The Dead Swing the Swing in 1977, debut Terrapin and Estimated Prophet, Everyone Has A Good Time

Deadhead Cannabis Show

"Birthdays, Breakouts, and Psychedelic Jams: The Legendary Grateful Dead Concert of '77"

Today’s show comes from February 26, 1977 at the Swing Auditorium. The show not only opens the fabulous ’77 campaign and contains the first live versions of two of the truly great Dead tunes – Terrapin Station and Estimated Prophet – but it throws smoke and spits flames. The concert marked the debut of songs like "Terrapin Station" and "Estimated Prophet." Larry Mishkin delves into the significance of these songs in the Dead's repertoire, their musical and lyrical qualities, and the overall atmosphere of the concert. They also provide insights into the venue's history and its importance in rock and roll culture.

Additionally, the conversation touches on other topics, such as the Fish concert series in Cancun, Mexico, and the significance of certain Grateful Dead songs like "The Wheel" and "Slipknot." Larry share personal anecdotes related to the music, including experiences at concerts and the culture surrounding marijuana use, inspired by a Commander Cody song.

INTRO: Terrapin Station

Track # 1

5:51 – 7:27

Garcia and Hunter

Probably that point right where Deadheads think they’ve seen it all. The psychedelic rock, Pig’s blues, Americana, Wake of the Flood, Mars Hotel and Blues For Allah. So if you had tickets for this show, you had no idea what you were in for, where the Dead were about to take you, a completely different direction, as close as the Dead would ever come to a rock-opera number. And there was no waiting, lights went out and . . . . . . . . . . . . . TURTLE MUSIC!! Clocking in just shy of 11 minutes, it’s not quite the masterpiece it would become, but pretty amazing none the less. Nothing else existed at that time quite like it. But from the opening notes you know it is a winner, destined for greatness in the pantheon of great Dead tunes. One that you could hear every show and never grow tired of or bored with it.

The title track from the album released on July 27, 1977, five months after this show. First studio album since they had returned to touring. Terrapin Station is the ninth studio album (fourteenth overall) by the Grateful Dead, It was the first Grateful Dead album on Arista Records The cover artwork was produced by Kelley/Mouse Studios, who had created several previous works for the band. Though a terrapin appears in the lyrics only as a place name, dancing terrapins feature prominently in the artwork and afterward became part of the large iconography associated with the Grateful Dead. The front cover image takes the idea of a "terrapin station" literally. The back cover features a stylized, one-eyed skull with a crossed bone, feathers and roses, in keeping with the imagery that had evolved around the Dead.

This clip is the famous and beloved transition form Lady With A Fan into Terrapin Station, the first two parts of the seven part suite clocking in at 16:23.

The other five parts are: Terrapin; Terrapin Transit; At A Siding; Terrapin Flyer and Refrain.

The Grateful Dead only performed the Lady With A Fan and Terrapin Station. Dead and Co. have played the entire suite. Fun to hear, but not the same as if Jerry was playing it. Too bad he never did.

Played 303 times

First: This version right here that we just played for you

Last: July 8, 1995

SHOW No. 1: Estimated Prophet

Track #4

1:54 – 3;26

Bob and John Barlow

"Estimated Prophet" was written in septuple time. Bobby’s lyrics for the song (finished with writing partner John Barlow) examine a character's delusions of grandeur and California's propensity for false prophets. The song also quotes "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel".[13][14] Drummer Bill Kreutzmann said "It's a great song but when [Weir] brought it to us, something was off. It needed a groove. It was in quick4 but it didn't swing. Yet. For my homework that night, I combined two fast sevens and played half-time over it. The two sevens brought the time around to an even number – the phrasing is in two bars of seven, so technically the time signature is in. But that's getting technical. In layman's terms, 'Estimated Prophet' suddenly grooved."

Released on Terrapin Station, this was its debut performance and it was well received. A fan favorite and regular part of the Band’s playlist for the rest of their careers.

390 times total

First: This is it right here.

Last: June 28, 1995 at the Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit

SWING AUDITORIUM

Built in 1949, the Swing Auditorium had a maximum capacity of around 10,000, but it probably sold out at only around 6000 for this Dead show. The venue’s ascent into rock and roll fame began in 1962 when a man named Bob Lewis started promoting concerts there. In the ensuing decades, Lewis brought all the legends into the Swing, including Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and, of course, the Grateful Dead. But what really solidified the Swing’s place amongst the hallowed venues was the American debut of the Rolling Stones there in 1964. With a mere ten-song set, the Stones stoked the hall into a fervor. The band had to drop their instruments and run for the exits before the crowd rushed the stage. For their part, the Dead played the Swing only four times before it was razed after a small plane crashed into the building on September 11, 1981.

SHOW No. 2: The Wheel

Track #9

:30 – 2:09

Released on January 20, 1972 as the final track on side 2 of Jerry’s firs solo album, “Garcia”. The psychedelic closer it exhibits Garcia's short-lived infatuation with pedal steel guitar. great to hear in concert, although relatively short in length. Almost always a second set song and, it is high energy and always a great way for the band to transition out of Space.

Played 259 times

First: June 3, 1976 at the Paramount Theater in Portland Oregon

Last: May 25, 1995 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle

SHOW No. 3: Slipknot

Track #14

11:30 – 13:10

Released on Blues For Allah in 1975

Plays a key role in a key suite and is often overlooked. The bridge between Help On The Way and Franklin’s Tower it often gets lost in the jam out of Help and then into Franklin’s. But it is almost always there and always a great piece of improvisational music that rarely sounds exactly the same, except for the distinctive intro/outro. Similar to I Am Hydrogen in Phish’s Mike’s Groove run of songs

Played 114 times (Help = 111 times; Franklin’s = 222 times)

First: October 20, 1974 at Winterland in San Francisco

Last: June 22, 1995 at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, NY

SHOW No. 4: Eyes Of The World

Track #17

5:35 – 7:07

Released on Wake of the Flood on October 15, 1973

Many a Deadheads “secret” favorite tune. It’s that good. Played fast, played slow, almost always in the second set and often times as a companion piece with Estimated Prophet, the coveted “Estimated Eyes” jam. In the first part of the 1980’s second sets often opened with Scarlet>Fire Estimated>Eyes OR Help>Slip>Frank Estimated>Eyes

Played 382 times

First: February 9, 1973 at Maples Pavilion at Stanford in Palo Alto

Last: July 6, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO, just outside of St. Louis

OUTRO: Dancin’ In The Streets

Track #18

7:40 – 9:13

“Dancin' in the Streets" is a cover of Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" from the early days of the band, given a new arrangement that prominently features singer Donna Godchaux. For the studio version, a funk-influenced guitar figure was added to a four-on-the-floor disco beat and polished with a commercial production contemporary to the era.

Released by the Dead as the second song on Terrapin Station.

Played 131 times

First: July 3, 1966 at the Fillmore in San Francisco

Last: April 6, 1987 at Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey

Dead would play this tune in spurts:

28 times in 1970

27 times in 1976

14 times in 1977 and 1978

A bit of a comeback in 1984 and 1985 – 6 times each year, b

Once in 1987

Gone

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Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show

Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin

Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt

Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg

Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/

Recorded on Squadcast