It’s a strange fact that the most iconic, unique and long standing music artists are the keenest to champion those who have gone before and inspired their work. Perhaps this is due to a confidence shared by those who appreciate that, while they are informed by an eclectic mix of past heroes, their own craft, skill and style remains intact and forms the central essence of their work - unlike their thieving cousins who merely rearrange or remix the past glories of others and hope no one notices.
And so it was with the mighty Grateful Dead, a band who sang unabashed from the songbooks of the finest Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock & Roll, Folk, Bluesgrass and Pop composers, but in so doing created a style that remains individual, singular and without comparison – let’s face it, who the hell else sounds like The Grateful Dead and gets away with it?
1. Monkey and the Engineer – Jesse Fuller (2.26) 2. Stealin’ – Bob Dylan (2.14) 3. Viola Lee Blues – Cannon’s Jug Stompers (3.10) 4. Sitting on Top of the World – Carl Perkins (2.10) 5. Beat It On Down the Line – Jesse Fuller (3.05) 6. Rain and Snow – Obray Ramsey (3.27) 7. Klavierstück II – David Tudor (1.13) 8. Piano Sonata #1 Allegro – William Masselos (3.31) 9. Africa (extract) – John Coltrane (5.33) 10. Russian Lullaby – Oscar Aleman Trio (3.02) 11. Katie Mae – Lightnin’ Hopkins (3.00) 12. Turn on Your Love Light – Bobby Blue Bland (2.37) 13. Death Don’t Have No Mercy – Reverend Gary Davis (4.44) 14. Saeta – Miles Davis (5.06) 15. Big Boss Man – Jimmy Reed (2.47) 16. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry (2.29) 17. You Win Again – Hank Williams (2.36) 18. I Know You Rider – Tossi Aaron (2.47) 19. Smoke Stack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf (3.05) 20. Big River – Johnny Cash (2.32) 21. El Paso – Marty Robbins (4.38) 22. If I Had My Way, I’d Tear the Building Down – Blind Willie Johnson (3.09) 23. Deep Elem Blues – Shelton Brothers (2.55) 24. Dark Hollow – Bill Browning (2.14) 25. Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie – Elizabeth Cotten (4.43)