The Grateful Dead - Easy Wind

[goodolarchie]

Hail to the Pig

[paddlesailnitro]

the urge to hear this song suddenly hit me as I was adding wood to the stove. Good hanging around the house in the winter song. Good getting a road trip going in the summer as well.....and all things in between.

[gliddenlake]

quite the harmonica player!

[mcguire997]

I lost interest after Pigpen died. One night they/we were passing around some "orange juice." PP said, "that shit will kill you, man" I juiced, and asked for a shot of what he was drinking, and passed him a shot of my Jack, then heard him sing.

I didn't mean to dose him, but he got crazy and sang quite well that night.

[gcard2112]

One of my favorites, and this is an excellent version. Nice and tight.

[JeffreyMW1]

It sucks pigpin died so young

RIP wish he could come back

[kukster75]

<3<3this gives even my cracker surbanite ass soul :D<3

[kukster75]

@kukster75 Gee whiz my emoticon thing looks like the naked upper torso of a woman-whoa

[ORELUR]

Like Led Zep, the Dead had a number of different styles in concert.I saw the Dead with Pigpen a number of times and have fond memories of him leading the band in songs like this one. Kind of a progressive RnB sound.

[bodeandangles]

every one loves PIG me too but when he is done on the harp even BOBBY is sounding tight love me some PIG

[ashleygreenman]

It was Pig's band back in the day. They just backed him. Never forgotten

[drumier]

thanks for this,the film and sound is excellent, this is the way i remember the dead,wild and creative!

[DrSchnyle]

The Grateful Dead with Ron McKernan were the pinnacle of American music. Period.

[peterpterodactyl]

Happy Birthday, Ron.

"I'll live five years if I take my time..." evidently he did not take his time. In fewer than three years form this recording, Ron stepped on a rainbow.

[buffalobilly]

the music, the girls dancing and you just know you were born in the wrong era...

[jockamofeena]

Pig Dead ROCKS. Dude had some serious surly soul!!!!!!!!!!

[PUBSHAMROCKS]

COLORS.

[mrpane911]

man i just love pigpen so much, he's my favorite part of the dead. So sad that he died so young, but what he did do i just can't stop loving. Also his voice and look are just so badass.

The Grateful Dead imo were better doing psychadellic jams and blues and stuff, that's what really hits the spot for me from them.

[tussionex4u]

I am NUMBER 1 SON , ALL TIME #1 Deadhead . Steve in Pgh,Pa.

[Eltercero]

Pigpen was sick.

[TheElissaS]

WHO said pigpen would be nothing??? Boy, do you know squat. People came to see Pigpen. When he passed the others had to sing by default, but it didn't start out that way. It was Jerry's and Pigpens band. We played hookey from high school and were hanging out smoking when we heard from WNEW FM, NYC, that Pigpen died.See, we were meant to play the hook that day.

[nebnis81]

Ballin' that jack and drinkin my wine........and wondering why arguments about Pig even exist. It was just one incarnation of our favorite band. Pig ruled man....then he died. Story over.

[runsk88]

wow what a voice. pigpen never shoulda died but what u gonna do

[runsk88]

wow what a voice. pigpen never shoulda died but what u gonna do

[thastunna518]

i love this whole album. its amazing

[geekorthodox9]

...and then they kick it into another gear unknown by the majority of musicians...

its difficult to quantify how they build upon one another, but the result is certainly like a hurricane of sound

[pabloneck]

armonizing

[runsk88]

@geekorthodox9 quantify?? are you trying to say in volume during jams? one of my favorite aspects of the GD are there dynamics of course

[geekorthodox9]

@runsk88

? it is difficult to quantify, to express in tangible terms, the magic of their muse.

[gratefullistener420]

U can barely even hear Phil's bass or Bob's solo but it's still a purdy dope performance

[JohnMayerGayFlamer]

They fucked up hard on this one. Completely screwed up.

[shadyloser]

PigPen is the shit

[tyleryesta1]

this must be during Festival Express.

[fiddlerfart]

For me, this is the only Dead song where I wished they kept closer to the recorded record version then the way they did it live. This live version is closer to the original than any other I've heard. They threw in time changes - slowed it down - still have to say that the W-Man's Dead version is still the best for me.

[RayNDeere]

Heard a version of Easy Wind on the Fallout from the Phil Zone compilation. It sounded a little like this version. Pig could belt the blues

[shamfler]

This jam flows like an easy wind. WOW Do you get it now?

[coyote023]

there is absolutely no denying that the band got all there energy from pigpen.man and it shows night in and night out.

[radishrose]

always thought this jam ways a result of down by the river

[eswenson05]

does anyone know what key his harmonica is in?

[1NickDelle1]

Song key is E I think so if you were playing cross harp like him you'd use one in the key of A.

[MrSharkey11]

@eswenson05 ,Who really gives a shit, you! I mean who really fucking cares? Who cares what key he plays his harmonica in, really! One of the great mysteries of life!

[leshbomb77]

None before, never since....nobody does it like Pig!

Thanks for posting this!

[teleevangelist]

I get goosebumps everytime I listen to this song, gawd pigpen/Ron, you rocked way beyond your years on earth

[brendanpig7]

these words he's singing......if only he lived five more years i think the world would be a better place

[g5uk]

Well said........Pig Pen forever

[Byrontheone]

damn right! willruddock.

[ncbloom]

ron mckernan - american icon !!

[epimetero]

what venue is this?

[JayEdReich]

Festival Express- Calgary, AB (McMahon Stadium)

Look up the DVD on torrents.

[wolverine84]

Always wished Pigpen finished his solo album, and that he had recorded with his female rock/blues counterpaet--Janis Joplin--what a joyful noise that would've been! Before Jerry and Bobby felt comfortable singing, it was Pig who always stole the show. In the early days it could be said that in a lot of ways it was Pig's band!

[DeadHead1809]

Ever heard of Bring Me My Shotgun? pigpen did a couple songs in his apartment. the recording quality aint that great but the tunes are good.

[taylorfish25]

Where can i get those recordings?

[DeadHead1809]

i would gladly email them to you

[MrIknowmonkeys]

I would love to get some too :)

[MrSharkey11]

@taylorfish25 , In a trash bin, that's where!

[lazulitooth]

i have a pigpen solo album, on cd ofcourse

[ripbarrett72]

@wolverine84 hell yea dude pigpen was really who got the band on their way too fame becuase he was asking them to do the blues songs, rip pigpen

[tjkleinschmidt]

i feel like no one knows about pig pen.

he was alive till 72 and he was there from the begining. tragity how these ledgends die.

he was a huge alchoholic. he had gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of his alchohol use.

[wellspout]

dudes, pig was quintessential to the good ole gd: the first real vocalist, farfisa and harp bluesman,( i'm a hog for ya mama...), and w/o him it would have been a totally different band

[grasspa]

Pigpen I think was one of the first to start the band clear back in like 1965-6 something like that

[pcburgh01]

Bobby and Jerry met at some sort of music gatherin on NYE in like 1961 or something like that......not sure when Pig came in. The beatles inspired Jerry and Bob to stop playing jugband music and they turned to a more rock and roll orientation.

[angelicboy66]

God bless Pigpen and his cowboy hat!

[willruddock]

This is the only song on Workingman's Dead in which Hunter wrote the lyrics and music.

[ExxonAmadeus]

"Doctor say I better stop balling that jack, if i live 5 years im gonna bust my back"

Hunter's lyrics write the future

[domx35]

what a great video, its so sad that pigpen had to leave them so early on...

[airnsmke]

yea but can you see pig pen being an important factor for songs like china cat sunflower, iknow you rider, althea, friend of the devil, i think jerry took those songs and ran with them in the right direction, and gave it the right octave , he was great but i think the evolved without him, none the less rip pigpen, jerry

[sapapagigio]

i agree with Pig Pen's influence. Although I wouldn't say that he was "the Dead".

Excluding Pigpen, all of the members of the grateful dead were excellent musicians, and were going to do great things with or without Pigpen. But with that said, you have to look at all the great blues stuff that pigpen inspired

early on.Such as Alligator, Mr Charlie, Easy Wind, New Minglewood Blues, Cumberland Blues, Little School girl, and so on.

And the roots of endless jamming started with the blues!

[willruddock]

Bobby sang Minglewood Blues.

[hidden4est]

balling that steel jack hammer..been there.

[davehoganmusic]

Pigpen was the Dead.

[TylerCanfield]

no he wasnt

he was good but too many people think he was the dead

[davehoganmusic]

Yeah he was. The Dead have said they have/had no leader, but I don't think that was true.

[budz73]

There was a leader in the Dead. It was the music, it led them to many, many places.

[setboy1]

how many people really think that?

[caseyjones67]

naw they were all the dead each one had a certain role in the dead

[scot972]

Seems to me,looking like another guy who i admired for a long before i dies with heroin,Layne Staley of Alice in Chains,both full of art and seeking to destroys themselves.What a waste of talent.

R.i.p. my friends.

[deanna4270]

my faaaaaavortie dead song. ever

[6749er]

Thanks Poway23

First saw these guys they were

The Warlocks & saw all the line ups

from then till Garcia died & loved them all

but I loved The Pigen Era the best by far.

Great to see him & them in Action.

They sure had fun back then.

Good old Grateful Dead.

[pawnee55]

Jerry on the SG and Phil on the EB ... a beautiful (and rare) sight. Alice Cooper used those axes exclusively in the early days. Visually arresting! Jerry was just about to move into his Strat phas, but ... good to see him playing those lysergic leads on the old SG.

[mendex2006]

pigpen is awesome

[RayNDeere]

First heard a live version of Easy Wind on the Fallout from the Phil Zone compilation. Pigpen could belt the blues. This is a great version.

[frat64]

WOW, that gave me chills!! Never seen this one before..........Thanks!!!!

[goatmark]

This is a great song ,did Robert Hunter write it? anyone know?

[classicguitarnj]

Yes, a Robert Hunter original. But no doubt Pigpen added his own touch. A great version.

[jd42072]

Yeah that's Levon. And Pigpen on his game!

[GratefuIDead]

Is that Levon at 6:22?

[caseyjones67]

man pig already looks dead , man imagine if him and jerry were still round tht would be so great

[baron7309100]

just close your eyes and let this bluesy song take you somewhere beautiful. thank you pigpen

[7732519475]

I've been humming this tune for a couple of weeks - and Lo and Behold ! - the Grateful Dead w/ Pig Pen on vocals and harp. Jeez ! Do we need the guys now. FAR OUT MAN !!!!

[deadhead1130]

i miss pigpen

[clonecommanderatm]

I've always wondered about the time signature. it's obviously not 4:4.

[McGoogan07]

i did'nt know you know music

[fatbluesman93]

I think it alternates between 4/4 and 12/8.

[colinchapman16]

yes that is correct

[kevykev38]

These guys really suck ass.

[McGoogan07]

wow so do you

[UZI4U]

don't start a fucking political tyrade on a comment string u stupid asshole!

[jaireeves]

this is my theme song...lol.....much respect all love for the dead WOOOO HOOO

[CadillacL]

This is one of the first times to see footage of Pig. The man could darn

sure sing the blues!

[misran08]

The early 70's dead is my favorite when it was just the origanal members you can hear everything alot more clearer

[brettwhiteley]

Pigpen was amazing

If not for him who knows if the dead would have taken off

[dobrotnik]

one of the best songs ever!!!

[helterskarenlter]

damn pigpen can sing

[caseyjones67]

bob looks pissed or sumtin

[needsitwo]

thanks for so much ron

[dollythebus]

love seeing the amusement rides in the background! Is this the same venue that became Kingswood Music Theatre??Awesome place for a Dead Show! Go Pig! Go Boys Go!

[melhamZA]

I believe that is the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) - nowhere near Kingswood which was built about 10 years later - INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE!! a truly remarkable nugget!!

[Obiwannabe]

best days of the dead with pigpen. Miss ya ron!

[MRBKARLOFF60]

damn right. pig gave them the raw bluesy groove. the pig jams were smokin hot.

[ncbloom]

hello mr. benson i see your doing well .........i was pretty much joking in my pigpen gangsta comment. i know pig was a gentle soul-two souls in communion is one of my favorite songs. here are some supporting arguments for the g. claim 1- nuff songs bout shotguns, liqour, and little girls. 2- pipen did freestyle "raps" taking what was going on at the show and incorporating it(lovelight,good lovin).3-pigpen like most g.s likes to get wasted but wasn't down with gettin phycadlicized.RIP PIGPEN

[socialexpirement]

Anyone know what harmonica he played? I tried to learn it on my key of A but one of the notes isn't in there!

[wygakyl]

I love the way he'd always kick Bob a lead guitar solo during this song especially. Jerry would just cut loose when Bob was done. I think this was as sort of solidarity in being an underling to Jerry and Phil, so they felt, during this time period.

[larkintulsa]

Thanks for posting this. It's a great version.

[jfrankley55]

Thanks, Poway23. I always admired Pigpen's no-b.s. approach to music. The jam, of course, is prime live Dead. Although I certainly wish Pigpen were still living and in good health, I wonder if he would have stayed with the band over time?

[bigbuzman]

having less of a blues feel is not a fact -it is an interpretation no matter how real it feels to you srruckoldt. saw my first show closing of fillmore west 71-and Weir other nightingreensboro-saw the dead 25 out of 26 years - really their greatest years were between 68 and 73 before they became corporate and somewhat self conscious -still fun even in the 90s but who in thier left mind can listen to tapes after about 1982 -and tapes from the 90s are pretty bad -WAY TOO much effects and midi

[blues122]

i love these pigpen blues!

[UngratefulLiving420]

idn i think it gave jerry the chance to develop the role of band leader and the chance to take the band to a whole other level

[Youssef51]

Texas Blues, for real.

[rainbowpagun]

hamc

[ncbloom]

pig pen the father of gangsta rap - for real

[bearspartan]

dont hide the liquor! great tune

[vamdud3]

AWSUME SONG!!!!

[cnedwick]

PIIIIIGGGPPEEENNNN!!!!

[jags2rags]

Drugs can make you do special things, especially like making something of what your not. The dead without drugs is like Obama without black.......

[seeded03]

mutha-phucin pig!!, man...ya darn tootin! dam strate, one a my personal heartfelt faves, too.

[ddenneberg1973]

"live 5 years if I take my time..." wish he lived longer...

One of my favorite dead songs. Workingman's is also in my opinion one of the best studio albums ever produced by the dead...

[jbinthesky]

the music of the dead is always on the highest levels, its really about the listener being able to tune in ..

[lunadagirl]

Pigpen was the shiz. What a great bluesman.

[sparksrule]

Definitely went downhill after his sad demise

[Ultranothing]

Wait...no...I meant to search for "perro" not..say...it...

[Ultranothing]

PERRO

[thaibites]

Am I dreaming, or can I actually hear Bob Weir's guitar on this song? Don't wake me up, I'm happy...

[nik415420]

Awesome love this vid. ironhead dont be such a hater

[Paul4peace]

Outta sight, RIP Pig Pen

[Spiritmaker9]

One time I was listening to hard rock radio, and guess what- THERE' A HEAVY METAL VERSION! IT'S written by my faves, BUT NOW IN HEAVY METAL!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!!

[ironhead197676]

The only decent dead is wtih Pig Pen you morons

[willruddock]

That is so not true. What do you mean Pig Pen would be nothing? He was his own man. He didn't need Phil or Jerry to help him.

[digginlyf57]

i`m a stone-jack baller...YEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!

[brianm1314]

amazing man thanks. RIP Jerry.

[jbinthesky]

festival express, baby

[pcburgh01]

THE greatest band of all time. I am lucky that I get to see some of the original members; although, I wish I had got to see Jerry.

[guitarhead07]

Ha ha dude, original members are not much without jerry. lol

The only decent dead solo stuff is phil lol

[driedmonster]

Going to see phil this weekend... All Good in Masontown,West Virginia. Good times.

[ironhead197676]

Pig Pen was the Dead you dummy fuck jerry and phil

[berrypossum]

That's really untrue and uncalled for. The whole point of this stupid band was to to do something different, and jeepers then they got paid? Wow, might want to do this more. Sure, there's a lot of noodling, but, hey, I like it fine. They're the only ones that did it. Bob is still cool and so is Bill. How's your band doing? Remember-support your local musician. Peace T

[mkerwin1]

Love Pigpen's vocal and harmonica!

Thanks for the great post.

[funkberto]

Hammond B-3 ALSO

[jcaulo]

PIGPEN!

[gregoir]

aWESOME!! MY FAVORITE!! WE SAW ROBERT HUNTER PLAY THIS @ THE TRALPH IN BUFFALO N.Y IN....97 I THINK! ANYONE ELSE??

[thewall1982]

workingmans dead may be the best album ever created

[pcburgh01]

They never played this one enough; Bobby could have handled it. I guess some things just weren't done after Ron passed. Lovelight, Easy Wind and HTH were his

[LSDCoatedBrain]

Yeah, Bob could probably have sang it, and do a good job too, but the soul and style Pigpen had when he sang is far beyond what Bob can do. But thats just my opinion.

[freenow73]

cause i'm a stone jack baller and my heart is true, and

I give everything that I got to you... yes I will.

[mjfrosty23]

I love the whiskey driven voice of pigpen,this video is raw and early,another one who passed to early.RIP,my brother!

[MudSlinger1969]

agreed bigtime, the Janis Joplin of men blues singers

[thewall1982]

and he just happened to have a thing with janis joplin for awhile

[MudSlinger1969]

no kidding, I had no idea, that thought just popped into my head when I posted it, kinda erry

[thewall1982]

yeah. if you read phil lesh's book, searching for the sound, he gets into it

[MudSlinger1969]

thanks

will have to do that

what the title of the books name ?

[hippiephun]

Haven't read the book yet (college books right now) but got it signed by Phil and got some pics with him....good times!

[parkerjh]

Great video from that era- outstanding quality.

Pigpen is unreal.

[thebull67]

best live version I've ever heard,

first I've seen

Kudos to you sir.

[Cuse15420]

You should try 2-19-1971's version. In my opinion it is better, whatever that means.

[iSkatedashpinecone]

i live 5 years if i take my time

ballin that jack and drinkin my wine

man i love it!!!

great jam band

[melodicsympatico]

workin' mans' dead

first dead studio album

love it

never stops

[thewall1982]

they had a ton of studio albums before this..

[motorhen]

Been chippin therm rocks from dawn til doom while my rider hides my,..................... I don't think you'll get laid by katie mae.

[spagNsc]

katie mae- she act like she got oil wells in her back yard...yaaa

[chickennibblets]

i thought pigpen played the keyboards

[pussytaste]

He did play organ but also harp & even some guitar (Check "Katie Mae" on the Bear's Choice CD. First & foremost, he was a BLUESMAN!!

[RingOfFire93]

yea, I thought it was Garcia but the cameraman was filming Weir the whole time.

[pussytaste]

Good Old Pig!!!!!!