Days Between - Grateful Dead Song Review

Polished like a golden bowl... the finest ever seen.

This song review is going to really reveal my bias about The Dead (re: Jerry favoritism and preferring late-era Dead).  To me Days Between is "the final masterpiece." 

This song was underwhelmingly received when I was seeing shows, and I've heard some pretty devoted Deadheads state they don't like it.  I find this hard to understand because to me this song is completely original and very moving.  I think when Days Between was originally introduced, the "newness" factor made some Deadheads not like this song - because they'd rather hear a tune that they were more "connected" to.  But to me, all Dead music was new at the time when I heard this song, and it really stands out.

An Original Structure and Spotty Performances

This song has a really original song structure that moves from an opening theme through a building chord progression that comes back to the opening theme after the climax. It's a kind of linear structure that escalates in intensity and there is no traditional verse, chorus or bridge.  Jerry would occasionally solo over the entire chord cycle, but more commonly solo over the opening coda (when it is played at the end).

Since I specialize in listening to '90s Dead,  I've heard most of the versions of Days Between, and it usually is played after Space (or after a more upbeat song that came out of Space). Performances of Days Between were rather varied in the way the band approached it, and some are much better than others.  My favorite versions are the ones that have a pulsing undercurrent from the rhythm section that really builds in intensity throughout the song.  Other times, it was a little listless.  Sometimes Jerry was definitely more "on" than others (like all songs).  When he would take one of the full chord cycles for a solo, it is usually pretty sloppy, but when he would solo at the end (over the opening theme), it usually came off better.  There's a great version of it on a youtube video at the bottom of this blog post - thatnks to roadrunnerismyname for the post.

I think the fact that the Dead were still pretty new to the song (it was in the repertoire for about 3 years  when Jerry died) explains why it was a little inconsistent.  They were still finding their way with this tune.   

The "studio demo" version that is on the  So Many Roads Box Set is decent, but nothing great.   

Hunter and Garcia's Final Masterpiece

In my opinion, as much (or more) credit goes to Hunter on this tune. The lyrics are really special.  There is a sense of nostalgia and wonder throughout the song.   And, as the best art always does reflect life, there is also kind of a dark brooding sense of fear and loss: Summer flies and August dies, and the world grows dark and mean...  

Hearing Jerry sing "When all we ever wanted, was to learn and love and grow" still gives me chills, but I really like lines like this too: "No one knows much more of this, than anyone can see..."  To me it is saying  to not seek answers from anyone else, but just try to make the most of this short window of time we have on this planet.

The Days Between August 1st and August 9th

There's kind of a legend that the "Days Between" August 1st and August 9th have a special significance because Jerry was born on August 1st and died on August 9th.  I always try to observe this time period as much as possible to reflect on the man and the music he created.  The gamut of emotions that this reflection brings are as varied as the range of  themes that are present in Days Between: from wonder to fear. From joy to loss.

Days Between Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.9

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 (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

The Greatest Bummer to Hear on a Tape

Note: this is a very opinionated blog.  You may know that I prefer 90's Grateful Dead (90-95), and that's mainly what I listen to, so already I'm in the minority, so take this with a grain of salt.

If I am going to choose the greatest bummer... it is a toss up.


Is it hearing any of these songs kill the momentum of a first set: Easy Answers? Eternity?
Is it hearing any of these songs destroy the vibe of a second set: Samba in the Rain? Way to go Home?
Is it hearing Jerry forget the words of Standing on the Moon or Terrapin*? (*possibly can be redeemed by huge crowd cheer of appreciation for Jerry to show their unconditional love)

Not quite...

In my opinion, the greatest bummer is when you are listening to space, hearing it start to build into the next jam ... and then hearing the distinctive opening guitar riff of I Need a Miracle.  YUCK.

This is a slot that the following songs often appear in:

• China Doll
• The Wheel
• Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
• The Last Time (in my opinion, hugely underrated)

to get an "I Need a Miracle" right there is just a total bummer in my opinion.

However, at shows this song was pretty great, with a lot of crowd enthusiasm and participation (kind of like how other songs like Loose Lucy and Music Never stopped were extra good live for the crowd "sing along" factor).

Close 2nd Place:
A close second is hearing a "Picasso Moon" set opener (either set).  Not so bad as 1st set closer, but to put it in a spot where Shakedown, Help, Sunshine, etc could be played is just cruel. Unlike "I Need a Miracle", this song had no redeeming "live show experience" value.

Discuss.

Day Job - Grateful Dead Song Review

Keep your day job ... until your night job pays!

Day Job

The legend goes that this song is the only that was every nixed due to the overwhelming request of Deadheads  at large.  I think I heard Robert Hunter quoted as saying that. Can that really be true? Then how do you explain songs like Corrina ("Velveeta") and Easy Answers ("Cheesy Answer") not getting dropped due to overwhelming demand? Well, maybe they would have in due time; "Day Job" did come along a decade before those gems - in the early 80's. That was a much different time in the arc of the Grateful Dead experience.

What is it that everyone hates about this song? It must be the message.  I don't think it's terrible at all.  It sounds like a cross between U.S. Blues and Might As Well, with a dash of Billy Joel's Only the Good Die Young.

"It Must've Been The Lyrics"

It must've been the implied message of maintaining employment that rubbed everyone the wrong way.  I guess I can relate because when I was at Dead shows I was pretty much experiencing the opposite of my day job.  Imagine if you quit your Day Job to follow the Dead on a tour and during a psychedelic experience you hear Jerry sing those words.... this could cause a powerful internal conflict, short circuiting your enjoyment of the show.

But to give thissong "legendary" status of being rejected is a bit harsh. I mean... how much more of a bummer can hearing this song in the first set be than "Little Red Rooster," "The Same Thing," or even "When Push Comes to Shove?"


Day Job Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.0


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 (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Dark Star - Grateful Dead Song Review

Dark Star.
What can you say about Dark Star? It is almost larger than life.

As you can see I took a 3 year hiatus from the blog to think about this post.  Not really, but it's good to be back (had some technical/google/login type issues).

Dark Star is perfect - a simple motif that represented a vehicle for free form exploration.  The lyrics are simple and utterly psychedelic. "Glass hand dissolving to ice petal flowers revolving." Perfect.

Throughout the band's entire career this song was anticipated and probably even more so toward the end of the  band's tenure in the 90's. I never got to see this song in concert, but there's a few versions that I have close to my heart that I will briefly discuss:

Dark Star from Live/Dead Album (in 1967)
This to me is "the original." It's just fantastic.  The band really does a nice job locking into patterns with each other and evolving gradually and collectively  - with Jerry's twangy guitar leading the way.

There's also a "2:45 "Single Version" on the Live/Dead reissue that is really cool, with a jumpy beat, a nice shaker, and a tamboura in the background.

Dark Star from Sunshine Daydream Movie (Veneta Oregon Concert in 1972)

In this performance the Dead appears to be able to play this song completely unconsciously, thus allowing them to really let themselves go and (apparently) trip out on the performance.  Jerry looks to be "far, far away" in this performance.

I highly recommend you check this movie out, there's some great footage (and especially audio) of the extended Grateful Dead Family putting on a concert.   Part of the Dark Star has been posted to youtube. It claims to be "1 of  4 parts" but I can't find the other 3 and it's not a satisfying way to enjoy the footage anyway (on youtube's flash player). The DVD is out there -  if you can possibly get your hands on it, I recommend doing so.

Dark Star from "Warlock's" Shows in Hampton Virginia (October 9th, 1989)

Must see video on Youtube is here.  The band announced these shows and sold tickets as "The Warlocks" or "Formerly the Warlocks" or something like that.  Can you imagine being there for that run? Wow, here are some notes from the youtube uploader:

In addition to the spectacular renditions of each song, it was also the 1st Dark Star since Berkley 1984, the 2nd Death Don't Have No Mercy since 1972, the 1st Attics of My Life since 10-28-1972 and the 1st time Dark Star and Death Don't were played in the same show since 11-2-69 ...

That video gives me chills, and I return to it often.

Dark Star from First Set at Shoreline (August 16th, 1991)
I am a veteran of several Shoreline shows (not this one though) and you may know that I am biased towards late Dead.  So I am fascinated that on a summer day in 1991 during a pretty routine 1st set Jerry played Dark Star between Desolation Row and Promised Land. WHAT? I love trying to imagine having been there for that. I bet it was still daylight even. It's a "short" version and none too expansive, but still very novel. The last time they played Dark Star in the first set was 20 years prior (in 1971).

This show has a ridiculous 2nd set opening medley - check it out if you can.

Dark Star from Dick's Picks Volume 27 (December 16th, 1992)


This is my favorite Dark Star.  I know I know.... most Deadheads would laugh at this 5 minute "half a Dark Star" and hey, "how can you pick a favorite anyway," right?  Still, I just love hearing the hint and the tease and then the crowd's reaction the instant Jerry plays the notes.   Also, it's at Oakland Coliseum where I have some powerful memories.  They don't even play the opening "theme" (which always seemed to get butchered in later years anyway).  It's a "second half" of the Dark Star that presumably "started" on some previous night.

I've heard other versions where the crowd's reaction is unbelievably loud (like on audience recordings) but that was many years ago when I had a tape collection. I love hearing the crowd react when they recognize what song the Dead are going to play.

For serious musicians: take a look at this "Master Class" piano exploration of Dark Star. This video is over an hour and a half and I admit I haven't even made it into this video further than a few minutes. Still, there's gotta be some amazing insight in there about how the Grateful Dead approached Dark Star.

Dark Star Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 10.0

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Dark Hollow - Grateful Dead Song Review

This song is a catchy little bluesy acoustic tune that Bob Weir would sing. There is a nice harmony where Jerry would join in on the chorus.

Thinking of this song, I am reminded of Reckoning - that's probably the version that I'm most familiar with.

Dark Hollow has a classic and timeless feel to it. I am reminded of other songs like Been All Around this World, and Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie that were classic standards that the Dead integrated into their sound. The Grateful Dead didn't really make Dark Hollow their own by any means - they did a pretty traditional arrangement and didn't stretch out the song with any jamming. Still, it is a nice little "train" song that harkens back to a time before airplanes.

Being sandwiched between It Must Have Been the Roses and China Doll on Reckoning underscores the fact that there are many other songs I'd rather listen to the Grateful Dead perform (and most have Jerry singing).

Dark Hollow Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.4

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Dancing in the Street - Grateful Dead Song Review

Dancin' Dancin'.... Dancin' in the Street!

Okay, I admit this song is legendary for its meaning and the time it represents. Dancing in the Streets is a song that I picture the Dead playing on the back of a flatbed truck in Golden Gate park circa 1968 (I think I've seen some video of an event like this).

Dancing in the Streets is a Motown song (I just found out Marvin Gaye had a hand in writing it) and the Dead would play it often early in their career. I think that this song became an anthem of sorts that symbolized the liberal movement of the civil rights era.

Dancing in the Streets has never "done it" for me. Maybe my subconscious was violated by the David Bowie and Mick Jagger video that I grew up watching on MTV. Although the song's tempo is upbeat it still seems like it just drags on because the various sections seem to unfold painfully slow. Also, I associate the song with Donna Godchaux as she had a strong presence in many versions I've heard (strike two). Finally, it seems that most of the versions I've heard are at least 10 minutes long - sometimes well over 10 minutes (strike three).

If I had been "dancin' in the streets" in the 60's and 70's and witnessed this song in concert, it would probably have a lot more sentimental memories. As much as I am proud of the history of California and the Summer of Love and Civil Rights era, I can't fast forward this song quickly enough when it comes on.

Dancing in the Streets Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 5.0

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).

Cumberland Blues - Grateful Dead Song Review

One of the best memories I have of the Grateful Dead is the first time I heard Europe '72.

As soon as Cumberland Blues started (the first track on Europe '72) I fell in love with that bouncy bassline and the "down home" way the band would jam that "I-V" Cumberland progression that sounds like a jug band meets a rolling train. I'm kind of not as big of a fan of bluegrass and American "roots" music as most Deadheads, but I really love Cumberland Blues.

This song is deceptively simple at first and is characterized by it's main simple motif. Cumberland Blues actually has some pretty interesting vocal harmonies and a few different sections. This song is definitely not a blues progression like the name might suggest. The band also would jam pretty hard throughout this song and step out a fair bit within the relatively simple chordal framework.

The song was played fairly regularly early in the band's career and then was put on a shelf from 1974 through 1981 (a 394 show hiatus - thanks Deadbase). The song was played sparingly through the rest of the band's career. In later years, Cumberland Blues was usually mixed into the first set and often combined with similar songs like Maggie's Farm, Big River, and sometimes followed Mexicali Blues.
The lyrics by Robert Hunter are a really interesting and abstract tale of a mine worker who labors in unjust circumstances at the Cumberland Mine. It is a snapshot of the time when large American firms capitalized off of the sweat of their laborers and didn't compensate them fairly and this is the situation that gave rise to the labor unions (which are referenced in Cumberland Blues as well). The lyric's hopeless tone is somewhat contradictory to the fun bouncy rhythm of the song, but the lyrics do fit in perfectly with other songs like Easy Wind and Dire Wolf on Workingman's Dead.

Some versions of Cumberland would get really hot thanks to the musicianship and group dynamics when the band would start really stepping out on the solo sections behind Jerry's leads. At the very least Cumberland is always a great song to hear because of the excellent lyrics and beautiful harmonies.

Cumberland Blues Song Rating on a Scale of 1-10: 9.3

Disclaimer: This is part of my review of every Grateful Dead song from A-Z. Music is a beautiful thing because it is so personal and subjective, so keep in mind that this is one man's opinion (and be sure to read my blog manifesto to understand a little more about where I'm coming from).