Here Comes Sunshine is an interesting song. It’s got a great intro riff, and some really cool vocal parts in the chorus. I think the chord progression is pretty neat too. Apparently Garcia thought this song was too, I think the term he used was simplistic, or something along those lines. For whatever reason he didn’t seem to be a big fan of it.
It was played in 1973 and early 1974 and then dropped until December 1992 when Vince helped revive the song. The latter day arrangement was a bit different, at least the intro part, and wasn’t half bad. I would have loved to have heard this song in 1977 though! In total it was only played 66 times, yet it seems to be one of those songs that when it makes its way onto a release people really want to hear it. I know the version on Dick’s Picks, Vol. 1 is somewhat of a gold standard, and I may get to that one at some point, but this version is no slouch.
What other version(s) do you like dear reader? Let me know in the comments.
The big instrumental section starts around the 3 minute mark, and Jerry starts slowly, stretching out his solo. There’s a brief passage early on that sounds like it could actually be in Dark Star somewhere. Bobby and Keith seem to mimic each other in places during Jerry solo, feeding off of each other nicely. The band briefly revisits a derivation of the main theme before breaking down into almost silence. Jerry plays a lead, Bobby supports with some spare chords, and Phil and Keith both trickle in and out occasionally. The band slowly starts to work back into a groove after razing the entire operation.
This eventually takes form and they proceed with the final verse of the song. Another instrumental section follows with Jerry primarily arpeggiating chords and Bobby adding some very nice textures. This resolves back to a final “Here comes sunshine.”
Complete Setlist 11/21/73
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Lunchbox,
Any 73 show is worth me commenting on, as I generally come back to this year as a go to listen. DP 28 was on the big stereo cranked just last night with my wife away for the night.
a
Agree with your take that Jerry didn’t seem to be that excited about this tune which was dropped for a number of years. I’m kinda of the same view, as this is one that usually doesn’t excite me that much. Like is sometimes and others not so much. Like this release, not great sound wise, compared to 28, but a lot to like on it. The only down side from 73 is that I’d love to have another Help, Slip, Franklin besides the Big Box set. I find myself often taking this out just to hear that grouping from this year.
Great to see you marching onward and keeping the momentum going. Nice !!!!!!!
WHAT!!!!
THIS JUST IN, THEY DEBUTED HELP>SLIP>FRANKLIN’S IN 1975, JOE ‘I DISLIKE MOST OF THE DEAD’ MILAN… seriously, nearly all your posts here state tunes YOU dislike… along with some misinformation… please, spare us…
anyway (sorry Lunchbox, had to…) btw, your site looks FANTASTIC!!! been meaning to tell you/post (especially about the 3.24.90 Loser, which I’ll probably go back @ some point, as I’ve gotta cool story about it!) to tell u its beautiful, waaaaaaay better than dead.net :~]
best of luck… stay irie & dead to the core ♤
and, while I’m feelin talkative, just wanna tell you i&i think it’s great that you’re such a young head, having never seen the gd/jerry & still you’re as passionate as those of us who did… i’m a youngster too in gd terms, saw 55 shows btwn 92-95 (28 in 1994!!!) & i’m only 37 yrs young… had too much too fast, and loved every second of it, i’m a ‘vinny kid’ & proud of it!!!!!!!
♤
Now, now. Let’s all play nice around here! I assume Joe was thinking about the Winterland 77 set, as I believe that has a H/S/F on it (Just checked. It does). So I’ll give him a pass there. Also since we’re all dealing with opinions here I think everyone’s is fair game. I happen to love HCS, and wish they played it more, others may not. I’m fine with that.
Ace – Thanks for stopping by (I appreciate your kind words) and I’m glad to you enjoy the site. Certainly feel free to keep the comments coming. I’d love to hear your 3/24/90 story about Loser whenever you have the time. Did you see any shows with both Vince and Bruce? Would love to hear some thoughts on that pairing. (Vince isn’t really my cup of tea, but I’m certainly willing to follow any leads from my readers.)
Jerry on everyone!
I love all the early versions of this song, just spectacular.
Welcome Ace, but Joe has a lot to offer, don’t make too much of a simple mistake. This is the perfect time for me to acknowledge a simple mistake, I mentioned 2-17-73 as the CCat> Rider that changed my life but it was more likely a version from ’74. The reason I remembered 2-17-73, upon further review, was the Here Comes Sunshine.
It was a lot of fun when they brought this song back in the 90s but it never reached the heights that it did in the early 70s.
Anyway, jump on Archive.com and look for the HCS from 2-17-73.
Might as well mention that this is BY FAR my favorite Road Trips.
2.15.73 has long time been my favourite version… the Dick’s #1 is killer, as is the Dave’s #5, but 2.15 is thee one for me… really dig that 2.17 one as well, with that sly segue right into China>Rider… both are well worth checkin out… as for the hated vince era versions, (which clearly i’m a big advocate for all things 92-95) Deercreek 7.20.94 was the best one i&i got to see… 3.30.94 is smokin too (just missed that show :~{ and, the breakout on 12.6.92 is dope as well… Here Comes Sunshine is a fantastic tune, love it! ♤
ACE,
THIS JUST IN, ACE FIGURES OUT HOW TO FILL OUT TWO FIELDS IN ONE SETTING FOLLOWED BY POST. (Sorry lunchbox, had to…..)
Sorry Ace, had to…… But more importantly sorry that you would paint me as someone who hates most of the Dead. Simply not the case and maybe you’re confusing the word hate with term not that wild about it, just a slight difference between the two.
Ace, I love the fact that someone has an opinion, even a strong one that is different from mine. But only love that when someone has the facts to back up that opinion and can articulate it. More importantly hate the fact that many either don’t have the nerve to express their opinion or more importantly have strong opinions about something and have no idea what the facts really are. So good for you for expressing your opinion, but you fall flat with having facts that back it up. Ace, confused about your comment on posting mis-information, about what ? If I do post mis-information Ace, please point them out, love to get the real facts and have no problem being corrected.
Glad you have finally joined this blog, welcome your opinions and like you admire Lunch for the effort, time and care he has taken to create such a well constructed blog. Kinda confused that many on the GD site haven’t gravitated over her with the lack of greatness and whining about the posters about that site.
I do Love a great deal about the Dead, but after 79 and the before 70 Dead, Love would be too strong a word. Do like a lot of it, just not stuff that excites me at the same level as the middle years. Luckily for me, most of the releases by the Dead cover these years more than others, but do feel for the folks that are begging for more post 79 releases.
Did confuse the 73 and 77 box set, sometimes the years blend together, Thanks Lunchbox. Glad this mis-info got Ace so excited he just had to jump in.
Ok, ok, ok. Enough fellas. Don’t force me to become the Draco of the internet age. Let’s keep it civil. Agree to disagree. Live and let live. Etc. etc. etc.
Sorry for deleting your comment Joe, but I don’t want or need flame wars here. Let’s keep it civil. I’m going to take down Ace’s last comment too.
Thanks Lunchbox, my last post was my end with Ace and am not into wars. It is so opposite of what the dead stood for, but with the computer age that message has been warped in so many ways. Keep up the great work and it’s exciting to see more folks jumping in.
[removed] maybe share some stories about shows/tours you saw, as our humble host here never got to experienced what we have in the vast land of Grateful Dead life… that is not a lot to ask…
EVERYONE GET IRIE LIKE IT’S FAT TUESDAY!!!
and always, drowned in your laughter, and (stay) dead to the core ♤
Ok. This has gone far enough.
Ace, I apologize but I edited your comment because I felt the first portion was unproductive. If that makes me over-bearing so be it, and I apologize. The second half is relevant to the site/thread so it’s fine. I don’t like doing this but I felt it necessary in this case. All due respect, I think you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. Joe admitted to mixing up the Winterland sets – they do have virtually the same name so easily done. I don’t see this as a major crime. We all mix up things now and again. If you look at some of his other comments he has shared some great stories (see the 11/30/73 Morning Dew for instance). I hope we can get past this now and keep talking Dead!
Thanks gang!
It’s great to see more participants here. I knew it would happen. Please take ALL of my posts with a handful of salt. I don’t use IMHO ever. These are obviously only my opinions and some are not particularly humble. I loved this RT release through and through. It’s probably my fave. This is what I said about HCS:
Here it comes — the entrance to what was at the time “new” Grateful Dead music. Donna Godchaux makes a belated debut in this show with some nice harmonies in the choruses. But then you will hear Jerry play some completely unique figures as the song delves into the jam segment. Have mercy! This is hot! I love hearing how the band decides on the spot how the transitions will go. A really sweet, little drum break leads to delicate figures and a growling return to the jam. If you are seeking a truly transcendent version of this song, look no further. A completely together return to the main theme is surprising and it leads to the last verse in style. I elect this version as “the one”. Argue with me, go ahead. I know the one on Dick’s Picks 1 is great, too. But there is a certain beauty here both in the mix and the playing that slays me. Add to this the crazy ending figures from Phil and the picture-perfect slide into the final chorus. This is why we keep digging into the vault, isn’t it?
Steve, I’d wager that almost ANY ’73 show would be a welcome release. The outliers being the September shows with the horns. I’ve heard a couple of those and while the novelty appeal is high, the actual playing isn’t. I tend to agree with Dave Lemieux on that front.
I generally prefer 1972 and 1974 over 1973, for reasons I can’t quite articulate. Maybe it has something to do with the recording quality. But when ’73 taps into that receptor in my brain, I love it. This whole RT release is definitely one of those moments.
For me it’s 11-17-73. I would skip this tune early in my listening years every time. Then one day I was doing dishes and didn’t head to the stereo. 8 minutes later I remember thinking, what the hell is this! Holy crap it’s Sunshine. I was floored. Beats Tampa by a mile. Beautiful run by Jerry and interplay with Phil. This version rips. Check it.
I agree. The 11/17/73 version is phenomenal as well. The entire Dave’s Picks 5 is worth the time investment really.