Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, and one of my favorite weeks of the year as we head into Spring. This week, we're going stick to the 1980s exclusively, with music from 1980, 1981 and 1987.
Our first stop this week is in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on 11/26/80, the first show after the long runs at the Warfield and Radio City that featured acoustic and electric Dead. From the start of the first set, we have Cold Rain and Snow, Samson and Delilah, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Estimated Prophet. The master cassette cuts off before we head into Eyes Of The World, hence the awkward ending here.
Next we have the end of the first set from the final night of a four night stand at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England, on 3/24/81 where we have High Time, Little Red Rooster, China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. The start of High Time is missing as the master cassette cuts in during the song, but the rest that's here is very good. After this show, the Dead would head to Essen, West Germany for the show with The Who on 3/28/81.
Lastly this week is music from my first Grateful Dead show, on 3/26/87 in Hartford, CT, featuring the end of the second set. Being just after Jerry's major health scare in 1986, the line “I was laying in my bed and dying” held special meaning. The rest of this show exhibits the typically hot 1987 high-energy Dead, with terrific version of China>Rider and Bird Song. From the end of the show, we have Space>I Need A Miracle>Black Peter>Around and Around>Good Lovin', Mighty Quinn.
Thanks for stopping by, and we look forward to seeing you here next week.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net