Americana
1970–1974
Folk-rock turn, Workingman's / Beauty, Wall of Sound
listen first
tune the ear to americana before reading the tells.
Uncle John's Band — Fillmore West, 4/9/70
Ramble On Rose — Jai Alai Fronton, 6/23/74 (Wall of Sound)
Truckin' — Milwaukee PAC, 10/23/72 (Bill alone)
what to listen for
events in this era
- 1970 Tom Constanten leaves (Jan) After New Orleans bust. Back to just Pigpen on keys.
- 1970 Workingman's Dead Acoustic turn. CSNY harmonies, concise songwriting.
- 1970 American Beauty Folk-rock masterpiece. Ripple, Truckin', Box of Rain, Attics of My Life.
- 1971 Mickey leaves Single-drummer era begins (1971–1975) — tighter, lighter, jazzier.
- 1971 Keith Godchaux joins (late '71) Jazz-piano era begins. Pigpen steps back due to illness.
- 1972 Donna Jean joins Female harmonies begin — wailing over Jerry on the jams. Listen to Playing In The Band from Veneta: that's the Donna sound.
- 1972 Europe '72 tour Legendary 22-show run across the UK and continent. Album distilled from the tapes.
- 1972 Veneta, Oregon 8/27 Sunshine Daydream — Springfield Creamery benefit. 103°F, Dark Star that never ends.
- 1972 Pigpen's last show Hollywood Bowl 6/17. Health decline forces him out. Hear his signature lead-vocal growl on Mr. Charlie while you still can.
- 1972 He's Gone debuts May 23 1972 Lyceum London. Written for Lenny Hart; takes on new meaning after each band-member death.
- 1973 Watkins Glen 7/28 Summer Jam — Allman Brothers, The Band, Dead. 600K attendees, largest audience in rock history at the time.
- 1973 Pigpen passes March 8, age 27. First of the band to die. The blues-and-organ grind he brought is gone from here on.
- 1973 Wake of the Flood First self-released album on Grateful Dead Records.
- 1974 Wall of Sound tour 586 speakers, 26,400 watts — most ambitious PA ever built. Crystal separation on tape.
- 1974 Winterland 10/20 Last show before the hiatus. "One From The Vault" run.
- 1974 From the Mars Hotel Tight, funky. US Blues, China Doll, Scarlet Begonias first recorded here.