by Robert Wilkinson
Our Sunday main stage continues our birthday tributes for Libra musicians! Today we celebrate one great song and dance to one great band!
Dick Holler, songwriter and pianist, (October 16, 1934) is best known for writing “Abraham, Martin, and John,” and is a seminal figure in American music. He started out in Baton Rouge, where he met some of the seminal players in Louisiana, including Jimmy Clanton and a bunch of local players called “The Rockets,” which at times included Dr. John, Johnny Rivers, and the writers of “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” among others. In an interesting twist of fate, Dick re-wrote one of his songs which became “Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron,” the No. 2 hit performed by the Royal Guardsmen. In the early 60s he was a R&B band
In the early 60s the band moved to SC and changed their name to Dick Holler and the Hollidays. So tonight we have a short set by this obscure yet famous songwriter. He’s primarily known for “Abraham, Martin, and John,” the only song in history to make the Billboard Top 40 five times with five different artists, and the uniquely catchy in a bubblegum sort of way, “Snoopy Vs the Red Baron.”
From 1968, the original live performance by Dion Dimucci of the song the world heard first on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the hauntingly beautiful “Abraham Martin and John”
Here’s a live performance by Dion and Aaron Neville in Nashville, 1993 doing “Abraham Martin and John”
Emmylou Harris was invited to perform at the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize performance, and she, along with Mary Ann Kennedy and Pam Rose, did this incredibly beautiful version of the song, but it’s disappeared this year. However, her 1991 performance at the Ryman is back, so we have a score! Emmylou Harris at the Ryman - “Abraham Martin and John”
(Some backstory about the Peace Prize performance. In 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines was the Nobel Prize winner. Its coordinator, Jody Williams, asked if Emmylou Harris could perform at the performance, and as Emmylou Harris was friends with Gail Griffiths, a major player in the efforts to ban landmines, since the early 1970s, she gladly performed. .. Her remarks to The Washington Post in 1998 are still all too relevant enough now: "It's not enough to say we won't put any more in the ground; we've got to get them out. It comes down to basic courtesy, something you learn in kindergarten: You clean up after your mess when you're through. Until we do, these countries are going to be hostages. They're going to continue to live the war many, many years after peace has been declared.")
Here’s Smokey Robinson in a live performance at the February 2010 White House Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement in an awesome version of “Abraham Martin and John”
I found the awesome Marvin Gaye treatment of the song! For your enjoyment, the studio version of “Abraham Martin and John”
Here Ms. Patti LaBelle “takes us to church” with “Abraham Martin and John”
And we’ll close this set with Ray Charles’ 1972 studio version from "A Message from the People" of “Abraham Martin and John”
From the sublime to the bayou to the ridiculous! I’ll leave it at that, along with apologizing for whiplash programming!
In 1963, he cut this dance classic made into a hit in 1966 by the Swinging Medallions! Written by two of the Rockets, it was banned a lot of places for the references to hangovers and making love. Dig this classic groove with deep Louisiana roots!
About 2:35, you get a picture of all 8 guys in this group! “Double Shot of my Baby’s Love”
Before he released “Double Shot” in early 1964, he had released these two sides. Sounds like Louisiana in the 1962-63! “Mooba Grooba” and the “B” side “Hey Little Fool”
Their 1964 cover of “That’ll Be The Day” has disappeared.
For a larger look at this garage rock band, here’s 18 clips of The Swingin’ Medallions Anthology
We’ll close this early period and his set with one of his first records! In 1957 Dick Holler and the Rockets cut this double side. The first is very noir-ish in the style of the classic “down and dirty” sound Stray Cats tried to copy. The second is a straight up Elvis imitation complete with a Scotty Moore lead break. Remember it was the era of “Jailhouse Rock.” Uh huh oh yeah bay-buh.
“Livin’ By the Gun” and “Uh, Huh Baby”
Our encore features the Royal Guardsmen in a strange live performance of their 1966 #2 hit, “Snoopy Vs The Red Baron” (I actually saw them perform this in one of the great concert mismatches in history. They were the headliners at a Sunday show, with the opening act – wait for it – THE WHO. Yes, the Who opened for the Royal Guardsmen on a Sunday in early 1968! Right up there with Jimi opening for the Monkees…)
*********
Now for the great Bob Weir (October 16, 1947). He’s an incredible singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. When he and Dead Shaman Jerry Garcia met as teenagers in Palo Alto, the sound of music began to change for many millions in our world.
I was somewhat of a Deadhead back beginning in the early 70s, not as rabid as some but definitely more than most, and even got to hang backstage and with the band in their trailer in the early 80s. I saw them a lot of times, and there were shows where they played for 4 hours and then another hour after the hall cut the electricity and turned on the lights! Even got thrown out of one show in 1973 because I wouldn't stop dancing, and afterwards I found out thousands more began to dance when they saw me thrown out and it shut the show down! Everyone adjourned to the Armadillo World Headquarters and had an all-night party!
Rather than try to describe the joy of the music of the Grateful Dead, I’ll just post some great live concerts I found on the web. They really did make some very happy music that sets feet to dancing!! I found enough concerts between 1966 and 1994 that you should have a greatful time enjoying how the set list evolved over the years.
We’ll begin with a great hour and 19 live audio-only performance by the Dead at the Fillmore in January 1966! Grateful Dead Live at the Fillmore - Jan 1966
We then go to the Fillmore in July 1966 for a great live audio-only performance of “Cream Puff War”
Also in July 1966, we have 30 minutes of the Dead in Canada! The Grateful Dead in Vancouver 1966 (audio only) (Last year’s 55 minute clip is gone)
Here’s a live recording set to stills made at the Avalon in San Francisco in May 1966! 1 hour 7 minutes of the early Grateful Dead! The Grateful Dead at the Avalon 1966 (audio only)
I found these three audio-only gems from their July 1966 show at the Fillmore! “Viola Lee Blues”
“Pain in My Heart” “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”I found it again! Here’s the 1 hour 20 minute show at the Fillmore in SF in Nov 19, 1966! The Grateful Dead Live at the Fillmore West – Nov 1966
From Oct 22, 1967, 55 minutes of the early Dead at their best! The Grateful Dead at Winterland - Oct 1967
From Halloween 1967 at Winterland, 45 minutes of an entirely different set! The Grateful Dead at Winterland - Oct 1967
Last year I had a great 1 hour 43 performance from the Carousel Ballroom in SF from March 1968, that clip disappeared. However, I found a link that will take you to “Morning Dew” from that show, and autoload the rest! The Grateful Dead Live at the Carousel - 1968
From May that same year, again at the Carousel, a classic jam of the best of the Bay Area, including Jerry, Elvin Bishop, Jack Casady, Mickey Hart, Jorma Kaukonen, Steve Miller, and others in the groove with “Rock Jam”
Here's a very early live performance from the Fillmore East in June 1968, with PigPen out front! It’s an hour and a minute of pure gold! The Grateful Dead Live at the Fillmore East 1968
Live at the Matrix in October 1968, fronting Mickey Hart and the Hartbeats, here's Jerry and Jack Casady, bass player for the Jefferson Airplane, giving us 17+ minutes of "Dark Star."
Here's another early live audio-only performance from the Fillmore West in February 1969, when PigPen was still singing! Here’s an entire 2 hour show of The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East, 1969.
It’s gone again. Last year I had the entire 1 hour 31 Big Rock Pow Wow show in May 1969 in Hollywood, FL, but this year all we have are these classics!
We’ll begin with “St. Stephen” and move into ”Dark Star.” We pick it up with their first “hit” "Morning Dew" and finish with the infinitely danceable “Me and My Uncle” and the iconic “Turn On Your Love Light”
Live at Woodstock in 1969, the Dead cranking out “Mama Tried.” In a nod to the most famous popular version of this classic song with Pigpen McKernan on vocals, while it went 45 minutes, I found a 36 minute video of the legendary live performance of “Turn on Your Love Light”
Here's the entire hour and 23 audio of their set! The Grateful Dead at Woodstock 1969
From October 1969, a great jam with Jorma Kaukonen! Airplane House Jam 1969
From Jan 1970, an hour and 26 of their show in San Diego!
The Grateful Dead in San Diego 1970
Here's a very early live performance from the Fillmore East in February 1970, when PigPen was still around! Last year I had a 56 minute video but it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s the entire 3 hour and 48 minute show from February 13! The Grateful Dead Live at the Fillmore East 1970
Last year I had the whole 1 hour 38 audio-only show with Peter Green and Duane Allman as guest guitarists, but this year it’s disappeared. However, I did find this great 15 minute clip of ”Lovelight” and this 26 minute clip of then doing ”Dark Star” and “Spanish Jam”
I found it again! Even though it’s obviously a video taken off a television, it’s still classic Dead! It’s a very psychedelic live 29 minute recording from Calebration at the KQED studios in San Francisco in August 1970 with PigPen singing. For your enjoyment, The Grateful Dead Live at the KQED Studios – Calebration 1970
In May 1970 they performed for 4 hours and 13 minutes at Harpur College in NY. Here’s 2 hours and 16 of the show!
The Grateful Dead at Harpur College 1970
From France in June 1971, 59 minutes of an early set list of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead in France 1971
From Nov 1971, I was at this show! The whole set is nowhere to be found, but I found these from that concert!
"Black Peter" and "The Other One."
They came back to San Antonio in November 1972, so of course I was there! This was always one of my favorites! “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” and 25 minutes of “Dark Star”
The whole clip disappeared, but this will take you to the show, one song at a time! From Denmark in April 1972,
The Grateful Dead in Denmark 1972
From August 1972 in Oregon, this 3+ hour audio only show is supposedly one of their best ever! The Grateful Dead in Veneta, OR - 1972
At the Beat Club in Germany 1972, an hour and 23 of The Grateful Dead in Germany 1972
From June 1973 at RFK Stadium, one of my favorites! Here’s 22 minutes of “Eyes of the World”
From October 1974, at Winterland in San Francisco, over 3 hours of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Winterland 1974
From Jersey City, New Jersey in 1974, a full 3 hour 48 minute concert!
The Grateful Dead at Jersey City 1974
From the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco 1976, 1 hour of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at the Orpheum 1976
The audio of the full 2 hour 41 show is back! Here’s the Grateful Dead in Feb 1977 at San Bernardino!
The Grateful Dead in San Bernardino 1977
In May 1977 they did a 5+ hour show in Baltimore. Here’s 2 hours and 52!
The Grateful Dead in Baltimore 1977
Two years ago I had 2 hours and 40 of this show. Last year I had video clips, but they’re gone. So this year, from May 1977 at Cornell University, I have the entire show on audio!
The Grateful Dead at Cornell U 1977.
From Winterland on Dec 30, 1977, 2 hours 35 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Winterland Dec 1977
Here's an audio-only 3 hour 48 clip! The Grateful Dead at Winterland Dec 1977
Also from Winterland on New Years’ Eve 1977, 1 hour 48 minutes of poorly lit video of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead New Year Show 1977
From October 1978, 3 hours and 4 of The Grateful Dead at Winterland
When Winterland closed, the Dead threw a New Year’s Eve party! From Dec 31, 1978, here are 22 videos of their 5 hour 47 minute concert!
The Grateful Dead 1978 New Year’s Eve at Winterland
From Oakland on New Year’s Eve 1979, 3 hours and 18 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead 1979 New Year’s Eve at Oakland
Here are two I was at! First, live at Manor Downs in Austin in July 1982, 2 hours and 41 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
Here are two I was at! First, live at Manor Downs in Austin in July 1982, 49 minutes of their set. (Last year’s 2 hours and 41 minutes clip has disappeared.)
The Grateful Dead at Manor Downs 1982
From Manor Downs in Austin in September 1983, 2 hours and 32 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Manor Downs 1983
From Austin, Texas on July 4, 1986, 21 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead Live at Farm Aid 1986
That year they played for Farm Aid at Orchard Park, New York in July 1986! Last year I had a full 2 hour and 39 minutes of the Grateful Dead, but this year the whole clip is gone. But I still have some pieces from their set!
”Samson and Delilah,” ”The Wheel,” “I Need A Miracle,” and “Uncle John’s Band.”
”Cold Rain and Snow” and “Fire On The Mountain.”
”Drums,” “Space,” and “Gimme Some Lovin’”
From Shoreline Ampitheater in August 1989, 3 hours and 18 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Shoreline 1989
From Orchard Park, New York in July 1990, 2 hours and 56 minutes of the Grateful Dead on video!
The Grateful Dead at Rich Stadium 1990
From UNLV in April 1991, 2 hours and 56 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at UNLV 1991
From Boston in 1991, 8 minutes of video of Jerry and the Dead in a groove with “Cold Rain and Snow”
From Nassau County in April 1993, 2 hours and 30 minutes of the Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Nassau Coliseum 1993
From Madison Square Garden in October 1994, 2 hours and 38 minutes of the Grateful Dead!
The Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden 1994
From October 1980, on Good Morning America, Good Morning America interviews Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir
From April 1982 on Letterman, the full 15 minute interview! Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir on Letterman
For our closer, from 1988, Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia live in Oakland performing a 27 minute duet for the Bridge School! Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir at the Oakland Coliseum 1988
For our encore, the last Grateful Dead concert on July 9, 1995. Jerry died exactly 30 days later. As the culmination of 30 years of unique music, here's 2 hours and 37 from Soldier Field in Chicago! The Last Grateful Dead Concert - Chicago July 1995. I also found this hour and 15 audio from the beginning of the second set, set to some psychedelic effects. The Grateful Dead at Soldier Field - July 1995
For our second encore, live at Sweetwater Music Hall, here’s 14 minutes of Bob Weir and Lukas Nelson performing ”Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues” and “Not Fade Away” - May 2014, and from May 2015, they came back together to do ”Loose Lucy.”
For our last encore, a tune that is uniquely The Dead. And yes, "every single silver lining's got a touch of grey..." For your enjoyment, the playing skeletons of the Grateful Dead delivering up the uniquely dead offering "Touch of Grey"
From the sublime to the ridiculous, from Dion to the Dead, it’s time for reflection, and time to dance! Happy, Merry, and thanks for the tunes!!
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
Comments