"Grateful Dead's Transformative Journey: Exploring the Poly Pavilion Show of '71" with Alex Wellins

Deadhead Cannabis Show

"The Sphere in Vegas: U2's Sonic Odyssey and the Future of Concert Venues"

Larry Mishkin is joined by great friend of the show, Alex Wellins to catch up and talk about a Grateful Dead concert held at Poly Pavilion on November 20th, 1971. Larry talks about the significance of the show, including the band's transition in music style, notable songs played, and the presence of famous basketball player Bill Walton in the audience.

Later, Alex discusses recent concerts they attended, highlighting U2's performance at The Sphere in Las Vegas, known for its immersive audiovisual experience, and another show at the historic Castro Theater in San Francisco featuring the band St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Both Larry and Alex express enthusiasm about these diverse musical experiences.

.Produced by PodConx

Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show

Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin

Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt

Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg

Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/

Recorded on Squadcast

Grateful Dead

November 20, 1971

Pauley Pavillion – UCLA

L.A.

Grateful Dead Live at Pauley Pavilion - University of California on 1971-11-20 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive

By late 1971 Dead’s transformation from Primal Dead to Americana Dead was well on it’s way. This concert is a great snapshot of that time, this show being more in the Americana camp with the a killer 25 minute jammed out Other One (including its Bill Kreutzman drum solo lead in) really being the only true nod to the Primal era .

Also, the band was in transition as Pigpen missed the show as part of his descent into alcohol related illnesses that eventually took him in March 1973. Keith had been playing with the band since February but Mickey began his “leave” in February after night one of the Capitol Theater run. So this night is just five of them up on stage playing their hearts out for the fine students of UCLA and other Deadheads ( then a very brand new “thing” having just been recognized by the band in the liner message inside the Grateful Dead album stating: “DEAD FREAKS UNITE! WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? Send us your name and address and we’ll keep you informed”)

One fact that should be obvious given the venue and the time – an unknown UCLA student and want-a-be college basketball player, Bill Walton was in attendance along with some of his Bruins teammates for this first ever Dead show at Pauley Pavilion, famed home court for the UCLA Bruins, a team that following the amazing successes of Lew Alcindor (Kareem) and Sidney Wicks, now was being led for the first time by Bill and his teammates Jamaal Wilkes and Greg Lee (spoiler alert: Bill has some success at UCLA too). Bill, of course, went on to be an NBA All-Star and a regular attendee of Dead shows and, as Alex can attest, not unusual to see him at a West Coast dead show right up until the end – kind of hard to miss a 7 foot deadhead with his red hair and tie dye apparel. Rumor has it when they knew he was going to be at a show the band would set up a basketball hoop backstage and that Bruce Hornsby was a hooper too.

INTRO: Bertha

Track No. 1

3:30 – 4:37

Great traditional opener although it was known to pop up in different spots during shows from time to time. At this point, it is still “new” having been debuted earlier that year, on February 18th at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester. Never released on a studio album, but it is the opening tune on the Dead’s live album, “Grateful Dead” a/k/a Skull and Roses (or Phil’s preferred name, “Skull Fuck” which was promptly rejected by their label, Warner Bros) on September 24, 1971. From shows in NYC at the Fillmore East and the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center (plus Johnny B. Goode from Winterland – couldn’t completely ignore the west coast).

SHOW #1: Tennessee Jed

Track No. 5

0:45 – 1:46

This is one of the “new” ones played in this show. Along with Mexicali Blues, One More Saturday Night, Ramble On Rose and Jack Straw had all just been played for the first ever just two months earlier on October 19, 1971 at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis – also Keith’s first show. A tune that more than most really captures the change in the band’s direction as you have Garcia previously of Dark Star, St. Stephen and Eleven fame twanging away, musically and vocally, on a song with a feel that is a cross between country, western and a dash of rock n roll. Deadheads of Alex’s and my era will note how much quicker the tempo is in this early version and Garcia’s noticeable energy evident from his strong vocal performance.

Played 436 times in concert, putting it at No. 15 of the list of the Dead’s most played tunes.

1st (again) on Oct. 19, 1971 in MPLS

Last on July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field, Chicago

A great sing along tune that the Deadheads always enjoyed, normally found in the first set, towards the middle.

SHOW #2: Jack Straw

Track No. 10

:12 – 1:20

As just mentioned, this another “new” one just two months old. Everyone loves Jack Straw, even the Band which is why it checks in at No. on list of most tunes played by the Band with 476 performances (last one on July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field). But in this early version, there is a little bit of a change from the version we all know and love. First, thing to know it is a tune by Hunter and Weir. Garcia did not write it although he sang it with Weir in a “trading off of verses” style. Second, in these early versions, before the Europe ’72 tour, Weir sang all the verses like we just heard, “I just jumped the watchman, right outside the fence” was always sung by Jerry, but here, Weir sings it. Not sure of the reason for the change, but I like it a lot better with Jerry singing his verses (the other being “Gotta go to Tulsa, first train we can ride”). First time with Jerry on vocals was May 3, 1972 at the Olympia Theater in Paris, that also just happens to be the version of the song that wound up on the Europe ’72 album. Although in its earlier years the song would appear in either first or second set, after their 1975 hiatus it became an almost exclusive first set song. And after Brent joined the band, almost always a show opener. Home to the more than occasional Phil base bomb, it was one of the Band’s most popular tunes and a great way to open any show (especially if they had just opened with Bertha the night before so you got to catch them both!).

SHOW #3: Ramble On Rose

Track No. 18

0:00 – 1:28

Last of the “new” ones that we will feature today. Just like Tennessee Jed, upbeat, good energy, Jerry and the boys are having fun, like with any new creation. Still working out all the details, the james, keeping track of the lyrics and Jerry has not yet developed his signature growl on “goodbye mamma and poppa, goodbye jack and jill”. What I really like about this version and why I chose a clip from the beginning of the tune is to hear Keith’s piano accompaniment that works so well with this song and adds another layer of creativity to the mix. Garcia always seemed to get energy and inspiration from the band’s keyboard players and Keith, even this early in his career, is no exception.

After its introduction on Oct. 19, 1971 in Minny, played a total of 319 times, good for 39th place on the all time list, just behind US Blues and just ahead of Don’t Ease Me In (really?). Last played on June 27, 1995 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, MI.

SHOW #4: You Win Again

Track No. 20

1:12 – 2:21

"You Win Again" is a 1952 song by Hank Williams. In style, the song is a blues ballad and deals with the singer's despair with his partner. The song has been widely covered, including versions by Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, the Grateful Dead, Charley Pride, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.

Hank Williams recorded "You Win Again" on July 11, 1952—one day after his divorce from Audrey Williams was finalized. Like "Cold, Cold Heart," the song was likely inspired by his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife,

"You Win Again" was released as the B-side to "Settin' the Woods on Fire", primarily because up-tempo, danceable numbers were preferable as A-sides for radio play and for the valuable jukebox trade. Nonetheless, "You Win Again" peaked at number ten on the Most Played in C&W Juke Boxes chart, where it remained for a single week.

Over a time period of less than one year, the Dead played You Win Again 24 times in concert, the first on November 11, 1971 at the Municipal Auditorium in Austin, TX (this show in L.A. was only the third time it had been played) and the last on September 16, 1972 at The Music Hall in Boston.

A version of the song was released on the Europe ’72 album (second album side), from their show on May 24, 1972 at The Strand Lyceum in London, one of the final shows on that tour.

JGB recorded a version of the song in 1976 during the Reflections album sessions but not played live again. It was briefly revived by The Dead with Dylan in 2003.

OUTRO: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad

Track No. 23

3:45 – 5:12

"Going Down The Road Feeling Bad" (also known as the "Lonesome Road Blues") is a traditional American folk song, "a white blues of universal appeal and uncertain origin"

The song was recorded by many artists through the years. The first known recording is from 1923 by Henry Whitter, an Appalachian singer,[2][3]as "Lonesome Road Blues". The earliest versions of the lyrics are from the perspective of an inmate in prison with the refrain, "I'm down in that jail on my knees" and a reference to eating "corn bread and beans."[4] The song has been recorded by many artists such as Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Skeeter Davis, Elizabeth Cotten, and the Grateful Dead, and the song is featured in To Bonnie from Delaney, "Mountain Jam", Born and Raised World Tour, The Grapes of Wrath, and Lucky Stars.

Others who recorded it include Cliff Carlisle (also as "Down in the Jail on My Knees"), Woody Guthrie (also as "Blowin' Down This Road" or "I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way"), Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Roy Hall, Elizabeth Cotten and the Grateful Dead, Delaney and Bonnie, Canned Heat and Dillard Chandler.

Dead played it 302 times (No. 46 on the most played tunes list just behind a tie between Mama Tried and Terrapin and just ahead of Birdsong). 1st time on October 10, 1970 at Colden Auditorium, part of Queens College in Queens, NY.

Last played on July 5, 1985 at the Riverport Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, MO.

During the time period of this show it was almost always paired with Not Fade Away (as made famous at the end of the Grateful Dead album). In later years, when Alex and I were regulars on tour, it would show up as a second set tune, usually, but not always after Drums/Space. A very upbeat tune that the band obviously loved playing the crowd loved hearing.

For our purposes, a great way to end the show and say goodbye and HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

.Produced by PodConx

Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-show

Larry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkin

Rob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-hunt

Jay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesberg

Sound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/

Recorded on Squadcast