Is it just me or has anyone else notice that the opening chord progression of Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo sounds an awful lot like a sped up rendition of George Harrison’s “Something”?
I remember playing this on guitar one time and my brother walked in the room and he asked what I was playing. When I told him, he said that was pretty much how The Beatles song went, albeit much slower. I don’t know if anyone else made the connection, but I think of it now every time I hear Mississippi Half-Step. Somewhat interestingly I don’t make the association in reverse, when listening to The Beatles. Go figure.
I didn’t realize it until I just looked it up, but this is the 10th performance of this song of all time (out of a total 235). I always associate this song with 1973 and Wake Of The Flood so the 1972 vintage is cool to hear. I’m well aware that the Dead frequently toured new material before it recording, but I never really thought about it too much with their work in the 1970s. When I think of that I tend to think of the early 80s and how so many of the songs from In The Dark were played for years on end before being recorded and released as a studio album.
The real meat and potatoes on this release is actually the killer version of The Other One, and maybe we’ll get to that in the future. But for now, enjoy Bear’s recording from the Fall of 1972.
Here, this song was very much brand-new (this was its tenth outing.) It was obviously pretty well rehearsed however, as the band plays it like they know it inside and out. Um, well, I spoke too soon. Jerry mixes up the verses. Still, the music rocks like nobody’s business. Garcia plays up a storm along with everyone else, and he sings in a happily raspy voice that complements the lyrical content. The “Rio Grandio” coda kicks in directly after the last of the main song, and this is both surprising and cool. Donna suddenly appears here and earns her keep, big time. The outro is pure, prime Garcia guitar overtop of enthusiastic colorings by the others. Despite the vocal flubs, I think one would have a hard time coming up with a better version of this song. It winds down notch by notch into a reprise of the “Rio Grandio” part, this one somewhat shakier than the first, and certainly an anti-climax. After this one dies, Weir strikes that E-minor chord that could only mean “Me and My Uncle”.