Grateful Dead Family Discography: The Rub

Ain't It Crazy (aka The Rub)

Composer: Traditional / Lightnin' Hopkins

The Rub was performed about a dozen times by the Grateful Dead in 1970 and 1971. The Grateful Dead referred to the song as The Rub and it is given that title on the only official Grateful Dead release of the song and on Grateful Dead set lists. This title is not used elsewhere.

Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions performed the song in 1964. On the 1998 CD release of one of these performances the song is called Ain't It Crazy (aka The Rub).

Lightnin' Hopkins recordings of the song have the title Ain't It Crazy. His song is based on earlier songs with various titles around the theme of Rubbin' That Thing.

Lightnin' Hopkins

Hootin' The Blues, Lightnin' Hopkins, 1965
no info Lightnin', Lightnin' Hopkins, 1967?
no info Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings, Lightnin' Hopkins, 1991

Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions

Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, 1998

Grateful Dead

Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead, 2000
Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70, Grateful Dead, 2010