[Candyman1984]

Aren't there some live versions of this song from the early/mid seventies before the hiatus? Setlist.com says that the fist live performance was from 3-19-1995, but i don't think that is right. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would check on deadbase, but i am to lazy to learn how to use it-it is a bit confusing. thanks
-James

[tigerstrat]

3/19/95 is correct.

For decades, Unbroken was the most famous and coveted of the Dead's "never performed live" songs. When they kicked it down in the final 4 mos of their career, it was HUGE surprise to Deadheads everywhere. IMHO, the only really well-performed one of these is the Shoreline version.

Other than the Mars Hotel version (outtakes?), for a long time there circulated a "tape filler" recording of Phil performing it solo acoustic, while calling out the changes, apparently instructing bandmates how to play it, presumably during the MH sessions in 1974. At the end, Bob(?) is heard asking him to repeat the song.

[pappypgh]

3-19-95 was the first live performance by Grateful Dead of "Unbroken Chain". Philadelphia Spectrum. DeadBase is accurate, as is the Deadlist Project (not as muchso as DeadBase).

[Tennessee Jedi]

Just started listening to Mars Hotel again.
Really getting into it.
Unbroken Chain is such a Masterpiece.

[pappypgh]

It really is, isn't it Jedi?

That song sounds almost as good as the Penguins look (OOPS! wrong thread!!!)

I love that whole album...I won't even skip through Money, Money when it comes up!

[st stephen]

i have seen footage of that performance and phils look on his face is just priceless. Also the roar of the crowd when they realize whats going on, just sends chills up and down my body.

[Tennessee Jedi]

Hah!
Philly 1st "Chain" !
Hah !
Pittsburgh zip !
Hah!

[pappypgh]

Okay, I GOTTA tell this story on this thread...

SO, I used to play in a band called Double Dose in West Chester, PA (just outside of Philly). It was March 19th, 1995 and we were in rehearsals for a live CD we were going to be making. Our bassist says, "Sorry dudes, can't rehearse - I'm going to the show tonight." We were all about done going to see the boys at this point - maybe once in a while we'd catch 'em. But mostly, Garcia wasn't putting out high quality stuff as often, Vince sucked, too many Corrinnas, blahblahblah....
So we're like, "Yo, dude - no way! We need to rehearse!" Of course, he's like, "F-U, I'm goin'!" SO, finally we decide that he'll rehearse for an hour and miss most of the first set (what a bunch of dickheads we were! At that point I think we were just TRYING to be assholes!!).
SO, he walks into the Spectrum just as the lights turn on and everyone is screaming. He looks at the first 'Head he sees and says, "What'd I miss?"
He came back that night WAY pissed off, needless to say...
He's never let us forget it, either!!!

[pappypgh]

Hah!
Philly 1st "Chain" !
Hah !
Pittsburgh zip !
Hah!

Oh yeah?? Well WE got "Gentlemen Start Your Engines"!!!

Possibly the worst Brent tune ever...and I'm a HUGE Brent fan.

[mttourpro]

I was there when it was broken out in Phil-a -delphia.
I've seen a few major breakouts, but none as big as that one. The weird thing too (for me) is that the band I was playing in at the time (Left for Dead) was learning it and all set to play it about a week after they broke it out.

TS, have you heard the Memphis Pyramid Unbroken. Fairly good---definitely better than Philly. NC is also pretty good. They were starting to really jam it towards the end of Summer 95 and I think it would have gotten much better from there.

[st stephen]

it would have been great to hear them really develop the song early on...could you imagine an unbroken chain in 81 or something.

[tigerstrat]

Hah!
Philly 1st "Chain" !
Hah !
Pittsburgh zip !
Hah!

Oh yeah?? Well WE got "Gentlemen Start Your Engines"!!!

Possibly the worst Brent tune ever...and I'm a HUGE Brent fan.

I must take issue with that remark, however I don't want to jack the thread.

BTW on 6/26/88 I missed that GSYE, because having no ticket, during the first set I was casually wandering around the Civic Ctr, found a dangling garden hose hanging from the smoking terrace... climbed up it just for a goof and UNINTENTIONALLY snuck into the show! It turned out to be setbreak, and the Touch of Gray set II opener was perfect for my situation.

[pappypgh]

TS...really?? You dug that tune?? I thought it was kinda lame for ol' Brent. I REALLY love "Easy 2 Love You", "Far From Me", "Blow Away", "Don't Need Love", "Never Trust A Woman" and about 99.9% of the rest of his tunes. But GSYE, I personally thought, was kinda whimpy for songwriting effort for Brent.
Okay, thread officially jacked by the person who started it.

[tigerstrat]

TS...really?? You dug that tune?? I thought it was kinda lame for ol' Brent. I REALLY love "Easy 2 Love You", "Far From Me", "Blow Away", "Don't Need Love", "Never Trust A Woman" and about 99.9% of the rest of his tunes. But GSYE, I personally thought, was kinda whimpy for songwriting effort for Brent.
Okay, thread officially jacked by the person who started it.

I like it on Brent's unreleased solo album, and also on his solo sets from 4/26/88 and 7/10/88. It's been ages since I heard the GD take on it.

What do you think of "Love Doesn't Have To Be Pretty"?

It seems that we got an instinct, Baby,
No matter who plunges first.
You can look across a crowded room And pick out the one
Who will hurt you the worst.
So fasten your seat belt, Baby, This ride could be rough.
You know that love is gonna make me Make you cry,
Until we both say, "Uncle! We've had enough."

Chorus:
Love doesn't have to be pretty.
Love doesn't have to be fun.
Love doesn't have to be flowers and lace,
It can get in your face
Like a loaded gun.
It likes to tangle up your dreams.
It likes to do you 'till you're done.
Love doesn't have to be pretty.
Love doesn't have to be fun.

I got this theory, Baby
That when the Lord made the world,
He cut us all in pieces And mixed us up Into a crazy swirl.
We want to find the other half of ourselves.
We try on everyone for fit.
When you're sifting haystacks for needles
It's for sure you're gonna get pricked.

Bridge:
You can let it play your life. It will franchise your blues.
It will set you up with one loving wife
And then five or six more 'fore it really gets through with you.

It's like we're all on a ladder, Baby.
Everyone that I know Is in love with the one who's above
And couldn't care less'Bout the one who's below.
It's a long climb to heaven this way. We try not to look down.
We know if we did What we'd see down below
Is a big pile of hearts All over the ground.

[bodiddley]

I saw the version of "Unbroken" at the last show in Chicago and it was absolutley pathetic. I really don't think the GD ever did it justice live,(Jerry was just too far gone by then). Phil and friends had a live version they did a few years back (wish I could remember the date), and it was pretty damn good.