Guitarist and singer Red Allen, a native of eastern Kentucky, emerged on the bluegrass scene in the late 1950s and, together with virtuoso mandolinist, Frank Wakefield, recorded several times with Folkways Records. The song goes back at least to the Shelton Brothers’ 1930s recording, and was recorded by several artists leading up to the 1960s, including Jerry Lee Lewis. Jerry Garcia played this traditional blues with his pre-Grateful Dead bands, and the Grateful Dead performed it on and off throughout their career. “Deep Elem Blues” – Red Allen & Frank Wakefield Big Bill Broonzy was mentored by Tampa Red in Chicago and likely learned the song from him.ĥ. Tampa Red’s version from 1940 is perhaps the definitive version, though the Grateful Dead cite Elmore James as their source. This blues standard has been covered by many artists before and after the Grateful Dead. “When Things Go Wrong (It Hurts Me Too)” – Big Bill Broonzy The Grateful Dead recorded it on their self-titled 1967 album and performed it regularly until the 1990s.Ĥ. Grateful Dead singer/songwriter/guitarist Jerry Garcia first heard the song via a 1964 recording made by Fred Neil (McNally, Long Strange Trip). “Take Me for a Walk (Morning Dew)” – Bonnie DobsonĬanadian folksinger Bonnie Dobson wrote this song in 1961 about an imagined post-apocalyptic morning. (Cohen, a member of influential folk revival group The New Lost City Ramblers, is said to have inspired the Dead’s original tune, “Uncle John’s Band.”)ģ. Dillard Chandler was a legendary balladeer from Madison County, North Carolina, and was recorded by John Cohen in the early 1960s. It appeared on their debut album in 1967, and the Dead continued to perform it throughout the rest of their career.

This traditional song has stuck with the Grateful Dead from the beginning. Originally recorded by the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930, this version, performed by influential guitarist Doc Watson, is from 1961.Ģ. The Grateful Dead’s version of this traditional tune was the first single on their debut, self-titled album, released in 1967. “Sitting on Top of the World” – Doc Watson

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