Home
The Wheel
Composer: Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann

The Wheel was performed just over 250 times by the Grateful Dead between 1976 and 1995.

The Wheel was composed spontaneously in the studio during the recording of the second side of Jerry Garcia's first solo LP. Garcia spoke about it in an interview;

...that side was really almost one continuous performance, pretty much. When a song would come up in there, or just a progression, we'd play with it and work it through a few more times. And The Wheel came out of that. It wasn't written, I didn't have anything in mind, I hadn't sketched it out.
The engineer on the recording session, Bob Matthews, spoke in an interview about the addition of the lyrics;
As we were playing it back and doing some of the overdubs, Hunter was there and he had a big piece of paper and he was writing on it up on the wall. He was writing words while we were listening to one of the playbacks and it turned out to be perfect. It was The Wheel. That song came from nowhere and just happened like that.
A track named Study For The Wheel was also included on the 2004 Garcia box set and on the subsequent expanded CD release of the Garcia album.


Jerry Garcia

info Garcia, 1972
info Single (Deal / The Wheel), 1972
info Whole Burbank Catalog, Various Artists, 1972
info Warner/Reprise Display Case Vol. 3 , Various Artists, 1972
info All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions, 2004
info Garcia, 2005 (bonus track)
info The Very Best Of Jerry Garcia, 2006
info Might As Well: A Round Records Retrospective, Jerry Garcia, 2023

Grateful Dead

info The Grateful Dead Movie (video), 1981
info Dozin' At The Knick, 1996
info Downhill from Here, 1997
info So Many Roads (1965-1995), 1999
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 18, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 20, 2001
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 29, 2003
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 32, 2004
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 33, 2004
info The Grateful Dead Movie (DVD), 2004
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 4: 6/18/76, 2005
info Jerry Garcia: The Collected Artwork: Lim. Edition CD, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 9: 4/2 & 3/89, 2006
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 11: 6/20/91, 2006
info Jerry Garcia: The Collected Artwork: Coll. Edition CD, 2007
info Road Trips: Vol 1, No 2: October 1977 (Bonus CD), 2008
info Formerly The Warlocks, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 4, No. 5: Boston Music Hall 6.9.76, 2011
info Dave's Picks Vol 1: Richmond, VA, 5/25/77, 2012
info Dave's Picks Vol. 8: Atlanta, GA 11/30/80, 2013
info Spring 1990 (The Other One), 2014
info Wake Up To Find Out: Nassau Coliseum, 3/29/90, 2014
info 30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
info On The Road: Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2016, 2016
info May 1977: Get Shown the Light, 2017
info Dave's Picks Vol 29: San Bernardino, 2/26/77, 2019
info Dave's Picks Vol 35: Philadelphia, 4/20/1984, 2020
info June 1976, 2020
info Dave's Picks Vol 39, Philadelphia, 4/26/83, 2021
info Dave's Picks Vol 44: Eugene, 6/23/90, 2022
info In and Out of the Garden: '81, '82, '83, 2022
info Dave's Picks Vol 45 Portland, 10/1 & 2/77, 2023
info Boston 5/7/77, 2023

Fare Thee Well shows 2015

info Fare Thee Well July 3, 4 & 5 2015 Complete Box, 2015

The Dead

info Virginia Beach, VA, June 17, 2003
info Hartford, CT, June 21, 2003
info Vernon, NY, June 29, 2003
info Morrison, CO, July 10, 2003
info Joliet, IL, August 2, 2003
info Irvine, CA, September 18, 2003
info Oakland, CA, December 31, 2004
info Morrison, CO, June 18, 2004
info Irvine, CA, June 24, 2004
info George, WA, July 3, 2004
info East Troy, WI, July 24, 2004
info Boston, MA, July 30, 2004
info Wantagh, NY, August 13, 2004
info Raleigh, NC, August 17, 2004
info Dead '09: Worcester, MA April 19, 2009
info Dead '09: E. Rutherford, NJ, April 29, 2009

Further

info Dec 9, 2009, New York, NY
info Dec 31, 2009, San Francisco, CA
info Feb 6, 2010, Orlando, FL
info Feb 15, 2010, Bethlehem, PA
info Feb 20, 2010, Utica, NY
info Feb 27, 2010, Atlantic City, NJ
info Mar 5, 2010, Denver, CO
info June 25, 2010, Rochester, NY
info June 30, 2010, Lowell, MA
info July 11, 2010, Philadelphia, PA
info July 30, 2010, Bridgeport, CT
info September 18, 2010, Redmond, WA
info September 22, 2010, Las Vegas, NV
info September 26, 2010, Morrison, CO
info November 11, 2010, St. Louis, MO
info November 16, 2010, Reading, PA
info November 21, 2010, New York, NY
info December 31, 2010, San Francisco, CA
info February 13, 2011, Broomfield, CO
info March 4, 2011, Boston, MA
info March 12, 2011, New York, NY
info March 19, 2011, Upper Darby, PA
info March 27, 2011, New York, NY
info March 30, 2011, Pittsburgh, PA
info April 5, 2011, Orlando, FL
info June 4, 2011, Mountain View, CA
info July 17, 2011, Wantagh, NY
info July 24, 2011, Holmdel, NJ
info July 30, 2011, St. Augustine, FL
info Sept 23, 2011, Eugene, OR
info Sept 30, 2011, Morrison, CO
info Oct 6, 2011, Los Angeles, CA
info Nov 3, 2011, Manchester, NH
info Nov 10, 2011, New York, NY
info Nov 16, 2011, Columbus, OH
info Dec 31, 2011, San Francisco, CA
info April 5, 2012, Boston, MA
info April 14, 2012, New York, NY
info April 20, 2012, Live Oak
info July 7, 2012, Philadelphia, PA
info July 14, 2012, Brooklyn, NY
info September 21, 2012, Morrison, CO
info September 28, 2012, Troutdale, OR
info October 6, 2012, Los Angeles, CA
info December 31, 2012, San Francisco, CA
info January 19, 2013, Mill Valley, CA
info February 24, 2013, Broomfield, CO
info April 17, 2013, Port Chester, NY
info April 25, 2013, Port Chester, NY
info July 11, 2013, Brooklyn, NY
info July 18, 2013, Boston, MA
info Sept 6, 2013, Arrington, VA
info Sept 21, 2013, Morrison, CO
info Sept 27, 2013, Berkeley, CA
info Oct 2, 2013, Las Vegas, NV

Dead & Company

info Camden, NJ, 20 June, 2016
info Hartford, CT, 28 June, 2016
info Clarkston, MI, 07 July, 2016
info Portland, OR, 22 July, 2016
info Mountain View, CA, 3 Jun, 2017
info Burgettstown, PA, 15 Jun, 2017
info Camden, NJ, 25 Jun, 2017
info Boston, MA, 17 Nov, 2017
info Detroit, MI, 24 Nov, 2017
info Dallas, TX, 1 Dec, 2017
info Riviera Maya, MX, 17 Feb, 2018
info Orlando, FL, 27 Feb, 2018
info Camden, NJ, 1 Jun, 2018
info Raleigh, NC, 9 Jun, 2018
info East Troy, WI, 22 Jun, 2018
info Albuquerque, NM, 11 July, 2018
info Mountain View, CA, 31 May, 2019
info George, WA, 8 Jun, 2019
info New York, NY, 23 Jun, 2019
info New York, NY, 10 Oct, 2019
info San Francisco, CA, 30 Dec, 2019
info Cancún, MX, 16 Jan, 2020
info Raleigh, NC, Aug 16, 2021
info Philadelphia, PA, Aug 21, 2021
info Mansfield, MA, Sep 2, 2021
info Lakewood, Atlanta, GA, Oct 12, 2021
info Morrison, CO, Oct 20, 2021
info Mountain View, CA, June 14, 2022
info Chicago, IL, June 25, 2022
info Hartford, CT, July 5, 2022
info Riviera Cancún, Mexico, Jan 17, 2023
info Los Angeles, CA, May 19, 2023
info Charlotte, NC, May 30, 2023
info Cincinnati, OH, June 13, 2023
info George, WA, July 8, 2023

Ratdog

info Live Oak FL: October 11, 2003
info Hampton Beach NJ: October 17, 2003
info Milwaukee WI: November 1, 2003
info Detroit MI: November 6, 2003
info DeKalb IL: November 14, 2003
info New Orleans LA: November 22, 2003
info Las Vegas NV, February 25, 2004
info Vancouver BC, March 6, 2004
info Boulder CO, March 16, 2004
info Worcester MA, April 2, 2004
info Tulsa OK, September 15, 2004Ratdog, 2004
info Las Vegas NV, February 6, 2005
info Indianapolis IN, April 4, 2005
info Frederick MD, April 11, 2005
info Washington DC, April 27, 2005
info Norfolk VA, April 29, 2005
info Columbus, OH, June 8, 2005
info Terra Alta, WV, August 5, 2005
info Ocean City, MD, August 9, 2005
info Mariaville, NY, August 12, 2005
info Gilford, NH, September 2, 2005
info Atlanta, GA, November 16, 2005
info Santa Fe, NM, December 3, 2005
info Reno, NV, December 14, 2005
info Danbury, CT, March 20, 2006
info Morrison, CO, July 2, 2006
info St. Louis, MO, July 8, 2006
info Columbus OH, October 26, 2006
info York PA, November 7, 2006
info San Diego CA, February 9, 2007
info Springfield MA, March 15, 2007
info University Park, PA, November 4, 2007
info Baltimore, MD, April 8, 2008
info Indio, CA, June 28, 2008
info Washington, DC, November 6, 2008
info Wilmington, NC, July 21, 2009
info Boise, ID, August 27, 2009
info Negril, Jamaica, January 31, 2010
info Washington DC, February 17, 2014
info Port Chester, NY, March 2, 2014
info Louisville, KY, March 12, 2014
info Grand Rapids, MI, June 10, 2014

Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio

info May 27, 2012, Bella Music Fest, Geneva, MN, 2012
info May 31, 2012, Wakarusa Festival, Ozark, AR, 2012
info June 4, 2012, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, CO, 2012

Phil Lesh

info Live at the Warfield, 2006
info Instant Live: June 23, 2006, Tampa, FL, 2006
info Instant Live: June 27, 2006, Asheville, NC, 2006
info Instant Live: July 2, 2006, Saratoga, NY, 2006
info Instant Live: July 8, 2006, Darien Lakes, NY, 2006
info Instant Live: July 11, 2006, Scranton, PA, 2006
info Instant Live: July 14, 2006, Columbus, OH, 2006
info Instant Live: July 18, 2006, Louisville, KY, 2006
info April 2, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info April 12, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info April 18, 2014, Las Vegas, NV, 2014
info May 30, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info October 17, 2014, Las Vegas, NV, 2014
info November 7, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info November 14, 2014, Port Chester, NY, 2014
info December 29, 2014: Port Chester, NY, PhilRAD, 2014
info March 15, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015
info November 7, 2015, Port Chester, NY, 2015
info March 18, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
info May 29, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
info August 28, 2016, Arrington, VA, 2016
info September 14, 2016, Brooklyn, NY, 2016
info Dear Jerry (CD), Various Artists (Phil Lesh & Communion), 2016
info Dear Jerry (DVD), Various Artists (Phil Lesh & Communion), 2016
info October 29, 2016, Port Chester, NY, 2016
info March 17, 2017, Port Chester, NY, 2017

Billy & The Kids

info 8/15/15, The Peach Music Festival, Scranton, PA, Billy & The Kids, 2015

 
Other recordings

info Cool In The Furnace, Ember (Throbbing Ember), 1994
info Blue Morning, Toni Brown, 1996
info Relix Bay Record Shop : Tribute To Jerry Garcia, Various Artists, 1997
info Fire On The Mountain - Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead - Volume 2, Various Artists, 1997
info The Vineyard Sound, Vol. 3, Various Artists, 1997
info Keeper Of The Key, David Nelson Band, 1997
info Relix's Best Of Truck Driving Songs, Various Artists, 1997
info Tribute To Jerry Garcia, John McEuen and Phil Salazar, 1999
info Wake the Dead, Wake The Dead, 2000
info Live at Maritime Hall: San Francisco, The Congos, 2000
info Pickin' On The Grateful Dead, Vol. 2, Various Artists, 2000
info Live At Twenty North, Jake's Leg, 2001
info Long Strange Trip: Swingin' and Pickin' on the Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 2001
info Pickin' On Jerry Garcia, Various Artists, 2001
info 20° Of Solitude, Grass Is Dead, 2004
info Live From Berkeley, Various Artists (David Nelson and Friends), 2005
info December 31, 2009, Portland, OR, Railroad Earth, 2009
info Songs of the Grateful Dead: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, Jesse McReynolds & Friends, 2010
info December 31, 2010, Denver, CO, Railroad Earth, 2010
info The Wheel: A Musical Celebration of Jerry Garcia, Various Artists, 2011
info Jerry Jams For Rex, Vol. Two, Various Artists (Railroad Earth), 2011
info January 28, 2011, Santa Cruz, CA, Railroad Earth, 2011
info November 26, 2011, Stroudsburg, PA, Railroad Earth, 2011
info Peach Music Festival, August 10, 12, Dark Star Orchestra, 2012
info July 11, 2014, Syracuse, NY, Railroad Earth, 2014
info December 31, 2014, Atlanta, GA, Railroad Earth, 2015
info March 20, 2015, Solana Beach, CA, Railroad Earth, 2015
info Alone Together, Vol 1, Holly Bowling, 2020
info Shred 420, Grateful Shred, 2021
info The Wilderness Sessions Vol. 5: Beartooth Mountains, Holly Bowling, 2021

Chris Robinson Brotherhood: live recordings

These live recordings are available via the Chris Robinson Brotherhood website.

info 7/1/2012, Winston-Salem, NC, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 7/15/2012, Salt Lake City, UT, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 8/19/2012, Cincinnati, OH, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 8/26/2012, Amagansett, NY, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 11/4/2012, Charlottesville, VA, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 11/11/2012, Philadelphia, PA, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 11/25/2012, Portland, OR, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013
info 12/16/2012, San Francisco, CA, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 2013

  album cover

album cover

album cover

album cover

album cover

album cover

album cover