Like last week, we've got some very good early-1970s material from this week in the Grateful Dead's recorded history, as well as some nice early 1980s material and a taste of 1989.
First up this week is this solid Good Morning Little Schoolgirl from the final night of a four night run at the Fillmore West, from 4/12/70. Unfortunately, most of the tapes from this run are missing from the vault, whereas four shows from this era should comprise about 20 reels, although there are only about six total reels from the four nights. On the heels of these four nights, the band would play at Winterland on 4/15/70, and from that excellent show, we have this funky It's A Man's World, one of the greatest covers Pigpen made his own.
In 1971, between the classic Manhattan Center shows in early April and the five night stand at the Fillmore East at the end of April (immortalized on the 4-CD set Ladies and Gentlemen…the Grateful Dead, the band played some very interesting towns and venues. From 4/12/71 at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, we're pleased to present two big jams: Truckin'>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat from early in the second set, and the second set closing jam of Deal>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Lovelight. This show has always fallen under the radar for a lot of people, understandable considering what came before and what would come after, but these two jams demonstrate some excellent playing. Also from this week in 1971, from 4/13/71 at the Catholic Youth Center in Scranton, PA, is this very good Hard To Handle. There are some minor mix adjustments during the song, but it's a great version nonetheless. Finally from this week in 1971, from 4/14/71 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, is this very exploratory early Bird Song.
Moving ahead to 1972, the City Hall show in Newcastle, England on 4/11/72 included some fine playing, and we're pleased to play this typical-of-1972 (which is to say extremely hot) Good Lovin'.
Jumping ahead 10 years plus a day, to 4/12/82 at Nassau Coliseum, is this very unique pairing of Estimated Prophet>Uncle John's Band. As the band prepares to launch into this medley, they seem unsure if it will work, but when all is said and done, it sure does work. And, jumping ahead another year, to 4/10/83 in Morgantown, WV (one of only two shows the Grateful Dead would ever play in that state), from the first set is this classic My Borther Esau, Might As Well set closer, and from the second set of 4/10/83, is the post-Drums sequence of Space>The Wheel>Playing In The Band>China Doll>Sugar Magnolia. Lastly from 1983, from 4/12/83 in Binghamton, NY, is this great first-set closing twosome of Dupree's Diamond Blues, Let It Grow.
Wrapping up this week, we'll jump ahead to 1989, to 4/15/89 in Milwaukee, where the first set would include this much-loved medley of Feel Like A Stranger>Franklin's Tower. With Franklin's reuniting later in 1989 with Help On The Way>Slipknot!, this combination wasn't long for this world, with only four more pairings after this one, after about two years together, but it still remains a complementary mixture.
Come on back next week to see what we'll be playing from the week of April 16-22. Expected selections include music from 1969, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984 and 1986, plus a cool item from 1979 that you probably haven't heard. As always, please feel free to write with any questions, comments or suggestions. Your input is always welcome.
David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net