My high school friend held in highest regard, Ballardvale and Boston’s own Tim Gould, a.k.a. @therealtbg12, sent the email below to me as a follow-up to the delivery of a Grateful Dead bootleg. It must be shared (the music and what he wrote about it) now that I have permission. The > symbols refers to transitions between songs. If anyone wants the bootleg, DM me @JamesonCase.
From Tim:
Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower: August 13, 1975 at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, Ca.
PARADISE AWAITS! Truly one of the all-time great openings to any Dead album for me. Sick intro from the legendary Bill Graham while each band member kicks in his or her part of the song after their name is announced. The sound on that recording is magnificent and while Help > Slip brings the juice, it’s the Franklin’s that really pays off for me (“If you get confused listen to the music play…”). Jerry, Bobby and Phil all weave through the jam on top of some serious rhythm from the 8-armed, 2-headed Hydra that is Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman!
Small fact about said drumming monster: Early in their career when the band was young and living together in The Haight, Billy and Mickey would tie themselves together and play a single set of drums so as to create chemistry and truly understand what the other one was doing. I think it worked…
Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain: May 8, 1977 at Barton Hall, Cornell University
The greatest show in Grateful Dead history? I say YES! Not the lengthiest but certainly one that came during their peak of 1977 which in itself was arguably their best year. And this Scarlet > Fire is generally considered the baseline for all Scarlet > Fires! Phil’s opening bass riffs are sonically supreme and, I have to say, unlike any other version I have ever heard. Truly mesmerizing. Throw in Jerry’s transition from Scarlet to Fire and it’s 20 minutes of pure mind-melting joy.
I have had the privilege of going to Barton Hall and it’s pretty neat. An old school gymnasium that looks like an aircraft hangar. Big, huge arched ceiling, pull-out stands, basketball court flooring and tons of space for sounds to bounce all around in there. 5/8/77 must have been a truly magical night and if anyone ever wants the complete show, I have it and will pass it along. It’s a must own for anyone even remotely interested in the Grateful Dead.
St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn on Your Lovelight at Fillmore West, 1969
I mean come on! A ridiculous full length Stephen (with original ending) into possibly the most underrated GD jam ever! I am huge Eleven fan. Its bizarre timing and 11 count is amazing and Jerry rips through this underplayed number with the utmost fury. Somehow the boys manage to find their way out of the late 60s haze into a Lovelight that has it all! Pigpen rapping away, Bobby singing his back-up portions enthusiastically and perfectly, and Jerry, along with Phil, tearing the roof of the Fillmore West with a perfect blend of blues-driven rock mixed with psychedelic lunacy!
The True Gen 