Stormy Mondays | Grateful Dead 1974 Retrospective Finale

We’re finally at the end of this year-long retrospective of the Grateful Dead in 1974 (which really started with last year’s retrospective on the fall tour from 1973, when many of the sweetest trends in ’74 got their start). And we’re going to end with a really fascinating and beautiful suite in a year that is absolutely chock full of the most interesting music.

From near the end of the Winterland pre-hiatus run comes an amazing passage of “Sugar Magnolia” > “He’s Gone” > “Truckin’” > “Caution Jam” > “Drumz” > “Truckin’” > “Black Peter.” “He’s Gone” sets up the bluesy mood of the sweeping segment, stretching out over nearly 13 minutes before launching into about a minute and a half of “Truckin’” that quickly gives way to a full blown “Caution Jam.” When the rager hits its apex, it sounds for a moment like the band is going to try to segue back into the GD classic, but Billy cuts loose instead with an intense solo that deflates into a nearly 12-minute space that stay entirely rich and beautiful all the way through. Really must-hear jamming from the godfathers of jam at the peak of their jamming powers. As always, enjoy!

•CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S MIX

Whole Show (10/19/74) Stream:

Also in the 1974 retrospective:

•5/19/74 (individual songs and a big suite)

•5/21 /74 (Longest ever “Playing in the Band”

•6/20/74 (“Truckin’” > “Eyes”; first “Slipknot!” sort of)

•6/30/74 (“China” > “Rider”, “Playing” > “Uncle John’s” > “Playing”

•July 1974 (Lots of individual songs)

•Seastone s (Electronic weirdness)

•10/17/74 (Expansive “Other One”)

Also GD Fall 1973

•Part I (“Half Step” > “Playing” > “Uncle John’s Band” > “Playing”

•Part II (“He’s Gone” > “Truckin’” > “Other One” > “Bobby McGee”)

•Part III ( “WRS” > “Dark Star” > “Eyes” > “Other One” > “Wharf Rat”

Written By: Dan Alford