Shakedown Street (song)
Encyclopedia
"Shakedown Street" is a song
by the Grateful Dead
. It was written by lyricist Robert Hunter
and composed by guitarist Jerry Garcia
. It was released as the title track on the album Shakedown Street
in November of 1978.The song was first performed live on August 31, 1978 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre
, in Morrison
, Colorado
. The song "From the Heart of Me" was also played for the first time during the performance. It depicts the reasons for inner-city urban decay. The album, including the song Shakedown Street took 41 in the Billboard top 200 for 1979.
Shakedown street
later became a colloquial term to describe the area outside of a concert where various merchandise is bought and sold.
. The song was recorded and mixed at the bands studio, Club Le Front in San Rafael, California. The recording took place throughout July 31, 1978 and August 18, 1978. Shakedown Street is recorded on the bands original album Shakedown Street
(1978) as well as single recordings on Shakedown Street/ France (1979), and Alabama Getaway/ Shakedown Street (1981).
Musicians include:
received heavy criticism for being choppy and poorly produced. Gary Terch from Rolling Stone Magazine said it “comes across as an artistic dead end” and “The disco tinges in the latter merely add to the catastrophe”. Modern music critic Stephen Erlewine credits the album’s struggles to the unexpected use of disco and the primary use of Donna Jean Godchaux. Another factor which heavily contributed to the album's poor organization was that first-time producer Lowell George
was at the time under pressure with his band Little Feat
. However, even despite critic’s doubts in Lowell’s ability, band member Bill Kreutzmann stated in an interview:
“ Lowell was really like a member of the band more. If we were working on a song and he didn't feel it was going right, he'd just grab a guitar and come into the studio and show us how he felt it. That was one of the ways he'd communicate, and it worked great. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him.”
Despite the album’s overall criticism the song Shakedown Street would eventually go on to have its own success. Shakedown Street was one of three songs composed by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter on the album to be added to the band’s live songbook, and was from time to time the band’s opening song. When preformed live, the band would also tend to extend the ending with an extension of instrumentals.
In 1979 Shakedown Street, along with the rest of the album, hit a peak of 41 on the Billboard top 200 chart.
In more recent years, the music and arts festival Bonaroo has used the term to describe the concerts long strip of vending. It stays true to the Deadheads original description of “Shakedown Street” tailgate.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. It was written by lyricist Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
and composed by guitarist Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
. It was released as the title track on the album Shakedown Street
Shakedown Street
Shakedown Street is the tenth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was released on November 15, 1978 by Arista.The album was released for the first time on CD in 1990 by Arista Records before being re-released in 2000 by BMG International. It was then remastered, expanded, and released as part of...
in November of 1978.The song was first performed live on August 31, 1978 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure near Morrison, Colorado, where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a...
, in Morrison
Morrison, Colorado
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 430 at the 2000 census...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The song "From the Heart of Me" was also played for the first time during the performance. It depicts the reasons for inner-city urban decay. The album, including the song Shakedown Street took 41 in the Billboard top 200 for 1979.
Shakedown street
Shakedown Street (Grateful-Dead-Vending)
Shakedown street is the area of a Jam Band parking lot where the vending takes place. It is named after the Grateful Dead song of the same name and has been popular since the early 1980s.-Tailgating:...
later became a colloquial term to describe the area outside of a concert where various merchandise is bought and sold.
Production
Shakedown Street was produced by the 1970s rock band artist, Lowell GeorgeLowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
. The song was recorded and mixed at the bands studio, Club Le Front in San Rafael, California. The recording took place throughout July 31, 1978 and August 18, 1978. Shakedown Street is recorded on the bands original album Shakedown Street
Shakedown Street
Shakedown Street is the tenth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was released on November 15, 1978 by Arista.The album was released for the first time on CD in 1990 by Arista Records before being re-released in 2000 by BMG International. It was then remastered, expanded, and released as part of...
(1978) as well as single recordings on Shakedown Street/ France (1979), and Alabama Getaway/ Shakedown Street (1981).
Musicians include:
- Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals - Donna Godchaux- vocals
- Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
- keyboard - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
- drums, percussion - Robert HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
- lyrics - Billy Kreutzmann- drums, percussion
- Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
- bass, vocals - Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals
Recognition and Critical Reception
The album Shakedown StreetShakedown Street
Shakedown Street is the tenth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was released on November 15, 1978 by Arista.The album was released for the first time on CD in 1990 by Arista Records before being re-released in 2000 by BMG International. It was then remastered, expanded, and released as part of...
received heavy criticism for being choppy and poorly produced. Gary Terch from Rolling Stone Magazine said it “comes across as an artistic dead end” and “The disco tinges in the latter merely add to the catastrophe”. Modern music critic Stephen Erlewine credits the album’s struggles to the unexpected use of disco and the primary use of Donna Jean Godchaux. Another factor which heavily contributed to the album's poor organization was that first-time producer Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
was at the time under pressure with his band Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
. However, even despite critic’s doubts in Lowell’s ability, band member Bill Kreutzmann stated in an interview:
“ Lowell was really like a member of the band more. If we were working on a song and he didn't feel it was going right, he'd just grab a guitar and come into the studio and show us how he felt it. That was one of the ways he'd communicate, and it worked great. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him.”
Despite the album’s overall criticism the song Shakedown Street would eventually go on to have its own success. Shakedown Street was one of three songs composed by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter on the album to be added to the band’s live songbook, and was from time to time the band’s opening song. When preformed live, the band would also tend to extend the ending with an extension of instrumentals.
In 1979 Shakedown Street, along with the rest of the album, hit a peak of 41 on the Billboard top 200 chart.
Shakedown Street Vending
After the songs success, many Grateful dead followers, or Deadheads, coined the name for the vending areas outside of Grateful Dead concerts during the ‘80s and ‘90s. These vending areas were a place to purchase merchandise, food, and often illicit items.In more recent years, the music and arts festival Bonaroo has used the term to describe the concerts long strip of vending. It stays true to the Deadheads original description of “Shakedown Street” tailgate.
External links
- Dead.net, the official site of the Grateful DeadGrateful DeadThe Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
.