Hello and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where this week we’ll tidily cover a decade of live Grateful Dead, from 1972 to 1982, with a little stop in 1979 along the way.

Our first stop this week is in Sacramento, CA, on 8/12/72, where the Grateful Dead would play one of their typically hot mid-1972 concerts (ah, heck, might as well scrap the “mid”…). From the second set, we have the big jam featuring He's Gone>The Other One>Black Peter>The Other One>Truckin', a little unique for both the split Other One (split by a Garcia ballad, that is) and the ending tune of Truckin’, which was usually a jumping off point for the big jams of 1972. Regardless, it’s still pretty darn cool.

Jumping ahead seven years plus one day, to 8/13/79 at McNichols Arena in Denver, we have the pre-Drums sequence from that mighty fine show, featuring I Need A Miracle>Bertha>Good Lovin', He's Gone>Other One. These were some of the final concerts Betty recorded, and they sure do sound great. As you may recall, the band was scheduled to play three nights at Red Rocks, but after the first show at Red Rocks, 8/12/79, the band had to move things indoors for the final two nights due to the weather.

Lastly this week, we’ll stop by the final show of the 1982 summer tour, on 8/10/82 in Iowa City, with the end of the second set, Iko Iko>Truckin'>Stella Blue>Sugar Magnolia. It’s always nice to hear these Iko Ikos out of space.

There were a few songs repeated in this week’s Tapers’ Section, but as they were within jams, we hope you don’t mind. We sure don’t.

Next week we have music from 1968 and 1990, so don’t miss it. Some great stuff coming up. We welcome and encourage your questions or comments to the Tapers’ Section, at the address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net