Annotated Nedbase 1970 - 2025

Updated  01-04-25

 

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  both of Ned's recent albums - "Cat Dreams" and "Seastones" - are available at his Spiritcats Store.

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/   

 

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Below are listed the performances, rehearsals, and recording sessions, and albums where Ned Lagin is known to have performed with the Grateful Dead, or with Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, and others, as well as podcasts and transcripts, radio shows and interviews, thesis, and books.  These occurred in the years between 1970 to 2022.  The podcasts and other media are listed following the chronological music performance time line below.

This list is thought to be accurate but remains incomplete.

Ned has reviewed the list and added notes.  He has received and listened to recordings of many but not all relevant performances, performances which he had not heard at the time of his 2001 interviews by David Gans (11-05-70, 11-08-70, 11-21-70, 02-18-71, 04-8-71, and other concert recordings).  Some complete shows (02-18-71, 04-8-71) which he had played, and which he only identified minimally or partially in those interviews as the performances and/or only songs he thought remarkable are more fully documented here.  Where he did not remember, or was not sure about shows or other events, he qualified or asked that those listings be eliminated.

"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). 


I-)  ihor

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In the close to ten year existence of NedBase, we have had visitors from 171 countries:

 

 

 

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Georgia	Pakistan	Other

 

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1970 

 

05-04-70 to 05-08-70 - The Grateful Dead visit Ned Lagin at his dorm room at MIT in Cambridge, MA.  Ned plays piano and plays a four-hand piano jam with Ron "Pig Pen" McKernan; Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart are present.

While at MIT, Jerry, Phil, and Mickey attend a concert of 8-track electronic music composed and performed by Ned at the MIT Chapel, Cambridge, MA.

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".

 

 

Note:  The Grateful Dead played a free outdoor concert in the Kresge Plaza of MIT on 05-06-70 and at the DuPont Gymnasium of MIT on 05-07-70.  Ned has done a complete transcription of Jerry Garcia’s guitar solo on "Dancing in the Street" from the 05-06-70 free concert.

 

A detailed description by Ned of first meeting the Grateful Dead at MIT, and the days they all spent together, can be read here at the MIT May 1970 page at Spiritcats. 

 

Summer, 1970 - At the invitation of Jerry, Ned travels to California during the summer of 1970.  There are numerous jams throughout the summer, including at Mickey Hart's ranch, the Slide Ranch, and some studio rehearsals; members of the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills and Nash, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and New Riders of the Purple Sage.

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)

 

Note from Ned:  In 1970 / 1971, because of PA input limitations and/or whoever was mixing, it is hard for him to be heard.  But there was no conscious effort to be absent, and not recorded.  There was no reason not to record him if there were available mix channels, and he had no reason not to be recorded.  Until the 1974 tours when Jerry always wanted him on his side of the stage, there was no typical setup for the times he played (Pigpen's organ or his own keyboards).  If Ned didn't have monitor speakers close so he could tell how loud he was in the mix, he was very careful, playing more diminutively until he found his bearings out of respect for the spirit of the music, the band, and the show. 

Note from Ned:  He was sensitive to when earlier TC (Tom Constanten) joined the band and unfortunately affected Pigpen's role.  So Ned wanted always to leave space for Pigpen, who generously gave musical space for Ned.  And as the sixth player in the mix he held back, blending in and not standing out, not cluttering but helping to shape and energize.

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1971 

 

02-18-71 - Grateful Dead at the Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY - Ned plays for the entire concert.  He played sparsely or sat out on a very few tunes because the band seemed not in tune (with his keys), some tunes did not need his keyboard (it was by his own choice), and also he wanted to leave space for Pigpen.  In earlier discussions, Ned talked only minimally about his playing on 02-18-71, mentioning only a few of the tunes he really liked and remembered without having a set list or recording.

 

Ned plays organ and clavichord, with Uni-Vibe (Jerry loan) and Cry-Baby (Model 95-910511, Ser. No. 1959409) wah-wah (Jerry gift) pedals; Ned played through two of Jerry's spare Fender Twin Reverb amps.  These had the original tie-dyed speaker covers and were mic'd but because of feedback there was a direct box transformer line output.  Ned's clavichord was set up back behind the line of musicians’ stage amps and was surrounded (virtually buried) in baffling, equipment cases, and padding by Ramrod (and Jerry) to tame feedback problems from having to mic and amplify the very quiet clavichord.  Ned’s organ was set up stage left in front.

 

Ned's Cry-Baby wah-wah pedal (gifted to a friend) (photo by Ned Lagin)

 

 

Ned's Cry-Baby wah-wah pedal showing the serial plate (photo by Ned Lagin)

 

Especially notable is "Dark Star" > "Wharf Rat" > "Dark Star" > "Beautiful Jam" > "Dark Star" > "Me and My Uncle".  https://archive.org/details/gd1971-02-18.sbd.miller.111793.flac16  Ned did not know until the David Gans interview in 2001 that later this was called "Beautiful Jam".  The "Beautiful Jam" is included in the "So Many Roads (1965-1995)" box set on disc two, track 2.

This is the first time that the Grateful Dead performed "Bertha", "Wharf Rat", "Johnny B. Goode", and "Playing in the Band".  The afternoon of the concert, back stage during set up, Jerry told Ned he had new songs they had not played before.  First he talked through "Bertha".  Then "Wharf Rat", which he played for Ned quietly on guitar and singing, showing him the changes (chords) and vocal so he could play it that evening coming out of "Dark Star".  A little later, Phil came up to him, told him about "Wharf Rat", and talked him through it, but with no instruments.  He didn't know Jerry had already done it, but Ned was happy to have more info.  Bob asked Ned to sit back for the first part of "Playing in the Band" and the vocals until he got it.

Jerry sometimes fedback through the sounding board and brass strings of Ned's clavichord as did Ned himself; the feedback character comes from the sweetness of the brass clavichord strings and acoustic wood soundboard.

Set 1: Bertha, Truckin', It Hurts Me Too, Loser, Greatest Story Ever Told > Johnny B. Goode, Mama Tried, Hard To Handle, Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star > Me & My Uncle

Set 2: Lucky Lager Dance Time, Casey Jones, Playing in the Band, Me, Candyman, Big Boss Man, Sugar Magnolia, St. Stephen > Not Fade Away > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away > Uncle John's Band  https://archive.org/details/gd1971-02-18.sbd.miller.111793.flac16 or http://www.archive.org/details/gd1971-02-18.sbd.cantor-crouch-diebert-gmb.85478.sbeok.flac16 

The complete 02-18-71 concert has been released on CD 2 and 3 of the "American Beauty 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" three CD release.

Ned, Phil, Bill, Jerry, Bob, Mickey, and Pigpen during the second set on February 18, 1971 at the Capitol Theater (photo by Joe Sia)

02-xx-71 - Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY - Two acoustic duo sessions during the day(s) with Jerry on acoustic guitar and Ned on clavichord.  These were recorded on four-track tape by Bob Matthews and Betty Cantor and are either now lost, in the Grateful Dead archive(s), or with other Jerry Garcia tapes.  The sessions included some musical elements from the first night's performance.

04-07-71 - Grateful Dead at the Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - Ned played at this concert.  http://www.archive.org/details/gd1971-04-07.sbd.cantor.gmb.96225.flac16 and the post- drums "jam" http://www.archive.org/download/gd1971-04-07.sbd.cantor.gmb.96225.flac16/gd1971-04-07d2t05_vbr.mp3  See the 04-08-71 entry below for more details.

04-08-71 - Grateful Dead at the Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - Ned plays the entire concert.  Once again, on a few tunes he played minimally or sat out because the band seemed not in tune with his piano, some tunes did not need his keyboard (his own choice), and also he wanted to leave space for Pigpen.  Ned played a Wurlitzer electric piano, with a Cry Baby wah-wah (an earlier Jerry gift), a Uni-Vibe (Jerry's), and a Tonebender (early distortion box), through two of Jerry's spare Fender Twin Reverb amps with original tie-dyed speaker covers for stage monitors, and there was a direct box transformer line output.  Ned's piano's position changed between the first set and the second, and again during the second set (the thought was to do a sequence of acoustic tunes starting with "Cumberland Blues" but that was abandoned after the band was reminded about the amount of playing time remaining before the Boston City curfew took effect.  https://archive.org/details/gd1971-04-08.sbd.cantor.gmb.96627.flac16 or http://www.archive.org/details/gd1971-04-08.sbd.unknown.14397.shnf 

As with 02-18-71 in earlier discussions, Ned had also talked only minimally about his playing on 04-08-71 - "it was a very high night for all - on stage and off" - and mentioning only a few of the tunes he really liked and remembered playing.  Earlier discussions may have confused this night with another concert (and another "Dark Star") in Boston, 09-16-72, when he joined the band on stage for only "Dark Star" > "Brokedown Palace".

Set 1 - Truckin', Bertha, Next Time You See Me, Playing in the Band, Loser, Beat It On Down The Line, I Second That Emotion, Sugar Magnolia, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Casey Jones

During the break Jerry asks Ned what he would like to play - he asks for "Alligator", "The Eleven", and "Dark Star".  They do "Dark Star".

Set 2 - Dark Star > St. Stephen > Not Fade Away > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Jam > Not Fade Away, Sing Me Back Home, Cumberland Blues, Greatest Story Ever Told > Johnny B. Goode, Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin'. 

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 ).

Jerry teaches Ned more tunes; they jam alone at Mickey's and Jerry's.  David Crosby and Ned play together (acoustic guitar, piano) at David's house.

xx-xx-71 - During the summer, Ned plays in a number of jam sessions with Jerry, Phil, Mickey, Bob, Billy, David Crosby, John Cipollina, members of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Spencer Dryden, and Barry Melton, among others.

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 

08-21-71 - Mickey's Barn Studio, Novato, CA - This was a local radio broadcast designated and promoted as "A Day In The Country" that took place at Mickey Hart's ranch barn.  Musicians from several bands played most of the day together in varying configurations.  These included members of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, David Crosby, Barry Melton, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, many others, and Ned.

 
 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.

 

12-01-71 - Grateful Dead at the Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA - a tape of some parts of early "Seastones" was played during the break between Set 1 and 2. According to Ned:  "The tape contained some parts of "Seastones" recorded earlier that summer and in the Fall. "Applause" (a pleased collective  human crowd’s response/emotional feedback that performers desire after  performing) I processed to sound like a sea of noise(s) sound – metaphoric music. And with some electric instrument processing. I had given the tape to Garcia and did not expect it to be played through the PA. He must have given it to Ramrod or someone else at some point to play during the break. Later I did not remember the playing of that tape."  A review of the concert in the December 15, 1971 issue of The Harvard Crimson ("Living The Dead"  https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1971/12/15/living-the-dead-pto-begin-with/) describes the composition:  "The other highlight of the visit was a tape the group had played during the intermission. It featured piercing guitar feedback and cavernous waves of applause. For twenty minutes."

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1972 

  
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. 

 

Note from Ned: "We all were disappointed, but as we were riding down in the elevator from Davis’ office Jerry said to me and Phil “We’re going to find another way to do it.” (release a "Seastones" album and play live)."  

 

Ned tells much more about composing "Seastones"at the 1974 Performing "Seastones" and the Genesis of the Grateful Dead "Middle Set"  page on his website Spiritcats.

 

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

Fall, 1972 - Ned returns to Cambridge, MA.

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1973



 04-xx-73 - Ned moves to California.

04-xx-73 - Mickey's Barn Studio - first playing electric and electronic music together as a group; Ned, Jerry, Phil, and Mickey played all night.

xx-xx-73 - Ned and Phil played one night all night alone at Mickey's in quad - sometimes with their instruments playing themselves with feedback while Ned and Phil went into control room and then back to their instruments.

xx-xx-73 - Recording sessions continue on "Seastones".

xx-xx-73 - Mickey's Barn Studio - jams with Phil, Jerry, Mickey, John Cipollina, Barry Melton, and others.  Jerry and Ned play and jam together alone.  David Crosby and Ned play together (acoustic guitar, piano) at David's house.

xx-xx-73 - Recording (on 4 track, 2 track, and cassette tape) and practice sessions at Ned's apartment in Fairfax with Jerry, David Crosby, and Phil.  Some of these were recorded; they are presumed lost.

11-28-73 - Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA - Billed on the poster as "An Experiment in Quadraphonic Sound" with Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart; however, Ned performed the entire concert (although not on stage), and Phil did the live quad mix.  The booking and publicity started before all had committed to the concert - this explains why there has been some confusion as to who played and how this related to "Seastones".  Included as part of this show was the first "Seastones" live/tape performance in quad.  This was a partial one, using pre-recorded "Seastones" tracks and the live musicians' performance, and some other pre-recorded tapes by Ned.  Ned played an Arp Odyssey for most of the show seated at the mix board centered in the audience with Phil next to him mixing in quad.  https://archive.org/details/gd73-11-28.sbd-seastones.finney.968.sbefail.shnf

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1974

xx-xx-74 - Recording (4 track and 2 track tape) and practice sessions at Ned's apartment in Fairfax with Jerry, David Crosby, and Phil.  Some of these were recorded; they are presumed lost.

xx-xx-74 - Recording sessions continue on "Seastones".

04-xx-74 - Grateful Dead album "From the Mars Hotel" sessions - Ned plays an Arp Odyssey synthesizer on "Unbroken Chain".  The album was recorded at the CBS Studios in San Francisco from March 30, 1974 to April 19, 1974.  

 

Ned provides much greater detail about his instrumentation and playing on "Unbroken Chain" at the "Unbroken Chain" Notes page of his Spiritcats website and in the "From the Mars Hotel 50: Unbroken Chain" episode of the Deadcast podcast.

 

1974 Summer Tour - At most of the concerts, Ned and Phil perform together ("Ned and Phil") during the set break between Set I and II.  Some of these "Ned and Phil" sets segue into the full Grateful Dead performing.  Some sets include only Jerry.  As yet not documented in the following listings are some "Ned and Phil" sets that included Jerry, but not the full Grateful Dead.  Some "Ned and Phil" sets were partial performances of "Seastones".  Ned plays a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano, an Arp Odyssey synthesizer, and an Emu polyphonic analog synthesizer with computer control. 

Ned's band ID badge that was used for the 1974 tours

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. 

 

Ned tells much more about his performing and instruments and equipment on the 1974 Performing "Seastones" and the Genesis of the Grateful Dead "Middle Set" page of his website Spiritcats.

 
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 at the Hollywood Bowl soundcheck on July 21, 1974 (photo by Ralph Boethling)

 

 

Jerry, Ned, and Bob at the Hollywood Bowl on July 21, 1974 (photo by ultomatt)

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 

07-25-74 - Grateful Dead at the International Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  [add link]

07-27-74 - Grateful Dead at the Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  https://archive.org/download/gd1974-07-27.akgd200e.unk.sirmick.132282.sbeok.flac16/gd1974-07-27s2.mp3 

Holiday Inn, Roanoke, Virginia 

Postcard from the Holiday Inn in downtown Roanoke, Virginia.  From the back of the card:  "159 rooms, meeting rooms to 200, "In the Star City of the South"' AC.".  This postcard is provided to Nedbase by Ned from his small collection of free motel postcards from the 1974 tour. 

07-29-74 - Grateful Dead at the Capital Center, Landover, MD - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  [add link] 

 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. 

07-31-74 - Grateful Dead at Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT - Before Set III, Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  http://archive.org/download/gd1974-07-31.115499.aud-anderson.bershaw-berger.flac16/gd74-07-31d3t01.mp3 

Ned and Jerry at Dillon Stadium on July 31, 1974  (photo by Paul Kiley)

Ned at Dillon Stadium on July 31, 1974  (photo by James R. Anderson)

08-02-74 - Grateful Dead at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set during the soundcheck.  The concert was cancelled due to rain at show time and was re-scheduled for August 6, 1974.  [add link]

08-04-74 - Grateful Dead at the Civic Convention Hall Auditorium, Philadelphia, PA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  https://archive.org/download/gd1974-08-04.aud.moore.weiner.gdADT.9112.sbeok.shnf/gd74-08-04d2t03_vbr.mp3 

08-05-74 - Grateful Dead at the Civic Convention Hall Auditorium, Philadelphia, PA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  https://archive.org/download/gd74-08-05.aud.weiner.21294.sbeok.shnf/gd1974-08-05d2t04_vbr.mp3 

08-06-74 - Grateful Dead at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  https://archive.org/download/gd74-08-06.merin.weiner.gdADT.5914.sbefail.shnf/gd74-08-06d2t05_vbr.mp3 

 

These photos from the soundcheck on August 6, 1974 at Roosevelt Stadium show Ned's instruments and equipment.  They include a Datel Systems System 256 DAS (Data Acquisition System), an Interdata 7/16 computer, the Emu synthesizer and patch panel, an Arp Odessey, and Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano.

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)

 

September 1974 Europe Tour

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.

I met Steve when he went to work for the newly formed Grateful Dead Records and Round Records in 1973. Steve had several roles including album recording sessions, production and promotion, live concert on-site promotion, and working on the "Mars Hotel" LP and "The Grateful Dead Movie". I remember Steve as a very nice, sincere, knowledgeable person who really cared about the band and the music, and truly helped make good things happen.

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.

The 18 minute long "Europe 1974 Grateful Dead Tour" movie by Steve Brown can viewed by going to 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 movie and to other music. 

09-10-74 - Grateful Dead at the Alexandra Palace, London, England - Ned plays on "Ned and Phil" set.  [add link] 

09-11-74 - Grateful Dead at the Alexandra Palace, London, England - During Set II, Ned plays on "Ned and Phil" > "Space" > jam > "Space" > "Eyes of the World" > "Stronger Than Dirt" > "Space" > "Wharf Rat".  Ned plays a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano and trades intro leads with Jerry.  Jerry was very happy, laughing at the end of the sequence, and gave Ned his guitar pick.  https://archive.org/details/gd1974-09-11.sbd.unknown.4647.shnf 

09-14-74 - Grateful Dead at the Olympiahalle, Muenchen, West Germany - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  http://www.archive.org/download/gd1974-09-14.28353.sbeok.flac16/gd74-09-14d1t01_vbr.mp3  

View from the Marco Polo Restaurant at the Munchen Hilton 

Guest brochure from the Munich Hilton, showing the view from the Marco Polo Restaurant.  Shown is one panel of the five panels which fold out to show the entire 360-degree panorama skyline.  This brochure is provided to Nedbase by Ned from his small collection of free motel postcards and brochures from the 1974 tour.

09-18-74 - Grateful Dead at the Parc des Expositions, Dijon, France - At his afternoon soundcheck, Ned was joined by Phil, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, and Jerry.  http://spiritcats.com/gd_091874_nlagin_cro2_n90-nr_dn1_soundcheck.mp3  Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set.  http://www.archive.org/download/gd1974-09-18.sbd.miller.20675.shnf/gd74-09-18d2t02_vbr.mp3  The "Ned and Phil" set appears on disc 2, track 2 of the ninth show ("Parc des Expositions, Dijon, France - September 18, 1974") on the  "30 Trips Around The Sun:  The Definitive Story (1965-1995)" box set. 

09-20-74 - Grateful Dead at the Palais des Sports, Paris, France - Ned was scheduled to play the "Ned and Phil" set but arrived at the hall too late to play. 

09-21-74 - Grateful Dead at the Palais des Sports, Paris, France - Ned plays on "Ned and Phil" > "Playing in the Band" > "Drums" > "Playing in the Band"  https://archive.org/details/gd1974-09-21.131530.sbd.miller.flac16 .  Jerry asks Ned to stay and finish the set but he left the stage.  There is a black and white video of this concert showing parts of the "Ned and Phil" set and "Playing in the Band" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-G_mOM5LbQ 

During the Fall of 1974, three television advertisements for the Grateful Dead album "From the Mars Hotel" were broadcast.  These videos include excerpts from the song "Unbroken Chain", where Ned plays synthesizers.  A link to one of these 30 second videos is provided in the "From the Mars Hotel 50: Pride of Cucamonga"  episode of the Deadcast podcast.  All three ads can be seen in the DVD release of "The Grateful Dead Movie".

The October 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 1974 Grateful Dead concerts at Winterland were filmed for "The Grateful Dead Movie".  Ned appears in the DVD release of "The Grateful Dead Movie" and in one of the photos in the booklet.  There is additional footage of Ned playing in the Grateful Dead film archives. 

Jerry, Ned, Bob, Phil, and Bill at Winterland in October, 1974

Jerry, Ned, Bob, Bill, and Phil at Winterland in October, 1974

10-16-74 - Grateful Dead at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - During Set II, Ned plays on  "Ned and Phil" > "Space" jam > "Wharf Rat" > "Space" > "Eyes of the World" (on which Ned plays the Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano).  https://archive.org/details/gd1974-10-16.fob.sonyecm250.falenga.motb-0131.107036.flac16 

10-17-74 - Grateful Dead at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - Ned plays on the "Ned and Phil" set that starts Set II.  http://ia600502.us.archive.org/4/items/gd1974-10-17.sbd.smith.gems.99031.flac16/gd1974.10.17.GEMS.d2t04_vbr.mp3 

10-18-74 - Grateful Dead at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - Ned plays the Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano during the first half of Set II:  "Ned and Phil" > jam > "Dark Star" > "Morning Dew".  https://archive.org/details/gd1974-10-18.111459.gems.BOSWELL-SMITH.flac24  The video of "Dark Star" can be seen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=AlWqitKLnfs  The video of "Morning Dew" can be seen here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpKQOvlDr-s   

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.

10-19-74 - Grateful Dead at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - Ned plays on "Ned and Phil" set.  He plays alone solo synthesizer and rhythm synth for the first few minutes.  http://archive.org/download/gd1974-10-19.sbd.boswell-smith.116341.flac24/gd1974-10-19s2t01.mp3 

10-20-74 - Grateful Dead at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA - Ned plays on "Ned and Phil" set.  During Set II, Ned plays the Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano on "Playing in the Band" > "Drums" > "Not Fade Away" > "Drums" > "The Other One" > "Wharf Rat" > "Playing in the Band".  For Set III, Ned's electric piano is left on stage right and he plays only some tunes - the archive of "The Grateful Dead Movie" film footage can verify which ones.  Ned recalls playing on "Eyes of the World" > (partially on "Slipknot" > "Stella Blue", and "Sugar Magnolia"), and Encores 1 and 2:  "Johnny B. Goode" > Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo" > "And We Bid You Goodnight".  https://archive.org/details/gd1974-10-20.sbd.smith-lee.GEMS.97193.flac16  

Ned, Bob, Jerry, and Phil at Winterland on October 20, 1974 (photo by Bill Magee)

Ned, Phil, Bob, and Jerry at Winterland on October 20, 1974 (photo by Bill Magee)



Jerry, Ned, Phil, and Bob at Winterland on October 20, 1974 (photo by Bill Magee)

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). 

xx-xx-74 - Recording and work sessions for "Seastones" continued.

===================================================== 

1975

For 1975, only the Grateful Dead rehearsals that exist on recordings are listed.  Other studio sessions that are undocumented or were not recorded are not listed.  Ned's studio rehearsals and jamming alone with Jerry, David Crosby, and Phil are not listed and the recordings were either non-existent or are now lost.  Ned was present for all the Grateful Dead "Blues For Allah" sessions until 06-17-75.

02-xx-75 - Round Records releases three samplers, one of which has "Sea Stones", the basic structure of this segment from "Seastones". 

Round Records sampler with "Sea Stones" excerpt from "Seastones"

02-xx-75 to 06-xx-75 - Ned records other "Seastones" compositions, and "Seastones" electronic jams at Bob Weir's studio in Mill Valley, CA.  Some of these were recorded but are now presumed lost.  Recording (on 4 track and 2 track tape) and practice sessions were held at Ned's apartment in Fairfax with Jerry, David Crosby, and Phil.  Some of these were recorded; they are presumed lost.

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" 

03-26-75 - Grateful Dead rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - At this rehearsal for "Blues For Allah", Ned plays on "Lazy Lightning", "Slipknot", and "Blues For Allah", and on "Proto 18 Proper" ( http://rhino.edgeboss.net/download/rhino/gdead/tapers/april23/gd_proto_18_3_26_75.mp3 ).  http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-03-26.sbd.backus.14289.sbeok.shnf 

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-xx-75 - rehearsal at the Bob Weir studio in Mill Valley, CA - Ned plays with Jerry, mostly duos.  Ned plays the Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano.  https://archive.org/details/gd1975-06-07.bluesruffs.sbd.smith.94427.sbeok.flac16 

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

11-22-75 - La Paloma Theatre, 471 First Street, Encinitas, CA - Ned and Phil perform "Seastones" and other compositions.  They perform early and late shows.  This was the last public performance by Ned.  The early show exists in trading circles on one CD.  https://archive.org/details/paf1975-11-22.early.124127.aud.flac16 

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 

 

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1991

01-22-91 - The "Seastones" album (Rykodisc RCD 40193) is released in stereo on one CD.  

"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)

Wild Sea Stones (photo by Ned Lagin)

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2017

 

03-15-17 - The "Cat Dreams" album is released by Ned on one CD.  The detailed album notes are on the "Cat Dreams" page of Ned's Spiritcats web site

"Cat Dreams" album cover 

The "Cat Dreams" album can be purchased at the Spiritcats store.

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2018

03-18-18 - The "Seastones" album is released by Ned on two CDs.  The detailed album notes are on the "Seastones" page of Ned's Spiritcats web site.  

"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.

 

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2020

11-13-20 - The "Seastones: Set 4 and Set 5" album (Important IMPREC479LP) is released by Important Records in an audiophile limited edition of 2000 copies available from record stores.  The LP was pressed on translucent blue vinyl.  The album contains "Set 4" and "Set 5", composed by Ned for the album:

 

Set 4  (Side 1):  "Seastones" tracks 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 13, 63, 67, 70, 79, 81, 59, and 54  (total time - 25:39)

Set 5  (Side 2):  "Seastones" tracks 56, 58, 66, 26, and 57  (total time - 22.20). 

 

 

The tracks for "Set 4" and "Set 5" are also contained on the two CD 2018 "Seastones" edition which is available from Ned at the Spiritcats.com store.

 

The complete "Seastones" 16 page booklet can be found on the "Seastones" page of Ned's Spiritcats web site.  

"Seastones:  Set 4 and Set 5" LP front cover

 

"Seastones:  Set 4 and Set 5" translucent blue vinyl LP

 

 

For more about "Seastones" and Ned, go to Spiritcats.com.

 

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Podcasts, Radio Shows and Interviews, Thesis, and Books

 

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Podcasts:

 

 

"Nedcast", an in depth and extensive Deadcast interview with Ned, in which he talks about composing "Seastones", playing live, his album "Cat Dreams", the Grateful Dead, and more, is up on:  https://www.dead.net/deadcast/bonus-nedcast-ned-lagin  "Deadcast BONUS: The Nedcast With Ned Lagin"; also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Ox9Z-mlSQ  "The Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: Season 2 BONUS: The Nedcast | American Beauty 50".  "Nedcast" was not Ned's idea for a title of this podcast.

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Ned also appears in the following Deadcast podcast episodes:

 

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/american-beauty-episode-5-candyman  "Deadcast - American Beauty, Episode 5: Candyman"; also at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TCklcDXzSI  "The Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: Season 2 - Episode 5: Candyman | American Beauty 50"

 

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/american-beauty-episode-6-ripple  "Deadcast - American Beauty, Episode 6: Ripple"; also at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQQPf-bdD5E  "The Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: Season 2 - Episode 6: Ripple | American Beauty 50"  

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/long-strange-tech-part-1  "Long Strange Tech, Part 1" (season 6, episode 9); also at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adwn9z8a3U4  "Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: Long Strange Tech, Part 1 (S06 E09)".  The transcript of this episode:  https://www.dead.net/long-strange-tech-part-1  "Long Strange Tech, Part 1".

 

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/mars-hotel-50-unbroken-chain  "From the Mars Hotel 50: Unbroken Chain" (season 9, episode 3); also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YROWk2M5V6Q  "Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: From the Mars Hotel 50: Unbroken Chain (S09 E03)".  The transcript of this episode:  https://www.dead.net/mars-hotel-50-unbroken-chain  "From the Mars Hotel 50: Unbroken Chain".

 

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/mars-hotel-50-pride-cucamonga  "From the Mars Hotel 50: Pride of Cucamonga" (season 9, episode 6); also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDBEPF-mxkw  "Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: From the Mars Hotel 50: Pride of Cucamonga (S09 E06)"

https://www.dead.net/deadcast/mars-hotel-50-money-money   "From the Mars Hotel 50: Money Money" (season 9, episode 7); also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33FscqJ_bOs  

  "Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast: From the Mars Hotel 50: Money Money (S09 E07)"

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A two part podcast (with transcriptions) in which Ned talks with Darwin Grosse about art and technology, his composition "Seastones", and more, is up on:

https://artmusictech.libsyn.com/podcast-340a-ned-lagin-part-one   Podcast 340a: Ned Lagin (Part One)

 

http://www.darwingrosse.com/AMT/transcript-0340a.html  Transcription: 0340 - Ned Lagin

https://artmusictech.libsyn.com/podcast-341-ned-lagin-part-ii    Podcast 341: Ned Lagin (Part II)

 

http://www.darwingrosse.com/AMT/transcript-0341.html   Transcription: 0341 - Ned Lagin

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Radio Shows and Interviews:

 

  

Ned, his music, and short interviews were the feature of the November 3, 2022 episode of  "Bring Out Your Dead" on WXNA: 

 

https://www.wxnafm.org/broadcasts/27806  November 3, 2022 - Bring Out Your Dead

00:00  Intro

03:00  "Candyman" by Grateful Dead on "American Beauty" (Rhino/Warner Records)

09:00  "Unbroken Chain" by Grateful Dead on "From the Mars Hotel" (Grateful Dead/Rhino)

19:00  "II" by Ned Lagin, Phil Lesh on "Seastones" (Round)

23:00  Interview w/ Darwin Grosse by Ned Lagin on Podcast 341: Ned Lagin (Part II) (n/a)

25:00  "Seastones (excerpt)" by Grateful Dead on Grateful Dead Live at Alexandra Palace on 1974-09-11 (self released)

29:00  "Seastones (excerpt)" by Grateful Dead on Grateful Dead Live at Alexandra Palace on 1974-09-11 (self released)

36:00  "Low Down Payment" by Jerry Garcia and Friends (David Crosby, Ned Lagin, and Merl Saunders) on Live at Ace’s (SNACK Rehearsal) on 1975-03-17 (self released)

47:00  "Playing in the Band" by Grateful Dead on Live at Palais Des Sports on 1974-09-21 (self released)

59:59  end

https://wxna.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/deadwxna/deadwxna_2022-11-03_20-00-00.mp3

 

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An interview with Ned by David Gans was broadcast during the KPFA Grateful Dead Marathon on February 3, 2001.  The transcript is at http://www.gdhour.com/transcripts/lagin.010203.html

Ned's appearance on February 3, 2001 during the KPFA Grateful Dead Marathon and his  interview with David Gans was re-broadcast on the "Grateful Dead Hour No. 715" during the week of June 3, 2002:

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

https://sos2208.akamaized.net/download/rhino/gdead/gdhour/gdh715_podcast.mp3

 

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Ph. D. Thesis:

 

  

"The Grateful Dead and Their World:  Popular Music and the Avant-Garde in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1965-75", a thesis dissertation by Dr. Melvin Backstrom, Ph.D. at McGill University, was completed and approved in December 2017.  The 401 page PDF is available online:

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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Books:

 

  

An extensive interview with Ned Lagin by David Gans from February and August, 2001 appears in the "Ned Lagin" chapter of the book "Conversations With The Dead" (Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA, 2002). 

 

--------- 

 

"This Is All a Dream We Dreamed" by Blair Jackson and David Gans (Flatiron Books, New York, 2015) includes an interview with Ned in "Coda No. 3 - Ned Lagin: Electronic Whiz Kid".  Excerpts of interviews with Ned also appear in "Chapter 4 - Psychedelic Americana" and "Chapter 6 - Independence". 

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