August 2, 2023 Playlist

New Riders of the Purple Sage "New Riders of the Purple Sage" (1970)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
New Riders of the Purple Sage "New Riders of the Purple Sage"  1971 (USA)
Yesterday was Jerry Garcia's birthday, but pretty much all the essential Dead albums are already in the CAOTW hall of fame (I'm not including those two overly-popular "soft rock" studio albums they did in 1970). So this week's classic is arguably the most notable release from the Dead's "extended universe". The roots of NRPS go back to John Dawson, David Nelson, Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter jamming together in Palo Alto during the mid-sixties folk boom. A couple years later, Jerry moved to San Francisco and his group took off (with Hunter providing lyrics as a non-performing member). Jerry & Bob got reacquainted with John & Dave around 1969, and soon they were performing country songs as the opening act at Dead concerts under the name "New Riders Of The Purple Sage" (i.e., John & David with members of the Dead). Eventually, a stable band was assembled with Dave Torbert replacing Phil Lesh on bass, and Spencer Dryden (ex-Jefferson Airplane) replacing Mickey Hart on drums. Jerry remained in the band for their first album, but only plays pedal steel and banjo instead of his usual guitar antics (this album marks the high water mark of Jerry's flirtation with country instruments: he also played pedal steel on tracks by The Airplane and CSN around this time.) Unlike any of the other NRPS albums, their 1971 debut features 100% original songs written by John Dawson: the songwriting would become more democratic and they'd play lots of cover songs on subsequent releases. While groups like The Eagles (and Poco and Firefall and a lot more groups you don't remember) had massive success later in the 1970's wiith the "country-rock" style, NRPS remained a cult favorite and none of their singles even made the Top 100. But that hasn't stopped them from touring on to the present day! David Nelson (lead guitar) is the only remaining original member since 2005 (they haven't had more than one original member since 1982, though it was John Dawson from 1982-1997).
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Fucked UpCream Puff War (Grateful Dead)Day Of The Dead (various artists compilation)2016Canada
Marijuana DeathsquadsTruckin' (Grateful Dead)Day Of The Dead (various artists compilation)2016USA
Cass McCombsDark Star / Nightfall Of Diamonds (Grateful Dead)Day Of The Dead (various artists compilation)2016USA
Tal NationalEyes Of The World (Grateful Dead)Day Of The Dead (various artists compilation)2016Niger
 
 
The People Brothers BandDown The MountainLove Electric2018USA
The Babe Rainbow Super EgoFresh As A Head Of Lettuce EP (N)
2023 (Eureka)Australia
Half Japanese Shining SunJump Into Love (N)
2023 (Fire)USA
Night Beats
 		Morocco BluesRajan (N)2023 (Fuzz Club)USA
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real Wrong HouseSticks And Stones (N)
2023 (6Ace/Thirty Tigers)USA
HANABIE.  ("Chilly Flowers") Osakini Shitsurei Shi Masu
("Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now")		Raise Wa Ijin! (N)  ("Reborn Superstar!")
2023 (Sony)Japan
   
 
New Riders Of The Purple Sage
(with Jerry Garcia)		HenryNew Riders Of The Purple Sage
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1971USA
New Riders Of The Purple Sage
(with Jerry Garcia & Mickey Hart)		Dirty BusinessNew Riders Of The Purple Sage
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1971USA
New Riders Of The Purple Sage
(with Jerry Garcia)		Garden Of EdenNew Riders Of The Purple Sage
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1971USA
New Riders Of The Purple SageI Don't Need No Doctor (Ashford & Simpson / Humble Pie)Powerglide1972USA
   
 
Grateful DeadDark Star (live)Live/Dead1969USA
Grateful DeadWharf Rat (live)Grateful Dead (aka "Skull & Roses")1971USA
Grateful DeadMr. Charlie (live)Europe '721972USA
The Velvet UndergroundOcean (live)1969 Live With Lou Reedrec. 1969, rel. 1974USA
   
 
Swans The Beggar Lover (Three)The Beggar (N)
2023 (Young God)USA
Back to playlists         Back to main