Day 314: My Brother Esau, 7/24/87

My Brother Esau has one of the most interesting distinctions in the Grateful Dead’s recording history, if you ask me.

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A version was recorded for In The Dark and it was the B-Side for the Touch of Gray single. Yet, it was not included on the original CD release nor the original LP release. Oddly enough though it was included on the cassette medium of the album as well as the international releases. For some this isn’t news, but I find it a fascinating fact. Of course, what I don’t know is why the song was used in this way. Was the lack of consistency an effort to push cassettes? Clearly there was enough space on all media to accommodate the song. It just seems really weird that the song would be on one release medium but completely absent from others that were released at the same time. I don’t know of any interviews or comments from band members or those who were decision makers in the process but it would be an interesting question to pose.

Billy and Mickey really kick off My Brother Esau with some really intricate syncopated drumming. This is an interesting and funky Weir tune, even if he flubs a lyric to start the second verse. There’s some slide playing here and it sounds a bit rough and pitchy to me so I assume it’s Weir. When it comes to the instrumental break Jerry mainly improvises around the melody line. Of course I’m going to mention Brent’s B3 and how it adds an important layer to the sound here. There are a bunch of chord changes here and Jerry not only keeps pace but keeps them interesting. The song ends a bit abruptly, but it’s all good.