Got the summertime blues? Go on a long, strange tour with me through time. Every day in the month of July, we’ll feature a vintage recording from the Dead. Tune in on YouTube and join the chat as we explore the wonders of summer tours past. We will get by, we will survive!

After the soundcheck to the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen last night, our We Will Get By Streaming Tour continues with the main course—the Dead’s two opening set to the one day festival.

On July 28, 1973, the Grateful Dead joined The Band and The Allman Brothers Band at the Grand Prix Racecourse in Watkins Glen, NY for Summer Jam. The triple bill, behind the efforts of legendary promoter Bill Graham had an eye popping 600,000 attendees which was broke a world record at the time.

The Dead opened the one day festival and were joined by a combination of the other band members for one of the more memorable sequence of sit in jams including “Not Fade Away,” the Allman Brothers Band’s “Mountain Jam” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

While some say it was a sloppy two sets, others revel in the show’s glory. Either way, it is definitely one of the Dead’s more historic shows and a “must-listen” on our long strange trip this summer.

Setlist
Bertha
Beat it on Down the Line
Brown Eyed Women
Mexicali Blues
Box of Rain
Here Comes Sunshine
Looks Like Rain
Row Jimmy
Jack Straw
Deal
Playing in the Band

Around and Around
Loose Lucy
Big River
He’s Gone
Truckin’
Nobody’s Jam
El Paso
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider
Stella Blue
Eyes of the World
Sugar Magnolia
Sing Me Back Home

Not Fade Away
Mountain Jam
Johnny B. Goode

Thanks to Jonathan Aizen for the recording.