• https://www.dead.net/features/tapers-section/june-09-june-15-2014
    June 09 - June 15, 2014

    Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have music from 1972 (barely), 1978, and 1987.

    Our first selection this week is from 1/2/72 at Winterland, the first show of what would prove to be one of the Grateful Dead's most consistently great years. I gather that after the 12/31/71 gig, they decided to leave the equipment in place and play on 1/2/72. From this show, we have the end of the second set featuring Ramble On Rose, Sugar Magnolia, Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away; One More Saturday Night.

    From 6/4/78 at UCSB Stadium in Santa Barbara, we have the start of the second set of a terrific show, one of only two in June 1978 (the other was 6/25/78 in Eugene, OR), featuring Samson And Delilah; Ship Of Fools ; Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World. This is one of those shows where everything is played to an extremely well.

    Lastly this week is music from 6/12/87 in Ventura, CA, from the Dead's last shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This was sort of the kickoff to the summer tour of 1987, a period of immense optimism and good energy in the Dead Head world, with Jerry back from his illness, the band playing terrifically, and the imminent release of their megahit album In The Dark. After Ventura, they played at the Greek in Berkeley, then three nights at Alpine Valley, followed by the Dylan and the Dead tour. It was a fun time. From the end of the Ventura show, we have The Wheel > I Need A Miracle > Black Peter > Around And Around > Good Lovin'; Touch Of Grey.

    Be sure to stop by next week for more tunes from the vault.

    David Lemieux
    vault@dead.net

    363271
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    hamal
    9 years 9 months ago
    with Spacebrother
    Although I started seeing the Dead 3 years before, 1987 was a glorious time. The Dead were so seemingly happy during this period and that was infectious. There was "not as much jamming or experimenting" during this period and this is the most common criticism. The shows were very well played, however, and had some magical instrumental moments. The ensemble playing was outstanding and it set the stage for he more popular 89-90 period. I would like to see/hear some releases from the 87 period as well. Hell, the whole era from 81-88 is under-represented in the catalogue. I really appreciate Spacebrother's point about popular bands not releasing material from their most successful periods. It's true that "the scene" began a particular downhill slide with the influx in 87, but there was still magic in the air. And many of the elements blamed for this downward trajectory were already present before 87, although perhaps not as voluminous or pervasive.
  • stoltzfus
    9 years 9 months ago
    turn me on to some 87, Spacebrother
    I like 4/4/87.
  • stoltzfus
    9 years 9 months ago
    4/4/87 has some good stuff
    8/20/87 i recall liking to an extremely well. what three 87s would you recommend, Spacebrother? I have a negative opinion of 8/13/87, so steer me away from that. anyway, turn me on to some 87. I am open-minded today.
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16 years 10 months

Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have music from 1972 (barely), 1978, and 1987.

Our first selection this week is from 1/2/72 at Winterland, the first show of what would prove to be one of the Grateful Dead's most consistently great years. I gather that after the 12/31/71 gig, they decided to leave the equipment in place and play on 1/2/72. From this show, we have the end of the second set featuring Ramble On Rose, Sugar Magnolia, Not Fade Away>GDTRFB>Not Fade Away; One More Saturday Night.

From 6/4/78 at UCSB Stadium in Santa Barbara, we have the start of the second set of a terrific show, one of only two in June 1978 (the other was 6/25/78 in Eugene, OR), featuring Samson And Delilah; Ship Of Fools ; Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World. This is one of those shows where everything is played to an extremely well.

Lastly this week is music from 6/12/87 in Ventura, CA, from the Dead's last shows at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This was sort of the kickoff to the summer tour of 1987, a period of immense optimism and good energy in the Dead Head world, with Jerry back from his illness, the band playing terrifically, and the imminent release of their megahit album In The Dark. After Ventura, they played at the Greek in Berkeley, then three nights at Alpine Valley, followed by the Dylan and the Dead tour. It was a fun time. From the end of the Ventura show, we have The Wheel > I Need A Miracle > Black Peter > Around And Around > Good Lovin'; Touch Of Grey.

Be sure to stop by next week for more tunes from the vault.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net

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Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have music from 1972 (barely), 1978, and 1987.
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June 09 - June 15, 2014
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It strikes me as odd that the Dead's by and far most commercially successful year is under represented for official releases. Summer '87 was a glorious time for live Dead. There are/were so many amazing performances throughout '87 and '88. I would think there is enough stellar material from this period alone for at least 4 or 5 box sets. The stigma that gets attached to this era from many of the elder veteran Heads is the massive influx of "Touch Heads" (as they referred to them in a negative manor) that took away the intimacy of many smaller venues the band could no longer play in. To the Grateful Dead's credit, they stepped up to the plate and hit grand slam home runs at most shows during this period of time. Not releasing more shows from this era would be like as if the Beatles refused to release anything from the "I Want To Hold Your Hand" era, or Led Zeppelin not releasing "Stairway To Heaven" era, or Lynyrd Skynyrd not releasing "Freebird", or Edgar Winter not releasing "Frankenstein" or Deep Purple not releasing "Smoke on the water" or the Allman Brothers not releasing "Whipping Post", or ZZ Top not releasing "Sharp Dressed Man", or Michael Jackon not releasing Thriller" or Prince not releasing "Purple Rain", or Black Sabbath not releasing "Iron Man" or Jimi Hendrix not releasing "Purple Haze" or the Stones not releasing "Satisfaction". What I've always enjoyed about "In The Dark" is that it is an album that is accessible by even non-Dead Heads. It was the Dead getting back to their "American Beauty" and "Working Mans Dead" songwriting style and roots. It's also a perfect introduction for new fans who may not otherwise get the experimental side of their '60s and mid-'70s output.
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You are right. Everything in that '78 UCSB clip is played to an extremely well. The sound quality is also great. Thanks Dead.net!
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8/20/87 i recall liking to an extremely well. what three 87s would you recommend, Spacebrother? I have a negative opinion of 8/13/87, so steer me away from that. anyway, turn me on to some 87. I am open-minded today.
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Although I started seeing the Dead 3 years before, 1987 was a glorious time. The Dead were so seemingly happy during this period and that was infectious. There was "not as much jamming or experimenting" during this period and this is the most common criticism. The shows were very well played, however, and had some magical instrumental moments. The ensemble playing was outstanding and it set the stage for he more popular 89-90 period. I would like to see/hear some releases from the 87 period as well. Hell, the whole era from 81-88 is under-represented in the catalogue. I really appreciate Spacebrother's point about popular bands not releasing material from their most successful periods. It's true that "the scene" began a particular downhill slide with the influx in 87, but there was still magic in the air. And many of the elements blamed for this downward trajectory were already present before 87, although perhaps not as voluminous or pervasive.
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Spring tour, fall tour and some select summer shows.
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Taking this band to serious as musicians.
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Listen to 6-14-68 Fillmore East today blows away 73, 74, 77 yet their are a lot more releases from these eras.