Just in time for Fourth of July barbecues across the country, the Grateful Dead will issue a new archival release entitled Here Comes Sunshine 1973. Out June 30th, the massive 17CD box set captures five previously unreleased shows from the band’s revered 1973 spring tour. On Tuesday, the Dead shared a cut of “Box of Rain” recorded on June 10th, 1973 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. In addition to Here Comes Sunshine 1973, the Dead will issue RFK Stadium, Washington D.C. 6/10/73 as a standalone release.
While “Box of Rain” certainly doesn’t sit alongside the Dead’s formidable improvisational springboards, this first set number displays the band’s inherent virility in the much-lauded touring year of 1973. Helmed by bassist Phil Lesh, this rendition came three years prior to Lesh’s self-imposed nine-year hiatus from singing with the band.
Related: Phil & Grahame Lesh Play Father-Son Duet To Launch eTown ‘Solar Sessions’ [Watch]
RFK 1973 stands among one of the band’s finest concerts from a much (and deservedly) hyped era. The starting gun of a show-opening “Morning Dew” set the stage for exemplary playing to come through staples “Bird Song”, “Playing in the Band”, “Eyes of the World”, and a cosmic “Dark Star”. The gravy of the entire performance came during a freewheeling third set, when Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks of openers The Allman Brothers Band along with Jerry Garcia collaborator Merl Saunders joined the Dead for classic covers by Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, The Crickets, and more. Next Friday’s live release will feature the entire RFK show, including the guest-filled third set.
Listen to the Grateful Dead perform “Box of Rain” on June 10th, 1973 at RFK Stadium, set for release on Here Comes Sunshine 1973 and a standalone album. Pre-order the archival sets here in a variety of formats.
Grateful Dead – “Box of Rain” – 6/10/73
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