Wake Of The Flood – 50th Anniversary

50th Anniversary Remaster of the debut album from the band’s own label, Grateful Dead Records. With the recent passing of founding member Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and temporary exit of drummer, Mickey Hart, this 1973 release introduces a fresh lineup that includes newest members Keith and Donna Godchaux on keys and vocals. Features “Eyes Of The World,” “Stella Blue,” and “Mississippi Half-Step.” 50th Anniversary Remaster by David Glasser, with Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction. Produced for Release by David Lemieux.

The two-CD and set, features the album’s seven original songs and previously unreleased demo recordings of “Eyes Of The World” and “Here Comes Sunshine.” Recorded in early 1973, just before the Grateful Dead performed on February 9th, the demos feature Jerry Garcia singing and playing a pair of new songs he and Robert Hunter had been creating. He presumably shared them with the rest of the band members so they could start learning, and amongst these demos was this beautiful, primitive rendition of “Eyes Of The World.” It provided the basis of what would become one of the Dead’s most beloved and frequently played songs for the next 20+ years. Additionally, the deluxe edition includes a bonus disc of live material from the final night of a brief tour that immediately followed Wake Of The Flood ’s release. Captured at Northwestern University’s McGaw Memorial Hall on November 1st, 1973, the set is bookended with “Weather Report Suite” and “Mississippi Half-Step,” and features one of the most creative and inspired jams of the entire run: “Morning Dew”>”Playing In The Band”>”Uncle John’s Band”>”Playing In The Band.”