Believe it or not, this song wasn’t released as a single until a live version was excised from the Europe ’72 set.
Kronomyth 8.1: Sugar is europe in liquid form.
This is the token single from the triple-disc Europe ’72 package, here trimmed down to a meagre four minutes. “Sugar Magnolia” has always been one of my favorites from Bob Weir, painting the picture (through Robert Hunter’s lyrics) of the ideal, down-to-earth woman: in tune with nature, supportive of her man (I didn’t say it was your ideal). The natural imagery from Hunter is really beautiful, focusing primarily on water, flowers and light. Although the song is purportedly about Weir’s girlfriend at the time (Frankie Azzarra/Hart/Weir), it appears Hunter may have taken some poetic license in casting the former go-go dancer as a woodland nymph. The B side on the original single is the live version of “Mr. Charlie” that appeared on Europe ’72 (right after “Sugar Magnolia,” in fact).
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Original 7-inch Single Version
A1. Sugar Magnolia (live) (Bob Weir/Robert Hunter) (3:57)
B1. Mr. Charlie (live) (Robert Hunter/Ron McKernan) (3:40)
Back-to-Back Hits 7-inch Reissue
A1. Truckin’ (Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia/Phil Lesh/Bob Weir) (3:13)
B1. Sugar Magnolia (live) (Bob Weir/Robert Hunter) (3:57)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch in January 1973 in the US (Warner Bros., 7667) and Brazil (Warner Bros., WBCS 7.035); reached #91 on the US charts (charted February 3, 1973 for 2 weeks).
- Re-released on 7-inch in 1987 in the US (Warner Bros. Back-to-Back Hits, 7-21988) with “Truckin’” on the flip side.
