The wheel is one of my favorite songs of many! It makes me thankful 4 all things in my life! I thank God above for allowing me to live along the timeline of the Grateful dead... HAPPY 4 EVER!
Hard to believe, this version of The Wheel from Boston, MA, was recorded about two weeks before I graduated from Coronado High School in Scottsdale, AZ. I am now a 61 year old man.
Such a lovely song and such a beautiful rendition of it. This and Ripple mean so much to me -- I hear the idealism and beauty of a band and indeed an entire generation in these two songs.
The Donna years what super got me into the Dead, listening to a scratchy old tape of a tape of a bootleg in a barn in western NC- a beautiful stir it up into catfish John and then maybe even the wheel too. Maybe Berkeley 76-78 but I forget, can’t quite find it the same. I did fall in love with Jerry before that with the Reflections album/tape working at a cafe in Black Mountain 🌹
The Wheel is one of my favorite Dead songs, and yes, I know it’s from Jerry’s 1st eponymous solo album. I’ve had that album since 1974. I wish I had had it since 1970, I bought my 1st Dead tickets in 1968, but the the concert was a fake out, the posters for that mythical concert still exist on Google, but GD never played at the long gone Swing Auditorium. I bought tickets for Memorial Day weekend in n 1973, that time the Dead canceled the show. I was super frustrated, but in June of 1974, I flew to San Francisco and stayed with my cousins and 4 of us went for Day On The Green the next morning, NRPS opened, such a great experience, that I have repeated so many times over the years. In 1975 I moved to the Bay Area, saw Jerry with JGB at the Keystone in Berkeley several times. Have seen Rat Dawg and Dead and Company at the Gorge many times.
This is a great picture of them, kinda quaint. Donna looks a bit perplexed, and Phil looks like he is asking Jerry to "please pass the ketchup". Jerry was a mustard guy, though, so I don't know why Phil is asking Jerry. He really should be asking Keith for the ketchup.
The. Wheel. Life.. never heard before this Long.. Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️ Jah sisters Jah Trey Jah Duane Africa Ethiopia Addis Ababa Selassie I Jah Creation
The wheel is turning and you can't slow down, You can't let go and you can't hold on, You can't go back and you can't stand still, If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will. Won't you try just a little bit harder, Couldn't you try just a little bit more? Won't you try just a little bit harder, Couldn't you try just a little bit more? Round, round robin run round, got to get back to where you belong, Little bit harder, just a little bit more, A little bit further than you gone before. The wheel is turning and you can't slow down, You can't let go and you can't hold on, You can't go back and you can't stand still, If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will. Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, Big wheel turn by the grace of God, Every time that wheel turn 'round, Bound to cover just a little more ground. The wheel is turning and you can't slow down, You can't let go and you can't hold on, You can't go back and you can't stand still, If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will. Won't you try just a little bit harder, Couldn't you try just a little bit more? Won't you try just a little bit harder, Couldn't you try just a little bit more?
1st show , I thought everyone was going to be like this , great time to get on , The Stanley , Uptown theater, Cleveland , Buffalo, The Aladdin, the Boston Garden was the biggest Venue i ever saw them in,faded away when things got crazy for awhile , this show was great ,get the whole thing , wonderful night!
Thank you for posting this! It's May 7, 2021. That show 44 years ago was my first Dad show, and I had never heard this song. It was revelatory. My dear friend Larry Kletter, alav ha-shalom, was my Dead mentor and was so excited to see them that night.
The Wheel is such an amazing song. And they always picked the perfect time in the set to play it. I think my all time favorite is '82 alpine valley right out of space, I hope that is right. It just comes together so perfectly that it really is a prime example of how The Dead really tailored their sets not quite as random as people thought.💯✌
@@portlandpaul656 sweet, Im pretty sure its a Dicks pick. Been forever since Ive listened to it but I always think of that Wheel everytime the song gets brought up. Good description on the "big sound" that show has. Jerry's playing is so crisp on that version and Billy and Mickey really groove as well.🎶✌
Just put on a new set of Grado headphones and cranked this on Bobby's birthday, tell me about just floating away. Never gets dull listening to these guys.
Some information for the "Donna" Debate: Donna was one of the original back-up singers on staff at Muscle Shoals Studios, AL. She's got a pretty impressive CV, folks. I know she gets pretty rocky at times, but Jerry and Bob and the Good Old Boys sure didn't mind. I think she's the only Girl to gain admission to the Boys' Club. Having said that, I think the Pig Pen Line-Up was the 2nd Best of all Dead Rosters. The Brent Mydland Line-Up was tops for me.
Donald Spaeth For ANY of you IDIOTS that say Donna can't sing.....Gee,I'm sorry.....have you ever REALLY listened to Jerry ?????????? FUCK YOU !!!!! Donna IS .....THE Grateful Dead !!!!! JUST like Keith,Brent,Vince AND,HORNSBY !!!!!!! Just that Hornsby didn't want to be called an "official"l"member because of the curse on the keyboard players !! (He,he)?>FUCKI IT !! I'LL take that roll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Personally,I would be HAPPY to die for them ! So long as their music lives on.............GRATEFULLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Farrell, Jerry was the Dead. Without him they are a Grateful Dead Cover Band. pretty tough to get excited about. I'm sorry for those fans that never had a chance to experience the magic of those shows with him but, without...what I said.
Keith's drug use got out of hand similar to when Jerry's drug use was getting to be too much. The difference was when they told Jerry to cool it he said fuck you, go on without me. Of course, they couldn't, because, as I just pointed out to Farrell, Jerry was The Dead. Donna was fine. Every one of the ten shows I saw with her was fucking awesome.
Just to throw my 2¢ in on the Donna thing. I am on the fence with her, but the Keith era is by far my favorite. His piano work was rock solid, and warm. I love his Scarlet/Fires and Wharf Rats. The whole band was still playing warm analog gear. I just sometimes can't abide Brent's plinketty electric piano stuff. Plus, by that time everything was solid-state and super processed sounding. Not saying I don't like, it has its moments - I just watched 12-31-87, and Brent was ferocious. I just prefer the Keith, and I guess by extension, Donna era. That's all. Great tune. Thanks for posting.
+Marc Arndt Pigpen and Mydland were both way better than Keith. Mydland and Pigpen were heard more in their eras, and it could be because Keith isn't a leader like Pigpen or Mydland. I love the 70s Dead, don't get me wrong, but Keith probably on the bottom end of the keyboard list of the Grateful Dead.
+Ryan Sutter I really wasn't ranking them, just saying who I preferred. Pigpen was a charismatic singer and personality but couldn't hang with the band when they really took off. Brent was a flashy player, but what I didn't like, as much, I really liked Brent too, was his plinky electric piano sound and some the effects he played. I liked the warmth of Keith's piano and he could swing with the band. Not an objective rating, just me preference.
I was too young to see Pigpen. But I did get to see Keith and Donna at my first show. Then I saw the first Brent tour. Plus more shows as the years passed. So, I concur with your point of view. It's a personal choice. You like what you like. And while I preferred Brent's energy and voracious musical appetite, the sound of the Brent era was harsh and processed. The early days of digital sound reproduction. My favorite period is Europe 1972 when *both* Keith and Pigpen were in the band. To respond to Ryan's comments. To rank the keyboardists is a fool's errand. You've got Pigpen circa Zebriskie Point farfisa madness, Pig and Tom Constanten -- arguably the most capable of all GD keyboardists, then Pig and Keith, then just Keith on both electric and acoustic keys, then Keith on piano almost exclusively, then Brent, then Vince Welnick ("White Punks on Dope") and Bruce Hornsby -- both fantastic players whose technique was/is formidable, then just Vince. Holy moly ... Why try? Just let the music play!
Whenever I can't decide which Dead show to listen to I'm always drawn back to this early May run. These three shows are special to me, they have an energy thats just incredible!!
the catalyst,is still around,have not heard that for awhile/I was held hostage in san jose,used to go santa cruz every weekend,sleep and party on the beach.good days long gone
the wheel was about 8 feet tall, and made of fire, with the color of "flame electricity" bright orange. It would have burnt anything close to it. Writing this, it makes my hair stand on end just speaking about it.
deniseg812 I won't pull the whole GD bullshit on you. But I spent ages 13 to 19 making fun of them, their fans and even their music. Then I went to a show. It wasn't the drugs or the "atmosphere" or the "whole experience". It was the music. These boys could KICK IT like no other when they were on. Check out RU-vid Hard To Handle from August 6, 1971. If you don't relate to that form of Rock N Roll / Blues - then I understand you don't like them. But check it out just to make sure. Or am I just missing the whole point ? You like The Dead...but just don't like "THE WHEEL" ??
See I love Donna in 1977. She was only good this year to me, in fact only the early part of this year. She started slipping, then she fell hard. But here - I think she's perfection at these shows.
This is the one of a kind sound and note configurations that are limited to Jerry. No one else matches it, not Trey, not kadlezcik, not Haynes, just to name a few. If only we could mute Donna's vocals.
Oh shit... just read someone's comment mentioning "Wharf Rat"... and I realize how Jerry's vocals were the key to it, how it could cut ya in two, guess I was wrong in that last comment, my mistake...
Yeah, to see which of their fellow cats was being tortured. Respect to all my brothers and sisters, but the best that can be said of Donna is that she sounded great in the studio, with the music in her ear.
Donna is great the versions of Cold, Rain and Snow where she does nt sing are not nearly as good as when she does. That song is a bout resolution and she and jerry finish great.. I always felt that her role and Bob Weirs role were at odds in that they were fighting over the second vocal opportunity and ultimately Bob Weir developed and she did nt. I liken her to a Lamborghini, incredible luxury item but how do you use it? where does it fit in.
@09jackstraw - Wowsers! I thought you said "...They have energy hats...", instead of, "...They have an energy that's...". I was born cross-eyed, however, and I came out of my mom's New Potato Caboose! Yikes! ;)
@ChinaCatSnflwer - ALSO - (Jerry + Phil + Bobby + Donna) x Love's Mellow Muffin = Serendipity on My Mind ....sorry for all the weird comments, my brother's and sisters, don't blame me, blame nature's strange sensations and Purple Hairs!!! One Love!
