| Author | Message | ||
| crobbins
Advanced Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 357 Registered: 6-2004 |
Jack Straw US Blues Mason's Ship of Fools FOTD (phil improvises last line??) SOTM (bobby)> LWAF (warren)> Terrapin (bobby)> SOTM (bobby) Set 2 Estimated>jam> New Potato> Born x eyed Mr fantasy> drumz/fire dancers> space> Morning dew> china cat> ikyr Phil donor rap: "...am I uninteligable?". !! E: Scarlet (bw)>Fire(wh) Deal | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3810 Registered: 7-2004 |
The show was better than I expected. That "Phil improvises last line" of Friend of the Devil was actually the true last verse of the song. From what I've heard (from Hunter at a show he did at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach about a million years ago), Hunter and Garcia had a long-standing "friendly feud" on the verse - Hunter always wanted Jerry to sing it, Jerry never would sing it. I've sang it when I've performed the song ever since I heard Hunter's story. The verse, as I remember Hunter doing it (slightly different than Phil's last night) is as follows: You can borrow from the Devil, you can borrow from a friend. Devil give you twenty and your friend will give you ten. The Anthem stuff (new potato, born cross-eyed/quadlibet for tenderfeet - I'm never sure which is which)was wonderful. It was interesting seeing Warren with the ABB on Tuesday night, and then with the Dead last night. He has taken to wearing black Tee shirts (hmmm ... that seems somehow familiar). I love his playing, especially with the ABB. With the Dead he did fine on most songs during the "song" part. During the jams, the phrase "safe Jerry" kept coming to mind. He has Jerry's tone down pretty well, and works in the same modal structures. He seems to play similar to Jerry, but something isn't there. All of his choices are "safe". He never goes into left field and brings in something completely unexpected, but yet that works beautifully - something that Jerry excelled in. Then again, in fairness to Warren, there was only one Jerry. I would have loved to see Derek Trucks playing along with the boys too. And oh yea, Phil's Dr. Suess Ritter bass sounded good ... and still looks downright weird! All in all a fun night. Bill, tgo | ||
| phylo
Intermediate Member Username: phylo Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2005 |
Well, I guess I am happy for you guys! Sure takes a lot out of the mix for the Gorge, though. How was the Jack Straw? I was hoping for one of those as I am interested in hearing Bobby do what he does best: Bobby. Glad you made it and enjoyed yourself, Bill. | ||
| crobbins
Advanced Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 358 Registered: 6-2004 |
Hunter's online journal entry of February 23, 2006, gave his recollections of the origins of the song: Buddy Cage called last night and we had a good rave about plans to revive the Riders. He doesn't want to call it a reunion since, as he pointed out, half the guys are dead. He wants to call it a renaissance. Why not? I was just remembering how Friend of the Devil got written. First off I wrote these four verses one afternoon back in 1969. I was living in Madrone canyon with the Garcias. The NRPS had asked me if I wanted to play bass with them and it seemed like a good idea at the time. So I worked up that song on bass, added a few verses plus a chorus and went over to where David Nelson and John Dawson were living in Kentfield and taught them the tune. The "Sweet Anne Marie" verse which was later to become a bridge was only one of the verses, not yet a bridge. The chorus went: I set out running but I take my time It looks like water but it tastes like wine If I get home before daylight I just might get some sleep tonight. I'd changed the fourth verse, about parlaying the twenty dollars into five thousand and, except for the all important Friend of the Devil hook, the lyrics were pretty much as they stand today minus a fifth verse which goes: You can borrow from the Devil You can borrow from a friend But the Devil give you twenty When your friend got only ten We all went down to the kitchen to have espresso made in Dawson's new machine. We got to talking about the tune and John said the verses were nifty except for "it looks like water but it tastes like wine" which I had to admit fell flat. Suddenly Dawson's eyes lit up and he crowed "How about "a friend of the devil is a friend of mine." Bingo, not only the right line but a memorable title as well! We ran back upstairs to Nelson's room and recorded the tune. I took the tape home and left it on the kitchen table. Next morning I heard earlybird Garcia (who hadn't been at the rehearsal - had a gig, you know) wanging away something familiar sounding on the peddle steel. Danged if it wasn't "Friend of the Devil." With a dandy bridge on the "sweet Anne Marie" verse. He was not in the least apologetic about it. He'd played the tape, liked it, and faster than you can say dog my cats it was in the Grateful Dead repertoire. Although I learned all the tunes, I never did play a gig with the NRPS, who were doing strictly club dates at the time. For one reason or another I never quite fathomed, though I have my suspicions, I got shut out. Either that or I misread the signs and wasn't inclined to push. Nothing was ever said. In any event, a fellow named Dave Torbert showed up about that time. Just as well. One dedicated songwriter in the band was enough. |
