Grateful Dead Family Discography: The Grateful Dead Play Jug Band Music

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The Grateful Dead Play Jug Band Music

The first group to include three future members of the Grateful Dead, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, got together in 1964 to play music inspired by the jug bands of the 1920's. They were one of many bands that formed part of the jug band revival of the early 1960's and, like most, were short lived and known to only a local audience. Some of the songs played by Mother McCrees were carried over into the repertoire of the Grateful Dead. A few more jug band songs were added to the Grateful Dead repertoire during their early years.

The songs played by the Grateful Dead were drawn primarily from the recordings of two early jug bands, Cannon's Jug Stompers and the Memphis Jug Band. The songs in the Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions repertoire also includes early blues and novelty songs mainly from the first few decades of the 20th century.

This page documents the jug band songs performed by the Grateful Dead and related groups.

Beedle Um Bum

Beedle Um Bum was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
The song was possibly first recorded by the Hokum Boys in 1929.
See more information about the song.

Big Railroad Blues

Big Railroad Blues was performed over 170 times by the Grateful Dead mainly in the early 1970's and early 1980's. It has subsequently been performed by Furthur, The Dead, the Other Ones, Phil Lesh & Friends, Ratdog and 7 Walkers.
The song was first recorded by Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1928.
See more information about Big Railroad Blues including recordings by the Grateful Dead, Furthur, The Dead and Ratdog.

Boodle Am Shake

Boodle Am Shake was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
Boodle Am Shake was recorded by the Dixieland Jug Blowers in 1926.
See more information about the song.

Borneo

Borneo was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
Borneo was recorded by a number of jazz bands in 1928.
See more information about the song.

Cocaine Habit Blues (aka Take A Whiff On Me)

Cocaine Habit Blues was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
The song was recorded by the Memphis Jug Band in 1930.
See more information about the song.

Crazy Words, Crazy Tune

Crazy Words, Crazy Tune was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
The song was recorded by jazz and novelty groups in 1927.
See more information about the song.

album cover

KC Moan

KC Moan was performed once by the Grateful Dead, or at least 4 members of the Grateful Dead, in 1978. The song has also been performed by the Other Ones, The Dead, Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends, Weir/Wasserman, Scaring The Children and the Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio. A live version by Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman was released on Weir/Wasserman Live.
The song was first recorded by The Memphis Jug Band in 1929.
See more information about KC Moan including recordings by The Dead and various Bob Weir groups.

New Minglewood Blues

New Minglewood Blues was performed in one form by the Grateful Dead in the 1960's and then in a rearranged form from 1976 to 1995. It has subsequently been performed by Furthur, The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends and various Bob Weir groups.
The song was first recorded by the Noah Lewis Jug Band in 1930. An earlier song called Minglewood Blues was recorded by Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1928.
See more information about New Minglewood Blues including recordings by the Grateful Dead, Furthur, The Dead and Ratdog.

On The Road Again

On The Road Again was performed by the Grateful Dead in 1966 and between 1980 and 1984. It has subsequently been performed by Furthur and Ratdog.
The song was first recorded by the Memphis Jug Band in 1928.
See more information about On The Road Again including recordings by the Grateful Dead, Furthur, and Ratdog.

Overseas Stomp

Overseas Stomp, also known as Lindberg Hop or Lindy, was performed a few times by the Grateful Dead in 1966 and 1967.
The song was first recorded by the Memphis Jug Band in 1928 and was released as both Overseas Stomp and Lindberg Hop.

See more information about Overseas Stomp including Grateful Dead recordings.

Shake That Thing

Shake That Thing was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
The song was recorded by Charlie Jackson in 1925.
See more information about the song.

Stealin'

Stealin' was performed by the Grateful Dead in 1966. It was one side of their first single release also in 1966. The song was subsequently performed and recorded by Garcia/Grisman and Ratdog.
Stealin' (as Stealin', Stealin') was first recorded by the Memphis Jug Band in 1928.
See more information about Stealin' including Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and Ratdog recordings.

Viola Lee Blues

The Grateful Dead performed Viola Lee Blues between 1966 and 1970. It was subsequently performed by Furthur, The Dead, Ratdog and Phil Lesh & Friends.
Viola Lee Blues was first recorded by the Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1928.
See more information including Grateful Dead, Furthur, The Dead, Ratdog and Phil Lesh & Friends recordings.

Yes She Do (No She Don't)

Yes She Do (No She Don't) was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
The song was recorded by a number of groups including the California Ramblers and the University Six in 1927.
See more information about the song.

Last updated July 2012