Grateful Dead - 1973-07-27 - Watkins Glen, NY (Sound Check) (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1973-07-27

Grand Prix Racecourse

Watkins Glenn, NY

Soundboard recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. The Promised Land

02. Sugaree

03. Mexicali Blues

04. Bird Song

05. Big River

06. Tennessee Jed

07. "We're Gonna Take A Short Break"

2nd Set:

08. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo

09. Me And My Uncle

10. Jam >

11. Wharf Rat

12. Around And Around

Grateful Dead - 1973-07-27 - Watkins Glen, NY (Sound Check) (SBD)

Every rock fan knows the story of Watkins Glen, the Summer Jam festival attended by over 600,000 fans who showed up on July 28, 1973 to see and hear The Band, The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead. Today's post, however, captures the Dead the night before that concert in a performance that has become the stuff of legends. Thousands of fans had descended upon Watkins Glen by July 27, 1973, 52 years ago today, camping out overnight in anticipation of the next day's festivities. Robbie Robertson of the Band requested to do a sound check, but was concerned about the crowd in front of the stage. Promoter Bill Graham gave the ok to go ahead with the sound check, so the The Band ran through a few numbers to the delight of the audience. The Allmans did their sound check next, playing One Way Out and Ramblin' Man. Finally it was The Grateful Dead's turn for a sound check. Instead of playing one or two songs and calling it a night, the Dead performed 6, then announced they were going to take a short break, but be right back. They returned to play 5 more tunes, including a 21 minute jam that some Deadheads feel is the finest improvisational work that the band ever performed (go here for more details). Yet, another amazing chapter in their long strange trip, a sound check that turned into a 2 set marathon. Download this soundboard recording to capture the concert before the concert in its entirety.