The new, two CD album of "Seastones" was released on March 8, 2018. This album is not a re-issue. It presents most but not all of the composition as originally composed but never released or heard before. For this release, "Seastones" was re-mixed and re-mastered in stereo. It includes most of the original 1970-1974 studio forms, those parts of Ned's concurrent but unfinished composition "L" that are shared with "Seastones", as well as some of the moment forms generated and incorporated into the composition from live performances that took place from 1973 to 1975. This two CD album contains 83 tracks (54 tracks on CD One and 29 tracks on CD Two) and altogether is 111 minutes long. The album is available through the Spiritcats store.
Ned's new music CD, "Cat Dreams", is available at the store on his website Spiritcats.com. You can read read more about his first public music in a few decades under the music link on the home page, or go directly to the Spiritcats store. Cat Dreams t- shirts are also available!
Ned's official website Spiritcats.com has several galleries of his photography and art, a collection of his writings on individual creativity, art, pictures and being a picture, nudes and erotica, the natural history of electronic media world presence, as well as extensive content about his music past and present, his new CD "Cat Dreams", and about "Seastones" composition and the new two CD release of "Seastones".
Others have created a Facebook site about Ned's website: Ned Lagin's Spiritcats https://facebook.com/nedlaginspiritcats/
This list is thought to be accurate but remains incomplete.
"Seastones" recording, mixing, mastering, and practice sessions for the period 1970-1975 are mostly undocumented and further research is needed. Most of the "Seastones" sessions and electronic jams at Mickey Hart's ranch in the summers of 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 were recorded. These are presumed to be lost.
Recordings of Grateful Dead performances were graciously supplied to Ned from David Gans, Ihor Slabicky, Noah Weiner, Michael Parrish, and David Finney.
An in-depth biography is available at the "Ned Lagin" entry in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Lagin).
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MIT Chapel (photo by Melvin Backstrom) |
Note from Ned:
I invited them to a free concert of an eight-track, four-tape-recorders electronic music composition of mine in the MIT Chapel, a beautiful acoustic space. The Chapel being a circular, cylindrical building surrounded by a moat that actually goes under the edge of the building where there's glass, and the cylinder has rippling water reflections up the inside walls. For the performance I set up eight speakers around in a circle against the walls, and the audience, MIT people and friends, sat within that circle. The composition was inspired by Ravel’s "La Valse" and Penderecki’s "Threnody for Hiroshima" - compositions I had studied in a 20th Century Music course with MIT’s Prof. Gregory Tucker; compositions which had as their themes war and the destruction of life and culture. The Chapel being a most timely and appropriate place for the music given the events that year and that week (and belief in the cultural responsibility of art and music). Jerry, Phil, and Mickey listened intently. When my composition ended, Mickey was sitting with his eyes closed – the music had just put him out there, "in the zone". Jerry complimented me and turning to Phil said "I'll bet he'd love to play with a 16-track tape recorder." And Phil smiling said "I'm sure he would." Then Jerry turned back to me and said, "You should come to California!". My Chapel composition was later "sedimented" (to use a geology metaphor) into my composition "Seastones".
Two business cards from Ned. The telephone numbers are no longer affiliated with the Grateful Dead. |
Jerry (electric, acoustic, and pedal steel guitar) and Ned (piano) play together alone on multiple occasions at Jerry Garcia's house and at Mickey's. Jerry teaches Ned, through singing and playing, a number of Grateful Dead tunes including new ones for the "American Beauty" album. Ned and Jerry jam on "Dark Star", on one and two chord pieces, on sound textures, and play and improvise on pop and jazz songs, using Ned's fake books (Ned on piano, Jerry on acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitars). Jerry refers Ned to the piano playing of Floyd Cramer, and to bluegrass players. Ned shows Jerry (and they work through) transcriptions (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, and others), scores by Mahler, Copland, Ives, Gershwin, Ravel, Debussy, Webern, and Pendereki (and others), his Berklee School of Music notes on reharmonization, as well as his research on Renaissance music (Obrecht, Okeghem), all of which he also shares with Phil. Ned plays Bill Evans' "Blue in Green" and "Peace Piece" on piano for Jerry. These musical interchanges between Ned, Jerry, and including Phil and Mickey also occur during the summers of 1971-1973.
David Crosby and Ned play together (acoustic guitar, piano) at David's house ("The Lee Shore" and other tunes). David Crosby plays "Songs of the Humpback Whale", Roger Payne's LP of whale songs, for Ned and Phil.
Ned records his first 16-track music at Mickey Hart's studio - a composition of multiple over-layered tracks of solo piano, inspired by the Bill Evans album "Conversations With Myself". He also starts early "Seastones" 16-track recording.
08-xx-70 - "American Beauty" sessions in August and September 1970 at the Wally Heider Studio in San Francisco. Ned plays piano on early takes of several songs. The only piano track of his that is used on the album is the acoustic piano on "Candyman". If the undated outtake of "Candyman" listed below can be dated to between June and September, 1970, then it is Ned playing the acoustic piano. http://archive.org/download/gd1971-02-01.sbd.Studio.Rehearsal.120486.flac16/13.mp3
xx-xx-70 - Ned played acoustic piano on some rehearsal sessions for David Crosby's solo album "If I Could Only Remember My Name".
Fall, 1970 - Ned returns to MIT.
11-05-70 - Grateful Dead at the Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY (Thursday) - This concert is the first time that Ned plays on stage with the Grateful Dead: "The Other One" > "Dark Star" > "St. Stephen". Ned describes it: "The "Dark Star" was a very abstract feedback-oriented one early on, then beautiful. It was very much more "Seastones"-esque than other "Dark Stars", characteristic of some of the earlier summer jamming." https://archive.org/details/gd70-11-05.aud.warner.17182.sbeok.shnf
11-08-70 - Grateful Dead at the Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY - Ned sat in on "Dark Star" > "The Main Ten" jam > "Dancing in the Streets". https://archive.org/details/gd1970-11-08.aud.weiner.28609.sbeok.shnf
11-21-70 - Grateful Dead at the Sargent Gym, Boston University, Boston, MA - This was Ned's first complete concert with the Grateful Dead. Ned played a beige original Wurlitzer electric piano that was borrowed. Friends in the audience yelled "Hey, Ned!" and "Grateful Ned!" to his embarrassment. Partial set list - other songs not remembered or recorded: "Casey Jones", "Candyman", "Mama Tried", "Easy Wind", "Good Loving", "Dancing In The Street", "St. Stephen", "Cryptical Envelopment" > "Drums" > "The Other One" > "Cryptical Envelopment" > "Cosmic Charlie", and "Uncle John's Band". [add link]
Bill, Mickey, Pigpen, Ned, Bob, Phil, and Jerry at Boston University on November 21, 1970 (photo by Jeff Albertson) |
Jerry, Phil, Bill, Mickey, Ned, Bob, and Pigpen at Boston University on November 21, 1970 (photo by Jeff Albertson) |
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Ned, Phil, Bill, Jerry, Bob, Mickey, and Pigpen during the second set on February 18, 1971 at the Capitol Theater (photo by Joe Sia) |
Ned, Phil, Bill, Jerry, Bob, and Pigpen playing "Dark Star" at Boston Music Hall on April 8, 1971 (photo by Jeff Albertson) |
The band playing "Dark Star" at Boston Music Hall on April 8, 1971 (photo by Jeff Albertson) |
xx-xx-71 - During the summer of 1971, recording sessions continue on "Seastones" with Jerry, Phil, Spencer Dryden, Mickey, David Crosby, and Grace Slick.
There are two known recordings: Ned's personal copy (available on Ned's website Spiritcats.com, navigating to the MUSIC page, and then scrolling down to the DOWNLOADS section, where there is a link to the music), and an audience recording ( https://archive.org/details/gd71-08-21.hartjam.aud.17179.sbeok.shnf ).
08-14-71 - Grateful Dead at the Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA - During Set II, Ned plays on "Truckin'" > "Drums" > "The Other One", "Me and Bobby McGee", "Happy Birthday" for David Crosby, and the two encores: "Johnny B. Goode" and "Uncle John's Band". https://archive.org/details/gd1971-08-14.sbd.130871.MrBill.flac16
08-15-71 - Grateful Dead at the Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA - During Set II, Ned plays on "Truckin'" > "Drums" > "The Other One" > "Me and My Uncle" > "The Other One" > "Wharf Rat". https://archive.org/details/gd1971-08-15.sbd.130890.MrBill.flac16
According to Ned: "While I had already met several of those in attendance, jammed with some, and already worked on "Seastones" with some (and played baseball with some), I got to see and meet many others from the Bay Area, musicians and families. Very high day for everyone. One of the very memorable days."
Tape box for "A Day In The Country" |
The tape box of Ned's recording lists: "Stokes, Garcia, Lagin, Hart, Lesh, Crosby, Cippolina, Freiberg" and recording information. It contains "The Other One Jam" > "The Wall Song", "Jam", "Blooz", and "R&R Jam".
The audience recording contains "Jam #1", "Wall Song" > "Jam" > "Wall Song", "Jam #2", "Noodle Part 1", "Noodle Part 2", "Jam #3", "Jam #4", "Tuning Jam #1", "Ghost Riders In The Sky Jam", "Winin' Boy Blues", "Tuning Jam #2", and "Tore Down".
According to Ned: "Phil had all the tapes, and we listened to all the recordings in his living room. Phil made reel-to-reel and cassette copies for himself and for me. My tape box labeling was written by Phil. Phil listed on the tape box only a few of the musicians before tiring and "quitting" the labeling process."
"I played piano or organ throughout the day." From memory, Ned lists the following musicians: "Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, David Crosby, David Freiberg, Barry Melton, John Cippolina, Robbie Stokes, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Paul Kantner, maybe Merl Saunders. Three or four or more guitarists playing together, two basses. Most out of tune with piano and organ at times and worst by the end. David Freiberg sometimes played organ, as well as bass. Some thought Nicky Hopkins was there but I have no memory of him, and believe at the time he was with the Rolling Stones. This day exemplifies the spirit of the music and comradeship of the times that I had experienced first in the summer of 1970, then in the summers of 1971, 1972, and 1973. And the spirit of the times when "Seastones" was recorded."
Fall, 1971 - Ned returns to Cambridge, MA.
Summer, 1972 - Mickey's Barn Studio - Ned jams with Phil, Jerry, Mickey, John Cipollina, Barry Melton, David Crosby, and others.
Jerry and Ned play and jam together. David Crosby and Ned play together (acoustic guitar, piano) at David's house.
xx-xx-72 - In the summer of 1972, "Seastones" recordings continue. Sessions with Jerry, David Crosby, Grace Slick, David Freiberg, Spencer Dryden, Mickey, and Phil. The first acoustic mix of part of "Seastones is done at Mickey's studio.
09-13-72 - The first "Seastones" partial mix (dated 09-13-72) is submitted by Jerry, Phil, and Ned to Clive Davis. In a subsequent meeting they all attended at Davis's Columbia Records office in New York City, he rejected the album on the review and advice of other synthesizer recording artists at Columbia. The back of the tape box lists the September 13, 1972 "Seastones" mix date and recording information.
Tape box for the September 13, 1972 mix of "Seastones" |
09-16-72 - Grateful Dead at the Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - During Set II, Ned played on "Dark Star" > "Brokedown Palace". Ned played a Wurlitzer electric piano and Crybaby wah-wah when he joined the band on stage for "Dark Star", and after which he and his piano exited the stage. This was the first and only time prior to 1974 that he sat in with Keith Godchaux playing acoustic piano. https://archive.org/details/gd72-09-16.psbd.unknown.6683.sbeok.shnf
In 1974, Ned began playing through the vocal system. It was considered the best part of the entire Wall of Sound PA. It had the second highest column of 15-inch bass speakers, second only to Phil. There were 240 speakers total including the center cluster, a 4-way crossover, and 9600 watts of power provided by sixteen McIntosh MC 2300 amplifiers. Ned could be as loud as a jet plane and actually had the capability of lifting the entire stage fully loaded by playing a burst of subsonic notes, which he did a couple of times. When he held a note the speakers created a breeze!
However, there was a switch to select between his 4-channel quad feed and the vocal mic mix. When band members were singing through the system, the vocal system switch was set to the vocal mics and Ned was switched just to on-stage monitors. Sometimes the switch back to him was forgotten (for a while), and sometimes 2 of the 4 channels of Ned's quad feed were lost in the vocal system input mix even when the switch was set to Ned.
Note from Ned: Many of the "Ned and Phil" performances have missing audio channels - sometimes two of Ned's four quad live channels or the computer rhythm output, sometimes Phil's feed to Ned's synthesizer console for scored processing, and sometimes pre-recorded tapes (basic tracks for "Seastones", "L", others). The pre-recorded tracks (effectively basic "audio scores") were an important formal component of the musical performance, providing a framework or background for improvising (and/or control and modulation signals). Like Phil, Ned's instruments had quad 4 channel outputs, but often 2 channels were lost somewhere in the PA feed mix, which converted 4 channels into 2 for the vocal system output.
Note from Ned: As parts of the "Seastones" open form composition, some of the Ned and Phil (and others) "Seastones" live performances (1973-1975) became "accreted moment forms" in the complete composition.
06-23-74 - Grateful Dead at the Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, FL - During the set break between Set I and II, Ned and Phil perform the 'first time played' "Ned and Phil" set. In that set, Ned plays a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano, an Arp Odyssey, and an Eu synthesizer / computer. In the second Grateful Dead set, Ned plays a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano on "jam" > "Ship of Fools", does not play during "Big River", then plays on "Black Peter", "Around and Around", "Dark Star" jam > "Spanish Jam" > "U.S. Blues". Ned's parents are in attendance in the audience and meet Jerry and Phil. The "Dark Star Jam" excerpt > "Spanish Jam" > "U.S. Blues" appears on disc 2, track 6 of the "So Many Roads (1965-1995)" box set. The complete concert has been released on "Dave's Picks Volume 34: Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, FL 6/23/74". https://archive.org/details/gd1974-06-23.sdb.smith.116312.flac16
06-26-74 - Grateful Dead at the Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set. https://archive.org/download/gd1974-06-26.akgd1000e.moore.berger.105919.flac24/gd74-06-26d2t01_vbr.mp3
Colonial Hilton Inn in Cranston, Rhode Island |
Postcard (provided free to guests) from the Colonial Hilton Inn, where the band stayed for the Providence concert. From the back of the card: "The new 125 room Hilton Inn, overlooking Narragansett Bay, features Colonial Restaurant, Innkeeper's Pantry, Cocktail Lounge, Glass Domed, year 'round pool, saunas, patio cocktail area, banquet and meeting rooms. Ample free parking. Minutes from downtown Providence, airport and travel terminals." This postcard is provided to Nedbase by Ned from his small collection of free motel postcards from the 1974 tour.
06-28-74 - Grateful Dead at the Boston Garden, Boston, MA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set. https://archive.org/download/gd1974-06-28.sonyecm99.moore.berger.106003.flac24/gd74-06-28d1t14_vbr.mp3
06-30-74 - Grateful Dead at the Springfield Civic Center Arena, Springfield, MA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set. http://www.archive.org/download/gd1974-06-30.sbd.miller.96275.sbeok.flac16/gd74-06-30d2t04_vbr.mp3
07-04-74 - Grateful Dead at Titan Stadium, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI - This scheduled concert, with a fireworks show, was ultimately cancelled, but not before the band, the equipment crew, and the four "Wall of Sound" trucks had arrived in town on July 1, 1974. The concert was rescheduled for July 6, 1974, which also was eventually cancelled. Ensconced in nineteen rooms and two suites at the Pioneer Inn, the entourage took full advantage of the unscheduled time off by relaxing at the pool, drag racing the trucks through the center of town at night and being chased by the police (Ned participated), and generally winding down from the rigors of touring before leaving on the 4th of July.
07-19-74 - Grateful Dead at the Selland Arena, Fresno, CA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set. http://www.archive.org/download/gd1974-07-19.sbd.miller.32634.sbeok.flac16/gd74-07-19d2t02_vbr.mp3 The "Ned and Phil" set appears on the "Dave's Picks Volume 17: Selland Arena, Fresno, CA 7/19/74" album.
07-21-74 - Grateful Dead at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set. http://www.archive.org/download/gd1974-07-21.ecm22p.bertrando.motb0056.88979.sbeok.flac16/gd1974-07-21.motb.0056.d1t11_vbr.mp3
Ned and Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on July 21, 1974 (photo by David Gans) |
Ned's security pass for the Hollywood Bowl on July 21, 1974 |
Holiday Inn, Roanoke, Virginia |
Ramada Inn, Lanham, Maryland |
Postcard from the Ramada Inn in Lanham, Maryland, where the band stayed for the Landover concert. From the back of the card: "168 Rooms, Color TV, Seafarer Restaurant, Mainbrace Lounge, Entertainment Nightly, Close to Capital Centre, University of Maryland, & Goddard Space Center, Banquets & Meetings to 600.". This postcard is provided to Nedbase by Ned from his small collection of free motel postcards from the 1974 tour.
Ned during the soundcheck at Roosevelt Stadium on August 6, 1974 (photo courtesy of Ned Lagin) |
Ned at the August 6, 1974 soundcheck at Roosevelt Stadium (photo courtesy of Ned Lagin) |
Ned setting up at Roosevelt Stadium on August 6, 1974 (photo courtesy of Ned Lagin) |
From Ned:
"More than a few years ago I received a DVD in the mail from Steve Brown. I was quite surprised that it contained Steve's Super 8mm movies he made during the 1974 Grateful Dead tour of Europe. He only asked that I not copy or share it publicly. However, recently he gave me permission for it to be viewed on Nedbase (and on the archived Nedbase on spiritcats.com.) but not for wider distribution. Steve retains copyright and ownership. With the exception of the "The Grateful Dead Movie", and a video snippet from the September 21, 1974 Paris concert, there are no other movies or videos in which I appear from those years.
Steve's Super 8mm movies cover the 1974 Grateful Dead European tour. London's city life of the times and the Alexander Palace set up of the Wall of Sound (2:02), Munich and the Olympic Halle (4:26), band (5:37, me at 6:00 reading The Sunday Times) and family members getting on the bus and the bus ride from Munich through Luxembourg to Zurich, hanging out on the street in Geneva with Jerry, Parish, Hunter, Keith, Donna, baby Zion, Bob Matthews, and others, and then Phil, Steve, Dan Healy, and me on our drive through the high Alps and villages of Switzerland (7:25), into rural France (with castles) and on to Dijon (14:58) ending in Paris.
So wonderful we all traveled together and that Steve was wise enough to capture the adventure, and the spirit of the times, on film."
Two additional notes come from Steve:
*It was silent 8mm so I added a soundtrack from that Summer's U.S. tour -- Springfield, MA 06-30-74.
**Most of it was filmed while in an altered state, thank you Bear.
View from the Marco Polo Restaurant at the Munchen Hilton |
Jerry, Ned, Bob, Phil, and Bill at Winterland in October, 1974 |
Jerry, Ned, Bob, Bill, and Phil at Winterland in October, 1974 |
This image from the film "Long Strange Trip" is from the October 18, 1974 show at Winterland. Tired after performing a long show, Bob, Ned, and Jerry are sitting on the couch. Bill Graham walked in and tried to cajole the band to do a short song as an encore. The sequence appears on DVD disc two, from about 28:00 to 30:00.
Bob, Ned, and Jerry backstage after the October 18, 1974 concert at Winterland. |
Note from Ned: My Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano cover is off, exposing the piano's "tines", which vibrate when struck by each piano key hammer mechanism, and their associated pickups, as can be seen in photos from Winterland October 1974, and in the Paris video from 09-21-74. I almost always played it this way allowing me to play the electric piano's individual "tines" (like a "prepared piano"), and to facilitate feedback with my pre-amp monitor setup immediately behind me, and to sometimes create feedback with Jerry's guitar pickups when he played close to me (similar to what we did together with my clavichord on 02-18-71).
1975
Round Records sampler with "Sea Stones" excerpt from "Seastones" |
02-19-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Crazy Fingers" and other songs. Part of this session can be heard after the 33:00 mark on Grateful Dead Hour No. 359: http://rhino.edgeboss.net/qtime/rhino/gdead/gdhour/gdh359_podcast.mov?timestamp=1417185039&ttl=600&iprange=0.0.0.0/0&cryptosignature=9A5B71A72B17CCB35DE3A8E0FC13C1C44F222B6C
02-27-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Groove #1", "Groove #2", "A To E Flat Jam", and "Proto 18 Proper". These appear as tracks 8, 9, 11, and 12 on the remastered "Blues For Allah" album that is disc 3 of the "Beyond Description (1973–1989)" box set. These also appear as tracks 8, 9, 11, and 12 on the remastered "Blues For Allah" album.
02-28-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Distorto" ("Crazy Fingers" jam), "Stronger Than Dirt" jams, "Girl From Ipanema" jam, "They Love Each Other" jams, and "The Music Never Stopped" jams. "Distorto" appears as track 10 on the remastered "Blues For Allah" album that is disc 3 of the "Beyond Description (1973–1989)" box set. It also appears as track 10 on the remastered "Blues For Allah" album. These sessions exist in trading circles on two CDs. http://www.archive.org/details/gd1975-02-28.sbd.smith.93779.sbeok.flac16
03-05-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Crazy Fingers" and other songs. Part of this session can be heard after the 33:00 mark on Grateful Dead Hour No. 359: http://rhino.edgeboss.net/qtime/rhino/gdead/gdhour/gdh359_podcast.mov?timestamp=1417185039&ttl=600&iprange=0.0.0.0/0&cryptosignature=9A5B71A72B17CCB35DE3A8E0FC13C1C44F222B6C
03-17-75 - Scheduled Grateful Dead rehearsal canceled and became a "jam" and then the originally scheduled "Seastones" recording session at Bob Weir's studio in Mill Valley, CA. This studio session includes "Ned's Birthday Jam" and a "Seastones" session with David Crosby. Ned and the group play on the David Crosby tunes "Low Down Payment" and "Homeward Through the Haze", and jam on Ned's tunes for a second (i.e., to be released later) "Seastones" album entitled "Make a Cat Laugh": "Running Home", "No Name", "A Lost Soul", and an unnamed tune. Ned was the only keyboard player and played acoustic and electric pianos. These sessions exist in trading circles on three CDs. https://archive.org/details/gd75-03-17.sbd.vernon.10111.sbeok.shnf
03-xx-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays with the Grateful Dead on these "Blues for Allah" rehearsals. These sessions exist in trading circles on three CDs. https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16
03-xx-75 - Jerry Garcia and Friends rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on the SNACK practice which consists of "Blues For Allah" material. Merl Saunders and David Crosby play at this session. These sessions exist in trading circles on two CDs. https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16
03-21-75 - Jerry Garcia and Friends rehearsal at Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned with Merl Saunders and David Crosby and the Grateful Dead play "Stronger Than Dirt" and "Blues For Allah". https://archive.org/details/gd1975-03-23.sbd.snack.18525.flac16 and http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-03-21.sbd.backus.14288.sbeok.shnf
03-23-75 - Jerry Garcia and Friends at the SF SNACK concert, Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA - Ned plays on the complete set - the "Blues For Allah" suite and the "Johnny B. Goode" encore. https://archive.org/details/gd1975-03-23.sbd.miller.110126.flac16 The "Blues For Allah" suite is included on the "Beyond Description (1973-1989) Bonus Disc ".
Jerry, Ned, and Bob at Kezar Stadium on March 23, 1975 (photo by Peter Simon) |
Jerry, Bob, Phil, and Ned at Kezar Stadium on March 23, 1975 (photo by Peter Simon) |
Newspaper ad for the SNACK concert on March 23, 1975 listing "Ned Lagen" as one of "The Performing Artists" |
04-01-75 - The "Seastones" album (Round RX 106) is released in SQ Quad.
"Seastones" LP cover |
A part of Ned's graphic mix and recording score for "Seastones" track "I". |
A few of Ned's graphic mix and recording scores for "Seastones" LP album tracks "I", "II (Vocals)", "III A", "III B", "IV A (Vocals)", "IV B (Vocals)", "V A", "V B", "VI (Vocals)", and "VII" are posted on the "Seastones" page of his Spiritcats site.
Poster created by Round Records and sent out to FM radio stations around the country concerning "Seastones". |
04-02-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "The Walk", "Blue Noodle Soup", "Staccato" jam, "Lazy Lightning", "Crazy Fingers", "The Music Never Stopped", and "Help on the Way". https://archive.org/details/gd75-04-02.sbd.backus.14290.sbeok.shnf
04-17-75 - Grateful Dead partial rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "C.C. Rider", multiple takes of "Stronger Than Dirt", "The Music Never Stopped", and "Tico Tico". The group also performs Ned's unnamed tunes and "Running Home", "No Name", and "A Lost Soul" for the later "Seastones" (i.e., "Make A Cat Laugh") album, and songs that were also played on the 03-17-75 "Birthday Jam" session. David Crosby and John Cipollina play with the group. https://archive.org/details/gd1975-04-17.122863.flacf and http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-04-17.sbd.backus.14291.sbeok.shnf and http://archive.org/details/gd1975-04-17.122863.flacf
04-18-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays in the group rehearsal, which is then followed by a "Seastones" playing and recording session.
04-xx-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays songs with David Crosby that will be used for "Seastones", utilizing synthesizer, voice, and Echoplex.
04-29-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Swing Warm Ups" ( http://rhino.edgeboss.net/download/rhino/gdead/tapers/april23/gd_swingwarmups_4_29_75.mp3 ) and other jams but not on the "E-A-C" jam.
05-07-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned with David Crosby and the Grateful Dead play "King Solomon's Marbles". Two takes of that were played on Grateful Dead Hour No. 344 http://rhino.edgeboss.net/download/rhino/gdead/gdhour/gdh344_podcast.mp3
06-03-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on multiple takes of "Stronger Than Dirt". These sessions exist in trading circles on one CD. http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-06-05.sbd.hanno.21936.sbeok.shnf and https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16
06-03-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Crazy Fingers". A "Seastones" playing and recording session followed this. http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-06-05.sbd.hanno.21936.sbeok.shnf and https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16
06-04-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on "Franklin's Tower" and "Stronger Than Dirt". This was followed by a "Seastones" rehearsal. http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-06-05.sbd.hanno.21936.sbeok.shnf
06-05-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays on the jam > "Help On The Way" > "Slipknot". This was followed by a "Seastones" rehearsal. http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-06-05.sbd.hanno.21936.sbeok.shnf and https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16
06-06-75 - Angelico Hall, Dominican College, San Rafael, CA - Ned plays "Seastones" and other compositions with Jerry, Mickey, David Crosby, and Phil. These sessions exist in trading circles on three CDs. http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-11-28.sbd-seastones.finney.968.sbefail.shnf
Poster for the June 6, 1975 "Seastones" concert |
Jerry, Ned, David Crosby, and Phil at Dominican College on June 6, 1975 (photo © by Patti Healy) |
06-17-75 - Jerry Garcia and Friends at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - This concert was originally billed as "Jerry Garcia and Friends"; later listings refer to it as the Grateful Dead. Ned was included in the original billing and was to play the entire concert; he attended set up and sound check, but decided not to play.
"Seastones" at #19 on the Billboard "FM Action" chart (courtesy of Jesse Jarnow) |
"Seastones" at #160 on the "Billboard Top 200 Album Chart" |
09-xx-75 - "Seastones" rehearsals for the upcoming concert.
09-19-75 - Palace of Fine Arts Theater, San Francisco, CA - Ned performs "Seastones" and other compositions with Phil, Jerry, and David Crosby.
Note from Ned: The recording indicates that Jerry was present and accounted for in at least in the first part of this concert. He had to leave this concert early for a Jerry Garcia Band concert in Sacramento.
11-xx-75 - "Seastones" rehearsals for the upcoming concert.
11-15-75 - Angelico Hall, Dominican College, San Rafael, CA - Ned performs "Seastones" and other compositions with Phil. Whether Jerry, David Crosby, and Mickey played is being researched.
Poster for the November 15, 1975 "Seastones" concert |
Advertisement in the November 20, 1975 issue of the San Diego State University's "Daily Aztec" for the Ned Lagin and Phil Lesh concert at the La Paloma Theatre on November 22, 1975 |
Handbill for the concert by Ned Lagin and Phil Lesh at the La Paloma Theatre on November 22, 2975 |
"Seastones" CD album front cover |
"Seastones" CD album back cover |
These two images are from the booklet that came with the CD:
Ned Lagin (photo by Sal Busalacchi) |
"Cat Dreams" album cover |
The "Cat Dreams" album can be purchased at the Spiritcats store.
2018
"Seastones" (two CD) album cover |
"Seastones" (two CD) booklet and gatefold album cover |
The two CD "Seastones" album can be purchased at the Spiritcats store. For more about "Seastones" and Ned, go to Spiritcats.com.
Set 5 (Side 2): "Seastones" tracks 56, 58, 66, 26, and 57 (total time - 22.20).
Podcasts, Radio Shows and Interviews, Thesis, and Books
https://artmusictech.libsyn.com/podcast-340a-ned-lagin-part-one Podcast 340a: Ned Lagin (Part One)
00:00 Intro
Grateful Dead Hour no. 715
Part 1 38:22
00:00 01:29 Introduction
01:29 6:54 Interview: Ned Lagin
08:23 5:25 Ned Lagin, David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann 3/17/75 (unreleased studio recording) - "Ned's #1"
13:48 0:42 Interview: Ned Lagin
14:30 0:18 Talk
14:48 10:17 Interview: Ned Lagin
25:05 13:06 Ned Lagin & Phil Lesh 9/18/74 Dijon, France - "Seastones"
38:11 0:11 ID
Part 2 18:08
38:57 0:08 Introduction
39:05 6:57 Interview: Ned Lagin
46:02 8:26 Ned Lagin, David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann 3/17/75 (unreleased studio recording) - "Ned's #4"
54:28 0:46 Interview: Ned Lagin
55:14 1:51 Outro
http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=150706
Dr.
Backstrom's dissertation captures in detail the intertwined popular and
avant-garde new music that was created in the San Francisco Bay Area
between 1965 and 1975. Specifically, Chapter Four (pages 230-306), and
Appendices D, E, and F are about Ned and "Seastones" within the larger
perspective of the thesis. This in-depth research and analysis
constitutes the first academic and musicological study about
"Seastones".
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