45 years ago today (7/13/73), The Grateful Dead released the live LP History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice). Recorded during a period when the Grateful Dead were playing concerts consisting of electric sets, plus an acoustic set, revisiting their roots as a folk/jug band. It offers concert highlights recorded February 13 and 14, 1970 at the Fillmore East in New York City. Often known simply as Bear’s Choice, the title references band soundman Owsley “Bear” Stanley. It was originally intended to be the first volume of a series and is renowned for an absolutely killer version of “Smokestack Lightnin'” sung by Pigpen. Listen to “Dark Hollow” off the LP…
