Grateful Dead Family Discography: Deep Elem Blues

Deep Elem Blues

Composer: Traditional

Deep Elem Blues was first performed by the Grateful Dead in December 1966. The song was performed, in acoustic sets, throughout 1970 and in October 1980. Between 1981 and 1983 the song was performed in electric sets about 10 times, the last of these being in September 1983. In total the Grateful Dead performed the song just under 50 times. Deep Elem Blues was performed around 80 times by various Jerry Garcia groups between 1982 and 1989. The majority of these performances were by the Jerry Garcia/John Kahn duo or by the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band.

The song was played by Jerry Garcia and David Nelson at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo on November 10th 1962 and by Jerry and Sarah Garcia at the Tangent in Palo Alto in May 1963. It was possibly played at Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions rehearsals in Palo Alto sometime in 1964 but no tape circulates. Garcia introduces this at the Garcia/Nelson set on 11/10/62 by saying that Deep Elem Street is a street in Dallas (as far as he knows) ... that's notorious 'if you want cocaine'.

The earliest recording using the Deep Elem Blues title appears to be that made by Joe and Bob Attlesey and Leon Chappelear in 1933 and released using the group name the Lone Star Cowboys. The Attlesey Brothers subsequently became the Shelton Brothers and recorded the song again in 1935.

Deep Elem Blues appears to be derived from the earlier songs Georgia Black Bottom and Down In Black Bottom which were both recorded in 1927. There may be earlier songs that are the source for both Georgia Black Bottom, Down In Black Bottom and Deep Elem Blues.

On recordings the song occurs as Deep Elem Blues, Deep Ellum Blues, Deep Elm Blues or similar variations. The word "Blues" is sometimes dropped from the title. Note however that there is an unrelated song called Deep Elm. The date given for early recordings below is generally the recording date rather than the release date.

Grateful Dead

Reckoning, 1981
Dick's Picks, Vol. 8, 1997
Beyond Description, 2004
Reckoning (exp CD), 2006
The Tomorrow Show, 2006
Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70, 2010
Road Trips: Vol 4, No. 4: Spectrum 4.6.82, 2011
Family Dog at the Great Highway, 4/18/70, 2013
Live Albums Collection, 2013
Complete Live Rarities Collection, 2013
30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
30 Trips Around The Sun: The Definitive Live Story: 1965-1995, 2015
The Story Of The Grateful Dead, 2020
In and Out of the Garden: '81, '82, '83, 2022
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 3/9/81, 2022

Garcia / Weir / Kahn / Kreutzmann / Hart

Sing Out!: BCT, April 25, 1981, Various Artists, 2024

Jerry Garcia

Almost Acoustic, 1988
Pure Jerry: Lunt-Fontanne, NYC, 10/31/87, 2004
The Very Best Of Jerry Garcia, 2006
Pure Jerry: Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Feb 28, 1986, 2009
Ragged But Right, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, 2010
On Broadway: Act One: Oct 28, 1987, JGAB/JGB, 2015
Live: Drink Up And Go Home, Good Old Boys, 2018
Before The Dead, Jerry Garcia, 2018
Acoustic on the Eel, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, 2019
Garcia Live: Volume 14: Jan 27, 1986, Garcia / Kahn, 2020
Garcia Live 14 Bonus CD: Jan 28, 1986, Garcia / Kahn, 2020
Pure Jerry: Marin Vets Mem Aud, Feb 28, 1986 (2 LP), Garcia / Kahn, 2023

The Dead

Morrison, CO, July 8, 2003
Portland, OR, July 2, 2004
Indianapolis, IN, July 25, 2004
Dead '09: Denver, CO, May 7, 2009
KFOG: Live from the Archives, Vol. 16, Various Artists, 2009

Futhur

Dec 30, 2009, San Francisco, CA
Feb 6, 2010, Orlando, FL
Feb 18, 2010, Manchester, NH
September 24, 2010, Morrison, CO
April 2, 2011, Charleston, SC
Nov 18, 2011, Rosemont, IL

Dead & Company

Detroit, MI, 24 Nov, 2017
Dallas, TX, 1 Dec, 2017
Camden, NJ, 1 Jun, 2018
East Troy, WI, 22 Jun, 2018
Dallas, TX, 2 Jul, 2019
Dallas, TX, Oct 14, 2021

Ratdog

Raleigh NC: October 14, 2003
Baltimore MD: October 20, 2003
Chicago IL: November 4, 2003
Des Moines IA: November 13, 2003
Columbia MO: November 17, 2003
New Orleans LA: November 22, 2003
Las Vegas NV, February 25, 2004
Los Angeles CA, March 1, 2004
Seattle WA, March 8, 2004
Albany NY, March 21, 2004
Las Vegas NV, February 6, 2005
Chicago IL, April 2005, 1, Ratdog, 2005
Sayreville NJ, April 12, 2005
Hampton Beach NH, April 22, 2005
Ocean City, MD, August 9, 2005
Cleveland, OH, November 1, 2005
Jim Thorpe, PA, November 11, 2005
Las Vegas, NV, December 7, 2005
Danbury, CT, March 20, 2006
Boston, MA, April 1, 2006
Milwaukee WI, October 21, 2006
Stroudsburg PA, November 6, 2006
San Diego CA, February 9, 2007
Rochester NY, March 3, 2007
Baltimore MD, March 19, 2007
Lincoln RI, July 11, 2007
Reading, PA, November 6, 2007
Washington, DC, November 5, 2008
Upper Darby, PA, October 17, 2009
Westbury, NY, February 21, 2014
Buffalo, NY, March 4, 2014
Nashville, TN, March 15, 2014

The Big Swell

Rising Up To Paradise: 12/31/2018, Kauai, HI, The Big Swell, 2018

Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio

May 25, 2012, Summercamp Festival, Chillicothe, IL, 2012
May 29, 2012, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Ashville,NC, 2012
May 31, 2012, Wakarusa Festival, Ozark, AR, 2012

Phil Lesh & Friends

Instant Live: June 20, 2006, Nashville, TN, 2006
Instant Live: June 27, 2006, Asheville, NC, 2006
Instant Live: July 6, 2006, Mansfield, MA, 2006
Instant Live: July 16, 2006, Chicago, IL, 2006
November 14, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
November 6, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015

Other recordings

no info Single (Deep Elem Blues / Hang Out The Front Door Key), Lone Star Cowboys, Aug 1933
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues / Hang Out The Front Door Key), The Shelton Brothers, Feb 1935
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues / Just Because), Prairie Ramblers, Aug 1935
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues No.2 / Daddy Don't Let No Low Down Hangin' Round), The Shelton Brothers, Dec 1935
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues / Just Because), Rhubarb Red, May 1936
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues. No. 2 / Answer To Just Because), Rhubarb Red, May 1936
no info Single (Deep Elm Blues / Go Long Mule), The Shelton Brothers, Feb 1937
no info Rambling Tommy Scott and Curly Seckler, 1941
no info Single (Deep Elem Blues / I'm So In Love With You), The Wilburn Brothers, 1956
Songs for Rounders, Hank Thompson, 1959
no info Smokie, Bill Black's Combo, 1959
no info Saxy Jazz, Bill Black Combo, 1960
bluegrass, Red Allen, Frank Wakefield and the Kentuckians, 1964
12 String Dobro, Tut Taylor And The Folkswingers, 1964
Progressive Bluegrass, Vol. 3, Roger Sprung, 1965
no info Log Cabin Songs, Jim Greer & the Mac-O-Chee Valley Boys, 1966
Down In The Willow, The New Deal String Band, 1970
no info Ole Tyme Country Music, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1971
no info Feeling Fine, Derroll Adams, 1972
Bucktime!, Josh Graves and Kenny Baker, 1974
no info Blackland Farm Boy, Bill Neely, 1974
Whiskey Before Breakfast, Arkansas Sheiks, 1975
Songs, Ballads and Fiddle Tunes, Jay Ungar and Lynn Hardy, 1975
no info Mountain Man, Gary Hill, 1975
Pistol Packin' Mama, The Good Old Boys, 1976
no info Head First, Roy Head, 1977
no info Bluegrass Banjo Inventions, Fred Sokolow, 1977
no info Hard Times In The County, The Floyd County Boys, 1977
no info Plains, Georgia Rock, Uncle John Patterson, 1977
no info Folk Music in America, Vol.12, Songs of Local History and Events, Various Artists (Lone Star Cowboys), 1978
Still Cooney After All These Years, Michael Cooney, 1979
no info Upland Express, Upland Express, 1979
no info Good Rockin' Tonite, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1980
no info Early Radio, Curly Seckler, 1980
no info Hasty Lonesome, Kenny Kosek & Matt Glaser, 1980
no info Rockabilly Jamboree, Various Artists (Jerry Lee Lewis), 1981
no info The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music, Various Artists (Shelton Brothers), 1981
no info Texas Sand; Anthology of Western Swing, Various Artists (Prairie Ramblers), 1981?
no info The Sun Years, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1982
no info No One to Bring Home Tonight, Brad Leftwich and Linda Higginbotham, 1984
no info Rare and Rockin': Original Sun Recordings, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1987
Hi Records: Early Years, Vol. 2, Various Artists (Bill Black Combo w/ Ace Cannon), 1988
Classic: The Definitive Edition of His Sun Recordings 1956-1963, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1989
no info Rare Tracks, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1989
The Puritan Sessions, Kenny Baker & Josh Graves, 1990
Threadgill's Supper Session, Various Artists/Threadgill's Troubadours, 1991
Are You from Dixie?: Great Country Brother Teams of the 1930s, Various Artists (Lone Star Cowboys), 1991
Frank Wakefield & Good Old Boys, Frank Wakefield & Good Old Boys, 1992
no info Music in the Air, Woodrow Boone and Roger Howell, 1993
no info Sounds Like Home, Warrior River Boys, 1993
Relix Bay Rock Shop #5, Relix Magazine 20th Anniversary Show, Various Artists (Frank Wakefield), 1993
no info White Country Blues, 1928-36 A Lighter Shade Of Blue, Various Artists (Prairie Ramblers), 1993
Dead Ringers, Dead Ringers, 1994
no info Down the Road to Home, Connie & Babe and the Backwoods Boys, 1995
no info Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys (1946-1964), Hank Thompson, 1996
no info Oklahoma Territory, Red Dirt Rangers, 1996
no info The Complete Decca Trios Plus (1936-1947), Les Paul, 1997
no info Country Comeback, Johnny Cash/Jerry Lee Lewis, 1997
no info High Road On The Hilltop, Light Crust Doughboys, 1997
Live, Asylum Street Spankers, 1997
no info Blues Hat, Charles Daniels, 1997
Behind the Barn Vol. 2, The Kr�ger Brothers, 1997
no info Get with It: The Essential Recordings (1954-1969), Charlie Feathers, 1998
no info Folk And Blues Of The American Southwest, Light Crust Doughboys, 1998
Flash Flood, Tut Taylor, 1998
no info Taste of Country/Ole Tyme Country Music, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1999
no info Tailgate Party, Charlie Daniels, 1999
no info Murder on Music Row, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, 1999
Greatest Grooves, Joe Poovey, 1999
no info Live at Thai Joe's, Frogwater, 1999
Hi Records: Early Years, Vols. 1 & 2, Various Artists (Bill Black Combo w/ Ace Cannon), 1999
Singer of Old Songs, Michael Cooney, Initial release : 19??
no info Hey Hey, Stringbean & The Stalkers, 2000
no info Dance Ranch/Songs for Rounders, Hank Thompson, 2000
no info A Capitol Rockabilly, Pt. 2, Various Artists (Hank Thompson), 2000
no info Tennessee Saturday Night: The Rural Route to Rock 'N' Roll, Various Artists (Leon's Lonestar Cowboys), 2000
no info The Warner Collection, Vol. 1: Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still, Various Artists (Richard Hamilton), 2000
The Folkways Years, 1964-1983, Red Allen, 2001
Take Cover, Andrew Freeman, 2001
no info Saxy Jazz/Solid and Raunchy, Bill Black's Combo, 2001
no info Down On The Farm, The Shelton Brothers, 2001
no info Mostly Feelin' Good, Hootin' the Blues, 2001
no info Texas Law & Justice, Bill Neely, 2001
no info Build Me a Boat, Hart and Blech, 2001
The Sun Records Story, Various Artists (Jerry Lee Lewis), 2001
no info Hillbilly Blues, Various Artists (Lonestar Cowboys), 2001
The Roots Of The Grateful Dead & Jerry Garcia, Various Artists (Prairie Ramblers), 2001
Run Mountain: North American Songs & Ballads, Kieron Means, 2002
The Missing Link, Harmonica Frank Floyd, 2002
no info Rockin' the Blues: 25 Great Sun Recordings, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2002
no info Guitar Wizard, Les Paul and Mary Ford, 2002
no info Western Swing Chronicles, Vol. 2, Leon Chappelear, 2002
no info I've Always Been Country, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2003
no info Wheels Within Wheels, Rory Gallagher, 2003
no info Early Jin Singles: Southland Rock'n'Roll, Various Artists (Mary McCoy & The Cyclones), 2003
no info Deep Ellum Blues, Robbie Laws, 2004
no info Cowgirl!, Lynda Kay & The Lickity Splits, 2004
no info Roots and Branches, Michael Patrick & The Suburban Hillbillies, 2004
no info Sun Essentials, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2004
no info Isle of Golden Dreams: The Decca and Capitol Years, Les Paul, 2004
no info Rompin' and Stompin' Around, The Shelton Brothers, 2004
Live! In the Club, The Chaps, 2004
no info Highlights from the Fifth Annual Blues & Boogie Piano Summit, Various Artists (Ricky Nye), 2004
no info Rural Rhythm Bluegrass: 20 Traditional Favorites, Various Artists (Jim Greer and the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks), 2004
no info Step It Up and Go! Tearing Up the Roots of Rock 'N Roll, Various Artists (Jimmy Revard), 2004
no info The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis: The Legendary Sun Recordings, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2005
no info Everybody's Rockin Tonight, Various Artists (Jerry Lee Lewis), 2005
no info Back Porch Bluegrass: 25 Bluegrass Instrumental Classics, Various Artists (James Wall), 2005
no info Guitar Collection: 25 Bluegrass Guitar Favorites, Various Artists (James Wall), 2005
Mountain Blues: Blues, Ballads & String Bands 1927-1938, Various Artists (Prairie Ramblers), 2005
no info Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice: The Transatlantic Anthology, Hamish Imlach, 2006
no info Gazette, Alan Munde, 2006
no info Hoodlum Rockin', Vol. 5, Various Artists (J.W. German), 2006
no info Jerry Lee Lewis & Jerry Lee's Greatest!, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2007
no info Snapshot, Ricky Nye, 2007
no info Chicken Gumbo, Lex & Joe, 2007
no info The Sucarnochee Revue Presents, Mississippi Chris Sharp, 2007
no info Rough and Rowdy Hillbilly of the 1930's, Vol. 3, Various Artists (Shelton Brothers), 2007
no info Appalachian Mountain Bluegrass, Various Artists (Jim Greer and the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks), 2007
no info Art of Field Recording, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Buford Boyd and William Benson), 2007
no info A Six Pack to Go, Hank Thompson, 2008
At Merlefest, NC, 4/26/08, The Levon Helm Band, 2008
no info Only the Best of, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2008
South-Bound Freight Train, The Biscuit Rollers, 2008
no info Sound of the Slide Guitar, Andy Hall, 2008
no info Cadillac Kolstad & The Flats, Cadillac Kolstad & The Flats, 2008
no info Returning, Cavanaugh & Kavanaugh, 2008
no info The Road Begins, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2009
no info Graveyard Train, Dirty River, 2009
Fingerpicking, Ragtime, Bottleneck & Blues, Michael Woods, 2009
The Roots Of Bob Dylan, Various Artists (Prairie Ramblers), 2009
Songs of the Grateful Dead: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, Jesse McReynolds & Friends, 2010
Biking With Beverly, Blacktop Blend, 2011
The Wheel: A Musical Celebration of Jerry Garcia, Various Artists, 2011
12/27/11, Boulder, CO, Yonder Mountain String Band, 2011
Electric Hay: Live, Rollin' In The Hay, 2012
10/30/14� New York, NY, The Infamous Stringdusters, 2014
International Incident, String Cheese Incident, 2014
On The Road: Nov 1, 2015, Live Oak, FL, String Cheese Incident, 2015
Elem Mississippi, Sagol 59 & The Promised Land, 2016
On The Road: January 2, 2016, Broomfield, CO, String Cheese Incident, 2016
An Evening At TRI, Blackberry Smoke with Bob Weir, 2017
Live at the Kraken, Grass, 2019

Georgia Black Bottom

no info Single (Riley The Furniture Man / Georgia Black Bottom), Georgia Crackers, March 1927
Georgia Stringbands, Volume 1, Various Artists (Georgia Crackers), 1998

Down In Black Bottom

no info Single (Down In Black Bottom / Freakish Rider Blues), Bert (Snake Root) Hatton, April 1927
no info Single (Shook It This Morning / Down In Black Bottom), Two Poor Boys (Joe Evans and Arthur McClain), May 1931
no info Single (Down In Black Bottom / Whiskey Man Blues), Black Bottom McPhail, March 1932
no info The Virtuoso Guitar Of, Scrapper Blackwell, 1991
no info Favorite Country Blues: Piano-Guitar Duets, 1929-1935, Various Artists (Two Poor Boys), 1992
St. Louis 1927-1933, Various Artists (Bert "Snake Root" Hatton), 1994
no info Complete Recorded Works 1938, Jack Newman / James Hall / Frankie Jones / Black Bottom McPhail, 1995
no info 1928-1939, Vol. 1, Scrapper Blackwell, 1996
no info Complete Recorded Works (1927-1931), The Two Poor Boys, 1996
no info Down in Black Bottom: Lowdown Barrelhouse Piano, Various Artists (Joe Evans), 1999
no info Mr. Scrapper's Blues Guitar, Scrapper Blackwell, 2002