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Poster: dead-head_Monte Date: Aug 22, 2009 12:45pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Looks Like Rain

earliest known pic of Jer playing pedal steel?

June 5, 1970 — Fillmore West
19700605_1927.jpg

The image file above includes this date in the name. The Archive has GD playing at Fillmore West. I spot-checked it and didn't hear Jer on pedal steel. Perhaps NRPS opened and that's when Jer played steel. I really enjoyed Jer's steel in LLR. Beautiful vocal harmonies, and their work on this shows - they tightened them up nicely for the gigs in London. Never heard Jer on steel w/ GD before. It's Jer on steel, Pig on organ, and Keith on piano. Any more examples of Jer's steel playing w/ GD?


This post was modified by dead-head_Monte on 2009-08-22 19:45:24

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Poster: Earl B. Powell Date: Aug 22, 2009 3:58pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Looks Like Rain

Monte: If I'm not mistaken, Jerry didn't play steel with the Dead when doing the Riders shows, which I think is a shame. The earliest show I can find is 6-29-69 on one song, 7-11-69 on Hard to Handle and Silver Threads, several dates in Europe 72 and a few dates with Dylan in 87.

Even though traditionalist steel players think Garcia was a flash in the pan, they all agree that his playing on Teach Your Children was the crossover moment. IMO that both Garcia's and Toy Calwell's playing was simplistic, both added such a great element to the tunes they were used in. I've always regretted that Jerry didn't bust it out for all the spots found on Wake of the Flood.

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Poster: light into ashes Date: Aug 23, 2009 2:04pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Jerry on Pedal Steel

Perhaps you didn't see this thread, but it lists all the times when Jerry played pedal steel with the Dead:

http://www.archive.org/iathreads/post-view.php?id=255232

It's true, when the New Riders played with the Dead, Jerry stopped playing steel during the Dead's sets. Not sure why.

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Poster: dead-head_Monte Date: Aug 23, 2009 3:36pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Jerry on Pedal Steel

I missed that thread. And I was too lazy to search first before asking. Sorry, my bad. Thanks LiA. You've added nicely to The Grateful Dead Forum. Thanks Earl, and others, for the Heads-up.

The boys clearly had it going on LLR - not just pedal steel playing. Their harmonies on LLR at NY Academy of Music, March 23, 1972 are pretty sloppy. The Archive link is mentioned by deadpolitcs above. It's the CM 100,000 special. 19 days later, they nail LLR at Newcastle City Hall, in England. It's pretty, with strong harmonies, AND they're pretty tight. Bobby still can't hit it on the ending. This show is mentioned above by mcglone.