Me too. I had 4 standalone shows (plus the old versions of 4/24 & 4/26) before buying the whole chimichanga. Actually, I had the 2-track Betty board version of Rotterdam for a long time too.
On Dark Star, I certainly think April ‘72 has the most top versions of the tune in a single month. September ‘72 is probably 2nd in that list. Both of which, of course, contain enough great music for a lifetime.
Meanwhile on Twitter Jacob Cohen @musicolojake "And I still plan to develop my rejected SAM project's digital tool: a website that will combine maps, song lyrics, tour data, and music for an interactive "Grateful Dead Topography" that users can manipulate to see how lyrics mapped an American geography in the Dead's universe"
3/16 was my favorite of that stand. I think most folks consider it the best night. Those first Nassau shows were a wild scene .
3/16/73 is a fantastic Dark Star but little-mentioned, better than the versions on 3/21 and 3/28 which are not that great. www.archive.org/details/gd1973-03-16.sbd.miller.79186.sbeok.flac16/gd73-03-16d3t01.flac Overall '73 doesn't measure up to '72 in the Dark Star department -- obviously there are some awesome versions, but more infrequent, whereas in '72 they could bang out two or three awesome Dark Stars a week.
Now Playing: Oddfellows DEAD (Odds 'n Sods tracks from 1965-1972 that never made it onto studio LP homegrown CDr mix.) 99 songs. "Hard to Handle" from the Ladies and Gents comp playing presently. Pig droppin' some verses 'n FUNK!
That would explain why it took them two years to play it regularly. They stopped playing the acoustic sets every show right after its debut, but the New Riders stayed on tour with them, so they could have played it as recorded again (and its possible they did at some point in 1970, we don't seem to have every single note played of their last stand with the acoustic sets at the Capitol in November.) But as far as we know its the only song from American Beauty that didn't make its way into their electric sets in that era (Ripple showed up in early 71.) He was at both, IIRC, but he and I had a discussion recently about 3-28 and how positive an experience it was.
Jumped from 10/19/73 Dick's 19 to the Other One Spring box last night. Spring '90 holds a special place for me as it was the last time I went to a large secession of shows. No matter what era is your favorite there is no denying Spring '90 was really the last great tour. As all things GD, I know, debatable. 3/25/90 was my choice, sometimes my favorite I caught on the tour. Slow Eyes to open the 2nd set, the proper groove brought back. I like this one more than Branford night @ Nassau. For all the short comings of the Spring '90 boxes I could not be happier to have these documents, great times with great friends when we didn't have a care in the world. Other than tickets a logistics.
Since I'm still deadicated/transfixed by RT Cal Expo 93, I may need.to check that out The Corrina/PITB/China Doll/Around and Around/Liberty/Shakedown has held my attention for several days. Currently listening to Liberty.
