GOOD OL’ GRATEFUL DEADCAST

Workingman's Dead 50, Episode 7: "Easy Wind"

Date: August 20, 2020
Hosts: Rich Mahan & Jesse Jarnow

Overview

This episode of the official Grateful Dead podcast dives deep into "Easy Wind," a distinctive track from the iconic 1970 album Workingman’s Dead. The discussion explores the song’s unique place in the Grateful Dead canon, Pigpen’s rare studio lead vocal, the creative process in the studio, and the broader historical and cultural context of the band’s evolution during the period. Through interviews, archival anecdotes, and musicologist insights, the episode paints a full portrait of why "Easy Wind" matters both musically and mythologically.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Makes "Easy Wind" Unique

• Lead Vocal:
  • The only song on Workingman’s Dead with a lead vocalist other than Jerry Garcia — Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, whose powerful delivery was usually reserved for live sets.
  • “Pigpen takes the lead vocal on this one — his vocal leads on studio albums are rare and Easy Wind might just be the one that comes closest to the magic he delivered in the band's live sets.” (A, 02:05)
• Double Drummer Arrangement:
  • First Workingman’s Dead track to feature the full double drummer "electric" Dead, echoing the live 1969/70 sound.
• Lyrical Authorship:
  • Solely written by lyricist Robert Hunter (not Garcia/Hunter like the rest of the album), yet delivered and owned by Pigpen.
  • “Easy Wind was the first Grateful Dead song written solely by Robert Hunter.” (B, 04:27)
• Studio vs. Live Feel:
  • The studio version compresses the band’s sprawling, explorative live jams into a concise, sub-five-minute cut, encapsulating much of their essence.
  • “It conveys the essence of the Grateful Dead in microcosm … what one of their much longer live jams might have sounded like, and they compress it … It’s incredibly successful in that regard.” — Gary Lambert (D, 03:59 / 04:27)

2. Origins & Evolution of the Song

• Hunter’s Recovery & Songwriting Surge:
  • Written as Hunter emerged from a harrowing psychedelic episode — a period which produced much of his and Garcia’s most beloved work.
  • “It took me a full two years after that to get back to where I felt creative … those two years encompassed nearly all of Workingman’s Dead, American Beauty, and Jerry Garcia’s solo debut.” — Robert Hunter (B, ~06:00)
• Song’s Blues Roots:
  • Hunter’s original arrangement mirrored a Robert Johnson blues style; the Dead stamped their imprint as the song evolved.
• Pigpen’s Place:
  • Though not written for him, Pigpen "occupied it perfectly" — his background as a blues fan and club performer shone through.

3. Pigpen: The Man Behind the Blues

• On-Stage Persona vs. Reality:
  • Known for his "badass" bluesman image, Pigpen was, according to friends and bandmates, surprisingly gentle and kind offstage.
  • “The women in the Grateful Dead scene regarded him as just a very protective big brother.” — Gary Lambert (D, 09:01)
• Musical Versatility:
  • Played multiple instruments (guitar, banjo, piano, organ); not a prolific songwriter yet contributed immensely to the Dead’s character.

4. Studio Magic: Recording "Easy Wind"

• Rehearsal & Recording Process:
  • Detailed breakdown of takes shows the band striving for the elusive live "groove" in the studio, with Pigpen singing live and the group making minute adjustments.
  • “We get 10 passes on Easy Wind, almost all of them a Pig's breath from the final version.” (B, 19:59)
• Teamwork & Arrangements:
  • Collaborative approach, with each member shaping the arrangement, reflecting the Dead’s ethos of the group being “greater than the sum of its parts.” — Bob Matthews (C, 16:03)
• Editing, Solos, and Swing:
  • In the studio, the chorus is omitted up front to make room for solos; the take features rare solos from Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia.

5. Sessions, Outtakes & The Angel’s Share

• Archival Excavations:
  • Extensive surviving session tapes for "Easy Wind" (35+ minutes), revealing the band's process and Pigpen’s rare lighthearted banter between takes.
  • “I love to hear the personalities and the development of the working process.” — Brian Kehew (H, 18:28)

6. "Easy Wind" Live & Legacy

• Live Versions:
  • Early live versions often stretched to 10 minutes, showcasing wide-ranging jams and giving Pigpen a major spotlight.
  • “When the Dead had their swing on in a live show, this song really allowed them to swing.” — David Lemieux (E, 11:17)
• Disappearance From Setlists:
  • The song faded from the Dead’s repertoire after Pigpen’s and Mickey Hart’s respective departures (early 1971).

7. Workingman’s Dead: Promotion & Business Shifts

• Warner Bros. Promotion:
  • Unique, sometimes surreal radio spots and heavy label investment resulted in high-profile promo efforts, including record giveaways with the injunction “Steal it.”
• Robert Hunter’s Role:
  • His recognition as an "official" band member is marked by his appearance on the album cover and steadying presence in the newly business-minded Dead organization.
  • “That was the first time … he is the seventh member of the band.” — Roni Stanley (G, 30:20)
• Grateful Dead Organization:
  • The 1970 era brought professionalism, financial stability, and the formation of in-house publishing (Ice Nine) and business operations, led by John McIntyre and Alan Trist.
  • “It was the beginning of financial stability for Robert Hunter after a decade of existence on the bohemian fringe.” (B, 31:46)
• Community Ethos:
  • The emerging structure allowed the Grateful Dead to create a community centered around mutual support, sustainable “hip economics,” and artistic freedom.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

1. On the Essence of "Easy Wind":

“A wonderful thing about the studio version of Easy Wind is more than almost any other, it conveys the essence of the Grateful Dead in microcosm.”
— Gary Lambert (D, 03:59)

2. On Pigpen’s Duality:

“People who knew him well will tell you the disparity was amazing because he was such a thoughtful, gentle, kind person within that incredibly badass looking exterior.”
— Gary Lambert (D, 09:01)

3. On Creative Chemistry:

“Playing in a band is playing together as a band, not as five individuals, but as the collective. The Grateful Dead was that whole, and it was greater than the sum of its individual components and musicians.”
— Bob Matthews (C, 16:03)

4. On the Recording Reel Mysteries:

“I love the music, but I love to hear the personalities and the development of the working process.”
— Brian Kehew (H, 18:28)

5. On Hunter's Place with the Dead:

“If you look at the cover of Workingman's Dead, Robert Hunter is pictured … that sort of marks his recognition and acknowledgement by the band that he is part of the band. He is the seventh member.”
— Roni Stanley (G, 30:20)

Key Timestamps

• 03:11: Distinction of "Easy Wind" — sole non-Garcia lead, double drummers, Hunter as sole writer
• 04:27: Hunter’s songwriting and band arrangement commentary
• 09:01: Pigpen’s true character and bluesman image, Gary Lambert
• 11:17: David Lemieux on live versions and the song’s groove
• 13:44: Studio version structure and shared solos, Gary Lambert
• 16:03: Bob Matthews on the band’s collective magic
• 18:28: Brian Kehew on Angel's Share session tapes and the band's process
• 19:59: "Easy Wind" recording session outtakes — studio process insight
• 29:37: Robert Hunter reflects on "Workingman’s Dead" (“That’s my baby. I like that record.”)
• 30:20: Roni Stanley on Hunter’s recognition as a band member

Conclusion

The episode frames "Easy Wind" as a microcosm of the Grateful Dead’s magic — a song blending blues tradition, band synergy, and the idiosyncratic charisma of Pigpen. Through stories of recording sessions, tales of industry promo campaigns, and memories from friends and archivists, listeners gain a unique perspective on both the creation of "Easy Wind" and its place in the Dead’s larger narrative.

The conversation also shines a light on the Dead’s 1970 shift toward organization and stability, the crucial contributions of Robert Hunter, and how the community’s ethos powered the band’s most remembered work. For committed Dead Heads and the curious alike, it’s a soulful deep-dive into a singular song.

Further Exploration:

• Outtakes and session tapes (“The Angel’s Share”) available on streaming
• Links to archival materials, radio spots, and collector resources at dead.net/deadcast

(Ads, intros, and outros have been omitted for clarity and focus on episode content.)