February 2 - February 8, 2009
Welcome to February here at the Tapers' Section, where we have a nice range of Grateful Dead spanning 18 years or so.
Our first stop this week is the Fillmore West in San Francisco on 2/8/70, where the Grateful Dead were wrapping up a magnificent four night run of shows before departing for New York and the famous three nights at the Fillmore East on 2/11,13&14/70. From the final night of the Fillmore West run, we're pleased to play this excellent Smokestack Lightning, one of the finest I've ever heard, up there with the one from a week later at the Fillmore East (and featured on Bear's Choice).
Before we get into the 1978 Grateful Dead we promised last week, we're going to play some 1988, because we don't play too much from that underrated year very often here at the Tapers' Section. From 9/5/88 at the Capitol Center in Landover, MD, the third of a four night run, we have the opening of the second, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band>Playing In The Band. The music in 1988 lacked the long jams (mostly), but had an inspired tightness.
Now we'll hit some 1978 Grateful Dead. From 2/4/78 in Milwaukee, WI, we have this very nice second set sequence of Dancing In The Street>Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band. This show is often overshadowed by the night before and after, but there is some fine playing from Milwaukee.
From the next night, we have two tunes to play for you: the double length Samson and Delilah, and the pre-Drums version of Truckin'. The Samson is so long (and good!) because evidently the vocal mics weren't working, so the band ran through the tune once instrumentally, and then again with vocals. Unique and excellent.
Be sure to stop back next week for some tasty 1970 material, plus a great sequence from 1967.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net
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Ground Hog Day
Oh yes! Good thing DL delived so early today! The ground hog came out of his hole and started "dancing in the street" so spring is coming early.
The selections look wonderful, I'll be here all week.
Thank you.
round and round
interesting dichotomy between playing in the bands
After one listen to the 2-4 clip I notice the dichotomy between the two Playing Jams. 2-4's has a jazz-like flowing linear clean sound lead from Jerry before it phases out (or -cuts-), not the kind of alien wierdness found on Selland 3 weeks earlier. Early '78 has some of the best gems. Now, to dust of my well worn copy of DP 18. (Non-sequitor alert: what a game last night...how 'bout a best of the dead in pittsburgh as a salute?...probably easier than the dead in az., right?).
post blizzard dead
no, it wasn't really a blizzard, but we did get 13 inches of snow and missed school for 3 days (it really is awesome to have that kind of schedule!)- i am unhappily back in 'teacher clothes' but i am groovin to some groundhog day dead-- thanks, david.
caroline
hey now
Great tunes this week. Thanks again! Lovin' the Truckin' from Cedar Falls. It came right after one of my all-time favorite Scarlet-Fires and the jumbo Samson&Delilah from this week. From the sound of this Truckin', the tremendous energy from the previous three songs was sustained.
Wild smokestack...
thanks David for some great music, love the span in years,, one wild smokestack for sure, comlete with guitars dancin back and forth on the speakers.( a bear mix for sure), on to some of the bands more concise playing 88, looking back at that year it was special , for the tight playing.. for sure..78,, perhaps the most underated year. thanks for pulling out. the 2/4/78 bit,, a rarity,, the double samson from 2/5 just brings out the smiles.. would luv to have been witness to that. well.on groundhog day, spring tour is commin..Smokestack would be a great tune for the 2009 band to take a walk with.. let me dive into this stuff for a wile.. thanks..
Ah, oh, smokestack lightning
Shinin', just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah, whoo hoo, ooh...
Whoo...
Whoa, oh, tell me, baby
What's the, matter with you?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo
Whoo...
Whoa, oh, tell me, baby
Where did ya, stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo
Whoo...
Whoa, oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo
Whoo...
Whoa, oh, fare ya well
Never see, ah, you no more
Ah, why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ooh, whoo hoo, whoo hoo
Whoo...
Whoa, oh, who been here baby since
I, I been gone, a little, bitty boy?
Girl, be on
Ah, whoo hoo, whoo hoo
This one is pure howlin wolf PIGPEN and the boyz!! Love it, just gets the cold bad o bonez dancin cross the floor.... then we move to some hometown tunes from Milwaukee, which is a pretty fun city these daze, still got SummerFest, which if you have never witnessed, is 10 daze of really great music for like $25 a day or less. As far as the story about the mics not working, supposedly a stagehand was feelin a little trippy, go figure, and fogot to finish the wiring, so they taped him up and dosed him with Milwaukee's finest, beer!! See yall soon!!! and thanks for the awesum selection of tunes....!!
DoDa Man ;^ )
Madison, WI
17 miles surrounded by Reality
Samson Crawled Up the Lion's Back
I must say that Smokestack scorched my speakers. This double length Samson & Delilah is melting the base booster.
Summerfest is pretty cool too, got there as much as possible with alot of bands. I love when Ratdog plays there too. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Pearl Jam was amazing.
But, when I hear this band play, even from 1966, there is nothing like our band. By far the best.
Thanks David!
____________________________________________________
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!
lovin this taping of uncle
lovin this taping of uncle johns band the feedback just adds to the rawness of the cut and the super lengthy sampson and delilah is super sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Samson vocal mics
Didn't the same thing happen in '77 @ the Englishtown show?
88 year of the dragon
, I think the band was trying to make a statement as band ; throughout their sound , new songs being debuted etc
1987 is Jerry s come back year . great shows IMHO , and an economic success that little times had been seen for this band w the LP In the dark
So , in 1988 the band - i think - takes it easy somewhat , but at some point begins to ' do something else ' , because there were great shows from the beginning to the end of year . Palo alto 3.30 . Some other spring performances . Summer , fall and then towards the end of that year
The band began almost all , to begin using the MIDI technology , which revolutionized their sound . I m still - 20 years after - very impressed by their MIDI interventions at shows , and / or during space during that year and 1989 . Phil began using MIDI in fall 88 during space w a Modulus bass . He then chose Ken smith basses which the MIDI was much simpler / qualitative to use
The band then slips into 1989 , a landmark year by many fans , and the rest - 90 and on .. is well .. history
p.s. DL , to me the most intriguing thing about the 88 material this week , was the delicious Playin jam @ Cap centre . Recordings from that year show the shy spirit to deepen during the jams ( ie China cat > rider is short duration ] . On the David Gans section we hear the tremendous June 23 , 88 show ; and the 1st set has a terse Iko Iko to open - one of the most short & sweet versions ive heard . But then again , if you were there it may have warranted for a short version ; you never know
Stuff like China Cat > Fingers > rider in July 88 are great moments to cherish as well
Thank you