4:16
Shakedown Street, 1978
Written by Noah Lewis, 1930
The Dead initially claimed credit for this song, and while it is definitely fleshed out and expanded, it's clear that it's Lewis' creation, at least the blues structure and lyrics. (The original, "Minglewood Blues," was written before 1930 and has different lyrics; Lewis' "New Minglewood Blues" from 1930 is the one this was based off.) But they do transform it. The acoustic shuffle becomes a thick, swaggering bar-band groove, anchored by Phil Lesh’s roaming bass rather than a traditional blues walk. Bob Weir's rhythm guitar is all clipped chords and percussive accents, leaving space for Jerry Garcia’s lead lines, which mix stinging blues bends with his distinctly conversational phrasing. It's swampy, gritty, and tailor-made for extended jams.
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