This week we're going to check out some cool, under-the-radar material from early 1971, as well some other great stuff.

The first stop this week is to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, on 4/14/71. A quick caveat, and that's that the right channel, likely attributed to Weir's guitar, has a bit of a buzz occasionally. Rest assured the music shines through, though, so it's certainly worth hearing. From the middle of the second set, we have this excellent Cryptical Envelopment>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat. unfortunately, there is a reel change cut in wharf rat, but we figured we'd let you hear the whole jam intact as it exists in the vault.

From this same concert, we have the show's concluding sequence, typical of the time, which means high-energy. from 4/14/71, Hard to handle, not fade away> GDTRFB>Not Fade Away>Johnny B. Goode. In 1971, Hard To Handle is usually measured against a few versions, specifically 4/28&/29/71 and 8/6/71, and this one is certainly one of the better versions, with an exceptional solo by Weir to start the jam. Damn, he can play guitar!

From 4/19/83 in Orono, Maine, we have the opening trio of songs, Jack Straw, Friend of the Devil>It's All Over Now. The mix for the first three minutes of Jack Straw is rather dicey, but that's common of a lot of board tapes. However, things settle down nicely. There is a drop out/cut in Jack Straw, also typical of the PCM digital tapes from this era, so this piece of music exhibits lots of examples of the tape limitations from 1983.

From 1978, we'll drop in on the Spring Tour to hear some music from the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on 4/18/78. As we've mentioned in this space before, the shows prior to this night on the Spring tour are not in the vault (4/6 through 4/16), but the remaining shows, 4/18 through 4/24, plus the entirety of May tour, are thankfully in the vault. From the end of the second set, we have this very cool sequence of Samson and Delilah, Terrapin Station>Around and Around.

Finally this week, we have a nice little rocking combination, the show opener from 4/19/78 in Columbus, Ohio, Bertha>Good Lovin'. This was always such a great way to open a show, and a fine way to end this week's Tapers Section.

Be sure to stop back next week for more great music. We don't know what we'll play, but it'll be interesting we expect. Write the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net