The Scorpio Recording Sessions, summer 1966

Sometime in June of July of 1966, the Dead took to the studio for the second time to get some material down in San Francisco's Scorpio Studios owned by Gene Estribou. By all accounts it was not an enjoyable experience.

That summer they also had their first recording experience, with a man named Gene Estribou, who had built a studio in his home at 737 Buena Vista West, a few blocks from the Dead's office at 710 Ashbury. (It was actually their second recording experience after recording as the Emergency Crew in December of 1965). Estribou's  building was spectacular. It had been built in 1897, and in the course of its history, Ambrose Bierce had lived there and Jack London had written White Fang on the premises. Unfortunately, the studio was on the fifth floor, and most of Weir's memories of the session centered on hauling the lead sled up four flights of stairs. To Lesh, Estribou seemed to be a wealth "dilettante" who wanted to break into the business, but the session was at least an opportunity to get something on tape. They recorded the old jug songs "Don't Ease Me In" and "Stealin," and other songs, including a Pigpen number called "Tastebud," and one by Lesh called "Cardboard Cowboy." The first two were duly released as a 45 rpm single on Scorpio Records that August. Garcia later guessed that not more than 150 copies were pressed, and since they were sold only on Haight Street, primarily at the Psychedelic Shop, the record made little impact (McNally 153).

The existing spots of the Scorpio Sessions seem to be spread in several different places. First there is a compilation of 30 takes in the studio, found on archive.org. 

Grateful Dead

Scorpio Studios

San Francisco, CA

June - July 1966

Stealin (Tracks 1 - 4, 29)

I Know You Rider (Tracks 5 & 30)

Don't Ease Me In (Tracks 6 - 20)

You Don't Have to Ask (Tracks 21 - 23)

Tastebud (Tracks 24 - 28)

There is not a lot of variety to the takes, and listening to them all is only for those looking to gather in a complete history. For instance, most of the Don't Ease tracks are very similar instrumentals. For those just wanting a taste, I would suggest Tracks 4, 5, 19, 23, 27, & 28. These demos resulted in a 2 sided record of Stealin and Don't Ease Me In.

I Know You Rider, Track 5, is a great example of their 1966 sound. The song captures the way they sounded when performing that song live. It's worth checking it out. Also, the tracks labeled as "Tastebud" are actually "Cardboard Cowboy."  I'm not sure as to why they are not labeled correctly. Track 30 - I Know You Rider is only instrumental, with no vocals. 

Listen to the outtakes on archive: https://archive.org/details/gd66-06-xx.sbd.vernon.9513.sbeok.shnf

Some Scorpio tracks were also commercially released in 2001 as part of the "Birth of the Dead" CD.  I did not compare these tracks to the outtakes above, so some are probably repeats. I present them in two formats as this was the way that I listened to them.

Grateful Dead

Scorpio Studios

San Francisco, CA

June - July 1966

Released on Birth of the Dead (track #'s match the CD)

7. Stealin (Instrumental)

8. Stealin (with Vocals)

9. Don't Ease Me In (Instrumental)

10. Don't Ease Me In (with Vocals)

11. You Don't Have to Ask

12. Tastebud (Instrumental)

13. Tastebud (with Vocals)

14. I Know You Rider

15. Cold Rain & Snow (Instrumental)

16. Cold Rain & Snow (with Vocals)

You can listen to the entire "Birth of the Dead album on Youtube. The tracks start at approximately 17:35. The Tastebud examples on this recording are correct, as opposed to the outtakes.