The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack
Encyclopedia
The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack is a five CD live album by the Grateful Dead
. It was recorded from October 16 to October 20, 1974, and was released on March 15, 2005.
In 1974, the Grateful Dead were exhausted from touring, and their sound system, the "Wall of Sound
", had proven too expensive to continue with. In response, the group decided to stop touring for an indefinite period of time. In October they played five nights at the Winterland Ballroom
in San Francisco
, California
. As they were the last concerts before the hiatus, the Grateful Dead wanted them to be properly recorded and documented by a film crew.
The results were a rather unsuccessful live album, Steal Your Face
, and a film, The Grateful Dead Movie
. The movie was released in theaters in 1977, and on videotape in 1981. In 2004 it was expanded to a double DVD with bonus cuts and documentaries. A few months later, a five CD album was released as The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. The album included even more previously unreleased tracks, including a rare "Tomorrow Is Forever". The DVD contains one track not released on the soundtrack ("Sugaree
" from October 18).
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. It was recorded from October 16 to October 20, 1974, and was released on March 15, 2005.
In 1974, the Grateful Dead were exhausted from touring, and their sound system, the "Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound (Grateful Dead)
The Wall of Sound was an enormous public address system designed specifically for the Grateful Dead's live performances by audio engineer Owsley "Bear" Stanley. Used in 1974, the Wall of Sound fulfilled the band's desire for a distortion-free sound system that could also serve as its own monitoring...
", had proven too expensive to continue with. In response, the group decided to stop touring for an indefinite period of time. In October they played five nights at the Winterland Ballroom
Winterland Ballroom
The Winterland Ballroom, often referred to as Winterland Arena or simply Winterland, was an old ice skating rink and 5,400-seat music venue in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. As they were the last concerts before the hiatus, the Grateful Dead wanted them to be properly recorded and documented by a film crew.
The results were a rather unsuccessful live album, Steal Your Face
Steal Your Face
Steal Your Face is a live double album by the Grateful Dead, released in June 1976. The album was recorded live in concert between October 16 and October 20, 1974 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom as part of the band's then-"farewell run"....
, and a film, The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie, released in 1977 and directed by Jerry Garcia, is a film that captures performances from the Grateful Dead's October 1974 five-night stand at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. This end-of-tour run marked the beginning of an extended hiatus for the band, with no...
. The movie was released in theaters in 1977, and on videotape in 1981. In 2004 it was expanded to a double DVD with bonus cuts and documentaries. A few months later, a five CD album was released as The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. The album included even more previously unreleased tracks, including a rare "Tomorrow Is Forever". The DVD contains one track not released on the soundtrack ("Sugaree
Sugaree
"Sugaree" is a song written by long-time Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and composed by guitarist Jerry Garcia. It was written for Jerry Garcia's first solo album Garcia, which was released in January 1972...
" from October 18).
Disc one
- "U.S. Blues" (Robert HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
, Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
) – 5:13 - "One More Saturday NightOne More Saturday Night (song)"One More Saturday Night" is a song written by Bob Weir and performed by the Grateful Dead. Weir is credited with writing "One More Saturday Night", although there is evidence that the song was originally written with Robert Hunter, with different lyrics...
" (Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
) – 6:33 - "China Cat SunflowerChina Cat Sunflower"China Cat Sunflower" is a song performed by the Grateful Dead which was first recorded for their third studio album Aoxomoxoa. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and the music composed by Jerry Garcia. The song is typically sung by Jerry Garcia. The first live recording of this song...
" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:14 - "I Know You Rider" (traditional, arr. Grateful Dead) – 6:07
- "Eyes of the World" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 13:01
- "China Doll" (Hunter, Garcia) – 6:16
- "Playing in the BandPlaying in the Band"Playing in the Band" is a Grateful Dead song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir composed it. The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live album Grateful Dead...
" (Hunter, Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, Weir) – 31:44
Disc two
- "Scarlet BegoniasScarlet Begonias"Scarlet Begonias" is a song by the Grateful Dead in 4/4 time. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and the music by Jerry Garcia. The song first appears on the 1974 release Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel....
" (Hunter, Garcia) – 13:56 - "He's Gone" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 13:01
- "Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 7:31
- "Weirdness" > (Grateful Dead) – 8:05
- "The Other One" > (Bill Kreutzman, Weir) – 7:34
- "Spanish Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 1:48
- "Mind Left Body Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 3:10
- "The Other One" > (Kreutzman, Weir) – 2:28
- "Stella Blue" (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:04
- "Casey Jones" (Hunter, Garcia) – 5:23
Disc three
- "Weather Report Suite" – 16:44
- "Prelude" (Weir)
- "Part I" (Eric AndersenEric AndersenEric Andersen is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:In the early 1960s, Eric Andersen was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York...
, Weir) - "Part II: Let It Grow" (John BarlowJohn Perry BarlowJohn Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
, Weir)
- "Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 8:54
- "Dark StarDark Star (song)"Dark Star" is a song released as a single by the Grateful Dead. It was written by lyricist Robert Hunter and composed by lead guitarist Jerry Garcia; however, compositional credit is sometimes extended to include Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and Bob Weir...
" > (Hunter, Garcia, Hart, Kreutzman, Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
, Pigpen, Weir) – 24:10 - "Morning DewMorning Dew"Morning Dew", also known as " Morning Dew", is a post-apocalyptic folk-rock song written by Canadian singer Bonnie Dobson in 1962.According to Dobson in a 1993 interview, "Morning Dew" was inspired by the film On the Beach....
" (Bonnie DobsonBonnie DobsonBonnie Dobson is a Canadian folk music songwriter, singer, and guitarist, most known in the 1960s for composing the songs "I'm Your Woman" and "Morning Dew"...
, Tim RoseTim RoseTimothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
) – 13:54 - "Not Fade AwayNot Fade Away (song)"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957...
" > (Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
) – 8:34 - "Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad" (trad., arr. Grateful Dead) – 7:33
Disc four
- "Uncle John's BandUncle John's Band"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead that first appeared in their concert setlists in late 1969. The band recorded it for their 1970 album Workingman's Dead...
" (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:08 - "Big Railroad Blues" (Noah LewisNoah LewisNoah Lewis was an American jug band and country blues musician, generally known for playing the harmonica.-Life and career:...
) – 5:02 - "Tomorrow Is Forever" (Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, Porter WagonerPorter WagonerPorter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
) – 6:26 - "Sugar MagnoliaSugar Magnolia"Sugar Magnolia" is a song by the Grateful Dead. Written by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir, it is one of the most well-known songs by the band, alongside such hits as "Truckin'," "Casey Jones," "Uncle John's Band," and "Touch of Grey."...
" (Hunter, Weir) – 5:26 - "He's Gone" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 13:49
- "Caution Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 4:30
- "Drums" > (Kreutzman) – 1:23
- "Space" > (Grateful Dead) – 9:14
- "Truckin'Truckin'"Truckin'" is a song by the Grateful Dead, which first appeared on their 1970 album American Beauty. It was recognized by the United States Library of Congress in 1997 as a national treasure....
" > (Hunter, Garcia, Lesh, Weir) – 9:48 - "Black Peter" (Hunter, Garcia) – 10:10
- "Sunshine Daydream" (Hunter, Weir) – 3:14
Disc five
- "Playing in the Band" > (Hunter, Hart, Weir) – 13:24
- "Drums" > (Hart, Kreutzman) – 4:09
- "Not Fade Away" > (Holly, Petty) – 14:44
- "Drums" > (Hart, Kreutzman) – 4:53
- "The Other One" > (Kreutzman, Weir) – 10:56
- "Wharf Rat" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:35
- "Playing in the Band" (Hunter, Hart, Weir) – 8:38
- "Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
" (Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) – 3:55 - "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 7:34
- "We Bid You Goodnight" (trad., arr. Grateful Dead) – 1:59
Recording dates
- October 16, 1974 – Disc 1 track 7
- October 17, 1974 – Disc 1 tracks 3-4, Disc 2 tracks 2-10, Disc 4 track 4
- October 18, 1974 – Disc 1 track 1, Disc 3
- October 19, 1974 – Disc 1 tracks 2 & 5-6, Disc 2 track 1, Disc 4 tracks 1-3 & 5-11
- October 20, 1974 – Disc 5
Grateful Dead
- Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, vocals - Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocals - Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Donna GodchauxDonna GodchauxDonna Jean Godchaux-MacKay is an American singer best known for having been a member of the Grateful Dead rock group.-Biography:...
– vocals - Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
– drums on disc 5
Production
- David Lemieux and Jeffrey Norman – record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s - Bill Wolf – audio engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Jeffrey Norman – audio mixerAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Eileen Law – archival research
- Gary Gutierrez – cover art
- Bruce Polonsky and Dave Patrick – photography
- Robert Minkin – package design and production