Playing in the Band

Song_infobox
Name = Playing in the Band


SorA = album
Artist = the Grateful Dead
Album = Grateful Dead
Released = October 1971
track_no = 4
Recorded = Early 1971
Genre = Country rock
Folk-rock
Jam band
Length = 4:40
Writer = Robert Hunter
Composer = Bob Weir
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = David Hassinger
Chart position =
prev = "Big Railroad Blues"
prev_no = 3
next = "The Other One"
next_no = 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 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".

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. 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

* [http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/playin.html The Annotated "Playing In The Band"] lyrics and commentary