March 2 - March 8, 2009
Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, and welcome to our first full week of March, 2009. For no reason in particular, we're going to check out music mostly from the previous week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history.
It's been a while, so we figured we'd focus this week on some shows that took place at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in February, 1990. These shows were in the middle of a string of concerts recorded to 24 track analog tape by John Cutler and Le Mobile, a recording truck the band used for many recordings, including the bulk of shows that happened May, 1989 through April, 1990. Several commercial releases have been produced from these recordings, including Without A Net, Dozin' At Knick, Nightfall Of Diamonds, Terrapin Limited, as well as some parts of the So Many Roads boxed set. Not only are the recordings phenomenal, but the band was playing particularly well in 1989-1990, so there are hopefully more releases to come from these shows.
Our first jam this week is from the first night in Oakland, 2/25/90, featuring China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Just A Little Light, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. We don't get to play too many versions of Just A Little Light, and sandwiched between these two classic Grateful Dead jams, we thought now was a good time.
Next up, from the second show, is the soaring Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain from 2/26/90. This, along with the 7/7/89 and 3/22/90 versions of Scarlet>Fire demonstrate why this is one of my favourite eras for this pairing.
Our last installment of the Oakland February, 1990 run is the post-Drums sequence from 2/27/90, consisting of The Other One>Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away, We Bid You Goodnight. Simply dynamite. The Spring tour of 1990 would start just over two weeks later on 3/14/90 and would prove to be one of the best tours of the band's final decade.
Lastly this week, just to shake things up and get us out of 1990, we have this terrific set closing sequence from 10/18/78 at Winterland, featuring Mojo Jam>Wharf Rat>Truckin', I Need A Miracle. Another magical jam from the From Egypt With Love concerts.
Be sure to join us next week for some great stuff from 1981 and 1993, a couple of years we don't hit often here at the Tapers' Section.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net
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BRENT!
Thank you for these awesome selections this week, David! They show Brent really hitting his stride during this era. '89-'90 is, to me, Brent coming in to his own as a colorist on the keys as well as the vox and pushing Jerry and the rest of the band for all they're worth. Sure he was battling his personal demons or whatever you wanna call his inward struggles, but onstage he left it all out there for us to see, and it was beautiful.
This Scarlet-Fire is one of the better "later" versions I've heard. It gets a little bit more out there than 3/22/90, imho.
Unbelievable Scarlet>Fire!
Hmmmm, don't remember if I was at this show or not? LMAO!
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Will you come with me? Once in awhile you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!
Thanks for the pick me up
Thanks for the pick me up today, I needed a little Dead!
Can't member if I was at this show again!
The Other One>Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away, We Bid You Goodnight
Oakland baby, Skyline Blvd type stuff!
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Will you come with me? Once in awhile you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!
And the rich man in his summer home!
When his pants are down, his cover is blown! B4 Clinton by the way!
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Will you come with me? Once in awhile you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right!
Great choices!!
This is one well-played chapter in Grateful dead history.
One question (sorry bout the complaint, because I actually really deeply appreciate this): Phil's incredible entrance during the intro to Scarlet is missing here. I know this is likely unmixed, but my old audience tapes the introduction of Phil's new tone with authority before Jerry even begins to sing.
SO much hot music here. 2.27.90 sometimes gets flack for being on the mellow side (some think mellow= uninspired). For the doubters, just check out this post-drums. That should resolve all doubts on the matter.
David, you are the man! Thank you for posting this.
Here's to the hope that 2.25.90 post-drums sees the light of day, with beautiful Wheel, my favorite Gimme Some Lovin' with 2 huge Jerry solos, and the most chaotic Wharf Rat you will find anywhere. The Knockin' encore is likewise the definitive version, in my insignificant opinion.
Nice !!
This scarlet/fire is just what I needed to hear :)
Scarlet > Fire
This Scarlet > Fire is 30 minutes of pure bliss.....a long time favorite. Love the spring 90'
Outstanding................ < > Beam me up Scotty
Vaguely remember doing the Oakland Coliseum showz.. The run was a real shot in the arm, no pun intended, and the band was OUTSTANDING!!! Gawd I miss being on the bus, but what a GREAT time those daze were!!!! BTW, just saw 2 DSO shows and talked w/Dan Healy during the 2 nights!! The band sounds great and Dan says hello to all his friends out there!!
DoDa Man ;^ )
Without love in the dream it'll never come true
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Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia
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Good DSO show 2/28/09
Here is the original DSO setlist form Sat 2/28/09 Barrymore Theater, Madison, WI
Set 1: Shakedown St, Jack Straw, Deep Elem Blues, Feel Like a Stranger, Pride of Cucamonga, Top of the World, Lazy Lightning> Supplication, Two Souls in Communion, Touch of Grey
Set 2: Lovelight> Caution> After Midnight> Viola Lee Blues> Lost Sailor> Saint of Circumstance> Drums> Space> Visions of Johanna> Truckin'> Help on the Way> Slipknot!> Deal
Encore: Like a Road
DoDa Man ;^ )
Without love in the dream it'll never come true
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Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia
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