WORKINGMAN’S DEAD

(Excerpt from the 33 1/3 book about the Grateful Dead’s album, “Workingman’s Dead”)

  Ten days into the sessions, a crisis developed. The first few songs the band cut had an alarming lack of viscosity and clamminess, and rumors circulated that they were working on a final product that would be considered listenable. 

  Bill Kreutzmann was particularly hard hit by these allegations. He called a band meeting, asking his colleagues to gather at his new place in Laurel Canyon. When they arrived at the address he’d provided, they were puzzled to find a vacant lot with a tiny gingerbread house in the middle of it. It was covered with marshmallow frosting and gum drops, in many different colors. 

  Jerry Garcia, their leader, immediately spotted the problem. “That’s not even a real house, man.” 

  Phil Lesh, who played the instrument with the big fat strings and really long neck, said what they were all thinking. “If Bill was small enough to fit into that house, he wouldn’t be able to play the drums.” 

  “Not the kind of drums we use, anyways,” said Bob Weir. “Don’t we use regular drums, Pigpen?” he said, apparently addressing Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, although Weir was staring at a mailbox at the time.