Welcome back to the Tapers' Section, where this week we have music recorded in 1970, 1971 and 1977, three very fine years in Grateful Dead history.
We've often discussed the incredibly busy touring schedule the Dead were on during the three month span of early December, 1969 through early March, 1970, and toward the end of that span, wedged between the famous Fillmore East run in February, 1970 and a run back home at the Family Dog, the band hit Texas for four nights, February 20-23, ending their mini Texas tour with a show in Austin on 2/23/70. From this show we have Uncle John's Band, Not Fade Away>Mason's Children. The first four songs are acoustic, with Me and My Uncle actually being mostly Bobby solo acoustic, until Jerry fixes his broken string and comes in toward the end. The Mason's Children has a cut in the master reels, but otherwise this is a fun little bit of music.
In February, 1971, the band played a six night run at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, and from the first night, 2/18/71, we have the show-closing jam of St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away>Uncle John's Band. This show was important in Grateful Dead history for a couple of reasons: first, it was Mickey last show for several years; and, many new songs were debuted at this show and the next night (Wharf Rat, Bertha, Playing In The Band, Deal, Loser, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told).
The Spring Tour of 1977 needs little introduction, and from 5/12/77 in Chicago, we're please to have the end of the first set, featuring Cassidy, Peggy-O, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, New Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo>Dancing In The Street. This is such a relentlessly good tour, there's no wonder so much has been released on CD over the years.
Be sure to stop by next week for more music from the vault.
David Lemieux
vault@dead.net