Grateful Dead Hour no. 1085

Week of July 6, 2009

Part 1 29:52
Introduction
Grateful Dead 7/19/74 Selland Arena, Fresno CA
WEATHER REPORT PRELUDE->
WEATHER REPORT PART->
LET IT GROW->
]AM->
SPANISH JAM->

Part 2 26:03
Grateful Dead 7/19/74 Selland Arena, Fresno CA
EYES OF THE WORLD->
CHINA DOLL

This is one of my favorite hours of 1974, which is in turn one of the Grateful Dead’s greatest years. I scheduled this program just before I learned that the next Road Trips release is from two Summer ’74 shows. Stay tuned for some of that material in next week’s show.

Here’s what I say about it in the program: I’m old enough to have been among the thousands of lucky Deadheads who got to see the Grateful Dead’s amazing Wall of Sound PA system in action in 1974. And I was there for this one, at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California July 19, 1974. One of my traveling companions knew a guy who knew a guy, so we got into the building early and watched Phil Lesh play with his new bass and quadraphonic speaker system. Great fun. Then we went backstage while the band and crew were having dinner, and that same friend had a brief exchange of wisecracks with Phil Lesh, who was attacking a pile of steaks with a Swiss Army knife. Good times. The show wasn’t terribly well-attended, so we had the run of the place – we sat in the back most of the time, enjoying the great clear sound, and walked down near the stage a few times to get a close look at the musicians at work. It was a fine show; the Weather Report Suite and the jam that followed have long been favorites of mine.

Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from Warner Home Video, presenting the 40th anniversary release of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music – the director’s cut, on Special Edition DVD and Ultimate Collector’s Edition DVD and Blu-Ray. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition contains more than two extra hours of rare performance footage as never before seen. This footage features five artists who were at Woodstock but did not appear in any previous film version, including The Grateful Dead, Paul Butterfield, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Winter, and Mountain. Video clips and complete information at WoodstockOnDVD.com.

1 thought on “Grateful Dead Hour no. 1085”

  1. How do I play the music posted from weeks past? I want to listen to GD Hour No. 1085… cannot figure out how to get the stream to play or whatever. Help! Before its too late please! In appreciation, TM. Mtc.,NJ

    Reply

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