Set Lists

Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead

Steppin’ out with the Grateful Dead is a four-disc compilation from the performances in various venues in England from the Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 tour. This is the third release from that tour, the first two Europe ’72 and Hundred Year Hall are each two disc releases. There are several songs on this CD that have never been released live, as well as some Pigpen material performed with Keith Godchaux in the band never heard in a commercial product.  

A common theme to Grateful Dead compilation releases is that they are packed to the brim and include few weak songs if any, and that more than holds true for Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead. Conversely, complete shows generally have several average moments. 

The first disc is an expertly selected collection of first set material from the various venues that includes a balance of Garcia, Weir, and Pigpen songs. There are no low points. One standout is the slide laden Pigpen led rendition of Elmore James’ “It Hurts Me Too.” 

The second disc of Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead is a Pig Pen showcase as it begins with a twenty-minute version “Good Lovin’.” A bit later in the set “Turn on Your Lovelight” kicks off the big jam that ends CD two, which is a combination of the Bickershaw show featuring “Lovelight”> Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad” and the Lyceum show featuring “Not Fade Away”> “Hey Bo Diddley” > “Not Fade Away.” Apparently the Bickershaw “Not Fade Away” has an irreparable cut leading to splicing of these two jams.  What shouldn’t be overlooked are the songs sandwiched between the two jams. Keith shines on “Black Throated Wind” and the vocals on “Comes a Time” are gorgeous. Notable is before “Black Throated Wind” begin, Bob Weir throws a hint of what would later be “Weather Report Suite,” a song that would be penned later that debuted on 11/19/72, and played frequently in 1973 and ’74. 

The third disc begins with “Rockin’ Phenomena and the Boogie Woogie Flu,” a solidly played blues number highlighted with touches of Keith Godchaux’s ivory runs. The big jam on disc three of Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead begins with their hit “Truckin’.” It leads into a short drum solo transitioning perfectly into “The Other One.” This version is much less spacey and intense than its counterpart from the Hundred Year Hall release. Instead a portion of this rendition sandwiches “El Paso” between jams. 

The final disc of Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead is highlighted by a fan favorite version of “Dark Star,” that clocks in at over thirty minutes.  The ending jam of the “Dark Star” is incredible. After the meltdown jam they begin an early version of  “Mind Left Body” while at the same time you can hear the beginning “Sugar Magnolia.” For several minutes you can hear both of these melodies blending and conflicting simultaneously to finally give way to a rocking “Sugar Magnolia” that segues into “Caution.” The versions of “Uncle John’s Band” and “The Stranger” preceding “Dark Star” are played very well.