Ronnie's and Rowan's Returns

LN jg1981-11-13.jgb.early-late.aud-streeter.123554.flac1644

I cannot believe that things were nearly forgotten that should not have been around this late '81 JGB tour, namely that Ronnie Tutt was back on the skins. Somehow that information didn't make it to Garciabase, and thence to TJS, but thankfully Corry Knows and we have the old McNally-Arnold JG List still available. The tour was billed on the Grateful Dead Hotline as "The Return of Ron Tutt".

I haven't seen any of the papers around this tour in particular, but I know that within four months or so Garcia was busy cleaning up what I believe to be the last of the wreckage of Round Records and the original Jerry Garcia Band partnership (initially Garcia-Kahn-Tutt and Hopkins, then just the first three). So, to me, Tutt's late '81 return feels like them generating revenue together to clear away the old financial entanglements binding them. It could have been a payout for Mr. Tutt, which I don't mean in a negative sense, but just in the sense of making sure everything was buttoned up tight. Garcia and Tutt would never play together after this tour.

I like this night's performances much better than the ones in the same space nine months earlier (2/7/81). Nice punchy show. Tutt is an amazing player. Just about every song in the early show makes me stand up and take note. Only Simple Twist and ISTE didn't move me to note something.

Peter Rowan opened. I have a little bit of the same feeling about this as I do about Tutt. Well, not quite the same. With Tutt, I think they were literally taking care of unfinished business. With Rowan, it feels to me more like Garcia is throwing the occasional gig the Rowans' ways to assuage some old guilt. I have no evidence for this, but it's more than just a flier. The end of OAITW, like the end of so many Garcia relationships, seems not to cast the best light on Our Hero. David Grisman was embittered and would have nothing to do with Garcia for many years, not even wanting to talk about him (Forte 1979a, 1979b). But he was also succeeding on his own. While Peter Rowan is now, and rightfully so, a Living Legend, a guy who probably gets to pick and choose where and when and what he wants to play, ca. 1981 I suspect things were a little less comfortable.

Below I paste a table of what I can confirm in terms of a Rowan opening for (or, at least, being co-billed with), Garcia in the post-OAITW era. I don't know if he played the rest of the shows on this tour. I suspect so, but I'd like confirmation before I list them, because assumptions can be fraught.

Table xxx. Rowan and Garcia co-billings post-OAITW

Boston being the Rowans' hometown, I hope this was a nice time for Peter. I'd love to hear the tape if anyone has one.

Jerry Garcia Band
Orpheum Theatre
1 Hamilton Place
Boston, MA 02108
November 13, 1981 (Friday)
Frank Streeter MAC flac1644 shnid-123554

--early show (8 tracks, 77:13)--
a-t01. tuning [0:53]
a-t02. Sugaree [11:08] % [0:41]
a-t03. Catfish John [9:21] % [0:22]
a-t04. That's What Love Will Make You Do [9:42] % [0:44]
a-t05. Simple Twist Of Fate [14:08] % [0:15]
a-t06. I Second That Emotion [10:58] % [0:23]
a-t07. Mississippi Moon [10:23] [0:08]
a-t08. Deal [8:54] (1) [0:04] %

--late show (5 tracks, 36:43)--
b-t01. tuning [0:54]
b-t02. The Way You Do The Things You Do [7:20] [0:04] % [0:02]
b-t03. They Love Each Other [7:05] [0:02] % [0:01]
b-t04. [0:09] Valerie [6:55] % [1:02]
b-t05. The Harder They Come [13:01] (2) [0:09]

! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #14b
! lineup: Jerry Garcia - el-g, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn - el-b;
! lineup: Jimmy Warren - electric keyboards;
! lineup: Melvin Seals - organ;
! lineup: Ron Tutt - drums;
! lineup: Julie Stafford - vocals;
! lineup: Liz Stires - vocals.

JGMF:

! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; ... = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [ ] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the "real" time of the event. So, a timing of [x:xx] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.

! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19811113-01 (early); https://jerrybase.com/events/19811113-02 (late)

! db: http://etreedb.org/shn/12989 (early and late, Greater Boston Deadheads Who Give A Shit Foundation, Nak 700s, shnf; I presume this is Steve Rolfe's tape, but I am not sure); http://etreedb.org/shn/89005 (late show, John Levene, flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/102009 (Bob Morris early show + Steve Rolfe late show, flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/123554 (early and late Streeter flac1644, this fileset).

! map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orpheum+Theatre/@42.3563142,-71.0610765,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e3709cb51cffcf:0x6575ac76b6bcc90f

! venue: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2012/09/orpheum-theatre-1-hamilton-place-boston.html

! band: JGB #14b (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html)

! context: Peter Rowan opened. Late show ended early due to power outage caused by nearby fire.

! R: field recordist: Frank Streeter

! R: field recording gear: 2x Sennheiser 421 -> Sony TC-D5M

! R: field recording media: xx Maxell MX90

! R: Transfer Info: Cassette Master (Sony TC-K677ES) -> Sound Devices 744T (24bit/48k) ->
Adobe Audition v3.0 -> Samplitude Professional v11.2.1 -> FLAC/16 (2 Discs Audio / 1 DVD FLAC), all Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller, charliemiller87@earthlink.net, January 21, 2013.

! setlist: seeder note: "Late show ended early due to power outage caused by nearby fire"

! R: seeder notes: "Thanks to Frank Streeter for lending me his masters. Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction."

! R: very nice tape.

! P: a-t02 Sugaree some very nice guitar work in the 8-minute mark, crowd expresses appropriate enthusiasm.

! P: a-t03 CJ very nice guitar work late 7-minute mark. Jerry sounds good.

! P: a-t04 TWLWMYD Jerry is scorching over 8-minute mark. Wow. These versions from November 1981 are smokin' hot. Tutt is such a rock.

! P: a-t07 MM Melvin plays a nice feature around 8-min mark.

! P: a-t08 Deal Garcia's soloing in the late 6 and over 7-min mark is outtasite.

! a-t08 (1) JG: "See ya later on. Thank you."

! P: b-t05 HTC Tutt is a monster. Late 5 over 6-minute mark, a little Jimmy Warren feature, but Tutt is pounding behind him. Around 6:10 there's a buzz, like the fire alarm. Wow Tutt is doing some of the most amazing drumming behind HTC in the 6-minute range. Now Jerry is stepping up and he has some amazing multistring fingering happening, pulls a pull about 7:45, gorgeous.

! b-t05 (2) JG: "Thanks, we're gonna take a break for a little while. We'll be back in a few minutes." The note above ("Late show ended early due to power outage caused by nearby fire"), from etree, probably explains why there's no second set in the late show - compare 2/7/81.

Two Keyboards on Tour: JGB, Orpheum Theatre, Boston, February 7, 1981

LN jg1981-02-07.jgb.early-late.aud-streeter.123543.flac1644

I have some pretty bland listening notes to catch up with posting. Might try to plant a few this weekend.

Jerry Garcia Band
Orpheum Theatre
1 Hamilton Place
Boston, MA 02108
February 7, 1981 (Saturday)
Streeter early and late complete MAC Miller flac1644 shnid-123543 JGMF retrack

--early show (8 tracks,73:36)--
a-t01. tuning [1:54]
a-t02. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) [8:45] [0:05] % [0:02]
a-t03. Catfish John [11:11] [0:06] % [0:10]
a-t04. That's What Love Will Make You Do [9:12] [0:07] % [0:14]
a-t05. Like A Road [11:44] [0:33]
a-t06. Love In The Afternoon [10:44] [0:05] % [0:03]
a-t07. Sugaree [9:55] [0:07]
a-t08. [0:07] Tangled Up In Blue [8:12] (1) [0:18]

--late show (10 tracks, 94:42)--
--late show, set I (5 tracks, 42:18-0:04)--
b-s1t01. tuning [1:17]
b-s1t02. The Harder They Come [11:54] [0:02] % [0:02]
b-s1t03. They Love Each Other [8:37] [0:04] %  [0:08]
b-s1t04. Tore Up Over You [9:43] [0:05] %
b-s1t05. Mission In The Rain [10:13] (2) [0:09] % pre-set II [0:04]

--late show, set II (5 tracks, 52:24+0:04)--
b-s2t01. I'll Take A Melody [13:29] [0:03] %
b-s2t02. Mississippi Moon [11:14] ->
b-s2t03. Dear Prudence [11:26] [0:05] % [0:06]
b-s2t04. Deal [7:29] ->
b-s2t05. Midnight Moonlight [8:16] (3) [0:16]

! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #12b
! lineup: Jerry Garcia - el-g, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn - el-b;
! lineup: Jimmy Warren - el-piano;
! lineup: Melvin Seals - organ;
! lineup: Daoud Shaw - drums.

JGMF:

! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; ... = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [m:ss] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the "real" time of the event. So, a timing of [m:ss] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.

! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19810207-01 (A); https://jerrybase.com/events/19810207-02 (B)

! db: http://etreedb.org/shn/8648 (early and late Steve Rolfe, shn); http://etreedb.org/shn/88820 (late show, Jim Vita, flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/88927 (early and late John Levene, flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/102007 (early and late Bob Morris flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/107333 (early and late shows, pitch/speed correction of Levene source shnid-88927, flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/123543 (early and late Streeter, this fileset).

! map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orpheum+Theatre/@42.3563142,-71.0610765,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e3709cb51cffcf:0x6575ac76b6bcc90f

! venue: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2012/09/orpheum-theatre-1-hamilton-place-boston.html

! band: JGB #12b (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html).

! R: field recordist: Frank Streeter

! R: field recording location: unknown

! R: field recording gear: ?2x? AKG D330BT mic(s) > Sony TC-D5M

! R: field recording media: Maxell MX90

! R: Transfer Info: Cassette Master (Sony TC-K677ES) -> Sound Devices 744T (24bit/48k) ->
Adobe Audition v3.0 -> Samplitude Professional v11.2.1 -> FLAC/16 (3 Discs Audio / 1 DVD FLAC). All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller, charliemiller87@earthlink.net, January 20, 2013.

! R: seeder notes: "Late show is seamless. There were a ton of snaps and 'thud' sounds I cleaned up (some remain). Thanks to Frank Streeter for lending me his masters. Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction."

! R: JGMF rename for sets 2/23/2014.

! context: A quartet version of this band debuted January 22-23. That was JGB #12a. The second keyboardist (Jimmy Warren on electric piano), arrived for five more local shows in two weeks, and then the band took off on tour. Garcia was nothing if not insistent that his players jump in with both feet, deep end. Three consecutive nights (Warner in DC on the 4th, Lehigh University on the 5th, the Tower in Philly on the 6th, now two shows in Boston. It's not surprising that I don't feel boatloads of energy (which could also reflect my own state of mind, as much as the players'). Note that at least five tapers walked home with recordings this night. I have not A-B'd them, and don't expect to have time to do so, but one never knows.

! P: On this listen (2/23/2014), the shows don't do much for me.

! P: a-t03 CJ some very interesting guitar work. Fanning over 9-min mark. Nice.

! P: a-t05 LAR at end a woman gives a great big "Thank you, Jerry!" This song always had a nice feel of connection Jerry and the audience, as in that early '89 show (1/28/89).

! a-t08 (1) JG: "Thanks a lot. See ya later."

! P: a-t08 TUIB PA screech late 4-min mark.

! b1-t05 (2) JG: "We're gonna take a break for a little while, we'll be back in a coupla minutes."

! b2-t05 (3) JG: "Thanks a lot. See ya."

jg1981-02-09.jgb.all.aud-streeter.123532.flac1644

This show, on this listen, didn't move me. The tape is nice.

Jerry Garcia Band
Ocean State Theater
220 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903
February 9, 1981 (Monday)
Frank Streeter complete MAC shnid-123532

--set I (7 tracks, 74:48)--
s1t01. tuning [1:03]
s1t02. Sugaree [12:27] % [0:13]
s1t03. Love In The Afternoon [9:33] % [0:25]
s1t04. That's What Love Will Make You Do [10:04] % [0:11]
s1t05. Simple Twist Of Fate [17:32] % [0:08]
s1t06. Sitting Here In Limbo [11:54] [0:04] %
s1t07. Tangled Up In Blue [10:53] (1) [0:20] %

--set II (8 tracks, 70:47)--
s2t01. tuning [1:00]
s2t02. I'll Take A Melody [12:40] % [0:33]
s2t03. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) [8:30] % [0:33]
s2t04. The Harder They Come [10:44] % [0:10]
s2t05. Mission In The Rain [10:38] % [0:19]
s2t06. Dear Prudence [12:09]
s2t07. -> [0:03] % ... Deal [#6:29] ->
s2t08. Midnight Moonlight [6:33] [0:25]

! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #12b
! lineup: Jerry Garcia - el-g, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn - el-b;
! lineup: Jimmy Warren - el-piano;
! lineup: Melvin Seals - organ;
! lineup: Daoud Shaw - drums.

JGMF

! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; ... = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [ ] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the "real" time of the event. So, a timing of [x:xx] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.

! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19810209-01

! db: http://etreedb.org/shn/20608 (Steve Rolfe aud shnf); http://etreedb.org/shn/83745 (Jim Vita aud flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/98865 (Tim Friend aud flac2496); http://etreedb.org/shn/98866 (Tim Friend aud flac1644); http://etreedb.org/shn/102008 (Bob Morris aud); http://etreedb.org/shn/123532 (Frank Streeter aud flac1644, this fileset).

! map: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=220+Weybosset+Street+Providence,+RI&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=220+Weybosset+St,+Providence,+Rhode+Island+02903&gl=us&t=h&z=16

! venue: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2013/01/palace-theater-ocean-state-theatre.html

! band: JGB #12b (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html)

! historical: Sue: capacity 3,198, GP of $29,390. $7,500 flat guarantee plus 85% gross receipts over $25,949.75 after taxes plus 100% difference between estimated non-variable expenses and $22,565 and actual expenses, plus $3,650 production. Billboard (February 28, 1981, p. 32): 2,798 sold for gross of $24,839.

! R: field recordist: Frank Streeter

! R: field recording gear: AKG D330BT -> Sony TC-D5M

! R: field recording media: Maxell MX90

! R: Transfer Info: Cassette Master (Sony TC-K677ES) -> Sound Devices 744T (24bit/48k) ->
Adobe Audition v3.0 -> Samplitude Professional v11.2.1 -> FLAC/16 (2 Discs Audio / 1 DVD FLAC). All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller, charliemiller87@earthlink.net, January 18, 2013.

! R: seeder note: "Thanks to Frank Streeter for lending me his masters."

! R: seeder note: "Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction."

! tags: 1981, JGB, Frank Streeter, Ocean State Theater, Providence, RI

! R: quite a nice recording. The splices are all tastefully cross-faded.

! P: Overall, I am unmoved. Not sure why. Things aren't perfect, but what is? More relevant, I just don't find myself groovin' in listening to this. Could be "set and setting", and all that, for all I know.

! P: t03 Jimmy takes a solo @ 5:00 and surrounding that's not terrible. He gets one little go-'round, then Jerry's turn. One for you, one for me. One for him. One-two for me. etc.

! s1t07 (1) JG "We're gonna take a break for a little while. We'll be back in a little bit."

! R: s2t02 ITAM some L-channel static.

! P: s2t04 HTC tempo picks up, not on purpose I don't think, around 9:40ish.

! R: s2t06 some digiscratch in DP 5-minute mark that is no fun to hear. Haven't heard that sound in years. It's not too loud, but it's vexatious.

! P: s2t06 DP Jerry has a nice thing he's found, but I worry he overdoes it, over late 6-minute mark and into 7-, now 7:15 he's still doing it, but he's changing the end of the sentence, or rather has added a declining phrase to the tail, now weaving in the DP melody, walking up to that theme he had hit a bunch, but walks away the first pass, then suggests it twice next time around, then three times, in little expanding circles. It's good, but I don't get liftoff from it.

! R s2t07 - I am trying to capture that I think there's what I would call a reverb segue from Dear Prudence -> Deal, but there's a little tape splice through it, and then Deal comes in without much missing.