Grateful Dead - Lexington, KY 4/21/78

Live at Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, April 21, 1978: 0:00:00 - Promised Land 0:04:46 - Dire Wolf 0:06:55 - Mama Tried 0:09:35 - Mexicali Blues 0:14:14 - Ramble on Rose 0:24:45 - Funiculi Funicula 0:27:46 - Passenger 0:32:55 - Row Jimmy 0:44:21 - It's All Over Now 0:53:04 - Brown Eyed Women 0:59:19 - Music Never Stopped 1:09:20 - Samson and Delilah 1:17:41 - Ship of Fools 1:30:26 - Playin' in the Band 1:46:27 - Rhythm Devils 1:56:16 - Jam 2:01:30 - Stella Blue 2:13:26 - Truckin' 2:22:31 - Playin' in the Band 2:29:37 - Werewolves of London Comments by David Lemieux (written April 16, 2007 - December 31, 2012): In 1978, the Grateful Dead hit the road for two short spring tours, one in April (4/6 to 4/24) and one in May (5/5 to 5/17), or maybe it was one long spring tour with a week and half break in the middle. Regardless, they hit the road and played some mighty fine shows. Some lesser lights, too, but for the most part this was an extremely interesting period for the Dead. The GD's tape vault is missing 4/6 through 4/16/78, but it contains the rest of the shows from 4/18 onward. If you own the 'So Many Roads' box set (epic!), you'll know of the "Stella Blue" from 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, but nothing else from that show has been released, so we're pleased to play some of the first set, featuring "Promised Land, Dire Wolf, Mama Tried/Mexicali Blues, Ramble On Rose, Funiculi Funicula, Passenger". The bulk of "Dire Wolf" is missing from the master reel, but otherwise this is a typically hot-sounding Betty recording. This Lexington show is overall pretty good, but the next two nights in Nashville and Normal (IL) are both top notch Dead and are worth seeking out. You may recall that last week played you some of the first set from 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, a solid all-around show, although one that's overshadowed by the next two nights. From the end of the first set in Kentucky, we have "Row Jimmy, It's All Over Now, Brown-Eyed Women, The Music Never Stopped". These are particularly good versions of "Row Jimmy" and "It's All Over Now", and although "The Music Never Stopped" features some great peaking, the one from three nights later on 4/24/78 in Normal, IL, is so hot that leaves many lesser versions wanting. From 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, we are pleased to present this first-set closing jam of "It's All Over Now, Brown-Eyed Women, The Music Never Stopped", all of which are played exceptionally well. As you may have noticed the past couple of weeks, we've played some music from 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, and this week we're pleased to continue with more from that same fine show, with the start of the second set, featuring "Samson and Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Playing In the Band/Rhythm Devils". This was the tour during which "Drums" became "The Rhythm Devils" portion of the show, from short five minute drum duets to massive 15-20 minute percussion extravaganzas, during which other band and crew members would join in on the fun. If you've been following the Tapers' Section the past few weeks, you'll notice we've played some music from 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, and we're happy to continue that this week, with the end of the show featuring "Jam/Stella Blue, Truckin'/Playing In The Band; Werewolves Of London, US Blues". The show three days later on 4/24/78 is widely known for it's "Stayin' Alive" teases, but this "Jam" from 4/21 coming out of "Rhythm Devils" has distinct "Stayin' Alive" grooves going on. Very cool stuff, one of the better stand-alone jams from 1978. This is the second version of "Werewolves Of London", debuted a couple of days before on 4/19/78 in Columbus. Interestingly, Warren Zevon's "Werewolves" entered the pop music charts on 4/22/78. Did the Dead have anything to do with that? We just don't know. An old friend from Ottawa, Canada, went to see the Dead in Syracuse on 5/9/78, a short three hour drive from Ottawa. On the way down, he and his crew played "Werewolves of London" relentlessly, singing along the whole way. He said they were completely floored when the Dead encored with "Werewolves". The Dead, playing a cover of a current, brand-new hit single that was all over the radio at the time. Very cool. Steve Willcock, this one's for you.