An intimate very early Bird Song - Quartet-styled, which serves this song really well. Also: you can hear the thinking, especially between guitars.

Ho-Hum: Another outstanding 1972 TJ. This gem from the sorta overlooked summer tour. Garcia aces the break, natch. Band - unconscious. Whew! at end.

From Garcia's cheeky intro on, this graceful cabochon throws a faint, warm light. 1976 elegance w/a sick, raw spider web guitar break.

First show - I didn't know this gem very well & after this criss-crossy version, I was hooked. Dark & murky.

Download Series - An intimate, casual living room Loser. Garcia coming out of the guitar break is divine. Not the actor.

Monster show - this Lost Sailor/Saint might be the standard bearer. Played with a deft, light touch, which isn't always the case, but LS/S benefits; a lost, melancholy mood is created. That it comes out of a great Playin'>Crazy Fingers doesn't hurt any. Weir repeating words is funny & kind of cool. Seems like he's playing a character, which works like gangbusters in this instance. Never a huge Saint fan (mainly b/c it can be a huge mess), but this one cruises!

What this version lacks in '72-'73 space program atmospherics, it makes up for in silkiness. At this stage, the band was so fully realized and cohesive, the emotional pull of this song pushes the band to investigate every corner and dark cave. The vocals are great and the dynamic shifts are effortless - no mean feat for a group w/2 drummers. That's why the May '77 run is so beloved. That and this is Godchaux's last full run of greatness. He's perfect here.

Garcia in full Bakersfield flower. Love these 1972 Mexicalis.

One of those entries where Garcia practically sounds like he's edging the guitar toward steel guitar country. A stylish, full-throated rendition here.

Stately opening - group is playing like they have all the time in the world. And if you've ever seen picture of the inside of the Rheinhalle, you can understand the floating sensation of plying your craft in such a breathtaking environment. Why would anyone want to leave? Each little entry into something new, each transition point is subtle and earned. At about 9 minutes, Garcia and Godchaux get into a deeply entangled, emotional dialogue. Garcia's singing is top drawer: especially with the guitar doubling - sounds like two complimentary voices. Equally free and coherent/cohesive as a single piece of music - even at its most OUT, which is fairly. This is just a master class in improvisation. Lots of cool overtones in the louder points make it sound like someone's playing a synth below the rest of the band. Always cool hearing a group transcend the physical limitations of personnel - the sound field is like another player and space fucks with a listener's sense of the literal; the group is difficult to visualize as something separate from the music. Guys wearing jeans. Wow. This peak conditional collectable has a lot of votes and deserves more. Ace segue into M&MU & out. Possibly my favorite '72 Dark Star and among the very best ever. Certainly in the conversation.