Grateful Dead & Merry PrankstersThe Acid Test Reels
1965-1967
The Acid Tests were a series of psychedelic parties held by Ken Kesey in the San Francisco Bay Area during the mid 1960s, centered entirely around the use, experimentation, and advocacy of LSD, also known as "acid."
The name "Acid Test" was coined by Kesey, after the term "acid test" used by gold miners in the 1850s. He advertised the parties with posters that read, "Can YOU Pass The Acid Test?", and the name was later popularized in Tom Wolfe's 1968 book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Musical performances by the Grateful Dead were commonplace, along with black lights, strobe lights, and fluorescent paint. The Acid Tests are notable for their influence on the LSD-based counterculture of the San Francisco area and subsequent transition from the beat generation to the hippie movement.
A chronological compilation of the Acid Test recordings listed in The Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium Volume One.
DISC ONE: Fillmore Acid Test/Sound City Acid Test
The Fillmore Acid Test Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA January 8, 1966
1. Stage Chaos/More Power Rap
2. King Bee
3. I'm A Hog For You Baby
4. Caution: Do Not Step On Tracks >
5. Death Don't Have No Mercy
6. Star Spangled Banner / closing remarks
The Sound City Acid Test 363 6th Street, San Francisco, CA January 29, 1966
7. Ken Kesey interviewed by Frank Fey
8. Ken Babbs and harmonica
9. Take Two: Ken Kesey
10. Bull
11. Peggy The Pistol
12. One-way Ticket
13. Bells And Fairies
14. Levitation
15. Trip X
16. The End
DISC TWO: Pico Acid Test /S.F. State U Acid Test (pt.1)
The Pico Acid Test Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA March 12, 1966
1. Viola Lee Blues
2. You See A Broken Heart
3. In The Midnight Hour
The San Francisco State Acid Test Whatever It Is Festival San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA October 2, 1966
4. The Head Has Become Fat Rap
5. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies
6. A Tarnished Galahad
7. Get It Off The Ground Rap >
8. It's Good To Be God Rap >
9. Nirvana Army Rap >
10. The Butcher Is Back
11. Acid Test Graduation Announcement
12. Send Me To The Moon >Closing Rap
Credits on 10/2/66:
Voices: Ken Kesey and Hugh Romney
Guitar: Ken Kesey
Violin: Dale Kesey
Organ: Jerry Garcia
DISC THREE: S.F. State U Acid Test (pt. 2)/Graduation Jam
The San Francisco State Acid Test Whatever It Is Festival San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA October 2, 1966
1. Ken Kesey's dialogue (isolated remix)
Merry Prankster Sound Collage Sequences October 2, 1966
2. Prankster Music/Sound Collage #1(sequence 1)
3. Kesey Rap > Prankster Music/Sound Collage #2 (sequence 2)
4. Prankster Sound Collage #3 > Prankster Raga(sequence 3)
Prankster Recordings broadcast over the P.A. End of Whatever It Is Festival October 2, 1966
5. Closing Jam
6. Prankster Electronics
Acid Test Graduation Jam Winterland, San Francisco, CA October 31, 1966
7. Jam Session (musicians unknown) from The World Of Acid film soundtrack
Disc Four: Related Recordings
1. Neal Cassidy & The Warlocks 1965 - Speed Limit - studio recording/Prankster production tape circa late 1965
2. Neal Cassidy Raps (backed by The Dead) - recording released as a flexi-disc in the 1st printing of The Dead Book
3. Jerry Garcia commentary with Acid Test audio
4. - 6. Jerry Garcia one hour interview about music, drugs, politics and social changes circa 1967 compilation and package by Alan Bershaw
DISC FIVE: Supplementary CD1 (74:04)
The Watts Acid Test February 12, 1966 - Youth Opportunities Center, Compton, CA
01. Who Cares Rap (Pigpen, Weir, etc.) [6:08}
The Pico Acid Test March 12, 1966 (EXPANDED VERSION) Danish Center, Los Angeles, CA
02. Viola Lee Blues [11:54]
03. One Kind Favor [4:19]
04. I Know You Rider [2:41]
05. You See A Broken Heart [3:18]
06. It's A Sin [4:47]
07. Beat It On Down The Line [4:06]
08. Heads Up [6:17]
09. Next Time You See Me [5:04]
10. unknown blues instrumental[8:15] - might be Death Don?t also (Tony Middleton)???
11. Death Don't Have No Mercy [6:03]
12. Midnight Hour [11:06]
Notes:
The 8th song, previously notated as "unknown instrumental" on Deadlists, is a cover of Freddy King's "Heads Up." The 9th tune, previously listed as "The Same Thing (instrumental)," is definitely NOT that song. Although it is a
standard blues and sounds similar at the beginning, closer listening makes it pretty obvious that it is an entirely different song, title unknown. The Viola Lee Blues on this expanded version is a different version than on the
previous three song version of Pico Acid Test. This is an ongoing mystery, although it should be said that both versions are worth having.
DISC SIX:Supplementary CD2 - San Francisco State Acid Test (alternate version) (41:56)
"Whatever It Is" Festival October 2, 1966 - San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Stereo Control Room Master (rec. 4:00AM - 6:00AM)
Source(s) unknown, this has different lineage, and some different edits to the "intact" version. Specifically some contemorary (Tomorrow show '81?) interviews are spliced in, and the sound collages towards the end are presented in a different sequence.
01. Jerry Garcia intro [0:20]
02. A Mexican Story: 25 Bennies [3:41]
03. Get It Off The Ground Rap [9:32]
04. It's Good To Be God Rap [2:40]
05. Nirvana Army Rap [0:52]
06. The Butcher Is Back [3:14]
07. Acid Test Graduation Announcement [1:29]
08. Send Me To The Moon [1:22]
09. Jerry Garcia interview [0:40]
10. Sound Collage [3:43]
11. Ken Kesey Interview [0:22]
12. Sound Collage #2 [9:58]
13. Jerry Garcia Interview [0:19]
14. Music / Sound Collage #1 [2:14]
15. Ken Kesey Interview [0:15]
16. Sound Collage [1:15]
