Watch Jerry Garcia & David Grisman Rehearsing George Jones’ ‘Take Me’

Renowned country music singer-songwriter George Jones, who was born on this date in 1931, influenced many musicians, including the members of the Grateful Dead. Among the most well-known songs associated with Jones is “The Race Is On,” which was written by Don Rollins and performed by the Grateful Dead in concert many times, with guitarist Bob Weir singing lead.

Two songs co-written by Jones, “Old Old House” and “Seasons Of My Heart” were also covered by the Dead a few times each between 1969 and 1970. Both of those were also sung by Weir, who also performed “Seasons Of My Heart” with the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia also shared Weir’s admiration for Jones.

“Nashville musicians were fairly legendary amongst the hippie-musician crowd, despite the fact that country music wasn’t considered all that hip,” Weir told GQ in 2019. “Jerry and I wouldn’t miss Porter Wagoner’s show. We were huge fans of George Jones and, of course, Dolly Parton. We didn’t have chops like those guys.”

When Garcia took the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band on tour in 1987, several shows included performances of the traditional song “Ragged But Right,” matching a partially rewritten arrangement popularized by Jones. The song then served as the title for the JGAB live album released in 2010.

In 1991, Garcia toured with his longtime collaborator, master mandolinist David Grisman. Setlists for those shows, which saw the pair backed by Joe Craven on violin and percussion and Jim Kerwin on acoustic bass, often featured George Jones’ “Take Me” (sometimes mislabeled “Spring In California”).

Co-authored by Jones and Leon Payne, it was a Top 10 hit for Jones when he first released it in 1966. Jones had another Top 10 hit with “Take Me” when he recorded it with his at-the-time wife, fellow country star Tammy Wynette. Released in 1971, the recording was the first issued by the couple after record label restraints kept them from officially appearing together.

In addition to live performances, Garcia and Grisman recorded “Take Me” in the studio and it was included on the 2004 compilation album, Been All Around This World. Garcia and Grisman can be seen rehearsing “Take Me” before their February 2, 1991 concert at The Warfield in San Francisco, as well as the full show, via the below videos:

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Source: JamBase.com