OK - so yesterday I listened to the Springer's Inn concert from the previous night (and reviewed it). This here Saturday night show from McArthur Court is MUCH BETTER. It has some really rough / badly performed or sung songs at the beginning and here and there throughout, but the brilliant / buoyant moments lift this show to five stars (IMHO). I'll just touch on the high points. "Me and My Uncle" is good and solid. "The Other One" is very good - with some needless repetition from Garcia on guitar licks here and there - but the brilliance outshines the few awkward moments. "Sitting On Top of the World" is just great all around, and "He was a Friend of Mine" has quite a bit of fantastic and beautiful guitar from Jerry!!! The "Dark Star" is MUCH BETTER than the previous night - it is really good (not anywhere near my favorite - but I've never heard a "Dark Star" that wasn't at least good or that I didn't like at all). This "Dark Star" is still close to the classic LIVE DEAD version - and there is that guitar-lick-repetition problem Garcia got into during this period - but it is more tasteful here somehow in the way repetitions bloom into brilliance ... and the surprising / creative / awesome parts (with the entire group engaged) are clearly inspired. "Doin' That Rag" (a song I initially disliked on AOXOMOXOA) ALMOST makes it here - Jerry's singing is still very awkward - but he comes closer to pulling it off. I can now see that the chords and the lyrics are better than I thought in 1969 (when I was turning eleven and we bought this album and just didn't get it). I'm glad "Cosmic Charlie" cuts off - they butchered the vocals the night before. I'm guessing "Lovelight" is at least super solid (I didn't have time to listen).

A followup to my comments on Springer's Inn last night. Even though "St. Stephen" and a couple other songs were FANTASTIC on AOXOMOXOA, that album caused me to reject the Grateful Dead for awhile (until I heard LIVE DEAD). Jerry Garcia was really struggling as a singer - and i had really loved his voice on the first two albums. On AOXOMOXOA Jerry tried to do too much - and didn't quite make it. I was still very young and a couple years away from collecting bootlegs and witnessing concerts. I think Jerry was really stretching himself in the songs he was trying to sing (like "Doing That Rag" and other songs) - but he just couldn't do it. The entire band could't always sing at all well together - though when they did ("St. Stephen" and some other songs) - they were great!!! I thought they all pulled off vocals very well in 1968 with ANTHEM OF THE SUN. A lot of early fans got off the bus at this time with these vocal problems. Jerry's voice evolved - and by the early 1970s he was singing much better (even on the next two 1970 studio albums). The other thing that turned me off is that my beloved Pigpen did not have a single song or even a credit on AOXOMOXOA. You could see Pigpen in the picture on the back of AOXOMOXOA, but his credits listed only "Pigpen" (no instruments or vocals). I WAS FURIOUS!!! Why did we get so much terrible material or so badly sung songs ("What's Become of the Baby" & "Rosemary" & "Doin' That Rag" & even "Cosmic Charlie") ... and not employ Pigpen to really sing some great songs??? All of that changed, of course. with LIVE DEAD and the next few albums. Jerry returned to being a beautiful (yet different) singer, the band got much better at harmonies. And the subsequent songs were much better, and merely good songs from AOXOMOXOA like "China Cat Sunflower" turned our to be PHENOMENAL in concert ... and I got right back on the bus!!!

Excuse me for this silly rant, a la 'Portrait of a Deadhead as a Young Kid in 1969' ... But hopefully my silly commentary provides a glimpse into 1969 - an essential and pivotal year - but also a "muddled masterpiece" era if ever there were one.

This show def has that extra special certain "something", being Kesey's Ice Cream Party return and Prankster Reunion and all. Vibrations all around.

Which is prob why I keep listening to the Other One -> Cryptical over and over, transitional show as the 60s meet the future, and Acid becomes Americana, electric guitar pedal steel. see you in Veneta.

ps 51 years, crazy days. the present will become past, the GD archive is eternal. The Akashic Record.. peace

🇺🇸 God bless America
I love this band
The music they make is an escape
Today just like in sixty nine
Back in sixty nine America was being torn apart
Today trump is the virus
His kind only fan the flame of injustice
trump is the virus
Dead Heads Unite
Defeat the trump virus
America is burning because of trump and his kind
The world is burning because of his kind
Defeat the trump virus
Use the power
Vote
86
45
2020
God bless America
🙏🇺🇸

where has the soundboard gone? Has it been pulled?

This is a great show. I always love the Oregon shows, and this one is no different. Laid back, fun, and they always seem so relaxed and happy. So thankful to have found this entertaining gem.
Hard to Handle starts off strong, with the boys really in their prime. Cold Rain and Snow was still played at breakneck speed, and there follows some wonderful banter into a Yellow Dog Story. I love this period. Young, confident, and still surging headlong into the unknown. They're so playful, and you really get the campus vibe circa 1969. Just ten weeks before Woodstock, Green Grass feels perfect and is just a hoot! Going into MAMU they're just begining to pour the fuel on. Controlled chaos!
It's not controlled for long Cryptical > Drums > TOO > Reprise. That Cowboy Neal lyric is fierce. Top of the World is great, and Hurts Me Too is making the paint drip off my walls. Blistering. Love that solo. The intro to Baby Blue is unique, and Jerry just shines on this version. I agree with the other reviews, these may be some of the finest versions of Hurts Me Too, Baby Blue & He Was A Friend of Mine ever! Epic. Speaking of epic, Lovelight. Wow, grate raps. Like a cherry on top, Dark Star. But wait, Doin' That Rag burns, even if clipped, and the Charlie fade out just leaves me smiling.
Listen to it, stream it, or download it. There's no dud in the whole lot. With the Pranksters present, it's like everyone has to elevate their game. Summer of '69 ? 5 star all the way !

'There's more of us than them'

Great show other than that...69 was an awesome Dead year!

I like these guys.

Addendum 4-28-2015:

After seven years and a lot more listening to shows on the Archive, I'll pile on with a few of the other commenters here. This is one of the best Dark Stars -- and arguably the very best -- of 1969.

For what it's worth, the long and mellow Friend of Mine, the Lovelight, the Hurts Me Too (!) and the Baby Blue are also magnificent. Even the Bid You Goodnite is sung with more than the usual feeling.

Plenty of great quotes and banter throughout but my favorite is Jerry's comment after "Bid You Goodnite": "That's your groove."

Much passion here!
Jerry and Bobby sing like it is the end of the age.
It must be Ken who did the 'LEFT COAST' rap during LOVELIGHT at Woodstock?

4

the end of one trip and the start of another.

From here on they begin to evolve towards americana.. a year later they where the acoustic Dead

how do i download this

Just heard Dark Star Orchestra play this show in Eugene!! What a friggin' barn-burner blow the roof off the joint show. DSO did it total justice tonight. Thunderous tribal throw down to the extreme. So much thanks!!

An Acid Test reunion show. Never trust a prankster...

TIFTOO rages. A week of great Lovelights(see 5/23, 5/24 in particular, and this one). These 3 versions often explode into intense jams, including some Caution-style jams reminiscent of the 4/22/69 Lovelight.

Others have highlighted the He Was A Friend Of Mine - they seemed to be playing extended versions of the song around this time with some sweet, mellow jams. I wonder if the emotion of this version was due to it being played in honor of a Prankster who was conspicuously absent from the evening's events - Neal Cassady.

Mid to late 69 is an interesting period for Dark
Star with some wonderful versions. It seems as if they have reached the peak maturity of the Live/Dead form and are starting to really traverse new territory and explore the open potential of the song. As the year progresses we hear them weaving in thematic jams that would lead into the 70s.

Cosmic Charlie is just a snippet but it's a soothing send off.

This is the first time I've written a review, although I've been enjoying the Dead's music available on IA for many years.
I'm from London, England and I don't usually feel the need to comment on the recordings and performances, but I felt moved to say that the singing and playing on "He was A Friend Of Mine" is just very, very special for me. Jerry's playing on this song is exquisite, so light and gentle : a glorious experience for me!

Thank you to all those who've made possible this wonderful archive of the Dead's music.

the best 'hurts me too' ever?!

seems ken had a flashback and thought he was at an acid test, ramrod should have booted that nut off the stage, fuckups like babbs are what gave lsd a bad rap, what a pity, ohh, killer show by the way, you dig 68, 69, this is must have. i should have mentioned that babbs fucked my mother and killed my puppy.

QUOTE:seems ken had a flashback and thought he was at an acid test, ramrod should have booted that nut off the stage, fuckups like babbs are what gave lsd a bad rap, what a pity, ohh, killer show by the way, you dig 68, 69, this is must have.

fuck ups like the Pranksters are what gave LSD any rap at.

You my friend are a true moron .

This show rocks

H2H is kinda rough ,but, other than that a solid show .

They were ripping it up .

Who is that little kid, I would love to know!

This show isn't even in DeadBase 8. Do the math
A true gem > never heard it not on a casette
When i think 69 i think MacArthur
Long live slide whistle
& 5star

Fantastic solo during "Sitting on Top of the World". Great stage banter at end of show when student organizers plead for gate crashers to ante up. A GREAT PERIOD PIECE!!!!

this is really good, it's true. great set list, excellent pig, and whacky stage banter. also very good sound.

but beware: the cut at the end of (an excellent!) doin' that rag is absolutley gutting. and then you only get the final 15 seconds of cosmic charlie. rough on a guy if he's not expecting it...

Babbs is a righteous brother traveler and a prankster. If you had a bad trip because of Babbs is because you are a bad tripp. Stay off the bus please.

Just the stage banter before Green Green Grass of Home is worth a listen. But the rest of the show is great too. Recording quality isn't exactly the best, but given the quality of the playing, song selections, and general vibe I get, this show is pretty awesome.

Check out the Dark Star if you don't believe me...

This is like finding a rare Spanish galleon in a mud puddle in your driveway. GOLD!!!!!! All those shows--but then there is God's list and this show is on THAT list!!!!! Thank you x 1000 for the upload.
Green Grass is one of Weir's great moments on a stage. What a ballad! Everything else is just as splendid. Thanks again!!!! 19 SIXTY FINE!!!!

Interesting to see this show on the archive. I was given a copy of this many years ago FYEO. Someone i had been trading with for years, gave me this one and a couple others shortly after Jerry died. They were given to him by Jerry himself. DB didnt even have a setlist for this show when i got it.
It seems he was a fixture at Hepurn Heights back in the day and everyonce in awhile Jerry would poke his head up out of the basement for a smoke and some conversation. After awhile he started slipping this guy some tapes. And this was one of them. My friend was surprised to learn that Jerry DID listen to his own shows, and just plain old raved about some of them.
Anyway it was one of his favorites too :))


Charlie if your out there tell us the whole story!!

(~)}]

Too much of everything, is just ENOUGH!

This show was my first exposure to the Dead. Kesey had recently returned to Oregon and this show followed. What a wild and insane night it was, with free ice cream cones (perhaps adding some to the insanity!). I have this vague memory of Pig Pen throwing a tire off the stage to someone in the audience! This show shaped my ideas of what "real" Dead music should sound like and now, listening to it again, older and having seen and heard a plethoria of Dead shows (and without the ice cream!) it still rings through as one of their best...a truly great show!

Ditto the fella below, not only a gem of a recording but dig the extended version of the rare He Was A Friend Of Mine, kinda like a Box Of Rain when it comes to dealing with recent lose and tragedy...Recording5 Performance 5

i LOVE this show. good sound quality--good enough at least.
whole show is a trip. if you want to be taken on a voyage back to oregon in 69, dripping w/vibes...DL and relax. your in for a helluva ride.
my fav is the resolution of the show...jerry is so into the baby blue that he's fishin' for the lyrics at the end , and i think he repeats a verse consciously, just cause he's feelin' it so much he doesn't want to quit.
then after the 'bid you goodnight' the trippy vibes are so hardcore that jerry says "that's your groove-" as the heads keep clappin' the beat needing something to keep it goin'.
Then to top it off someone kills the vibe by grabbin' the mic and sayin the band didnt break even 'cause of all the kids sneakin' in , and asks for donations to cover the $300 they were short!--classic!!...must have in my book.--slim.

This is the longest and most jammed out version of "He Was A Friend Of Mine" (that I can find, on the Archive).

what a country song.real slow but some how i enjoyed it. jerry's slow playing won me over one more time!!!!!bobs vocals weren't too bad either!!the other 1 lights up the western sky if ya like it raw d/l this one. thanks archive

lots and lots of beautiful acid test energy here... babbs is his usual brilliant self, and the boys are obviously delighted, playing outside, above, and beyond themselves...fucking amazing stuff, easily transcends the average sound quality...

THIS IS THE SHOW.The Dead were just on fire this month on may 1969!I think they knew it!I cant say enough about this show.If you like 4-26/5-3/4-22/1-25/and 11-8,THIS IS EVEN BETTER!a STAPLE IN ANY COLLECTION!I NEVER GIVE 5 STARS ...BUT THIS ONE I HAD TO!

This is another insanely great Dead show from '69. I particularly like He Was A Friend Of Mine and a very emotional Baby Blue with narrative intro by Babbs, but the whole show is well-played and worth a listen or few