photo credit ©Jon Reis 5-8-77

On May 8, 1977 the Grateful Dead performed what has become one of the most beloved live shows in the band’s history. Not only is it a fan favorite but in 2011 a recording of the band’s two sets at Cornell University’s Barton Hall was “deemed so important to the history and culture of the United States” that a copy was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. However, until recently, the band itself did not have a soundboard copy in its vaults. This has been remedied and on May 5, Rhino will release CORNELL 5/8/77 as a three-CD set, a five-LP set and also via digital download and streaming. In addition, the new box set, MAY 1977: GET SHOWN THE LIGHT, presents that glorious evening along with three other celebrated concerts: Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT (5/5/77), Boston Garden, Boston, MA (5/7/77), and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY (5/9/77). While the limited edition box is now sold out, the “All Music Edition” is currently available.

Today, we share the version of “Not Fade Away” from the second set of 5/8/77. This stellar 16 minute version is sandwiched within “St. Stephen,” as part of what was truly a show for the ages. The complete tracklisting for MAY 1977: GET SHOWN THE LIGHT appears below the stream. Crank it up and enjoy!

Show #1
Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum – New Haven, CT (5/5/77)

Disc 1
1. Promised Land
2. Sugaree
3. Mama Tried
4. El Paso
5. Tennessee Jed
6. Looks Like Rain
7. Deal
8. Lazy Lightning>
9. Supplication
10. Peggy-O
11. The Music Never Stopped

Disc 2
1. Bertha
2. Estimated Prophet
3. Scarlet Begonias>
4. Fire On The Mountain>
5. Good Lovin’
6. St. Stephen>
7. Sugar Magnolia
8. Johnny B. Goode

Show #2
Boston Garden – Boston, MA (5/7/77)

Disc 1
1. Bertha
2. Cassidy
3. Deal
4. Jack Straw
5. Peggy-O
6. New Minglewood Blues
7. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo>
8. Big River
9. Tennessee Jed
10. The Music Never Stopped

Disc 2
1. Terrapin Station
2. Samson and Delilah
3. Friend Of The Devil
4. Estimated Prophet

Disc 3
1. Eyes Of The World>
2. Drums>
3. The Wheel>
4. Wharf Rat>
5. Around and Around
6. U.S. Blues

Show #3
Barton Hall, Cornell University – Ithaca, NY (5/8/77)

Disc 1
1. New Minglewood Blues
2. Loser
3. El Paso
4. They Love Each Other
5. Jack Straw
6. Deal
7. Lazy Lightning>
8. Supplication
9. Brown-Eyed Women
10. Mama Tried
11. Row Jimmy

Disc 2
1. Dancing In The Street
2. Scarlet Begonias>
3. Fire On The Mountain
4. Estimated Prophet

Disc 3
1. St. Stephen>
2. Not Fade Away>
3. St. Stephen>
4. Morning Dew
5. One More Saturday Night

Show #4
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium – Buffalo, NY (5/9/77)

Disc 1
1. Help On The Way>
2. Slipknot>
3. Franklin’s Tower
4. Cassidy
5. Brown-Eyed Women
6. Mexicali Blues
7. Tennessee Jed
8. Big River
9. Peggy-O
10. Sunrise
11. The Music Never Stopped

Disc 2
1. Bertha>
2. Good Lovin’
3. Ship Of Fools

Disc 3
1. Estimated Prophet>
2. The Other One>
3. Drums>
4. Not Fade Away>
5. Comes A Time>
6. Sugar Magnolia
7. Uncle Johns Band.