The Acid Test Reels 1966

~ Release by Grateful Dead (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

Grateful Dead & Merry Pranksters
The Acid Test Reels
1965-1967

A chronological compilation of the Acid Test recordings listed in
The Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium Volume One.

DISC ONE: Fillmore Acid Test/Sound City Acid Test

The Fillmore Acid Test
Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
January 8, 1966
1. Stage Chaos/More Power Rap
2. King Bee
3. I'm A Hog For You Baby
4. Caution: Do Not Step On Tracks >
5. Death Don't Have No Mercy
6. Star Spangled Banner / closing remarks

The Sound City Acid Test
363 6th Street, San Francisco, CA
January 29, 1966
7. Ken Kesey interviewed by Frank Fey
8. Ken Babbs and harmonica
9. Take Two: Ken Kesey
10. Bull
11. Peggy The Pistol
12. One-way Ticket
13. Bells And Fairies
14. Levitation
15. Trip X
16. The End

7-16 The Acid Test: A Sound City Production

DISC TWO: Pico Acid Test /S.F. State U Acid Test (pt.1)

The Pico Acid Test
Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA
March 12, 1966
1. Viola Lee Blues
2. You See A Broken Heart
3. In The Midnight Hour

The San Francisco State Acid Test
Whatever It Is Festival
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Stereo Control Room Master (rec. 4:00AM - 6:00AM)
October 2, 1966
4. The Head Has Become Fat Rap
5. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies
6. A Tarnished Galahad
7. Get It Off The Ground Rap >
8. It's Good To Be God Rap >
9. Nirvana Army Rap >
10. The Butcher Is Back
11. Acid Test Graduation Announcement
12. Send Me To The Moon >Closing Rap

Credits on 10/2/66:
Voices: Ken Kesey and Hugh Romney
Guitar: Ken Kesey
Violin: Dale Kesey
Organ: Jerry Garcia
Engineering: Steve Newman, Ken Kesey, Mountain Girl

DISC THREE: S.F. State U Acid Test (pt. 2)/Graduation Jam

The San Francisco State Acid Test
Whatever It Is Festival
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
October 2, 1966
1. Ken Kesey's dialogue (isolated remix)

Merry Prankster Sound Collage Sequences
October 2, 1966
2. Prankster Music/Sound Collage #1(sequence 1)
3. Kesey Rap > Prankster Music/Sound Collage #2 (sequence 2)
4. Prankster Sound Collage #3 > Prankster Raga(sequence 3)
Prankster Recordings broadcast over the P.A.

End of Whatever It Is Festival
October 2, 1966
5. Closing Jam
6. Prankster Electronics

Acid Test Graduation Jam
Winterland, San Francisco, CA
October 31, 1966
7. Jam Session (musicians unknown)
from The World Of Acid film soundtrack

Disc Four: Related Recordings

Neal Cassady & The Warlocks 1965
1. Speed Limit
studio recording/Prankster production tape circa late 1965
Straight Theater, Haight Street, San Francisco, CA July 23, 1967
2. Neal Cassady Raps (backed by The Dead)
recording released as a flexi-disc in the 1st printing of The Dead Book

Acid Tests Production Reel
3. Jerry Garcia commentary with Acid Test audio
710 Haight Street House, San Francisco, CA summer 1967
4. - 6. Jerry Garcia
one hour interview about music, drugs, politics and social changes circa
1967

Disc Five: Supplementary CD#1 74:04
The Watts Acid Test February 12, 1966
Youth Opportunities Center, Compton, CA

01. Who Cares Rap (Pigpen, Weir, etc.) [6:08}

The Pico Acid Test March 12, 1966 (EXPANDED VERSION)
Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA

02. Viola Lee Blues 11:54
03. One Kind Favor 4:19
04. I Know You Rider 2:41
05. You See A Broken Heart 3:18
06. It's A Sin 4:47
07. Beat It On Down The Line 4:06
08. Heads Up 6:17
09. Next Time You See Me 5:04
10. unknown blues instrumental8:15 - might be Death Don?t also (Tony Middleton)???
11. Death Don't Have No Mercy 6:03
12. Midnight Hour 11:06
Notes:
The 8th song, previously notated as "unknown instrumental" on Deadlists, is a cover of Freddy King's "Heads Up." The 9th tune, previously listed as "The Same Thing (instrumental)," is definitely NOT that song. Although it is a
standard blues and sounds similar at the beginning, closer listening makes it pretty obvious that it is an entirely different song, title unknown. The Viola Lee Blues on this expanded version is a different version than on the
previous three song version of Pico Acid Test. This is an ongoing mystery, although it should be said that both versions are worth having.

**
Disc Six: 41:56
Supplementary CD#2 - San Francisco State Acid Test (alternate version)
"Whatever It Is" Festival October 2, 1966
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Stereo Control Room Master (rec. 4:00AM - 6:00AM)
Source(s) unknown, this has different lineage, and some different edits to the "intact" version. Specifically some contemorary (Tomorrow show '81?) interviews are spliced in, and the sound collages towards the end are presented in a different sequence.

01. Jerry Garcia intro 0:20
02. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies 3:41
03. Get It Off The Ground Rap 9:32
04. It's Good To Be God Rap 2:40
05. Nirvana Army Rap 0:52
06. The Butcher Is Back 3:14
07. Acid Test Graduation Announcement 1:29
08. Send Me To The Moon 1:22
09. Jerry Garcia interview 0:40
10. Sound Collage 3:43
11. Ken Kesey Interview 0:22
12. Sound Collage #2 9:58
13. Jerry Garcia Interview 0:19
14. Music / Sound Collage #1 2:14
15. Ken Kesey Interview 0:15
16. Sound Collage 1:15

compilation and package by Alan Bershaw
shn discs by TaW
Note 1: I split the 1h Jerry interview on disc 4 into 3 smaller pieces (a-c).
Note 2: The shn-tracks for audio disc 4 are split between shn-discs 2 and 3!

+ 2 bonus disks not included in the original compilation


Grateful Dead & Merry Pranksters
The Acid Test Reels
1965-1967

A chronological compilation of the Acid Test recordings listed in
The Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium Volume One.

DISC ONE: Fillmore Acid Test/Sound City Acid Test

The Fillmore Acid Test
Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
January 8, 1966
1. Stage Chaos/More Power Rap
2. King Bee
3. I'm A Hog For You Baby
4. Caution: Do Not Step On Tracks >
5. Death Don't Have No Mercy
6. Star Spangled Banner / closing remarks

The Sound City Acid Test
363 6th Street, San Francisco, CA
January 29, 1966
7. Ken Kesey interviewed by Frank Fey
8. Ken Babbs and harmonica
9. Take Two: Ken Kesey
10. Bull
11. Peggy The Pistol
12. One-way Ticket
13. Bells And Fairies
14. Levitation
15. Trip X
16. The End

7-16 The Acid Test: A Sound City Production

DISC TWO: Pico Acid Test /S.F. State U Acid Test (pt.1)

The Pico Acid Test
Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA
March 12, 1966
1. Viola Lee Blues
2. You See A Broken Heart
3. In The Midnight Hour

The San Francisco State Acid Test
Whatever It Is Festival
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Stereo Control Room Master (rec. 4:00AM - 6:00AM)
October 2, 1966
4. The Head Has Become Fat Rap
5. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies
6. A Tarnished Galahad
7. Get It Off The Ground Rap >
8. It's Good To Be God Rap >
9. Nirvana Army Rap >
10. The Butcher Is Back
11. Acid Test Graduation Announcement
12. Send Me To The Moon >Closing Rap

Credits on 10/2/66:
Voices: Ken Kesey and Hugh Romney
Guitar: Ken Kesey
Violin: Dale Kesey
Organ: Jerry Garcia
Engineering: Steve Newman, Ken Kesey, Mountain Girl

DISC THREE: S.F. State U Acid Test (pt. 2)/Graduation Jam

The San Francisco State Acid Test
Whatever It Is Festival
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
October 2, 1966
1. Ken Kesey's dialogue (isolated remix)

Merry Prankster Sound Collage Sequences
October 2, 1966
2. Prankster Music/Sound Collage #1(sequence 1)
3. Kesey Rap > Prankster Music/Sound Collage #2 (sequence 2)
4. Prankster Sound Collage #3 > Prankster Raga(sequence 3)
Prankster Recordings broadcast over the P.A.

End of Whatever It Is Festival
October 2, 1966
5. Closing Jam
6. Prankster Electronics

Acid Test Graduation Jam
Winterland, San Francisco, CA
October 31, 1966
7. Jam Session (musicians unknown)
from The World Of Acid film soundtrack

Disc Four: Related Recordings

Neal Cassady & The Warlocks 1965
1. Speed Limit
studio recording/Prankster production tape circa late 1965
Straight Theater, Haight Street, San Francisco, CA July 23, 1967
2. Neal Cassady Raps (backed by The Dead)
recording released as a flexi-disc in the 1st printing of The Dead Book

Acid Tests Production Reel
3. Jerry Garcia commentary with Acid Test audio
710 Haight Street House, San Francisco, CA summer 1967
4. - 6. Jerry Garcia
one hour interview about music, drugs, politics and social changes circa
1967

Disc Five: Supplementary CD#1 74:04
The Watts Acid Test February 12, 1966
Youth Opportunities Center, Compton, CA

01. Who Cares Rap (Pigpen, Weir, etc.) [6:08}

The Pico Acid Test March 12, 1966 (EXPANDED VERSION)
Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA

02. Viola Lee Blues 11:54
03. One Kind Favor 4:19
04. I Know You Rider 2:41
05. You See A Broken Heart 3:18
06. It's A Sin 4:47
07. Beat It On Down The Line 4:06
08. Heads Up 6:17
09. Next Time You See Me 5:04
10. unknown blues instrumental8:15 - might be Death Don?t also (Tony Middleton)???
11. Death Don't Have No Mercy 6:03
12. Midnight Hour 11:06
Notes:
The 8th song, previously notated as "unknown instrumental" on Deadlists, is a cover of Freddy King's "Heads Up." The 9th tune, previously listed as "The Same Thing (instrumental)," is definitely NOT that song. Although it is a
standard blues and sounds similar at the beginning, closer listening makes it pretty obvious that it is an entirely different song, title unknown. The Viola Lee Blues on this expanded version is a different version than on the
previous three song version of Pico Acid Test. This is an ongoing mystery, although it should be said that both versions are worth having.

**
Disc Six: 41:56
Supplementary CD#2 - San Francisco State Acid Test (alternate version)
"Whatever It Is" Festival October 2, 1966
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Stereo Control Room Master (rec. 4:00AM - 6:00AM)
Source(s) unknown, this has different lineage, and some different edits to the "intact" version. Specifically some contemorary (Tomorrow show '81?) interviews are spliced in, and the sound collages towards the end are presented in a different sequence.

01. Jerry Garcia intro 0:20
02. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies 3:41
03. Get It Off The Ground Rap 9:32
04. It's Good To Be God Rap 2:40
05. Nirvana Army Rap 0:52
06. The Butcher Is Back 3:14
07. Acid Test Graduation Announcement 1:29
08. Send Me To The Moon 1:22
09. Jerry Garcia interview 0:40
10. Sound Collage 3:43
11. Ken Kesey Interview 0:22
12. Sound Collage #2 9:58
13. Jerry Garcia Interview 0:19
14. Music / Sound Collage #1 2:14
15. Ken Kesey Interview 0:15
16. Sound Collage 1:15

compilation and package by Alan Bershaw
shn discs by TaW
Note 1: I split the 1h Jerry interview on disc 4 into 3 smaller pieces (a-c).
Note 2: The shn-tracks for audio disc 4 are split between shn-discs 2 and 3!

+ 2 bonus disks not included in the original compilation

Annotation last modified on 2020-02-21 18:00 UTC.

Tracklist

| |
1CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Stage Chaos More Power Rap
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
?:??
2King Bee
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
live cover recording of:
I’m a King Bee (on 1966-01-08)
lyricist and composer:
James H. Moore (aka Slim Harpo)
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. and Embassy Music Corporation
?:??
3I’m a Hog for You Baby
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
live cover recording of:
I’m a Hog for You (on 1966-01-08)
writer:
Leiber & Stoller (songwriting team), Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
publisher:
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. and Sony/ATV Songs LLC
?:??
4Caution Do Not Step on the Tracks
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
live recording of:
Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) (on 1966-01-08)
writer:
Jerry Garcia (guitarist / vocalist in Grateful Dead), Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Bob Weir
publisher:
Ice Nine Publishing Company, Inc.
?:??
5Death Don’t Have No Mercy
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
live cover recording of:
Death Don’t Have No Mercy (on 1966-01-08)
lyricist and composer:
Reverend Gary Davis
publisher:
Chandos Music Company, Hillgreen Music and Warner/Chappell Music (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
?:??
6Star Spangled Banner Closing Remarks
recorded at:
The Fillmore Auditorium (pre-1968) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-08)
?:??
7Ken Kesey Interviewed by Frank Fey
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
8Ken Babbs and Harmonica
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
9Take Two Ken Kesey
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
10Bull
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
11Peggy the Pistol
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
12One Way Ticket
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
13Bells and Fairies
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
14Levitation
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
15Trip X
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
16The End
recorded at:
363 6th Street (Sound City Acid Test) in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1966-01-29)
?:??
2CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Viola Lee Blues
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Viola Lee Blues (on 1966-03-12)
writer:
Noah Lewis
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI)), Peer International Corporation (BMI), Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic) and Southern Music Publishing Company Limited
?:??
2You See a Broken Heart
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live recording of:
You See a Broken Heart (on 1966-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan
?:??
3In the Midnight Hour?:??
4The Head Has Become Fat Rap?:??
5A Mexican Story 25 Bennies?:??
6A Tarnished Galahad?:??
7Get It Off the Ground Rap?:??
8It’s Good to Be God Rap?:??
9Nirvana Army Rap?:??
10The Butcher Is Back?:??
11Acid Test Graduation Announcement?:??
12Send Me to the Moon Closing Rap?:??
3CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Kin Kesey’s Dialogue?:??
2Prankster Music Sound Collage 1?:??
3Kesy Rap Prankster Music Sound Collage 2?:??
4Prankster Sound Collage 3 Prankster Rage?:??
5Closing Jam?:??
6Prankster Electronics?:??
7Jam Session?:??
4CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Speed Limit
?:??
2Neal Cassidy Raps
spoken vocals:
Neal Cassady (American poet) (on 1967-07-23)
recorded at:
Straight Theater in San Francisco, California, United States (on 1967-07-23)
?:??
3Jerry Garcia Commentary
recorded in:
San Francisco, California, United States (in 1967)
?:??
4Jerry Garcia Interview, Part 1
?:??
5Jerry Garcia Interview, Part 2
?:??
6Jerry Garcia Interview, Part 3
?:??
5CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Who Cares Rap6:09
2Viola Lee Blues
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Viola Lee Blues (on 1966-03-12)
writer:
Noah Lewis
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI)), Peer International Corporation (BMI), Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic) and Southern Music Publishing Company Limited
11:55
3One Kind Favor
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
One Kind Favor (on 1966-03-12)
additional lyricist:
Guy Davis (Blues musician)
lyricist and composer:
Blind Lemon Jefferson (American blues and gospel singer‐songwriter)
publisher:
Universal Music Careers and Universal Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP)
is based on:
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
4:20
4I Know You Rider
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live recording of:
I Know You Rider (on 1966-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
2:42
5You See a Broken Heart
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live recording of:
You See a Broken Heart (on 1966-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan
3:18
6It’s a Sin
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
I Know It’s a Sin (on 1966-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmy Reed (blues musician)
publisher:
BMG Platinum Songs US, Conrad Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Seeds of Reed Music
4:47
7Beat It On Down the Line
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Beat It On Down the Line (on 1966-03-12)
writer:
Jesse Fuller
publisher:
Contemporary Music (US publisher), Hillgreen Music and Prestige Music ltd.
4:07
8Heads Up
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Heads Up (on 1966-03-12)
writer:
Freddy King (US blues singer & guitarist) and Sonny Thompson (US R&B bandleader and pianist)
6:18
9Next Time You See Me
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Next Time You See Me (on 1966-03-12)
writer:
Earl Forest and William G. Harvey (1950s bandleader/composer)
publisher:
Universal Duchess Music Corp.
5:04
10Unknown Blues Instrumental
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
8:16
11Death Don’t Have No Mercy
recorded at:
Danish Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1966-03-12)
live cover recording of:
Death Don’t Have No Mercy (on 1966-03-12)
lyricist and composer:
Reverend Gary Davis
publisher:
Chandos Music Company, Hillgreen Music and Warner/Chappell Music (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
6:03
12Midnight Hour11:06
6CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Jerry Garcia Intro0:19
2A Mexican Story 25 Bennies4:47
3Get It Off the Ground Rap8:28
4It’s Good to Be God Rap2:41
5Nirvana Army Rap0:52
6The Butcher Is Back1:48
7Acid Test Graduation Announcement2:55
8Send Me to the Moon1:21
9Jerry Garcia interview0:40
10Sound Collage3:43
11Ken Kesey Interview0:21
12Sound Collage #29:59
13Jerry Garcia Interview0:19
14Music Sound Collage #12:13
15Ken Kesey Interview0:16
16Sound Collage1:15