4CPcomics

4CPcomics, 2 months ago to random

Grateful Dead '94
Song of the Day

The Dead at their most ambient.

Excerpt from Space 3/23/94, Uniondale, NY

4CPcomics, 4 months ago to random

A song about the Grateful Dead found on a 1991 answering machine message tape. I have no idea who left the message! Is this a known song, or an original by the caller?

4CPcomics, 14 days ago to random

Grateful Dead: 1976 Improvisation

This 1976 #gratefuldead mix - the contents of which were not defined by me - has become a mainstay of my Dead listening.

It's a fantastic and unexpected version of "jazz Dead" unlike any other, and a beguiling calling card from 1976 that asks you to listen more closely to the whole year.

"Out of Nowhere Jams," 1976, based on Dead Notes' detective work.

Indexed stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RaE2_wHDGw&t=498s

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-out-of-nowhere-jams-1976

4CPcomics, 3 months ago to random

Grateful Dead: Tones (1969)

What's the earliest instance of “space” territory in #gratefuldead music? Possibly “feedback,” but I like to put my finger on the quieter tones, drones, and knob-twiddling that followed feedback in 1969. I think you can find descendants of these classical-music-inflected tones all the way to the Dead’s final show in 1995.

Here’s an anthology of 14 passages from 1969 - 35 minutes:

Indexed stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5PfXgYmyE&t=14s

Notes and download:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/the-grateful-dead-tones-1969

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

The announcement of a live 1968 Mothers of Invention box brings this household great joy.

A while back, Save Your Face sifted a ton of late ‘60s Mothers tapes and created a couple of big mixes of instrumental and improvisational material. King Kong, Pound for a Brown, Sleeping in a Jar, Eric Dolphy Memorial BBQ, Green Genes, Uncle Meat, Dog Breath Variations, Orange County Lumber Truck… that kind of music.

The SYF mixes remain available to grab as mp3s.
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/the-mothers-of-invention-seriously-live-volume-2-1968-1969-bootleg-highlights

4CPcomics, 24 days ago to random

LOST LITTLE FEAT SOUL-JAZZ-FUNK ALBUM (1969-1975)

Here’s an imaginary studio Little Feat soul-jazz-funk studio album. It does not include anything from the seven Lowell George-era studio albums. It shuffles together selections from recordings with jazz drummer Chico Hamilton (1973) and singer Robert Palmer (1975) with relevant, officially-released Feat studio outtakes (1972-1975, with two 1969 outliers).

Sadly, this mix does not stream.

Explanations and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/little-feat-surprise-1969-1975

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

Deadhead question: When assessing the quality of an individual performance of a song, how important is it to you that the song is sung robustly, with accurate lyrics? Do you care if the performance could stand alone to represent the song itself to a new audience, or can the vocals be buried or a whole verse f@cked up, and you'd still call it a good take, because of the jam, solo, third verse, or whatever? What counts as good enough to support as an individual song performance?

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

35 years ago, my most fun Grateful Dead run - Ann Arbor, April 5-6, 1989. Walked to the shows from my apt. Center of the 8th and 13th rows with all my hometown Heads. Club show experience.

I’d seen some 1988 shows, and this seemed like a different band. Tight, confident, energetic, having fun, singing well, jamming fluidly. Mighty!

I pulled together my favorite 3 hours from the run.

Archive stream:
https://archive.org/details/grateful-dead-save-your-face-shortlist-ann-arbor-89-april-5-6

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-shortlist-ann-arbor-89-april-5-6

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

As #gratefuldead May ’77 madness comes ‘round again, bolstered this year by the release of 1.5 more May ’77 shows (Dave’s 50 shipping now), I encourage you to check out two hours of jammy highlights from the tour’s first two shows on April 22-23, in Philadelphia and Springfield.

If you find May ’77 too “same-y,” I think you’ll find this music less so. Second and third performances of "Fire!"

Indexed stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKxnwRd5S20

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-the-first-two-may-77-shows-april-22-23

4CPcomics, 4 months ago to random

It's a Christmas miracle! Our favorite elf has made a streaming version of the new Save Your Face mixtape of 1992-1994 #GratefulDead Dark Stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHAy0G4Geys

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

Stained glass, vinyl edition

4CPcomics, 6 months ago to random

Grateful Dead: Clementine 1968-1969

This mix provides a full hour of Clementine, as played by several Grateful Dead configurations in 1968 and early 1969. It was the band’s first jazz jam, a Phil Lesh waltz possibly inspired by John Coltrane’s famous take on “My Favorite Things.”

I believe I have included every recorded version, except for the officially-released 8/13/68 studio jam (AOXOMOXOA bonus track).

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-clementine-1968-1969

Streaming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8_qy7BB364&t=2730s

4CPcomics, 15 days ago to random

Grateful Dead: May 1976 Rehearsals

Ahead of their June 1976 return to touring, #gratefuldead rehearsed seriously enough to produce beautiful recordings of numerous songs. (Reggae-inflected “Attics!”) This mix includes notable as-recorded takes, plus multi-take edits of Supplication and Eyes.

Could have been a radio/tour-supporting promo album. So good.

Indexed stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn5CHV959_E

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-on-returning-may-1976-rehearsals

4CPcomics, 1 month ago to random

The compilation that inaugurated the Save Your Face mixtape blog in 2016 was a compilation of 26 Hunter/Garcia compositions, selected from a dozen 1972-1974 archival live releases… every song practically perfect in every way.

I’ve recently been digging around in another era’s tapes for a mix of immaculate performances of H/G songs, while also spinning this 72-74 anthology to keep me honest.

The mix isn’t available to stream, but it persists as an mp3 download:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/save-your-face-garcia-songs-live-1972-1974

4CPcomics, 6 months ago to random

WWYD?

4CPcomics, 4 months ago to random

“PLAYBACK” #7 - Columbia promo - late 1971

“Playback” was an interesting Columbia Records approach to promoting material and gathering feedback. For a few dollars a year, you’d receive monthly 7-inches containing up to six sample tracks from new albums, a fold-out card (later full booklet), and a card to return with your ratings and reviews.

#7 features Jerry Garcia and Howard Wales (for “Hooteroll?”) and the signing of Blue Oyster Cult.

image/jpeg
image/jpeg

4CPcomics, 5 months ago to random

Grateful Dead: Lesh is More Concrète (December 1973)

Here's a new Save Your Face mix inspired by Jesse Jarnow noticing the wild things Phil Lesh does across half-a-dozen December '73 shows.

https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-lesh-is-more-concrete-december-1973

#gratefuldead @bourgwick

4CPcomics, 3 months ago to random

Listening tonight to #gratefuldead improvisation from Texas in November 1972 (Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas). The explosion of jazz Dead immediately following Pigpen’s departure is a peak season for me - a disciplined band lighting out for the territories. It is a shame so many Fall 1972 tapes are terrible.

Texas ’72 improv stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsPhMZ4fkog&t=5131s

Texas ’72 improv mp3s and notes:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-texas-72-improvisation-november-22-26

4CPcomics, 6 months ago to random

You say you’re a fan of really drifty, diffuse Dark Stars from 1973-1974, wherein the band flows like cloud forms, and Bill Kreutzman may be the subtlest jazz drummer you’ve ever heard?

Here are two hours of Dark Star passages like that.

Track-indexed stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IhRoLh_saU&t=2334s

Notes and mp3s:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-pouring-light-into-jazzes-1973-1974

Art: Manipulated detail from a painting by Leo Morey.

4CPcomics, 3 months ago to random

I gave mid-1970s live CAN my highest rating this week by upgrading to physical copies of these revelatory releases. You like improv? You like grooves? You appreciate the German take on the 1970s? A feast awaits you.

4CPcomics, 6 months ago to random

Mail order bootleg record catalogs, circa 1977-1983.

4CPcomics, 3 months ago to random

Hey now, here’s a no-brainer follow for Deadheads: @DeadStudies

The feed compiles numerous Dead-related accounts that offer rich information and paths down many wormholes. If you’re looking for more than inspirational Monday morning “Ripple” quotes and unannotated links to random shows played on this day, you’ll be delighted by the places you end up.

#gratefuldead

4CPcomics, 6 months ago to random

On 2/24/71, Grateful Dead launched into Bertha with an uncharacteristically funky riff.

I've looped that riff, and someone ought to use it as a sample to build on.

4CPcomics, 8 months ago to random

A brand new "Save Your Face" Grateful Dead mixtape experiment. Seven mighty Shakedown Streets from 1979, mutated into instrumental versions. Disco Dead doesn't get any better (sorry 1977).

mp3 download here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5498rc5jy1mdox28aqwg4/GD-79-Shakedown-Jams.zip?rlkey=2qywtrkvu73lft17tb5n153gz&dl=0

Cover art by Richard Biffle

4CPcomics, 3 months ago to random

Grateful Dead
Garcia sings the Hunter/Garcia Songbook
September 1987

Is there any time between 1980 and 1995 when Jerry Garcia was singing as magnificently as he did in the Fall of 1987?

17 knockout performances.

Stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4azHsKwHpfA&t=4s

Notes and download:
https://saveyourface.posthaven.com/grateful-dead-shortlist-garcia-sings-hunter-slash-garcia-september-1987

#gratefuldead