Artist:  The Grateful Dead

Title:  History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice)

Date:  1973

Label:  Warner Bros. Records   BS 2721

Notes:  Recorded February 13 – 14 1970, at the Fillmore East in New York this set has the best of both worlds. The acoustic side with the sweet and simple Dark Hollow, the back porch feel of Wake up Little Susie and the rest is just right for a mellow night and a cold beverage. The blistering electric side will rouse you from your comfortable half-nap and have you up and dancing again. The band just smokes on these cuts. I believe this has been subsequently released as Dick's Picks Volume 4. A fine tribute to the blues through the eyes of Pig Pen, who left us on March 8, 1973.

Line Up

Jerry Garcia: lead guitar, vocals
Bob Weir: guitar, vocals
Phil Lesh: bass, vocals
Pigpen (Ron McKernan): keyboard, vocals, harmonica
Bill Kreutzmann: percussion
Mickey Hart: percussion
Owsley Stanley: Producer

Track Listing

Side 1

Katie Mae
Dark Hollow
I've Been All Around This World
Wake Up Little Susie
Black Peter

Side 2

Smokestack Lightnin'
Hard to Handle