Week of April 13-19, 2026
Welcome back to the Tapers’ Section, where this week we have Grateful Dead music from 1972, 1981, and 1991.
Our first stop this week is some excellent second set music from 8/12/72 in Sacramento, where we have Greatest Story Ever Told; Ramble On Rose; Beat It On Down The Line; He's Gone > Drums> The Other One > Black Peter> The Other One; Truckin’.
Next is the end of the first set from 5/13/81 in Providence, where we have this great trio of songs: Bird Song > Let It Grow> Deal.
Lastly this week is the terrific first set from 8/18/91 at Shoreline, filled with great music and some surprises: Hell In A Bucket ; Jack-A-Roe; C C Rider > It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry; Beat It On Down The Line ; West L.A. Fadeaway ; When I Paint My Masterpiece ; Stagger Lee ; Johnny B. Goode.
Be sure to join us here next week for more music from the vault.
David Lemieux
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Providence May 1981...
..This was also featured just over a year ago on the Jam of the Week, Dave must have a high regard for this show. Maybe on deck for the next '81 Pick whenever that is?
I like to watch for returning jams as this sometimes is an indicator of future releases. The samples from this one show are so good I found it marked in my 'Dead Notes' on the lap top.
A Grate "Deal" for the first set close!
Good stuff all around here
Another fine Taper's Section. Just now finishing up that last entry, Set I from 8/18/91. They're having fun! I remember hearing about this Shoreline run bitd with its 1st night Set I Dark Star and all the other goodness and wishing I coulda been there plus those Cal Expo shows before. Edit - Yeah RyXs that CC Rider > It Takes A Train To Cry is WIFTA at the heart of all that
BirdSong
Such a sublime Jerry jam this one, though all versions of Bird Song are fantastical.
Gotta love this particular Brent era gem, followed by two more jammy tunes often segued to!
Shoreline Shows '91
The Shoreline show here from August 1991 has that same awesome Bobby/Jerry blended combo of "CC Rider >> It Takes a Train To Cry" as did the May '91 Shoreline show from the ETR ~60th~ BIG Box. Grate stuff indeed!