JGB at Blockbuster Pavilion, Devore CA 5-13-1994

The first few minutes only are stills.  This is Jerry playing a really great show at this late date.

Many people don't know that The Grateful Dead had shows booked the following year (late 1995) at this location which was sometimes referred to as the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore CA. Tickets to this concert were sold, but the shows were not meant to be.

Thanks to BurningShoreProphet for the youtube post.

I Know You Rider - Grateful Dead Song Review

I wish I was a headlight, on a northbound train
I wish I was a headlight, on a northbound train
I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain

This song is obviously best remembered coming out of China Cat Sunflower hence the "China Rider" abbreviation for the medley that was adopted on cassette sleeves.

The song is listed as composed by "traditional" and early recordings are credited to the great field work of ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax (so you know this song goes way back). I've heard a dozen or more different versions from various bluegrass and Americana themed groups.  Most of these alternative takes on the song are much slower. Nothing compares to the Grateful Dead's interpretation, they really "souped it up."

2nd Set Opener (Most Commonly)

Getting China Rider is about as good as it gets to open the 2nd set in my experience (note that it also appeared other locations in the set earlier on in the band's tenure, including occasionally opening the show).  I will never get tired of the jam from China Cat into I Know You Rider.  It's just a collective swell  behind Jerry's "pedal to the medal" soloing.  This combination is one I can guarantee I've never fast forwarded through in 20 years of listening to The Grateful Dead.

Jerry's Verse

If I had to pick a favorite part, well of course it would be "Jerry's verse" where he sings the lines at the top of this blog... this is a part of the recording where you would actually prefer to be listening to an "audience recording" so you can hear the swell of cheers when he belts it out.


I Know You Rider Without China Cat Sunflower

As I said in my review of  Franklin's Tower and Fire on the Mountain, hearing the songs that are part of a famed medley (ie Help>Slip>Frank and Scarlet>Fire) without their proper predecessor just doesn't feel right.  It's like having dessert without enjoying dinner first...


Favorite Versions

I think that the versions of this with Brent are the ones are the most excellent.  The version on Without a Net is definitely one of my favorites.  I think that the song was really consistent even until the last days of Jerry playing it, but it probably lost a little fire at the tail end of the Grateful Dead (during Vince Welnick's tenure).

Of course, there's also a fantastic version on Europe '72.  I seem to be bringing up that double disc in all the recent song reviews, it's really amazing how packed that live recording is with great Dead songs.  It's also interesting to contemplate the vocal overdubs that are on those recordings.  Some day I'm going to do a close listen to the versions on Europe '72 and compare them to the soundboards from box set release of the entire tour that was The Dead finally did a couple years ago.  73 CD box set (!) Is that the biggest box set of all time?  How do we get a similar release from the 1990s??


I Know You Rider Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.2

Disclaimer: This is part of my blog that reviews all things Grateful Dead for fun. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion(read my blog manifesto to understand my Grateful Dead background a little more).

Note: comments are encouraged and appreciated (enter them below) but it takes several days for them to show up in the blog entry (due to a Disqus plugin issue).  

It's All Over Now - Grateful Dead Song Review

This is a cool Rolling Stones rocker that may be alternatively known as "I Used to Love Her." I like this song.  I like that the Dead would choose a "lesser known" Rolling Stones song and no doubt it got a good crowd reaction when it was played.  I think many casual Deadheads aren't familiar with this song, possibly because it wasn't played too often. It had a nice long run however, appearing in 1976 and played all the way up until 1995.

The video below is from Alpine Valley in 1989 (thanks Kulpo42 for the upload). As always, I'm amazed and going to point out how great it is to hear Jerry play the main rhythmic figure throughout the song. The solos are great (Brent and especially Jerry) and the background vocals add a lot to the song  (also by Brent and Jerry).

It's hard not to be reminded of The Last Time because that's also a Rolling Stones song, also somewhat "lesser known," and features a somewhat similar repetitive guitar figure that Jerry seemed to really get into.  The Last Time is more of a 2nd set post "space" tune and All Over Now was more of a first set rocker.

All Over Now is a great tune that is consistently delivered (perhaps owing to its simplicity its long 19 year run in the repertoire).

All Over Now Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 8.5

Disclaimer: This is part of my blog that reviews all things Grateful Dead for fun. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion.

Note: comments are encouraged and appreciated (enter them below) but it takes several days for them to show up in the blog entry (due to a Disqus plugin issue).