Demo Review: Grateful Dead - “Wave that Flag”
On Feb. 9, 1973, Jerry Garcia made an instructional audio recording of “Wave that Flag” so he could teach the song to his Grateful Dead bandmates.
The solo demo of the song that would eventually become “U.S. Blues” is out to announce the forthcoming From the Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition). It finds Garcia at home, on acoustic and electric guitars and percussion, singing mostly complete - but slightly varied - lyrics to the short-lived member of the Dead’s live repertoire.
The recording reveals Garcia pretty much knew what he wanted his collaborators to do with the song. That’s particularly strange, given the many iterations it went through as it morphed from “Wave that Flag” into “U.S. Blues.” As such, it’s a super-cool peek behind the curtain and a demo that checks all boxes as it’s a good listen to boot.
Out June 21, Mars Hotel 50 includes a remaster of the original LP, the Dead’s previously unreleased May 12, 1974, concert in Nevada and a demo of “China Doll” to go with “Wave that Flag.”
Grade card: Grateful Dead - “Wave that Flag” (Demo) - A
3/27/24
