One-man-band Keller Williams has released albums on which he plays guitar, bass and a variety of other instruments, but a new benefit album finds the Virginia native performing Grateful Dead covers strictly on piano. The simply-titled KEYS contains 10 Grateful Dead classics and is available now via iTunes. All proceeds from the album will benefit The Rex Foundation.

You can stream Keller’s version of Terrapin Station from KEYS…

Williams discusses the new release on his website, “It’s no secret I have an unhealthy fascination with the Grateful Dead. Whenever I sit down at the piano it seems the only thing that comes out are Jerry ballads.  Even though these songs are not all Jerry ballads, I have sort of made them that way.  The lyrics, although I’ve been singing them most of my adult life, are not 100% perfect. Like any other music I play, I’ve taken liberties.  All of the proceeds from the sale of these songs goes to support the Rex Foundation, which was started by the Grateful Dead, in the 80′s, so you can feel good about that!”

Here’s the tracklist for Keller Williams’ KEYS…

READ ON

The Grateful Dead played many killer concerts at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York back in the early ’70s. Grateful Dead legacy manager David Lemieux will spin one of those shows, 2/24/71, at the historic venue on February 16th, complete with a full light show.

“It’s no secret that the Grateful Dead loved playing at the Capitol Theatre,” says the band’s archivist David Lemieux in a press release. “The show, from 2/24/71, the final Grateful Dead show at the Capitol, and the last show of a six night run, features many recently-debuted songs (“Bertha,” “Loser,” “Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Playing In The Band,” “Deal,” and “Bird Song”), as well as a Pigpen-centric batch of great music, including “I’m A King Bee,” “Good Lovin’,” and “Lovelight,” with these latter two clocking in at nearly 20 minutes each.” This show has yet to be released by the band.

After Lemieux is done spinning 2/24/71,  the theatre will play a greatest unreleased hits “mixtape” assembled by the archivist, pulled directly from the vault and including tracks from a recently discovered batch of tapes from 1969-70 that will be used for Dave’s Picks Vol. 6.

Tickets will be available tomorrow, Feb. 6, at 12PM ET.

Here’s the setlist to find out what you can expect…

READ ON

In the early days of Saturday Night Live, the Grateful Dead were no strangers to the program. It didn’t hurt that two of the show’s main writers, Tom Davis and Al Franken, were big Deadheads. One of the group’s performances took place on April 5th, 1980 on an episode hosted by Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin as the Grateful Dead were promoting the soon-to-be-released Go To Heaven LP.

We’ve been searching for footage of this appearance, in which the Dead performed Alabama Getaway and Saint of Circumstance, forever. Turns out we should’ve just looked at DeadVids.com.

[Hat Tip - Chris DiLeo]

Yesterday, indie pioneers Yo La Tengo played an in-store at Amoeba Records in San Francisco to promote the release of their new album – Fade. YLT mixed originals with covers by the likes of The Beach Boys and Sun Ra. Included in the eight-song set was the Hoboken band’s version of the opening track from SF legends the Grateful Dead’s debut album – The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion).

Watch as Ira, James and Georgia add their own spin to the classic tune which they work into YLT original Double Dare off 1993′s Painful LP…

Yo La Tengo – The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)

While the latest installment of the Grateful Dead’s Dave’s Picks live archival series – Volume 5 – isn’t expected to ship until February 1st, the band has just announced details of Volume 6, due to ship on May 1st. Dave’s Picks Volume 6 will consist of two complete shows featuring material that had been missing from the band’s “vault” for more than 40 years: 2/2/70 Fox Theater, St. Louis, MO and 12/20/69 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA with a bonus disc for Dave’s Picks subscribers containing 75 minutes of music from the Dead’s 12/21/69 performance at the Fillmore Auditorium.

Recently, a batch of reels containing long lost live recordings were given back to the Dead marking the first major return of material to the vault since 2005′s Houseboat Tapes. The return of these reels has allowed GD “legacy manager” David Lemieux to put out two complete shows as Dave’s Picks Volume 6. Though only six weeks separate the two performances, a lineup change happened in between. Keyboardist Tom Constanten is on hand for the 12/20/69 show while the 2/2/70 gig was the Dead’s first without Constanten. Tom does provide a first-hand perspective on 12/20/69 for the volume’s liner notes. Bear recorded both shows which both feature plenty of Pigpen material including a 35+ minute Turn On Your Lovelight from 12/20/69.

With each Dave’s Picks release limited to 13,000 copies, the Dead warn that the only way to guarantee yourself this year’s installments is to purchase a subscription. The subscription offer ends in a little more than a week on January 22, 2013 at 11:59PM PST and those subscribing will also receive the aforementioned 12/21/69 bonus disc. We look forward to hearing these long-lost recordings

Nearly twenty years ago Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia re-encountered the song Whiskey In The Jar when he recorded the Irish traditional song with David Grisman for their studio album Shady Grove. The next day Jerry showed his Grateful Dead band mates the ditty during a rehearsal at the band’s Front Street space in San Rafael, Calif.

A recording of Garcia performing Whiskey In The Jar with the Dead at the Front Street rehearsal was released as part of the So Many Roads box set. Take a listen to hear a most talkative Jerry shooting the shit with Bobby and teaching the band the tune…

While the Grateful Dead soundchecked Whiskey In The Jar twice in 1993 they never performed it in public. A number of post-Jerry bands including The Dead and Furthur have performed the ditty.

Each day in December we posted a must-hear track from Grateful Dead history that was selected by Ed Martin for a project dubbed “Unofficial 31 Days of Dead.” Martin started putting these compilations together in 2010 and was kind enough to let us present his picks this time around.

[Artwork by Brian Martin]

For those who were waiting for the whole compilation to be uploaded so you didn’t have to download it piecemeal, today is the day. We’ve got all 31 segments plus the bonus track available for your listening pleasure. Click on the links below to read Ed’s write ups on each one.

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead 2012 Downloads (Seven Parts Total): Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6 and Pt. 7
• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead 2012 Writeups: Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30 and Dec. 31

We’ve reached the end of our Unofficial 31 Days of Dead feature. Ed Martin has done a fantastic job of presenting classic tracks from the Grateful Dead’s illustrious history. It’s been an honor to be the new home of this compilation and we’re deeply indebted to Ed for all his hard work in sharing these incredible selections. Also, thanks to Brian Levine for the artwork and for turning us on to Ed’s project.

December 31

Truckin’ > The Other One > Morning Dew
12/31/72 Winterland, San Francisco, CA

*BONUS TRACK*
Thanks Bill Graham > Sugar Magnolia
12/31/72 Winterland, San Francisco, CA 

Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s amazing performance at Winterland on New Year’s Eve in 1972. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate that milestone than by selecting the “big jam” from that show to ring in 2013.  I also threw in Sugar Magnolia as a bonus track.  It was Bill Graham’s favorite Grateful Dead song and they usually obliged him with it on New Year’s Eve.

I’m taking the day off to pop the champagne cork. Today’s write-up comes courtesy of the Dead Essays blog.  I hope you enjoyed the 2012 edition of the Unofficial 31 Days of Dead.  Happy 2013 all!

READ ON

December 30

Not Fade Away > Turn On Your Lovelight
9/19/70 Fillmore East, New York, NY

Here is some high-energy Grateful Dead to get us all primed for New Year’s Eve. Before Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad was introduced in the repertoire (that would happen a few weeks following this show), a Not Fade Away > Lovelight combo was somewhat common. This version is probably one of the finest performances of that pairing (5/7/70 from MIT is a strong contender but the abysmal audience recording makes it almost unlistenable).

This version of Not Fade Away is a personal favorite because Garcia slips in two dazzling thematic jams – a few China Cat licks immediately preceded by the most-developed Darkness, Darkness jam ever played (The Youngbloods). The transition back into Not Fade Away is seamless and the screaming finale led by Weir and Pigpen is exceptionally hot.  Without a moment to catch your breath, the band begins the opening notes of Lovelight.

READ ON

December 29

Alligator Jam
6/6/70 Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA

Coming out of the tribal rhythm of Drums, this swampy Alligator jam is cut from the same cloth as the infamous version performed a year later at the closing of the Fillmore East (4/29/71).  Not surprisingly, it also contains elements of The Other One from Harpur College the month prior. While not quite reaching the same amazing heights of either, it is still some outrageously brilliant GD music that is not to be missed.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?j13y8e8g1735g63
LMA Link: http://archive.org/details/gd1970-06-06.sbd.miller.flac16

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28

December 28

It Hurts Me Too / Beat It On Down The Line (Hidden Track) both tracks with guest performer, Duane Allman on slide guitar
4/26/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY

Inviting guest performers to play with the Grateful Dead was always a crap shoot. Once in a while the gamble paid off and on a few very rare occasions there was magic. One fine example is the Dead’s collaborations with the Allman Brothers. For a great discussion on this pairing see http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2009/08/allmans-dead.html.

Today’s selection and hidden track feature the late Duane Allman lending his soulful slide guitar to a pair of classic cover songs during the Dead’s historic final stand at the Fillmore East in New York City. These tracks are outtakes from the Grateful Dead’s official release, Ladies And Gentlemen, The Grateful Dead. I suppose the powers-that-be could not work out a suitable arrangement that would have enabled these tracks to appear on what is otherwise an outstanding document of that four-night run.

The folks over at Wolfgang’s Vault did a nice write-up of this so I will defer to them:

The next tune is a cover of Elmore James’, ‘It Hurts Me Too.’ This is a classic performance and here Duane is in his element, wailing the blues. Everything jells here and the combination of Pigpen’s bluesy vocal and harp delivery, combined with Allman and Garcia both playing slide guitar, is irresistible. Allman also adds his distinctive signature and a sense of wild abandon to “Beat It On Down The Line,” an electrified jugband tune from the Dead’s 1967 debut album. It’s a shame they didn’t get the chance to stretch out and seriously improvise while Allman was onstage, but what is here is highly enjoyable and documents this historic meeting.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?rzlnftzx9vfplqr
LMA Link: http://archive.org/details/gd1971-04-26.113839.sbd.flac16

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27

December 27

The Eleven
10/12/68 Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA

Today’s selection comes from the fabled Avalon Ballroom in 1968. Besides being comprised of absolutely crushing jams, the show is also exciting in the context of the notoriety for which it has become famous. First, it was probably the most mislabeled tape in the long history of Grateful Dead tape trading.  In addition, 10/12/68 was allegedly the evening that Jimi Hendrix showed up to jam with the Dead. For a fascinating and detailed essay about those events please go to the Lost Live Dead blog.

Legendary taper Dick “Picks” Latvala is quoted on Deadlists saying that 10/12/68 is among his favorite performances, calling it “Primal Dead.”  Here is how the folks over at deadlistening.com describe the term, “Primal Dead” in the great year of 1968:

As far as the Grateful Dead go, 1968 contains a collection of music that is in many ways unparalleled across the vast 30 year span of their career. Like no other year, 1968 never spares a single minute toying around with the idea of taking you on a psychedelic music journey. It doesn’t gently take your hand and lead you down a path which exposes you to some magic land. No, 1968 is more like being run over by a freight train fueled on electric Kool-Aid steam. Drop the needle down at any instance of 1968 Grateful Dead and you’re catapulted directly into the heart of a musical expression so lysergic, so steeped in cosmic adventurism, it defies any true comparison to what we might generally bring to mind as the “psychedelic scene” of the late 60’s. The Dead in ’68 go beyond.

This version of The Eleven from 10/12/68 is simply incredible!  It gathers rapidly intensifying speed and energy before exploding into colossal psychedelic earthquakes of rhythm that leave lysergic aftershocks of cosmic guitar lines reverberating through your body. Yeah, it’s that good.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?kvs98cdhamgoygc
LMA Link: http://archive.org/details/gd1968-10-12.sbd.gans.miller

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 26

December 26

Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain
4/24/78 Horton Field House, Normal, IL

This version of Scarlet>Fire from the Horton Field House at Univ. of Illinois is often compared to the versions from 2/5/78 and 5/8/77. The band is ON from the start. A controlling presence right from the beginning, Phil slides his bass into Scarlet. The whole group is in complete sync  interacting with each other at what seems to be a higher level. Garcia solos long and fluently before handing the introduction of the transition jam over to Donna. Stepping back in, with Phil hot on his heels, he fashions a lengthy dreamy jam that gradually and effortlessly transmutes into Fire.

[Artwork by Brian Levine]

 The drummers get locked in and the groove gets thick as Garcia turns the Mutron waaaaay up to a rude and obscenely high level (in a good way). Not to be outdone, Bobby showcases his recently learned slide guitar skills. I’ve heard some people say that Bobby’s slide work here sounds like seagulls being strangled but this is actually some of my favorite guitar work from Bobby! Garcia is so into it that before the final ascent in Fire, he ad libs “Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn.” It may be the only time that he ever did that.  Hearing such inspired music from this band sends chills up and down your spine.

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25

December 25

Lazy Lightning > Supplication
11/9/79 Buffalo Auditorium, Buffalo, NY

The very prolific reviewer on LMA who goes by the moniker ‘capn doubledose’ says this version of Lazy Lightning > Supplication is “easily one of the best ever done.”  A guy with a name like that would never steer you wrong about the Grateful Dead, right?  Alas, this highly charged version was left off Road Trips, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Fall ’79). Huh?

Jerry’s rapid runs over the rhythmic 7/7 time signature in Supplication sound like electrical sparks dancing up and down the neck of his guitar. The ending is simply explosive.  I’ll take a double dose, capn!

Jerry Christmas!

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?u37445seu7m1cuc
LMA Link: http://archive.org/details/gd1979-11-09.sbd.stern.flac16

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23 and Dec. 24

December 24

Crazy Fingers > Stella Blue
6/26/76 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL

Performing two ballads in a row to a live audience is risky. But when did the Grateful Dead ever follow the rules of mainstream rock and roll anyway?

[Artwork by Brian Levine]

This Crazy Fingers > Stella Blue sequence is absolutely stunning. Both are played at a slow, soulful pace.  Jerry’s delicate vocal delivery is extremely passionate and Team Godchaux brings their A-game. Donna’s sweet vocal harmonies and Keith’s twinkling piano contributions up in the high register are things of pure beauty. The Middle-Eastern jam that floats out of Crazy Fingers has just the right amount of spaciness before dropping into Stella Blue.

Download Link:  http://www.mediafire.com/?qpc88v2oep49uyr
LMA Link: http://archive.org/details/gd1976-06-26.mtx.flac16

• Unofficial 31 Days of Dead: 2010 Edition, 2011 Edition, Dec. 1st, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23