Grateful Dead - Pretty Peggy-Os, Vol. One (Compilation)
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Grateful Dead<br />
Pretty Peggy-Os, Vol. One<br />
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There was a time, when I first became a deadhead, that I was not particularly fond of this song. However, not unlike a number of songs from the bandÂ’s repertoire, I heard one version that completely changed my feelings toward the song. It was that one from 7/17/76. After that, I had to hear every version of the song the band had ever played so as not to miss a single one of GarciaÂ’s sparkling solos that so often graced it. According to Deadbase, the band first performed the song on 12/10/73, and it remained in their repertoire until the end. This compilation represents but a few of the more notable performances of the song through those years. As evidenced by the selections featured here, the song went through a number of arrangements, which is not unusual for a band that had a tendency to rehearse while they were on-stage.<br />
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For additional information about this traditional folksong, visit this website: <a href="http://cvrc.med.upenn.edu/">http://cvrc.med.upenn.edu/</a>~greenberg/cv-pggy1.html<br />
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Track 1: 7/29/74<br />
The earliest performances of the song feature a real countrified sound that was common of many songs from this period. The tempo is slow and easy, like riding a horse out of town. Garcia delivers the lyrics, as well as his solos, with some of that southern twang. The "come trippin' down the stairs" line makes an early appearance here as part of the second verse. Garcia's first solo is short and follows the "and free all the people in the area-O" line, while his second follows the "saw me marching at the head of my soldiers-O" line. Note that, as with other early versions of the song, the "Sweet William he is dead" verse is absent from this version.<br />
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Track 2: 9/18/74<br />
Here, Garcia plays three solos. The first follows the "come trippin' down the stairs" line, once again appearing in the second verse. His second solo follows the "and I fear my mama would be angry-O" line, and a third follows the "and free all the people in the area-O" line.<br />
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Track 3: 6/17/75<br />
A favorite of many, this version comes from Rob Bertrando's outstanding audience recording. It is among the longest-—and the slowest—-version the band ever played, and, for me, it represents the beginning of this song's heyday. The first of three solos by Garcia comes after the "and free all the people in the area-O" line. The second follows the "saw me marching at the head of my soldiers-O" line. When Garcia returns to the lyrics, he first sings the "come steppin' down the stairs" verse and then backtracks to sing the skipped "if ever I return" verse. The final solo comes after the "and he's buried in the Louisiana country-O" line. The sudden appearance of two "new" verses provides some evidence that the band was still in the process of reworking the song during their "retirement."<br />
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Track 4: 7/17/76<br />
This has been my favorite version for quite some time. At nearly nine minutes, it features two heartfelt solos by Garcia. The first of these follows the "and I fear my mama would be angry-O" line, and it is evident from his stumbling return to the lyrics that Garcia is somewhat lost in the song. The second solo comes after the "destroy all the people in the area-O" line, and this is where the beauty of this song really shines.<br />
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Track 5: 10/14/76<br />
Where versions from 1974 conjure images of an easy horse ride out of town, this version finds the listener aboard some midnight train. It follows the same arrangement as that of 7/17/76, however the delicate tenderness of that version has been replaced by the powerful bravado found among the best versions of 1977. Quite simply, it kicks ass.<br />
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Track 6: 5/5/77<br />
The first of several superlative performances from May 1977— the one on 5/3/77 is a bit of a mess— this one has a more upbeat, punchy tempo. Garcia delivers the lyrics with urgent precision, and his solitary solo following the "destroy all the people in the area-O" line is completely over the top. WHEW! His solo is so uncapped that the band falters a bit as Garcia lands to finish the lyrics. This version is surely one that has helped to define what has become known as the band's '77 sound.<br />
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Track 7: 5/7/77<br />
This is another standout version from May 1977. It follows the same arrangement as that of 5/5/77, and is filled with the same level of '77 intensity. This time around, however, the return to the lyrics following the solo is as smooth as one could hope for. The version from two days later, on 5/9/77, is equally stunning.<br />
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Track 8: 5/19/77<br />
This version is quickly becoming a favorite. It features two solos by Garcia. The first comes after the "saw me marching at the head of my soldiers-O" line. The second follows the "and he's buried in the Louisiana country-O" line, and leads the song toward a fervent climax.<br />
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Track 9: 10/1/77<br />
The version here features an arrangement similar to that of 5/19/77, with two scorching solos by Garcia. Each of his solos is well developed and goes on and on and on, the second of which is perhaps one of the most inspired solos I have ever heard Garcia perform. Simply amazing.<br />
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Track 10: 3/21/81<br />
This fine version from the early '80s is accentuated by Mydland's delicate keyboard work. It features a single solo by Garcia following the "destroy all the people in the area-O" line, which had now become the norm. Even into the '80s, the song retained the same laid back tempo of versions from the '70s. By the '90s, however, the song's tempo would become more upbeat.<br />
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Compiled 12/2002 by Sean Cribbs<br />
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Additional Note, 8/13/2011:<br />
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When I originally compiled these renditions in 2002, I intentionally omitted those that were commercially available, such as the 9/3/77 performance released on Dick's Picks, Vol. 15, which incidentally may be the finest one ever played. There were also a number of other fine performances not represented here, including a few from 1978 in particular, which I intended to compile in a second volume. I may be moved to complete such an endeavor should there be enough interest in this project. If your favorite rendition isn't here, please let me know which one(s) you like and I'll make sure to give them a listen. I'd love to hear them!<br />
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Sean Cribbs<br />
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