The Lyons Den | Grateful Dead Live 1980 Fox Theatre Atlanta | Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, King Crimson | George Lyons | KUNV Las Vegas

March 2, 2026·3 hr 52 min·15 clips

Discover Herbie Hancock's 34-CD collection featuring a legendary 1975 live version of Chameleon.

This episode of The Lyons Den Radio Show features host George Lyons presenting a curated music program and a live Grateful Dead concert. Lyons broadcasts from the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas on listener-supported station KUNV. The show is dedicated to sharing a wide spectrum of music with a focus on funk, jazz, and classic rock. The first half-hour opened with Barry White's "Love's Theme" and a live version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" from a 1975 Tokyo recording. Lyons highlighted a 34-CD box set of Hancock's complete Columbia recordings from 1972 to 1988. The setlist included Benny Golson's "Killer Joe," the Bar-Kays' "Too Hot to Stop," and Bill Withers' "Who Is He (And What Is He to You?)" from the *Jackie Brown* soundtrack. Weather Report's "Havana" from the 1976 album *Heavy Weather* featured bassist Jaco Pastorius. The host played Rare Earth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes" from their 1973 Motown album *Ma*, produced by Norman Whitfield. The reggae segment featured Bunny Wailer's "Fighting Against Conviction" and Peter Tosh's "Get Up, Stand Up" from his 1977 album *Equal Rights*. Lyons noted he saw both Tosh and Bunny Wailer live before Tosh's murder. The set also included War's "Galaxy," Tower of Power's "Soul'd Out," and McCoy Tyner's "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit." A mashup transitioned from The Beatles' "You Never Give Me Your Money" into Pink Floyd's "Any Colour You Like" and Genesis's "The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging." The program featured two tracks from King Crimson's 1969 debut, "Epitaph" with Greg Lake on vocals, and "Lament" from their 1974 album *Starless and Bible Black*. Lyons expressed particular enthusiasm for Bob Dylan's 1983 album *Infidels*, calling it a personal favorite and praising its backing musicians like Sly and Robbie and Mark Knopfler. He described the Grateful Dead's *Wake of the Flood* and The Doors' *L.A. Woman* 40th-anniversary mixes as sounding "so good." The host recalled seeing members of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters band—Paul Jackson, Mike Clark, and Bill Summers—perform live at the Legends Lounge. He argued that Rare Earth's *Ma* is considered by some to be the group's greatest album among many strong releases. The episode's centerpiece is the complete second set from the Grateful Dead's live performance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on November 30, 1980, which Lyons promises is "pristine amazing stuff." The tone is enthusiastic and conversational, with Lyons directly addressing the audience as he shares his deep knowledge and personal anecdotes about the music. The style is that of a freeform radio DJ set, educational in its detailed track and musician listings while fostering a communal feeling. Listeners who love deep dives into classic funk, jazz fusion, reggae, and progressive rock from the 1970s and 80s would thoroughly enjoy this episode. Those seeking talk-based interviews, current music, or a single genre focus might prefer to skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Lyons Den Radio Show