Psychedelic
1965–1969
Raw, experimental, Acid Tests
listen first
tune the ear to psychedelic before reading the tells.
Big Boss Man — Fillmore Aud., 7/17/66 (ballroom intimacy)
Cryptical Envelopment — Fillmore West, 3/1/69 (Pigpen organ)
Good Morning Little School Girl — Fillmore West, 2/4/69 (fast, aggressive)
what to listen for
events in this era
- 1965 Band forms Jerry, Bob, Phil, Bill, Pigpen. The Warlocks become the Grateful Dead.
- 1966 Trips Festival 1/21–23 Acid Tests peak, thousands attend Longshoremen's Hall.
- 1966 Fillmore & Avalon SF ballroom scene coalesces — clubs and ballrooms, crowd shouts audible.
- 1966 710 Ashbury Band moves to Haight-Ashbury; the commune years begin.
- 1967 Human Be-In 1/14 Golden Gate Park, launches the Summer of Love.
- 1967 The Grateful Dead Debut album — short, fast arrangements of live staples.
- 1967 Mickey Hart joins (late '67) Two drummers begin. Polyrhythms transform the groove.
- 1968 Anthem of the Sun Psychedelic studio experimentation peaks. Heavy tape-collage and overdubs — the album is a studio construct more than a live document.
- 1968 Tom Constanten joins (Nov) Avant-garde keys, short tenure alongside Pigpen.
- 1969 Woodstock Festival debut. Rough set — rain and gear problems. Set list: St. Stephen, Mama Tried, Dark Star, High Time, Lovelight.
- 1969 Altamont 12/6 Infamous festival. Dead were on the bill but did not play.
- 1969 Aoxomoxoa Psychedelic studio peak. 16-track experimentation.
- 1969 Live/Dead First live album. "Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven" as primary evidence.
- 1967 Dark Star debuts Dec 13 1967 at Shrine Exposition Hall. Regular rotation 1968–74, rare 1975–88, revived 1989. Hearing it ≈ pre-1975 or post-1989.