Hear Grateful Dead Soundcheck ‘Crazy Fingers’ Before 1975 ‘One From The Vault’ Concert

Fifty years ago today, the Grateful Dead played an intimate concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco that was immortalized on the live archival album One From The Vault. A previously unreleased performance of “Crazy Fingers” captured at the rehearsal/soundcheck on the day before the legendary show has been shared and can be streamed below.

The Grateful Dead, who were in the middle of a touring hiatus at the time of the One From The Vault show, played the cozy San Francisco venue to celebrate the release of Blues For Allah. The landmark studio album, which the band performed in its entirety at Great American Music Hall, came out on September 1, 1975.

A 50th anniversary deluxe reissue of Blues For Allah is due out on September 12 in various formats featuring nearly two hours of previously unreleased material. Nine tracks taped at the soundtrack/rehearsal on August 12, 1975 — including “Crazy Fingers” — are among the never-before-heard recordings in the upcoming set.

“One of the most ethereally psychedelic lyrics in the entire Grateful Dead canon, this beautiful ballad by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter is like a beautiful dreamscape, like a feather drifting from the sky and landing gently,” Grateful Dead legacy manager and archivist said regarding “Crazy Fingers” in a statement accompanying the track. “This rendition is from the Dead’s rehearsal/soundcheck at the Great American Music Hall on 8/12/75, the day before the classic ‘One From The Vault’ show. Practice makes perfect!”

Listen to the Grateful Dead soundcheck “Crazy Fingers” at the Great American Music Hall on August 12, 1975 below: