Day 255: Hard To Handle, 4/29/71

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Comments: 4 Comments

[Lunchbox’s Note: I’m pleased to present the DFAY’s second ever guest post. Regular readers may recognize the stylings of Steven Seachrist, who has contributed many comments over the course of the project. Steven has written reviews of every Grateful Dead track released on CD. Wowzers! Some readers may also recognize Steven from his excellent blog post over at the Dead Essays blog in January 2014 about the Europe 72 Overdubs. I’m very pleased that Steven agreed to do a write up for the blog and I hope readers appreciate his insight into the Grateful Dead, not only on this post but in his comments throughout this, and other sites. Thanks Steven!]

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First off, let me send out a big thank you to LBX for inviting me to submit a guest post. I really dig writing about the music of the Good Ol’ Grateful Dead and I’ve covered every song version officially released on CD, but haven’t posted very much of this content as yet. With the release of Spring 1990 (The Other One), that’s over 3500 reviews.

I realize this is just one man’s opinion and nothing I say is likely to change yours. But hearing a variety of takes on the same music is really interesting to me, and I always read and consider reviews from other listeners. I’ve been turned on to some of my favorite music that way. And I don’t get offended if my opinion differs from yours. So I hope y’all can cut me the same slack. It’s just a fun diversion and not intended to rile anyone, even if I really find something sounds awful to my ears.

I scanned the DFAY stats and noticed my favorite version of “Hard to Handle” had not been covered yet, so here it is:

Yeah, the earlier-released version of this song on Bear’s Choice is fine and all, but it comes nowhere near the ferocious jamming heard here. First, Pigpen works his way slinkily through a couple of verses and choruses. Next, he begins a short improv segment that is really no more than a bridge to the real jams. Somewhere around 2:50, Weir begins dominating the sounds with wild funk chunks. He is amazingly adept at this, and if you are one of those that has never given poor Bobby his due, listen carefully here. All the while, Phil props up the bottom with a complimentary lead-bass run. Garcia steps up at around 4:00 and steers the song into a hint of a droning segment that will be capitalized on later. He telegraphs a four-chord progression that not everyone picks up on, then it’s back to the drone and a tantalizing hang on the one-chord. Next time through, Phil starts to move on the changes and Weir gets it, too. One more big build and they are all soaring on one of the coolest jams I’ve ever heard them pull off. Right at 8:00, they return to the main song, and Pigpen takes it directly home with a downright chilling repeat of the first verse and chorus. Turn this one up, and you will dance.

Complete Setlist 4/29/71

Previous Hard To Handle DFAY Selections

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4 comments to “Day 255: Hard To Handle, 4/29/71”

  2. Wow! Great job, Stephen! I’ve enjoyed your responses to this blog and you’ve certainly hit a home run with this guest post. Spectacular version here. When I think of 71 I think of late in the year when Keith joined but this choice has me looking forward to whatever “lost Mountain Girl tapes” we’ll have coming our way next year.

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