A classic one for tonight’s Jam Band Friday. They wanted to call it Skull Fuck but the record company refused and has since been known as Skull & Roses. Originally released in 1971 and recorded mainly at The Fillmore East. This is the original line-up of Garcia, Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and McKernan (Pigpen). Shortly after these dates Pigpen was hospitalized due to his failing health from alcoholism. He re-joined the band for the Europe ’72 tour but died in ’73 at the age of 27. Merl Saunders overdubbed his organ on “Bertha”, “Playing In The Band” and “Wharf Rat”, three songs that never appeared on a studio record. They also play some of their “cowboy” songs “Mama Tried”, “Big Railroad Blues”, and “Me And My Uncle”. Other covers include “Big Boss Man”, Johnny B. Goode” and “Me And Bobby McGee”. “The Other One” on side two, lasting 18 minutes, starts with a long drum solo by Kreutzmann. Side for has “Wharf Rat” and “Not Fade Away>Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” over 9 minutes long which usually appears an the end of their shows. This is a 2021 reissue on gold semi transparent vinyl. I figured it was about time I had a copy of this record and bought this earlier this year at Record Connection. They had several versions and this was the cheapest. The record sounds decent.