March 15- March 21, 2010
Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be checking in on three full first sets from 1987 and 1988.
Our first stop this week is on 9/16/87, the second of the five night run at Madison Square Garden, the Grateful Dead's first appearance there since 1983. The first set this night was quite standard for the time, with one rather glaring exception: Scarlet Begonias was the second song of the night, popping out of a joyous Touch of Grey. Now THAT caught everyone off guard. We're pleased to present you with Touch Of Grey > Scarlet Begonias; Little Red Rooster; Dire Wolf; My Brother Esau; High Time; Let It Grow > Don't Ease Me In. the next night, on 9/17/87, jerry and bob made their famous appearance on letterman in which bobby, dave and biff attempted to levitate jerry, an old parlor trick.
From a little less than a year later, on 9/5/88 at the Capital Center in Landover, MD, we have the first set consisting of Iko Iko; Walkin' Blues; Ramble On Rose; Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues; Row Jimmy; Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; When Push Comes To Shove; The Music Never Stopped. This is the show after the breakout of Ripple on 9/3/88, and the crowd was pumped by Saturday's developments.
Lastly this week, from 9/8/88 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia to start a four night run of shows, we have the first set, made up of Let The Good Times Roll > Shakedown Street ; Walkin' Blues ; To Lay Me Down ; It's All Over Now ; Loser ; Let It Grow. This was a real hit-and-miss tour, and this set is certainly one of the hits.
Be sure to join us next week for more great stuff here at the Tapers' Section. As always, we encourage your emails at the address below.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net
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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!
Glad to make you laugh Canyon Critter.
04-07-78 is an amazing mess of a show, but one worth listening to even if only for the outstanding sound on the circulating soundboard. The demented nature of much of show veers between awful and some warped type of genius. Jack Straw is a well known catastrophe, but throughout Garcia sounds like he is playing guitar at a completely different show...well not really playing it, more fighting with it most of the time. Take a listen.
maybe we need a train wreck forum?
When I first read Badger's comment, I busted into laughter just thinking how witty he always is on his comments. Then my next reaction was hey what a great idea, Train Wrecks would be totally fun. I'm sure there was alot of them with all of those shows I hadn't heard of....kind of reminded me of an '85 show I saw on video recently where Bobby make a complete dive landing flat on his as onstage, when he got a little frisky with his lunge on Estimated Prophet. Ironically he broke the fall with his right hand, landed right on his but sitting down on the front part of the stage and kept on playing "seamlessly" I bet you couldn't even tell just listening.
Anyway great idea!!!!
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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!
Strangely enough, both wierded Brokedown's came as part of a double encore. Although, I'm not entirely convinced the Brokedown at Telluride actually started in the wrong key as Jerry said. Just compare it with:http://www.archive.org/details/gd1981-03-10.sbd-set2.miller.91764.flac16 an example where the double encore gig actually worked...
Lovin' it.
I remember that one because I was on the rail.
And let's just say oxygen deprivation was an issue in Telluride...
That one's better, and a little sweeter. Perhaps, 'cause Jerry was in a better place. It starts off with the same vocal flub. I like how Bob plays it kinda straight and sings harmony. Very funny...Jerry: 'we're in the wrong key...' The version ends up being kinda sweet. Thanks a lot, marye I must've missed this one: guess I don't know the 2000+ show by rote yet...ha ha
Brokedown Palace, which limps along for a bit before crashing as Jerry exclaims into the mic, "This is ALL FUCKED UP!" and starts over.
3-27-85 Touch of Gray http://www.archive.org/details/gd85-03-27.sbd.ladner.8567.sbeok.shnf
That is one for the ages. Thanks for whoever pointed that one out to me. I listen to it sometimes when I need a chuckle. Oh, and how about the Brokedown from 7-2-85? http://www.archive.org/details/gd85-07-02.sbd.bubba420.18249.sbeok.shnf
I just laughed out loud. There's also a US Blues where Jerry starts: 'Red and White, US Blues' instead of 'blue suede shoes' I forgot the date on that one. Anyone know?
Of course, there are many, many more...but we all keep coming back for the magic...
Anyone else want to list their favorites?
Speaking of Acid Tests, are there any recordings of these in the vault? I'd love to hear some of that! Talk about testing the limits of the listener...
P.S. I actually like Grace's spooky vocals and have the patience to listen to Seastones... sometimes. Guess I'm still with the fringe...
Locations
video link please!