The Surprising Song That Left Jerry Garcia Disappointed
In the world of music, it's not uncommon for artists to have a critical eye for their own work. And Jerry Garcia, the legendary guitarist and frontman of the Grateful Dead, was no exception. He often expressed his honest opinions about the band's early songs, even those from their most successful era.
While many fans consider Garcia's collaborations with Robert Hunter as the pinnacle of the band's creativity, it's worth noting that Hunter joined the band in 1967, a few years after the Grateful Dead's official formation. During those early years, the band heavily relied on covers while figuring out their unique songwriting style.
Garcia, in various interviews, was quite vocal about his thoughts on these early pieces. He described 'Cream Puff War' as "totally embarrassing," 'Doin' That Rag' as "unsuccessful," and even 'New Speedway Boogie' as "a little bit dire." But one song that truly stood out as a disappointment to Garcia was 'High Time.'
'High Time' is a beautiful ballad, one of the few love songs in the Grateful Dead's extensive catalog. It's a Garcia and Hunter masterpiece that, unfortunately, didn't quite meet Garcia's high standards.
In a 1972 interview with Yale law professor Charles Reich, Garcia shared his frustration: "The song that I think failed on [Workingman's Dead] is 'High Time.' It's a beautiful song, but I was just not able to sing it worth a shit." He further reiterated this sentiment in a 1977 interview with BAM, stating, "'High Time' is a better song than we performed it."
The first performance of 'High Time' was at the Fillmore East in New York City on June 20th, 1969. Garcia had ample time to perfect his vocals, singing the song 46 times in concert before the recording sessions for Workingman's Dead began in 1970. Despite this, the song was performed an additional 16 times after the album's release, with a six-year hiatus before it was brought back into the band's repertoire.
But here's where it gets interesting: 'High Time' continued to be a part of the band's live performances for the next two decades, with a total of 137 performances before its final play in 1995. Despite Garcia's initial disappointment, the song found its place in the band's live shows, proving that sometimes, a song's journey is more important than its initial recording.
So, what do you think? Is it possible for an artist to be too critical of their own work? Or is this self-critique a sign of a true artist's dedication to their craft? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
