era

Disco/Funk

1978–1982

Shakedown Street, funkier grooves

tune the ear to disco/funk before reading the tells.

Hell In A Bucket — Worcester Centrum, 11/5/85 (Brent B3)

Keyboardist

Keith → Brent Mydland (1979) Hammond B3 + aggressive Fender Rhodes, competes with Jerry in the mix

Jerry's voice

Jerry's signature rasp takes hold

Recording quality

Soundboards polished and compressed; studio work leans glossy

Drummers

Two drummers standard; "Drums/Space" segment formalizes

Venue sound

Arenas dominate; larger reverb, bigger crowds

Tempo & energy

Settled into consistent pocket tempos

Signature songs

Shakedown Street, Alabama Getaway, Feel Like a Stranger, Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance

1978 Egypt 9/15–16 Three nights at the Great Pyramid, Giza. Bill Graham production. Lunar eclipse on 9/16.
1978 Closing of Winterland NYE 1978. Final show at the venue. Five-hour party — Dan Aykroyd did the midnight countdown, John Cipollina guested.
1978 Shakedown Street Disco-influenced, produced by Lowell George. Title track defines the era.
1979 Keith & Donna leave; Brent Mydland joins April 1979. Brent on Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes — brighter, more aggressive keys, male harmonies replace Donna. Here's an Alabama Getaway from Brent's first year.
1980 Keith passes Car accident, July 23. Former bandmate lost a year after leaving.
1980 Radio City 10/22–31 Acoustic/electric sets begin. Reckoning / Dead Set recorded here.
1980 Go to Heaven Brent's first album. Alabama Getaway / Saint of Circumstance debut.
1981 Greek Theatre, Berkeley Becomes a near-annual tradition through 1989.
1982 Throwing Stones debuts Sept 17 1982 at Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland ME. Hearing Throwing Stones ⇒ 1982–1995.