"We're all gonna be part of an X-rated movie..."

10-17-74 Winterland setlist & soundboard mp3 download a.k.a. 10/17/74 aka 74-10-17

Time to Give

100 Days of the Grateful Dead, when the idea first occurred to me back in late August/early September, was intended to not only be about posting a fairly significant amount of shows over the last 100 days of the year, but also about somehow raising some money for a few charities that are important to me and I hope might touch your heart, as well.

Okay, well, that didn't go over as planned but the idea to get people to give a few bucks is still very much with me.

So listen, if you're sitting there reading this, please think about checking out the REX FOUNDATION. This is the Grateful Dead's very own non-profit charitable organization so it's kinda exactly in line with this blog and these tunes, eh? Don'tchya think?! (Agree -- it is!)

"The Rex Foundation aims to help secure a healthy environment, promote individuality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights of indigenous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger community, and educate children and adults everywhere."

I know many of us have already given significantly to the Grateful Dead over the years, and some of our dollars have probably gone to the Rex Foundation. But they're not done yet. They're pushing forward and hoping to be able to give even more in the future. What they want to achieve can't be done without the generosity of many.

Look, I'd be willing to bet that everyone reading this has an 5 extra bucks that could be used for something greater than ourselves. One does not need to donate a hundred dollars. You don't even gotta give 20 bucks to help make a difference. Organizations welcome every single dollar they receive... yeah, donating even just a dollar or two is a good thing

Check out Rex or think about giving today to something else that might mean something to you? Thanks!

www.rexfoundation.org

34 Years Ago Tonight...

Grateful Dead ~ October 17, 1974
Winterland Arena, San Francisco

1st Set: The Promised Land, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo,
Black-Throated Wind, Friend Of The Devil, Jack Straw, Loser,
El Paso, China Cat Sunflower-» I Know You Rider, Me And My Uncle,
It Must Have Been The Roses, Weather Report Suite

2nd Set: Scarlet Begonias, Big River, Ramble On Roses, Mexicali Blues,
He's Gone-» The Other One-» Spanish Jam-» Mind Left Body Jam-»
The Other One-» Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia

Encore: Casey Jones

Doesn't look like this is going to be a great show -- Promised Land to open the 1st Set is a little sloppy and there's a technical problem or two, not just in Winterland but also on the recording.

Not gonna be a great show?!? Okay, so the first few minutes ain't perfect but pretty much EVERYTHING that follows is simply Gorgeous! Another (only slightly inferior) soundboard source patches a spot in Rider and also supplies Ramble On Rose and the encore, but other than that, this recording is CD quality. Shall I say it again -- Gorgeous!

A rather significant amount of this show can be found on the commercially released Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. The encore (which was originally on the Steal Your Face album), China-> Rider and He's Gone through Stella Blue fill up over a whole disc of that "soundtrack" ... and hey, you can watch 'em, too, like with your eyes(!) if you buy (or already have) the 2004 remastered version of the movie. So, ummm, go, check that out!

The aforementioned "soundtrack" and movie are great but having the whole show is still a sweet thing, ain't it!? One of the things I really dig about this show is at times it's so noticeable how much Phil is cranked up. Holy crap! What is it with A+, 5-star recordings from other years when Phil is just there versus A+, 5-star recordings from other years when he's not just there but loudly and clearly leading songs just as much as Jerry is!? Damnnnn... so nice!

Unfortunately, this show isn't perfect but could it truly be expected to be? These guys (and woman) are human just like most of us who listen to them. Roses is soooo beautiful but has a minor lyrical muff-up... perfection not achieved but still so, so, so, so wonderful. The anti-Donna crowd might want ear plugs for Scarlet... another spot of perfection ruined, well, depending on your Godchaux slant.

Really there isn't much in this show to nitpick -- it's just sooooooo damn good. Long ago I stopped rating performances but if you were gonna make me, this would definitely get an A+ -- about a 9.5 or so.

Source: Multitrack Master SBD Reel> DAT> CD Audio Quality:

10/17/74 Winterland @ Archive.org: NOT Available To Listen To (and certainly not to download)

Download it Right Here Grateful Dead - Oct 17, 1974 - Winterland - Part 1 10/17/74 - Winterland - Part 2 Part 3 260 kbps (average)