Unsurprisingly, I’m opting for a shorter version of Turn On Your Lovelight, as my position on Pigpen’s epic raps should be quite familiar to regular readers by now.
I think this version stands in an interesting contrast the previous selection (link below). It’s no secret that Pigpen’s health wasn’t top notch during the Europe 72 tour, and this was never more evident than in his “raps” which were much, much shorter and restrained by this point. Compare this Lovelight to one on Dave’s Picks, Vol. 6, for instance, and it’s night and day. It really makes me wonder though: what would European audiences have thought about a full on, in his prime Pigpen? It’s a fun question to ponder in my estimation.
A few interesting facts about Lovelight and the Europe 72 tour:
The song was only played 3 times on that tour.
This was the 2nd one played.
The next, and final version on the tour, 5/24/72, was the last version of Lovelight the Dead would play until October 1981, which, incidentally was at a show in the Netherlands.
Pig comes back and starts to rap. It’s not a super-long, extended rap like one would expect a year or two prior, but he’s still working his mojo. And perhaps more importantly so too is the band underneath. There’s no quit to these guys. Listen carefully to what Bobby plays around the 7:00 mark and how nicely it complements what Jerry is doing. Vintage Dead. Jerry plays some screeching bends, which alter the dynamics of the song for a bit, but these quickly fall to the wayside and it’s back to good old blues based rock jamming. It sounds like Jerry picks up a slide for a few measures during the jam and the eddy turns into a whirlpool, if only for a moment. Right around the 11:00 mark Pig launches back into the chorus and the end is clearly near. Pig and Billy take center stage, with Jerry and Bobby providing the response to Pig’s calls. A few more runs through the melody lead into a “million dollar ending” that moves directly into Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad.
Complete Setlist 5/7/72
Previous Turn On Your Lovelight DFAY Selections
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Pigpen has had no frontman love since way back at “Big Boss Man” so he is overdue. He takes command of the stage and delivers a barking rendition of this old favorite, revived just for this tour and for only four outings at that. Pig snaps off the end of the word “light” as he sings it, imitating a switch. The boys are happy to accompany him on this particular romp and they make noisy fun as they move through the toggling two-chord pattern. Jerry finds some fantastic places to dawdle on the frets while he displays licks a-plenty in little holding patterns. Hear Keith rock this one, a real rarity. Pig comes back in and streams his consciousness for all to hear. It’s about a woman, of course. But he’s not threatening. He’s begging for love. T’ain’t no doubt about it. He needs it. Jerry makes his guitar weep for Pigpen. So sad! Phil tries to keep it upbeat, with Billy. The jam simmers near 8:30, looking for direction. Jerry plays a familiar old high lick, maybe for one of the last times. He picks up the slide and gets into a blues mood. Some of the things that come out of this are unlike anything I’ve heard him do. I really did not know he had this kind of thing in him. Just as soon as it started, the slide is dropped and the song re-starts as Pigpen re-enters and leads us quickly to a verse and chorus. The breakdown verse and chorus are next, and the boys shout their backing parts to support Pig wholly. A landing is forced soon after and before the dust can settle, Garcia winds into the opening riff to Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad.