Jerry Garcia Band - Dear Prudence Recorded Live: 3/1/1980 - Capitol Theatre - Passaic, NJ More Jerry Garcia Band at Music Vault: www.musicvault.com Subscribe to Music Vault on RU-vid: goo.gl/DUzpUF
It's a shame that in the early years of the Grateful Dead's existence some critics, etc. were merciless in their critiques of Jerry Garcia's voice. I believe us as fans often viewed Jerry as immune to criticism (especially from the music industry). However, I feel that in the back of his mind Jerry may have been a bit insecure about his vocals which was a TRAGIC shame because he was blessed not just with incredible guitar abilities but also a very unique, mournful, moving, beautiful voice as this cover of the classic Beatles' tune demonstrates. Even though he's gone I thank the cosmos that I was able to share a time and space where I was able to enjoy all of Garcia's artistry. I wish I was a bit older so I could've seen the Dead, etc. live, but the tapes don't lie...Garcia was a one of a kind musical magician who never even fully unleashed his powers. Maybe in another times forgotten space the four winds will bring our paths to a crossing.
+razorfistforce1 His singing ability is okay, but nothing special. That hardly matters, though, because many of the best rock singers such as Dylan, Jagger, Lou Reed, etc etc, didn't have great singing voices. What they did have, though, was great vocal abilities, the ability to make their voices communicate feelings in a beautiful, moving way. Jerry Garcia was able to use his voice as a great expressive instrument in that same way.
Wonderful sentiment. I saw Jerry beginning in 77 so I missed the early shows. I am a trained musician and big fan. Jerry was legendary musician; right up there with the other greats that started in the 60ties and 70ties. The music will endure. That said, as you pointed out, tapes dont lie! While Jerry had a nice folksy voice, he and the others had major issues with intonation and phrasing. Their singing was far far below their instrumental skills, and I've often felt that if they could have sung as good as they played, they'd have opened up a whole new audience. They'd have been thought of as one of the best bands EVER! (I still think they were) I heard Wilco cover Ripple from Port Chester (on UTUBE) last year: what a great rendition, especially because as a vocal song, they could sing IN TUNE. Perhaps a less understood side of Jerrys greatness was his respect for the individual fan. What I mean is that in the early years, when the psychedelic period was happening, and the band had a more personal connection with the audience (not an arena show!) you had thousands of fans whose souls were WIDE OPEN at shows, due of course to LSD. In those times, Jerry showed his utter class s a musician and more importantly as a person. He had open access to the minds and souls of thousands. I would venture to say that most of us would agree that he NEVER used his access in a selfish or sloppy way. If you can understand this, (perhaps you've had a psychedelic experience, at a concert!) Jerry was the coolest guy there was; in the best sense of the word cool. He never messed with you when he so easily could have. He didnt push his trip on us; he went with the Boys, and was happy if you came along. Thats what I miss the most. There are very few folks I want in my head besides me (and thats questinable at times!) Ole Jer was top of the list.
There are many performances of Jerry singing that I think are quite wonderful, but it is very much the case that he learned to be a good singer while on stage. There are many early performances of the Grateful Dead where Jerry's voice sounds flat out terrible. I love the man, and think his singing, for the most part, got better and better over the course of his life, but the criticism of his singing - particularly early on - was not unjustified.
In the summer of '79 I hitchhiked from Seattle down to Berkeley just to see what that was like.... and went to see The Jerry Garcia Band play at the Keystone Tavern. I hung around with the sound tech before the show (being in recording school at the time} and at some point he pointed me at the light board, cuz the lighting tech didn't show up that night. I had the most fun saturating the band in deep but soft colors ("No bright lights in Jerry eyes!" was the only instruction I got, from Parrish). Betty Cantor showed up to record that night, it was Merl Saunders and "Cats Out Under the Stars" time. But "Dear Prudence" was my favorite song of the evening. Everything noted below and more...
I have to say that I was quite innocent when I met Jerry the love of my life forever still to this day of April 23, 2024 on this day I just woke up + found this most beautiful song ! ❤️🐇🐰🌹🕊️💀☠️🎵🪽💦👻☮️👽🪐🛸🚀☄️🔥⚡️💥✨peace to all of us !
My first experience with the dead was a Jerry Garcia concert in 1984 at the Wiltern. He played Dear Prudence and turned me on and my life around. Thank you Jerry. ❤
I saw Jerry at Caldwell College in i think was 1983 , of course I had no ticket and as we were walking around someone lifted up the fence , me and my 2 buddies went for it along with dozens of others. about 2 seconds after that security was pouncing on people coming under. It was a general admission show and we went straight to the stage but didn't stay there long once the show started ( it was disgusting) so we worked our way back and climbed some tree next to a campus building , we watched just about the whole show from about 40 feet up in an oak tree. Needless to say , we didn't do much dancing but it was fuckin' cool none the less , the scariest part was driving down the mountain after the show in my 64 Econoline , I had almost no brakes and was as high as six mother fkrs. What a night !
I'm not sure how often you all get chills when listening to music but this specific video is magic. It starts at around 3:35 where the bassist looks over to Jerry with this sly little grin, silently telling J there's something special going on and he can feel it. In the next 15 seconds, you see J start his verse, get caught up in the feeling too, look back over to the bassist almost to say "yea, you're right", and then he visibly gets the chills just as everything seems to click. I swear I got them at the same time as Jerry -a euphoric little quiver sealing the fate of this rendition as an absolute classic. Music can be so magical.
wow... you're so deep and insightful... almost like you were up there on stage with them *rolleyes*. (This show probably went down 10 years before you were born)
I love how he always incorporates the chord progression in his solos, and in this one, the descending bass line, occasionally landing on and emphasizing those odd notes.
I saw this performed 3 years later at the Flynn in Burlington, VT. Melvin Seals was on keys. It came outa "Tangled Up In Blue", went back, came back, went back. Time itself became an abstract. Just magical.....
Absolutely the best cover of this beautiful song that I've ever heard. Jerry flat out turned it around and then shot it into space and brought it back down to earth like only he could! Beautiful, thank you
Jerry was amazing. I loved Dear Prudence. Not long after this recording, I saw The JGB play Glass Onion in Burlington, Vt. Still one of my most favorite memories...
This is why Jerry Garcia is my favorite musician. The performance, the emotive, deep places and his solos, particularly on some of the slower things like this are so musical...I find myself coming back to this video time after time and never regret it.
JGB and the Grateful Dead who is probably one of the top five things that happened in my life in 1969, I have absolutely no idea what type of individual I would’ve turned out to be now without ever hearing Jerry play live. He opened up my mind to so many windows
Really enjoyed how when he put his neck to his chest, he was channeling celestial sounds that came blasting through, then blacked back into time and space, moving his head back up to the mic to hit the outro … too beautiful
It'll happen, the underground will correct. when the times are mist chaotic is when the best music is made. (personally I'm praying rap stays the fuck out of it) best art of all types out of hard times.
Jerry was a great singer, in the most important way a singer can be great. He touched your heart, made you feel the song, got the message of the song across. His voice seemed to radiate love....
I don't think 🤔 that 1980 would be considered the early days of the Grateful Dead, especially since it's the JGB! and the fact that 1980 @ Capitol Theater is absolutely year Jerry's EXISTENCE,hands down! I've never seen Jerry more happy! I highly recommend "Mystery Train" possibly from this very show ?
I'm an even bigger Pigpen fan but holy shit it makes me want to cry knowing that this can't be witnessed physically anymore. and that's Jerry and Pig asking with the Dead. thanks anyway, RU-vid
I am having a total love affair with this song in my life now and discovering Jerry working it capably out in 1980...o my, o my, o my...playing it different ways at different times of the day..it's like oreo's & milk or magic and sunrise.
I was 12 years old when Jerry died. I hated the Grateful Dead Bc my parents were/are deadheads and I hated it always on. Currently Garcia is my favorite musician all-time and what I wouldn’t give to have saw him live. This cover of Dear Prudence is a huge reason why I feel that way.
I'm sitting on my girlfriend's couch, with her cat named Aja who is a funny rascal, black with a bum left eye. Not sure how she got that misfortune, but it doesn't seem to bother her too much. Anyway, it's early in the morning around 8am. I woke up, and couldn't fall back asleep. I'm usually listening to Jerry Garcia or the Dead, but this song finds me in good spirits and contextualizes things around me. It's not that bad, life is quite beautiful. Everything is a choice whether or not you wish to revive the blessings cast upon you.
I saw this tour at the Bushnell theater in Hartford Connecticut. Bobby and the Midnight's opened up for Jerry. At the end of the show both bands jammed together.
I remember sitting in my 97 buick park avenue listening to this while chiefing with snoop talking about the future of music. True story whether you want to believe it or not is upto you
Seriously, Dear Prudence? Simply Amazing. We Miss you Jerry. 👌 This is such a great ensemble performing a really great song. Such a humble start that seems so simple on the surface, but evolves into a deep, intricate, passionate heartfelt performance. My favorite version of this Beatles song is the JGB version.
