Wake of the Flood
Encyclopedia
Wake of the Flood is the sixth studio album
by the Grateful Dead
. It was recorded between August 4 and September 1, 1973 and originally released on October 15, 1973. It was the first release under the band's own label
, Grateful Dead Records
, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros. Records. It was their first full-length studio album in nearly three years, since 1970's American Beauty
. It was also the first studio album without Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who had recently died. His absence and new piano player Keith Godchaux
's tendency towards jazz (rather than McKernan's tendency towards the blues) changed the band's sound.
This album has the only songwriting or vocal contribution from Keith Godchaux, "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away". This song was only performed live a handful of times, in September 1973.
The album was released on CD first in 1995 by Grateful Dead Records
and Arista before being remastered, expanded, and released as part of the Beyond Description (1973-1989)
12-CD box set in October 2004. The remastered version was then released separately on CD on March 7, 2006 by Rhino Records.
:
Additional performers:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the Grateful Dead
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 between August 4 and September 1, 1973 and originally released on October 15, 1973. It was the first release under the band's own label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Grateful Dead Records
Grateful Dead Records
In 1973, the Grateful Dead established their own record label, Grateful Dead Records. The band released several vinyl record LPs on this label in the mid-1970s, including Wake of the Flood in 1973, From the Mars Hotel in 1974, Blues for Allah in 1975, and a live double album, Steal Your Face, in...
, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros. Records. It was their first full-length studio album in nearly three years, since 1970's American Beauty
American Beauty (album)
American Beauty is the fifth album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded between August and September 1970 and originally released in November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records...
. It was also the first studio album without Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who had recently died. His absence and new piano player Keith Godchaux
Keith Godchaux
Keith 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...
's tendency towards jazz (rather than McKernan's tendency towards the blues) changed the band's sound.
This album has the only songwriting or vocal contribution from Keith Godchaux, "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away". This song was only performed live a handful of times, in September 1973.
The album was released on CD first in 1995 by Grateful Dead Records
Grateful Dead Records
In 1973, the Grateful Dead established their own record label, Grateful Dead Records. The band released several vinyl record LPs on this label in the mid-1970s, including Wake of the Flood in 1973, From the Mars Hotel in 1974, Blues for Allah in 1975, and a live double album, Steal Your Face, in...
and Arista before being remastered, expanded, and released as part of the Beyond Description (1973-1989)
Beyond Description (1973-1989)
Beyond Description is the second twelve-CD boxed set retrospect of the Grateful Dead's studio and live albums. It covers their time with Grateful Dead and Arista Records from 1973 to 1989....
12-CD box set in October 2004. The remastered version was then released separately on CD on March 7, 2006 by Rhino Records.
Track listing
- "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo" (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...
, Garcia) – 5:45 - "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away" (Hunter, Godchaux) – 3:17
- "Row Jimmy" (Hunter, Garcia) – 7:14
- "Stella Blue" (Hunter, Garcia) – 6:26
- "Here Comes Sunshine" (Hunter, Garcia) – 4:40
- "Eyes of the World" (Hunter, Garcia) – 5:19
- "Weather Report Suite" – 12:53
-
-
- "Prelude" (Weir)
- "Part I" (Weir, Anderson)
- "Part II (Let It Grow)" (Barlow, Weir)
-
Bonus tracks on 2004 reissue
- "Eyes of the World" (live) – 17:02 - Recorded at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on 1973-09-07
- "Weather Report Suite" (acoustic demo) – 12:36
- "China Doll" (outtake) – 4:02
Personnel
Grateful DeadGrateful 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...
:
- 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...
- guitar, pedal steel guitar, 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...
- guitar, 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...
- keyboards, vocals - Donna Jean Godchaux - 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 - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
- drums
Additional performers:
- Vassar ClementsVassar ClementsVassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
- violin - Matthew KellyMatthew Kelly (musician)Matthew Kelly, also known as Matt Kelly, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He plays guitar and harmonica. Kelly is best known for being the leader of the rock band Kingfish, and for his association with Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead....
- harmonica - Bill AtwoodBill Atwood (musician)Bill Atwood is an American trumpet and flugelhorn player, and is best known for his work with Van Morrison and his band The Caledonia Soul Orchestra....
- trumpet - Joe Ellis - trumpet
- Martín FierroMartín FierroMartín Fierro is a 2,316 line epic poem by the Argentine writer José Hernández. The poem was originally published in two parts, El Gaucho Martín Fierro and La Vuelta de Martín Fierro . The poem is, in part, a protest against the modernist tendencies of Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento...
- saxophone (alto, tenor) - Sarah Fulcher - vocals
- Frank Morin - saxophone (tenor)
- Pat O'Hara - trombone
- Doug SahmDoug SahmDouglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
- bajo sextoBajo sextoA bajo sexto is a musical instrument with 12 strings in 6 double courses, used in Mexican music. It is used primarily in norteño music of northern Mexico and across the border in the music of south Texas known as "Tex-Mex", "conjunto, or "música mexicana-tejana".A similar instrument with five... - Benny Velarde - timbalesTimbalesTimbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
Bonus tracks production details
- "Eyes of the World" - recorded on September 7, 1973 at Nassau Coliseum in New York
- "Weather Report Suite" - acoustic demo
- "China DollGrateful Dead from the Mars HotelFrom the Mars Hotel is the seventh studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was mostly recorded in April 1974 and originally released on June 27, 1974. It was the second release under the band's own label, Grateful Dead Records, after fulfilling their contract with Warner Bros...
" - sessions outtake
Reissue production credits
- David Lemieux, James Austin - reissue producers
- Tom Anderson - engineer, liner notes
- Reggie Collins - annotation
- Peter Coyote - liner notes
- Sheryl Farber - editorial supervision
- Tom Flye - mixing
- Dan Healy - engineer
- Cameron Sears - executive producer
- Jimmy Edwards, Robin Hurley, Hale Milfgrim, Scott Pascucci - associate producer
- Joe Gastwirt - mastering, production consultant
- Rick Griffin, Eileen Law - research
- Ed Perlstein, Bruce Polonsky, Michael Putland - photography
- Hugh Brown, Steve Vance - design, reissue art directors
- Vanessa Atkins, Steven Chean, Bill Inglot, Jeffrey Norman, Randy Perry - project assistants
Charts
Album - Billboard| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Pop Albums | 18 |