Exasperated with Bobby's Chuck Berry covers

[GD Fan]

We know the Grateful Dead played some covers here and there. It's part of the charm up to a point. But, maybe it's considering their now fixed body of work, I'm really losing patience with all the Chuck Berry covers that we had, especially in the late '70s era.

There are numerous really great shows that have fully three Chuck covers that Bob leads. Some shows (think 1978) opened and closed with Chuck Berry covers. Some ended with two consecutive Chuck covers.

I used to be a 'complete show' listener, would only listen to a GD show from start to finish without skipping anything (other than Drums & Space). I love this era of the band but find it slightly dissonant to be hopping around.

Does anyone else have a view on this? Or an antidote?

For the record, I like Chuck Berry. Hell, I'm even from Missouri.

 

[mhardy6647]

Always felt that the Chuck Berry tunes fit the Dead pretty well (or vice versa); I guess three in one show (even a long one) might be distracting, though.

 

[August West]

My kind of thread. I'm a deadhead. Saw 276 shows. Even taped a WHOLE bunch of 'em (including my first show on 08-15-1971. The Chuck Berry covers were a favorite. They played them better than everyone except the original Chuck versions. Example of this: The Rolling Stones used to do Chuck Berry songs. The Grateful Dead did them better. And those songs were never distracting. Chuck was Mister Rock and Roll and the dead did him justice with their versions.

 

[GD Fan]

I agree with the stated sentiments above. They did Chuck covers really, really well. And his tunes were excellent. I was lucky enough (considering my comparatively younger age) to see Chuck Berry once in Columbia, MO. Even as an old geezer he still rocked. And duck walked!

Bob went to the same few tunes over and over. As I focus on favorite eras of GD I've grown weary of the repetition. Maybe I'm just in an anti-cover tune phase.

Speaking of covers, Los Lobos does a hell of a Bertha.

 

[August West]

Do you have any favorite shows? And do you associate with any tape collectors?

 

[August West]

What is your favorite era?

 

[GD Fan]

Spring of 1990 tour was easily my favorite. I love the energy and power they played with (I'm also a hard rock and heavy metal fan). Jerry clearly loved playing with Brent and for me Brent was the best third vocalist the band ever had. The entire Brent era is near to my heart. And yes, I know the MIDI / electronic sounds can be irritating and I agree with that.

Next favorite is the brief single drummer era of '73-74. Mickey's great but Billy really blossoms on his own. The drums were worth focusing on then.

Of course '77-78. Not a big Pigpen fan, myself. And after Brent the wheels kind of came off.

What about you guys???

 

[August West]

My favorite show I saw was at the Oakland Auditorium Arena (aka Kaiser Auditorium) on 12-28-1979. It is available as an official release from the Road Trips series of releases.

 

[GD Fan]

My favorite show I saw was at the Oakland Auditorium Arena (aka Kaiser Auditorium) on 12-28-1979. It is available as an official release from the Road Trips series of releases.

Early Brent.

That one's not on hand here but this is:

I'll give that a listen next.

 

[AlfaNovember]

I'm always up for a Promised Land; it kicks off the Veneta show so nicely. But then again, I am personally of the mind that the further from 1972, the less interested I am in a given show. Ferinstance, Spring 1990, the 3-night run at the Knickerbocker were my last 3 shows. In Dec 1990 I saw Phish for the first time, and I gave up on Dead shows on the spot.

Dave Alvin does a great medley of Jubilee Train / Do Re Mi / Promised Land which thematically work nicely together.