Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we'll be rolling into our first full week of the new year with music from 1977, 1978 and 1989.
We'll begin our music journey this week with music from 12/31/77 at Winterland, the midnight jam of Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain. In 1976, Sugar Magnolia became the New Year's song, even though it wasn't always played at midnight. But it sure was fun to hear it when it was.
In 1978, the Dead played two legs of their spring tour, one in April and the other two weeks later in May. From the penultimate show from the first leg, on 4/22/78 in Nashville, we have the show opening quintet of songs, featuring Bertha>Good Lovin', Candyman, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed. This show, along with the next one on 4/24/78, are two of the stronger shows from Spring 1978.
In 1989, the Dead returned to Oakland for a four night run to ring in 1990, ending a terrific year of Grateful Dead shows. On the first night, they were joined by very special guest Clarence Clemons, and you'll hear him play on the first track here. From the start of the second set, we have Iko Iko, Playing In The Band>Crazy Fingers>Uncle John's Band>Drums from 12/27/89 in Oakland. This Playing In The Band gets way out there, with Jerry now fully comfortable employing his MIDI effects after eight months playing with his new sonic toys.
Be sure to join us here next week for more tunes from the vault.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net