On This Day in Philly History: Grateful Dead at the Spectrum
Listen to a piece of WMMR’s live broadcast from the gig on March 31st, 1987
Let us take you back to March 31st, 1987. The Grateful Dead gave us permission to broadcast one of the three shows that they were doing at the legendary Spectrum, live and in its entirety. Pierre Robert tells the story:
"One of many amazing things about the the band is the fact that they would come into our town and sellout three nights and not repeat one song - not one song over the three night stand! ...They gave us permission to broadcast the whole show. It's kind of a rare thing when you have a program director in radio that loves the Grateful Dead well, the great Ted Utz, who was the WMMR program director from the late 80s into the 90s, loved the Dead.
The first voice you hear will be that of our legendary evening DJ, 'Bubba John' Stevens. Bubba was on from 6 til 10 every night. Wonderful voice, wonderful knowledge of music.
And on concert nights, he would be live inside the press box at the Spectrum setting the stage. (The band) come back from a (set) break and you hear Bubba John, then you hear Ted Utz and they're speculating about what the first song of the second set would be, as Deadheads like to do."
Listen to Bubba John, Ted Utz, and producer Chip Horaneck (now known as Lou Brutus) predict the post-intermission opener, and then hear the result play out. At the end of the track you'll hear a special shout out: Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir thanking MMR listeners from the stage.
The show was recorded and released on CD. Check that out here, and see the full setlist below.
Stream here:
Note: This podcast episode originally aired in August 2018.
Set 1: March 31st, 1987
1. Jack Straw
2. Franklin's Tower
3. See See Rider Blues
('Ma' Rainey & Her Georgia Jazz Band cover)
4. Ramble On Rose
5. Tons of Steel
6. Mama Tried
(Merle Haggard cover)
7. Big River
(Johnny Cash cover)
8. Candyman
9. Desolation Row
(Bob Dylan cover)
10. Don't Ease Me In
(Henry Thomas cover)
Set 2: March 31st, 1987
11. Touch of Grey
12. Estimated Prophet
13. Terrapin Station
14. Drums
15. Space
16. Uncle John's Band
17. I Need a Miracle
18. Stella Blue
19. Around and Around
(Chuck Berry cover)
20. Turn On Your Love Light
(Bobby “Blue” Bland cover)
Encore:
21. Brokedown Palace
