recordings or work up any new songs lately, but in the interest of not letting this thread "go dead" I dug up this Althea that I did several years ago. I remember hearing this tune for the first time live, before it was released on an album, and it grabbed me immediately. It's long and boring and has no chorus....perfection

I think early in this thread I dove into your Soundcloud and found this and a few others I dug. Enjoyed it this time too. One of the most enjoyable tunes to play. I never thought of it as long and boring and no chorus - it does have a middle eight though! I loved it from the first moment I heard it. It came out on the album in 1980 and I saw them right about the same time. They didn't write many classics in that period but I always thought this was one of their best songs EVER, and came in the midst of a relatively dry spell. I don't know if I could name my favorite Grateful Dead tune, but this would have to be a very strong contender.

Kev, thanks for contributing - great classic old song. A cover of a cover...

-Ray

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by raysachs

Kev, thanks for contributing - great classic old song. A cover of a cover...

-Ray

Thanks Ray, yes seems to cover such an iconic cover is OK .Would be I guess something like covering JH's cover of All Along The Watch Tower

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by raysachs

I think early in this thread I dove into your Soundcloud and found this and a few others I dug. Enjoyed it this time too. One of the most enjoyable tunes to play. I never thought of it as long and boring and no chorus - it does have a middle eight though! I loved it from the first moment I heard it. It came out on the album in 1980 and I saw them right about the same time. They didn't write many classics in that period but I always thought this was one of their best songs EVER, and came in the midst of a relatively dry spell. I don't know if I could name my favorite Grateful Dead tune, but this would have to be a very strong contender.

Kev, thanks for contributing - great classic old song. A cover of a cover...

-Ray

Hey Ray, thanks for listening. I was being a little tongue in cheek about it being boring, you are right that middle part is a big part of the song. I'm not sure if it is technically a key change but it feels that way to me. I've enjoyed this thread very much and hope folks will chime in to keep it going

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by reeve21

I've not had time to make any recordings or work up any new songs lately, but in the interest of not letting this thread "go dead" I dug up this Althea that I did several years ago. I remember hearing this tune for the first time live, before it was released on an album, and it grabbed me immediately. It's long and boring and has no chorus....perfection

. Great !!!
Because of this thread I have discovered some more songs I would like to cover
As I noted I was never really a Dead Head per se. But I did own and wear the grooves out the first album

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by KevWind

. Great !!!
Because of this thread I have discovered some more songs I would like to cover
As I noted I was never really a Dead Head per se. But I did own and wear the grooves out the first album

I'm really glad to hear that, Kev! Exactly what I hoped the thread would encourage.

The whole culture around the "Deadhead" label turns off some folks, and can overshadow the music. I learned about Chuck Berry, country music, bluegrass and jug bands because Jerry Garcia dug that stuff and played it in lots of different formats. When people tell me they don't like Truckin' I get that, but it's a shame they don't dig any deeper, as GD interpreted the whole history of American popular music. And I'm not excluding jazz, Ornette Coleman and Branford Marsalis, David Murray and Cecil Taylor all played with and/or dug the GD.

Sorry I got carried away there, really glad you enjoyed some of the tunes in the thread

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by reeve21

I'm really glad to hear that, Kev! Exactly what I hoped the thread would encourage.

The whole culture around the "Deadhead" label turns off some folks, and can overshadow the music.

To be clear to me, Dead Head is simply devoted fan, nothing more

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by KevWind

To be clear to me, Dead Head is simply devoted fan, nothing more

Me, too. Some folks read a lot more into it when they find out you liked this band, especially if you went to the concerts.........

[SGFletch]

Originally Posted by reeve21

I've not had time to make any recordings or work up any new songs lately, but in the interest of not letting this thread "go dead" I dug up this Althea that I did several years ago. I remember hearing this tune for the first time live, before it was released on an album, and it grabbed me immediately. It's long and boring and has no chorus....perfection

Nice job! Well played and sung. This song is a huge touchstone for Dead fans, obviously. Ambitious to take this one on. I'm impressed.

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by SGFletch

Nice job! Well played and sung. This song is a huge touchstone for Dead fans, obviously. Ambitious to take this one on. I'm impressed.

Wow, thank you very much, Steve. Means a lot to a hobbyist like me coming from coming from you

[raysachs]

Just as threads of this sort are popping up like wildfire, I get a hair up my..., well I decided to record another Dead tune. It's an old Calypso song covered by a bunch of folks, including the Dead. It's just a really fun song to play. And two chords, so it's a quick one to do.



-Ray

[started with 1]

Here one I posted by itself a while ago to keep this thread kickin.

“I know you rider” traditional and a dead cover.

https://youtu.be/n_S7oq5t4HA

[raysachs]

Wake'n this bad boy up again, although it appears to be Dead (but Grateful). This has been done once or twice already in the thread, but I recorded it for my baby Granddaughter, who seems to be quite entertained when her Pop Pop plays and sings to her (hey, she's only 7 months old - tastes evolve). So I thought I'd toss it up here too.

-Ray

[reeve21]

Nice one, Ray! Way to keep the thread going. I’m going to look for one more to try to work up.

I have a 14 month old granddaughter. Her favorite song is Ripple, really calms her down

[started with 1]

Nice one Ray. Let's keep it alive! I will go to see Dead and Co with my two sons and their cousin in Saratoga Springs this Friday and may be inspired to do a new one.