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‘Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast’ Premieres ‘Lost’ 1973 Grateful Dead Studio Session With Robert Hunter

November 8, 2023

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On November 6, 1973, lyricist Robert Hunter and members of the Grateful Dead participated in a recording session at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. The resulting 37-minute recording went lost for the past 50 years, but was recently discovered and premiered on the latest episode of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast podcast.

Guitarist Jerry Garcia was not part of the recording session at the Record Plant. Garcia was at a different recording facility with Old & In The Way, tracking songs for an album that never materialized.

Joining Hunter at the Record Plant was drummer Bill Kreutzmann, bassist Phil Lesh, guitarist Bob Weir, keyboardist Keith Godchaux and vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux. As explained by Deadcast host Jesse Jarnow, the tape recording labeled “Prelude/Tuesday Night Jam” was discovered over the summer when preparing the Wake Of The Flood: The Angel’s Share compilation of previously-unreleased session tapes released for the 50th anniversary of the Dead’s studio album, Wake Of The Flood.

The 37-minute track has moments of bizarre absurdist psychedelia that recalls the Acid Tests tapes and madcap Aoxomoxoa outtakes. The one-off ensemble also coalesces around repeated motifs and viable improvisational passages. The various parts of the recording were labeled “Whatever It Is,” “Titled Variously,” “The Point Transition,” “Floating,” “Gone To The River,” “Sweet Inspiration” and “Jezebel.”

The otherwise free-form excursion ends with Donna Jean Godchaux singing a gorgeous rendition of “Sweet Inspiration.” Jarnow explores the fascinating connection between the R&B song and Donna, who knew the writers of the song from her time singing backing vocals in Muscle Shoals, Alabama years before joining the Grateful Dead.

The “Prelude Tape” continues with Weir adding a few lines from the traditional gospel song “Jezebel” followed by an apparently improvised bit of gospel-esque lyrics sung by Donna.

The episode explores the origins of the recording session, with speculation it was intended to be played before Grateful Dead concerts while the audience was entering the venue. Jarnow also touches on Hunter’s relationship with the Grateful Dead and his history of performing with the members of the band. The deep-dive episode covers many other aspects of the circumstances surrounding the once “lost” recording.

Listen to the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast episode below, featuring the full 37-minute studio track, and Jarnow’s insightful deconstruction of the recording – with the help of Donna Jean Godchaux and others – below:

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Stream Grateful Dead’s ‘Wake Of The Flood: The Angel’s Share’ Outtake Collection
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