Paradise Waits: The Complete Help on the Way History

When I first heard Help on the Way->Slipknot!->Franklin's Tower, it was September 1, 1975 and I had a just run down to Lisbon Street and paid about $3.99 for Blues for Allah, and it was pure joy. I think Jimmy Roux and my brother Ralph were there and we were up in the attic with a J.

Soon, I would hear the Make Believe Ballroom bootleg (probably $7 found in Cambridge, MA) and the to-this-day unbelievable Bill Graham intro into this.

At my first show June 9, 1976, the Dead didn't play this, but did encore with the only-ever standalone Franklin's Tower encore.  It wasn't until April 23, 1977, with Mike Barr, Geoff Maclean, Jimmy, and Tom Fake, we got to see it live. It was the 22 version out of 27 during the Crown Jewels era, but easily in the top-5.

My second wasn't until Halloween in Marin in 1983.  I think you all should listen to the first 27 below. I will add links soon

Some of my other favorites are the historic ones:
6/19/76 the early FM tape which opens the show and goes into Music Never Stops
8/4/76 the second set jam, one of my first surprise SBDs taping tapes when I was expected bad audience tapes in a trade
9/24/76 slips in a 5 minutes drums in the middle
9/27/76 sandwiches the Other One and Wharf Rat
12/31/76 oh well NFA and Dew instead of Franklins
5/22/77 Dicks Picks 3 beautiful
6/9/76 another masterpiece
10/11/77 Norman  so sad to see you go

In the Comeback in 1983-1985 every single version opens the second set.

It's not until the Third Era, that it starts to appear in other places. On 10-11-89, it finally opened the show again.

Don't miss the 30 Trips Bradford version at the Garden 9-10-91 and the next one ten nights later in Boston that goes into Fire On the Mountain instead of Frankin's.

Era 1, 1975-1977, The Crown Jewels

1. 6/17/1975 Winterland Help On The Way (no lyrics) > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; Only Instrumental Help; Closes Set 1

2. 8/13/1975 Great American Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower (Gold Standard); Early Bootleg Make Believe Ballroom; opens Show

3. 9/28/1975 Golden Gate Park Help On The Way > Slipknot!; Dirst Incomplete (One Set Show); Franklin's played later

4. 6/3/1976 Portland Help On The Way [5:01] > Slipknot! [13:04] > Franklin's Tower [11:04]; Set 2

5. 6/4/1976 Portland Help On The Way [4:26] > Slipknot! [10:59] > Franklin's Tower [11:38]; Set 1

a. 6/9/1976 Boston Standalone Franklin's Encore (My First Show); only standalone Franklin's encore in Grateful Dead history

6. 6/10/1976 Boston Help On The Way [4:14] > Slipknot! [7:28] > Franklin's Tower [10:24]; Set 2

7. 6/14/1976 Beacon Help On The Way [5:19] > Slipknot! [11:59] > Franklin's Tower [6:17#]; Set 2

8. 6/17/1976 Passiac Help On The Way [4:24] > Slipknot! [8:35] > Franklin's Tower [10:18#]; Set 2

9. 6/19/1976 Passiac Help On The Way [4:34] > Slipknot! [7:18] > Franklin's Tower [9:34] > (1) The Music Never Stopped [5:10] ; Opens Show Early FM Tape

10. 6/21/1976 Philly Help On The Way [4:06] > Slipknot! [9:13] > Franklin's Tower [11:09]; Set 2

11. 6/24/1976 Philly Help On The Way [4:10] > Slipknot! [9:50] > Franklin's Tower [9:42] > Samson And Delilah [5:55] ; Set 2

12. 6/27/1976 Chicago Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Sugar Magnolia; Set 2

13. 7/12/1976 Orpheum Help On The Way [4:32] > Slipknot! [7:44] > Franklin's Tower [14:11] ; Set 2

14. 8/4/1976 Jersey City Help On The Way [6:20] > Slipknot! [10:21] > Franklin's Tower [11:57] > Dancing In The Street [14#:01] > The Wheel [5:57] > Samson And Delilah [6:50] ; Set 2

15. 9/23/1976 Duke Help On The Way [#5:21] > Slipknot! [9:28] > Franklin's Tower [11:38] > Looks Like Rain [7:05] ; Set 2

16. 9/24/1976 William & Mary Help On The Way [4:14] > Slipknot! [5:51] > Drums [5:36] > Slipknot! [5:24] > Franklin's Tower [8:05] > The Music Never Stopped [5:49] > Stella Blue [7:29] ; Set 2

17. 9/27/1976 Rochester Help On The Way [4:54] > Slipknot! [7:33] > Drums [5:50] > The Other One [9:55] > Wharf Rat [10:39] > Slipknot! [2:21] > Franklin's Tower [17:32] > Around And Around [7:01]; Set 2, First Split; LONGEST EARLY FRANKLINS

18. 10/1/1976 Indianapolis Help On The Way [4:07] > Slipknot! [12:52] > Franklin's Tower [10:18]; Set 2

19. 10/9/1976 Oakland Help On The Way [5:14] > Slipknot! [5:32] > Drums [3:51] > Samson And Delilah [6:50] > Slipknot! [6:36] > Franklin's Tower [12:#25] > One More Saturday Night [4:31]; Set 2

20. 12/31/1976 Cow Palace Help On The Way [4:20] > Slipknot! [12:02] > Drums [0:50] > Not Fade Away [10:38] > Morning Dew [14:38]; Set 2 second Incomplete

21. 2/26/1977 San Bernardino Help On The Way [4:55] > Slipknot! [8:05] > Franklin's Tower [13:20] ; Set 2

22. 4/23/1977 Springfield Help On The Way [4:25] > Slipknot! [8:53] > Franklin's Tower [10:24] > Around And Around [6:49] > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [8:49] > Not Fade Away [11:14]; Set 2

23. 4/29/1977 Palladium Help On The Way [4:43] > Slipknot! [8:39] > Franklin's Tower [15:50]; Opens Show

24. 5/9/1977 Buffalo Help On The Way [4:41] > Slipknot! [7:37] > Franklin's Tower [12:57]; opens Show

25. 5/22/1977 Pembroke Pines Help On The Way [4:58] > Slipknot! [6:44] > Franklin's Tower [15:12]; set 2, Dick's Picks 3 verison

26. 6/9/1977 Winterland Help On The Way [4:21] > Slipknot! [9:42] > Franklin's Tower [17:10]; set 2;

27. 10/11/1977 Norman Help On The Way [5:03] > Slipknot! [4:52] > Franklin's Tower [15:02]; opens show, goes on unexpected 6 year hiatus

Era 2, 1983-1985, The Comeback (opens set 2 21 times)

3/25/1983 Tempe Help On The Way [3:15] > Slipknot! [4:26] > Franklin's Tower [9:57] > Playing In The Band[11:09] > Drums [5:39] > Space [4:41] > Throwing Stones [6:29] > Not Fade Away [5:53] > Black Peter [8:58] > Sugar Magnolia [9:24]; 2nd Set, first Brent

3/29/1983 Warfield Help On The Way [3:14] > Slipknot! [4:24] > Franklin's Tower [11:49] > Estimated Prophet [13:12] > Drums [6:04#] > Space [10:35] > The Wheel [6:01] > Throwing Stones [8:48] > Not Fade Away [4:41] > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad[6:14] > Johnny B. Goode [3:54]; 2nd Set

4/9/1983 Hampton Help On The Way [3:12] > Slipknot! [5:01] > Franklin's Tower [10:05] > Truckin' [12:36] > Smokestack Lightnin' Jam (1) > Drums [5:41#] > Space [5:53] > Throwing Stones [8:26] > Black Peter [7:48] > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [5:42] > One More Saturday Night [4:14]; 2nd set

4/12/1983 Birghamton Help On The Way [3:17] > Slipknot! [7:26] > Franklin's Tower [11:17]; opens set 2

4/17/1983 East Rutherford Help On The Way [3:16] > Slipknot! [6:45] > Franklin's Tower [11:43] > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [8:02]; opens Set 2

4/22/1983 New Haven Help On The Way [3:20] > Slipknot! [5:30] > Franklin's Tower [11:50] > Samson And Delilah [8:37]; opens set 2

4/26/1983 Philadelphia Help On The Way [3:12] > Slipknot! [5:11] > Franklin's Tower [9:45] > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [6:56] > Drums [7:#07] > Space [11:38] > Truckin' [7:33] > Morning Dew [10:25] > Throwing Stones [9:32#] > Not Fade Away [8:21]; set 2

5/15/1983 Greek Help On The Way [3:02] > Slipknot! [5:41] > Franklin's Tower [13:13] > Samson And Delilah [7:26]

6/24/1983 Madison Help On The Way [3:15] > Slipknot! [5:38] > Franklin's Tower [15:23]; opens Set 2

6/28/1983 Poplar Creek Help On The Way [3:07] > Slipknot! [7:18] > Franklin's Tower [12:09] > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [6:28]; opens set 2

9/2/1983 Boise Help On The Way [3:00] > Slipknot! [8:10] > Franklin's Tower [14:06]; opens set 2

9/6/1983 Morrison Help On The Way [3:05] > Slipknot! [9:28] > Franklin's Tower [13:13]; opens set 2

9/11/1983 Santa Fe Help On The Way [3:12] > Slipknot! [7:40] > Franklin's Tower [9:41]; opens set 2

10/12/1983 MSG Help On The Way [3:15] > Slipknot! [10:23] > Franklin's Tower [14:10]; opens set 2

10/20/1983 Worcester Help On The Way [3:05] > Slipknot! [6:31] > Franklin's Tower [10:31] > Samson And Delilah [8:49]; opens set 2

10/31/1983 Marin Help On The Way [3:04] > Slipknot! [6:13] > Franklin's Tower [12:58]; opens set 2

4/1/1984 Marin Help On The Way [3:12] > Slipknot! [5:29] > Franklin's Tower [11:27] > Samson And Delilah [7:32]; opens set 2

4/17/1984 Niagra Falls Help On The Way [2:59] > Slipknot! [9:38] > Franklin's Tower [12:19] ; opens set 2

4/21/1984 Philly Help On The Way [3:25] > Slipknot! [7:23] > Franklin's Tower [12:55] > Playing In The Band [11:56] > China Doll [5:17] > Space [0:56] > Don't Need Love > Drums > Space [9:48] > Wharf Rat [10:28] > Throwing Stones [8:53] > Not Fade Away [6:42]; set 2

6/27/1984 Columbia Help On The Way [3:32] > Slipknot! [8:53] > Franklin's Tower [11:23] > Estimated Prophet [11:36] > Eyes Of The World [10:19#] > Why Don't We Do It In The Road [2:45] > Drums [11:06] > Space [9:07] > Morning Dew [11:36] > Throwing Stones [8:57] > Not Fade Away [8:08]; set 2

7/4/1984 Cedar Rapids Help On The Way [3:11] > Slipknot! [7:04] > Franklin's Tower [10:19]; opens set 2

7/14/1984 Greek Help On The Way [3:52] > Slipknot! [6:37] > Franklin's Tower [10:34] ; opens set 2

10/9/1984 Worcester Help On The Way [3:12] > Slipknot! [7:27] > Franklin's Tower [10:22]; opens set 2

10/17/1984 East Rutherford Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower ; opens set 2

11/2/1984 Berkeley Help On The Way [3:07] > Slipknot! [7:30] > Franklin's Tower [11:43]; opens set 2

3/25/1985 Springfield Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower ; opens set 2

9/12/1985 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower ; opens set 2; goes on 4 year hiatus

Era 3, 1989-1995, The Later Years

10/8/1989 Hampton Help On The Way [3:26] > Slipknot! [5:18] > Franklin's Tower [7:52]; opens set 2

10/14/1989 East Rutherford Help On The Way [3:47] > Slipknot! [5:26] > Franklin's Tower [8:37]; closes set 1, first set 1 since 10/11/77

10/19/1989 Philly Help On The Way [3:50] > Slipknot! [5:37] > Franklin's Tower [8:27]; opens set 2

10/22/1989 Charlotte Help On The Way [3:44] > Slipknot! [6:33] > Franklin's Tower [9:40] > Jam [7:#17] > Drums [5:55] > Space [8:43] > I Need A Miracle [4:04] > Stella Blue [8:36] > Throwing Stones [9:11] > Not Fade Away [7:51#]; first middle of set 2 since 4/23/77

12/8/1989 LA Forum Help On The Way ; Slipknot! ; Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

3/24/1990 Albany Let The Good Times Roll > Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; set 2

3/30/1990 Nassau Help On The Way (3:26)-> Slipknot! (6:03)-> Franklin's Tower (9:08); Opens Show first time since 10/11/77

5/5/1990 Carson Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; only mid set 1

6/15/1990 Shoreline Help On The Way [3:28] > Slipknot! [6:08] > Franklin's Tower [10:44] ; opens show

6/24/1990 Eugene Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

7/18/1990 Deer Creek Help On The Way [4:13] > Slipknot! [4:40] > Franklin's Tower [9:03]; opens show; last Brent

9/19/1990 MSG Help On The Way [4:16] > Slipknot! [6:34] > Franklin's Tower [13:16]; closes set 1

10/24/1990 Hamburg Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Truckin' > He's Gone > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > The Wheel > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Around And Around; set2, first outside USA

10/31/1990 London Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

12/13/1990 Denver Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

2/21/1991 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

3/24/1991 Albany Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

4/4/1991 Atlanta Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

5/5/1991 Cal Expo Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

5/12/1991 Shoreline Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

6/14/1991 RFK Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

6/24/1991 Bonner Springs Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

8/17/1991 Shoreline Help On The Way [3:46] > Slipknot! [5:08] > Franklin's Tower [9:36]; opens show

9/10/1991 MSG Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2 (with Branford Marsalis)

9/20/1991 Boston Help On The Way [4:04] > Slipknot! [6:04] > Fire On The Mountain [12:20]; Open Set 2. only Fire in the Mountain; first Boston Help since 1976

9/25/1991 Boston Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

10/31/1991 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

12/31/1991 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; closes set 1

3/5/1992 Hampton Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

3/21/1992 Hamilton Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show; only Canadian

5/31/1992 Las Vegas Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

6/23/1992 Star Lake Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

6/28/1992 Deer Creek Help On The Way [3:45] > Slipknot! [5:24] > Franklin's Tower [9:33] > Wang Dang Doodle [7:00] ; opens show

3/11/1993 Rosemont Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

3/22/1993 Atlanta Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

4/2/1993 Nassau Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > The Same Thing; opens show

5/16/1993 Las Vegas Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; middle set 2

6/9/1993 Auburn Hills Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Little Red Rooster; opens show

6/22/1993 Deer Creek Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Wang Dang Doodle; opens show

8/22/1993 Eugene Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

9/14/1993 Philly Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

9/22/1993 MSG Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > New Minglewood Blues; opens show

12/17/1993 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

3/6/1994 Phoenix Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

3/25/1994 Nassau Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

4/4/1994 Orlando Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

7/2/1994 Shoreline Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

7/21/1994 Deer Creek Help On The Way [3:20] > Slipknot! [9:47] > Franklin's Tower [13:43] > Drums > Space [#8:51] > All Along The Watchtower [6:58] > Days Between [13:06] > Good Lovin' [7:43]; set 2

10/1/1994 Boston Help On The Way [3:20] > Slipknot! [5:32] > Franklin's Tower [10:55]; opens show

10/10/1994 Landover Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2

10/18/1994 MSG Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

12/11/1994 Oakland Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens show

2/24/1995 Oakland Help On The Way [4:17] > Slipknot! [8:14] > Franklin's Tower [14:19] ; open shows

3/29/1995 Atlanta Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Corrina > Matilda, Matilda > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Not Fade Away; set 2

5/26/1995 Seattle Help On The Way [4:16] > Slipknot! [5:09] > Franklin's Tower [12:02] ; opens show

6/22/1995 Albany Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower; opens set 2