This week at the Tapers Section, we have some great music from 1969, 1972 and 1982. It was always funny to be at Club Front in Novato when Jeffrey and I would work on something from 1982 or later after working on so much late 1960s and early 1970s material, as we'd say that working on 1982 or 1989 was working on something “recent.” I suppose 26 years ago isn't that recent, but considering some of the music we play here is upwards of 42 years old, I guess it really is, in the big picture.

Speaking of old music, looking back 39 years this week we've got music from the Family Dog in San Francisco. From 8/29/69, we have several songs from this excellent show, specifically Easy Wind, Me and My Uncle, High Time, New Orleans>Searching>Good Lovin'. That last trio of tunes is such a unique sequence of songs that it just begged to be played here at the Tapers Section, where we always love bringing you the bizarre stuff that Grateful Dead played throughout their career.

From the next night, on 8/30/69, we have a terrific little Aoxomoxoa combination of tunes, featuring China Cat Sunflower>Doin' That Rag. Two of my favourites from an album filled with great songs.

Jumping ahead three years, and because this week marks the 36th Anniversary of Veneta 8/27/72, we figured we'd play this fast and furious Playing In The Band from one of the most highly-regarded Grateful Dead concerts of all time. 'Nuff said.

Finally this week, we have music from 10 years later, on 8/29/82, in Seattle. The previous night had seen the Grateful Dead return to the same field as Veneta '72, and on to Seattle for this show. The post-Drums sequence from Seattle was really inspired, and featured Not Fade Away>Wharf Rat>Sugar Magnolia. These early-1980s versions of Not Fade Away out of space were always a blast.

Thanks for stopping by. We'll see you here next week, we hope, when we'll have more great material from deep within the vault. Please feel free to write with questions, comments, requests or suggestions. The email address below is the best way to reach me.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net