ROCKING THE CRADLE: Egypt In A Box

The Grateful Dead‘s newest release ROCKING THE CRADLE has been slowly arriving in mailboxes all week. I was one of the lucky ones, apparently, who got mine early and undamaged. There have been some quality control issues surrounding this set that I feel confident Rhino will address in a timely and professional manner. They’re just starting to figure out the level of “commitment” Deadheads have to this music and the ravenous collection of such. And their previous releases since acquiring the Grateful Dead’s vault of music have been tremendous. The WINTERLAND ’73 BOX SET is an extraordinary collection, beautifully packaged and presented. A real treat for Dead fans. As was LIVE AT THE COW PALACE from 1976. Lovingly mixed and one of the best New Year’s shows the Dead ever played (they were not always on the ball those nights). I have heard complaints about the recycled cardboard packaging on the ROAD TRIPS sets, but have not acquired those as I’m usually a “full show” snob and those sets are compilations.

However, ROCKING THE CRADLE does not offer up all the music played at the Dead’s historic 1978 trip to the Gizah Sound and Light Theatre in Cairo, Egypt, but what’s there is certainly among the highlights and, quite possibly, all we’ll ever get. The set includes 2 CDs of music, 1 “bonus” CD for those who ordered before September 30th, and 1 DVD of actual footage of the band playing, as well as behind the scenes super 8 home movies documenting the Dead “family” adventures through the cradle of civilization.

Let’s start with the CDs. The sound is mixed with perfection. I’ve heard these shows before, both in audience and soundboard, and I’ve never heard them sound this crisp. Every instrument is crystal clear and perfectly balanced. The same goes for the bonus disc. I’m not sure why this wasn’t just included as part of the package as it really is an essential part of the collection. Apparently, the sound recording for the first of the three nights played was damaged and that is why September 14th is not represented here at all. It’s a shame, but some things are unavoidable.

Now the DVD. I want to thank the folks who put this together for allowing me to access this historic event in a way not possible before. I had seen some of the video footage shot by Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, but the sound quality on that was questionable at best and, though fascinating, never quite engaging. While the video here is shaky and unprofessional at times–even to the point of actually losing site of the band entirely and drifting off into darkness–at least there are several cameras running simultaneously and the sound is massive, especially the DTS 5.1 mix. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any information as to exactly what footage was available to the producers of this set and how the editing choices were made. For example, most of the songs “fade out” instead of continuing the jams into transitions. Most disappointing is the fade out during the final jam in FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, thus losing one of the evenings best moments and a great transition into IKO IKO, a song which is, thankfully, included here. It is altogether possible that the footage available for that portion of the show was simply unusable and that is why this decision was made. However, I would love to know about that. I recognize that it’s perhaps not customary for fans to request so much knowledge about the making of a “product”, but Deadheads have a rather “special” relationship to all things Dead, and many of us are completists and simply want as much as is available. Strange, I know, but there’s nothing like sitting down and immersing oneself in an uninterrupted show, especially when captured on DVD. If the experience is available to be had, many of us would love to have it. I would also question why they chose to jumble many of the songs out of the order in which they were performed. The progression of songs, the unfolding of the setlist, is often as much a part of the show as the music itself. For those who don’t know, the Dead never played the same show twice. And even if they HAD, they wouldn’t have played it the same way. So what they play and in what order has been of fascination to fans since the Dead first started performing. It is truly part of the energy, uniqueness, and experience of each and every show.

Now for the Bonus Material. “The Vacation Tapes”, a rare and intimate portrait of the band and their close “family” of friends and lovers starting from their arrival in Cairo, through the shows themselves, culminating in a three day boat trip down the Nile. Here we are privy to moments rarely seen as we get to watch the Dead off-stage and in a very “normal” light. It is refreshing and fun and truly made me wish I had been a part of the whole adventure as it unfolded.

The music itself. Part of the reputation of these shows is that the band didn’t play very well. And they were the first to say so. Since the Dead were largely an improvisational band, the music and its energy was different from one night to the next. Some nights they were on, some nights they were off. And both ends of the spectrum could be rather dramatic! What’s fascinating here is that there was some truly inspired and tight playing to be heard from the Dead’s various tours throughout 1978. But what happens in Egypt these 3 nights is unlike anything the Dead had played before or since. And there are certainly a combination of factors that added to that. One is the possible pressure of being the first western band permitted to play Egypt. Another is the PA system which was loaned to the Dead by The Who (England is much closer). The setting itself: a beautiful outdoor theatre nestled beneath the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Gizah. Add to the third night a lunar eclipse and, well, the energy MUST have been interesting to say the least. Then there’s the audience: hordes of Deadheads traveled from far and wide to be here and they danced side by side with Egyptians, many of whom had never heard this music before and slowly found the groove as the nights progressed.

Then there are stories of Jerry’s addiction and the fact that he had to take a hiatus from some “medicines” his body may have been quite used to at this point. But whatever the reasons, the Dead had moments of fascinating beauty up there, as well as moments when the rhythm just seemed to slip out from under them as they all scrambled to find their way back. Perhaps it had to do with drummer Bill Kreutzman having one hand in a cast. Or maybe not, I don’t know. But it’s interesting to watch Jerry trying to get everybody rhythmically in sync during LOOKS LIKE RAIN which, oddly enough, turns out to be a terrific rendition. Same goes for GOOD LOVIN’, which really hits a wall and never quite recovers. But all this gives the evening an odd yet exciting tension that everything could collapse at any given moment. And when it doesn’t, the music SOARS or, at worst, finds a shaky life that is quite thrilling. It is music and energy unique to this set of shows and this venue. It’s a version of the Dead unlike any other. And while I wouldn’t recommend it as an introduction to the band’s live performances, I think it’s a must for anyone already familiar and looking for new variations and new experiences from the Dead’s treasure trove of musical journeys. Garcia’s voice is in top form and he seems to be having a blast up there. It’s odd that the Dead chose not to play any cuts from their acclaimed BLUES FOR ALLAH album (the best of the studio offerings, in my opinion) as it seemed an obvious choice and a rare opportunity. However, I’m sure they had their reasons and just getting to watch the Dead jam with percussionist Hamza El Din and the Nubian Youth Choir up on that stage, in that surreal and magical setting, is worth the price of admission.

ROCKING THE CRADLE is incomplete, imperfect, and worth every penny. It does what most great things do; it leaves you wanting more. And if there is more out there, I hope it will find its way to release as well. I, for one, will look forward to buying it.

Here’s a taste of the Grateful Dead playing a rockin’ version of DEAL from the third night, September 16, 1978: