Posted On: Saturday - October 18th 2025 9:17PM MST
In Topics: Music The Dead
... cannot mend this economy of mine.
I'm sure this song has appeared on Peak Stupidity before, the Linda Ronstadt version that is. It was supposed to be at the bottom of the previous post.
Miss Ronstadt, back in her day, didn't need to worry her pretty little head about gold and silver, what with that hot bod and great voice of hers. It helped the music having the bands she had, that is, especially after the Eagles for a bit and the Stone Poneys. I really like the banging guitars by Waddy Wachtel. In this one, I think there'd be some of The Eagles, maybe J.D. Souther, but I can't tell one skinny long-haired '70s musician from another.
Silver Threads and Golden Needles, written by Dick Reynolds and Jack Rhodes, was first recorded by one Wanda Jackson in 1956. A whole bunch of artists played the song before Linda played her country-rock version in 1973 (off the album Don't Cry)*, and one of them was, you could have guessed it, The Grateful Dead. Whose songs HAVEN'T they covered?!
I thought at first this might have been a real rocker, with Jerry leads I can hear in my Dead head already. They could have done that, but now I remember that they played this song after Linda's, Wanda's, etc. country versions but BEFORE Miss Ronstadt's rocking version. It sounds like a very small venue, but it says on youtube this was recorded at the 2,700 seat Fillmore East** (Manhattan, NYC). I like it.
I feel a bit vindicated, as a commenter presenting the lyrics under this video also heard "... with a TV in every room." It's either "chill" or "tear", I dunno. My lyricosis has flared up again.
Thank you all for reading and especially for commenting here this blog-week. Have a happy Gold Festival or Centrum Silver weekend!
* She had released a more country version back in '69.
** Called the "Church of Rock & Roll", the place was only open as said church for 3 years, from March '68 to June '71. In that time, the Allman Brothers and the Dead, along with loads of other great bands, played there many a time and made many live recordings like this one.
Comments:
Ganderson
Wednesday - October 22nd 2025 7:08PM MST
PS. I would just add that if one went to Three nights of shows there wouldn’t be many repeats. The improvisation factor was always pretty fun although sometimes it could be deadly boring as well. Kinda like going to a baseball game. The band did a lot of country songs over the years, Marty Robbins El Paso, Johnny Cash‘s Big River, Merle Haggard‘s Mama tried and sing me back home. Also in 73 and 74 they did a pretty nice version of George Jones’s. The race is on. Not to mention their country flavored originals.
Moderator
Monday - October 20th 2025 8:10AM MST
PS: OK, I'll go listen to it shorty, Stretch.
stretch23
Sunday - October 19th 2025 9:25PM MST
PS The Wanda Jackson original is the best version. You should check it out.
Moderator
Sunday - October 19th 2025 9:27AM MST
PS: Your link works fine. Though the song started off its life as "True Love and Apple Pie", the Coke commercial is what most people would remember. From the end of the commercial, written out:
"On a hilltop in Italy,
we assembled young people
from all over the world...
to bring you this message
from Coca-Cola Bottlers
all over the world.
It's the real thing. Coke."
OK, that was a great marketing campaign. If you don't think about that part, yeah, it's a good tune. I'm sure it brings back a lot of good memories to you, SafeNow. The world had high hopes back then, for sure...
"On a hilltop in Italy,
we assembled young people
from all over the world...
to bring you this message
from Coca-Cola Bottlers
all over the world.
It's the real thing. Coke."
OK, that was a great marketing campaign. If you don't think about that part, yeah, it's a good tune. I'm sure it brings back a lot of good memories to you, SafeNow. The world had high hopes back then, for sure...
Moderator
Sunday - October 19th 2025 9:23AM MST
PS: Good morning, SafeNow First, it's never too late to appreciate the Grateful Dead.
I forgot to mention in the post that Bobby sang one of the original verses as sung also by Wanda Jackson, not included in Linda's version. It's nice to hear a new verse. That reminds me of a video I embedded of the Ozark Mountain Daredevil's "Jackie Blue" which had an additional verse.
"I once read that they could actually improvise; at a live concert, fans never knew in advance exactly what one of their songs would sound like," Yep, exactly. One band member would start leading into some song, and after a while they'd all get on it. They did have their playlists, but then, as in this very one, a youtube commenter noted the Bobby Weir started off mistakenly with a riff from "(Turn on your) Lovelight".
I forgot to mention in the post that Bobby sang one of the original verses as sung also by Wanda Jackson, not included in Linda's version. It's nice to hear a new verse. That reminds me of a video I embedded of the Ozark Mountain Daredevil's "Jackie Blue" which had an additional verse.
"I once read that they could actually improvise; at a live concert, fans never knew in advance exactly what one of their songs would sound like," Yep, exactly. One band member would start leading into some song, and after a while they'd all get on it. They did have their playlists, but then, as in this very one, a youtube commenter noted the Bobby Weir started off mistakenly with a riff from "(Turn on your) Lovelight".
SafeNow
Saturday - October 18th 2025 11:36PM MST
PS
https://youtu.be/Zt2q4UMG76o
This non-“hot bod” from 1971 is in reply to “hot bod” (I can’t argue) Linda. When I hear her singing, I love the voice, and the bod factor is irrelevant. And a tear comes to my eye when she sings: “With your hand in my hand, help me find the way.” Yes, that line is pure 60s/70s pop/folk, and that could be me in the audience, soaking it up. Hope the link works..I’m not good at this.
https://youtu.be/Zt2q4UMG76o
This non-“hot bod” from 1971 is in reply to “hot bod” (I can’t argue) Linda. When I hear her singing, I love the voice, and the bod factor is irrelevant. And a tear comes to my eye when she sings: “With your hand in my hand, help me find the way.” Yes, that line is pure 60s/70s pop/folk, and that could be me in the audience, soaking it up. Hope the link works..I’m not good at this.
SafeNow
Saturday - October 18th 2025 10:21PM MST
PS
I am too old for my musical brain wiring to empower me to be a properly appreciative Deadhead; my loss, I realize that. But that said, I could still grasp and enjoy the harmony, the arrangement, the blend of genres. Thanks for posting this. I once read that they could actually improvise; at a live concert, fans never knew in advance exactly what one of their songs would sound like. This took amazing musical talent.
I am too old for my musical brain wiring to empower me to be a properly appreciative Deadhead; my loss, I realize that. But that said, I could still grasp and enjoy the harmony, the arrangement, the blend of genres. Thanks for posting this. I once read that they could actually improvise; at a live concert, fans never knew in advance exactly what one of their songs would sound like. This took amazing musical talent.