The Grateful Dead

10.1.1971
Rehearsal Sessions with Keith

Deal - very tight version. Pacing is slow which allows Weir to add a lot of nice filler in-between the verses, and Jerry's guitar solo is scorching. Keith couldn't be heard.

Tennessee Jed - Keith now on piano. Tightest version of the 9.29, 9.30 and 10.1 versions. This tune was flawless.

Jam - A major chord jam. Keith kept up pace wise nicely and mostly stuck with the chords. Jam fizzles out. Nothing too interesting here.

Brown eyed Women - Keith on piano. Pretty tight version. 

Casey Jones - extremely solid and tight version. Keith on piano.

Jack Straw - finest of the 9.29, 9.30 and 10.1 versions. Tempo slowed markedly. Lesh provides very nice bass work throughout. Keith on piano. Same different lyrics as noted on the 9.29.1971. Jerry began adding interesting notes in-between the lyrics.

Mexicali Blues - finest of the 9.29, 9.30 and 10.1 versions. Timing problems of 9.29 now gone. Band sounds very confident. Keith on organ.

One More Saturday Night - a bit sloppy with Keith on piano, but the energy from this version is amazing. The band clearly thought quite a bit about this tune. Altered lyrics - instead of "Don't worry about tomorrow, Lord you'll know it when it comes, when the rockin' rollin' music meets the risin' shinin' sun," Weir sings, "God way up in Heaven for whatever it was worth, thought he'd have a big ol' party, thought he'd call it planet earth, I may be young and crazy, but I can't see reason one, we're fighting and complaining, Lord we should be having fun."

Loser - sloppy with harsh vocals, but the music was ok. Keith on organ.

Cold Rain & Snow - again, harsh vocals but musically interesting. Keith on piano.

Ripple - electric Ripple obviously didn't make it into the repertoire. Keith on piano. Song sounds nice to me whether it is electric or acoustic. Vocals, though, are nearly horrid as the harmonies were way off.

Cumberland - musically very interesting - raw and filled with jubilation. But vocally, the harmonies were still wincingly bad. Keith virtually undetectable.

Uncle John's Band - again, Lesh's harmony wincingly bad, but music fantastic. Jerry's leads sound fantastic. Keith virtually undetectable.

Bird Song - a much more relaxed version than the 9.30.1971 version; Jerry's guitar solo soars, but almost as impressive is Lesh's presence. Keith virtually undetectable.
Rob Goetz ©