This week, we’re going to stop into the years of 1980, 1984 and 1989 exclusively, with some great stuff from both years.

First up, from the final night of the Grateful Dead’s 14 night run at the Warfield in San Francisco on October 14, 1980, we have the pre-Drums sequence of Jam>Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band, always a good combination of tunes.

Next, in 1984, the band played an excellent show in Hartford, CT, on October 14. From that night, we have the first set closing sequence of I Need A Miracle>Might As Well, a rather interesting pairing of songs. And from the end of the second set, we have the sequence of China Doll>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away. Unfortunately, the master recording (on Beta PCM) is cut toward the end of Not Fade Away. However, the sequence is particularly interesting due to the massive amounts of effects Healy put on the voices throughout these three songs. This is about the strongest, most prolonged manipulation of the vocals these ears have ever heard.

Our next stop is in 1989, at the Meadowlands Arena. Of course, the final night of this five night run of shows was immortalized on the 2001 CD release Nightfall of Diamonds, mixed from the beautifully-recorded 24-track analog master tapes. From earlier in the run, we have the pre-Drums sequence of the second set from 10/12/89, featuring Hey Pocky Way>Cumberland Blues>Looks Like Rain>He’s Gone. From the next show, on 10/14/89 (on 10/13/89, Jerry and Bobby appeared on the David Letterman show), we have the first set opening combination of Touch of Grey>Minglewood Blues, both of which are played exceptionally.

Be sure to check back in next week for more great material. As always, we welcome you to write with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net