Live Dead that's almost Live Dead

Grateful Dead -- February 14, 1969
Electric Factory -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1st Set: Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,
Dark Star-> St. Stephen-> The Eleven-> Turn On Your Lovelight

Set 2: Morning Dew,
Cryptical Envelopment-> The Other One-> Cryptical->
Death Don't Have No Mercy

This is the first of two nights at the Electric Factory in Philly in mid-February of 1969. The second night sounds better than this one but this is the one going up now and the other'll get posted whenever. The reason for this is I'm saving the best for last. Putting up the best first would mean there'd be less to look forward to in the future. Bahhhhh, don't want that. So the first night first.

The sound is unfortunately kinda crappy here. Actually, at about 3:something into Dark Star it kinda sorta cleans up and ain't too bad. Certainly this is listenable and enjoyable, just not the cleanest soundboard, ya know.

The date of this show lies almost smack dab in the middle of the dates when Live Dead was compiled from. All of the song versions here are so close (or practically identical) to what's on there. So why have this then? Why not?! It's incredible music, man!! That's why!!!

transcribed from: The Deadhead's Taping Compendium, Volume 1: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1959-1974 by Michael Getz and John Dwork [out of print] A very washed-out version of this soundboard emerged in the early nineties batch of 1968 and 1969 soundboards. In 1994, a significant upgrade began circulating. This is not one of the greats from 1969. Still, it's an interesting show. The band is clearly warming up for the recording of Live Dead. Many of the arrangements we've come to know and love are being hammered into place. The show also gives us a glimpse at the remarkable transformations the band was working on "Dark Star." We still hear many traces from 1968. T.C. echoes Pigpen's organ part at the start. Jerry's opening leads could have come straight from the Hartbeats. Although "Space" doesn't find a place in this jam, the band does introduce the "revolving jam" to "Dark Star" just before the second verse, which moves smoothly into a terrific "Saint Stephen." This one is hot, every bit the wild romp of Live Dead. "The Eleven" and "Turn On Your Lovelight" are fine, very close to their Live Dead arrangements. "Turn On Your Lovelight" suffers from an internal chop. The band loosens up considerably in the second set. An elegant "Morning Dew" gives birth to a powerful jam. Then comes a potent and freewheeling "That's It for the Other One." This is what I listen to this show for. After Bob muffs the "Spanish Lady" entrance, the band builds a wide-ranging jam between the verses. The "Cryptical" reprise jam opens with Jerry's guitar singing sweetly, then roars after the vocals end. Jerry, Phil, and T.C. build to a climax, then they quiet and slow to "Death Don't Have No Mercy." This is fairly sleepy until Jerry's fiery solo. by HUGH BARROLL

There was more to the Compendium review (a few sentences worth) but it all had to do with songs that are not truly from this show. Here's what Deadlists says:

It seems unlikely that the show ended with Death Don't. DeadBase IX's list concludes with Alligator> Caution, and this may be correct, but the tape of Alligator> Caution> And We Bid You Good Night in circulation mislabeled "2/14/69" actually belongs to Fillmore West 8/22/68.

2/14/69 Electric Factory @ Archive.org: SBD for Listening Only

Audio Quality:

Get The Soundboard Here Source/Lineage: shnid=6286 Soundboard> Master Cassette> Cassette> Cass(?)> DAT> CD> SHN Part 1 - Philly 2/14/69 2/14/69 Philly - Part 2

2-14-69 aka 02-14-69 aka 2/14/69 aka 02/14/69 aka 69-02-14 Electric Factory