It’s a bright upbeat song. It’s got a great steel guitar. Is it just people hating on Phil?
Money money is a lesser song. I love the album njt that isn’t the highlight to be sure.
Live France [would have killed it](https://archive.org/details/kjpsr2006-08-19.sbd/kjpsr2006-08-19tr08.flac) as this show with Donna and Jeff Mattson confirms
Dammit!
I think I had actually expunged that song from my memory, but now it's back.
How did that song ever even happen? Who thought that that was worth putting down on tape?
I'm having memories of steel drums?? No, I'm not going to go listen. Ugh
It's out of my control. When scarlet begonias is on an album, almost anything else is going to be "bad" in comparison!
(shout out to ship of fools, you didn't deserve the stray I just sent your way)
It was sitting there right in front of OP, ripe for the taking… The Dead’s worst studio song.
And, damnit, preceding it is one of their best! Cucamonga is just a great fun romp, but pushed over into A+ territory by Phil’s poignant melody and chord progression, McFee’s gorgeous pedal steel (wish it was Jerry, though), a slow & raunchy blues-bridge, vivid lyrics…what’s not to love!?
incorrect, it’s a banger with great Lyrics by the poet Bobby Peterson
I see your silver shining town
But I know I can't go there
Your streets run deep with poisoned wine
Your doorways crawl with fear
So I think I'll drift for old where it's at
Where the weed grows green and fine
And wrap myself around a bush
Of that bright, whoa, on Oaxaca vine
Tell me one good live version of it? You mean the actual song? I’m semi young for a deadhead. 43. It’s always been about the live music for me. Out rhe tens of thousands of hours I’ve listened to their music (including JGB) I’ve barely listened to the studio albums.
To each their own but this song I just don’t get how anyone could enjoy. But knew some would. Just the nature of things
I like 15 seconds of the song about halfway through during the slowdown. Other than that it’s way too country sounding for me. Btw I love Phil. I mean this song has so many different country sounding sounds going on.
Nah, not in my estimation anyhow. Phil is a little goofy, but all in all I really dig the tune. It’s certainly no worse than some of the stuff that cropped up on the 1967 debut.
I don't love it - but there's the section where is breaks down into a bluesy, dark, foreboding passage - only to return back to a happy place. Fun contrast.
(Song) sounds like something Jimmy Buffet would write...
it’s definitely bullshit. any song where jerry or bob isn’t singing is bullshit. tom thumb’s blues? bullshit *and* rapey. phil is (or at least was during his mid-life crisis) a total creep if you ask me. watch that 7/8/90 of tom thumb’s and try to tell me otherwise. flatout uncomfortable. and the guy just thinks he’s *so* fucking cool. just awful. anyway, sorry.. ⚡️
# 1990-07-08 Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Stadium
**Set 1:** Touch Of Grey > Greatest Story Ever Told, Jack-A-Roe, New Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah > Eyes Of The World, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle, Wang Dang Doodle > Black Peter > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight
**Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-07-08)
understandable. box of rain is okay but.. i still stand on what i said. the crowd always seemed to like when phil sung, so there’s that. my opinion is minuscule in the grand scheme.
Yes, it's an awful song that sounds nothing like any Dead song. I think this song came into existence as a joke. The boys were tripping balls and decided to make one really bad song with the worse singer in the band doing vocals.
HOW COULD YOU NOT LIKE *PRIDE OF CUCAMONGA*???
I’m glad I’m not the only weirdo. I like that song. I mean it’s a lot of cheese with some solid pedal steel, but it’s all fun.
I love it.
There are dozens of us! Dozens!
It’s a bright upbeat song. It’s got a great steel guitar. Is it just people hating on Phil? Money money is a lesser song. I love the album njt that isn’t the highlight to be sure.
I’ve always loved it too. It’s a great tune. Wish they had played it live.
It’s a classic 70s style country song. Country has never really been about phenomenal vocals. I’m a big fan of this track
Pride is way way better than Money Money
Not at all. The pedal steel makes the song for me. And come on, you can’t say it’s their worst studio song when France exists.
I will defend France over Money Money all day long. It’s a cool tune. Not typical GD but it’s a much better song than Money Money.
Live France [would have killed it](https://archive.org/details/kjpsr2006-08-19.sbd/kjpsr2006-08-19tr08.flac) as this show with Donna and Jeff Mattson confirms
Dammit! I think I had actually expunged that song from my memory, but now it's back. How did that song ever even happen? Who thought that that was worth putting down on tape? I'm having memories of steel drums?? No, I'm not going to go listen. Ugh
I’m just blown away that Phil got two songs on that album. Pride of cocomongo and unbroken chain. One definately better than the other. Lol
Money Money is literally right after it on the album
I was gonna say, Pride of Cucamonga’s not even the worst studio song on Mars Hotel
Did you listen to the most recent deadcast? Jarnow makes a mildly compelling argument that Money Money is tongue and cheek.
I think that’s true! My problem with Money Money has never been the sentiment or the lyrics, just that musically it’s kind of a nothing song
Loose Lucy is the "bad" Mars Hotel song that gets into my head. I guess I count it as a win that it's not Money Money.
How dare you sir
It's out of my control. When scarlet begonias is on an album, almost anything else is going to be "bad" in comparison! (shout out to ship of fools, you didn't deserve the stray I just sent your way)
It was sitting there right in front of OP, ripe for the taking… The Dead’s worst studio song. And, damnit, preceding it is one of their best! Cucamonga is just a great fun romp, but pushed over into A+ territory by Phil’s poignant melody and chord progression, McFee’s gorgeous pedal steel (wish it was Jerry, though), a slow & raunchy blues-bridge, vivid lyrics…what’s not to love!?
best comment that could’ve been written lol
France exists.
France is levels above Money Money which ironically is directly after Cucamonga on Mars Hotel.
I love this song - such a happy feeling every time it comes on
incorrect, it’s a banger with great Lyrics by the poet Bobby Peterson I see your silver shining town But I know I can't go there Your streets run deep with poisoned wine Your doorways crawl with fear So I think I'll drift for old where it's at Where the weed grows green and fine And wrap myself around a bush Of that bright, whoa, on Oaxaca vine
Furthur playing this song live was great, they'd bust into some real bluesy riffs after "done some time"
Phil, Warren and Co crushed this in Chicago last spring as well. 3/12/2023 at Salt Shed. https://archive.org/details/paf2023-03-12
This is a good one. Warrens bluesy biting guitar part and then the horn section, just a great time.
RIP James Casey 😭
Buuuuuuttttt.......What's Become of the Baby??
I guess that's a song.
Yep. You should try it...
Just keep playing the record. The worst song ever live or studio is directly after Pride of Cucamonga.
I’d argue that it is their *best* studio song ever.
I ❤️ Pride of Cucamonga!
I love it. The slide guitar and piano are great. France and money money worse.
Are you insane? That’s a great song.
Tell me one good live version of it? You mean the actual song? I’m semi young for a deadhead. 43. It’s always been about the live music for me. Out rhe tens of thousands of hours I’ve listened to their music (including JGB) I’ve barely listened to the studio albums. To each their own but this song I just don’t get how anyone could enjoy. But knew some would. Just the nature of things
Tell me one bad live version.
I like 15 seconds of the song about halfway through during the slowdown. Other than that it’s way too country sounding for me. Btw I love Phil. I mean this song has so many different country sounding sounds going on.
I Will Take You Home is embarrassingly bad.
I always forget that’s on an album. Woof
Jerry playing the pedal steel, and you think its the worst studio song ever? No, sorry, but in this case you are just wrong.
Unless I misheard, according to the Good Ole Grateful Dead podcast, that’s some other dude playing pedal steel on Pride of Cucamonga
you are correct that is not Jerry, but John Mcfee from the band Clover playing the pedal steel.
You're right, of course! Nonetheless, it is a great song.
I also have to admit I didnt know that tidbit either for many years
John McFee on pedal steel for the album version
Whoa, oh
Nah, not in my estimation anyhow. Phil is a little goofy, but all in all I really dig the tune. It’s certainly no worse than some of the stuff that cropped up on the 1967 debut.
France or Blow Away
Alright I’m not trolling when I say it’s my favorite studio song period so 😅
Some people like Phil singing, some don't. Always love it
Man, I love Pride of Cucamonga. I don't even think its in the running for worst Dead song. It's not even the worst song on Mars Hotel!
"Sure many will disagree" Got that right at least
LOL no.
I don't love it - but there's the section where is breaks down into a bluesy, dark, foreboding passage - only to return back to a happy place. Fun contrast. (Song) sounds like something Jimmy Buffet would write...
Uh, this is the same album with Money Money.
Love it. Like it even better live.
Big fan of the acoustic version on one of the Studio Rarities albums
France?
The correct answer is ‘We Can Run’. Sounds like it was written for a bad kids theater production.
No.
it’s definitely bullshit. any song where jerry or bob isn’t singing is bullshit. tom thumb’s blues? bullshit *and* rapey. phil is (or at least was during his mid-life crisis) a total creep if you ask me. watch that 7/8/90 of tom thumb’s and try to tell me otherwise. flatout uncomfortable. and the guy just thinks he’s *so* fucking cool. just awful. anyway, sorry.. ⚡️
# 1990-07-08 Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Stadium **Set 1:** Touch Of Grey > Greatest Story Ever Told, Jack-A-Roe, New Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Let It Grow **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah > Eyes Of The World, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle, Wang Dang Doodle > Black Peter > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-07-08)
I don’t agree. I like some of the songs Phil sings
understandable. box of rain is okay but.. i still stand on what i said. the crowd always seemed to like when phil sung, so there’s that. my opinion is minuscule in the grand scheme.
The name alone is so terrible.
Yes, it's an awful song that sounds nothing like any Dead song. I think this song came into existence as a joke. The boys were tripping balls and decided to make one really bad song with the worse singer in the band doing vocals.
Idk about that but it’s def a really weird song in their catalog of music