Happiness is Jamming, Happiness is Drumming
Here it is folks, the best Grateful Dead first set opening sequence in the last 40 years.
At the famous pre-Fire on the Mountain, Happiness Is Drumming Show at the Tower in Upper Darby on June 22, 1976, the band opened with US Blues, The Music Never Stopped and Crazy Fingers>Comes A Time. Enjoy
here
(Ok those Dark Star>ST Stephen>The Eleven openings etc were the bomb, that's why I said "Modern")
Reviewer: stellaobscura - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - August 17, 2018
Subject: Excellent Keith Night!
First off, the quality is just sparkling. I find this to be one of my favorite 'hidden gem' shows, both is audio quality (there are a few little issues), and overall playing.
A guy below me thought the Tennessee Jed was a bit weak, but I beg to differ. Keith plays a long solo with Jerry in it that just rips, and Keith stays hot all night, pushing the big man musically...to each his own though, this is a slower 76 show..
I am a huge fan of the Crazy Fingers...again keith brings the heat throughout/
Reviewer: Mind Wondrin - favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - February 13, 2018
Subject: Another solid show from the hot June '76 tour
Tix for these Tower Theater shows were advertised through the Deadhead Mailer in one of the early direct-to-heads experiments.You might save this show for after 6/9, 6/14, 6/29; though you can't go wrong on this tour: dig in anywhere and you'll find a set with a few aces (in fact this show is something of a hidden gem). It has an unusual start to the First Set and is also known for having a Happiness Jam in Playing, but the real sequence is later on. It would be nice to see an official release of the rest of the Second Set (if not the whole show). It's the best show between the Beacon Theater run and the final show in Chicago. There was no encore.
First Set. U.S. Blues was a focus due to the Bicentennial/Philadelphia. If you're not old enough to know what was going on in Philly in '76 (or what the whole nation was like that June), there isn't room here. But they come out strong. They were playing Music Never Stopped every night so this is aced as it should be - if not as big as 6/14 or 6/29. The sound is more dialed-in for Crazy Fingers than on the 1st night. It's not 6/8 but it has merits. The next several are average '76 - save for Tennessee Jed, which is lifeless and torpid ('76 wasn't the year for Jeds). Keith is great on They Love Each Other. It's not 10/9, but it's good. However Cassidy is just great; better even than 6/18. Ship of Fools is a bit flubbed. The second verse is goofed and then the third is deftly switched with half of the second.
Second Set. Playing in the Band (others look for rights) is mainly notable for having a Happiness is Drumming Jam (proto Fire on the Mountain). It's started by Phil @14min. It's very '72, but with a tinge of Allah/'75. There's an anomaly @14:23 on the official that's not on the SBDs. RIYL it loose. Phil stays out for Drums, and as for The Wheel, 6/29 is the ONE. Jer pulls back into Playing and though it doesn't really go anywhere, a 35min sammich is always entertaining. Samson is freaking muscular and the start of the show's peak sequence (which should've been the section on Download 4). There's a lengthy Beer Barrel here, but it's complete only on the Vernon AUD and not on the MTX or SBD. Eyes is supertempo - even for a '76 and even at the right pitch. Jer starts with an unreal jazzy jam then it's all wheels driving and spinning tops. The Vernon AUD captures the drummers better, IYL (and the audience is soaring). Jer really drops your jaw a few times (get a bandage), but on places you don't normally expect for Eyes, because he goes back and forth into rhythm figures a bunch. Dancin' is also speedy and Jer goes at some angles here too, trying the less conventional when he takes over (after 5 minutes of laying back). Around takes a powder until the end jam, though it's cool how Jer just bulldozes the seg into Goin' Down the Road. On the latter, the 2nd solo wipes the floor with my brain. One More Saturday leaves 'em satisfactorily satisfied.
1st Set: B
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4 stars HG
Highlights:
U.S. Blues - bashed centennial
Music Never Stopped - tour aced 'em, like this
Cassidy - better than 6/18!
Samson & Delilah - muscular
Eyes of the World- unreal jazzy, wheels and tops
Dancin' in the Streets - goes at some angles
Goin' Down the Road - bulldozed in, floor brain-wiped
SOURCES: The digitalrbb_miller_112218 is the best SBD overall - perfectly patched with a band-taped AUD; it IS a bit fast though, needing -1% pitch. Other AUDs are way too fast (you know who you are) but you need the Vernon for BB Polka. The mtx_seamons_112900 is better in places than the SBD. Playing>Drums>Wheel>Playing is on Download Series #4.
Reviewer: darkstarcrashes_79 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - December 21, 2013
Subject: wow just as good as it looks
how many times did they ever open with these 4 killer tunes? 76 was a smoking year from what I hear on archives being a bit too young to see them then.Just a jamming rock-nroll band in 77 a pristine band but this year was kinda primal imo just letting it ride. this is easily 1 of my personal top 5 Comes A Time. The Eyes /Dancin is an all out jam and the Playin' to start 2nd set just a monster. Great show real decent recording 5 and 4.5 here.
Reviewer: Folkhippy - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 23, 2013
Subject: Overlooked show
This show contains some mighty fine playing. Keith is especially present this evening. His phrasing is quite nuanced. Incredible version of TMNS. Great sound.
Reviewer: Pangolin22 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - July 20, 2011
Subject: Another 76 great
I'm finding more and more that this year is among my favourites and I'd go out on a limb to say the most underrated. The first set is stellar(check out the US blues and Crazy Fingers>Comes a Time)> the second set is even better with one of the most epic post-74 Playin's (very cool to hear the seeds of what would become Fire). The Eyes>Dancin is also incredible. Thanks again to Charlie Miller for putting this together.
Reviewer: musicphotos77 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - April 25, 2011
Subject: this is what made the GD special
I was at this show, it remains one of my favorite of the 70 shows I saw. 2 weeks before the 1976 bicentennial in Philly, a US flag (with a fan to make it fly!) on Keith's piano, they open with US blues! Jer is playin to the flag, the place went nuts. First 4 songs, unique start to this show. Second set , ending with SAT night (it was a Tuesday!), never heard them do that again. No encore but it was such a great show no one minded!!
Reviewer: babyblu - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 28, 2011
Subject: To all the Donna-Doubters,
To all the Donna-Doubters, this is the show where she shines. For any and all of her so-called screeching that so many of you lament, she truly redeems herself here. Cassidy, The Music Never Stopped, Looks Like Rain, these songs were never as good without her and Bobby harmonizing.
Reviewer: Mu-tron - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 22, 2011
Subject: CM and 1976
This is one of my favorite Playin's as well as one of my all time favorite shows. Thanks as always to CM for his time and efforts. This run is a strong example of why 1976 is such a great year.
Reviewer: oldhip - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 7, 2011
Subject: Flashing back
thank you Charlie for another flash back, Good stuff ! Need to roll one up, keep'em coming
Reviewer: amishman0002 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 7, 2011
Subject: What a great show...
I am really enjoying this show and Crazy Fingers>Comes A Time is worth a listen (or two, or three....). That's not the only gem here. I love the Eyes, the jam just kinda takes over the band for the first five minutes or so. Mr. Miller, thank you and another job very well done.
Reviewer: Dylan M - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - March 5, 2011
Subject: Unearthed Gem
Thank you to all involved with this project.
First soundboard available on the archive of this historic concert.
The AUD patches are mixed in well and don't deteriorate the listening experience.
A powerful Crazy Fingers>Comes A Time pairing makes for a most excellent blastoff.
Playin' includes first riffs on "Happiness is Drumming", the eventual "Fire on the Mountain" instrumental. Also quite Spaced out and different from the rock-you-to-the-moon "Phil and Ned" esque 1974 Playin. Sounds like hard-bop out of the Happiness Jam too.
Thank you Charlie Miller. Please keep doing what you do.
Sounds like their playing in your living room.
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Matthew Vernon
on March 5, 2011
