The latest live Grateful Dead video from the band’s recently-launched “All The Years Live” series is now available through the band’s official YouTube page. The new video features “Uncle John’s Band” from July 24th, 1987 at Oakland, CA’s Oakland Coliseum.
As the band’s official archivist David Lemieux explains in the video’s description, “In its 1970 review of Workingman’s Dead, Rolling Stone famously said of ‘Uncle John’s Band’, ‘Near the end of the song there is an a cappella section done by everyone, sounds like about 62 tracks, maybe 63. Just listen to it, and try not to smile..’ In its live renderings, in a stadium like the Oakland Coliseum, the Dead were able to get 40,000 people to sing along with that section, and it was always a glorious release when they end with ‘he’s come to take his children home…’ Indeed, try not to smile… This is from the penultimate show on the Dylan & The Dead tour.”
This 1987 Oakland Coliseum show was the second to last on the band’s extensive summer tour with Bob Dylan, which concluded two nights later at Anaheim, CA’s Anaheim Stadium. “Uncle John’s Band” appeared during the band’s second of three sets, following an opening arrangement of “Hell In A Bucket”, “Scarlet Begonias”, “Playing In The Band”, and “Drums”. Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Brent Mydland‘s vocal harmonies shine on this rendition of “Uncle John’s”, backed by Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart‘s infectious rhythmic pocket.
Check out the newly released video of the Grateful Dead performing “Uncle John’s Band” from July 24th, 1987 below:
Grateful Dead – “Uncle John’s Band” – 7/24/1987
[Video: Grateful Dead]
Previous editions of the Dead’s ongoing weekly “All The Years Live” video series have included “Big Boss Man” from June 16th, 1990 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, “New Speedway Boogie” from June 17th, 1991 at Giants Stadium, “Terrapin Station” from July 26th, 1987 at Anaheim Stadium, “Not Fade Away” from New Year’s Eve 1978 at the Winterland Ballroom, “Cassidy” from June 17th, 1991 at Giants Stadium, “Stagger Lee” from July 4th, 1991 at Rich Stadium, “Lazy River Road” from June 26th, 1993 at RFK Stadium, “Bird Song” from July 1st, 1992 at Buckeye Lake, “Shakedown Street” from June 22nd, 1991 at Soldier Field, “My Brother Esau” from July 24th, 1987 at Oakland, CA’s Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, “Blow Away” from 7/16/90 at Rich Stadium, “Touch of Grey” from 7/4/1989 at Rich Stadium, “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” from 7/6/1990 at Cardinal Stadium, “Estimated Prophet” from 7/8/1990 at Three Rivers Stadium, “Reuben & Cherise” from 6/6/90 at Buckeye Lake, “Morning Dew” from 10/18/74 at the Winterland Ballroom, “Sugar Magnolia”/”Scarlet Begonias”/”Fire On The Mountain” from 12/31/78 at the Winterland Ballroom, and “Wang Dang Doodle” from June 14th, 1991 at RFK Stadium.