Always thought the N.Y. State fairground would have been a great place to catch a show.
This site has sat pretty much abandoned since the World's Fair of 64-65.
It is probably best known from the movie MEN IN BLACK as where the alien kept his escape ship. Although that tower actually has nothing to do with the part of this building used for this concert. I would safely estimate the inner circle which contained the map of N.Y state on the floor might hold 500 people, just an estimate. but given it is totally outdoors anyone in the vicinity of the Dead would have been able to hear the entire show.
Dupree's>Dire Wolf
I am two songs in and there is a slight hiss which you really hear when the band is taking a break.
Hard to Handle--Pig's vocals are coming across very nice. A July day in Flushing Meadow Park with the Dead. I wonder how many folks went to this show and then thought-- Let's go to Woodstock!
I like all of Bobby's covers that show off his voice in 69. Here it is 'Silver Threads' I like Pig and whoever else singing backing vocals here!
"You can't buy my love with money,I've never been that kind"
This is a pretty laid back show. I would think the surroundings would have contributed to a very mellow laid back vibe. There is absolutely nothing else around except parkland.
The Casey Jones has some nice organ work going on.
I could just picture myself dancing on the floor map of the state to this tune.
Love that cowbell and top hat towards the end.
Sitting on Top of the World>Big Boss
'Sitting' is like Jerry's version of Big River. Pigpen getting in some good vocals. Good to hear Jerry let loose a little on the guitar.
Love hearing Pigpen on the harmonica.
It is not easy to distinguish all the instruments when everyone is playing together on this recording but when a solo happens like Pigpen that comes across very well.
Somebody calling for 'California Sunshine' to which the band replies 'where?'
Mama Tried- again a great song for Bob's voice.
Always liked Jerry singing back-up vocals on this tune.
My guess is they were trying to get the sound together but at some point they just decide let's cut loose and figure it out as we go.
It had to be rainy during this show because the pace is held back by tuning. they opt for 'High Time' which we only get two minutes and change of recorded and the Alligator is AWOL. the very end of drums into an unnamed jam of 14 minutes but you could probably consider an intro to the Other ONE. Whatever it happens to be it does feature Jerry, not hearing much of Phil clearly, lot of the top hat tapping from the drummers.
There is a little tease of a BID you GOODNIGHT jam
Finally picking up Phil. My guess is the sound was bouncing off the walls of the pavilion it is a round circle and has some pretty high walls.
Jerry taking a nice solo. and again the solo's are what come across best in this recording.
I bet the OTHER ONE had to be a trip inside the pavilion.
A good choice to pull out DEATH DON'T that is just the type of song that would sound good given the acoustics. And it does! Might be the standout tune of this show at least as far as this recording goes.
Some of LOVELIGHT//
Rough on getting much instrument separation.
Probably left some heads dissatisfied at the time but a neat historical look back during the summer of 1969.
This is a classic show for location alone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Pavilion_(Queens)