Grateful Dead Inc. has shared yet another archival pro-shot video, as part of their “All The Years Live” video series.
This week’s edition showcases a summer ’87 version of “My Brother Esau,” filmed live at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium.
“This Bob Weir-John Barlow song was only in the Dead’s repertoire for four years, but it was a terrific first set addition, played in several arrangements, sometimes with a drumming introduction, and sometimes with the entire band coming in for a grand intro,” GD archivist David Lemieux said of the tune, which came midway through the band’s first set. “I saw this at four of the first six shows I attended, and then it was dropped for good in October 1987.”
To keep up with the “All The years Live” series subscribe to the Grateful Dead YouTube channel here.
Watch the 7/24/87 “My Brother Esau” below:
7 Comments comments associated with this post
mb
July 22, 2019 at 9:00 pmThe first Esau I ever heard was 4-9-83 from Hampton, Va. and I loved it. This version has a different tempo and a sense of urgency that was lacking in later versions. Just me, but I always liked the”shadowboxing the apocalypse” line and the biblical allagory. The song had potential but they took it in the wrong direction.
jaggerrich
July 22, 2019 at 12:27 pmDisagree Greg, but each to his own. I love the tune Esau. Nothing to do with why it was dropped. Are Saint Stephen or Casey Jones, or many ’60’s tunes not great ones? Lost Sailor? Jerry could be grumpy, and lazy, and stubborn. It isn’t a coincidence that ALL members of the original band, ALL agreed, through their many iterations since ’95, that many of these “lost and neglected” tunes should be played, have been played, and continue to be played. John Kadlecik was surely the most responsible non-member for resurrecting many of them, and Warren, too. Thank goodness for that. Mountains of the Moon (Phil) The Eleven, Golden Road, Till the Morning Comes, and on and on and on, thank goodness.
Greg
July 20, 2019 at 11:25 pmWow there dude the “real” jaggerich can be a douche occasionally but not that bad. This song was tied with Tons Of Steel for weakest track on In The Dark. Shadowbox the apocalypse ok whatever it just doesn’t work. No Black Throated Wind that’s for sure, probably why it was dropped. The album had some great tunes for shows especially West LA, When Push, Hell In A Bucket, Throwing….well pretty much The whole album. Same with Built To Last. Brent was a huge damn loss.
JAGGERRICH
July 20, 2019 at 4:24 pmOMG i loooovveee the Grateful Dead!!!!!!!!!! They were so trippy and fun to see in the 90’s!!!! Still John Mayer is WAAAAYYYYYY better than Jerry (and not only in playing guitar but also in looks and style which are also important for a rock star.) If you disagree you are a bitch!!
S Bloom
July 19, 2019 at 7:00 pmI was at that show! I think with Bob Dylan. It was my first show out here and I was freezing in a convertible on the way back to the City.
jaggerrich
July 19, 2019 at 5:05 pmI love Esau, I love Bobby, I love’em all.
Yikes
July 19, 2019 at 3:53 pmBrent has a bizarre mental patient look about him around the 3 minute mark. I don’t think he should have ever cut his hair.