Grateful Dead - Althea 03-28-81

[TheThebrizz]

It is so much depth there it's as I father time reached into his pocket grabbed your mind and threw it deep into the cosmos

[TheThebrizz]

There is so much depth there it's as if father time reaches down deep into his pocket grabs your mind and throws it deep into the cosmos

[scarletfire82]

jerry looks so wise in this video, i can't help but notice.

[althearose81]

Thank you, my parents named me after this song!!

[toemasii]

from the skull came the lightning; in its rain came the wisdom named crazy

[daffodildrop23]

thanks for the tribute Jerry my middle name is Thea

[cindygibbsbarfield]

I miss you so much

[culls33]

the guitar work the last 3 minutes or so is high quality, love how uses thumb a couple times on top e and a strings to produce a power note-who gives a shit if Jerry was high-I guess clapton or richards or wood or townsend were never high when they played-get over it

[culls33]

@culls33 that thumb is like a fishing worm-ha-and I believe Jerry goes to fingerpicking towards the end

[AliIKarimi]

you know, i was never the biggest fan of bob weir. i was all about jerry, on vocals, on guitar, so on so forth. but in this song, you can really tell how fantastic he was. the slide work during the solo makes the solo, its simply soul-burning. thanks bob, thanks jerry,and thanks for posting the video.

[stellablue1984]

my loved ones did me right...showed me the way. i was 5 when this show was a playin. i loved it then &i love it now. Always Goosebumps. x0x0

[tyleryesta1]

Such a talent!

[jayner2020]

My personal favorite dead song

[101sanitatation]

r.i.p

[mortdacon]

And dare I say... Jerry sung, "a lil' sniff with me" at the Rainbow show??

[mortdacon]

The only other Althea I ever heard that blazed with this was the one from the Rainbow Theatre, same tour. That one had some sick, insane steez....

[philgarciaweir]

...prime Dead years 1966-1995...

[williamgarwood]

@philgarciaweir 1991-1995 were pretty rough. Although the boys could still pull out the magic.

[wingman572]

this freaks me out.

[1958artchick]

the dead are the dead all inclusive  love em forever

[feloniousrem]

whats wrong w/ being high and making great music?

[feloniousrem]

lackin in some di rec  tion uh huh

[KlondikeG]

Damn lol Jerry is catchin big time Nodz! He liked his speedballs, check out the Wharf Rat from this show. The part w/ "But I'll Get Back.. On My Feet.. Someday" Jerry's jaw lol He was blazin like a California raisin.

[thatguru877]

The song information says this was played today, I wish.

[MrPardo3]

Greatness from 81'... about the 2 minute mark it looks like the H just kicked in ... hooo daddy

[Terror420Corp]

hes 38 here right? that china white got the best of him, sad. Such much soul in this version

[kelli112687]

OOHmyfuckinggod how amazing would it be to have been in that! energy is just buzzing

[chrisbosi34]

I miss my family. The teachers of art , commerce, and love.

[eieio2234]

@aaronhoffmeyer all im saying is that the grateful dead is about eating massive amounts of l and seeing where the music takes them. That's how they got started. That is the Dead. But sure, longer time together = tighter music. You'll find gems every year.

[TakingItFurthur]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. 'nuff said.

Check my page for more old, new, unreleased and obscure dead tunes :)

[Django5198]

Looking pretty good for 40 there aren't you Jezza. Bloody hell heroin is awful. Great guitar performance here man

[sucamification]

De una sencilla melodía los dead han hecho una obra maestra. Simplemente gracias.

[ninjapeaches10210]

i was named after this song :D

[eieio2234]

@JerryGuitarcia I agree that 77-82 were good years, however, they were not "prime dead". It's cliche to say that '72 was their greatest year. But listen to any show from '72, everything was as tight as shit. The prime dead in my opinion I would say was '68 - '72. I'm not dismissing any other year, as they certainly all have their highlights. However you gotta think about where it all started.

[aaronhoffmeyer]

@eieio2234 I wish the band agreed with the cliche pronouncements of 72. While they were definitely at a creative peak then with the new music, the quality of playing, they also were out-of-sync a lot. Garcia said that every time they had a "big show," one that would garner lots of attention, they would have an off night. Every big festival ... they had so-so performances (a mediocre performance for them was still great). He said they were more consistent in later years.

[TheThebrizz]

Very honest song from a very honest man

[bigpurpz]

the feedback from the slide guitar at 3:13 is amazing 

[MegaNikki987]

Althea is my name :)

[headdead10]

i've probably listened to this 1000 times easy

[Psych0delicShrooms]

First time hearing the song and I've already fallen in love with that guitar riff.

[spearzoid]

your right.....

[angrygrunt]

fuck yeah

[JerryGuitarcia]

I think in the top 5 dead songs,for sure....Booby has estimated prophet -----bobby's best, Jeery has three signatur sons..( terrapin. stella blue.., dire wolf.). Not to get into a youtube debate....but I really believe that 77 to 82 was the prime dead.l.......Just sayin.......Mamma mamma many worlds I''ve known since I've left home...........I will be back after a short medincnal break.

[JerryGuitarcia]

Plain and simple.....Just like the Dead were.....Perfect Jerry..on right were he has to be....Bobby previding the perfect sound to compliment jerry, Phil making the drums perfect....... ...Jesus...does it get better than this?

[Rulesout21]

shit! this make me fell i'm in the wrong place in the wrong time *.*

[lovekaley2006]

jerry was messed up on certain occassions. last time i saw him in vegas. the second to last vegas show he ever played he wasnt very good. ive seen him live over 50 times. sometimes he was TOTALLY on and some other times, not very often, he was OFF. thats what serious drug addiction does. he messes with your quality of playing. its not a bad thing because i never had a bad show. ALWAYS a good trip. jerry is the best guitarist of all time. NOBODY CAN COPY JERRY, NOBDY, not warren haynes. nobody.

[iSkatedashpinecone]

My god Jerry is beautiful. He sure knew how to make that guitar of his sing. And Bob's brilliant. Just listen to him from 4:00-4:30. Shows how clever of a rhythm guitarist he was. And his controlled feedback throughout the whole song is perfect.

Honest to the point of recklessness, self-centered in the extreme.

[Django5198]

Screw the Jerry haters. He was an incredibly experimental guitarist. He took the instrument very seriously. Most haters attack him for his stiff stage presence and pothead following. Fools. Just look at his finger work at 2:21 on both hands. He played with so much feel. And if he was sloppy at times it was because of intoxication and declining health. When he was healthy and sober he was incredibly tight.

[frankc32]

@Django5198, roger that, motherfucker, roger that!!!

Cheers!

FrankC32

[24meandu]

I way ahead of you buddy. The master at work. He's an excellent example of how a lead guitar should be played.

[royalrider33]

13 dislikes?  Sad.

[frankc32]

@MrClin, right on!

like Ol' Smaug playin' in the band!!!

Cheers!

FrankC32 

[buzzkill1969]

My all time favorite Jerry riff.

[SoCalEquipment]

One of the sweetest guitar licks of all time by Jerry on this one. I agree especially when he steps back from the mic.

[FRANCECHILD]

PEACE.

[LaLunaLeStelleEdIo]

damn I love this song



[FuhQ79]

sick!!! I never watched jerry play guitar like that . I always gave bob more credit.

[snitchingISwrong]

@FuhQ79 Crazy. If I'm not mistaken Jerry is in the rolling stones top 15 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

RIP Jerry.

[joebazeghi]

@snitchingISwrong #11 but we know he's #1.

[DudeFromChicago]

absolutley amazing, miss you Jerry

[tomassirman]

@DudeFromChicago He is high on coke and he is absolutely amazing.

[kelli112687]

@tomassirman heroin*

[TheBlakem]

Jerry looks strung out and sick in this vid..it's sad...

[jelHax]

@TheBlakem Lots of heroin... eyes closing, rollin' back a lil. Definitely sad. Early 80's were bad w/ the smack. RIP Jerry.

[frankc32]

@TheBlakem, sometimes the junk takes you right to the doorstep of where a man needs to be, and then lets him down...easy...

Cheers!

FrankC32

[Django5198]

what scales?

[xinuflux]

"there are things you can replace.  and others you cannot" - this is the latter

[martiansarepunk]

For as much as Jerry was annoyed by alot of Weirs slide playing during this period. The feedback from Weir during this Althea makes this one absolutely sublime. It's one of the few where it actually had a great benefit musically. Even though they played the best Althea, 2 min. outro ever, shortly after this show. This Althea is the overall, tightest they played in '81.

[mharrin5507]

@martiansarepunk

Agreed.

Weir had a positive talent for being a real pain in the ass. Inasmuch as Jerry shunned the spotlight, Weir was all up in it. And nobody likes someone who's full of himself. RIP, Jerry. Weir I couldn't care less about. Just my 2 cents.

[nic886420]

@mharrin5507 you know wat fuck you bob may of been a pain but hes the ballz of the band and last i checked hes apart of the band too and sings more song.....your just a stuck up prick who don't even get it....bobby is the best thing to happen to the dead....i think bobby is aloud to be full of him self cuz hes a badass ur just a douche with no life prolly only seen like 5 real dead shows lol noob fucking hater

[livinlifted91]

this song got me into the dead..truly beautiful jam, the man really puts on a show with that guitar



[snitchingISwrong]

I love Jerry Godcia!!!!

[whiteface77]

just great

[Malachi01]

this song is from what album? loved the performance

[FRANCECHILD]

UNO

[FRANCECHILD]

JERRYLOVESJESUS

[lovekaley2006]

jerry was the master but often out of tune. thats a known fact. still the best band of all time.

[frankc32]

@lovekaley2006, yes, but Jerry had mitigating factors...

Cheers,

FrankC32

[AliIKarimi]

@lovekaley2006 what do you mean out of tune ?

[KhalDrogo76]

smell the persian

[cj6694]

may the greatest musician to ever walk this earth, rest in peace. never forgotten Jerry.

[jrogers71]

Garcia is a scary looking motherfucker here.

[sellersgarner]

Damn the compendium books are well worth the price- for any and all of you who may have considered them- at least get the first two. The things are friggin TOMES to begin with- and every show played has a practical essay. Not to mention all of the great extra info on the "saga" ... and nice color plates in the middle , with black and white pics throughout. Im talking about the Deadhead's Taping Compendiums - and no, of course the fact that tons is out on CD (DP's etc) now does not matter.

[rawkus1167]

@sellersgarner - is there any way to but the first two Compendiums? I've searched every second-hand bookstore I can find.

[sellersgarner]

@rawkus1167 try: Ebay, general googling-to-death, and perhaps Grateful Dead forums,etc. where people are so likely to be helpful they may have a lead for you.. I will "help" by telling you that no amount of hunting is too much. History, details on EVERY show (even Warlocks etc) that will make the biggest fan feel like they haven't even really "heard" what they have been listening to. Insane detail from people who know their stuff musically, not to mention knowledge of the band/songs/physics ;)

[rawkus1167]

@sellersgarner I know what u mean. I'm one of those that I know what I like, but not too good at writing my thoughts down. Thats one of the things I love so much about the Dead - their fans are usually very intelligent and listen to lots of good music. I am into lots of music/scenes and Deadheads are the most overall intelligent music listeners of all my friends. I cannot explain why.

[frankc32]

@rawkus1167, it is 'cause we all have our own upbringings, eduactions, life-experiences upon which to draw.

We do not rely on punks who fake their way through life; one can spot  a POS like that a million miles away! We live life to the fullest and sure, we make a few mistakes along the way, but I had a guy I respected professionally tell me long ago, "if you are not making mistakes, you are not learning"

Cheers!

FrankC32

Deadhead are not liars and bullshitters.

Cheers,

FrankC32

[TheYankees2300]

Best vid of the Grateful dead ! good post .

[chingchangchongfly]

Some of the greatest live guitar you will EVER hear.

[rawkus1167]

Love early 80's Dead!

[SweetUpDown40]

some of the greatest jerry tone

[gigaforce22]

I love the hamlet reference in this song

[jhat21]

love that face at 2:41

[snitchingISwrong]

@jhat21 lol dammit I was gonna say the same thing it always fuckin makes me laugh.

[tabber87]

Feedback makes this song.

[ood2112]

I totally use Finger Ease!

[chingchangchongfly]

Thank God for this recording. Pure poetry; Jerry on some good heroin.

[Trancefreak93]

jerry looks like hes tripping in the beggining.. when he goes over to the side to talk to someone .. look at his eyes

[wolfkarel]

Back when Bobby .............looked like Bobby.

[acooperization]

I wish Jerry would have figured out that random is just as good as spontaneous or synchronized. I am sure he does now. Just can't stand it when rails on the bass player and the rest of the band. I wanna ask, "Is this the way to get sympathy?" "You're breaking my b#*ls here!" I would have told Jerry to lighten up.

[J3Associates1]

Plain and simple. This is a Guitar Clinic, demonstated by Garcia

He simply masters this song, throughout. This video is what every Beginner level guitar tearcher should show to their students. To show an example of what Muisic can be at it's best, and also how much their is to learn

To play that many different syles of lead guitar playing, and so fluently, in a single song is genious to me.

What I enjoy most is the slow, deliberate buildup to the Jam in this song. Tension & release.

[frankc32]

@J3Associates1, so WELL-FUCKING SAID!!!

Cheers!

FrankC32

[OreganicLiving]

@J3Associates1

well said and as true as they come

[J3Associates1]

Jerry is all over the guitar on this song! On fire!

[svartalheim666]

Hey ! can somebody tell me where to get toons? wanna try an acid trip on some Black Metal

[000MidnightSun]

@svartalheim666 i was just listening to enslaved and trippin

[AIC2374]

@svartalheim666 why on black metal lol... people would start coming up from the dead

[Lightshadowfish]

God I love Leash's facial expressions fucking Funny man lol

[crysjumar1]

just want to put this on repeat and listen to it for a couple of hours.

[tabber87]

Robert Hunter is the greatest lyricist who has ever lived.

And that includes Dylan.

[TheScrotumTickler]

@tabber87 I think a lot of people would argue with you. It's all subjective, but I think you could make a case for Robert Hunter.

[cosmosgod]

I dont trust people who have never taken a hallucinogen.

[cosmosgod]

I dont trust people who have never taken a halucinagen.

[ooBEANSoo]

I love 9:49 when they break back down to the chorus after that jam session.

[Kdubgrit]

I miss Jer so freakin much

(~);}

[brotherbuttcrack]

That slide feedback that bobby slices in the background is masterful. He always surprises me when he does something good

[pmidz]

if anyone wants to hear a pristine recording of this show ---> archive.org search for 1981-03-28 just like that

[pmidz]

if anyone wants to hear a pristine recording of this show --->

[jawilliams81]

great version!

[drsmithi]

That first elastic guitar solo by Captain Trips has to be Garcia at his very best. Utterly, effortlessly lyrical.

Saw them a couple of times on that tour and they were among the best gigs I've ever been to in my life.

Recorded this concert on video live back then. Suagaree's almost as good.

[drsmithi]

That first elastic guitar solo by Captain Trips has to be Garcia at his very best. Utterly, effortlessly lyrical.

[notsoaveragejoe93]

Best performance of althea I've heard..... Good year for the dead, imo.

[daytonadave75]

"............Settle back, easy Jim........"

[gradlegirl]

I miss Jerry!

[FRANCECHILD]

NO 1 IS SINLESS.

[FRANCECHILD]

GOD BLESS CALIFORNIA AND ARNOD. S. .

[FRANCECHILD]

DONT EVER GIVE UP.

[FRANCECHILD]

DAHHHH.

[FRANCECHILD]

JERRYBOBBYPHILDRUMMERSORGANCAL­I!

[FRANCECHILD]

REALIZEIT.

[jzhelqpgh]

go phil!!!

[ooBEANSoo]

I've been listening to this on repeat for days

[daggergblue]

Who remembers FINGER EASE!

[Terror420Corp]

so damn good.. why wasnt i there

[PinkFloydrulez]

2:40-2:44 lol phil

[rokudan1234]

the passion in his voice, eyes, demeanor makes me ....i don't know hwven't wrapped my head around it yet

[chewbac46]

Bobby's feedback cues are freakin awesome here

[ihventura]

At 3:03 you can see Jerry's eyes rolling back in his head. Woah man.

[MrBalaw28]

Shattersmith,

You talk like I haven't read Blair jackson's Garcia. I'm aware of what his lfke consisted of and as for drugs who cares dude it's is life not yours. I have listed to the milky way FYI my opinion still stands.

Your just judging grow up buddy. He was human and as far as I can see most people abuse something. Food normally being the choice as statistics can prove. Try informing yourself

Best,

Luis

[setto53770]

I enjoyed that on more levels than it's possible to express in text.

[mattygambles]

HONEST TO THE POINT OF RECKLESSNESS

[CarolSuemoo]

Yep, a great song - Jerry sure lookin' old in '81! (if anyone wonders the effects of heroine...) and it sure sounds like this song was written for/to him,,, "Aint nobody messing with you, but you, your friends are getting most concerned."

I saw them later that summer and they were kind of boring (compared to previous experiences with them), but perhaps that's because I'd quit doing drugs by then.... in the end the music lives on.

[culls33]

@CarolSuemoo bullshit, he wasnt even really strung out on heroin yet--these were coke years

[CarolSuemoo]

@culls33 - I remember reading somewhere (bio) long ago about him beginning heroin earlier - along with coke. You may be right about how 'strung out' he was, I don't really know since I didn't live with him...but, I just did a google search and in an interview with him on the site for the online music mag 'Perfect Sound Forever it sez, "Jerry Garcia became a heroin addict in 1977 when he began smoking a form known as "The Persian," and remained addicted for more or less the rest of his life."

[culls33]

@CarolSuemoo bullshit, he wasnt even really strung out on heroin yet--these were coke years--and Hunter did write it abourt him

[chewbac46]

this was the first tape i traded for, i was lookin at a guys list and sent him two Maxell lls for this show because i wanted a live shakedown. the shakedown is sick but i quickly discovered that there was SO much more. 15 years old and hooked for life, THANK YOU SO MUCH KIND STRANGER, THOSE TWO TAPES WERE STRAIGHT UP MAGICAL!! Pretty crazy that there is a vid of the whole show up here, now i can see it too. thanks guys u still make this shit go round

[coyote023]

@culls33  You should really get your stories straight before posting because as far as jerry not having a rather large persian habit during these years you could not be further from the truth,and his coke habit actually slowed down about the time of this show. It was well known that garcia was only freebasing so he could stay awake and not lose the persian high. although the second set of this show you would swear jerry would grind his teeth down to the gums.

[zombiehunts147]

@coyote023 lol maybe ur high

[zombiehunts147]

@coyote023

[chewbac46]

@CarolSuemoo Heroin actually decreases the amount of testosterone the body produces and addicts that somehow stay away from the crack and the streets (ie trustfund babies) often look pretty young for their age, look it up. however i do think he is high as all hell here, although the music certainly isnt effected (if anything it sadly might be better) but i know if i was gonna cop some dope in 1981 Germany would be the place to do it

[DougyMac718]

Bob keeps using feedback and slidework together... its fucking awesome

[chewbac46]

@DougyMac718 I just posted this without seeing yours, you have some really observation skills buddy ;>)

[Di110NT]

what a beautiful song. pure poetry in motion. has to be one of my favorite Dead songs

[jerrygarcia7]

was this song wrote by hunter ? or garcia?

[gratefulvideo]

@jerrygarcia7 Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia

[GrandpaConehead]

@gratefulvideo As it should be. Bless you!

[frankc32]

@gratefulvideo, per usual.

FUCKING CLINIC!!!

Cheers!

FrnkC32

[coopercity1]

@jerrygarcia7

jerry did..

[ncbloom]

my cat is named althea , my other cat is peggy o. first set names only . ha

[Bumbumawangis]

This may take some time,may include grime,is just fine.

[rotolo]

jerry is a wizard..

[ronsteenme]

This is such a great song!

Always one of my favorites.

Great crowd, too.

[FRANCECHILD]

JERRY IS SO KICKIN IT.

[ElliottDay88]

i know when i heard bobby do that slide guitar with feedback i was like ooo shit dude, thats like crunchy....sick this video is amazing

[vauxhall908]

I dig Bobby's feed back on slide at times just seems to go so well 

[JerryGuitarcia]

This has to be one, if not the best Althea's I've seen on youtube. Loooove the slower versions, the way it was meant to be played!! I can't get enough. Jerry is on fire!!

[spacefreely]

good ol jerry & the boys

[GratefulFan96]

Love the soloing and beat to this song. Long live the Grateful Dead

[CalicoKahlia48]

God Bless the Grateful Dead.

[stoneyjewdas]

this was the day I was born; I found this video the day of my 30th birthday. :)

[CD12291977]

Went to Pittsburgh last night to see Furthur, and they played this man it was so good! : )

JKs vocals were very very good on this song. Actually did a hell of a job on Golden Slumbers too. Those songs were running through my mind as soon as i woke up this morning.

[gratefulvideo]

@CD12291977 I'm headed to the Hampton show tomorrow. Very excited.

[CD12291977]

@gratefulvideo Have a great time I wish i could go again.

[gtbuzzfan]

@gratefulvideo I was at the Hampton show last night too! That second set was pretty awesome.

[gratefulvideo]

@gtbuzzfan Yeah it was. They kept throwing curveballs for April fools. The UJB China>Shakedown were pretty hot. I also really love Mighty Quinn to end the first set. I got some video and will post once I get my copy of SBD to go with it.

[EmFayg]

@CD12291977 I went to their show in Boston a little over a month ago... so much fun. Great to hear Weir do his scream and Phil was all smiles. I was very impressed by John too

[wylie9000]

Phil looks like Beaker from the Muppet Show

[yeshua2come]

I miss them.

[aztreehugger]

He actually had a couple guitars made for him, but yes this was the tiger. R.I.P. Jerry and Brent

[FRANCECHILD]

GOD BLESS ALL OF US. AMEN