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The Grateful Dead: To Terrapin: May 28, 1977 Hartford, CT
ByIn terms of creativity, The Dead was at its peak. Terrapin Station, the first release for Arista Records, featured the what are now classic Dead tunes"Estimated Prophet," "Passenger," the title track, and the band's take on "Dancing In The Street." In May of 1977, the band was preparing for the late July release of the album. It was also coming to the end of a 26-city/37-day tour. This three-CD set was recorded on the closing night of the Spring tour at the Hartford Civic Center. While tapes of this show have circulated for many years, this is the first official release of the historic and special performance.
This show has become legendary among Deadheads as it not only features "Sugaree" in all of its 20-minute, drawn-out glory, an amazing version of "Candyman," a laid-back performance of "Bertha," "Jack Straw," "Row Jimmy," as well as 10-minute versions of both "Tennessee Jed" and "Wharf Rat." Alongside these long-standing Dead staples, the band seamlessly integrated the best tracks from (what was at the time) its new album into the set. Weir's reggae-influenced "Estimated Prophet" and the Garcia/Hunter composition "Terrapin Station" served as bookends to an 11-minute monster version of "Playing In The Band" and were all performed in their extended jam-band glory. The band also delivered a hot version of the traditional gospel tune "Samson and Delilah" and a rocking version of Phil Lesh's "Passenger" from the soon-to-be-released Terrapin LP. The final tracks on this deluxe offering are a balls-to-the wall version of Weir's "One More Saturday Night" and a driving, flawless "U.S. Blues."
The playing is tight, energetic and intense. Although the songs occasionally get experimental and exploratory, the band is in complete controleach member is completely in tune with the others. This previously unreleased collection is presented in HDCD and was mastered from the original two-track analog tapes.
Track Listing
Bertha; Good Lovin'; Sugaree; Jack Straw; Row Jimmy; New Minglewood Blues; Candyman; Passenger; Brown-Eyed Woman; Promised Land; Samson and Delilah; Tennessee Jed; Estimated Prophet; Playing in the Band; Terrapin Station; Drums; Not Fade Away; Wharf Rat; Playing in the Band; One More Saturday Night; U.S. Blues.
Personnel
Grateful Dead
band / ensemble / orchestraJerry Garcia: guitar, vocals; Donna Jean Godchaux: vocals ; Keith Godchaux: keyboards; Mickey Hart: drums; Bill Kreutzmann: drums; Phil Lesh: bass, vocals; Bob Weir: guitar, vocals.
Album information
Title: To Terrapin: May 28, 1977 Hartford, CT | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Rhino
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Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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