February 4 - February 10, 2008
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
forever Gratefully Dead
David,
Please post or play the 6/11/69 Let It Be Me...
Dark Star!*!
be back in a while............
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"Flight of the seabirds
Scattered like lost words
Wheel to the storm and fly"
John Perry Barlow
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excellent selection. enjoyed every one. really enjoyed the smokestack lightnin' as it is not so often played.
To thebobbyshaw guy....
Yeah she's out of tune, but so is Bobby on those scream fests. The real problem is shes so loud. I think she is tolerable when she tries to sing within her voice.
You take the good with the bad.
David, Thank You!
Tapers' day is my favorite day of the week
We do seem to get many of the same songs week after week (not that I'm complaining about all the 'Eyes' and such) might we get some more first set varieties?
WOW, great stuff. Love the Smokestack Lightning. I rarely hear that song.
Keep up the great nuggets of musical heaven.
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New to the Dead, raisin' little Deadheads and even the wife is coming around!
Hi, you will need to install the 'lash'-plugin to listen to the music. More at fixefox - homepage.
btw: thanx for the music
Nice DS, nice playin.
Thanks for these.
That smokestack lightning made my day:) ,been waiting all week for monday,
i love the 70's.
Location
Go to the beginning of UJB.
Phil decides, Boddy follows, Jerry is junked out -- Much like my first Lovelight.