Playing in the Band
Encyclopedia
"Playing in the Band" is a Grateful Dead
song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter
and rhythm guitar
ist Bob Weir
composed it. The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live album
Grateful Dead
. It then appeared in a more polished form on Ace
, Bob Weir's first solo album (which included every Grateful Dead
member sans Ron "Pigpen" McKernan).
It has since become one of the best-known Grateful Dead numbers and a standard part of their repertoire. Indeed according to Deadbase X, it would end up as the fourth-most played in concert Dead song in their long career with 581 performances (not counting isolated reprises), trailing only "Me & My Uncle", "Sugar Magnolia
", and "The Other One".
"Playing in the Band" was also included on Mickey Hart
's 1972 Rolling Thunder
solo album within "The Main Ten", making reference to the song's time signature
of 10/4. "The Main Ten" was first introduced in 1969. It appears on Dick's Picks Vol. 16, from their performance at the Fillmore West
on November 8, 1969. On that set, it appears in the middle of "Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks)".
During the time of, and during their tour of Europe, Playing in the Band was moved around, in some cases starting the show, and in some cases during the second set. Second set versions of this song extended into the nine to ten minute range. By 1973, however, the song had solidified its position as a first set ending song, succeeding Casey Jones. By this stage the song could extend into the twenty minute mark. A good example of "Playin'" as an extended first set closer is the 23 minute version performed on New Year's Eve (31 December), 1976, and released in 2007 on "Live at the Cow Palace
". The longest live version of "Playing in the Band" ever performed was on 5/21/74 at the Hec Edmunson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington. This standalone version ran 46:26.
From 1974 and after, the song would go on to begin or bookend a lot of the Dead's jam medleys. Evidence of this can be found on Dick's Picks; Volumes 20 & 24, and then again also The Grateful Dead Movie
soundtrack. Usually if not always, Weir would alter the line "Some folks up in treetops / Just look to see the sights" to "Some folks up in treetops / Just looking for their kites."
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
and rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ist Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
composed it. The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead (album)
Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead, released in October 1971 on Warner Bros. Records, catalogue 2WS-1935. It is their second live double album, and also known generally by the names Skull and Roses and Skull Fuck Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead,...
. It then appeared in a more polished form on Ace
Ace (Bob Weir album)
Ace was the first solo album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, released in 1972.Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia's Garcia and Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder...
, Bob Weir's first solo album (which included every Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
member sans Ron "Pigpen" McKernan).
It has since become one of the best-known Grateful Dead numbers and a standard part of their repertoire. Indeed according to Deadbase X, it would end up as the fourth-most played in concert Dead song in their long career with 581 performances (not counting isolated reprises), trailing only "Me & My Uncle", "Sugar Magnolia
Sugar Magnolia
"Sugar Magnolia" is a song by the Grateful Dead. Written by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir, it is one of the most well-known songs by the band, alongside such hits as "Truckin'," "Casey Jones," "Uncle John's Band," and "Touch of Grey."...
", and "The Other One".
"Playing in the Band" was also included on Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
's 1972 Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder (album)
Rolling Thunder is the first solo album by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.Although Hart had temporarily left the Grateful Dead at the time he made Rolling Thunder, members of the Dead play on the album, along with a number of other well-known musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area music scene...
solo album within "The Main Ten", making reference to the song's time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
of 10/4. "The Main Ten" was first introduced in 1969. It appears on Dick's Picks Vol. 16, from their performance at the Fillmore West
Fillmore West
The Fillmore West was an historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by concert promoter Bill Graham. Named after Graham's original "Fillmore" location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it stood at Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue and was formerly...
on November 8, 1969. On that set, it appears in the middle of "Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks)".
During the time of, and during their tour of Europe, Playing in the Band was moved around, in some cases starting the show, and in some cases during the second set. Second set versions of this song extended into the nine to ten minute range. By 1973, however, the song had solidified its position as a first set ending song, succeeding Casey Jones. By this stage the song could extend into the twenty minute mark. A good example of "Playin'" as an extended first set closer is the 23 minute version performed on New Year's Eve (31 December), 1976, and released in 2007 on "Live at the Cow Palace
Live at the Cow Palace
Live at the Cow Palace is a live album by the American rock band the Grateful Dead. It was recorded at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, on New Year's Eve, 1976. Released in 2007, it was the first Grateful Dead album produced under contract with Rhino Records...
". The longest live version of "Playing in the Band" ever performed was on 5/21/74 at the Hec Edmunson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington. This standalone version ran 46:26.
From 1974 and after, the song would go on to begin or bookend a lot of the Dead's jam medleys. Evidence of this can be found on Dick's Picks; Volumes 20 & 24, and then again also The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie, released in 1977 and directed by Jerry Garcia, is a film that captures performances from the Grateful Dead's October 1974 five-night stand at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. This end-of-tour run marked the beginning of an extended hiatus for the band, with no...
soundtrack. Usually if not always, Weir would alter the line "Some folks up in treetops / Just look to see the sights" to "Some folks up in treetops / Just looking for their kites."
External links
- The Annotated "Playing In The Band" lyrics and commentary