Playing in the Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Playing in the Band" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by the Grateful Dead | ||
| from the album Grateful Dead | ||
| Released | October 1971 | |
| Recorded | Early 1971 | |
| Genre | Country rock Folk-rock Jam band |
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| Length | 4:40 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Writer(s) | Robert Hunter | |
| Composer(s) | Bob Weir | |
| Producer(s) | David Hassinger | |
| Grateful Dead track listing | ||
| "Big Railroad Blues" (3) |
"Playing in the Band" (4) |
"The Other One" (5) |
"Playing in the Band" is a Grateful Dead song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and rhythm guitarist 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 ironically included every Grateful Dead member sans Ron "Pigpen" McKernan).
It since became one of the best-known Grateful Dead numbers and a standard part of their repertoire, seeing as it did to self-describe what the Dead were in fact doing as playing it they did. 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 it's 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".
From 1974 and after, the song would go on to begin or bookend a lot of the Dead's infamous jam medleys. Evidence of this can be found on Dick's Picks; Volumes 20 & 24, and then again also The Grateful Dead Movie soundtrack. Occasionally, 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."
