A Magnetic Tape Reel Label: recording in the Steam Age
40 years ago, after almost two months in Yurp*, the Grateful Dead tribe of 50-odd (some very odd) musicians, roadies, managers, techies and associated ‘other halves’ packed up their equipment and belongings and headed back to the San Francisco Bay Area, taking with them an estimated 17 miles of music-coated magnetic tape. By all accounts, they had enjoyed themselves and accumulated good memories that would last for some considerable time.
And so, after a total of 22 posts containing over 40 different songs, my ‘40 years ago’ tour is also complete. Thanks to all who dropped in along the way and provided support and/or showed interest: and welcome to anyone who feels like looking now (HERE). You may not be interested in the music (just what is wrong with you people?!) but you may be interested to remember/learn about some of the surprisingly important events of April and May 1972, events whose legacy is still with us. What also surprised me when creating the posts was the ease with which I could make a link to something the band played in that day’s concert. Always complete coincidence, of course, but I do like to believe in Dead synchronicity (it does considerably less harm than most irrational beliefs).
There are a couple of songs that I couldn’t find a place for. They seem to be a part of Robert Hunter’s female entourage that didn’t make the flight:
- Some Brown-Eyed Women are drinking to the memory of Delilah Jones in Copenhagen;
- And sweet Sugar Magnolia still waits backstage in Paris.
*with thanks to Dubya and Steve Bell.
Haven’t always commented, but I have enjoyed reading your entries. Thank you for writing them. Do you have a favourite night of the tour?
Cheers, beth. As a concert, the first Paris gig is hard to beat for sustained quality (and there’s only one instance of inadequate tuning) but, as I hope I’ve shown, every date has something of value.
yes, I do think you have, I feel I know much more about a band I found a bit intimidating before too, which is always a good thing
I’m still miles behind, but loving all the posts and the music. Thanks so much.
Thanks Chris.
I’ve enjoyed the series.
Chris: Since you stopped posting here regularly I lost track, to that point I’d really enjoyed the series. I just clicked ‘HERE’ and discovered how much I’d missed, the last one I’d read was ‘Bickerswim’ so I’ve got a fair bit of catching up to do but I definitely will catch up. I hope you’ll leave these up forever, as well as a great music source they’re also an important archive. Thanks for your enthusiasm and all the effort.
Epic!
And many thanks from me, Chris …. I suppose we all tend to look back at our past as a Golden Age of meaning, excitement, artistic thrill and vitality, particularly when our own formative years coincided with such a dramatic phase in 20th century history (though which bit wasn’t and who wouldn’t see their youth as dramatic?), but what you’ve done (and so much more engagingly than the recent BBC series on the 70s) has really helped bring that time back to me.
It’s hard to understand why anyone would not want to listen to the music (that’s one argument I can’t even win in my own household/family) but I too have urged people to read your posts for the sheer pleasure of some damned good writing about that time. Many thanks.
As for the Dead, well, there’s nothing I can add … they are such a treasure trove of musical ideas. As you know, I’m with you in thinking that this was the Dead at their peak. I hope your posts have nudged a few more followers in their direction, and that others who would already see themselves as pretty well into their music, will like me have found that there’s still more to get out of it.
Cheers
Simon
This has been a really great series and thank you so much for making it ! ! !
I have enjoyed it very much indeed ! ! !
Thanks for the thanks and other positive comments, people. Much appreciated.