This week we have music from 1971, 1977, 1979 and 1984, a little bit for everyone. Except from the1990s. And the 1960s. We’ll work on that for an upcoming week.

Our first selection this week is from 12/4/71 at the Felt Forum in New York City. By this time, it was quite common to split an “Other One” with a cowboy tune, but this is a very rare jam that features cowboy tunes sandwiching an “Other One.” The jam consists of The Other One>Mexicali Blues>The Other One>Wharf Rat. Very unique indeed. It’s always amazing that in the course of a half hour, the Grateful Dead could dabble in hard core psychedelic music, country music, and end it all with a great American song, Wharf Rat.

Next up from 1977 is this outstanding Not Fade Away>Wharf Rat>Around and Around from 10/11/77 in Norman, OK. This show was suggested by Dick, along with 12/19/73 and 9/21/72, as a prime candidate for Dick’s Picks Vol. 1. This version of Not Fade Away features some of the most inspired and intense riffs this song ever saw. Jerry and Co. are simply on fire. Although a term usually reserved for 1968-1969 Grateful Dead, Dick considered this music a stunning piece of “primal” Dead.

From 12/10/79 in Kansas City, Kansas, we have this second set jam featuring Easy to Love You>Let It Grow>He’s Gone>Truckin’. This was a very rare second set Let It Grow, but it worked beautifully in this slot. And we’ve had some requests for Easy to Love You, so there you have it.

Finally from this week, we have this incredible first set closing combination of Bird Song, Let It Grow from 7/6/84 at Alpine. Simply a stunning, jammed out one-two punch before heading into a terrific second set.

Check back next Monday for more great music from the vault. We don’t know what we’ll play yet, but we expect it to be good. As always, feel free to email comments or questions to address below. It’s always great to hear from you.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net