Boy, if there was to be but one example of Grateful Dead hype and excess, it would have to be “Terrapin”.  As a bystander, I have heard about potential Dead theme destinations to be named Terrapin Station, after the album and song of the same name, some kind of mythical place where turtles dance and gothic soldiers march . . .

A new live CD release titled “To Terrapin”, give me a break, I have thought.  Does every Dead catchword have to become a marketing ploy?  Is there nothing these fans won’t swallow?

Well, now I’ve heard Terrapin Station a few times in a few versions.  Jerry vocally channels Robert Plant in the talk-singing part of Kashmir, then the band does that little Pink Floyd-y bridge for the lyrics

Since the end is never told
we pay the teller off in gold
in hopes he will come back
but he cannot be bought or sold

Then Donna nails it perfectly:  “Terrapin!  Terrapin!” she wails with unyielding purpose and a strong vibrato.  And I mean wails in the best sense.

Wow, I can hear the crowd scream all the way through the onstage vocal mics on my soundboard recording, and for the first time other than for a Garcia guitar solo, I can imagine myself there, leaping and screaming myself.

I’m not easily wrapped up in exotic tales of make believe, and Hunter’s lyrics strike me as trying a bit too hard, but Jerry’s music would work as an instrumental just as well.  Well, you do need to shout “Terrapin” a few times,  but this majestic work is the opposite of the shambolic boogies I first fell in love with a few weeks ago . . . .

Thanks to a reader for the tip — the entire Winterland show of 6-9-1977 is rich and resonant and I am just scratching the surface.  Garcia turns in another screaming solo with piercing tone on Loser, and he plays with volume, command and fluidity throughout.  Take a listen.

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