Taper's Section

February 8 - February 14, 2010

ccasal — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:47:19 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be playing music from 1988, 1990 and 1992.

Our first stop this week is at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, where the Grateful Dead were playing their first ever three-night run at the Brendan Byrne Arena. The middle night, 3/31/88, featured a very odd show ending jam, and we're pleased to play it for you here today. The post-Drums sequence of Space>GDTRFB>Miracle>Fantasy>Hey Jude>Watchtower, Knockin' featured a couple of things to note. First of all, check out the gorgeous Space, with Jerry, Phil and Bobby doing all sorts of cool things. The transition into GDTRFB is one of the cleanest I've ever heard, followed by a passionate Miracle into a terrific Dear Mr. Fantasy. At the end of Fantasy, during the Hey Jude coda, Brent and Bobby can be heard doing some outstanding vocal bits. Then one of the strangest bits of late-80s Grateful Dead music arrived: All Along The Watchtower. All I can say is check it out; train wreck narrowly averted, perfectly executed chaos ensues. Also, this encore would end up being the only time the Grateful Dead played two Bob Dylan songs in a row.

Next we have music from the final Grateful Dead show at the Hartford Civic Center on 3/19/90. We have the end of the first set, Picasso Moon, Brown-Eyed Women, All Over Now, Deal. This was the first time I ever saw Picasso Moon live, and although much-maligned, I thought the song kicked butt live, and I was thoroughly impressed hearing it the first time live. A nice, raunchy, rocking end, similar in tone to long-lost closing jams on Passenger. It's a great Deal, too, one of those versions where everyone locks in tightly in the closing jam.

From the same tour, on 3/29/90 at Nassau Coliseum, we have the start of the first set featuring Jack Straw, Bertha, We Can Run, Ramble On Rose, Masterpiece. We've selected this batch of tunes not only because it's really good, but it often gets overlooked due to the presence of Branford Marsalis later in the first set and in the second set.

Finally this week, we have the penultimate (there it is again!) Canadian Grateful Dead concert, held at the current home of the Hamilton Bulldogs (Go Habs!), at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on 3/20/92. I distinctly recall this day being a very cold, crisp, sunny end-of-winter day, and I spent some time in the afternoon visiting the CFL Hall of Fame near the arena. I also remember being in the hotel lobby when the band arrived and checked in, to a huge round of applause by a lobby filled with Dead Heads. From that show, we have Hell In A Bucket, Althea, The Same Thing, Brown-Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues>Maggie's Farm. This latter combination is cool as Mexicali rarely started cold, usually coming out of Mama Tried or Me and My Uncle. These versions of Maggie's Farm with everyone taking a verse were pretty cool, too. Hearing Vince sing his verse in Europe in 1990 was the first time any of us had ever heard Vince's voice on its own.

Be sure to stop by next week when we'll listen to music from 1974 and 1982. Thanks for hanging out, and feel free to send questions or comments to me at the email address below, with the subject “Grateful Dead” to make sure it squeezes through our state-of-the-art spam filters.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 1 - February 7, 2010

ccasal — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:01:50 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where as promised we'll be playing you music from the 1980s this week, specifically music from 1981 and 1989.

Our first stop this week is on 8/12/81 in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace. An odd personal anecdote about the Salt Palace: On the summer tour of 1990, I had a little over a week to kill between Eugene on 6/24 and Kansas on 7/4, and I found myself in Salt Lake City. Big, wide, clean streets, I recall. Being such a Dead Head taper, I knew about the Salt Palace from a crappy audience recording I had from 2/28/73 (later Dick's Picks 28!). I stumbled upon the arena, and was happy to see what it looked it. The area around the arena was deserted, but I tried one of the doors, and amazingly it was open. I walked into the arena, and found myself on the floor of an NBA basketball arena, surrounded by 12,000 people watching TV in the dark. Eerily surreal. An announcement was made, and a huge cheer went up; it was an arena filled with people watching the NBA entry draft on closed circuit TV, with the cheer being the response to Utah's selection. From the Salt Palace 81 we have Space>Spanish Jam>Morning Dew, a high energy jam featuring a very well-developed Spanish Jam.

Next up, from the Grateful Dead's only appearance in Scotland, at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 9/30/81, we have the opening of the second set, featuring Feel Like A Stranger, Ship of Fools, Samson and Delilah, Never Trust A Woman. This was the tour opener, and there was plenty of great music played over the next two+ weeks in Europe.

Finally this week, we have the entire first set from the penultimate (!) show of a three night run at Cal Expo in Sacramento on 8/5/89, featuring One More Saturday Night ; Cold Rain And Snow ; We Can Run ; Stagger Lee ; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again ; Row Jimmy ; Let It Grow. All three of these concerts were excellent, and would be followed up by three great shows at the Greek a week and a half later, the final Greek shows as it turns out. Thankfully they kept playing at Cal Expo for a few more years.

Check back next week for music from 1988, 1990 and 1992 as keep the winter blues at bay with more excellent Grateful Dead music. Feel free to write the email address below; your input, questions and comments are always appreciated.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 25, 2010 - January 31, 2010

ccasal — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:13:33 -0600

Week of January 25-31, 2010

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, as we wrap up January with a good variety of music spanning almost 20 years, from 1973 to 1992, with a stop in 1977.

Our first stop this week is at Kezar Stadium on 5/26/73, one of the Grateful Dead's very, very rare appearances in the Bay Area in 1973. Aside from Kezar, the band only played for its hometown fans on 2/9/73 at Stanford, and the three night run at Winterland in November. Obviously, what they lacked in quantity of performances they certainly made up for in quality. This Kezar show was the third consecutive major weekend show for the Dead, with the previous stops being 5/13/73 in Des Moines, and 5/20/73 in Santa Barbara. From Kezar, we have a Looks Like Rain, They Love Each Other, Playing In The Band. Although the Des Moines show on 5/13/73 is my favourite of the three May shows, Kezar only falls a fraction below that on the list, with 5/20/73 being just as good as Kezar.

Speaking of Santa Barbara on 5/20/73, we figured we should give you a taste of that one as well. So, from that show, we have Rider, BIODTL, TLEO. All three of these big shows followed a similar set list, but all are worth seeking.

Next up, we have music from the penultimate show of the magnificent Spring Tour of 1977 (that's three weeks in a row we've used the word "penultimate;" this will be the penultimate time we use it for the foreseeable future...). This is the opening sequence from 5/26/77, and features The Music Never Stopped>Sugaree, Mama Tried, Sunrise, Deal, Passenger, Brown-Eyed Women. There have been plenty of CD releases from this tour, for very good reason.

Lastly this week, we have music from Shoreline Amphitheatre from 5/24/92, a show that a good friend of Dick Latvala's turned me on to. From the second set, we have Samson and Delilah, So Many Roads, Long Way To Go Home, Corrina, a good bunching of the then-new songs that we haven't played too often here at the Tapers' Section.

Tune in next week when we'll be playing you music from the 1980s exclusively here at the Tapers' Section. Feel free to write the email address below with questions or comments about the Tapers' Section, or any aspect of Grateful Dead and CD releases.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 18, 2010 - January 24, 2010

ccasal — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:13:30 -0600

This week we're going to listen to music exclusively from the summer tour of 1989, one of the most-requested eras we are asked about, and one of the finest years in the Grateful Dead's final 15 years of touring. We're going to focus on a week that would see the band go from the huge RFK Stadium, to the delightfully small Deer Creek Music Theatre (for the band's first visit there), to the tour closing shows at Alpine.

Our first stop this week is at RFK Stadium at the last of seven huge stadium gigs on the tour. This show, on 7/13/89, was the fifth anniversary of the last performance of Dark Star, and amongst us taper geeks, hopes were high that THEY'D remember, but it was not meant to be. As preposterous as that thought was, just about three months later they'd actually play Dark Star. We have the first set from 7/13/89, made up of Hell In A Bucket, Cold Rain and Snow, Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed, Memphis Blues, To Lay Me Down, Let It Grow. Parental discretion is advised on Rooster thanks to Brent's soulful contribution.

From the very next show on 7/15/89 at Deer Creek just outside of Indianapolis, we have the end of the first set, Jack-A-Roe, Queen Jane Approximately, We Can Run, Bird Song. This show was like a huge breath of fresh air. After seven straight shows at some of the east coast's largest and most impersonal stadiums (Foxboro, Rich, JFK, Giants and RFK) it was a real thrill to arrive at the brand new Deer Creek and find such a small venue. And the band rose to the occasion and played a great show.

Last year we played you the opening of the middle show at Alpine on 7/18/89, and this year we're going to listen to the end of the first set, made up of Minglewood, FOTD, Memphis Blues, Bird Song, Promised Land. We hope you don't mind two versions of Bird Song in a row.

Finally this week, we're going to hear music from the final night of the tour, at Alpine on 7/19/89. We'll start out with the opening combination, Hell In A Bucket>Sugaree and then will move on to Mama Tried>Mexicali Blues, Althea.

Stop in next week when we'll check out some music from 1973, 1977 and 1992. As always, we encourage you to write to me at the email address below. It's always great to hear from you with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 11 - January 17, 2010

ccasal — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:14:10 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers' Section. We figured that with winter at its worst in many parts of the world, we'd check in on some music from late July in California, specifically at Laguna Seca, near beautiful Monterey, CA, in 1988.

The 1988 version of the Grateful Dead is a tough one to classify. It certainly wasn't a bad year for the band, but it was sandwiched between two very important GD years, the triumphant comeback of 1987, and the perfection that defined much of 1989. It reminds me a bit of 1978 GD, in that 1978 was also sandwiched between two distinct years of Grateful Dead music with clear identities, the masterful 1977 Grateful Dead, and the rebirth of the band owing largely to the addition of Brent in early 1979. Regardless, 1988 (just like 1978) had some excellent music, perhaps not as consistently great as the previous and following years (just like 1978), but some very solid material. To demonstrate this, we've decided to play the first sets of three nights at Laguna Seca. These shows came on the heals of a short eastern tour that featured such shows as four nights at Alpine, the first Buckeye stop, the final SPAC show, and the two nights at Oxford Speedway in Maine, as well as the penultimate run of shows at the Greek in Berkeley.

The first night, 7/29/88, featured a very unique second set opening sequence of China Cat>Crazy Fingers>Rider, as well as a complete Playing In the Band, very rare by 1988. But, as this is a trip through the first sets, today we have for you Iko Iko, Walkin' Blues, Candyman, Queen Jane Approximately, Althea, Blow Away, Cassidy>Deal. This is likely the least adventurous first set of the three nights, but it is played very well, and includes a very early Blow Away, which was debuted about six weeks before this at Alpine in June.

Next up, from the middle show on 7/30/88, is the first set consisting of Let The Good Times Roll, Feel Like A Stranger, Loser, New Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, When Push Comes To Shove, The Music Never Stopped. Another great set of music, with a meaty Stranger and a rocking Music Never Stopped. Bobby was embracing his inner rock star more and more as the 1980s moved onward, and songs like Memphis Blues allowed him to shine.

Finally, the last night at Laguna Seca on 7/31/88 featured what is likely the best first set of the run, made up of Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Little Red Rooster, West L.A. Fadeaway, Me And My Uncle > Big River, Ramble On Rose, Gentlemen Start Your Engines, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song. Rooster and West LA feature David Hidalgo from Los Lobos (who opened the shows along with David Lindley and El Rayo X) on guitar, and this could be one of my favourite special guest appearances with the Grateful Dead. He brings things up to such a high level, which certainly isn't always the case, as the band would often keep things safe when special guests would sit in, so as not to spook their friends. Also worth noting, for good or ill, is that this is the final live performance of Brent's Gentlemen Start Your Engines. Jerry has some fun with the raunchiness of this song, and Bob's doing some interesting stuff, but it never had a chance to develop beyond this version and the one in Pittsburgh in June, 1988.

So, there you have it, three-plus hours of Grateful Dead for the price of, well, nothing. We hope you've enjoyed this trip through 1988's first set material. Thanks for stopping in, and we'll see you next week for more great Grateful Dead music.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

Janurary 4, 2010 - January 10, 2010

ccasal — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:56:02 -0600

Welcome back and thanks for joining us on for first full week of 2010 here at the Tapers’ Section. This week we’re going to feature music that has been inspired by one of the finest, and most important, behind-the scenes people in the Grateful Dead world, Eileen Law.

Many of the readers here might be aware of how the Grateful Dead’s tape archive became so, well, organized, and that is due mainly to the efforts of Dick Latvala. Dick, as you might know, was a fixture in the Grateful Dead world since the 1970s (he also saw plenty of 1960s Grateful Dead shows), and it was Dick who, around 1985, suggested someone should take care of the tapes, and the next thing he knew he was hired to do so, and the rest is history. Likewise, about 15 years before that, Eileen Law showed up at the Dead’s offices, and suggested someone should take care of the memorabilia and ephemera that was evidently accumulating in the Grateful Dead world. She was hired, and over the next 35+ years she amassed a stunningly large collection of Grateful Dead items that included photos, newspaper clippings, business documents, concert posters, awards and loads of original iconographic items, such as the Touch of Grey skeletons, Hell in a Bucket trident pitchfork thingies, and on and on. I was fortunate to work with Eileen at GDP 1999-2006, and up to the present in a more limited way, and she had plenty of great stories about specific shows and memories, and these stories, so often surrounding New Year’s Eve shows, has inspired the Tapers’ Section to put together a week that centers around these stories.

Our first selection is this version of Ripple from 4/28/71 at the Fillmore East. Eileen had once told the story of the crew setting up a microphone on the side of the stage at the Fillmore East for Eileen and a couple of the other support staff/friends to sing backup on Ripple. Lo and behold, while producing the Ladies and Gentlemen…the Grateful Dead: Fillmore East April 1971 album in 2000, Jeffrey Norman was mixing the multitracks when he found a track assigned to background vocals on Ripple. So, if you listen closely, you’ll hear Eileen singing backup on this penultimate electric version of Ripple until 9/3/88 (they’d play it acoustically in 1980 a lot).

Another show that comes to mind when talking about Eileen is 2/28/73 at Salt Lake City. Eileen flew out for this show from the Bay Area to celebrate her birthday, and what a show it was! This mighty fine concert features loads of first cabin Grateful Dead, including these great versions of Jack Straw, He's Gone and Big River. Perfection! If you want to hear five hours of this excellent music, Dick’s Picks Vol. 28 was drawn from this show and the previous show, on 2/26/73 in Lincoln, NE.

Eileen had also mentioned the 10/20/74 show at Winterland, a possible goodbye for the Grateful Dead. She described walking up the ramp to the stage, for a gathering that might have been the final show. Thankfully, they returned to playing in the not-too-distant future, and from that great night of music on 10/20/74, with Mickey sitting in during his return to the Grateful Dead, we have a few of the songs from the big jam, featuring Playing In The Band, Not Fade Away and The Other One.

Finally this week, we have the first live version of Cassidy, from 3/23/74. This would be the only Grateful Dead version of Cassidy until 1976, and the only one with the background “doo doo doo doo”s. Cassidy, of course, is Eileen’s daughter. While here at the Cow Palace on 3/23/74, we figured we should play you the final version of the musical sandwich consisting of Playing In The Band>Uncle John’s Band>Morning Dew>Uncle John’s Band>Playing In The Band.

Well, thanks for joining us. The next time you’re flipping through the booklets that accompanied Dick’s Picks 23, 28, 33, 36 (these ones really stand out as making full use of the GD’s non-musical archives) or really any Grateful Dead archival release, you can thank Eileen for not only saving all of that amazing memorabilia, but for digging it out and keeping it so well-organized. Thanks, Eileen!

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010

ccasal — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:18:24 -0600

Welcome back to our year-ending Tapers' Section. We'd like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank you for stopping in here every week throughout 2009 and checking out what we're doing. You're the reason we do the Tapers' Section, and your enthusiasm for our work is such great motivation to keep us inspired and excited about making some of the Grateful Dead's musical history accessible to you on a weekly basis. Again, a huge thanks.

As you might recall, last year we played the post-Drums sequence from 12/28/89, so this year we're going to play you the pre-Drums sequence, featuring Foolish Heart>Looks Like Rain>Eyes of the World. This was a terrific New Year's run in Oakland, and was all captured to 24-track analog tape by John Cutler in the Le Mobile recording truck. Hopefully some day we'll see a nice CD release drawn from these concerts.

From the very next show, on 12/30/89 in Oakland, we have the pre-Drums sequence again, this time consisting of Jack Straw>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet>Terrapin Station. tThis was a very rare second set Jack Straw, and the way it barrels right into China>Rider is pretty darn cool.

We'll slip into some 1977 Grateful Dead now before we get into our main big piece of New Year's music. From 12/29/77 at Winterland, we have several of the first set's songs, specifically Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, New Minglewood Blues, Sugaree.

Lastly this week, to ring in the New Year, we have the entire first set from 12/31/89 in Oakland, which featured Sugar Magnolia>Touch of Grey>Women Are Smarter, Big Boss Man, Memphis Blues, Shakedown Street. Just about everything in this set was a little out of place, in a good way, aside from the Dylan track, making it one of the oddest, and coolest, first sets of the late 1980s. That's Bonnie Raitt sitting in on Big Boss Man, lending her slide guitar skills.

Have a great end to 2009 and an even better start to 2010. It's been great seeing you here weekly and getting to know some of you. As always, we welcome and encourage your comments and questions, sent to the email address below my name.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

Week of December 21 - December 27, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:34:06 -0600

Welcome back to our holiday edition of the Tapers' Section. Things are a bit light here this week, but we do have some excellent material for you.

Our first selection is from Golden Hall in San Diego on 2/19/82, with a very good chunk of the first set, featuring Bertha>Greatest Story Ever Told, Dire Wolf, Little Red Rooster, Brown-Eyed Woman, Cassidy, Candyman. This is a little bit out of our date range this week, but we came across this tape and found some good music that we figured you'd enjoy.

Our next selection is from 12/27/89 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. I believe we've played the post-Drums sequence here at the Tapers' Section, so this week we'll play you the pre-Drums sequence, featuring Iko Iko, Playing In The Band>Crazy Fingers>Uncle John's Band, with the first couple of songs featuring none other than the Big Man, Clarence Clemons sitting in on saxamaphone. A funny personal anecdote to this show: I'd flown in to San Francisco at around 3 PM from the east coast for these shows, and throughout 12/27/89 I kept thing 'wow, the sound is really muddy.' It wasn't until toward the end of the second set during Morning Dew that I decided to plug my nose and pop my ears, and all of sudden the sound became crystal clear. I was so bummed as I felt that despite being in a great location, I felt I'd missed the show. So let that be a lesson: if you fly the day of a concert, pop your ears.

Finally this week, we are going to look back on Dick's Picks Vol. 5, from 12/26/79 at the Oakland Auditorium Arena, later to be named the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. From this magnificent concert, we have the post-Drums sequence of Not Fade Away>Brokedown Palace>Around and Around>Johnny B. Goode, Shakedown>Uncle John's Band. This is such a great show and worthy of Dick's Picking.

Be sure to stop in next week when we'll say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010 with music from 1977 and 1989. Thanks for stopping in and we'll look forward to seeing you next week.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

Week of December 14 - December 20, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:25:09 -0600

Welcome back to our pre-holiday week of music here at the Tapers' Section, where this week we've got some excellent music from 1969, 1980 and 1985. The vault doesn't have all that much music from mid December to December 27 (there simply weren't that many shows played during that stretch every year, and in some cases, like 1978, there are no tapes when they did play that stretch), but there is some cool stuff that we're excited to play.

Our first selection this week is from 12/19/69 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The Fillmore Auditorium was a different venue than the Fillmore West (aka Carousel Ballroom), with the Auditorium being the same Fillmore at which we can still go see great music. From this show, the first of a three night run, we have Mason's Children, Black Peter, Hard To Handle, Cumberland Blues, Casey Jones, Good Lovin'. This was the time when they were really working all of the Workingman's Dead material into the repertoire, mostly to great effect. Mason's Children was the one Workingman's Dead song that was recorded but not included on the album, finally seeing the light of day on a CD release in 1999 with the release of the magnificent 5-CD boxed set So Many Roads.

From the very next show we have a segment of music that takes up an entire reel of tape and then some, starting and ending rather abruptly due to this, but it is so good, we figured you wouldn't mind. From 12/20/69 at the Fillmore Auditorium, we have The Eleven>New Speedway Boogie>Lovelight. This is the first live version of New Speedway, which is remarkable considering that the events that inspired this song took place only two weeks earlier at Altamont.

Jumping forward 11 years to 12/13/80 at the Long Beach Arena near LA, we have the post-Drums sequence of Not Fade Away>Black Peter>Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night. As we demonstrated here a couple of weeks ago, there was some great music played toward the end of 1980 after the Radio City shows in October.

Lastly this week, from 11/22/85 at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, CA, we have the pre-Drums sequence of Touch of Grey>Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. The Kaiser had become the band's new hometown venue, a nice stop in the short list of primary hometown venue for the band throughout their history (Avalon, Fillmore West/Carousel, Winterland, Kaiser, Shoreline, Oakland Arena).

Be sure to check in next week for music from 1979, 1982 and 1989. It's always a pleasure to hear from you, so feel free to write to the email address below with questions or comments about the Tapers' Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

Week of December 7- December 13, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:37:43 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be checking out music from 1971, 1981 and 1989, an 18 year run through the Grateful Dead's recorded history.

Our first stop this week is on 12/7/71 at the Felt Forum in New York City, which is located on the ground floor of Madison Square Garden, and is currently called the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. After the Fillmore East closed in June 1971, with the Grateful Dead's final shows there being in April, 1971, the band didn't really have a home in New York, trying out a few places for the next few years, a range of venues that included the Felt Forum, Academy of Music, Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey for the big summer shows, Nassau Coliseum in 1973, the Bronx in summer 1971and a few other places. The Felt Forum shows, the band's first in Manhattan since the Fillmore shows in April, were a triumph, with Pigpen back, radio broadcasts, a big new live album (recorded mostly in New York, no less) and huge success just around the corner, or so it seemed. From the Felt Forum, we have this batch of first set material, Next Time You See Me, Tennessee Jed, El Paso, Brokedown Palace, Run Rudolph, You Win Again, Cumberland Blues. They were playing very well at these shows, as proven by all of these smaller yet exceptional songs.

Our next selection this week is from 12/7/81 in des moines, ia, on that short midwest tour we mentioned here last week. from the start of the second set, we have the double dose of jerry followed by the double dose of bobby, Mississippi Half Step>Franklin's Tower>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance. this is a classic 1981 sequence, with the _ step>Franklin's always a great combination.

From the same tour's final night, on 12/9/81 in Boulder, CO, we have another first set closing sequence of Candyman>Cassidy, Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. This is an excellent little tour, often overlooked but worth checking out if your tape trading takes them to you.

Our last stop this week is at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, CA, then home of the LA Lakers and LA Kings. The venue is still there hosting concerts, but the hockey and basketball teams have moved downtown to the Staples Center. From 12/10/89, we have this cool first set closing sequence of When I Paint My Masterpiece, Loser, Victim or the Crime, CC Rider, I'm a Man. Those final two tunes feature rock legend Spencer Davis sitting in with the band, a very cool guest artist.

Be sure to stop back next week for music from 1969, 1980 and 1985. Some good stuff coming up. Have a great week and we'll see you here next Monday. And as always, feel free to write to the address below my name with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 30 - December 6, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:49:39 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll hear music from 1973, 1979 and 1981 as we head into December and what we expect will be a good holiday season of music.

Our first selection this week is from 12/1/73, the middle night of three shows at the Boston Music Hall. You might be familiar with the first and third nights through Dick's Picks Vol. 14, but the middle night also had some good material, including this sequence of Around and Around, They Love Each Other, Me and My Uncle, Don't Ease, Me and Bobby McGee, a nice batch of first set songs. As you'll hear throughout this sequence, they were having crowd control problems, but evidently it all worked in the end.

Next we'll stop over in Chicago, to the Uptown Theatre, where the Grateful Dead were playing a three night run in early December, 1979. From the first show, on 12/3/79, we have this classic late-1979 sequence from the end of the first featuring All Over Now, Jack-A-Roe, Lazy Lightning>Supplication, Althea, The Music Never Stopped. This tour, and the October/November tour, was really Brent's arrival with the band, as each night he sounded more confident and more integrated into the band's sound as both a keyboard player and vocalist.

From the very next show, on 12/4/79 at the Uptown, we have another first set closing sequence, this time made up of Minglewood, Stagger Lee, Passenger>Deal. This, like the previous sequence, was classic for the time.

From two years later, on 12/6/81 at the Rosemont Horizon just outside of Chicago, we have yet another first set closing sequence, Tennessee Jed, Looks Like Rain, Jack-A-Roe, BIODTL, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. This December 1981 tour of the mostly-midwest was the last Grateful Dead tour recorded on reel-to-reel, and although these weren't mixed specifically for the tape (they are PA feed recordings), they do sound remarkably robust.

Be sure to stop back again next week for great music from 1971, 1981 and 1989. It's always a pleasure to hear from you, so feel free to write to the email address below with questions or comments about the Tapers' Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 23 - November 29, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:57:07 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section. This week we’re going to check out music from 1973, 1979 and 1980, a good selection from three very good years in Grateful Dead music.

Our first stop this week is in El Paso, TX, on 11/23/73, when the Grateful Dead were about the midway point of one of the finest stretches in their performing history, October 19, 1973 to December 19, 1973. The exceptional shows around this period are many, and this one had some good music throughout, including this tasty batch o’ Dead, featuring China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Big River, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite. This show is one of those underrated shows, mainly owing to the fact that it's surrounded by such great nights of music, specifically the Denver shows that preceded it, and the Boston shows a week later (aka Dick's Picks 14).

Next we'll jump forward six years to 11/29/79 in Cleveland, where the band was starting the second Eastern leg of their fall tour of 1979. From that show, we have the end of the first set, consisting of Easy To Love You, Brown-Eyed Women>Looks Like Rain>Don't Ease Me In. This entire stretch from late October to mid-December, 1979 had some really great shows.

From a shade under a year later, on 11/26/80 in Pembroke Pines, FL, the band was starting out a very short run of shows in Florida and Atlanta. These were the first concerts since the final night of Warfield-Radio City shows on 10/31/80, and they picked up right where they left off, with good, inspired Grateful Dead music. No acoustic sets, but they had brought in a few of the acoustic songs into the electric sets after Radio City (On The Road Again, Race Is On, Bird Song). From the first set at the Sportatorium, we have On The Road Again, Jack A Roe, Minglewood Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Race Is On, Althea>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Deal. These shows at the end of November were mostly exceptional.

And speaking of the four shows to end the month, we have music from the final night, on 11/30/80 in Atlanta. We've played some of the second set here, but this week we're going to play you some excellent first set material, specifically Bird Song, Me and My Uncle>Big River, It Must Have Been The Roses, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance.

Be sure to stop by next week when we end November and start December with music from 1973, 1979 and 1981. There's some good stuff coming up. The e-mail address below is always welcoming of your comments and questions, so feel free to write anytime.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 16 - November 22, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:27:53 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week, like last week, we'll immerse ourselves in Grateful Dead music from 1971 and 1972. It's odd how it happens like this, where we'll have a few weeks of 1980s music, then a few weeks of 1970s music. Regardless, there's loads of good stuff in the vault, so we expect we'll keep hopping around forever like this.

Our first selection is from Austin, TX on 11/15/71. We have played you the big second set piece from this show before, which oddly consisted of NFA>GDTRFB>NFA, albeit one of the finest renditions of that medley in the band's history, but the really big jam from this concert occurred, equally oddly, in the first set, Dark Star>El Paso>Jam>Casey Jones. Definitely different to find a first set Dark Star, but it works well attached to a couple of first set tunes.

From a shade over a year later, on 11/17/72 in Wichita, we have the big second set sequence of Truckin'>Drums>The Other One, Brokedown Palace. This is one of the most powerful Other Ones in a year of many very fine Other Ones. They get deep without getting unfocused.

Lastly this week is another Fall 1972 second set jam centered around The Other One, this one from 11/22/72, also in Autsin, TX, like our first selection this week. This jam consists of He's Gone>Truckin'>The Other One>Bass Solo>Jam>The Other One>Stella Blue. . Yes, another Truckin'>Other One, but if you compare it to the previous jam from five nights earlier, you'll really hear how different Grateful Dead shows could be.

Next week we have music from 1973, 1979 and 1980, so be sure to stop back and check it out. As always, we encourage you to write with questions and comments about the Tapers' Section, or anything else. The e-mail address below should find me.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 9 - November 15, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:22:53 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where every week we try to play you some cool selections from this week in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history. We’ve had quite a lot of 1980s material the last few weeks, and this week we’re going to head back in time to 1971 and 1972 exclusively.

Our first stop this week is at the Harding Theatre in San Francisco, where the Grateful Dead were wrapping up two nights at this cool little venue, a former church. Incidentally, these concerts were opened by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and would be Jerry’s final concerts as the New Riders’ pedal steel player, with Buddy Cage taking that place after these shows, a replacement personally selected by Jerry. From the second set of 11/7/71, we have the big jam featuring Dark Star>Drums>The Other One>Me and My Uncle>The Other One.

From a bit more than a year later, we have Dark Star>Morning Dew from 11/13/72 in Kansas City, KS. There is a small gap in the fall tour of 1972 during which no reel-to-reel board tapes were made, so this selection is from one of the band’s own audience recordings, which sounds pretty good. Any limitations the audience source might have are made up for the in the quality of performance, which is a typically hot late 1972 jam.

Next up, from one night later on 11/14/72, we have the second set jam from Oklahoma City, featuring He's Gone>Truckin'>Jam>The Other One>Sing Me Back Home. It must have been a great time to see multiple shows, when virtually every night you were likely to see a Dark Star like the previous selection or an Other One like this.

Finally this week, from the next show in Oklahoma City on 11/15/72, we have Brokedown Palace, Playing In The Band, Big Railroad Blues. These fall tour 1972 Playing In the Bands are some of the best the band ever played, although from Europe ’72 through to October 1974, virtually every performance of this tune featured something interesting.

Be sure to come back next week for more great 1971 and 1972 Grateful Dead music. You know, more Dark Stars and Other Ones… Feel free to write to the email address below with questions or comments about the Tapers’ Section, or anything else.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 2 - November 8, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:57:35 -0600

Welcome back to our first full November week of music here at the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll listen to music exclusively from 1984 and 1985.

Last week, we mentioned the Berkeley Community Theatre shows in the Fall of 1984, and from the six night run, we have the second set opening sequence from 11/2/84 featuring Help On The Way>Slipknot!>Franklin'sTower>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Wharf Rat>Gimme Some Lovin'. This was the first ever live Grateful Dead version of Gimme Some Lovin', and although Phil had started singing a little bit earlier in the year, adding some vocals to Why Don't We Do It In The Road, this night featured what is widely considered Phil's return to active singing duties. Soon Tom Thumb Blues would be added to Phil's vocal repertoire, followed by Box of Rain 1986, and slowly but surely he would add songs, from covers such as Broken Arrow to originals such as Childhood's End and the return of Unbroken Chain, not to mention his very fine backup vocals on songs such as Built To Last.

From the very next show, the final night at BCT on 11/3/84, we have another remarkable second set sequence, featuring Feel Like A Stranger>Cumberland Blues, Gloria>Why Don't We Do It In The Road>Jam. The Fall of 1984 had some pretty darn good music at times.

Our next selection is from a year later on 11/7/85 at the Rochester War Memorial, where the Dead would continue a very good tour that included a few very good two night runs (Richmond, Worcester, Meadowlands, etc). For this first night in Rochester, we have the second set opening sequence of Touch of Grey>Samson and Delilah, High Time>Let It Grow, with this being a very rare second set Let It Grow.

Lastly this week, we have more music from Rochester, NY, on 11/8/85. This was very nearly my first show, as many of my friends' older brothers were going to these concerts and we almost tagged along, being huge Dead Heads already but a bit young for such a long road trip (or so the older brothers thought…). This night was my 15th birthday. Instead my friends and I got mugged this night. I think going to Rochester would have been the better choice. From the end of the show, we have The Other One>I Need A Miracle>She Belongs To Me>Sugar Magnolia, Satisfaction.

Just as this week featured music exclusively from the mid 1980s, next week we'll only be hearing material from 1971 and 1972. And it's reeeeeaaaallllly good. See you next week. And feel free to write the email address below with any questions or comments about the Tapers' Section

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 26 - November 1, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:15:09 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be checking out music from throughout the 1980s, and a bit of 1973 for good measure.

First stop this week is on 10/27/73 in Indianapolis, where the Grateful Dead were in the midst of a great two month tour that featured some of the finest, most inspired, most consistently good playing of their history. From the end of the first set, we have El Paso, Brown Eyed Women, Greatest Story Ever Told, Loose Lucy, BIODTL, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. We've played so many big jams from Fall 1973 here at the Tapers' Section (and we'll continue to do so…) that we thought it'd be nice to highlight some of the shorter, first set material here occasionally.

Our next selection this week is from 10/31/84 at Berkeley Community Theatre, during the Grateful Dead six night run at BCT. These shows were the first concerts at which the Grateful Dead officially allowed taping, providing the tapers with a section of seats from which they could make their recordings. For that, we thank both the band for allowing it, and we thank the tapers for creating the world's greatest public archive of live concert recordings. From the end of the second set, we have Morning Dew>Around and Around>One More Halloween Night, Satisfaction.

From one year later, on 10/31/85 in Columbia, SC, we have the show opening sequence of Funiculi Funicula>Space>Werewolves of London>Music Never Stopped. Those sounds during Space were a downright scary way to open the concert. Weeeeeeeeird….

Finally this week, we have the show closing sequence from the final show on the band's amazing Fall Tour of 1989, from 10/26/89 in Miami. We've played the pre-Drums sequence here before, including that spooky Dark Star, but the post-Drums sequence is equally cool, featuring The Wheel>All Along The Watchower>Stella Blue>Not Fade Away, We Bid You Goodnight.

Don't forget to stop in next week for more great music. Feel free to write to the email address below with any questions or comments about the Tapers' Section, or anything else you might want to know.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 19- October 25, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:31:55 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we continue our run through October, where this week we'll listen to the music from throughout the 1980s, and a taste of 1973 to start things out.

Our first stop this week is on 10/25/73 in Madison, WI, where the Grateful Dead would be playing their second magnificent show in this cool city in 1973 (the previous show was 2/15/73). From the end of the first set, we have this great sequence of Tennessee Jed, LL Rain, Deal, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Playing In The Band. The entire tour, and really the whole October 19-December 19, 1973 span, features some of the deepest, most inspired playing by the Grateful Dead ever, up there with Europe '72, September-December '72, and April-June '77.

Next up is going to be music from the second of two shows at the Saenger Performing Arts Center in New Orleans, on 10/19/80. As we mentioned last week here, the band took a brief “break” from the giant runs of shows at the Warfield and Radio City by stopping in New Orleans for two of these terrific three-set affairs, complete with acoustic sets. From 10/19/80, we have the start of the third set, featuring Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountains, Samson and Delilah, Terrapin Station .After this, they'd head to New York for their eight shows at Radio City October 22-31, 1980.

From four years plus a day later, on 10/20/84 at the Carrierdome in Syracuse, NY, we have the second set opener of Shakedown Street>Samson, He's Gone>Smokestack Lightning>Jam. This was one of the first live concert tapes I was given, just weeks after the concert (thanks, Terry…), and although I still have my old XLII-S, it is worn down after being played so many times. Thankfully the vault has a master Beta PCM of this concert, from which this jam was drawn.

Lastly this week, from 10/23/89 in Charlotte, NC, we have a very good chunk of the first set, including a couple of cool things to note: California Earthquake, Feel Like A Stranger, Loser, Walkin' Blues, Bertha, When I Paint My Masterpiece. This is the second and final live version of California Earthquake by the Grateful Dead. As some of you may recall, the band was on the east coast playing one of their most highly regarded tours in years, when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck on October 17, 1989, on a night off for the band, during the pre-game show of the Bay Bridge World Series. A couple of nights earlier in Philadelphia, the band played this song for the first time, followed by the Charlotte version. Also worth noting is the sort-of-rare mid-set Bertha.

Be sure to stop by next week for more great music, when we'll stick mostly within the 1980s, but, like this week, we'll take a detour into 1973. As always, we welcome and encourage you to write with comments or questions about the Tapers' Section. The email address below will get to me, and I try to respond to all correspondence.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 12 - October 18, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:30:08 -0500

Welcome back to your weekly dose of this-week-in-Grateful Dead-history here at the Tapers' Section. As we mentioned last week, this week we'll be sticking to the 1980s again.

Our first selection this week is from the final night of the Grateful Dead's three weeks at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on 10/14/80. From the start of the third set (these concerts, of course, featured three sets of music: an acoustic set and two electric sets), we have Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain.

From just a few nights later in New Orleans, we have the start of the second set from 10/18/80 at Saenger Performing Arts Center, where the Grateful Dead were playing the first of two nights on a quick stop between the massive runs of shows at the Warfield and Radio City. From this show in New Orleans, we have China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Feel Like A Stranger, Ship of Fools, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World, a terrific sequence in any year. I love these early versions of Stranger. Great stuff.

From about a year later, on 10/12/81 in Munich, West Germany, we have more music from the short but sweet European tour of 1981. From just before Drums, we have this cool trio of tunes, Estimated Prophet>GDTRFB>Never Trust A Woman. This is a stellar Estimated, one of my favourites. The band would play another show in West Germany before canceling two poorly-selling concerts in France and playing the two Amsterdam shows on 10/15&16/81.

Lastly this week, from the Fall Tour of 1989 that featured all sorts of great music, we have material from 10/15/89 at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey, specifically the start of the second set, featuring Samson and Delilah, Just A Little Light, Crazy Fingers>Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. The next show, on 10/16/89, would be one of the more famous concerts of the latter half of the 1980s, and would be immortalized on the Nightfall of Diamonds album.

That's three versions of Estimated Prophet this week. We hope you don't mind.

We'll take this opportunity to wish Bobby a giant Happy Birthday. Be sure to check in next week for more great material from the 1980s, and some 1973 stuff to balance it all out. Feel free to email the address below with questions and comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 5 - October 11, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:31:11 -0500

Greetings and welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be excusively checking out music from the 1980s, with a good selection from throughout the decade.

Our first selection is from 10/10/81 in Bremen, West Germany. This little tour of Europe was the Grateful Dead's last trip overseas until the tour in 1990, and there was plenty of great music played on this 1981 tour. Most of you are likely familiar with the shows in Amsterdam a few days later, but this one also had some good stuff. From the opening of the second set in Bremen, we have Women Are Smarter>Suragee>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Eyes of the World.

From three years later on 10/5/84 in Charlotte, NC, we have the post-Drums sequence of the concert featuring The Other One>Black Peter>Sugar Magnolia>Johnny B. Goode, with the added coolness of something rocking coming out of Sugar Magnolia, a usual set-closer. There was loads of great music on this tour, including stops in Augusta, ME and Syracuse, NY that are excellent.

From five years after the above selection, we return to the Warlocks concerts from Hampton, VA, with music from the first night, 10/8/89, featuring the post-Drums sequence of I Need A Miracle>The Wheel>Gimme Some Lovin'>Morning Dew, We Bid You Goodnight. These two concerts are justifiably legendary amongst Dead Heads, partly due to what happened at this show, but mainly due to what happened the next night.

Speaking of the next night, from 10/9/89 in Hampton, we have the pre-Drums sequence of Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band>Playing In the Band>Dark Star. Yes, the first Dark Star in more than five years. The crowd's reaction just about blew the roof off of the building.

Join us back here next week, when we'll again stick with music from 1980s. As always, we encourage you to write to the email address below with any questions or comments. We try to respond to most every email, so feel free to write in.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 28 - October 4, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:34:34 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we close out September and head into October. This week we're going to listen mostly to music, and goooood music, from 1976, with a touch of 1989 mixed at.

The fall tour of 1976 featured some exceptional concerts, and some intriguing and inspired set lists and song combinations. After an entire tour now under their belts after their nearly two-year hiatus, the Grateful Dead settled into a touring schedule that would be the norm for the next 19 years, with each year generally featuring three tours, plus several short batches of shows in a region or a bunch of California shows. Our first stop in 1976 this week is in Syracuse, NY, with music that is part of the stellar Dick's Picks Vol. 20, the second 4-CD Dick's Pick, after the outstanding Vol. 14. From the second set of 9/28/76, we have Jam>Comes A Time>Drums>Eyes of the World>Orange Tango Jam>Dancing In The Street>Playing in the Band, Johnny B. Goode. the orange tango jam is unlike anything i've ever heard the grateful dead do.

From the very next show, on 9/30/76 in Columbus, OH, we have another big 1976 second set jam, featuring St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Drums>Wharf Rat>Not Fade Away>St. Stephen>Around and Around. The coolest thing about these fall tour of 1976 second sets is that each one is completely different and unique. They did things at these shows that they'd never do again, nor before.

To prove that point, here's another massive 1976 second set jam, from 10/2/76 in Cincinnati, with the incredible segment of Dancing In The Street>Drums>The Other One>Stella Blue>The Other One>Sugar Magnolia. Every show featured something interesting. The first sets on this tour were very good, but the second sets were stunning for the most part.

Our last selection, from 20 years ago this week, is the return of Death Don't Have No Mercy, from 9/29/89 at Shoreline. As a famous Dead Head once said, this was the last time he truly saw Jerry blow his mind with a guitar solo. It is exquisite, and very deserving of its inclusion on the exceptional 5-CD boxed set So Many Roads.

Be sure to make your way back to this site next week for more great music from the Grateful Dead's recorded history. As always, we welcome and encourage you to write to the email address below my name with any questions or comments

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 21 - September 27, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:18:45 -0500

This week, the Tapers' Section is the place for you if you like Grateful Dead music from September 1972, which we expect you do. If not, you're welcome to come along for the ride and we're sure you'll hear something you dig.

Our first selection this week is from 9/21/72 in Philadelphia, music that is part of the final Pick of the Dick's Picks series, Vol. 36. We have a couple of the mid-sized jams from that show, Playing In The Band, He's Gone>Truckin. When this second jam didn't go into a monstrous Other One, where a He's Gone>Truckin' of the era usually went, you knew something was in store for later, and the Dark Star>Dew that came later sure proves that true.

Our next selection from 9/23/72 in Waterbury, CT, is a cool little sequence featuring a couple of rarities. The music, Baby Blue, Cryptical Envelopment>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat, features one of only three versions of Baby Blue played between 1970 and 1981 (the others were on 9/26/72 in Jersey City and 2/24/74 at Winterland), and the only Cryptical of 1972, and the final version until its return in 1985. As you know, we like to play not only historical anomalies here, but we try to give you as much historical background on these anomalies as we can. If you'd ever like clarification on any of our selections, feel free to write to the email address under my name, below.

Our final selection this week is also from Waterbury, CT, on 9/24/72, and features a bit of a unique sequence, Dark Star>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. There's a cut on the master reels at the end of the jam, so our apologies for that. But, the part that IS there sure is good.

Please stop by again next week, when we'll have loads of music from 1976, plus a little taste of 1989. Email address below, which you're encouraged to write to with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 14 - September 20, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:38:31 -0500

As we roll through the middle of September here at the Tapers' Section, we have some excellent music from 1972 and 1990 for you.

As we may have mentioned previously here at the Tapers' Section, the Grateful Dead were scheduled to perform two concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York on September 15 and 16, 1972. However, local authorities, worried about the large rock and roll crowd that would swarm their little hamlet, prevented the shows from happening, and it would be more than a decade before the band was finally allowed to play this super cool little amphitheatre. Luckily, the band had enough time to reschedule the shows, and booked two nights at the Boston Music Hall, and from the first night, on 9/15/72, we have Promised Land, Sugaree, Greatest Story Ever Told, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Black Throated Wind. This is a magnificent tour, and there really isn't much not to like about 1972 Grateful Dead.

From the second show in Boston, on 9/16/72, we have more great material, featuring Big River, Bird Song, Mexicali Blues, Stella Blue, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Playing In The Band. Stunning stuff throughout.

From the very next night, on 9/17/72 in beautiful Charm City, USA, Baltimore, MD, we have the centerpiece of the second set, one of the finest and most intricately dynamic versions of The Other One ever performed, clocking in at nearly 40 minutes. This is part of Dick's Picks Vol. 23, a typically hot September, 1972 concert.

Lastly this week, from Madison Square Garden on 9/18/90, featuring the two keyboardist lineup of Vince and Bruce, we have second set music consisting of Eyes of the World>Estimated Prophet>Foolish Heart>Jam. This was part of the Bonus CD that was included with Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 1, so if you missed out on that, here it is. Plenty of stunning music on that release.

Be sure to stop by next week as head toward the end of September with music from the September 1972 tour that was featured so prominently this week. See you then, and in the meantime, feel free to write with questions or comments about the Tapers' Section to the address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 7 - September 13, 2009

ccasal — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:12:25 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have loads of great music from 1974, 1982 and 1990.

Our first selection this week is from the Alexandra Palace in London, England on 9/9/74, a show that started the short but excellent European tour of 1974. This would be the final tour by the Grateful Dead until June of 1976, and the music was not only outstanding, but the tapes sounded great as well. Kudos to Kidd on his recording. From this show, we have Truckin>Jam>Wharf Rat, all played so well. this is part of the amazing dick's picks vol. 7, one of my favourites of the entire series of 36 picks.

Next we'll stop in to the second show on the fall tour of 1982, on 9/11/82 in West Palm Beach, FL, a show that took place on Mickey's 39th birthday. Happy birthday, Mickey! From this show, we have the start of the second set, which included Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Terrapin Station. This a very good tour, with some extremely inspired playing at a few of the shows.

We'll now take a listen to Vince Welnick's first-ever concert as the keyboardist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, which took place on 9/7/90 at the Richfield Coliseum near Cleveland. Nobody in attendance knew what to expect, as not much was known of Vince, although anticipation was extremely high. From the beginning, from the first song, he fit in nicely, and although there were some growing pains, he filled in the hot seat nicely. Brent was very well-loved and missed by all, but the show must go on. We're pleased to play the entire first set from 9/7/90, featuring Cold Rain and Snow>Walkin' Blues, Ramble On Rose, Me and My Uncle>Big River, Althea, Masterpiece, Bird Song, Picasso Moon, US Blues. Midway through Cold Rain and Snow, Vince drops a little organ flourish, his first really audible moment as a member of the Grateful Dead, and the crowd welcomes him to the family with a giant roar of approval.

Lastly this week, we have the start of the second set of Vince's second show, on 9/8/90 in Richfield, featuring Eyes of the World>Estimated Prophet>Terrapin Station>Jam. Again, Vince fit right in from that start. Plenty more good music would follow in the near future, with four of the six Madison Square Garden shows a week later already represented by official releases (Dick's Picks Vol. 9 and Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 1).

Be sure to come back next week for more great music, with selections from 1972 and 1990 coming up in a week. As always, feel free to write with questions or comments about the Tapers Section to the email address below. Thanks for stopping by.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 31 - September 6, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:25:58 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we end out August and start September with music from 1969, 1977 and 1980.

Our first selection this week is a bit of a straggler from last week based on its date, and features a bit of an odd ending to an otherwise typical jam from 1969, specifically Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Drums>High Time. This is from 8/30/69 at the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco, where they always seemed to play something a bit unique when they played at Chet's venue. See last week's selection for further proof.

Next up is music from the famous Englishtown, NJ, show on 9/3/77, enshrined as the wonderful Dick's Picks Vol. 15. From the end of the concert, we have He's Gone>NFA>Truckin', Terrapin Station, each and every one of which are played superbly. This was the first Grateful Dead concert since 6/9/77, and to return after three months off, with a fresh new album in the can (Terrapin Station) and playing in front of 100,000 New York City area fans obviously pumped the band up. A truly remarkable show.

We'll now head down to the Capital Center in Landover, MD on 8/31/80, where the Grateful Dead were in the midst of a terrific late-summer tour, which included many outstanding concerts. From the Cap Center, we have the end of the first set, featuring Tennessee Jed, Far From Me, Lazy Lightning>Supplication, Deal. They came out playing hard at this show, and never really let up. One of the band members once asked the vault for a copy of Lazy Lightning>Supplication, and when he was played this version, asked “didn't we used to play it a bit slower than this?” He was then played a 1977 version and said “ah, that's the one.”

Also from this tour, on 9/2/80 in Rochester, NY, we have the end of the concert, featuring Space>Iko Iko>Morning Dew>Sugar Magnolia, which is included as part of Dick's Picks 21, the only 1985 Dick's Pick.

Be sure to stop by next week for music from 1974, 1982 and 1990, including music from Vince Welnick's first concerts as a member of the Grateful Dead.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 24 - August 30, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:19:57 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we make our way toward the end of August, 2009, with plenty of great music coming along for the ride, with selections this week from 1969, 1972 and 1980.

Our first stop this week is at the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco on 8/29/69, featuring one of the odder groupings of songs from 1969, consisting of New Orleans>Searchin'>Good Lovin', Dire Wolf, King Bee, Lovelight. The first two songs in the jam were quite rare, and ending with a Pigpen twofer like this not common either, so plenty of neat stuff to enjoy here.

Next up, from 8/25/72 at Berkeley Community Theatre, we have music from both the first set and second set. From the former we have Jack Straw, FOTD, Promised Land, Bird Song, Playing, Bertha and from the latter we have Truckin'>Jam>Bass>Other One>Jam. This was the last show before the big Veneta, Oregon event on 8/27/72, and this show was a pretty darn good warm-up, as was the whole week at BCT.

Lastly this week, from Pine Knob Music Theatre just outside of Detroit on 8/27/80, we have the end of the first set, featuring Althea, Looks Like Rain, Big RR Blues, Feel Like A Stranger.

Be sure to stop back in next week when we roll (into the semis…) into September with some music from 1969, 1977 and more of the excellent 1980 music you heard in our last selection this week. Feel free to write with questions or comments about the Tapers' Section to the email address below

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 17- August 23, 2009

ccasal — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:42:40 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where we examine the Grateful Dead's recorded history. This week we have music from 1968 and some excellent June, 1990 Grateful Dead.

First stop this week is at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, where the Grateful Dead were playing a three night run. From the middle night, 8/21/68, we have the Pigpen show closing sequence of Lovelight, Midnight Hour. You may be familiar with the 8/24/68 show in LA, Two From The Vault, which took place just a few days later.

Speaking of LA, from the first night on 8/23/68, we have one of the strongest jams of a great jamming year, Alligator>Caution>Feedback. Just a big old bolt of electricity. There isn't a lot of 1968 material in the vault, but what is there is stellar for the most.

We're now going to step a little bit outside of our date-specific focus here at the Tapers' Section, going back to the excellent Cal Expo shows in June of 1990. From the first night, on 6/8/90, we have this kickass (can we say that here?) sequence from the second set, Uncle John's Band>China>Rider, Estimated>Foolish Heart. Very unique, with the Uncle John's into China>Rider, and the Estimated>Foolish wasn't all that common a combination.

From the same run of shows, from the third night on 6/10/90, we have another magnificent pre-Drums sequence of Box of Rain>Eyes>Playing>Crazy Fingers>Playing. They were on fire in June of 1990!

Stop by next week as we close out August with music from 1969, 1972 and 1980. Feel free to write to the email address below with questions and comments.

david lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 10 - August 16, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:25:07 -0500

Hello and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where this week we’ll tidily cover a decade of live Grateful Dead, from 1972 to 1982, with a little stop in 1979 along the way.

Our first stop this week is in Sacramento, CA, on 8/12/72, where the Grateful Dead would play one of their typically hot mid-1972 concerts (ah, heck, might as well scrap the “mid”…). From the second set, we have the big jam featuring He's Gone>The Other One>Black Peter>The Other One>Truckin', a little unique for both the split Other One (split by a Garcia ballad, that is) and the ending tune of Truckin’, which was usually a jumping off point for the big jams of 1972. Regardless, it’s still pretty darn cool.

Jumping ahead seven years plus one day, to 8/13/79 at McNichols Arena in Denver, we have the pre-Drums sequence from that mighty fine show, featuring I Need A Miracle>Bertha>Good Lovin', He's Gone>Other One. These were some of the final concerts Betty recorded, and they sure do sound great. As you may recall, the band was scheduled to play three nights at Red Rocks, but after the first show at Red Rocks, 8/12/79, the band had to move things indoors for the final two nights due to the weather.

Lastly this week, we’ll stop by the final show of the 1982 summer tour, on 8/10/82 in Iowa City, with the end of the second set, Iko Iko>Truckin'>Stella Blue>Sugar Magnolia. It’s always nice to hear these Iko Ikos out of space.

There were a few songs repeated in this week’s Tapers’ Section, but as they were within jams, we hope you don’t mind. We sure don’t.

Next week we have music from 1968 and 1990, so don’t miss it. Some great stuff coming up. We welcome and encourage your questions or comments to the Tapers’ Section, at the address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 3 - August 9, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:17:20 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where we explore music from this week in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history. This week we have a couple of bits from 1971 and one big jam from 1989.

Our first stop this week is at the Terminal Island Correction Facility near LA, where the Grateful Dead were performing for their friend and longtime sound genius, Owsley, on 8/4/71. From that concert we have the Lovelight from the end of the show.

Next up, from the first night at the Hollywood Palladium, on 8/5/71, we have the big jam (plus two shorter song), which oddly was in the first set this night, consisting of That’s It For The Other One>Wharf Rat, Me and Bobby McGee, Casey Jones. The next night, 8/6/71, is a little more famous due to this stunning Hard To Handle, which is one of the finest versions of this song ever played.

Our last stop this week is to Cal Expo, for the start of the second set on 8/4/89, the first night of a three night run at this fine little venue in Sacramento. From that show, we have the very unique sequence of Truckin'>Wang Dang Doodle>Crazy Fingers>Cumberland>Eyes of the World. This really was a terrific run of shows, something that was quite common at Cal Expo.

Be sure to stop in next week for music from 1972, 1979 and 1982. It’s always great to see you here, and feel free to write with questions or comments to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 27 - August 2, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:42:03 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have 22 years of Grateful Dead history to cover, from 1966 to 1988, with a few cool things in between.

Our first stop this week is in Vancouver, BC, Canada, the first ever Grateful Dead concerts outside of the state of California. From the second show in Vancouver, on 7/30/66, we have a good batch of the music from the PNE Hall, Standing On The Corner, I Know You Rider, Next Time You See Me, Sitting On Top Of The World, You Don't Have To Ask, Big Boss Man, Stealin', Cardboard Cowboy, Baby Blue, Cream Puff, Viola Lee Blues, which covers most of the cool stuff that was part of the band's repertoire at the time.

Next up, from 7/27/73, we have the Watkins Glen Soundcheck Jam. The day before the big Grateful Dead-Allman Brothers-The Band concert on 7/28/73, the Dead played an entire show as a “soundcheck” for those who'd arrived early, and they tossed in this stunning piece of pure improvisational magic.

We'll next head over to Red Rocks near Denver, where the band would be playing the second night of a three night run on 7/28/82, and from that show's second set we have Althea, Let It Grow>He's Gone>Truckin', a bit of a unique sequence with the second set versions of Althea and Let It Grow.

Lastly this week, we have music from Laguna Seca, CA on 7/29/88, one of the most unique and intriguing sequences of music from 1988, consisting of China Cat Sunflower>Crazy Fingers>I Know You Rider, Playing In The Band. The two things to note are the split China>Rider (VERY rare) and the complete Playing In The Band, including the song’s reprise with nothing in between, something that was common in 1972-1974, but exceedingly rare after 1974. Cool stuff.

Be sure to stop by next week for, yes, more excellent Grateful Dead music. Thanks for listening, and feel free to write with questions or comments about the Tapers’ Section to the address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 20 - July 26, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:46:17 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where we’ve got some excellent Grateful Dead music for from 1974 and 1987 this week.

Our first selection this week is from 7/24/87 at Oakland Stadium in beautiful Oakland, CA, with the end of the Grateful Dead’s portion of the show featuring Uncle John's Band>Dear Mr. Fantasy>I Need A Miracle>Bertha>Sugar Magnolia. I say “the end of the Grateful Dead’s portion of the show” because the band would then play an entire 3rd set as Bob Dylan’s backing band. The 1987 Grateful Dead was a high-energy band, and although they might have lacked a bit of the exploratory sensibility of the 1973 band, or even the 1989-1990 band that would again stretch out on certain songs, they definitely came ready to play, and completely inspired.

Next up is music from the very next show on 7/26/87 in Anaheim, another Dylan and the Dead affairs, the finale of the six shows featuring this pairing. From the end of that mighty fine concert, we have The Other One>Stella Blue>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away. Again, it is perhaps not the most jammed out material, but it was incredibly powerful nonetheless. This jam and the one above can be heard and seen on the DVD/CD View from the Vault, which contains two entire Grateful Dead concerts (in 5.1 on the DVD).

Finally this week, from Chicago on 7/25/74, we have the big second set jam of Dark Star>Stella Blue. Between the two songs, you’ll hear a very early jam of Slipknot!, which would be recorded in early 1975 and attached to Help On The Way and Franklin’s Tower from then onward with very few exceptions. It’s always fun to hear the beginnings of a song that would become such a big part of the band’s repertoire.

Be sure to stop back next week for music from 1966, 1973, 1982 and 1988, a good mix of old and, well, not so old. And feel free to email the address below if you have any comments or questions about the Tapers’ Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 13 - July 19, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:19:31 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section for a stop in the middle of July. This week we’re going to be sticking to the late-Brent period of Grateful Dead music, with stops in 1989 and 1990.

Our first stop this week is to RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, where the Grateful Dead would end the stadium portion of their summer tour of 1989 with two nights at the then-home of the Redskins (who have since moved to Landover, MD, whose former tenants the Bullets/Wizards of the NBA and the Capitals of the NHL have moved into the city). After this concert, the band’s 7th stadium concert of the tour, they would wrap things up with four amphitheatre shows, at Deer Creek and Alpine. From 7/13/89, we are pleased to play the end of the concert, featuring I Will Take You Home>The Other One>Wharf Rat>Throwing Stones>Good Lovin'. It was all good and fun to see the band play well at stadiums, but moving on to the next show at Deer Creek was a real treat. After almost two weeks in stadiums, Deer Creek was like seeing the band in your backyard.

From the aforementioned Deer Creek show on 7/15/89, the band’s first ever appearance at this fine little venue in Noblesville, Indiana, we have the end of the second set, featuring featuring Space>China Doll>All Along The Watchtower>Stella Blue>Sugar Magnolia, with the Space including a bit of Close Encounters tease. This show was by no means perfect, but it sure was fun.

Lastly this week, from the Buffalo, NY show on 7/16/90, we have the end of the first set, featuring Loose Lucy, All Over Now, High Time, Let It Grow>Don't Ease Me InThis was a very good tour, with a few really great shows in the mix. It’s hard to believe that just 10 days after this show Brent would be gone, but thankfully we have the tapes to remind us of how great this band was.

Check in next week for music from 1974 and 1987. Lots of great material coming up. As always, we welcome and encourage your questions and comments to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 6 - July 12, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:27:04 -0500

Greetings, and big welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll check in on the Grateful Dead's recorded history with stops in 1984 and 1989.

First up this week is the entire first set from Alpine Valley on 7/6/84, and includes Iko Iko, Jack Straw>Big RR Blues, Little Red Rooster, Candyman, Me and My Uncle>Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Let It Grow. These two Alpine ‘84 shows were very strong, and we'll get to more music from them later in the year we hope.

We're now going to start up with a run of music from the excellent summer tour of 1989. Our first selection is from one of my favourite shows of 1989, 7/7/89 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. From the start of the second set, we have Box of Rain>Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet>Standing On The Moon. This concert, start-to-finish, is stellar, and hopefully we'll see its release some day similar to the Buffalo 89 DVD/CD set.

From the next concert on the tour, at Giants Stadium on 7/9/89, we have the post-Drums sequence of Gimme Some Lovin'>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away. Of note at this concert is that it was a rare instance from this era that there was no Garcia ballad played post-Drums, just a long string of rocking tunes.

The very next night also featured some great material, on 7/10/89 at Giants. From this concert we have the opening of the second set, featuring Uncle John's Band. The two songs that opened the set were yet-to-be recorded for the Built To Last album, but both were already strong additions to the live repertoire.

Be sure to stop by next week for more great music. It's always good to see you, and to hear from you at the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 29 - July 5, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:06:23 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section as we close out June and start out July with some terrific Grateful Dead music from 1970, 1987 and 1989.

Our first stop this week is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, former home of Neil Young, Randy Bachman and Dale Hawerchuk. If you’re ever driving along the Trans Canada Highway, be sure to make a stop into Winnipeg. From the Festival Express concert on 7/1/70, we have a batch of songs, some acoustic and some electric, including Candyman, Dire Wolf, Uncle John's Band, Me and My Uncle, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. There was plenty of good music played on this short tour, which unfortunately was two shows shorter than planned to due cancellations in Montreal (political unrest) and Vancouver (lack of funds).

Next up, also from Canada, on 6/30/87 at Kingswood Music Theatre just a bit north of Toronto, we have the end of the concert, featuring Spanish Jam>The Other One>China Doll>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Around and Around>Good Lovin', Box of Rain. This was such a magical night of music, and although most of the songs were rather short, the energy the band brought over the border was stunning. Truly one of the most interesting and well-received Grateful Dead concerts I ever attended. This music was drawn from the matrix tape (audience-soundboard audio blend) that is common of this era’s Grateful Dead recordings, but the music certainly does shine through.

Lastly this week, from just over the Canadian border on the US side, on 7/4/89 at Rich Stadium near Buffalo, NY, we have the end of the first set and start of the second set, specifically Stagger Lee, Looks Like Rain>Deal, Touch of Grey>Women Are Smarter. This music is part of the wonderful DVD release Truckin’ Up To Buffalo, which features some of the most inspired and enthusiastic Grateful Dead music captured on video, all produced into a wonderful 5.1 surround sound mix.

Next week we’ll have exceptional Grateful Dead music from 1984 and 1989. Don’t miss it if you can help it. And we encourage you to write to the email address below with any questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 22 - June 28, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:57:34 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section, where this week we’ll begin our summer proceedings with some tasty Grateful Dead music from 1973, 1990 and 1991.

Our first stop on this week’s journey is at the Memorial Coliseum on 6/24/73 in beautiful Portland, OR, a venue that is the former home of the Trail Blazers (they’ve since moved to the bigger Rose Garden across the plaza in Portland’s Rose Quarter) and current home of the WHL’s Winter Hawks hockey team. This is the second show on a short six show tour in the Summer of 1973, and this week we’ll feature Mississippi Half-Step, You Ain't Woman Enough, El Paso, Stella Blue, Greatest Story Ever Told, Bertha, all of which are played extremely well.

Heading north on I-5 for a stop on 6/26/73 in Seattle ( a bit of odd scheduling, as the show before Portland was on 6/22/73 in Vancouver, Canada), we have music from the Seattle Center Arena with a nice batch of music featuring The Race Is One, Cumberland, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, BIODTL, Loser, Playing In The Band. As usual for this era, Playing In The Band is a nice springboard to some outstanding improvisational music, with a terrific mix that prominently displays the talents of Bobby, Jerry, Phil and Billy, with Keith occasionally popping up with some interesting stuff.

Jumping ahead 17 years, but staying in the Pacific Northwest, we have music from the first of two night’s at Eugene, OR’s Autzen Stadium, on 6/23/90. These two concerts were scheduled quite late, as the weekend was originally scheduled elsewhere in California, but fire dangers prevented those shows happening, so Eugene was booked. The shows started at noon on beautiful summer days, with Little Feat opening from 12 to 1, then the Grateful Dead from about 2 to 5. After the shows, there was plenty of time to take a canoe ride down the river beside the stadium, grab a nice meal, see a movie, and be back at the hotel by 11 PM. And the shows were terrific. From the opening of the second set on the first night, we have Eyes of the World>Looks Like Rain>Crazy Fingers>Playing In The Band>Uncle John’s Band>Playing In The Band. This is one of the longest pre-Drums sequences of the era, clocking in at around 55 minutes. Even those of us using 110 minute cassettes to record the concerts were sweating it at the time.

Finally this week, from an amazing Grateful Dead show on 6/22/91 in Chicago, we have the opening trio of songs, featuring Hell In A Bucket>Shakedown Street>Wang Dang Doodle. There really was some great music played at these concerts

We’ll look forward to seeing you here next week for more great music from 1970, 1987 and 1989. Thanks for stopping in, and feel free to write with questions or comments about the Tapers Section to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 15 - June 21, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:27:12 -0500

Greetings and big welcome back to the Tapers' Section as we hit the end of Spring. We have some excellent music this week from Grateful Dead concerts in 1974, 1990 and 1991.

Our first selection this week is from Des Moines, IA, the second and last annual show at the Fairgrounds, after the excellent 5/13/73 concert. From this great show on 6/16/74 we have the end of the second set, featuring Truckin'>Wharf Rat, Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad. This show and the next show in Louisville on 6/18/74 are a great one-two punch on the start of what would be a short but excellent tour.

Next up, from 16 years later at Shoreline Amphittheatre in Mountain View, CA on 6/16/90, we have the end of the first set, featuring Mama Tried>Big River, Friend of the Devil, Cassidy, Big Boss Man, One More Saturday Night, the last two of which are a little unique in that Bog Boss Man was very rare by 1990, and OMSN was rarely heard in the first set. This is part of the complete-show DVD View From The Vault Vol. 3, so if you want to see a fun, intriguing show (GREAT second set), check it out.

Finally this week, from 6/19/91 at Pine Knob Music Theatre near Detroit, we have the end of the second set, consisting of Space>Stella Blue>The Other One>Johnny B. Goode, Mighty Quinn. I absolutely love this sequence for a few reasons: the Stella Blue out of Space is pretty cool and quite unique (they'd done it a few days before on 6/14/91); The Other One is outstanding, with Phil and Jerry playing wonderfully around one another; and Johnny B. Goode out of The Other One is very unique. Mighty Quinn is also a bit of a rarity here. Add to this the two-keyboardist lineup featuring Vince and Bruce, and you have a dynamic, inspired Grateful Dead.

Be sure to check in next week for more great music, specifically from 1973, 1990 and 1991. As always, we encourage you to write to us here at the Tapers' Section at the email address below. Thanks for stopping by.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 8 - June 14, 2009

ccasal — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:52:36 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to another fine week (we think…) at the Tapers' Section, where we'll listen to some of our favourite material from 1969, 1973, 1977 and 1984.

Our first selection this week is from the Fillmore West in San Francisco, during the course of another of the fine four night runs the band played at this mighty fine little venue. From 6/8/69, we have the very hot 1969 sequence of Dancing In The Street, He Was A Friend of Mine>China Cat Sunflower>New Potato Caboose. This is the final live Grateful Dead version of New Potato Caboose, and although not the level of some of the exquisite mid-1968 versions, it a good listen nonetheless.

Next we have one of the most famous jams of 1973, the sequence of Dark Star>He's Gone>Wharf Rat>Truckin'from 6/10/73 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. They didn't play too many shows in the late spring and summer of 1973, but when the Grateful Dead did convene, magic usually transpired. This jam is certainly one of the best, most inspired and unique of a very, very good era.

From four years less a day later, we have the big second set jam from 6/9/77 at Winterlnd in San Francisco, on the final night of a very good three night run at Winterland. This jam, consisting of Estimated Prophet>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>St. Stephen>Terrapin Station>Sugar Magnolia, US Blues, One More Saturday Night, is a great way to cap off one of the finest six week periods in Grateful Dead, from 4/22/77 to 6/9/77. This Winterland show would be the last Grateful Dead concert for three months, with the band picking back up right where they left off when they returned to the stage on 9/3/77 at Englishtown with yet another exceptional 1977 concert.

Lastly this week, and I believe we may have played this jam before here at the Tapers’ Section, to celebrate its 25th Anniversary, we have the Red Rocks jam from 6/14/84 featuring Shakedown Street>Playing In The Band>Dear Mr. Fantasy, with this being the first-ever live Dear Mr. Fantasy by the Grateful Dead. The way they fall into Fantasy from the Playing In The Band spacey jam has always been one of my favourite little Grateful Dead moments. It might not be perfect, but it’s right.

Make sure you stop in next week for more great music, including selections from 1974, 1990, 1991. See you here, we hope.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 1 - June 7, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:50:51 -0500

Greetings and welcome back to our end-of-the-month, start-of-the-next Tapers’ Section, where this week we’ll play music from 1970, 1974 and 1980.

As we don’t play too much acoustic Grateful Dead here at the Tapers’ Section, owing largely to its dearth in the Grateful Dead’s vault, it’s always a pleasure to bring you some good acoustic music. From 6/4/70, the first night of a four night run at the Fillmore West, we have the opening set consisting of Deep Elem Blues, Candyman, Silver Threads And Golden Needle, Friend Of The Devil, Black Peter, Cumberland Blues, Wake Up Little Susie, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Uncle John's Band, a classic acoustic Dead set.

Next up, from two nights later at the same venue, we have some tasty electric Grateful Dead from 6/6/70, featuring Dire Wolf>Alligator>Drums>Lovelight>Not Fade Away>Lovelight>Uncle John's Band. It’s interesting to hear this electric Uncle John’s Band compared to the acoustic version from two nights earlier. There were a few songs from the era that the band could effortlessly shift from the acoustic sets to the electric sets and back, including Candyman and Dire Wolf.

From just a bit under 10 years later, in Minneapolis on 5/31/80, we have the second set opening sequence of Feel Like A Stranger, Ship, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Jam>Wharf Rat>The Other One. I always love these pre-Drums versions of The Other One, and a pre-Drums Wharf Rat is a major rarity for the era.

Finally this week, to celebrate the anniversary of the theatrical release of The Grateful Dead Movie, which premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on June 1, 1977, we have this majestic version of Playing In The Band from the Movie, recorded live on 10/16/74 at Winterland. This is the complete half hour version of the song.

We’ll see you next week here at the Tapers’ Section where we’ll have more great music drawn from the Grateful Dead’s recorded history. As always, we encourage you to write to the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

May 25 - May 31, 2009

ccasal — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:16:33 -0500

Welcome back to what we hope is another great and interesting week here at the Tapers' Section. This week we have two major jams from the Europe '72 tour, as well as a big, typically hot jam from the May 1977 tour.

First up this week is the big second set jam from 5/24/72, the third-to-last show of one of the greatest tours in Grateful Dead history. From this excellent show, we have Mexican Hat Dance, Truckin'>Drums>The Other One>Sing Me Back Home. Ditties like this Mexican Hat Dance are quite common, but this is definitely one of the most well-developed tuning ditties the band ever performed.

Next we have, from the very next show, the penultimate concert on the tour, a completely unique, and very well-played jam of Uncle John's Band>Wharf Rat>Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia from 5/25/72. When we put together the 4-CD set Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead in 2002, we'd considered doing it as a 5-CD set, and this jam would have been the centerpiece of Disc 5, but it ended up as a majestic 4-CD release, with which we were very happy.

Finally this week, from the very last night of ALSO one of the greatest tours in Grateful Dead history, we have the second set sequence from Hartford on 5/28/77 featuring Estimated Prophet>Playing In The Band>Terrapin Station>Not Fade Away>Wharf Rat>Playing In The Band. This tour, from its very first show on 4/22/77 to this night, is one of the finest periods in Grateful Dead history, up there with April-May, 1972 and October-December, 1973. Every night featured something completely unique and interesting and inspired. This is really one of those tours from which I can grab any show randomly and be happy with what I selected. This Hartford show, of course, was recently released as a full-show, 3-CD set titled To Terrapin-Hartford '77.

Be sure to stop in next week for music from 1970, 1974 and 1980. Lots of great coming up as we end May and start June. See you next Monday, we hope.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

May 18 - May 24, 2009

ccasal — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:51:49 -0500

Hello and welcome back. This week at the Tapers' Section we have music from 1973, 1977 and 1981, each jam featuring some excellent playing.

First up this week is the second-of-three weekend shows in May, 1973, this one being from 5/20/73 in Santa Barbara, a wonderful jam consisting of Truckin'>The Other One>Eyes of the World. The late spring and summer of 1973 was somewhat odd in the Grateful Dead's touring history in that there wasn't any really big summer tour, aside from a short six night run on the west coast at the end of June (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and three nights in Hollywood). Instead, the band played a few well-selected larger scale shows between 4/2/73 and 9/7/73, specifically: Des Moines on 5/13, Santa Barbara on 5/20, SF on 5/26, Washington DC on 6/9&10, Watkins Glen on 7/27&28 and Roosevelt Stadium on 7/31 and 8/1. The quality of these shows certainly made up for the lack of quantity.

From the first night of a two night run at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, on 5/18/77, we're very pleased to play the start of the second set, featuring Jack Straw, Ship of Fools, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. The next night on 5/19/77 is a little more well known, thanks largely to its inclusion on the massive 6-CD Dick's Picks Volume 29, but this 5/18 show contains plenty of great music.

Lastly this week, 5/17/81 in Syracuse, we have the second set opener of Cold Rain and Snow>Samson and Delilah, Ship of Fools, Estimated Prophet. There was plenty of good music played on this tour, including the 5/6/81 show from Nassau that is Dick's Picks Volume 13, and for all of you video enthusiasts, the Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show with which you might be familiar was taped was on 5/7/81.

Be sure to check in next week for three massive jams, two from 1972 and one from 1977. See you then, we hope, and feel free to write with questions or comments to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

May 11 - May 17, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:24:54 -0500

Hello, and welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll check out some excellent music from 1970, 1973 and 1978, all of which took place during this week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history.

Our first stop is on 5/14/70 in Kirkwood, MO, where the band would be playing less than two weeks after the famous show at Harpur College show in Binghamton, NY. Although hard to match, they do a fine job of continuing that energy, with the spectacular sequence of New Speedway Boogie>Nobody's Jam> New Speedway Boogie>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Lovelight The next night the band would appear in New York for another magical Fillmore East concert.

From Des Moines, IA, on 5/13/73, we have the second set jam featuring He's Gone>Truckin'>Drums>The Other One>Eyes of the World>China Doll. This would begin the run of three shows over the next two weekends, with 5/20/73 in Santa Barbara, and 5/26/73 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.

Next up, from about five years later on 5/10/78 in New Haven, CT, and part of the terrific Dick's Picks 25, we have a run of songs that straddles the first and second sets, featuring Me and My Uncle>Big River, Peggy-O, Let It Grow>Deal, Bertha>Good Lovin'. This is truly one of the most fun Picks out there. To really demonstrate how much fun this Pick is, we have this wonderfully comical Dancing In The Street from 5/11/78 in Springfield. You can feel the party dripping through the speakers.

Stop in next week, when we'll hear music from the aforementioned 5/20/73 show in Santa Barbara, as well as tunes from 1977 and 1981. As always, we welcome you to write us here at the Tapers' Section at the email address below. Please be sure to include the words Grateful Dead in your subject so that it gets through our near impenetrable spam barriers.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

May 04 - May 10, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:21:20 -0500

Welcome back, as we continue our ride through the month of May in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history, with stops in 1972, 1977 and 1978.

This week we’ll start our voyage in Paris, France, on the first night of the two night stand in the city of lights. From the second set, we have this magnificent, typical-of-Europe-’72 jam featuring Jam>The Other One>Drums>The Other One>Me and Bobby McGee>The Other One>Wharf Rat. These two Paris shows were loaded with good music, with some if it making it onto the Europe ’72 album. Hopefully some day we’ll see a France ’72 album released featuring music from these two shows, plus Lille on 5/13/72.

Next up, from five years plus a day later on 5/4/77 at the Palladium in New York City (check out last week’s Tapers’ Section for more music from this run), we have this very tight, very inspired second set jam of Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band>Comes A Time>Playing In The Band. As I mentioned last week, this run of shows, and the entire tour, featured a very unique jam/song sequence virtually every night, and this one is no exception.

From a year and a day later in Hanover, NH, we have the second set closing jam from 5/5/78 featuring Not Fade Away>Stella Blue>Around and Around, Werewolves of London. This was the first night of the second half of a very good tour, with the first half taking place 4/6/78 to 4/24/78 and the second half taking place 5/5/78 to 5/17/78, with plenty of great stuff during these five weeks, including the 5/10&11/78 shows that have been immortalized as Dick’s Picks Vol. 25.

Lastly this week, from the next night on 5/6/78 in Burlington, VT, we have the show-opening quintet of songs, consisting of Sugaree, Minglewood Blues, Beggy-O, BIODTL, Loser.

Stop in next week for more great music, from 1970, 1973 and 1978. Some very good stuff coming up.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

April 27 - May 3, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:40:07 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where this week we’ll focus on some magnificent music from the final Fillmore East run in April, 1971, as well as a killer jam from 1977.

Our first selection this week is from the middle night of the five night run in April, 1971, from 4/27/71, with the exceptional Lovelight, in which Pigpen, in his inimitable way, introduces a couple, and seems on the verge of marrying them off. Please note that all three of our Fillmore East 1971 selection this week are from the 4-CD set Ladies and Gentlemen…the Grateful Dead: Fillmore East 1971, so if you want to hear four more hours of this excellent material mixed from the multi-track masters, polish off that gem of an album, or pick up a copy if you don’t have it.

From the very next night, on 4/28/71, we have the jam of Dark Star>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away, with the entirety of the jam featuring former Grateful Dead keyboard player Tom Constanten sitting in for the final time (he’d left the band officially after the January, 1970 shows in Hawaii).

Our last selection from the Fillmore East run is the show-closing jam, plus the encore, from the last ever Grateful Dead concert at the Fillmore East, from 4/29/71. This is commonly referred to as one of the best jams of 1971, and features Alligator>Drums>Jam>GDTRFB>Cold Rain and Snow, Casey Jones, Midnight Hour>We Bid You Goodnight. When we were putting the Ladies and Gentlemen album together in the summer of 2000, we knew this jam, and the previous selection from 4/28/71, had to be on there, and everything else fell into place from there.

Finally this week, to jump ahead exactly six years plus a day, we have the big jam from 4/30/77 at the Palladium (formerly the Academy of Music, site of the great seven-night run in 1972) in New York City. Every night on this Spring Tour of 1977 offered a unique sequence, and this is no exception, featuring St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Stella Blue>St. Stephen>One More Saturday Night, Terrapin Station.

Be sure to stop back next week as we continue our journey through May with some excellent music from 1972, 1977 and 1978. Lots of good stuff coming up in the month ahead. And as always, feel free to email the address below with any questions or comments about the Tapers’ Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

April 20 - April 26, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:28:21 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where this week we’ll be playing three excellent jams from April, 1969, and one big jam from April, 1978.

Our first stop this week is in Worcester, MA, on 4/20/69, and in honour of the 40th anniversary of that concert, we have the show’s big jam sequence, consisting of Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don’t Have No Mercy. No Lovelight to round out the jam, but it’s a great Death Don’t, making it a perfect ending to the trifecta that started the sequence.

Next up, from just two days later in Boston on 4/22/69 we have another exquisite 1969 sequence, featuring Doin’ That Rag>That’s It For The Other One>Death Don’t Have No Mercy. We hope you don’t mind the two versions of Death Don’t this week.

To end our little trip back to the April, 1969 tour, we have music from 4/25/69 in Chicago, featuring Hard To Handle, Doin’ That Rag, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Morning Dew. Apologies for the two versions of Doin’ That Rag this week, but we don’t get a chance to play it too much here. This tour also featured the 4/26&27/69 shows that make up Dick’s Picks Vol. 26.

Lastly this week we are going to check in with some music on 4/21/78 in Lexington, KY, where we’ll hear the post-Drums sequence of Jam>Stella Blue>Truckin’>Playing In The Band, Werewolves of London. This version of Stella Blue is the one included on the outstanding five-CD boxed set “So Many Roads,” and we figured you should also hear what came after this excellent version of Stella Blue.

Be sure to stop by next week for music from 1971 and 1977. And as always, feel free to email the address below with questions or comments about the Tapers’ Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

April 13 - April 19, 2009

ccasal — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:00:18 -0500

Welcome back, and we hope you're having a happy Spring. This week we have two big jams from 1971, and a cool jam from 1978.

Our first stop this week is on 4/13/71 at the Scranton Catholic Youth Center in beautiful Scranton, PA, home of everyone's favourite American paper company. From this show we have a unique pairing of Truckin'>Drums>Good Lovin'. This was a good little tour, with the band starting and finishing the tour in New York City, opening with three nights at the Manhattan Center and ending with five nights at the Fillmore East. Things were still a little tentative at times with only one drummer, but this opened up the music to allow it to change direction a little faster, and with so many great new songs added to the repertoire in February, 1971, it was a good time for the Grateful Dead.

Next up, from the very next night on 4/14/71 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, we have the second set jam of Cryptical Envelopment>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat, Hard To Handle. Although Wharf Rat was still rather new, it was a magnificent addition to the playlist from the beginning.

Our final stop this week is at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on 4/18/78, where the band played this cool post-Drums sequence of Samson and Delilah, Terrapin Station>Around and Around. The first half of this tour is not in the vault (4/6/78 to 4/16/78), but the remainder (4/18/78 to 5/17/78) is, so we have plenty of great music to select from on this at-times very inspired tour (see: 5/10 and 5/11/78). We'll have a little more from this tour next week.

Thanks for stopping in, and we'll look forward to seeing you next week. As always, we encourage you to write with questions or comments to the address below. Please include "Grateful Dead" in your email subject line to make sure it makes it through the spam filters.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

April 6 - April 12, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:54:39 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section. This week we have two of my favourite jams from the Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 tour, as well as a terrific 1982 second set sequence.

First up this week is the second set jam from 4/7/72 at Wembley Empire Pool in London, England. This was the first show of the tour, with the two nights in London being late additions to the itinerary. They had been scheduled to open the tour at the Rainbow Theatre in London, but when those shows were cancelled due to the venue closing down (soon after to re-open, hosting loads of great shows by many bands in the 1970s and the Grateful Dead’s two runs there in 1981), Wembley Empire Pool (now known as Wembley Arena) was selected to host the concerts. When we were producing the four-CD set “Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead” we knew nothing of this concert, and when we discovered this second set jam, featuring Truckin’>Drums>The Other One>El Paso>The Other One>Wharf Rat, One More Saturday Night, we knew immediately it had to be on that album.

From the next night at the same venue, 4/8/72, we have the equally, perhaps more impressive jam of Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia>Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks), Brokedown Palace. The Brokedown is actually from a few nights later, on 4/11/72 in Newcastle, England, but we figured you might want to hear the entire album closing sequence from “Steppin’ Out.” This version of Dark Star is considered by many (me included) to be one of the finest renditions of the song ever performed by the Grateful Dead.

Finally this week, we have the second set opener quartet of songs from the excellent 4/6/82 show at the Philadelphia Spectrum, featuring Shakedown Street>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Terrapin Station . The Shakedown features some very impressive interplay between Jerry and Brent, similar to what went down on 7/4/89 in Buffalo during Not Fade Away.

Be sure to stop in next week for music from 1971 and 1978. There are some terrific jams coming up. Feel free to email me at the address below if you have any questions or comments, and please be sure to include the words “Grateful Dead” in the email subject to make sure it gets through.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 30 - April 5, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:21:47 -0500

As we close out March and begin April, we have some tasty selections from the latter part of the Brent Mydland era of the Grateful Dead, specifically from 1988 and 1990.

Our first selection this week is an entire first set from the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ, on 3/31/88, consisting of Hell In A Bucket>Sugaree, Me And My Uncle>Mexicali Blues, Brown-Eyed Women, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Ramble On Rose, Let It Grow. This was the middle night of a three night run at the Meadowlands, each of which featured some outstanding moments. The tour overall was a very good one, with those stellar nights in Hampton preceding this run in New Jersey.

Next up, from two years later and also from the greater New York area, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on 3/30/90, we have the second set opening jam of Iko Iko, Playing In The Band>China Doll>Uncle John’s Band>Terrapin Station, a very rare Garcia trio of tunes. This run at Nassau is more famous for its second night (the Branford Marsalis show on 3/29/90), but 3/28 and 3/30 also had some great music, and were recorded to multi-track tape as was the whole tour.

From the next run of shows, at the Omni in Atlanta, GA, on 4/1/90, we have the show closing jam of Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude>Truckin'>Stella Blue>Sugar Magnolia. I think this run is outstanding, and is often overlooked because of the incredible music played at other stops on the tour (Cap Center, Hamilton, Albany and Nassau come to mind), but there was plenty of great music played at these three shows in Atlanta.

Finally this week, also from the Atlanta run on 4/2/90, we have the closing sequence of The Other One>Death Don't Have No Mercy>Around and Around>Good Lovin', Black Muddy River. This is the final live Grateful Dead version of Death Don’t Have No Mercy, ending a short run of four post-1970 performances (three in 1989 and this one). I’m telling you, these Atlanta shows are hot!

Be sure to check back next Monday for music from 1972 and 1982. Great stuff coming up.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 23 - March 29, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:05:28 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be checking out some Grateful Dead music from 1990, 1991 and 1993, all of which was played in Albany, NY, at the Knickerbocker Arena. When the Dead arrived to the venue in March of 1990, it had been open for just about a month. Its inaugural concert took place in February, with the Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra, opening the venue in style, but it was the three night run by the Grateful Dead that would truly symbolize the grand opening of the Knick. Over the course of the next five years, the band would play 13 concerts at the venue, many of which were exceptional.

Our first selection this week is something we expect most of you will be familiar with, but it's certainly worth another listen. And for those who might not be familiar with Dozin' At The Knick, you're in for a wild ride, one of the finest spontaneous jams of the Grateful Dead's final decade. From 3/24/90, the first ever Grateful Dead show at the Knick (and in the middle of a stunning tour), we have Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band>Terrapin Station>Mind Left Body Jam, the most well-developed MLB Jam since 1973.

Next, from the very next show on 3/25/90, we have the second set opening sequence of Eyes of the World>Samson and Delilah. A dynamite little sequence, with the return of the slower-paced, stretched-out Eyes of the World, closer in tempo to those of 1974 than those of the mid 1980s.

Now we move ahead a year to 1991, to the first night of another three night run of shows at the Knick, on 3/23/91. The previous four shows of the tour, at the Capital Centre, included Bruce Hornsby on piano, but he was absent at the Knickerbocker concerts (and the Nassau shows that followed). However, the band played some great material all three nights in 1991 in Albany, including this second set closing jam of All Along the Watchtower>Morning Dew>One More Saturday Night. There was plenty more great music at the 1991 shows, which hopefully we'll find time to play later this year.

Our final Albany selection this week is from 1993, on 3/27/93, the first night of the band's final three night run at the Knick (there were two shows in 1995). From the start of the second set, we have this excellent sequence of Eyes of the World>Estimated Prophet>Comes A Time>Corrina. The 1993 shows would have plenty more great music, including the exceptional show on 3/28/93.

Be sure to stop by next week for excellent music from 1988 and 1990. We have some great stuff planned.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 16 - March 22, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:02:36 -0500

As we break past the midpoint of March, we have music spanning 20 years minus a day in Grateful Dead history, from 1971 to 1991.

It's been a while, so we figured we'd focus this week on some shows that took place at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in February, 1990. These shows were in the middle of a string of concerts recorded to 24 track analog tape by John Cutler and Le Mobile, a recording truck the band used for many recordings, including the bulk of shows that happened May, 1989 through April, 1990. Several commercial releases have been produced from these recordings, including Without A Net, Dozin' At Knick, Nightfall Of Diamonds, Terrapin Limited, as well as some parts of the So Many Roads boxed set. Not only are the recordings phenomenal, but the band was playing particularly well in 1989-1990, so there are hopefully more releases to come from these shows.

Our first stop this week is on 3/18/71 in St. Louis, where the band played two great shows. From the second night, we have the classic 1971 jam featuring Truckin’>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat. The last song had been in the repertoire for just a month, but it was already a centerpiece of the big jams, a ballad (which never quite fit that label) of epic proportions.

Jumping forward 19 years, we have music from the outstanding Spring Tour of 1990. Virtually every concert on this tour was stunning in some way, and this jam, from 3/16/90 at the Capital Centre in Landover, MD, features one of those very unique 1990 jams. Consisting of Scarlet Begonias>Estimated Prophet>Ship of Fools>Women Are Smarter>Jam, the sequence is filled with odd pairings and cool surprises: Scarlet>Estimated was extremely rare, Estimated>Ship was virtually unheard of, and the Jam to wrap it all up is one of those spontaneous bursts of creativity that were part of the band’s appeal.

From the same tour, because we love sharing it so much, we have the post-Drums sequence from the second Hartford show, on 3/19/90, featuring China Doll>Gimme Some Lovin’>GDTRFB>Around and Around. This is a rare show-closing Around and Around, and the next version the band would play, a week later in Albany, would include the slowed down, bluesy part of the song before being built back up to its Chuck Berry rocking roots. Check out Dozin’ at the Knick to hear that very cool Around and Around.

Finally this week, from the Capital Centre in Landover again, we have the entire first set of the first show of the Spring Tour of 1991, on 3/17/91. With both Vince and Bruce on keyboards, there was so much depth to the sound and dynamics of the playing, as heard on this first set consisting of Hell In A Bucket>Sugaree>Walkin’ Blues, Peggy-O, Queen Jane Approximately, Ruben and Cherise, Let It Grow. This was, of course, the first ever Grateful Dead version of Jerry’s Ruben and Cherise, a tune the Dead would play three more times before letting it live exclusively in the JGB repertoire.

Stop by next week for a whole bunch of music from Albany, NY. A good variety of some excellent music.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 9 - March 15, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:05:44 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, and an extra big Happy Birthday to Phil this coming Sunday. This week we'll be playing four pre-Drums sequences, not by design but by coincidence, all four of which come from 1981 and 1993.

Our first two jams this week are the pre-Drums parts of the shows from March 9 and 10, 1981 at Madison Square Garden. From the first night, on 3/9/81, we have China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Samson and Delilah, Ship of Fools, Estimated>Uncle John's Band. This latter combination is quite rare, but it works beautifully here. From the second night, 3/10/81, we have the classic early 1980s pre-Drums sequence of Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance, and this is one of the more powerful examples of this sequence.

Next we'll jump forward exactly 12 years to the Rosemont Horizon near Chicago in 1993. From the first night of a three night run on 3/9/93, we have China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Victim or the Crime>Ship of Fools, Playing In The Band. It's been a while since we played Victim here, and it could get so dark and raunchy that it's certainly a change of pace from Scarlet>Fires. From the third show at Rosemont, on 3/11/93, we have the pre-Drums sequence of Iko Iko, Wave To The Wind, Truckin'>Spoonful>He's Gone. Wave To The Wind is much maligned, but I always found they did some very interesting things in the jam in the middle, reminiscent of the jam in Unbroken Chain or Eyes of the World.

Be sure to stop back next week for some superb jams from 1971, 1990 and 1991. Some really tasty treats coming up.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 2 - March 8, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:45:46 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, and welcome to our first full week of March, 2009. For no reason in particular, we're going to check out music mostly from the previous week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history.

Our first jam this week is from the first night in Oakland, 2/25/90, featuring China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Just A Little Light, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. We don't get to play too many versions of Just A Little Light, and sandwiched between these two classic Grateful Dead jams, we thought now was a good time.

Next up, from the second show, is the soaring Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain from 2/26/90. This, along with the 7/7/89 and 3/22/90 versions of Scarlet>Fire demonstrate why this is one of my favourite eras for this pairing.

Our last installment of the Oakland February, 1990 run is the post-Drums sequence from 2/27/90, consisting of The Other One>Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away, We Bid You Goodnight. Simply dynamite. The Spring tour of 1990 would start just over two weeks later on 3/14/90 and would prove to be one of the best tours of the band's final decade.

Lastly this week, just to shake things up and get us out of 1990, we have this terrific set closing sequence from 10/18/78 at Winterland, featuring Mojo Jam>Wharf Rat>Truckin', I Need A Miracle. Another magical jam from the From Egypt With Love concerts.

Be sure to join us next week for some great stuff from 1981 and 1993, a couple of years we don't hit often here at the Tapers' Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 23 - March 1, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:24:30 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, as we close out February with some excellent music spanning the Grateful Dead's first decade.

Our first selection today is from 2/23/66, a studio rehearsal that features some cool jams that form the bread of a Jam>Good Lovin' Jam>Jam sandwich. It's one of those neat little discoveries that was buried deep within the vault, and that's our pleasure to present here today.

Next we have a couple of selections from the first night of the famed Fillmore West 1969 run, from 2/27/69, specifically Good Morning Little Schoolgirl and That's It For The Other One. There was so much great music played over these four nights that we could spend hours listening to this run. In fact, we often do here at the Tapers' Section HQ. Oh, also from that run is this excellent Cosmic Charlie from 3/1/69. Tasty stuff.

We now have a little musical interlude from 2/28/73 in Salt Lake City, a standalone He's Gone, from the superb Dick's Picks Vol. 28, which consists of two concerts (2/26&28/73) filled with stellar early 1973 Grateful Dead.

The week will wrap up with the two big jams from 2/24/74 at Winterland, Dark Star>Morning Dew and Sugar Magnolia>Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away, Baby Blue. This three night run of shows to start 1974 is excellent throughout, almost on the level of the three nights at Winterland in November, 1973. Here's to hoping February 1974 gets the same treatment as November 1973 someday...

We'll look forward to seeing you next week here at the Tapers' Section as we get rolling into March.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 16 - February 22, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:37:51 -0600

This week we have four big jams for you, three of which are from 1973, and one from 1969.

Our first stop is at the Dream Bowl in Vallejo, CA, a dance hall located in this North Bay city. From this concert, which took place just a few days before the famous Fillmore West 1969 run of shows, we have Doin' That Rag>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Lovelight. Not quite the Live/Dead suite, but pretty close. And so well played!

Jumping ahead four years, we have both halves of the big jam from 2/19/73 in Chicago. The first portion features He's Gone>Truckin'>The Other One, with plenty of fine jamming throughout, and the show would end with the equally interesting sequence of Eyes of the World>China Doll, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones. This tour was loaded with great music, and this is certainly no exception.

Our last big jam of the week is from the very next show, on 2/21/73 in Champagne-Urbana, IL, and features the perfect combination of Truckin'>Eyes of the World. I really can't get enough 1973 Grateful Dead music.

Make sure you come by next week for music from 1966, 1969, 1973 and 1974. It's a busy week next week here at the Tapers' Section, so try not to miss it.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 9 - February 15, 2009

ccasal — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:30:41 -0600

As we mentioned this week, we're going to check in on a whole bunch of 1970 Grateful Dead here at the Tapers' Section, but to start the week, we'll hit some 1967 Dead.

From 10/22/67 at Winterland, we have a nice 1967 combination of tunes, specifically Morning Dew, New Potato Caboose, Hurts Me Too, Cold Rain and Snow. There isn't too much 1967 in the vault, but thankfully what's there is outstanding.

Now we'll move on to one of the best runs of shows in Grateful Dead history, the three nights at the Fillmore East in New York, 2/11,13&14/70. Our first selection is from 2/11/70, and features Not Fade Away, Cumberland Blues, Cold Rain and Snow, High Time, Me and My Uncle. These standalone versions of Not Fade Away from 1970 are always so much fun. From that same show, we have the monster jam of Dark Star>Lovelight, complete with special guests galore.

From 2/13/70, we have two big tracks, Dark Star, which was featured on Dick's Picks Vol. 4, and Smokestack Lightning, which was included on Bear's Choice. Both tracks are certainly worthy of release to masses on these two fine albums.

Lastly this week, for a little taste of 2/14/70, we have Hard To Handle, also included on Bear's Choice. These 1970 versions of Hard To Handle are lot more raunchy and rocking than the perfection that would symbolize the 1971 versions, but the 1970 versions are equally interesting.

Stop by the Tapers' Section next week for some mighty fine 1969 and 1973 Grateful Dead. Lots of good stuff on the horizon.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 2 - February 8, 2009

ccasal — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:18:15 -0600

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

January 26- February 1, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:45:32 -0600

As we close out January here at the Tapers' Section, we're going to listen to quite a bit of music from 1978, but we'll start our week from 12 years before that.

Our first selection this week is from a tape marked simply “January 1966.” Not much else is known, but I'd guess it was from LA, where the Grateful Dead moved in January, 1966. From this rather obscure tape we have the two lengthy jam vehicles of the time, Viola Lee Blues, Midnight Hour. Both would stretch WAY beyond these lengths, but it's cool to hear how these tunes began as part of the Grateful Dead's early repertoire.

From Chicago in 1978, we have music from two of the three shows that started a short six show tour of the Midwest (the other three shows being Madison, Milwaukee and Cedar Falls; more on those shows next week…). From the first night in Chicago, on 1/30/78, we have this very nifty Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World pairing, always played well in 1978.

Jumping ahead two nights, to the final night in Chicago on 2/1/78, we have music from both the first set and second set of that excellent show. From the former, we have Ramble On Rose, Cassidy, Sugaree, and from the latter we have The Other One>Wharf Rat>Sugar Magnolia, Around and AroundThese six shows came on the heals of the at-times excellent tour of (mostly) California in January, which ended on 1/22/78 in Eugene, OR. I've always felt that, musically, 1977 and its wildly powerful energy ended on 2/5/78, with the 1978 Grateful Dead beginning on 4/6/78. Just as film historians often use 1959 as a point at which to divide film history, I look at 2/5/78 as the Grateful Dead's equivalent.

Finally this week, from the aforementioned at-times excellent tour of (mostly) California in January 1978, we have some great music from 1/15/78 in Fresno, California. From a very good audience tape source, we have the second set's big jam featuring Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band. Unfortunately, the entire January 1978 tour of (mostly) California is not in the vault, but fortunately the tapers were out there recording the shows.

Join us next week for more great 1978 Grateful Dead music, as well as a nice piece of music from 1988 and a touch of 1970. Thanks for joining us here this week.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 19 - January 25, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:26:00 -0600

As we mentioned last week, we're going stick within a two year or so period this week at Tapers' Section, 1969-1971, but the music's great, so we hope you don't mind.

Our first stop this week is at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, on 1/25/69, where the Grateful Dead were playing the middle night of a three night run of shows that was being recorded for Live/Dead. This run of shows, as some of you might know, was the first live recording to the then-brand-new technology of 16 track audio tape. The more common 8 track tape had been in use for live recording for a few years, but in late 1968 the folks at Ampex created the first 2” 16 track recording machines, which, of course, the Grateful Dead had to try. From the middle show, we have this terrific Dark Star.

Next up is a stop in Hawaii, to a show on 1/23/70, the first of a two night run of shows that would prove to be Tom Constanten's final shows as an official member of the Grateful Dead. From this show, we have the great 1-2 punch of classic 1970 Grateful Dead: Good Lovin', That's It For The Other One. A week later the Grateful Dead would be playing in New Orleans, where they were busted on Bourbon Street, and the rest is history…

Speaking of being busted on Bourbon Street, we'll start our next sequence of music, from 1/24/71 in Seattle, with the song that was inspired by that and other events on the road, followed by some other great 1971 Grateful Dead: Truckin', China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Hurts Me Too, Cumberland Blues. As way out there as 1971 could get with The Other One and Dark Star, it is also great to hear how perfectly the Grateful Dead were able to pull off blues and country music.

Finally this week, we have another jam from the same week as the one above, from 1/21/71 at UC Davis, located about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento, and home to an outstanding veterinary college. From this show, we have Mama Tried, Around and Around, Cumberland Blues, Casey Jones. Mickey was still in the band but would stay for less than a month before pursuing other things, including producing the amazing Rolling Thunder album.

Next week we'll have a whole lot of 1978 Grateful Dead for you, plus a little taste of 1966. Well, perhaps not so little. Have a great week, and we'll see you here at the Tapers' Section next Monday.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 12 - January 18, 2009

ccasal — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:21:06 -0600

Greetings and welcome back to the Tapers' Section. We have a pretty eclectic mix of early Grateful Dead music for you this week, specifically 1968-1972, a truly Golden Age in the history of the band.

Our first stop this week is in Chico, California, on 11/1/68, where we'll listen to the classic double-whammy major jam of the era, Dark Star>That's It For The Other One. What a treat it is to play the two big jams of 1968 linked together like this.

From just a couple of months later in Santa Barbara, we'll stop in on a killer sequence from 1/17/69, featuring just about the entirety of the song selection that would appear on Live/Dead, Lovelight, Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don't Have No Mercy, minus the feedback>We Bid You Goodnight that closed out one of the greatest live albums of all time.

Moving further up the coast to one of the coolest cities in America, Portland, Oregon, we have a couple of tunes from 1/16/70, a tight, excellent Easy Wind, and the powerful, psychedelic That's It For The Other One. We hope you don't mind two complete Other One jams this week. This little tour in January, 1970 features some very cool, unique shows, including San Diego on 1/10/70 and the two Hawaii show on 1/23&24/70. And sandwiching this tour were the Fillmore East shows of 1/2&3/70 and 2/11,13&14/70. Certainly a prime time for the Grateful Dead.

Finally this week, from 9/26/72 in Jersey City, NJ, we have a great second set sequence of Tomorrow is Forever, Truckin'>The Other One>Baby Blue. Yes, another Other One. We hope that's OK with you. These three New Jersey shows are excellent, with one of them even making into the ranks of Dick's Picks, Volume 11.

Be sure to come back next week to check in on the Tapers' Section, where we'll stick within the rather slight parameters we did this week, which is to say more music from 1969-1971. Thanks for stopping in.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

January 5 - January 11, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:17:55 -0600

Welcome back to our first full week of 2009 here at the Tapers' Section, where we hope your year is starting as well as ours.

We're going to step outside of our featured week a little bit, primarily owing to the fact that the vault doesn't have too much music from this week in the Grateful Dead's history. Our first selection is one of the all-time great sequences of bonus tracks from any Grateful Dead release, the jam of Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World>St. Stephen>Sugar Magnolia,, from 12/30/77 at Winterland. This music was included at the end of CD #3 of the majestic Dick's Pick Volume 10, which featured the 12/29/77 show, the triumphant return of China>Rider.

Next we'll jump back in time almost a decade to 10/12/68 for the excellent Anthem of the Sun styled jam of That's It For The Other One>New Potato Caboose>Jam>Feedback. There isn't a lot of 1968 Grateful Dead music in the vault, but what's there is mostly excellent. In fact, it's so good, we figured we'd give you a double dose today, with the next jam, from 10/20/68, being the other common jam from 1968, Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Caution. This is certainly one era from which I wish there were more tapes in the vault.

Finally this week, from Winterland on 1/2/72, we have the very cool, very unique jam of Good Lovin'>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Good Lovin'. There aren't a lot of split Good Lovin's like this, so it's always a pleasure to bring you the one-time-only jams.

Check in next week for a whole lot of good music from 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 29, 2008 - January 4, 2009

ccasal — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:26:58 -0600

Welcome back to our continuing holiday editions of the Tapers’ Section. This week we have some New Year’s themed music, although not all from New Year’s Eve, but from the time around then.

Our first stop will be the magnificent concert on 12/29/77, a life-changing night for a lot of Dead Heads with whom we’ve spoken. This, of course, featured the return of China>Rider after a three-plus year absence. From that magical night, we have the centerpiece of the night, Playing In The Band>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>China Doll>Jam. The rest of this concert is certainly worth seeking out, so do find yourself a copy of Dick’s Picks Vol. 10 and enjoy it.

Next up, from 10 years plus a day later on 12/30/89, we have the post-Drums sequence of I Will Take You Home>The Other One>Standing On The Moon>One More Saturday Night, Baby Blue, which is every bit the equal of the post-Drums sequences from 12/27&28/89 that we played for you last week here at the Tapers’ Section. Dynamite stuff indeed.

Finally this week, to get you all in the mood for the big New Year’s Eve festivities, we have my all time favourite midnight piece of music from a New Year’s Eve concert, Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain from 12/31/78, the famous Closing of Winterland concert. This was the concert that went on and on and on, filled with surprises throughout.

Happy New Year everyone!

Be sure to stop back next week when we’ll properly ring in 2009 with some excellent material from 1968, 1972 and 1977. See you then.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 22 - December 28, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:23:52 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, and happy holidays to everyone. This week we have three big jams, two post-Drums sequences and one pre-Drums sequence.

Our first big jam is drawn from the magnificent Dick’s Picks Vol. 5, from 12/26/79 at the Oakland Auditorium Arena, later to be renamed the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. After the Closing of Winterland, this venue became the Grateful Dead’s primary smallish hometown venue (capacity around 8,000), and this particular concert has plenty of great stuff. From the second set, we have the pre-Drums jam of Uncle John’s Band>Estimated Prophet>He’s Gone>The One, all of which are played exceptionally well. A fun little thing to note: during the guitar solo in Estimated after the bridge, Bobby comes in a little early on the vocals, aborts this vocal attempt, and they keep jamming with Jerry shredding his solo until the proper time to come back in with the “my time coming…” vocals. Then a little while later during The Other One, Jerry gets back at Weir by coming in early on the “coming, coming, coming around…” vocals, a very subtle little jab that demonstrates the great sense of humour of these guys even when in the middle of an intense jam. Or maybe Jerry just made a plain old mistake by coming in early, but I prefer to think not.

Next up from ten years later on 12/27/89 at the Dead’s final new primary hometown venue, the Oakland Coliseum Arena, we have this tasty post-Drums sequence of The Wheel>I Need A Miracle>Morning Dew, Johnny B. Goode>Black Muddy River. That saxophone you hear is none other than the Big Man himself, Clarence Clemons. This was a particularly fine New Year’s run of four concerts that featured the same confident, inspired playing that was typical of mid-1989 through 1990. Fortunately, most of the concerts between June 1989 and April 1990 were captured by John Cutler on 24 track analog tape, the results of which are heard on albums such as Without A Net, Dozin’ at the Knick and Nightfall of Diamonds.

We had so much fun putting together that previous selection, we’re now going to play you the next night’s post-Drums sequence, from 12/28/89 at the same venue, featuring Gimme Some Lovin’>All Along The Watchtower>Stella Blue>Lovelight. Each of these four concerts were exciting, and this sequence is certainly no exception to the high quality of playing.

Be sure to stop back next week here at the Tapers’ Section, where we’ll ring in the New Year with music from 1977, 1978 and 1989.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 15 - December 21, 2008

ccasal — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:48:18 -0600

Welcome back to our continuation of our December march through the history of the Grateful Dead’s recorded legacy. This week we’re going to check out bits from two years, specifically 1969 and 1973.

Our first stop is at the Fillmore Auditorium on December 19, 1969, just about six weeks after the stunning November 8, 1969 concert at the same venue, a concert that became Dick’s Picks Vol. 16 back in early 2000. From this December concert, we have a great 1969 sequence featuring That’s It For The Other One>Uncle John’s Band>Lovelight, a jam that includes some of the finest elements of the transitional period of late 1969: the psychedelic improvisation of The Other One, the country-rock influence on Uncle John’s Band and the Pigpen stage presence of Lovelight. The three elements work beautifully together.

Next up is music from the same venue the next night, on December 20, 1969, where we’ll hear some classic music from the era: Mason’s Children, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. All three are played very well, as would be expected from this era.

Finally this week we’re going to check in on the 35th Anniversary of the concert that would form the magnificent Dick’s Picks Vol. 1, from December 19, 1973. From that show, we have the Pick-opening Here Comes Sunshine and the exploratory Playing In The Band from later on CD 1. The former track was the introduction to the Dick’s Picks series, and we all recall hearing that and thinking “this series is going to be amazing…” Thirty-six Picks later, that potential certainly was tapped often and to excellent results.

Be sure to check back in next week when we’ll have some cool late December jams from 1979 and 1989.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 8 - December 14, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:42:08 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to our second week of December here at the Tapers' Section, where we’ll check in on some excellent music from 1969, 1973 and 1979.

Our first stop this week will be at the tail end of 1969, 12/12/69 at the Thelma Theatre in Los Angeles. There are plenty of justifiably famous 1969 concerts, including the four nights at the Fillmore West in February-March, and of course 11/8/69 at the Fillmore Auditorium. This jam from 12/12/69, however, deserves a place right up there with the best of 1969, featuring Alligator>Caution>Feedback>We Bid You Goodnight, a classic 1969 jam.

Next up, from 12/8/73 at Duke University in Durham, NC, we have a great sequence of tunes, Candyman, Weather Report Suite, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. Candyman was quite rare in 1973, with this being one of only four versions for the year.

About six years later, the Grateful Dead would find themselves in St. Louis, at the Kiel Auditorium on 12/9/79, where they would play this great post-Drums sequence featuring Black Peter>I Need A Miracle>Bertha>Good Lovin’. This tour featured so much excellent music, from about the end of October through the end of 1979, that it's always a pleasure to play it here for you.

Speaking of the Fall Tour of 1979, we also have music from two nights later, on 12/11/79 in Kansas City, KS, featuring Easy To Love You>Minglewood Blues, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider.

Be sure to stop back next week for music from 1969 and 1973 exclusively. We'll be getting into some late 80s Grateful Dead in a couple of weeks, but until then, loads of earlier material coming up.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

December 1 - December 7, 2008

ccasal — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:08:33 -0600

Greetings, and welcome to the start of our December run of great Grateful Dead music here at the Tapers’ Section. This week we have a couple of huge jams from 1971, plus some tasty material from 1973 and 1979.

Our first stop this week is at the Felt Forum in New York City, which is now known as the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, located on the ground floor of MSG, with the ice surface and basketball court a few stories above. From 12/4/71, we have the very unique jam featuring Me and My Uncle>The Other One>Jam>Mexicali Blues>Wharf Rat. What makes this jam so intriguing is that by late 1971, it was quite common to hear The Other One split by a cowboy song (the most common example of which was The Other One>Me and My Uncle>The Other One), whereas this version of the jam features two cowboy tunes sandwiching an Other One. Neato.

Next up, from the next night at the same venue, on 12/5/71, we have another stellar jam, this one featuring Dark Star Jam>Me and My Uncle>Dark Star Jam>Sitting On Top Of The World. By this time, Keith had already fully integrated himself into the band and was an essential part of the sound that would continue through the next few years. Add to this the return of Pigpen to the touring band, and you have a remarkably dynamic band.

From the middle night of the magical three night run at the Boston Music Hall on the Fall Tour of 1973, we have a quintet of tunes, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Big River, Brokedown Palace, Weather Report Suite from 12/1/73. WRS would be played at all three of these concerts, and all were exceptional.

Finally this week we jump forward to 1979, to 12/3/79 in Chicago. This very unique post-Drums sequence that ends the concert features Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Wharf Rat>Truckin’, with the latter tune being a very rare way to end a show in 1979.

Be sure to check back next week for some exceptional music from 1969 through 1979. It’s always great to see you here at the Tapers’ Section.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 24 - November 30, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:12:37 -0600

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers’ Section. This week have some tasty selections from 1973, 1979 and 1980.

You may recall we left off last week with two stunning jams from November, 1973, with music from 11/17 and 11/21. This week we’ll continue that journey with music from 11/25/73 at Feyline Field in Tempe, Arizona. This classic 1973 sequence features Around and Around, Eyes of the World>Weather Report Suite, with these latter two tunes being brand-spanking-new to most ears in the crowd, as Wake of the Flood had been released just six weeks previously, on 10/15/73.

From San Diego on 11/24/79, we have the first-set opening sequence of China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Mama Tried>Mexicali Blues. This concert was recorded at the tail end of Betty’s live two-track recording period with the Grateful Dead, with the December, 1979 shows at Oakland Auditorium Arena (later Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center) being the end of that era of recordings. But we sure are grateful to have mid-1976 through late-1979 represented by these stellar recordings.

From the next show (and the same recording source…), we have Shakedown Street>Bertha, Looks Like Rain on 11/25/79 at UCLA. Another stellar sequence heard in amazing quality.

From a few days later, but from the “new” recording source of decent quality PA soundboard recordings, we have the second-set opener from 11/29/79 in Cleveland, Shakedown Street>Samson and Delilah. We hope you don’t mind two versions of Shakedown Street in the same week. It’s not like we’re playing two versions of Me and My Uncle (you know, like two weeks ago…).

Lastly this week, from 11/26/80 in pembroke pines, florida, we have the first-set closing jam of Althea>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Deal, all played with a terrific energy that was common in late 1980.

Be sure to check back in next week as we begin our December run here at the Tapers’ Section with music from 1971, 1973 and 1979. Lots of great stuff is coming up in the month ahead, so we’ll look forward to seeing you back here.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 17 - November 23, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:03:20 -0600

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

November 10 - November 16, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:25:56 -0600

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be checking out music spanning virtually the full breadth of the 1970s, from early 1970 to late 1979, specifically 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1979.

Our first stop this week is not exactly date-appropriate, meaning will step out of mid-November mode to plunk down in early 1970, at the great little show on 2/23/70 in Austin, Texas. From this show, we have some acoustic Grateful Dead followed by some meaty electric material, featuring Me and My Uncle, Black Peter, Season>Uncle John's Band, Not Fade Away>Mason's Children. The version of Me and My Uncle is very unique as it is Bobby playing solo while Jerry fixes a string on his guitar. Jerry does chime in toward the end of the song, but it's pretty cool to hear Bobby play a solo tune. The rest of this sequence is mighty fine as well.

Next up, from a year and half later on 11/14/71 in Fort Worth, Texas, we have the great second set jam, featuring a classic sequence from the era: Truckin'>Drums>The Other One>Me and My Uncle>The Other One. This might be the first time we've ever played two versions on Me and My Uncle in one week here at the Tapers' Section. Up next week: two versions of Keep Your Day Job…

We'll now stop into one of the most impressive jams from 1973, and that's saying a lot due to the great quality of the jamming in 1973. From 11/14/73 in San Diego, we have Truckin'>The Other One>Big River>Other One>Eyes of the World>Other One>Wharf Rat. I always had a bit of a theory of why they played The Other One so prominently in this set: with the three previous shows being November 9-11, 1973 at Winterland, and featuring no Other One on any of those three shows (which was unheard of in 1973 when The Other One would normally be heard at every second show), they made up for the lack of Other One at Winterland by playing it with a vengeance at San Diego. Likely not, but it's a good story, no?

Finally this week, we'll stop into Ann Arbor, Michigan to the show on 11/10/79, where we'll check out some great second set material, featuring Samson and Delilah, Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band. This was a mighty fine tour, with some of the best material heard on Road Trips Vol. 1 No. 1.

Be sure to check back in next week for music exclusively from 1972 and 1973.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

November 3 - November 9, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:48:31 -0500

Welcome back. This week we have some great Grateful Dead music from 1969 through to 1985, with a rare Tapers’ Section appearance of an audience recording in the mix this week.

First up we have the show-closing tune, Lovelight, from 11/7/69 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. This was included as a bonus track on the stellar Dick’s Picks Vol. 16, which consisted of the entire 11/8/69 show at the same venue. The Fillmore Auditorium is the very same Fillmore venue in San Francisco at which we can still hear great live music, and should not be confused with the Fillmore West in San Francisco, which was also known as the Carousel Ballroom.

Next up we have a stunningly hot jam from 1970 at the Capitol Theatre in Portchester, NY on 11/8/70, featuring Truckin’>Dark Star>The Main Ten. This is from an audience source, as most of July through December, 1970, is not in the vault, either not recorded or simply having walked away over the years. I hope you don’t mind the audience recording, but because it’s my birthday, I can do what I want ☺.>

Nine years later, the Grateful Dead were on their big Fall Tour of 1979, still working Brent into the band. As you’ll hear from this Eyes of the World>Estimated Prophet>Franklin’s Tower. sequence from 11/5/79 in Philadelphia, Brent had become a central part of the band’s sound by the Fall.

Lastly this week, we have two sequences from the show in Richmond, VA, on 11/2/85, the pre-Drums trio of tunes Estimated Prophet>Uncle John’s Band>China Doll and from the post-Space part of the show, Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Lovelight, Baby Blue. Certainly the equal of the previous night’s very famous concert at the same venue.

Be sure to drop by next week for music from 1970 to 1979. Some great stuff, by the looks of it…

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 27 - November 2, 2008

ccasal — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:37:09 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section, where this week we have more great music spanning about 18 years, including selection from 1973, 1979, 1989 and 1991.

Our first selection this week is from 10/29/73, the first of two nights at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, on the tour that immediately followed the release of Wake of the Flood. From the end of the first set, we have the terrific trio of songs: Eyes of the World>China Doll, Around and Around. I really love these two shows in St. Louis, as I do most of the two month span between October 19 and December 19, 1973. We've already seen plenty of great releases from this period (DP 1, DP 14, DP 19, Winterland 1973), but I can foresee future releases coming from this period. San Diego, LA and Denver spring to mind…

Next up, from six years later, we're going to check in to music from the Cape Cod Coliseum, two magnificent concerts on an amazing tour. From the first night, 10/27/79, we have the very famous, and justifiably so, second set jam featuring He's Gone>Caution Jam>The Other One. Wow! And from the second night on 10/28/79, we have some tasty first set material consisting of Althea, Passenger, Ramble On Rose, The Music Never Stopped. Both of these selections from cape Cod are drawn from the cassette master tapes from the PA mix.

We'll now go forward ten years to 10/26/89 in Miami, Florida, where the Grateful Dead would warp up their most highly regarded tour of the decade. This tour featured all sorts noteworthy moments, from the Warlocks concerts in Hampton to Bobby's Birthday show in New Jersey, but to my ears, the lasting impression of these concerts is the downright scary, deep and dark version of Dark Star played at the final show of the tour. Simply mind-blowing. Sounds like it darn near shook the roof off the arena.

By special request from last week, we have this excellent version of Easy To Love You recorded live on Phil's 50th birthday at the Capital Centre in Landover, MD, on 3/15/90. This concert was released as the Terrapin Limited album, and this version was the first live Grateful Dead version of the song since 9/3/80.

Lastly this week, from 10/31/91, just a few days after the passing of Bill Graham, we have the second set jam of Truckin'>Spoonful>Dark Star, with the last song including a special farewell-to-Bill reading by Ken Kesey. This is one of the most emotional moments I can think of that took place at a Grateful Dead concert. Also featured on guitar is Gary Duncan.

Check back next week for more great music.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 20 - October 26, 2008

ccasal — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:29:06 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. This week we've got about 17 years of Grateful Dead music to explore, so without further ado, on to the music…

Our first stop this week is on 10/24/72 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (not be confused with beautiful Milwaukie, Oregon…), where we have the big jam from that show, featuring Truckin'>Drums>The Other One>Philo Stomp>Space>He's Gone>The Other One. The thematic jam was named as such by Dick Latvala in honor of the small town of Philo north of San Francisco, and because it is led by the eponymous bass player. The September-through-November tours from 1972 are of a consistently high quality, as attested to by how much of them we've played here at the Tapers Section.

Next up, from about a year later on 10/23/73 in Bloomington, Minnesota, we have the second set jam consisting of Truckin'>Nobody's Jam>The Other One>Weather Report Suite, a classic sequence from this era. This tour, which began a few nights earlier on 10/19/73 and which would run more or less straight through to 12/19/73, features what I consider to be the two most consistently great months in Grateful Dead performance history.

From the very next show on this tour, on 10/25/73 at Madison, Wisconsin (two great jams this week from Wisconsin!), we have one of those stellar 1973 versions of Playing In The Band. You know, by popular request.

We'll now jump ahead yet another year to 10/20/74, the last night of the Grateful Dead's five-night going away party at Winterland. This jam is from the second set and features Mickey Hart on drums in what would prove to be his return to the Grateful Dead. We are pleased to play Not Fade Away>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat, mixed from the 16 track master tapes by Jeffrey Norman.

Lastly this week, we'll go 15 years ahead of our last selection, to 10/22/89 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have a very, very good second set opening sequence of Blow Away, Samson and Delilah, Help On The Way>Slipknot!>Franklin's Tower. The band was almost done their most interesting tour in years, but they sure weren't out of steam based on this performance and what would transpire on the final night of the tour in Miami. More on that next week.

Thanks for stopping by. We'll hopefully see you next week here at the Tapers Section, where we'll check out more great music from 1973 through to 1991.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 13 - October 19, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:14:48 -0500

This week, we're going to check in with three sequences of music, a little lighter than usual in number, but the scope of these jams should more than make up for it. One little thing to note is that all of the music this week is from San Francisco.

From 10/13/68 at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, we have a typical-for-the-era sequence of Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don't Have No Mercy, a terrific sequence from an amazing year. In just about a month, Tom Constanten would join the band on keyboards, adding another layer of depth to this already-magnificent music.

Next up is a long, spacey, deep and dark version of Playing In The Band from 10/16/74 at Winterland in San Francisco. This is the version that was included in The Grateful Dead Movie, albeit in a very truncated arrangement, as film reels could only run about 20 minutes. We are pleased to include it in all its more than 30-minute glory here, mixed from the 16 track master tapes.

Lastly this week, from 10/14/80 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, we have the opening of the third set, Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain>Estimated Prophet>Terrapin Station>Playing In The Band. This was the final night of a 15 night run of concerts, the longest uninterrupted residency the Grateful Dead had ever played at a venue.

Be sure to check back in next week for more great music. We'll have music from 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1989, including, by very popular request, an epic version of Playing In The Band from 1973. See you then.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

October 6 - October 12, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:05:36 -0500

Greetings and welcome to a mighty fine week of Grateful Dead music here at the Tapers Section. This week, we'll be listening to music covering a 13 year span in the band's recorded history, 1976-1989, with plenty of fine music in between.

Our first stop this week is at the Oakland Stadium in beautiful Oakland, California, on 10/10/76, the second of two massive concerts for 45,000 each day that featured the Grateful Dead opening for The Who. October usually meant a World Series trophy (1972, 1973, 1974) for the denizens of this stadium, but October 1976 featured a very different prize: two stunning Grateful Dead concerts. The first show, on 10/9/76, has long been a favourite of mine, but the 10/10/76 might just outperform its predecessor. From the second set of the second show, we have Playing in the Band>Drums>Wheel>Space>The Other One>Stella Blue>Playing in the Band, Johnny B. Goode, a monumentally well-played sequence by any standards.

Our next stop features another exquisite segment of music, including one of the all-time great versions of Not Fade Away. From 10/11/77 in (Jeffrey) Norman, Oklahoma, we have the post-Drums sequence of Not Fade Away>Wharf Rat>Around and Around. Check out those runs Jerry gets into during NFA. Wow!>

By popular request for more acoustic Dead, we are pleased to make our next stop at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, during the Grateful Dead's 15 night run of shows in 1980, which featured three sets per night. From the first set on 10/7/80, we have Monkey and the Engineer, To Lay Me Down, Heaven Help The Fool, Deep Elem Blues. I just love those acoustic, instrumental versions of Heaven Help The Fool.

From Charlotte, North Carolina on 10/5/84, we are pleased to play the second set opening sequence of China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. This tour had some great concerts, including legendary stops in Augusta, Maine and Syracuse, New York, not to mention the six night run of shows at Berkeley Community Theatre October 27-November 3.

Lastly this week, we have another second set opening sequence, this time from 1989, from 10/8/89 specifically, at the Hampton Coliseum in Virginia. This, of course, was the first night of the two concerts that were billed as Formerly the Warlocks, with the Grateful Dead rising to that moniker's reputation with two shows that far surpassed everyone's expectations. From 10/8/89, we have Help on the Way>Slipknot!>Franklin's Tower>Victim or the Crime>Eyes of the World.

Be sure to stop back next week for more great music here at the Tapers Section. I expect we'll have music from 1968, 1974 and 1980.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 29 - October 5, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:27:57 -0500

Plenty of good music on the docket this week here at the Tapers Section, ranging from 1969 through to 1980, with plenty of good stuff in between.

Our first stop is to beautiful Santa Rosa, California, located in the heart of Sonoma County. If you ever find yourself passing through Santa Rosa, be sure to pack your ice skates and stop in to the Charles M. Schulz skating rink (and Snoopy museum!) in downtown Santa Rosa. The Grateful Dead performed two very good shows there in June 1969, and from the second night, on 6/28/69, we have the quintet of songs that ended the show, Doin' That Rag, High Time, King Bee, Sitting On Top of the World, Lovelight. All of it is played really well, so we figured we'd fill your ears with a nice chunk of the show.

Next up, because we recently got a request for a New Speedway Boogie, is this great version from 7/3/70 in Calgary, from the famous Festival Express tour across Canada. It's too bad they put this song away in 1970, but fortunately they brought it back in 1991.

From 1973, in Portland, Oregon, we have the meaty second set jam featuring Dark Star>Eyes of the World>China Doll from 6/24/73. This was part of a little tour of the west coast in 1973, with shows in Vancouver, Portland, Seattle and Universal City. It's a nice, long, exploratory Dark Star, with a great combination of the newer songs Eyes and China Doll following it.

We'll now move forward to the fall tour of 1976, when many great concerts were played. An interesting, unique second-set sequence was played at virtually every show on this tour, and this show from 9/30/76 in Columbus, Ohio is certainly no exception. From that show, we have St. Stephen>NFA>Wharf Rat>NFA>St. Stephen>Around and Around. There's lots of great jamming throughout this sequence.

Lastly this week, from the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco during the Grateful Dead's three week residency during which they performed three sets per show, we have the opening of the second set featuring Feel Like A Stranger>Franklin's Tower, Samson and Delilah. This was drawn from the cassette master, for although there were multi-track recordings made of all of these shows, unfortunately, many have since been erased. Fortunately, the entire run is documented on cassette masters for those shows for which multi-tracks don't exist.

Thanks for stopping by. We'll see you next week with more great music from the vault. As always, we welcome you to write the email address below with questions, comments, suggestions or requests.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

September 22 - September 28, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers Section. This week we’re going to check out some music from 1972, 1976 and 1981, some great years in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history.

Our first stop is on the consistently great September, 1972 tour, specifically to the second of two shows in Waterbury, Connecticut. This tour never ceases to amaze me with its greatness, with night after night of inspired playing, performing at a variety of venues including small theatre shows (Boston, Waterbury, Jersey City), hockey arenas, both NHL and AHL (Philadelphia and Baltimore) and larger stadiums (Roosevelt Stadium). From Waterbury on 9/24/72, we have a good chunk of the second set, featuring Greatest Story Ever Told>Bertha>Promised Land, Friend of the Devil, Jack Straw, Tomorrow is Forever. This last tune in this sequence is the first ever version of this song that the Grateful Dead would play, with nine more to follow, all but one in 1972 (the other was in 1974 at the Farewell shows in October, 1974).

Our next stop is on the Fall Tour of 1976, at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia on 9/24/76. From the end of the first set, we have the very unique medley of songs Playing In The Band>Supplication>Playing In The Band. This is a very rare Supplication that is not attached to Lazy Lightning (although the vocal-less Supplication Jam would be played through the 1980s on and off, plus the attempt in 1993 with vocals).

From just a few nights later, on 9/28/76 in Syracuse, NY, we have the closing of the first set featuring Let It Grow and Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad. The second set of this concert is one of my favourite hours of Grateful Dead music from 1976, featuring excellent versions of The Wheel, Comes A Time and the magnificent Orange Tango Jam. Check it out as part of Dick’s Picks Vol. 20

Our last selection this week is from 9/25/81 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. This was a short three show “tour” of the east coast before the band headed over to Europe for their second overseas working vacation of 1981. From the start of the second set, we have Might As Well>Samson and Delilah . Terrific 1981 energy on these tracks.

Be sure to stop by the Tapers Section for music from 1976 and 1980 as well as some other cool stuff. We always welcome and encourage your emails to the address below.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

September 15 - September 21, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Like last week, we’re going to start out this week at the Tapers Section with music from 1972, followed by material from 1974, 1987 and 1994.

Our first piece of music this week is from 9/15/72 at the Boston Music Hall. While digging through the archives in the newspaper clippings, we realized that these two shows, on 9/15 & 16/72, were originally scheduled to take place at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. Evidently, though, the city fathers decided at the last moment to cancel the shows, hence the two shows in Boston. And what a couple of shows they were. From the end of the first set on the first night, we have Jack Straw, Friend of the Devil, Playing In The Band. This was the start of an east coast run of shows that went to October 2 and would feature some of the finest music the Grateful Dead ever performed.

From just over two years later, on 9/20/74 in Paris on the short but very good European tour, we have the second set jam featuring Truckin’>Eyes of the World>Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>One More Saturday Night. I’ve always found this jam interesting due to the dynamic shifts in the music. The band seemingly loses focus as they go into Eyes of the World, but by the time of the first solo, it’s completely inspired and turns into a powerhouse version.

Next up, from 9/16/87 at Madison Square Garden, we have the very cool pre-Drums sequence of Bertha>Greatest Story Ever Told>Devil with a Blue Dress>Good Golly Miss Molly>Devil with a Blue Dress>He’s Gone. Aside from the unique tunes in the middle of that jam, the He’s Gone features one of the coolest vocal outros Jerry ever did on this song. Haunting and dark and bluesy and intense. Just the way we like it. This was the second show of the Grateful Dead’s return to Madison Square Garden after a four year absence, and they came back in style. This bit of music was drawn from the Beta PCM digital master tape. Please note that there is a little drop out during the first part of Devil with a Blue Dress.

Finally this week, an all-too-rare taste of 1994 here at the Tapers Section. From 9/17/94 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, we have the end of the first set, featuring Eternity>Don’t Ease Me In. As was quite common in this era, Bobby’s playing an acoustic guitar on these tunes.

Be sure to check back next week for music from 1972, 1976 and 1981. Lots of good stuff on the horizon. Feel free to write the email address below with questions, comments, suggestions or requests. Thanks for stopping in.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

September 8 - September 14, 2008

ccasal — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:56:48 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. In this installment, we’re going to check out some music from this week in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history exclusively from 1972 and 1973, and we hope you don’t mind the years we’ve selected.

Our first selection is a nice little combination of songs from the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California, on 9/10/72, featuring a classic from the era, He’s Gone>Truckin’. This would turn out to be the Grateful Dead’s final performance at the Palladium after the two magnificent shows in 1971 and these two in 1972. By all accounts from both tapes and eyewitnesses, all of these shows were a real blast to attend.

Next up, from Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, on 9/8/73, we have the big second set sequence featuring He’s Gone>Truckin’>Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away. It was a bit of an odd second set jam from that era, as it featured neither an Other One or an Eyes of the World, not to mention no Dark Star, but it’s excellent and inspired nonetheless. We hope you don’t mind two versions of He’s Gone into Truckin’ this week. We sure don’t.

From just a few nights later, at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA, on 9/12/73, we have the first set closing track as well as the first few songs from the second set, featuring Weather Report Suite, Around and Around, Eyes of the World>Stella Blue, with Martin Fierro and Joe Ellis sitting in on horns at various points. These two shows at William and Mary included a very special guest in the audience: a young Bruce Hornsby checking out his first Grateful Dead concerts. Little did he, or the band, know what would transpire over the next twenty years.

Be sure to come by next week for more great tunes as we continue to explore the Grateful Dead’s recorded history. As always, we welcome and encourage your comments and questions.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

September 1- September 7, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:19:06 -0500

Greetings, and welcome back to the Tapers Section. This week we have a good selection of Grateful Dead music from this week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history, as well as some music from Jerry Garcia concerts that took place during this week many years ago.

Our first selection is Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain from 9/5/79 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was the Grateful Dead's second visit to the Garden after their two night run there in January, 1979, and it would always hold a place of high honour in the Grateful Dead's touring schedule.

From a year later, on 9/4/80 in Providence, RI, we have the very cool second set jam featuring Supplication Jam>Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. These Supplication Jams are always so much fun to hear. From the same tour, two nights later, we have some music from an audience tape on 9/6/80 at the famous show in Lewiston, Maine, featuring Shakedown Street>Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Althea. It's too bad that a soundboard tape of this concert has never surfaced in the vault, although we're very thankful the tapers were doing their job so well.

On to some Garcia material. From 9/1/74 at the Keystone in Berkeley, we have a couple of tracks from the incredible Pure Jerry album drawn from this concert, the Keystone Jam and Soul Roach. This was the Garcia-Saunders band featuring John Kahn, Martin Fierro and drummer Paul Humphreys, a precursor to the Legion of Mary, which, of course, would feature Ron Tutt on drums.

Finally this week, we have the Jerry Garcia Band playing Don't Let Go from 9/2/89 at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland. I distinctly recall a friend leaning over to me during this jam, while we standing in the 10th row, and commenting “this is how the Dead used to jam.” This one gets wayyyyyy out there. And, because it's such a great jam vehicle, here is another version of Don't Let Go from 7/29/77 with which to compare our 1989 rendition.

Be sure to stop in next week for more great September Dead. As always, we welcome and encourage you to write with questions, comments, requests or suggestions.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 25 - August 31, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0500

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

August 18 - August 24, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0500

This week we have a nice double dose of Pigpen from 1968, a massive 1972 jam, and a very cool 1991 sequence, all fitting into our date-appropriate this-week-in-Grateful Dead-recorded-history format.

First up, from the Fillmore West in San Francisco, we have the show closer and encore from 8/21/68, consisting of Lovelight and Midnight Hour. Lovelight wasn't yet the 25+ minute tune it would become in 1969, but it was a big show-stopper nonetheless. And Midnight Hour was becoming more and more rare throughout 1968 and into 1969, so a nice, meaty version like this is certainly a treat. There isn't a lot of 1968 material in the vault, but fortunately what IS there is very good, so it's our pleasure to bring this to you here at the Tapers Section.

Next up, from exactly four years later on 8/21/72, just over the Bay Bridge (or the Golden Gate Bridge and Richmond Bridge if you feel like taking the long way through Marin County), at the Berkeley Community Theatre, we have the big second set jam featuring Dark Star>El Paso>Dark Star>Deal. This was the second annual August run of shows at BCT for the Grateful Dead, a tradition that unfortunately did not continue past these shows in 1972. The Grateful Dead did return to BCT until the six night run in 1984, which, of course, featured the first-ever Tapers Section, so the BCT certainly does hold special meaning to all tapers, and to this, the cyber version of the Tapers Section.

Lastly this week, from about 19 years later on 8/18/91, just back across the Bay Bridge and south a bit, we have the pre-Drums sequence from Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, featuring the very unique sequence of Deal>Mississippi Half-Step>Feel Like A Stranger>Samson and Delilah. Like the pre-Drums sequence from 6/20/91 at Pine Knob, this jam really threw the format book out the window. Whether it was Bruce Hornsby's influence (he really excelled at these Pine Knob and Shoreline shows) or the band just decided to make it interesting on themselves, it sure was a welcome change to hear the band have fun with song sequences again.

Be sure to check back in next week when we'll have more cool music for you. As always, feel free to write the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 11 - August 17, 2008

ccasal — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:33:21 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. In this edition we've got a great range of music from this week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history, from 1971, 1972, 1979 and 1987.

Our first selection this week is from the Berkeley Community Theatre on 8/15/71, featuring the show closing sequence of Lovelight, Johnny B. Goode>We Bid You Goodnight. I've seen several newspaper reviews in the archive of these shows, as well as articles announcing the concerts, and a lot was made of them. This was the Grateful Dead's first Bay Area appearance since the closing of the Fillmore West, and Bill Graham was producing a bigger hometown show for the Grateful Dead than he'd been doing the past few years at the Fillmore. By all accounts, both Uncle Bobo and the band pulled the shows off nicely.

Next up, from 8/12/72 in Sacramento, we have the magnificent second set jam featuring He's Gone>The Other One>Black Peter>The Other One>Truckin'. A couple of interesting twists in this jam is the Other One split by a ballad, and the jam ending with Truckin', usually the jumping off point for a big second set jam of the era, not a closer. Regardless, all of these little twists work beautifully.

From 8/13/79 at McNichols Arena in Denver, we have this great show-opening Shakedown Street. This was supposed to be the second night of a three night run at Red Rocks, but the nasty weather forced the second and third shows to be moved indoors to Denver's nearby McNichols Arena. I love the tone Phil gets on this Shakedown.

Speaking of Red Rocks, we also have some great music actually from Red Rocks this week. Our first selection is from 8/11/87, on the Grateful Dead's very well-received summer tour of 1987. From the post-Drums part of the show, we have All Along the Watchtower>GDTRFB>Around and Around>Sugar Magnolia, Black Muddy River. Watchtower was still rather new at the time, and it is simply blistering. Also from this run in 1987, from 8/12/87, we have the post-Drums sequence of The Other One>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Wharf Rat>Lovelight. It's always great to hear a Red Rocks Dear Mr. Fantasy, as the song had quite a history at Red Rocks: it was here in 1984 when the Grateful Dead first performed the song live, and in 1985 when they first joined it with Hey Jude. Cool stuff.

Be sure to stop back in next week for more great music. We always welcome your comments, questions, suggestions and requests, so feel free to write to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

August 4 - August 10, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:23:34 -0500

This week we have a whole bunch of great music from the Grateful Dead's recorded history from 1971 to 1989, with a couple of stops in between.

Our first selection is the excellent Lovelight from 8/4/71, from a show located at the jail at which Bear was then residing, Terminal Island Correctional Facility. Bear was away from July, 1970 to July, 1972, and in his absence, Rex Jackson made some mighty fine tapes, as heard here. Little was known of this concert until the tape surfaced in 2006. We're sure glad it did, as it's always great to find another great Pigpen Lovelight that we didn't know much about before. The next two nights, 8/5&6/71 in Hollywood, would continue more great Grateful Dead music, not to mention the excellent 8/7/71 in San Diego.

Our next stop is to Alpine Valley in 1982, the first of two nights at Alpine, on 8/7/82. This show was made into Dick's Picks 32, and from that classic night of 1982 Grateful Dead, we have two first set songs, C.C. Rider and Let It Grow. This is such a powerful Let It Grow, one of my favourites from the era.

From a few nights later on 8/10/82 in Iowa City, Iowa, we have the pre-Drums sequence of Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance>Eyes of the World. This was a rather rare Eyes for this era that was not attached to Estimated Prophet, and it works nicely here. This show featured less-than-stellar acoustics by all accounts, but the shows is really great overall.

Lastly this week, from 1989, we have the exceptional sequence of pre-Drums music from 8/4/89, the first show of an excellent three night run of shows at Cal Expo in Sacramento, featuring Truckin'>Wang Dang Doodle>Crazy Fingers>Cumberland Blues>Eyes of the World. A very unique sequence indeed. This recording was drawn from the VHS PCM, tapes that have proven to be much more robust than their Beta PCM counterparts.

Thanks for stopping in. We really appreciate your visits to the Tapers Section. Be sure to check back in next week for more great music from the Grateful Dead's recorded history.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 28 - August 3, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:32:43 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. As we roll toward the dog days of summer, we have a good range of Grateful Dead music for you this week, as well as a nice Jerry Garcia Band track for your enjoyment.

Our first selections this week come from all the way up in British Columbia, Canada, in Vancouver specifically, to the Grateful Dead's first-ever concerts outside of the state of California. From the second show, 7/30/66, we have Cream Puff War, Viola Lee Blues, Beat It On Down The Line, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. that final song has a cut in the master reel at the end, but it's a great version nonetheless and worth hearing. there isn't a lot of 1966 material in the vault, but what there is contains some exciting music, as heard here as well as on the very cool album rare cuts and oddities 1966 (check that album out if you want to hear some truly rare cuts that are occasionally odd).

Next we'll hear music from Jerry's birthday, on 8/1/73 at Roosevelt Stadium. From that massive show the ended the Grateful Dead's interesting run of shows in the summer of 1973 we have Dark Star>El Paso. After this show, the band would spend a good chunk of August, 1973, at the Plant studios in Sausalito, recording Wake of the Flood. They'd then return to the road for a short tour in September (9/7 through 9/26), followed by the nearly-uninterrupted string of perfection that last two months, 10/19 through 12/19. And in between, on 10/15, the Grateful Dead would release the first album on their own record label, Wake of the Flood. Indeed, it was a busy time for the Grateful Dead.

Jumping ahead almost nine years, we'll now stop in to Red Rocks, where we'll hear the pre-Drums portion of the show on 7/29/82, consisting of Cold Rain and Snow>Samson and Delilah, Crazy Fingers>I Need A Miracle. Crazy Fingers had returned to the lineup after a nearly-six year absence a couple of weeks before at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on 7/18/82. If you get a chance to read Blair Jackson's outstanding book on the Grateful Dead “The Music Never Stopped,” he includes a terrific description of being at a Grateful Dead show using the Ventura '82 shows as his background. He truly paints a perfect picture in that book.

Lastly this week, a little taste of the Jerry Garcia Band on 7/30/77, at Theatre 1839 in San Francisco, performing Tangled Up In Blue. It's a little slower than the song would become in the late 1980s as the big Garcia Band show-stopper, but this version is so exquisite, we figured you should hear it if you haven't already. This is part of the excellent Pure Jerry Volume 1 CD release that is filled with more than three hours of music as good as this.

Be sure to stop back next week for more great music. It's always great to see you when you stop by for a listen, and even better to receive your email comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 21- July 27, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:21:31 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. This week we're going to hear music from throughout the 1970s and a touch of the 1980s.

First up is a track from 7/21/72 in Seattle, the start of a run of shows that would take the band through the next four-plus months of exceptional playing. From that show, we have this mighty little Truckin'. Over the course of the next several months, the band would play some of their best shows ever, including 8/27/72, 9/17/72, 9/21/72, 9/27/72 and 11/17/72. It sure would have been a great year to be a tour Head.

Next up is music from the Watkins Glen show, specifically from the Soundcheck on 7/27/73. This Jam is truly one of the finest improvisational jams the Grateful Dead would ever perform, in terms of a jam that has no distinct source, and yet that is filled with melodies and familiar tones and sounds.

Jumping ahead exactly one year to 1974, on 7/27/74 in Roanoke, Virginia, we have this typically outrageous Playing In The Band. For some reason, Donna Jean was absent from this show, and her vocal additions to this version are certainly missed. But, oh what a version of Playing! We're very aware that we play a lot of 1972-1974 versions of Playing In The Band here at the Tapers Section, which we hope you don't mind. Truth be told, we just can't get enough of this era's Playings.

Due to popular request based on last week's little taste of 2/10/79's second set opener, this week we have that same show's show-closing sequence consisting of Space>The Other One>Wharf Rat>Sugar Magnolia. It's a shame the master cassette cuts at the end of Sugar Magnolia, but at least we have the portion we have.

Lastly this week, from 7/22/84 at Ventura County Fairgrounds a little ways north of LA, we have the second set sequence of I Just Want To make Love To You>Women Are Smarter>Terrapin Station. This is the first version of I Just Want To Make Love To You in almost twenty years, and Brent certainly does a great job with the material.

Be sure to stop back next week when we have no idea what we'll play, but we expect it'll be great. See you then. And email the address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 14- July 20, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:05:42 -0500

This week we're going to hear some music from 1970 through to 1989, with a few interesting stops in between.

Our first selection, as mentioned the past couple of weeks, is the outstanding version of Lovelight from 7/16/70 in San Rafael, California, featuring none other than Janis Joplin sharing lead vocal duties with Pigpen. This would be the last of the very few times Janis would perform onstage with the Grateful Dead, and sadly, just two and a half months later, she would be gone. Worth noting here in the Tapers Section is that it was after this show that Bear went away, and is the reason there are no tapes from the second half of 1970 from this night until late December when the sound crew began recording the concerts again.

Because we love these monster versions of Playing In The Band so much, here is a really superior rendition from 7/19/74 in Fresno, California. I could get lost in these 1974 Playings for hours. In fact, I often do.

Our next stop is a very unique items from the vault, the great version of Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain from 2/10/79 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. What makes this version so special for us to play you here is that 2/10/79 is the only soundboard recording in the vault from Keith and Donna's final tour in January and February, 1979. We get a lot of requests for music from this tour, particularly shows in mid-January, but this show is all that we have. Jerry's voice is still showing some of the scratchiness that would bother him throughout all of 1978, but the music is pretty darn good.

Our next selection is from 7/15/89 at Deer Creek Music Theatre in Indiana, the band's first show at this sweet little venue surrounded by corn fields. What was so nice about that first trip there was that the Grateful Dead had started their tour with seven shows at five massive eastern stadiums (Foxboro, Buffalo, Philly, Giants X2 and DC X2), so to show up and see what Deer Creek was all about was truly a treat. And the band rose to the occasion and played a wonderful concert. From the start of the first set, we have Bertha>Greatest Story Ever Told, Candyman, Walkin' Blues.

Lastly this week, from the same summer tour's penultimate show on 7/18/89 at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin, here is the first set opening trio of Touch of Grey, Jack Straw, Jack-A-Roe. This show is often overlooked because of the incredible performances the night before and after, but this middle night had plenty of great music.

Thanks for stopping in. Be sure to come back next week for more great music. As always, feel free to write with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

July 7- July 13, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:00:04 -0500

This week we're going spend some time along the Grateful Dead's summer tour of 1989, checking in to four shows over a five night span in the middle of the tour.

Our first stop this week is the stunning concert on 7/7/89 at Philadelphia's ultra cool, and rather decrepit, old venue, JFK Stadium. Allow me to preface this week's music by saying that I sure do hope we see a DVD release of this show some day, as not only is there stellar multi-track audio of this concert, but there is also great quality multi-camera video similar to that of the Truckin' Up To Buffalo DVD. From 7/7/89, we're very happy to bring you the end of the first set, Loser, Let It Grow, Blow Away. All three songs here are played beautifully, and powerfully.

Next up is two nights later, on 7/9/89 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, home of the world champion New York Giants football team. Yo, Tiki, how's the broadcast booth look now? From the opening night of the two night run at Giants Stadium, with have the excellent Shakedown Street>Jack Straw. I've always loved both of these renditions and have put this combination on many mixed tapes. The band showed up to these two New York area shows ready to play, as evidenced by the way they opened the shows.

And, while we're visiting Giants Stadium, we'll listen to the opener from the second show, 7/10/89. Not quite as strong as our previous selection(s), it is nonetheless excellent and is demonstrative of the consistent quality of 1989 Dead. From that show, Feel Like A Stranger>Franklin's Tower.

Lastly this week, we'll check in to the first night at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on 7/12/89. The closing sequence of this show was typical of the era in terms of both song selection and performance quality, and features I Need A Miracle>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Black Peter>Lovelight.

Stop by next week for more great music, including the other great Lovelight we mentioned last week. See you then.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 30 - July 6, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0500

This week we'll be hitting some excellent summer Dead spanning the Grateful Dead's recorded history over the course of 19 years, 1970-1989.

Our first piece of music is something we played a little while back here, but due to popular demand, and because it's so darn good, we thought we'd play it again this week. From the Grateful Dead's famous trip across Canada, the Festival Express, as it was known, we have the show-closer from Winnipeg on 7/1/70, Lovelight. Pigpen is in fine form on this rendition, with a bit of raunchy bite that was common of Lovelights of the era. Wait until you hear the Lovelight in a couple of weeks here…

Next up, from exactly three years later, on 7/1/73 at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, we have the exquisite second set jam from that evening, featuring Truckin>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat>Me and Bobby McGee.This show capped the Grateful Dead's west coast swing in the summer of 1973, a run that featured shows in Vancouver, Portland, Seattle and three shows in Universal City. The summer of 1973 lacked a major tour by the Grateful Dead, but instead featured several massive events such as the two night stand at RFK Stadium with the Allmans and the Watkins Glen show (and soundcheck). Regardless of the fact that there was no big tour that summer, many of the shows they DID play were excellent.

We'll now jump forward fourteen years to the summer of 1987, to the Grateful Dead's wonderful show at Canada's Wonderland north of Toronto on 6/30/87. This show was very solid start-to-finish, and we're very pleased to play the second set's opening, Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain, Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World. Evidently, Dan Healy was having a blast at the mixing board. A few things to listen for are the intro to Fire in which all instruments in the mix are seemingly muted aside from the bass, and you can really hear the crowd's reaction to that insane amount of Phil coming through the PA; also, this is some of the wackiest Weir vocally manipulation of the era during Estimated.

Finally this week, we'll play a selection from the magnificent 7/4/89 show in Buffalo, NY, which has been released, of course, asTruckin' Up To Buffalo on DVD. Today we'll play that awesomely powerful Morning Dew from toward the end of the second set. Mixed by Jeffrey Norman and mastered in HDCD (for the CD release of the video), it sounds incredible.

Be sure to check in next week for more great summer Dead. We'll look forward to seeing you and hearing your comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

June 23 - June 29, 2008

ccasal — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:54:22 -0500

This week we're going to jump around a bit, but the end result a whole bunch of really good Grateful Dead music from this week in the band's recorded history.

Our first stop is the Fillmore West on 4/12/70. This was the final night of a four night run of shows that, as we mentioned last year at this time, mostly doesn't exist in the vault. These shows are famous for the fact the Miles Davis Quintet was the opening act. Say what?!? Indeed. Also, from this 4/12/70 show, Phil selected the Dancing In The Street for inclusion on his Fall Out From The Phil Zone compilation. Also from this night, we're pleased to play a few songs from the then-soon-to-be-released Workingman's Dead, a nice combination of Cumberland Blues-Dire Wolf, and from a bit later in the show, Black Peter-Uncle John's Band. It's too bad this entire run doesn't exist; that would be make a stellar 10-CD boxed set release!

While we're at the 4/12/70 show this week, we figure we might as well play the show-closing sequence of songs, just because it's so good: It's A Man's World, Viola Lee Blues>Feedback. Certainly an appropriate way to end a four night run of shows at the Fillmore West in 1970.

Next we'll stop into 1973 to a show a little out of our date range, 6/24/73 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. We played a little bit of this show a couple of weeks ago, and we thought you might like to have another taste, so here is a great little China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider from late in the first set.

Jumping ahead ten years, we'll check out some music from one of only two shows the Grateful Dead ever performed in the state of West Virginia, on 4/10/83 in Morgantown. The other West Virginia show was 4/16/78 in Huntington, which unfortunately does not exist in the vault. However, from the show in 1983, there are very clean Beta PCM digital tapes (heard here) and cassette masters. From the second set of 4/10/83, we have Uncle John's Band>Playing In The Band.

Finally this week, from the magnificent live album from the Jerry Garcia Band, Don't Let Go, recorded at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on 5/21/76, we have the set closing song, Lonesome and Long Way From Home. Although not quite as way out there as the song would become by early 1978, this is a mighty fine version.

Be sure to check back in next week for more great music. Please feel free to write with questions, comments, requests or suggestions, to the email address below. Please put “Grateful Dead” in your subject so that I can easily identify it as non-spam. Thanks.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

June 16 - June 22, 2008

ccasal — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:53:32 -0500

We have lots of cool stuff this week from throughout the Grateful Dead's recordings, including music from 1976, 1991 and some other nuggets.

Our first stop this week is at the first night of a three night run at the Capital Theatre in Passaic, NJ, in 1976. The band started their comeback with two shows in Portland, OR, four in Boston, two in New York, followed by these three in Passaic. From the end of the second set, we have this mighty Let It Grow>Wharf Rat, from 6/17/76. When they came back in 1976, the Grateful Dead left behind the Weather Report Prelude and Part 1, which is too bad, but these go-it-alone Let It Grows sure are good, with that nifty little drum break.

While we're talking about the whole Weather Report Suite, and looking at this week's date, we'd be remiss if we didn't play the whole Weather Report Suite jam from 6/18/74 in Louisville. There are certain shows that are legendary amongst Dead Heads, and certain jams that are equally famous, as this is one of them, rightfully so. So, here you go: Weather Report Suite>The Other One>Space>It's a Sin Jam>Stella Blue. There is a cut in the master reels during Stella Blue, but otherwise this sequence sounds great, and is played exquisitely.

One little technical side note: I often refer to “cuts in the master reels,” although there are no cuts in the master reels. What I'm referring to is a reel change, as most of the 2-track reels in the vault are 7” tape running at 7.5 inches per second, meaning the tape runs out every 46 or so minutes. The recordist would then, as quickly as he or she could, put on a new reel and hit record, a process that would take 20-40 seconds. So, to answer those occasional questions I've received on what a “cut in the master reel” means, there you have it.

Throughout 1974, there were incredible, unique jams played with an inspired energy, such as the jam above from 6/18/74. Another great example is the jam that bridges the Playing in the Band jam and the Scarlet Begonias from 8/6/74 (see Dick's Picks Vol. 31 for that one), and another cool one is this jam from 6/16/74 in Des Moines, IA, Eyes of the World>Big River, specifically the transition from Eyes to Big River. Great stuff. I've always felt that a compilation of 6/16 and 6/18/74 would make a tremendous CD release.

Our next stop this week is at Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI, site of many fine Grateful Dead shows throughout the 1980s. From 6/22/85, we have the second-set closing sequence of Dear Mr. Fantasy>I Need A Miracle>Stella Blue>Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away. This was the start of the very good, and intriguing, Summer Tour of 1985. The tour was recorded to both Beta PCM digital tapes and good old analog cassettes. This sequence was drawn from the PCMs.

Thanks for stopping in, and be sure to come by next week for more great music. As always, we really encourage you to write with questions, comments, suggestions or requests. We welcome it all, and please include the words “Grateful Dead” in the subject of your email, sent to the address below.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

June 9 - June 15, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. Not only is the weather getting really good, but so too is the Grateful Dead's summer performing schedule through the years, so plenty of great music was played, with some of it being brought to you here today.

First stop will be 6/10/73 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. This show saw the band sharing the bill with the Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead certainly delivered the goods by playing one of their finest shows of a great performing year. From the end of the first set, we have a typically hot Playing In The Band. Phil has a particularly great tone on this one, and Weir and Keith are crystal clear in the mix, with the drums mixed perfectly. Oh, and Jerry. Yes, his guitar playing here is exquisite.

While we're checking out 6/10/73, we might as well play you something from the second set. So, here's an excellent Here Comes Sunshine. What a great addition to the repertoire this tune was. Once again, Weir stands out, not only in the mix, but in his playing as well.

Next we'll jump ahead three years to 6/12/76, the final show of a four night run at the Boston Music Hall. The band had returned to active touring a week before with the 6/3&4/76 shows at the Paramount in Portland, OR, with the real touring starting in Boston on 6/9. From this final show in Boston, we have this excellent Dancing In The Street>Around and Around. I can only imagine what New England Dead Heads must have thought when they heard this arranegment of Dancing In The Street, after such spectacular regional shows such as the April, 1969 shows at the Arc, 5/6/70 at MIT, 4/7&8/71 at the Music Hall, 9/15&16/72 at the music Hall, 4/2/73 at the Garden and the Fall 1973 three night run back at the Music Hall.

This Boston run had loads of great music, but one of my favourite jams of the entire run is the second set opening sequence of St. Stephen>Eyes of the World>Let It Grow. Unfortunately, the start of St. Stephen is missing from the master reels (reminiscent of Harpur College, eh?), but it's such an insignificant omission when compared to the quality, and quantity, of the music that was to come. There is a rough edge around some of the playing, but the jam into Eyes of the World was a real throwback to 1974 improvisational jam. And Eyes>Let It Grow, a nice pre-hiatus sequence.

Lastly this week we'll stop into Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, on 5/16/81. A few weeks ago we played you the opening of the first set, and this week we have the end of the first set, specifically Passenger, High Time, Let It Grow, Don't Ease Me In.

Be sure to stop by next week for more great music from the vault. It's always great to hear from you, so feel free to write with questions, comments, suggestions or requests.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

June 2 - June 8, 2008

ccasal — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:30:25 -0500

We're going to start our week out with some nice, early Grateful Dead music, as it's always a good way to wake up on a Monday.

From the Fillmore West in San Francisco on 6/8/69, we have this excellent set-closing combination of That's It For The Other One>Cosmic Charlie. A truly classic 1969 moment. This was another four night Fillmre West run, and although not quite the 2/27-3/2/69 run (what is, though, right?), it did have some great music played throughout.

From the same venue a year later, another four night June run, we have some very tasty music from 6/4/70's acoustic set. We have the show opening Deep Elem Blues, followed by a quartet of songs from the set, featuring Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Friend of the Devil, Black Peter, Cumberland. We don't play as much acoustic Dead here as we'd like, owing primarily to the fact that there isn't all that much acoustic Dead in the vault. Fortunately, what IS there is excellent.

From two nights later during the same run at the Fillmore West, on 6/6/70, we have a very cool sequence of tunes. As you may recall, last year we played you the Good Lovin'/New Orleans jam from earlier in this set, and this year we're pleased to bring you Dire Wolf>Alligator>Drums>Jam>Lovelight>Not Fade Away>Lovelight. Lots of oddness happening here, including a cool pairing of Dire Wolf>Alligator, and a terrific jam after the Drums. The cuts in Drums and Lovelight are where the master reels run out.

Our last stop this week as we begin our Summer Dead listening, we have the show-opening Bertha>Good Lovin' from 6/4/78 at UCSB Stadium in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. There seems to be a couple of minor drop outs in Good Lovin'. This show also featured a very cool Sugar Magnolia second encore that we played here last year, and you can check out all previous Tapers Section here in the archive.

Be sure to stop back next week for some music from 1973, as well as lots of other great stuff. It's always great to hear from you, so feel free to write me at the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

May 26 - June 1, 2008

ccasal — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:48:09 -0500

This week we'll cover 20 years in the Grateful Dead's recorded history, from 1973 to 1993, with a little taste of something in between.

Our first stop is at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, right on the tip of Haight-Ashbury. There's still a field there, but the stadium no longer exists, unfortunately. Hunter lamented the closing of Kezar and Lindley Meadows for concerts with this verse from Truckin', sung by the lyric writer, but never by the Grateful Dead in concert:

Once in a while when the music gets into the street
Fifty old ladies buck every cop on the beat
They're putting the lock on Lindley Meadow and Kezar
Beginning to look like we can't play in the park

Of course, the Grateful Dead would return for a free concert to memorialize Bill Graham on 11/1/91, but by the late-1970s, Golden Gate Park was generally closed to concerts. However, from 5/26/73 at Kezar, we are very please to play the ending sequence from the second set (of a three set concert), China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Bertha, Around and Around. This was the third consecutive weekend concert that would take up the Grateful Dead's May, 1973, schedule, with the others being 5/13/73 in Des Moines and 5/20/73 in Santa Barbara.

From the same date four years later, 5/26/77 in beautiful Charm City, Baltimore, we have the quartet of songs that closed the first set, consisting of Looks Like Rain, Jack-A-Roe, Minglewood Blues, Bertha. This was the penultimate show of the super fine Spring Tour of 1977, and featured the high level of playing consistent with the rest of the tour. It's always our pleasure to play you more music from this great tour, hon.

As our last visit to the Spring Tour of 1977, we'll stop in on the final show of the tour, five weeks after it started in Philadelphia. The tour ended at the venerable old Hartford Civic Center, then home to the Hartford Whalers hockey team, who were at that time part of the WHA, still two years away from joining the NHL. Many people don't know this, but the team's nickname, the Whalers, was applied due to the team's affiliation with its league, not, as a wise man once guessed, due to the “Connecticut whaling industry.” (!) Rather, the name stems from the fact that they were conceived as part of the WHA, hence the WHAlers. Anyhow, enough hockey talk. From the final show of the tour, here is the middle segment of the first set, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Minglewood Blues, Candyman, Passenger, Brown-Eyed Woman.

Finally this week, we'll check in on the Cal Expo show in Sacramento on 5/26/93. Last year here we played some of the more well-known highlights of that show, including that monster Playing In The Band that is widely considered one of the finest versions played beyond 1974. This week, we'd like to play you the show's closing sequence of Corrina>Playing In The Band reprise>China Doll>Around and Around. The Corrina has a very cool intro, with Phil doing all sorts of cool stuff.

Be sure to pop back next week for more great June Grateful Dead music. As we begin looking ahead a few weeks, we see some great music on the horizon. Feel free to write to the email address below with questions or comments, suggestions or requests.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

May 19 - May 25, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:00:00 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section. This week we're going to jump right into a nice, big jam from 1969, followed my some great music from throughout the band's recorded history.

Our first stop is that the Big Rock Pow Wow at the Seminole Indian Village in Florida, where the Grateful Dead played two shows, May 23 and 24, 1969. From the second night, 5/24/69, we have the big jam that followed the show-opening Lovelight (which we played for you here last year), consisting of Doin' That Rag>He Was A Friend of Mine>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Death Don't Have No Mercy. Yes, there's a bad cut in He Was A Friend of Mine, but overall this jam was too good not to play. The minor inconvenience of that cut is certainly outweighed by the quality of the rest of the music. These two shows in Florida have long been a favourite of mine, particularly as back-to-back concerts that equal one perfect three-plus hour chunk of music.

Like last week's focus on show-openers, today we'd like to stop in on the Grateful Dead's 5/25/77 show in Richmond, VA, to the trio of songs that opened that show: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other. Also from this show, the second set opening Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain. This was the third-to-last concert on this absolutely insanely great tour, one of the finest in the band's 30 year performing history. As a brief side note, 5/25/77 is the day Star Wars was released, and a feature film has been made called “5/25/77.” Check it out at www.5-25-77.com. And for those many fans of “Freaks and Geeks” out there, the film stars John Francis Daley. May the force be with you…

All of this Star Wars talk has got me hungry for some deep space, so, without further ado, here is the magnificent Dark Star from… oh my goodness! 5/25/72! This is too weird! Five years to the day before Star Wars was released!!! This particular Dark Star includes the Weir rocker that would follow, so here it is: Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia.

Thanks for stopping in this week, and be sure to drop in again next Monday, when we'll roll toward June and summertime Dead. As always, we really encourage you to write the email address below with questions, comments, suggestions, requests or just general bon mots.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

May 12 - May 18, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 -0500

This week we have some nice music from 1970, 1972, 1977, 1978 and 1981, so without further ado, on to the music.

Our first stop this week will be in Kirkwood, MO, on 5/14/70. This show took place the night before a great show at the Fillmore East in New York City, and less than two weeks after the famous Harpur College show, and although perhaps a little under the radar compared to those two shows, the 5/14/70 show certainly does offer some excellent music. From the start of the electric set, we have the quintet of songs Casey Jones, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Mama Tried>High Time. The Rider is interesting as this was a time when it was played both in electric sets as part of China>Rider, as well as a stand-alone number in the acoustic sets in a different arrangement.

Our next stop this week is in Lille, France, to a free outdoor concert that was the makeup date for the cancelled concert a week earlier, at which, as the story goes, the band narrowly escaped with their lives after having to cancel the gig at the last moment due to the equipment truck's failure to arrive on time for the show. But, the Grateful Dead being the righteous bunch they are, returned to Lille to play a free concert in the public square in the center of town. There are some great photos of this concert in the booklet for Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead. So, from 5/13/72 in Lille, we are happy to play the opening trio of songs, Bertha, Black-Throated Wind, Chinatown Shuffle, Loser.

Next up, in continuing this week's trend of playing the show-openers, we have another taste of the Spring Tour of 1977. We hope you don't mind, but from what we hear through your always-welcome feedback, until every note of that magnificent tour is released, some of you will never get enough of this tour. I'm with you. From 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, we have the show-opening trio of tunes Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo>El Paso. This Half-Step has one of those powerful endings typical of the song in 1977-1978. Great stuff.

While we're in the show-opening groove this week, we have the show-opening from 5/14/78 in Providence, RI. Last year here, we played that monster Let It Grow that ended the first set, but this opening sequence songs is every bit its equal: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Cassidy, They Love Each Other.

Finally this week, to complete our format of playing show-openers from this week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history, we have the show-opening quartet of songs from 5/16/81 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. From the cassette soundboard master, Feel Like A Stranger, Friend of the Devil, Me and My Uncle>Big River.

Be sure to check back next week for more great tunes. Feel free to write the email address below with questions and comments. It's always great to hear from you.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

May 5 - May 11, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 -0500

This week we have some very, very classic Grateful Dead, as well as a unique jam from 1972.

First of all, from MIT in Cambridge, MA, on 5/6/70, we have this monster Good Lovin'. This was a free concert that took place at MIT's Kresge Plaza and was part of a student day of striking to protest the Kent State killings a few days before. This show was just after the Harpur College show on 5/2/70, and carries with it much the same energy as Harpur. There was a version of Dancing In The Street played at MIT that was every bit the equal of the terrific version played at Harpur.

Next up we have a very special jam from Europe '72. Amongst all of the small venue shows the band played on that tour, they broke away from the trend on 5/7/72 to play the Bickershaw Festival in Wigan. At every show on the Europe tour, the band played either a Dark Star or an Other One as the central jam vehicle in the second set, but never both songs at the same concert. Except at Bickershaw. This show saw the band playing its longest show of the tour, and the second set featured the ultimate Europe '72 jam, Dark Star>The Other One>Sing Me Back Home. There is a bit of a cut in The Other One before they venture into the second verse, but it's forgivable considering how great the rest of the jam is. We played the Dark Star here last year, but due to popular demand, we have the whole jam here this year. Sorry it took so long.

This being the week that includes May 8, we figured it'd be a good time to play Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain from 5/8/77 at Cornell. 'Nuff said.

Finally this week, we have a nifty little stand-alone Estimated Prophet from 5/11/77 in St. Paul, MN. The song developed with a longer and more exploratory jam at virtually every stop on this tour. Occasionally it would go into another song, but these stand-alone versions are pretty darn cool, so we figured you could use another.

Be sure to stop by next week for more music from the vault. And don't hesitate to write with comments, questions, suggestions, requests, complaints or praise. The only way we can get the music you want out there is if we hear from you. The email address below, with “Grateful Dead” in the subject, will get the message directly to me.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

April 28 - May 4, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0500

As always, lots of great music was found to fit into this week's installment of the Tapers Section, and we're going to play some acoustic music, followed by some electric music.

Our first stop is in Alfred, NY, on 5/1/70, the day before the famous Harpur College show. From the acoustic set, we have a quartet of great acoustic songs, Cumberland Blues, The Race Is On, Wake Up Little Susie, New Speedway Boogie. This New Speedway Boogie is the one included on the Fall Out From The Phil Zone album. We haven't played too much acoustic Dead here at the Tapers Section for the simple reason that there isn't too much acoustic Dead in the vault, so this is a nice treat to play some for you.

Because it's such a monumental concert, we'd be remiss if we didn't play anything from Harpur College on 5/2/70, so from that show we have this terrific Dancing In The Street.

Two years later the band would find itself across the ocean, in Paris, for two shows on 5/3&4/72, smack dab in the middle of the Europe '72 tour. And what a pair of shows. From the first show, we are very pleased to play this short but sweet Playing In The Band, and from the next night, we have this long Dark Star. This Dark Star would segue into Sugar Magnolia, which is cut from the master reels due to its inclusion on the Europe '72 album. But, the 39 minutes of Dark Star heard here should satisfy your ears.

Finally this week, we'll stop into to the Spring Tour of 1977 to the show on 5/1/77 at the Palladium in New York City, the venue formerly known as the Academy of Music at which the band held court for seven shows in March, 1972. From 5/1/77, we have a nice batch of middle-first set songs, Cassidy, They Love each Other, Lazy Lightning>Supplication.

Please be sure to stop back next week for more great music. We're digging through the vault to find some cool stuff. As always, feel free to write the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

April 21 - April 27, 2008

ccasal — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:51 -0500

Well, with today being 4/21, and a Monday, we're sure many of you are feeling a little tired, so we'll start this week with something mellow to get you into the groove…

…April Fools! Mellow?! No Way! Here is a raucous That's It For The Other One>Death Don't Have No Mercy from 4/22/69 at the Arc in Boston. Sadly, there's a cut in The Other One that returns during the Cryptical reprise. Sorry about that, but at least you've been warned. What a stellar Death Don't, too. So much great music was played in the first five months of 1969 that it can be a daunting task to choose what to play here. We are also happy to play this classic 1969 combination of songs, Beat It On Down The Line, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag. The BIODTL has severe tempo issues, but it makes it a very interesting version. Is it fast? Is it slow? Is it mid-tempo? To quote a line from the great British comedy show of the mid-1990s The Fast Show, “we just don't know!” There's also a bit of a clipped intro to Doin' That Rag, but when you overlook that little technical problem, it's a very well played version.

Next up we'll pop into the magnificent Spring Tour of 1977. From the first show of the tour, at the Philadelphia Spectrum on 4/22/77, we have the first set closing Playing In The Band. This is a rare post-1974 stand-alone Playing, and it's got a nice feeling to it.

From the next night, 4/23/77 in Springfield, MA, we have a very cool stand-alone Estimated Prophet that opened the second set. This then-new song added such a great tune to the repertoire and these 1977 versions are so perfect and concise.

From a few nights later, at the Capital Theatre in Passaic, NJ, we have this very nice Scarlet Begonias>Fire on theMountain from 4/25/77. We played a fair amount of this tour last year here at the Tapers Section, so be sure to check back through the archived Tapers Section to check out more from this great tour.

Check back next week for what promises to be another wild ride through the Grateful Dead's recorded legacy. Please feel free to write with questions or comments, praise or complaints. We like it all. Be sure to include the words “Grateful Dead” in the subject of your email to separate your important missives from the spam.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

April 14 - April 20, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:24:11 -0500

This week we're going to check out some cool, under-the-radar material from early 1971, as well some other great stuff.

The first stop this week is to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, on 4/14/71. A quick caveat, and that's that the right channel, likely attributed to Weir's guitar, has a bit of a buzz occasionally. Rest assured the music shines through, though, so it's certainly worth hearing. From the middle of the second set, we have this excellent Cryptical Envelopment>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat. unfortunately, there is a reel change cut in wharf rat, but we figured we'd let you hear the whole jam intact as it exists in the vault.

From this same concert, we have the show's concluding sequence, typical of the time, which means high-energy. from 4/14/71, Hard to handle, not fade away> GDTRFB>Not Fade Away>Johnny B. Goode. In 1971, Hard To Handle is usually measured against a few versions, specifically 4/28&/29/71 and 8/6/71, and this one is certainly one of the better versions, with an exceptional solo by Weir to start the jam. Damn, he can play guitar!

From 4/19/83 in Orono, Maine, we have the opening trio of songs, Jack Straw, Friend of the Devil>It's All Over Now. The mix for the first three minutes of Jack Straw is rather dicey, but that's common of a lot of board tapes. However, things settle down nicely. There is a drop out/cut in Jack Straw, also typical of the PCM digital tapes from this era, so this piece of music exhibits lots of examples of the tape limitations from 1983.

From 1978, we'll drop in on the Spring Tour to hear some music from the Pittsburgh Civic Arena on 4/18/78. As we've mentioned in this space before, the shows prior to this night on the Spring tour are not in the vault (4/6 through 4/16), but the remaining shows, 4/18 through 4/24, plus the entirety of May tour, are thankfully in the vault. From the end of the second set, we have this very cool sequence of Samson and Delilah, Terrapin Station>Around and Around.

Finally this week, we have a nice little rocking combination, the show opener from 4/19/78 in Columbus, Ohio, Bertha>Good Lovin'. This was always such a great way to open a show, and a fine way to end this week's Tapers Section.

Be sure to stop back next week for more great music. We don't know what we'll play, but it'll be interesting we expect. Write the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

April 7 - April 13, 2008

ccasal — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:24:03 -0500

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! This is a special Tapers Section focused on the Winterland 1973 release. Our scheduled Tapers Section that was originally slotted for this week (and it's a great one, by the way!) has been moved back to the week of June 23-29, so be sure to check in then for some great early-April Grateful Dead music. But, we've been so excited about the Winterland 1973 release that we wanted to do something a little special for this monster boxed set.

As some of you might recall, the Winterland box was originally planned for an April, 2006 release, but, as is standard in the Grateful Dead world, things get in the way, other projects come up, and things get put on the back-burner (hey, Three From The Vault took more than 10 years to come out, so this isn't too bad...). Despite the delay, we always knew it would come out, but the results are way beyond our very high expectations. Taking our time and utilizing Rhino's well-known skills and abilities to produce exquisite packaging, to go along with what we already knew were exceptional performances mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman (plus a restoration process that makes these the best-sounding 1973 recordings you'll ever hear) made the wait worthwhile. This truly is the complete package, with every detail being just exactly perfectly. Above everything, of course, is the music. So, without further ado, let's get on to some listening.

So, the music... Our first selection from the boxed set is the Playing In The Band from 11/9/73, the Friday night show. As you may have noticed if you've been checking in to the Tapers Section these past 18 months, I love Playing In The Band from 1972-1974, and I'm certainly not alone. Although the next night contained the famous Playing sandwich with all that great music in between, this is a terrific stand-alone version. This show has often been overshadowed by the next two nights, but it certainly will be re-evaluated as a solid peer to the 10th and 11th with the release of this boxed set.

Our next cut is from 11/10/73, the majestic Weather Report Suite. Like Playing In The Band, this is a tune that, to these ears, could do no wrong in 1973. Remember, folks, these shows took place only three weeks after the release of Wake of the Flood, with Weather Report Suite being almost as new. But, all three (3!) versions of this jam in the boxed set feel as though the band had been playing this tune since the band's inception. Certainly one of the songs that makes 1973 so great, as it could act as either a stand-alone first set closer, or the springboard for an epic second set jam.

Lastly this week, in honour of the new Winterland 1973 boxed set, we have a couple of tracks from the final night, the classic 11/11/73, widely considered one of the greatest shows in a great year, with a truly stunning Dark Star to cap the run off in style. From the first set of this great night at Winterland, we have two songs played beautifully in 1973: Sugaree and Black-Throated Wind. Also, from the second set, we have the opening song, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo. when you get the boxed set, don't forget to listen to what comes just a couple of songs later (yes, dark star>Eyes>China Doll...).

Now, as you probably know by now, the boxed set comes with a tasty bonus CD of music from 12/4/73 in Cincinnati and some cool packaging. Very cool, actually. But, above all that, and to complement the absolute stellar quality of the performances, Jeffrey Norman and his crack restoration team have done incredible work with these tapes to make them sound WAY better than any two-track recording you've ever heard from 1973. This isn't a sales pitch (when have you ever heard me make a sales pitch here...). Rather, from one Dead Head to another, this boxed set is so good, I just want everyone to hear it. I'm excited. What can I say.

Well, there you have it. Our first ever project-specific Tapers Section. Next week, back to our regularly scheduled great-tunes-from-the-appropriate-week format. Thanks for listening.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 31- April 6, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:40:42 -0500

Welcome back to another fine week in the history of the Grateful Dead's recorded legacy. We're going to visit four decades this week, the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, so on to the music...

As promised last week, we have the conclusion of the jam from 3/28/69 in Modesto, California. As we mentioned last week, the Live/Dead suite is split by a cut in The Eleven, so we played the pre-cut portion last week, and this week we're pleased to play you this magnificent closing combination of The Eleven>Lovelight. What a great Lovelight, too!

Next up we have music from 4/3/70 in Cincinnati, with two classic 1970s tunes, specifically Hard To Handle, Dancing In The Street. There's a bit of a buzz occasionally on the tape, but overall the music certainly does shine through. The Dancing in particular finds the band gelling in perfect sync, with Phil and the drummers laying down the groove while Bobby and Jerry danced circles in and around the melody, with Pigpen filling the space with his organ playing. I love this Dancing In The Street. This show was just a month before the massive, justifiably famous Harpur College show from 5/2/70. If you haven't heard THAT one recently, we encourage you to pull out Dick's Picks Vol. 8 and give it a listen.

Three years less a day later, the Grateful Dead would find themselves at the venerable Boston Garden for a great show to end a great start to the year. From 2/9/73 through to this 4/2/73 show, the Grateful Dead toured with nary a break aside from two weeks at the start of March (during which time Pigpen passed away), and this concert in Boston has the band playing with a fire that shows no signs of fatigue. From the first set, we are pleased to play China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man.

Heading next to the early 1980s, 4/6/82 in Philadelphia to be specific, we are very pleased to play the opening foursome from this great show. This sequence of Cold Rain and Snow>Promised Land, Candyman>CC Rider was played exceptionally well, and was a portent of things to come in what is one of my favourite second sets from 1982. We played some of that second set last year here, so be sure to go back through the Tapers Section archives found on these pages and listen to that blistering second set material.

Finally this week, from 4/1/90 in Atlanta, we have the first set's closing sequence of Althea, Victim or the Crime>To Lay Me Down>The Music Never Stopped. lots of great music was played at this three night run of shows, including a shakedown street that you can hear by going back through these archives to a year ago. check it out.

Due to my occasional lapse in thought, last week I accidentally put up some music from 1991 when I'd mentioned a terrific jam from 1990. Sorry about that. It's now been corrected, so please go back to last week's Tapers Section to hear the stunning jam from 3/30/90 at Nassau Coliseum featuring Playing In The Band>China Doll>Uncle John's Band>Terrapin Station. With a Garcia trimvirate like that, you don't want to miss it.

Thanks for stopping in. it's always great to hear from you, so feel free to write with questions, comments or suggestions. the email address below will get to me directly, and i try to respond to all emails.

david lemieux
vault@dead.net

March 24 - March 30, 2008

ccasal — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:58:22 -0500

Welcome back to the Tapers Section. With so much great music played throughout the Grateful Dead's history during the latter part of March, we'll jump right in with some tasty stuff from Spring of 1990.

The Nassau Coliseum run in March, 1990, signaled the band's return to Long Island's major hockey arena after a five year absence. What first comes to mind when most people think of Nassau 1990 is the middle night of the run, 3/29/90, specifically the portions of the show featuring Branford Marsalis. However, the third night also featured some great music, and from the second set, we have this excellent Playing In The Band>China Doll>Uncle John's Band>Terrapin Station, a very rare Jerry trio of songs bunched together. And what a trio of songs! As we've mentioned previously with the spring of 1990, thankfully the entire tour was recorded to 24 track analog tape so that proper live albums can be produced from the tour. Let's hope there are more of these releases to come.

While we're at Nassau in March, 1990, we might as well drop into the first night of the run, 3/28/90. Again, like the other two shows, this was an exceptional night of music. From the pre-Drums portion of the second set, we have Cumberland Blues>The Weight, Hey Pocky Way. This was, of course, the first-ever Grateful Dead version of The Weight, and it was such a fine addition to the repertoire, and a great showcase for Brent's singing and playing. The Weight would end up being the final song the Grateful Dead wuld ever perform with Brent Mydland on 7/23/90.

Next we'll jump back in time 18 years to 1972, to 3/26/72 specifically at the Academy of Music in New York City. This seven night run was a terrific warm-up for the Europe '72 tour, for which the band departed on 4/1/72 for the first gigs on 4/7&8/72 at Wembley Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena) in London. From 3/26/72, we have two excellent versions of songs played often, and wonderfully, in 1972: Playing In The Band and Good Lovin'.

Finally this week, we're going to take a stop in California's Central Valley to the city of Modesto on 3/28/69. The show featured a terrific rendition of the Live/Dead suite, but with a big old cut in The Eleven, we thought we'd split the music here as well. So, this week we'll play you the excellent Dark Star>St. Stephen>Eleven and next week we'll play you the equally impressive conclusion of this jam. Be sure to check back.

As always, we really appreciate your visits. Your comments as well. Feel free to write me directly at the email address below with questions and comments. It's always great to hear from you.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

March 17 - 23, 2008

ccasal — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:51:17 -0500

This week we're going to hang out on the East Coast during a couple of the fine Spring Tours of the later years that took place, including music from 1990 and 1991.

Our first stop is at the first of two nights in Hartford, CT, shows that were surprise gigs, although not quite on the same level as those of Hampton, VA, in October, 1989. These Hartford shows were announced only four days in advance, and sold out instantly, as would be expected for shows by the Grateful Dead in 1990. From that first show, we have the opening combination of Shakedown Street>Little Red Rooster. These shows, as was the entire tour, were recorded to stellar-sounding 24 track analog tape, so future major releases can certainly be drawn from these shows as well as others from the tour. The Atlanta gigs are personal favourites as well, not to mention the two nights in Canada right after Hartford.

From the next night in Hartford, we have the very cool second set closing jam of China Doll>Gimme Some Lovin'>GDTRFB>Around and Around, with a very interesting new arrangement of Around and Around, in which they slow things down to a nice bluesy jam before building it all back up for the finale. Neat stuff indeed.

The next run of shows would be the two aforementioned, spectacular nights at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. These two shows featured loads of great music, including the great Scarlet>Fire that was included on the So Many Roads boxed set and the complete Hey Jude played here last year. From the second show, 3/22/90, we are pleased to play you the opening combination of songs, Feel Like A Stranger, West LA Fadeaway, Easy To Love You.

Finally this week, we have the second set opening jam from 3/18/91 at the Capital Center in Landover, MD. This four night run of shows produced some exceptional music, including this Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band>Playing In The Band>Terrapin Station sequence. We'll be sure hit up this great run of shows for more music in future installments of the Tapers Section.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check in next week for more great music from the vault, and as always, feel free to write to the email address below with questions, comments or suggestions. It's always great to hear from you.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

March 10 - March 16, 2008

ccasal — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:41:18 -0600

This week we're going to jump around a bit and play a few things that recently passed by our ears and that we felt you'd dig hearing.

Our first piece of music is from 6/24/73 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Anyone who has driven past the Northeast corner of downtown Portland has seen the square structure that is the Coliseum. While no longer home to the Trail Blazers, who play next door at the Rose Garden, the funky old Coliseum still hosts plenty of concerts and is home to the WHL's Portland Winterhawks team. Oh, and in addition to this sports history of the venue, it also has quite a history for the Grateful Dead. From the first of five shows the band played at the Memorial Coliseum, we have the show-closing Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night combination, the latter being the encore. There was plenty of great music played at this show, and we'll try to get to more of it later in the year.

While we're hanging out in the Pacific Northwest, we might as well jump north a few hours to Vancouver, BC, to the final Grateful Dead show played in this beautiful city, on 5/17/74. This was on the first big Wall of Sound tour, and the sound of the tapes matches the sound in the halls on this tour, which is to say full and clear. This tour would go on to Portland, Seattle and Santa Barbara, before some stellar June, July and August shows, with the Wall of the Sound era wrapping up with the short Europe tour in September and the five nights at Winterland in October. From Vancouver on 5/17/74, we're very happy to bring you this exploratory Playing In The Band. Although not quite the 45 minute version played a few nights later in Seattle, it does hit some great spaces.

Next up we've finally got some date-specific material for you, after getting away from that format for the past few weeks. From 3/10/81 at Madison Square Garden, we have the show-opening trio of Mississippi Half-Step>Franklin's Tower>Me and My Uncle. We played some of this show last year, and if you check back in a year from now, we expect we'll play a bit more from this night and the previous show.

Because we're in the mood for some 1971, we're going to visit Winterland and check out some music from 5/29/71, specifically the set-closing Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away, complete with a little Bill Graham rap at the end. He certainly was a hands-on concert producer.

Finally this week, from 7/1/70 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we have this raw but right China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider from the famous Festival Express trip across Canada. It's too bad the Montreal show (political unrest) and the Vancouver show (lack of funds) were cancelled, as we can only wonder what other great music would have been played at two more shows.

Check back next week for more great music from the vault. As always, we welcome you to write the email address below with questions, suggestions and comments. Please put “Grateful Dead” in your subject to make sure you don't get lumped with the spam. Thanks.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

March 3 - March 9, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:24:36 -0600

This week, like we’ve done a few times so far in 2008, we’re going to look at a year in Grateful Dead history rather than just this week in Grateful Dead history. Well, two years, really. Rest assured, we’ll get back to our weekly focus soon, but for now, we’re going to listen to some music from 1984 and 1985.

Our first selection this week is from the concert on 4/1/84 at Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in beautiful San Rafael, California. The band had just played Marin Vets in October, 1983, when they played the final ever St. Stephen, and returned for a final four night run at the tiny venue in Marin for four shows in the Spring of 1984. This final show of the run featured some great material, and we are pleased to play the end of the first set, Big Railroad Blues, Cassidy, Tennessee Jed, My Brother Esau, Don't Ease Me In. This is a classic sequence from 1984 that we thought you’d dig. Well, we sure dig it.

Next up is some music from two weeks later on 4/16/84 in Rochester, NY. From the first set, we have the show-opening Shakedown Street, and from the second set, we have the combination that went into Drums, Far From Me>He’s Gone with a great jam out of He’s Gone, featuring Brent and Bobby hinting at the Other One, which would come out of Space a bit later.

Moving forward a couple of months to the magnificent Red Rocks show on 6/14/84, we have a slew of songs from the first set, specifically Minglewood Blues, Brown Eyed Woman, Jack Straw, Day Job. Like our selection from 4/1/84 heard above, this is a classic 1984 grouping of songs. Later in this show, the band would perform the first-ever Dear Mr. Fantasy, which we played here last year.

We’ll now go forward about a year to 6/27/85 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the band’s penultimate show at this magical little venue in upstate New York (they would return one last time, on 6/28/88). This show featured all sorts of shenanigans (“I say, Phil, my dog has no nose.” “No nose? How does he smell” “Blooming awful!”; and, “yo, butch, don’t hang from the balcony!”), plus loads of great music, as heard in this excellent show-opening trio, Midnight Hour, Bertha, Little Red Rooster.

From the Fall Tour of 1985, we have some music from the second set of 11/2/85 in Richmond, VA. The previous night, 11/1/85, with its exceptionally bizarre song list (even by 1985 standards!) makes up Dick’s Picks Vol. 21, but this second night is equally good. From the pre-Drums segment of the show we have Estimated Prophet>Uncle John’s Band>China Doll, and from the post-Drums part of the show, we have Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>Lovelight, Baby Blue. A little more straightforward than the previous night in regards to song selection, but very well played nonetheless.

Check in next week for more great music. Although it’s a mystery to even us here at the Tapers’ Section what we’ll be playing, rest assured we’re digging through the vault to find you some tasty bits to play. Likely some 1973 rarities among other stuff. As always, feel free to write to me at the email address below, always putting something in your subject line to grab my attention (something like “Grateful Dead” is always good). Also, you’ll get separated from the spam nicely that way.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

February 25 - March 2, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:49:15 -0600

We’re going to do another Taper’s Section this week that focuses on one year in the Grateful Dead’s recorded history, and we felt 1989 would be a good year to look into.

Virtually the entire year was excellent in 1989, and fortunately John Cutler and Le Mobile recording truck was present for a good portion of the shows (starting with June 18 at Shoreline) to record most of the shows in the second half of the year to 24 track analog tape. This, of course, allowed excellent live albums to be produced, such as Without A Net and Nightfall of Diamonds, not to mention to the DVDs Truckin’ Up To Buffalo and Downhill From Here.

Speaking of Downhill From Here, from the middle night of that fine, muddy three night stand at Alpine Valley, on 7/18/89, we have the end of the first set, Memphis Blues, Bird Song>Promised Land. This night is often overshadowed by the previous and following shows, but there was plenty of great stuff played on 7/18 including this nifty trio of tunes.

While we’re checking out the summer of 1989, we have this excellent show-opening combination from 7/10/89 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Feel Like A Stranger>Franklin’s Tower. This show was delayed due to some nasty weather, but once it got rolling, the band delivered a great show. This was one of the final versions of this pairing, for starting on 10/8/89, Franklin’s Tower would be henceforth rejoined exclusively with its original family, Help On The Way>Slipknot! Check out the guitar part Jerry lays down in Stranger; some great moments there.

We’ll now check in with some music from the Spring Tour of 1989, specifically from 4/16/89 at the Mecca in Milwaukee. This pre-Drums sequence of Saint of Circumstance>Truckin’ was a unique one. Saint was rather rare at the time, so it’s understandable that Bobby has a little trouble with the lyrics. This was drawn from the VHS digital master tape.

Jumping forward a few months, we’ll check into the magnificent Fall Tour of 1989. From the third and final night in Philadelphia, 10/20/89, we have the three songs that opened the second set, Hey Pocky Way, Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain. That makes two outstanding Scarlet>Fires played in Philadelphia in 1989, this one following on the heels of the 7/7/89 version played at JFK Stadium.

Finally, from the middle night of the Philly run in October, 10/19/89, we have a few songs from early in the first set, West LA Fadeaway, Victim or the Crime, Built To Last, Blow Away. This tour kept rolling after these shows with two great shows in Charlotte and ending with two nights in Miami, which featured one of the darkest and spaciest of the later-day Dark Stars.

Be sure to stop back next Monday for more great music from the vault. We always encourage you to write the email address below with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

February 18 - February 24, 2008

ccasal — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:39:05 -0600

Like last week, we figured we'd focus on one city in this week's Taper's Section. Like our focus-on-Rochester last week, we've selected an equally prolific city from which to draw loads of interesting Grateful Dead music: Hartford, Connecticut.

Our earliest music today is from 1974, specifically from the massive show on 7/31/74 at Dillon Stadium in Hartford. Including the Seastones set, this is one of the longest Grateful Dead shows on record. A couple of days after this show, on August 2, the Grateful Dead were scheduled to play Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, but that concert was rained out and made up on August 6. From Hartford on 7/31/74, we have this excellent Truckin'>Jam>Wharf Rat . Dick's notes on his tapes of this concert state during the jam “includes brain-fry Spanish theme, mind left body.” A brain-fry indeed.

Next up we have music from the final night of the stunning Spring Tour of 1977 on 5/28/77 at the Hartford Civic Center. This tour was relentlessly good and holds up with the best tours in Grateful Dead history, including Fall 1973 and Europe '72. And amazingly, the band had enough energy on the final night of a grueling five week trek across America to pull off one final exceptional show. As a side note, just a few nights later, on June 1, the Grateful Dead Movie would premier in New York City. Then, on June 4, the Grateful Dead would play yet-another great 1977 concert, at the Forum in LA. This is one of the few shows from 1977 for which no soundboard tape is known to exist. But, back to Hartford. From 5/28/77, the middle of the first set, we have Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Minglewood Blues, Candyman.

Throughout the 1980s, the Grateful Dead played a near-yearly run of concerts in Hartford, right up to 1988, followed by the surprise shows in 1990 (announced just three days in advance). From the first night in 1987, 3/26/87, we have a good selection from the middle of the first set, My Brother Esau, When Push Comes To Shove, Desolation Row, Bird Song. This is one of the few clean soundboards from early 1987, but unfortunately the second set never seemed to surface in the vault or elsewhere.

From a year later, we have a couple of great moments from the 1988 shows. First up we have the show opener from the first night of the three night run, on 4/3/88, Promised Land>Greatest Story Ever Told>Althea>Little Red Rooster. It's always nice to hear Brent chime in on Rooster. As you can hear in Althea, Jerry was losing his voice, which by the second set was virtually gone. The late second set Black Peter really showed this. Trooper that he is, though, Jerry sang the encore, Baby Blue. From the second show on 4/4/88, we have the bizarre set closing jam featuring The Other One>Stella Blue>Good Lovin'>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude. It sure was weird to hear Good Lovin' segue into Dear Mr. Fantasy. It is a great Other One, though, and Fantasy features some incredibly inspired playing.

Finally, from the 1990 shows, the band's final shows in Hartford, we have the pre-Drums jam from 3/18/90, Iko Iko>Looks Like Rain>He's Gone>Truckin'>Spoonful. These shows, like all of Spring 1990, were recorded to 24 track analog tape, hence the excellent sound quality on albums such as Dozin' at the Knick, Without A Net and Nightfall of Diamonds.

As always, we welcome you to check in with questions or comments. Please email the address below.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 11 - February 17, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:08:02 -0600

Rather than focus on a specific year this week, we’re going to listen to some music from one city, specifically Rochester, NY. The Grateful Dead always performed exceptionally well in Rochester, and that goes for all of upstate and Western New York.

We’ll play some music from 1973 first this week, from the penultimate show of the Spring Tour of 1973, during which the band was working in a lot of the new Wake of the Flood material, such as Row Jimmy, Here Comes Sunshine, China Doll and Eyes of the World. From 3/30/73 at the War Memorial Auditorium in beautiful downtown Rochester, we have Truckin’>Eyes of the World>Not Fade Away>Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad>One More Saturday Night.

Next we’ll hop back a couple of years to the Palestra at the University of Rochester on 10/26/71. This was Keith’s first week in the band, and he sure did sound great at these early shows. From the middle of the first set, we have this quartet of songs: Big Railroad Blues, Me and Bobby McGee, Cumberland Blues, Cold Rain and Snow. A classic batch of 1971 Dead.

From the second big tour of 1976, we have the first set closing quintet of songs from 9/27/76 back at the War Memorial Auditorium,Lazy Lightning>Supplication, Brown Eyed Woman, The Music Never Stopped. This tour had so many great nights, with Rochester being one of the best.

Next up, from the magnificent Dick’s Picks Vol. 34, we have the second set opening jam consisting of Phil Solo>Take A Step Back>Eyes of the World>Samson and Delilah from 11/5/77. As the saying goes, when Phil’s on, the band’s on!

Finally this week, we have the pre-Drums sequence from 4/16/86, consisting of Far From Me>He’s Gone>Jam. The jam is a precursor to the Other One that would come out of space.

Check back in next Monday for more great tunes. Feel free to write the email address below with any questions, comments, suggestions or requests.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

February 4 - February 10, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:17:29 -0600

This week, rather than focus on one year in the Grateful Dead's recorded history as we've been doing the past few weeks, we're going to take a look at a very important seven night run of shows from 1972. Specifically, we'll be listening to the Academy of Music shows from March, which took place immediately prior to the Europe '72 tour, and featured a good taste of what was to come on the 22 show tour of Europe.

From 3/22/72, we'll start our examination of the Academy run with the big second set jam of Sugar Magnolia>Caution>Jam>Uncle John's Band. The jam has an interesting, country/Bobby McGee feel to it, and yet it is completely unique. Caution was making its reappearance in the repertoire after an absence of about a year, and although this version is outstanding, the Europe renditions were exceptional. Check out the one on Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead from 4/8/72 for proof of that.

From the very next show, on 3/23/72, we have a rare stand-alone Dark Star. With the master reel running out just as the song was wrapping up, it is a good coincidence that the band ended the song just as the reel of tape ended. It's a pretty darn fine Dark Star, too.

On 3/25/72, the Grateful Dead performed a very rare event: acting as back-up band to a legend, Bo Diddley. Plenty of great music from that set was included on Dick's Picks Vol. 30, and from the Dead's own set later that night, we have this incredible Smokestack Lightning, which had returned to the repertoire in December, 1971 with the return of Pigpen, and this would prove to be the final Pigpen-sung Smokestack Lightning. Bobby would bring the song back in the 1980s.

From the penultimate show of the run, we have another taste of Pigpen, specifically this excellent Good Lovin' from 3/27/72. With apologies to the Taper's Section reader who simply requested “no more Good Lovin's!!!”, we just couldn't resist playing this for you.

Finally, a couple of songs from the final show of the run, Playing In The Band and You Win Again. Both of these songs would be central tunes in the first sets of most of the Europe '72 shows, and these two renditions are certainly worthy companion pieces to the versions played overseas.

Thanks, as always, for checking, and we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

January 28 - February 3, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:35:00 -0600

Due to our desire to keep doing what we’ve been doing the last few weeks, we’re going to select a year and focus on that year this week in the Taper’s Section. This week’s pick? The fine transitional year of 1991.

With Bruce Hornsby at most shows throughout 1991, the band was settling into a nice, consistent groove. On most nights, you could count on an inspired, solid, occasionally transcendent night of music throughout the year. During the year, there were a few of what are now considered classic Grateful Dead shows: 6/14/91, 6/17/91, 10/31/91, 9/10/91 and a few others.

Our first selection this week is from the fourth and final night of the tour opening run at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. During this week, I somehow managed to be inside the Cap Center seven straight nights: 3/15 a Celtics-Bullets NBA game; 3/16 a Flyers-Capitals hockey game (Don Beaupre shone in the Caps’ 6-0 victory), 3/17,18,20&21, the Grateful Dead, and astoundingly, on the band’s night off, 3/16, a Blues-Capitals hockey game (Brett Hull’s 80th goal of the season!). I’ll never forget walking around the arena between periods of the 3/16 hockey game with my obvious Dead Head friends, and getting loads of “hey guys, the Grateful Dead aren’t here tonight!” comments. So, from 3/21/91, we have this excellent jam of Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain>Stir It Up Jam. As you may recall, the band attempted a vocal Stir It Up in March, 1988, with rather poor, even comical, results. This jam, however, is one of the finer spontaneous jams of the entire year. There’s terrific energy here.

Next up is some music from the first show of the Landover run, specifically the first set closing duet of Ruben and Cherise, Let It Grow. This, of course, is the first ever version of Ruben and Cherise, one of only four versions the Grateful Dead would ever play of this Jerry Garcia Band standard. Vince, Jerry and Bruce lock into a great groove during the closing jam. The Let It Grow is out of control, with Weir taking center stage during the big jam. A very inspired version.

The next run of shows after the Cap Center run was in Albany, for the second annual run of shows at the Knickerbocker Arena. Bruce was absent from these shows as well as the next run at Nassau Coliseum, but would return for the ending of the tour. From the third and final night of the Albany run, 3/25/91, we have the second set, divided into two sequences. The pre-Drums jam consists of Greatest Story Ever Told, Crazy Fingers>Truckin’>Spoonful, with the Greatest Story being a very rare second set opener. The post drums sequence features The Other One>Black Peter>Throwing Stones>Playing In The Band. Like the set opener, Throwing Stones>Playing is a very unique set closer.

Be sure to check in next week when we’ll focus on one very exciting run of Grateful Dead shows from 1972. Feel free to write with questions or comments to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

January 21 - January 27, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:19:32 -0600

We’ve been having such a great time the past few weeks focusing one specific year in the Taper’s Section, we’ve decided to continue the trend this week by exploring some excellent music from 1976.

Our first stop this week is at the Boston Music Hall on 6/9/76, for the first East Coast Grateful Dead show since 8/6/74 at Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey. The band, of course, started their comeback tour inauspiciously with two shows the previous week, June 3 and 4, 1976, at the Paramount Theatre in beautiful Portland, Oregon, before embarking on the big East Coast tour that would bring the band exclusively to small theatres (Boston Music Hall, Beacon Theatre in New York, Capital Theatre in Passaic, Tower Theatre in Philadelphia and the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, before the six nights at the Orpheum in San Francisco in July). From this first show of the East Coast tour, we have a quartet of first set songs, Big River, They Love Each Other, Looks Like Rain, Ship of Fools. It’s very cool to hear Ship of Fools in the first set, as it would become an exclusively second set song by 1978.

From the second set of 6/9/76, we have the opening trio of songs, St. Stephen>Eyes of the World>Let It Grow, with the Let It Grow featuring that neat little drum break that was unique to 1976 and 1977. The master reels of 6/9/76 are missing the first few bars of St. Stephen, but the quality of the rest of the jam certainly does make up for the missing few seconds.

From about a week later, on 6/17/76 in Passaic, NJ, we have the second set opening jam with an absolutely quintessential 1976 sequence, featuring Help On The Way>Slipknot!>Franklin’s Tower>Dancing In The Street>Samson and Delilah. Just a classic jam from that summer.

Lastly this week, we have one of my favourite jams from 1976, the first half of the second set from 10/9/76 in Oakland, California, the first night of the band’s double bill with The Who. This magnificent piece of music features St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>St. Stephen>Help On The Way>Slipknot!, a terrific piece of music from an excellent year overall. This was drawn from Dick’s Picks Vol. 33 with features the entirety of the two nights of Grateful Dead music over 4 CDs.

Be sure to check in next week for more great music. As always, feel free to write to the email address below with questions, comments, suggestions or requests. It really is always great to hear from you.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

January 14 - January 20, 2008

Jonathan Lane — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:39:02 -0600

We’ve been having such a good time sticking with one year during the past few installments of the Taper’s Section, we’ve decided to continue with this format for yet another week. This week, we’re finally breaking out of the 1960s and 1970s by jumping forward to 1990. There was plenty of great music played throughout the year by the Grateful Dead, so on to the music.

Our first selection is the show opening combination from 6/23/90 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Feel Like A Stranger, West LA Fadeaway. This was the first of a two day run of concerts that began at noon with an opening set by Little Feat, followed by three hours of music by the Grateful Dead with the shows wrapping up by 5 PM, leaving the evenings free to explore beautiful Eugene.

Next we’ll take a little trip to Europe to stop in and check out the second set opener from Berlin on 10/20/90, Eyes of the World>Samson and Delilah. Although I only attended the Paris and London shows on this tour, I heard stories of a small theatre in Berlin, at which each and every seat had a little fold-out desk top, complete with a little lamp. A perfect place for tapers to rest their D-5s. This show was broadcast on the radio, and it certainly must have been a treat to hear Eyes of the World in a foreign country.

Next we’ll pay a visit to Albany, NY, where the Grateful Dead played their first shows at the then-new Knickerbocker Arena in March, 1990. A good chunk of that run of concerts has been justifiably immortalized on the excellent Dozin’ At The Knick, but there was plenty of great music played aside from what made the album. From 3/26/90, we have this unique second set jam of Victim or the Crime>China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Women Are Smarter. Brent does some great stuff with Women Are Smarter, and the jam out of Victim is suitably chaotic.

Finally this week, we have the big jam from the final show in Europe in 1990, 11/1/90 at Wembley Arena. The first two nights at Wembley were sold out, but this final night was only about half full, and it was very odd to see the Grateful Dead performing at the height of their popularity in an 11,000 seat arena that was only half full. From this final show of the tour, we have a very interesting palindromatic sequence of Playing In The Band>Dark Star>Drums>Space>Dark Star>Playing In The Band. Bruce does some extremely spacey things during the latter parts of the jam. A perfect way to end the tour, and, of course, the encore that night would be non-other than U.S. Blues.

Check back next Monday for more great music here at the Taper’s Section. As always, we encourage you to write with questions or comments. Please send to the email address below.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net