Dick Latvala - 12:28am Sep 7, 1997 PDT (#305 of 308)

O.K. I have finally gotten some of my thoughts down for 1972 (actually
the second half of the year, since there are too many unknowns during
the first half!). What follows are basically my notes, and shouldn't
be considered as anything other than initial thoughts. The only reason
that I'm doing this, is to stimulate other opinions, which then, will
hopefully give a more comprehensive account of this exciting, and most
clearly fundamental period in G.D. history. This era stands alone in
its uniqueness, and along with the whole year of 1973, we have the two
most intense periods in G.D. history. There's lots more to be
discovered.

1 The month of July is pretty un-eventful, outside of the "Truckin'->
Other One-> Jam" and "Not Fade Away->GDTRFB" from 7/16/72- Hartford,
Ct.

2) The first examples of exceptional playing begin to occur at the
B.C.T. run in August. The 'Dark Stars" from 8/21 and 8/24 are
enormous. I need to re-listen to the 8/22 show, but it seems to me
that the show from 8/24 might be the winner here. I haven't ever heard
the 8/25 show. 

3) Now we get to the most over-rated show in G.D. history, outside of
5/8/77- Ithaca, N.Y., of course! This show from Eugene (8/27/72) has
some exciting playing (Playing in the Band, Bird Song, China
Cat->Rider and the Dark Star jam) but it doen't hold up as a whole
show. There are many better examples where the playing is more
consistently strong throughout the show.(These shows include 9/21,
9/23, 9/24, 9/26, 9/27, 9/28, and 10/18)

4) The shows from early September (9/3, 9/9, 9/10, 9/15, 9/16, 9/17
and 9/19) don't have much to offer when compared to the above
mentioned nights. I should mention that the "jam" segments of each of
these nights is very exciting.

5) Now to the really exceptional material. First up is 9/21/72-
Philadelphia Spectrum. This show is one of my favorite shows ever.
This version of "Dark Star->Morning Dew" might be the best one! (there
is a jam segment that is very unique and thrilling, and one that I
don't really think that I have ever heard before.) The "Not Fade
Away->GDTRFB->NFA" is another delicious morsel from this power packed
evening. Each song is well played and worthy of attention. I think the
other major highlights are "Sugar Magnolia", "Bird Song", "Loser",
"Playing in the Band", "Truckin", and "Cumberland Blues".

6) The 2 shows at Waterbury, Ct. on 9/23&24, are both major highlight
shows from this era. The 9/23 show has the last, and very exciting
version of "That's it for the Other One" (I don't consider the
attempts in 1985 to be worthy of mentioning in this class). "China
Cat->Rider" and "Playing in the Band" are both the cream from the
first set, which is very good. The 2nd set has another highlight
besides the above mentioned one, and that is the opening and closing
pieces, which are both a bit unusual. "Promised Land->Bertha->Greatest
Story Ever Told" starts the 2nd set off with a rocket. The night
closes with very exciting versions of each song in this very unique
arrangement: "Sugar Magnolia->GDTRFB->NFA->Saturday Night". The next
night features outstanding versions of "Playing in the Band" and "Dark
Star". The jam segment, just before "China Cat Sunflower" begins, is
worth any effort to hear.

7) The 3 nights at the Stanley Theater, in Jersey City, N.J. on
9/26->28, comprise a run of three nights in a row that probably have
never been equaled. I tend to favor the middle night (9/27), but
really each could be a release on it's own. I'll save blabbering about
the particulars this time, since these three should be heard in their
virgin state, and then you can each form your own conclusions without
previous bias.

8) The next most exciting show, is the middle night of the run of
three at the fabulous Fox Theater, in St. Louis, Mo. , October 18,
1972. It took me awhile to hear this show correctly, but now it is a
clear example of one of the very best, with a couple of unusual and
unique treats within the "jam" segment before "Morning Dew". The show
from 10/2/72, at Springfield, Ma. is one of those that deserves to be
heard a few more times, and may achieve the levels of 10/18/72.

9) Something happened at the 10/21/72 show at Vanderbuilt Univ. that
accounts for why we don't have any good tapes from this period of
10/21 thru December of 1972. Bear told me a story about how a major
piece of recording equipment got stolen on 10/21, and basically
disrupted the taping of shows for the rest of the year, other than 3
shows at Winterland in Dec. But what is available is pretty good! For
me the highlights are the 2nd sets from 10/24, 10/26 and 10/28. Phil
is the key for these nights. He gets into a unique, thematic and most
thrilling type of jamming, that me and David Gans have called the
"philo stomp". There are at least a couple examples of this during
November, but more listening is necessary. The 2nd sets from the 2
shows in Oklahoma were very exciting. On 11/14, there is a most
satisfying transition from "He's Gone" into "Truckin", that basically
is a great "Other One" tease. Another treat is the actual entrance
into "The Other One". On the following night there wasn't really a jam
that comprises the bulk of the 2nd sets. The playing was very good,
with worthy versions of "Playing in the Band", "Sugar Magnolia", and
the "Not Fade Away->GDTRFB->NFA" closer.

10) In Wichita (11/17), one of the best shows, of this period
occurred. Garcia is playing with gusto and originality thru-out the
show. :"Bird Song" and "Sugar Magnolia" are the highpoints outside of
the real goods delivered in the jam: "Truckin->jam->The Other
One->jam->The Other One->Brokedown Palace". (the "jam" segments
contain lengthy and very unique playing.)

11) The last 5 shows in Texas, are each worth getting. The quality is
not so hot, but the playing is ferocious. On 11/18, in Houston, there
is a major, top 10 of all-time, version of "Playing in the Band". (I
am starting to think that this period has possibly the most intense
versions ever for this defining piece of music.) The show on the
following night (11/19) is one of the most exciting shows over-all,
from this southern tour. There is a "jam" segment before "Miss.1/2
step..", that contains several distinct, and very unique themes,
including the "philo stomp", "weather report" theme, a brain-fry, and
a very lengthy bass solo! The 2nd set jam from 11/22-Austin, is
tremendous. It goes like this: "He's Gone->Truckin->jam->drum
solo->The Other One->jam->bass solo->The Other One->Stella Blue". This
version of "He's Gone" is one of the top 10 attempts ever. It is long
and drawn out, and there is a nice long space before "Truckin", that
consists of pleasing variations on the "He's Gone" theme. This version
of "Truckin" is exceptional in that it has a lengthy section at the
end that relentlessly builds and builds till there seems to be no
recourse but "The Other One". Instead, they opt for a "drum solo",
which comes to a complete stop, and then Phil takes over and off we go
into a long and treat-filled exploration of "The Other One". (The
first verses don't start until after about 30 min.) The