September 28 - October 4, 2009
Welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we close out September and head into October. This week we're going to listen mostly to music, and goooood music, from 1976, with a touch of 1989 mixed at.
The fall tour of 1976 featured some exceptional concerts, and some intriguing and inspired set lists and song combinations. After an entire tour now under their belts after their nearly two-year hiatus, the Grateful Dead settled into a touring schedule that would be the norm for the next 19 years, with each year generally featuring three tours, plus several short batches of shows in a region or a bunch of California shows. Our first stop in 1976 this week is in Syracuse, NY, with music that is part of the stellar Dick's Picks Vol. 20, the second 4-CD Dick's Pick, after the outstanding Vol. 14. From the second set of 9/28/76, we have Jam>Comes A Time>Drums>Eyes of the World>Orange Tango Jam>Dancing In The Street>Playing in the Band, Johnny B. Goode. the orange tango jam is unlike anything i've ever heard the grateful dead do.
From the very next show, on 9/30/76 in Columbus, OH, we have another big 1976 second set jam, featuring St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Drums>Wharf Rat>Not Fade Away>St. Stephen>Around and Around. The coolest thing about these fall tour of 1976 second sets is that each one is completely different and unique. They did things at these shows that they'd never do again, nor before.
To prove that point, here's another massive 1976 second set jam, from 10/2/76 in Cincinnati, with the incredible segment of Dancing In The Street>Drums>The Other One>Stella Blue>The Other One>Sugar Magnolia. Every show featured something interesting. The first sets on this tour were very good, but the second sets were stunning for the most part.
Our last selection, from 20 years ago this week, is the return of Death Don't Have No Mercy, from 9/29/89 at Shoreline. As a famous Dead Head once said, this was the last time he truly saw Jerry blow his mind with a guitar solo. It is exquisite, and very deserving of its inclusion on the exceptional 5-CD boxed set So Many Roads.
Be sure to make your way back to this site next week for more great music from the Grateful Dead's recorded history. As always, we welcome and encourage you to write to the email address below my name with any questions or comments
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net
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Cut!
The first selection cuts in the middle (?) of Dancin'.
thirty-three years ago today
man that orange tango jam is so exquisite! I won't give you any flack this time, DL, for including previously-released material on the TS - not when it's this good!
I love the hyper-drive Eyes too!
mine cuts out as well during Dancin' when they're really cookin' :^(
Fall 1976
Ah, at last, some grate memories of the band coming back from nearly a 2 year nationwide tour lay-off. After the October run in 1974 at Winterland, Bob and Jerry each spent time doing alternate efforts, such as with Kingfish , JGB combos including Legion of Mary, and sitting in w the New Riders. The United Artist album "Blues for Allah" was released in 1975, introducing Help>Slip>Frank, Crazy Fingers and Music Never Stopped, all of which appeared during this September-October 1976 tour. I was so excited about their return that I hitchhiked (29 rides) from Estes Park, Co to Indianapolis to meet friends for the 10/1 show. Check-out the late Jerry Moore's audience recording on www.archive.org for a taste of how good this show was!
Thanks for providing these tunes, David, it sure is good stuff.
OVERSTUFFED WEEK
Hey Man,
Fantastic music this week! And plenty of it too.Fun set lists and fine playing.A double helping of Drums...Yessah!
(always welcome in this house)
Merci Beaucoup Monsieur Lemieux
shwack in nh
Fall '76 Digital Box Set
I'd like to see a digital box set of all fall '76 second sets (the ones that haven't already been released, that is, in Dick's Picks 20 or 33.)
"Play All Night"
There's a guy you can hear on the tape from Syracuse 9/28 who yells just that as they're getting into 'drums.' Love it!
I was at the previous night in Rochester, which for sure should get released someday. A fantastic, unique second set that night in the War Memorial was exactly along the lines of what Lemieux was talking about up above.
Have mercy
OMG, that Death Don't Have No Mercy is freekin hair-raising! It is like too strong to be mere entertainment, especially intense to hear Jerry and Brent wailing it. I know death don't have no mercy in this land, but sometimes the loss is hard to bear. RIP, old souls of music... we miss you, but it sure is a blessing we still get to hear you. Just another example of why the Grateful Dead are not just the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do.
Death Don't
With that kind of build up you just gotta listen to this Death Don't. One thing is for sure, the Dead sure kicked ass at the Shoreline! Phil is a powerful underlying presence in this piece.
Luv it! Wish I was at one of the all too rare performances in 89..
Oh 1976 yes
God I love this 1976 stuff. Especially great to come across this while waiting for delivery of the newly re-released CD version of DP 33. There have been delays, and I've listened to all my 1976 shows at home while eagerly waiting... and voila! This will help get me through (Please Mr. Postman!)
I love this year - the unique jam sequences, their vocal mix, Jerry's Travis Bean guitar... even the oft-maligned martial drumming style. And Phil was in funkmaster mode that whole year.
Thanks David for this!
Great criteria for picks
Loved your output this week . Its true , 76 had some jaw dropping song combinations going on .
I love Upper Darby PA June 22 Comes a time > fingers or vice versa ( cant remember if fingers or comes a time comes first . I also have agreat tape of July 16 Orpheum Theatre . Theres also a very scrambled 2nd set with Stronger than dirt as a highlight . Fall 76 though ive always reflected on as the prelude to the monumental early 77 and later spring , summer fall 77 . Because the band was finally getting their road material - gear , PA systems etc - up to par after the almost 2 year time out . And they did ..