by Robert Wilkinson
Our Saturday Night Attitude dance features so much talent we’re starting our celebration early! Today and tonight we dance to the music of Ry Cooder, one of the most amazing guitarists ever to walk this planet, Phil Lesh, the founding bass player of the Grateful Dead, and the tragic genius Sly Stone, producer, songwriter, and musical pioneer.
From world beat to the Grateful Dead to one of the funkiest bands to ever hit the stage, from the Stones to the Buena Vista Social Club to the shamanic band of legend to one of the first interracial bands in the world who blew the doors down at Woodstock, it’s time to find a groove and enjoy the music!
We begin with the amazing music of Ry Cooder (March 15, 1947), an extraordinarily talented musician who has worked on his own, as well as with the biggest and the best inside and outside the industry. In one outstanding instance, Ry was the one who gave us the Buena Vista Social Club. You can hear his work on recordings of Van Morrison, Neil Young, the Rolling Stone, Eric Clapton, Little Feat, the Chieftains, Mavis Staples, Freddie Fender, and his "supergroup" - Little Village - where he is bandmate and lead guitarist with three of my favorites: Nick Lowe (bassist, vocals), John Hiatt (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), and Jim Keltner (drums).
We’ll begin with one of his most famous performances! Enjoy Ry playing classic slide guitar on the Lowell George Little Feat monster 1972 hit, "Willin'"
Here's Ry playing slide for Van Morrison's 1979 album Into the Music. If you haven't heard this gem before, prepare to be uplifted by “Full Force Gale."
We now step back in time a little and find Ry playing mandolin on the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed classic, "Love In Vain," while on the Stones' Sticky Fingers Ry gave us the standout slide on "Sister Morphine. We'll finish this trifecta of Ry playing an unforgettable slide in a clip lifted from the surrealistic Mick Jagger movie Performance, the awesome "Memo From Turner."
In late 1968, he produced and played guitar on the very first Neil Young album, Neil Young
He also played on some studio releases you may not know about. First, in 1966 he played bottleneck guitar on Paul Revere and the Raiders’ “Get It On.” Next, we jump to Pat Boone’s 1969 album Departure and find Ry’s work on the last 3 tunes of the album, “Friends,” “Bad News” and “Break My Mind.” He and Neil’s guitars were featured in this song from Head titled “As We Go Along” and we’ll close this with his guitar work on the Randy Newman's version of his song “Mama Told Me Not To Come”
From here we'll look at the master at work on his own! First, from Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have A Ball, a film by Les Blank taped at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA on March 25th 1987, here's Ry doing "Goodnight Irene," followed by "Jesus On The Mainline," featuring Ry doing slide on a "mandoguitar." From the same concert in Northern California, here's "The Very Thing That Makes Her Rich."
Last year I had all 90 minutes of the show on one clip, but it’s disappeared. However, this link will take you to all the different songs via autoload. Ry Cooder Live at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz 1987
A rare treat! Here's Ry playing with the legendary John Lee Hooker live in 1990 on "Hobo Blues," followed by Ry and John Lee live doing “Freight Train”
From October 1992, a great 25 minute live video set of Ry and John Lee Hooker at the "All Our Colors" Benefit show at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA. “Lonely Man,” “It Serves Me Right To Suffer,” “Hobo Blues,” “Crawlin Kingsnake”
Here are Ry and Santana at the same “All Our Colors” benefit concert groovin’ in the John Lee Hooker tune "The Healer."
From the House of Blues 1995, Ry and John Lee performing “Crawling Kingsnake”
From the same HOB show, here’s a live performance of “Boom, Boom”
Here's a studio version of Ry playing a duet with the amazing David Lindley on the very beautiful instrumental "Sídh Beag agus Sídh Mór," and here they are in 1994 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival doing "Jesus on the Mainline."
For another whole take by these two on this standard, here they are live in 1990, cranking out an audio-only slide guitar boogie performance of "Mercury Blues"
Some treats from "Little Village," featuring Ry, John Hiatt, Nick Lowe and John Keltner! First, a live performance of "She Runs Hot," and from the same concert, "Don't Bug Me When I'm Working." Here Little Village rocks out in 1992 Dusseldorf on "Thing Called Love."
From the Late Show BBC in 1992, three great one! ”The Action,” "Fool Who Knows," and “Don't Think About Her."
Here's Ry and Nick in 2009 doing the classic "Little Sister."
We owe Ry everything for these gems! For those who don't know who the Buena Vista Social Club is, Ry "discovered" them in Cuba during his efforts to crack open a cultural door despite the US Government's weird paranoia. Please check out the video when you can! In the meantime, to whet your appetite for some amazing Cuban music, here is the video of the classic "Chan Chan" with Ry and his son performing with the BVSC. Also from Amsterdam, here's the BVSC performing the great "Candela."
We'll finish this brief dance moment with the Buena Vista Social Club in live performances of "El Carretero," and we’ll close with "El Cuarto De Tula."
Thanks for the tunes all these years, Ry, and may you continue as a pioneering cultural ambassador to the world. We need your music!
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We now turn our birthday celebration to the legendary Sly Stone, of Sly and the Family Stone. Born Sylvester Stewart (March 15, 1943), “Sly” Stone is a west coast legend as a songwriter, producer, band leader, and innovator of soul, funk, and psychedelic music. He blazed more trails and snorted more lines than most people could handle in his life, and gave us some of the most amazing music ever produced or played.From Wikipedia,
Sylvester was identified as a musical prodigy from a young age. By the time he was seven Sylvester had already become proficient on the keyboards. By the age of eleven Sylvester had mastered the guitar, bass, and drums as well. While still in high school, Sylvester learned to play a number of instruments, settling primarily on the guitar...In the mid-1960s, Stone worked as a disc jockey for San Francisco, California soul radio station KSOL, where he included white performers such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into his playlists. During the same period, he worked as a staff record producer for Autumn Records, producing for San Francisco-area bands such as The Beau Brummels, The Mojo Men, Bobby Freeman, and Grace Slick's first band, the Great Society. Adopting the stage name "Sly Stone," he then formed "The Stoners" in 1966 which included Cynthia Robinson on trumpet. With her he started his next band, Sly and the Family Stone. Stone, Robinson, and Fred Stewart were joined by Larry Graham, Greg Errico, and Jerry Martini, all of whom had studied music and worked in numerous amateur groups. Working around the Bay Area in 1967, this multiracial band made a strong impression.
First, we’ll start with his productions with the Beau Brummels, one of my favorite Bay Area 60s bands, and one of the first to create actual “folk rock.” Yes, before the Byrds, there were the Beau Brummels!! I gave you the studio versions, since Sly did the production work.
The studio version of “Laugh Laugh”
Here they are “live” on Shindig, where they’re playing to a backing track. The Beau Brummels Perform “Laugh Laugh”
The studio version of “Just A Little”
Live on Shivaree in 1965, the BB perform “Just A Little” to a backing track, with very live screams! From that same show, “Still in Love With You Baby”
Here they are “live” on Shindig, again playing to a backing track. Sorry the video is so bad. The Beau Brummels Perform “Just A Little”
The studio version of “You Tell Me Why”
The live 1965 performance is gone, so here’s the studio version of “Sad Little Girl”
This song came out late 1965 not long after the debut of the Byrds. It turns the 12 string riff of the Byrds’ “Bells of Rhymney” inside out, adds a rock beat, and results in a major Beau Brummels hit, “Don’t Talk To Strangers”
”Live” on Hullabaloo, lip-synching to the original studio version. The Beau Brummels Perform “Don’t Talk To Strangers”
And now to Sly and the Family Stone!
Here’s their amazing 1968 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, featured a live medley of “Everyday People” “Dance to the Music,” and “Music Lover.” They seriously rock in this performance!
From 1968, an 11 minute set of Sly and the Family Stone at the Kraft Music Hall Special.
From 1969, a live performance by Sly and the Family Stone of their breakthrough hit, “Dance To The Music”
Around the time they played Woodstock, they also did a 43 minute gig in NYC at the Harlem Cultural Festival which was captured on film. This year the video’s still gone. However, this year an audio bootleg of their remarkably energetic performance surfaced, so here’s Sly and the Family Stone at the Harlem Cultural Festival 1969. This is one awesome live set! "M’La,” “Sing A Simple Song,” You Can Make it if You Try,” “Everyday People”/”Dance to the Music” /“Music Lover,” “I Want To Take You Higher.” This music is great!
From that gig, “Sing A Simple Song”
In August 1970, they played the Isle of Wight! Here’s 22 minutes of Sly and the Family Stone at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.
Right after that in September, they went live on VPRO Radio Holland and did this great 32 minute set! Sly and the Family Stone on Radio Holland – September 1970
Here’s their gig on The Dick Cavett Show in 1970 performing “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”
Here’s a real score! It’s the entire performance AND interview where Sly is a bit loaded! Sly and the Family Stone on the Dick Cavett Show June 1971 part 1 (“I Want To Take You Higher”)
Sly and the Family Stone on the Dick Cavett Show June 1971 part 2
From The Midnight Special television show in 1973, Sly and the Family Stone in a live performance of “Everybody Is A Star”
From the same television show in 1974, Sly and the Family Stone performing another huge hit, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," “I Want to Take You Higher,” and “Dance to the Music.”
From 1974 on The Mike Douglas Show, “Stand” and “I Want To Take You Higher”
Here’s the entire three part performance and interview on the Mike Douglas Show!
Sly Stone on The Mike Douglas Show 1974 pt. 1
Sly Stone on The Mike Douglas Show 1974 pt. 2
Sly Stone on The Mike Douglas Show 1974 pt. 3
From later that year, Sly on The Mike Douglas Show with Richard Pryor! “Sly Stone plays “If you Want Me To Stay” live with Richard Pryor on drums!
A great live video performance of a medley of “Hot Fun In The Summertime,” “Don’t Call Me Nigger,” and “I Want to Take You Higher”
It’s back! Here’s a GREAT 1974 Soul Train performance, with a seriously funky intro lasting 3:30 before they launch into an 8+ minutes of “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”
Here’s the original studio version of “You Can Make It If You Try”
Here’s a very funky studio version of “Sing A Simple Song”
We’ll close this show with a classic from Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert in 1973. Here’s the full 45 minute set at the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood! Sly and the Family Stone on Rock Concert
Here’s a great documentary on Sly!
Sly Stone – Portrait of A Legend pt. 1 (10+ min.)
Sly Stone – Portrait of A Legend pt. 2 (6+ min.)
Sly Stone – Portrait of A Legend pt. 3 (6+ min.)
For our encore, Woodstock 1969! Here is the entire 50 minute audio set from Sly and the Family Stone at that legendary mega festival! For your remembrance and dance pleasure, Sly and the Family Stone at Woodstock – 1969
For our second encore, I found it again! Here’s their 51 minute set in August 1969 at the Texas International Pop Festival! Sly and the Family Stone at the Texas International Pop Festival
For the final encore, the peak of kinetic electricity! Here’s the original video of Sly and the Family Stone closing their set at the original Woodstock in 1969 doing a chilling version of “I Want To Take You Higher” with the encore an equally funkadelic pounding “Love City”
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Now for the great Phil Lesh, (March 15, 1940 - October 25, 2024). He was an extraordinary bass player, and brought innovations to how that instrument has been played ever since he and Jerry founded the Grateful Dead. From Wikipedia:
Lesh started out as a violin player. While enrolled at Berkeley High School, he switched to trumpet. Studying the instrument under Bob Hansen, conductor of the symphonic Golden Gate Park Band, he developed a keen interest in avant-garde classical music and free jazz. … he befriended future Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten… At the behest of Constanten, he studied under the Italian modernist Luciano Berio…While volunteering for KPFA as a recording engineer during this period, he met then-bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia. Despite seemingly antipodal musical interests, they formed an enduring friendship. Following a brief period rooming with Constanten in Las Vegas… Lesh was talked into becoming the bass guitarist for Garcia's new rock group, then known as the Warlocks, in the fall of 1964. This was a peculiar turn of events, as Lesh had never played bass before. According to Lesh, the first song he rehearsed with the band was "I Know You Rider". He joined them for their third or fourth gig (memories vary) and stayed until the end.
Since Lesh had never played bass, it meant that to a great extent he learned "on the job", yet it also meant he had no preconceived attitudes about the instrument's traditional "rhythm section" role. Indeed, he has said that his playing style was influenced more by Bach counterpoint than by rock or soul bass players – although one can also hear the fluidity and power of a jazz bassist such as Charles Mingus or Jimmy Garrison in Lesh's work, along with stylistic allusions to fellow San Francisco psychedelic-era bassist Jack Casady.
Lesh was an innovator in the new role that the electric bass developed during the mid-1960s. Contemporaries such as James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, and Jack Casady adopted a more melodic, contrapuntal approach to the instrument; before this, bass players in rock had generally played a conventional timekeeping role within the beat of the song, and within (or underpinning) the song's harmonic or chord structure. While not abandoning these aspects, Lesh took his own improvised excursions during a song or instrumental. This was a characteristic aspect of the so-called San Francisco Sound in the new rock music. In many Dead jams, Lesh's bass is, in essence, as much a lead instrument as Garcia's guitar.
With Jerry the Guitar Master leading the journey and Bob Weir keeping rhythm with the incredible rhythm section of Phil, Bill Kreutzmann, and Micky Hart, (accompanied by a variety of keyboard players over the years,) the music of the Dead was always an exercise in improv. Regardless of the original melodic structure, at some point in every song the entire band would blast off into unknown realms of sonic frequencies intertwined with a steady beat so that even when they weren’t playing anything that was danceable, we still danced.
Of course, hard-core Deadheads were always jacked to the max, tape recorders on the ready, in full tie-dye regalia. That’s why we have hundreds of thousands of hours of Grateful Dead concerts available to this day. Their marketing department felt it was good to give the music away and make money off the merchandise. It is said this business model is taught in many business schools to this day. And to note, they kept tie-dyed clothes “fashionable,” if that’s what you could call it. Tie Dye Andy most definitely appreciates it!!
I was somewhat of a Deadhead back beginning in the Autumn of 1969, not as rabid as some but definitely and totally in the groove, and even got to hang backstage and with the band in their trailer in the early 80s. I saw them many times, and they would play for hours.
I remember one show in San Antonio where they played for 4 hours and then another hour after the hall cut the electricity and turned on the lights! I even got manhandled and literally thrown out of an Austin show in 1973 by the cops 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. They really did make some very happy music that sets feet to dancing!! Because of time restrictions, I wasn’t able to fix the few busted links here, so if you ever want more Dead than is listed here, please visit Happy 2024 to the Great Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead since it has even more links than this one, and they’re up to date!
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 1967 an hour and 38 minutes of the early Dead at their best! 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
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 Micky 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.” And here's the entire hour and 23 minute audio of their set! The Grateful Dead at Woodstock 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”
Last year I had their May 1970 4 hours and 13 minute performance at Harpur College in NY on one clip, but it's disappeared. This will take you there and autoload a bunch of tracks, so enjoy!
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 Winterland in San Francisco 1974, over 2 and a half 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
Last year I had their 3 hour show at Winterland in October 1978, but this year it’s nowhere to be found.
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 “hotter than July” 1982, this year the whole 3 hour and 9 video has surfaced!
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
Last year I had their 2 hour and 56 minute show in Orchard Park, New York in July 1986, but it’s gone. Here are a few pieces from that show.
”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 the Summer of 1978 at Foxboro, MA, the Dead and Lucky Wilbury doing a great version of one of my favorite tunes, "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again" from that same show, "I Want You" and "Ballad of a Thin Man"
Bob and the Dead live in December 1987 in East Rutherford doing Lucky's iconic tune, "All Along the Watchtower" and we'll close this brief set with one of the greatest songs ever written. "Chimes of Freedom."
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!
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
We’ll close today with a few from their final show in Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995, just 30 days before Shaman Jerry left for his Cosmic concert. First, the videos!
Here are the audio-only clips.
This was the last song of that show. “Box of Rain”
For our encore, the video of the next to the last Grateful Dead concert on July 8, 1995. Jerry died exactly 31 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 54 video of the second set. The Grateful Dead at Soldier Field - July 1995
The Dead used to close their set with a song that Phil wrote and sang. Here's a video of a performance from some point after Jerry died. This looks like it's from the 2015 "Fare Thee Well" tour. Song begins about 1:40 into the clip. "Box of Rain"
For our farewell 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"
You three made some of the best music in history! Happy, Merry, and thanks for the tunes. May you play on!!
© Copyright 2025 Robert Wilkinson
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