I hope it doesn’t seem like I complain in these pages too much about what I don’t like about the Dead’s various song selections. But when people defend all the Chuck Berry covers, of which I generally dislike, my mind tends to turn to the Dead’s own catalog to see what might have worked instead. The Chuck Berry songs are upbeat rockers that really get the dancefloor moving. I’m of the opinion that Passenger is just as much a pedal-to-the-metal rocker as any Chuck Berry song and would have been a very solid alternative.

The song was played 99 times between 1977 and 1981. Seeing how that covered at least two personnel eras it’s a shame it didn’t last longer into the Brent era, as he was clearly familiar with the tune. Oh well, such is life. Passenger is a really short song and maybe that was part of the problem? However, the Dead never really had an issue with morphing a 3 minute song into a 8-15 minute opus if they were so inclined. Clearly I like the song, but this is one that I don’t really have a feel for how the community in general feels about it. I always found the chorus to be very catchy and true to form on most songs where Jerry was absolved of singing duties he generally tears up the fretboard on this little ditty as well. What’s not to like?!

Feel free to weigh in on Passenger in the comments.

The band counts off and we’re greeted to some slide guitar and Ms. Donna Jean. Weir quickly joins in on vocals. There’s almost a squishy sound on what I assume is Weir’s guitar. After a (on key) wail from Donna, Jerry launches into a quick slide solo. He seems a bit pensive, as though slide isn’t the most comfortable territory for him. He switches between slide and straight playing throughout the song and the straight playing sounds much more confident. But this song is a rocker. There’s no time for second guessing and they’re pretty much pedal to the metal until the song ends.

Complete Setlist 5/17/77