Bust Outs: The Day of the Dead

12/2/1973, Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA – Playing in the Band -> Mind Left Body Jam

More so than ever before, 1973 saw Playing in the Band transform itself into a launch pad for weirdness. This particular rendition stretches far out into a long, somewhat indulgent eerie segment, whereby numerous members of the audience presumably saw their neighbors morph into talking seahorses voiced by Sam Elliot. Fortunately, after 20 minutes the band welcomed everybody back to sanity with a tranquil and aptly named, Mind Left Body jam. While this Playin’ is a musical odyssey and full of cool tones and themes, I think I would have been pretty happy when it ended if I was in attendance here – not out of dissatisfaction, but out of fear.

11/11/1973, Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA – Eyes of the World

I think we all know that this whole post could have been simplified by just uploading this show considering it is the cat’s pajamas of 1973. Choosing just one bust out from this show was tough and the case for the Dark Star is strong, but this is also one of the liveliest Eyes of Worlds out there. Keith’s keyboard spanking really gets the energy going, and the transitions are remarkably tight across the board. It’s hard to believe that this song debuted just nine months prior to this monumental version.

2/9/1973, Roscoe Maples Pavilion, Palo Alto, CA – They Love Each Other

Speaking of song debuts, how often do you get to introduce a song debut and also say it’s your favorite time it’s ever been played? I can’t think of any other instance, besides this one. These old rollicking versions of They Love Each Other are so upbeat and lively; they definitely have an upper hand on the latter day slower ones. It’s short and sweet, but there is a white-guy funkiness that makes this one a real treat. This show actually saw the debut of seven new songs, but this little four and a half minute one is the tune that sticks out over the long haul.

3/28/1973, Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA – Dark Star

This Dark Star probably has to put up a fight to make the top five most popular Dark Stars of 1973, given that it comes in at a mere 32 minutes as opposed to 40 plus and never made the cut for a Dick’s Picks. But it’s a killer spacey version nonetheless. Jerry doesn’t even open his mouth for the first 17 minutes of the song. End to end, this Dark Star is packed with classic Jerry as he plays millions of notes and rifles through arpeggios, but there’s also a handful of uniquely defined grooves and tempo changes throughout.

The last five minutes are particularly haunting with Phil dropping his bass down into the mantle of the earth, while somebody emulates a creepy scratching sound, before it finally descends into Eyes of the World. All in all, there is no shortage of exploration.

8/1/1973, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ – Morning Dew

Finally, this trickle-filled birthday party highlight is one for the ages. What begins as a barely moving, “how on earth do they play so slow?” ballad builds into a Jerry Garcia clinic in both singing and guitar playing. After slowing back down again to molasses speed, the band builds up a second time into a lights out finale. It’s obvious that Garcia rung in his 31st year in high style.

What are your favorite Dead bust outs from ’73? Let us know by leaving a comment below, and hopefully we’ll include your selection in a future edition…

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5 Responses

  1. I also like the “Here Comes Sunshine” from the 2/9/73 show. Lot’s of cool debuts in that one!

  2. 3/24/73:
    He’s Gone > Truckin’ > Spanish Jam > Dark Star > Sing Me Back Home > Sugar Magnolia
    Bertha Remaster SBD

    3/31/73:
    He’s Gone > Truckin’ > Drums > The Other One > Spanish Jam > I Know You Rider
    SBD

    6/22/73:
    He’s Gone > Truckin’ > Nobody’s Fault But Mine Jam > Bass Solo > Jam > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia

    10/25/73:
    Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Dark Star Jam > Eyes of the World > Stella Blue

    11/20/73:
    Truckin’ > The Other One > Mind Left Body Jam > Stella Blue > Sugar Magnolia

    11/21/73:
    Mississippi Half-Step > Playing in the Band > El Paso > Playing in the Band > Wharf Rat Jam > Dark Star Jam > Wharf Rat > Playing in the Band > Morning Dew

  3. I wasn’t sure how your above list were “bustouts” per se, but I just figured some great 73′ sequences were in order. Pay no mind if that wasn’t the intetion.

  4. Yeah, that’s exactly what we meant. Thanks for adding.

    Sometimes, we use the bust outs simply for highlights of more standard material and others for covers and rarities.

  5. The 10-25-73 sequence is actually the most often played GD sequence in my Itunes. I highly recommend it and the entire show really.

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