headyversion

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merryjerry

wacked

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Submissions

11
Big River
Nov. 25, 1973
Feyline Field

Raw and raucous, this one packs quite a wallop for its size.
4
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 21, 1973
Assembly Hall, University Of Illinois

A mellow version featuring a rather unique outro portion for ’73. Truckin’>Eyes>Stella
16
New Minglewood Blues
May 28, 1977
Hartford Civic Center

One of those ‘I can’t believe it’s not here yet’s. This thing was forged from hot iron.
12
Morning Dew
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

The satisfying conclusion of a good sequence. A sibling of 11/13/72.
8
Take A Step Back
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

Bobby is pretty good on this one. It's right after 'Promised Land'.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
Feb. 21, 1973
Assembly Hall, University Of Illinois

I only recently ‘got’ this one (because I don’t think I had ever fully listened through it and thanks to headphones at night in bed), and a special one it is. Gentle might be the word for it. On both of his solos between the verses, Jerry takes his time coming in and seems hesitant. Yet in each solo he manages an elegant statement. Where this version becomes unique is in the post- verse playing. The initial bit of outro material sounds as if it could’ve come from ’77—think delicate chimes. The Eyes theme is later reprised twice and we only get a brief whiff of the ‘Stronger’ jam. Very unique and worth checking out.
Dark Star
Feb. 22, 1973
Assembly Hall, University of Illinois

The whole pre-verse portion takes flight off of the thrust of the Dark Star theme (as is stated in the ‘Taping Compendium’) and never strays far from that vein. No rabbit holes here. After the vocals, things get more abstract, yet despite the tiger that is lurking among the musical soundscape this abstractness is more ponderous than sinister. It is only in the last seconds that the tiger pounces and the whole thing ends brutally, yet quickly. The segue into Eyes provides the perfect relief. At just over 13 minutes and 30 seconds this thing is short but very enjoyable—like Dark Crack, if you will.
Playin' In The Band
May 26, 1973
Kezar Stadium

Good listening for a low altitude flight over the Venusian landscape.
Bird Song
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

Gotta do some more listening, but 8/27/72 doesn’t seem to have much on this one—except, of course, for way more exposure!
Dark Star
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

This DS offers some great stuff (and not just the Phil parts, either). It does have a few ‘Dude, where’s my Pepsi?’ moments, but those were/are necessary for the brilliant passages to have ever occurred (that’s just how the universe was working that night).
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