This mix presents an extended version of “St. Stephen,” as played in June 1976.
Upon its return to the repertoire that month, the song often included a sizable jammy passage that concluded with the song’s reprise.
The first three of the month are the really interesting ones, sounding to me like they could have come from or be heading toward “Supplication” – almost like it’s a leftover mood from the 1975 rehearsals/jams.
This approach didn’t last long. By the fourth version, “Not Fade Away” begins its takeover of “St. Stephen’s” jam space. On 6/18 (not included on this mix), they played the first “SS > NFA > SS” sandwich, which reduced “St. Stephen” to just its song parts. Following that, all the June jams are “NFA”-inflected.
The mix is arranged chronologically, and you get a full blast of the audience response at the breakout on the first night. The exception to chronology is an audience-only, very NFA take, which comes last.
Because the song’s jam and final vocal section both began with a dramatic pause, the versions string together easily. Similar to the SYF May '77 edits.
38-minute mp3 mix zipped up here
- 6/9 Song > (starting with audience patch)
- 6/9 Jam (7:11)
- 6/11 Jam (4:33)
- 6/15 Jam (5:50)
- 6/26 Jam (4:50)
- 6/29 Jam (4:28)
- 6/23 Jam (6:26 aud)
Plus a bonus track:
I’ve appended a 13-minute bonus track from a previous SYF mix that edits together three of the earliest “St. Stephen” jams, from June 1968. At that time, when the song was brand new, the jam section was under construction, as it would be again upon the song’s return in ’76.
Source note:
Many of these ’76 shows have been released, but I only own a few on CD. So, I’ve used fan-circulating tapes across the board.