Perhaps a little too high in the mix but this was Keith's show, IMO... love the late '71 shows, the boys re-electrified with what the baby grand brought to their sound and improvisational possibilities... highlights: best Cold Rain and Snow for me, the Dark Star > SOTOTW > Dark Star, off the fukin hook... interplay btw Keith and Jer insane, Beat it Down the Line a smoker, again Keith, hot Truckin, Me and My Uncle one of my all time fav Dead tunes, I've heard better, for me best uncles 72-74, but Keith orgasms on the ivories on this one I rank it high... good Tennessee Jed always preferred it at a quicker tempo. Great show as Europe loomed ahead, city of the blues must have inspired the boys for both shows.

I hope that everyone enjoying the music takes time to Donate to the Archives 🎸🎸

The Dark Star from 10/31/71 has been enshrined by Dick's Picks Vol. 2 and is also noted for being almost devoid of Keith in the mix. Generally speaking I am more fond of Feelin Groovy jams than Tighten Ups, but hands down the Star from the 31st of the month is my preferred rendition. While the DS>SOTOTW>DS from the 21st is a unique medley, Keith's piano is so loud in the mix that it makes it difficult to listen to Jerry. With the Star from the 31st, Jerry is quite loud in the mix which is perfect because Jerry's tone is beautiful and his playing extremely inspired. The whole song sounds like Jerry is soloing. Keith clanking away at the piano before they dive into the Feelin Groovy on the 21st is enough to make me want to turn it off, and this is coming from a pretty big Keith fan.

I figured because the Star from DP2 holds such a high place in my ranking that the version from just earlier in the month, which also includes my favorite thematic jam, would become a new found favorite. While this didn't happen I did stumble upon another great show, and a great Dark Star nonetheless. But I guess no Keith is better than too much Keith, at least in my opinion.

"If you want professionalism...
we'll have to charge another buck..Shit..Have mercy and all that."

In those days, when the Dead came to town, they always made a point of charging a dollar or two less than every equal stature artists' ticket price - that's what Jerry is joking about.

This was my first Dead tape, recorded on reel-to-reel off the radio (WGLD Oak Park / Chicago). A personal favorite! An amazing, well balanced Betty mix, a secondary mix done separately for the radio off the board. More present, almost in your face, than the Northrop 10/19 radio mix, even though the halls were of equal size (4,000 capacity). Keith is firing on all cylinders for this, only his second gig with the band. - brilliant stuff! The Dark Star into Sittin' On Top Of The World features some brilliant jams and transitions reminiscent of Fillmore East 4/29/71 - love the brief China Cat tease. I agree with Caspersvapors, Cumberland, Jack Straw, Loser, Comes A Time among others all have a special vibe and immediacy that must be due to Keith feeling comfortable and the band embracing him enthusiastically. Most definitely worth checking out.

CHECK OUT The end of this Dark Star, it has a real nice feelin' groovy jam, and the Sittin on Top of World is awesome, so intense. Why did that stop playing this song? It reminds me of Beat it on Down the Line for some reason, the traveling hippie anthem feel to it. Bobby Mcgee gives me the same vibe, and now that I think of it so does Like a rolling stone, and the Weight.

The mix is album/CD ready. Quality audio sound. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Thanks for the Love.

The Dead are in tune, in time, and incredible. Here's another example of some fine "pickin' and a Grinin'"

Boy, this IA (Internet Archive) is fun...For those of us that LOVE The Grateful Dead this site greatly increases the quality of our lives.

I love all of you that share these shows with us, it means a lot to hear the music, but you know that...that's why you do it.

I am hoping every show THE GRATEFUL DEAD ever did winds up on the Internet Archive where the people that LOVE them can listen to the shows over and over. What else is the Internet good for?

Thanks to THE GRATEFUL DEAD, and thanks to the Internet Archive. We Love you.

There are some funny moments in the show, definitely check it out. Theres something about this Jack Straw that I love...even though it was only the 2nd one ever performed. Something about the way Jerrys guitar echoes or the distortion or something...it just hypnotizes me

Of course 10/19 is a great show, if for no other reason than the historical value of the plethora of new songs they debut that night. But I recently downloaded this gem and was knocked out.
Can you say Dark Star? With the surprise Top of the World jam included,this one spans nearly half an hour. And c'mon lets face it, how many Dark Stars do we get in 1971? It's good enough alone to rate a 4 star rating. But the rest of the show is no slouch either. Great song list (always a factor with me) including Loser, Tenn Jed, Cumberland, Comes a Time and Ramble On, plus a strong 2nd time Jack Straw. And St. Stephen for the encore?? Did I mention a rare Cold Rain?
With no Pig, no Mickey and - no Donna! (yet) this is the most stripped down and clean the Dead ever played. Very tight and energetic music.
A previously overlooked show, deserving of respect, a listen and a funny cigarette or two!
enjoy this gem,
Dr. Flashback ;-)

I love it. Why did they not play SOTOTW more??? Great version of this song and a pumping Cumberland. Great show. Excellent sound quality for 71.

we'll have to charge another buck..Shit..Have mercy and all that." I'd like to know what made Jerry say that before a hot little Cumberland. Listen to funny banter before BIODTL. Keith's second show and first Dark Star. How about a Dark Star/SOTOTW/Dark star sandwich for lunch! Keith really jumps in with Jerry at the end of the first portion of Dark Star for a rollicking jam. Top of a nice show with a St. Stephen-JBG encore. Overall a good show at the beginning of a great run to finish off '71.