This pre-radio show taping version was sung by Garcia, rather than by Weir as would for the remainder of its Dead performances.The Grateful Dead whip up a worthy successor to 'Europe '72' As a bonus, included in the playlist is a soundcheck run-through of Johnny Cash’s “Big River,” which at the time had only been played once by the Dead on New Year’s Eve 1971. The playlist below presents each rendition of the songs played three times or less by the Grateful Dead on their Europe ‘72 Tour (both instances of “Who Do You Love?” are quoted within “Caution” recordings). It was not until a tour in 1987 that Garcia brought the instrument back to the live GD stage.

Perhaps needing to lighten the load and ease the logistics, Garcia’s bulky pedal steel guitar was not to be seen for the rest of the tour. Garcia’s pedal steel guitar made it to Copenhagen, Denmark and was played on “Looks Like Rain” at the show there on April 14. The second show of the tour, on April 8 in Wembley, England, saw the first “LLR.” A second occurrence came at the next concert, on April 11 in Newcastle, England.

Weir’s “Looks Like Rain,” one of several songs co-written with John Perry Barlow, was another song that was restricted to just three performances on the Europe ‘72 Tour, though all three featured Garcia playing pedal steel guitar. “Lovelight” went dark until the Dead resurrected it, with guitarist Bob Weir taking over lead vocals, in 1981. A 17-minute version erupted on April 26, with a 13-minute edition springing up on May 7 and a 12-minute take developing on May 25. The “Top Of The World” performed on May 25 was the final time it was played publicly not only on the tour, but for the rest of the band’s career.Īn early showcase for Pigpen and originator for long jams, Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Turn On Your Lovelight” shined only three times in Europe as well. In Europe in 1972, the Grateful Dead pulled out “Sitting On Top Of The World” just three times, initially opening the second set with it on May 18 and returning to it the next show held on May 23 (ahead of the “Rockin’ Pneumonia” debut).

“Cold Rain And Snow” was recorded by the Dead for their 1967 self-titled debut album, which also included their cover of “Sitting On Top Of The World.” “Cold Rain And Snow,” the traditional song from the band’s early days that remained in their repertoire throughout their career, made two appearances on the Europe ‘72 tour, opening the shows on April 17 and on May 24. The Garcia/Hunter original was destined for just one more overseas performance, coming back at the penultimate show of the tour, on May 25 in London. The band’s own “Brokedown Palace,” which appeared on the 1970 album, American Beauty, made its first setlist at the third show of the tour, on April 11 in Newcastle, England. The aforementioned Dead concert, the first of four tour-concluding gigs held at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, featured the first known performance by the band of Huey “Piano” Smith’s “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu.” After making its debut, the next night at the Lyceum saw the tour’s only other rendition of the song. Grateful Dead Europe ‘72 50th Anniversary: Pigpen PlaylistĬelebrate the Grateful Dead’s Europe ‘72 Tour with a playlist featuring Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. Keyboardist/vocalist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan twice tacked on a bit of “Who Do You Love?” within renditions of the Dead original “Caution (Do Not Step On Tracks).” The brief one-verse quotes on April 14 and May 11 were the first appearances of Diddley’s blues staple since November 1970 and were the last ones played by the band as well. The band soundchecked the tune before opening night on April 7 and had performed it with the song’s composer, blues guitarist Bo Diddley, on Maduring the run of shows in New York City that immediately preceded the overseas tour. Another one-timer was a Garcia-sung cover of “Hey! Bo Diddley” that emerged on May 23. Goode” was also trotted out just once, at the end of the performance on April 17 that was partly recorded for Danish television, though it was not recorded for the program. “Black Peter,” which was written by guitarist Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter and recorded for the band’s 1970 studio album, Workingman’s Dead, was performed by the Dead on the tour just once, on May 24, some 20 shows into the run.Ĭhuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Grateful Dead’s Europe ‘72 Tour 50th Anniversary: April 16 – Aarhus, Denmark

Grateful dead europe 72