November 17 - November 23, 2008
As we mentioned last week, we’re going to stay in 1972 and 1973 this week here at the Tapers’ Section, but hold onto your hats, as we have some great material from those two mighty fine years.
First up is music from 11/18/72 in Houston, Texas, with this exceptional Playing In The Band. I’ve said it before and will say it again, this is one of my favourite versions, of one of my favourite songs, so it’s a real pleasure to share it here. It may have made an appearance here at the Tapers’ Section in the past, but it’s never bad to get a refresher on great music.
At the same venue in Houston the very next night, 11/19/72, we have the nice big second set jam featuring Dark Star>Weather Report Suite Prelude>Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo. These early WRS Preludes would occasionally pop into jams from about 1971 onward, until Bobby would join the prelude to Part 1 and Let It Grow in August/September 1973.
Next we have another of the finest jams of 1973, the magnificent Playing In The Band>Uncle John’s Band>Morning Dew>Uncle John’s Band>Playing In The Band sandwich from 11/17/73 at UCLA. This was the second of the three versions of this jam played (the others being 11/10/73 and 3/23/74), and some consider it the best, although all three are very special.
Lastly we have ANOTHER outstanding late 1973 jam featuring Mississippi Half Step>Playing In The Band>El Paso>Playing In The Band>Wharf Rat>Playing In The Band>Morning Dew. This and the previous selection from 11/17/73 demonstrate why I consistently call the two month period spanning 10/19/73 to 12/19/73 the greatest two month stretch in the Grateful Dead’s performing history.
Next week we’ll have music from 1973, 1979 and 1980, so don’t be late: same time, same place. See you then, we hope.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net
hey, ted- we can split the 'workload,' don't you think? when i win the lottery, i will volunteer to be david's assistant- i'll fetch coffee and mess with the volume knobs! you can talk tech and history!!
caroline
Hey now!
I appreciate the variety of releases provided by David. We've got a good thing going...
Regarding Bob's post above, Donna took maternity leave after the Tempe gig and was absent from the December 1973 tour stops: I enjoyed her on-stage performance and miss seeing her weave and dance. Reliable wireless earpieces hadn't been invented yet....?? Maybe Dan Healey or John Cutler can pipe in on stage equipment vintage 1973.
The End of '72 (start with the August BCT shows) has to be included in any discussion of a peak performing period. This Texas run is certainly proof of that. Love this Houston Dark Star-never heard it before.
I wish Dick was still alive. He had good taste and would not use his position to satisfy his own selfish taste. 25 PITB in 11 months. Time for a new host.
david, if you please-- can we get an all-PITB taper's section? it would be great!
nothing is quite so polarizing as PITB... i love it all-
thanks for the tunes!
caroline
I'm enthralled by this week's selections. Thank you! And thanks to Lucab12 up above for tracking down the source of the last jam.
Regarding WRS Preludes, on DP36 (9/21/72) you can hear Bobby tuning up before a song playing WRS Prelude Part I. I can't remember where exactly, gonna have to give it another listen, but it's in there. That's the earliest I can recollect ever hearing him play that sweet guitar line.
When oh when are you going to release the whole Pauley show?
I'm with DL on this one, Bob - we need to hear ALL of 'em!!!!!!!!!
Nice selection! Thanks, David.
There is something very...hmmm... warm and comforting about the fall '73 tour. The deep space explorations during this time are very deep and sometimes scary. One could probably move the 10/19/73 date you mentioned to the previous year and call it one of the finest 12-15 month stretches in performing history; there are so many great stretches!
Just a little FYI: the 11/18/72 and 11/17/73 links are flip-flopped.
Jam on!
Locations
What a fine week of FREE MUSIC.
It's all free all the time.Why the complaining?These '73 jams are just fantastic!
Honest dissent is fine- just don't whine.One can always hit the off switch,no?
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Lemieux,
shwack in nh