Really good night. * * * * *
You wouldn't think to glance that 2nd set list
but wow do they build up steam from that 1st set dark Star
Jerry invests in the lyrics for Ramble on Rose
Brokedown, Me & Bobby -both feature great ensemble singing
pandemonium as Garcia shreds the Cumberland
Might be one of the better NFA>GDTRFB>NFA
(if I ventured to kept track of such details)
that initial NFA is Cosmic..

Scant sources on the archive would lead you to believe this show was once rare. But given that it was FM broadcast, there are more tapes out there. This is the middle of a string of phenomenal shows - the best of the year. Even if it's arguably between two better shows, it's trivial because they are all so consistently high level. Plus, this has that much-recognized NFA.

First Set. The Ft. Worth heat followed them down I35: starter Truckin' is smoother than a buttered baby bottom. After a decent Bertha, Playin' is like freaking Swiss clockwork. Even a bit out of tune, this Deal is wild, having now expanded for this tour (on the official release the first several secs are from 11/7). Jack Straw is an entertaining version - almost as good as the night before (though it loses tempo). Beat It On Down the Line-7 is the only average moment in the set. Dark Star is a 1st set treat, and a fine one. It's the only one of the tour (out of only a dozen in '71). I like how they instantly resolve to the main theme @6:40. Bobby has to tease El Paso a couple times before it sticks [DS sandwiches were common at this point - Wharf, Sittin', M&MU]. After, Jer starts to doodle his way back into Dark Star, but it becomes a multi-point jam without hitting the usual DS themes. The circ tape always sounded like a splice, but they really did jump abruptly into Casey Jones. You can tell in One More Saturday that they are really going the extra distance for Austin, trying to leave a trail of strewn, newly-minted Heads. As Bobby calls set break, Jer leads a Vaudeville Fanfare into a Shave and a Haircut.

Second Set. Jer is pure finesse on this Me & My Uncle. The interplay between Bobby and Keith on Ramble On Rose is percussive/fantastic. Cumberland is so goddamn cool it will make your nose run. Astounding. Sugar Mag is just gorgeous. Sitting where Dark Star should probably be, You Win Again is the the second one, and already better. This Not Fade Away is often cited on lists, and it's a gobsmack. Probably not what you expect, it gets by uptempo, slightly punchy, and clever, then before it can get to GDtRFB it goes astro as Billy and Keith infuse a rhythm, and it wanders for 5min; flooding forward, throttling back, finding GDtRFB. An incredible jam bar none. Goin' Down the Road ain't no slouch either.

1st Set:  B
2nd Set: A
Overall = 4¾ stars

Highlights:
Truckin' - baby bottom
Playing in the Band - clockwork
One More Saturday Night - R'n'R for Austin
Me & My Uncle - finesse
Ramble On Rose - percussive interplay
Cumberland Blues - too cool
Sugar Magnolia - gorgeous
Not Fade Away - enters wild new place and maps it
Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad - no slouching

SOURCES: The unknown_31607 is the full SBD. The channels are switched and it's missing the Dark Star>El Paso tranny (and has a weird tag on the end of BioDtL). The cotsman_12438 is a distorted source, but it does have the Dark Star>El Paso segue. On the nearly-complete official release, the first set is sped up (maybe to fit on a single disc) and needs -1.5% pitch reduction; the JBG encore needs -1%.

It's a fun, heavy show, and then the NFA/China Cat jam is just outrageous. Dark Star is jazzy and genius in places.

Anyone know what is at the end of BIODTL it starts at 3:06 on track 7 ? It just dose not fit.

Supposedly this is the next 'Road Trips'. Before it's taken off the archive for even streaming, this killer show is begging for a cleaning. It seems that the notes for the anonymous SBD (SHNID 31607) are from another mix. Deal sounds clipped at 0:52 but the beginning is *not* missing (as claimed in notes). The Dark Star intro starts abruptly at 3:10 of BIODTL (?). the El Paso beginning is *not* missing (as claimed in the notes) but Casey Jones starts abruptly and definitely has no transition from the second 'Dark Star' jam. The partial Gans SBD (SHNID 7735) has apparently been incorporated into SHNID 31607 and *improved*! There are two clips in the first few minutes of the Gans Dark Star that are not in this mix. 5 for performance, 4 for recording.

There is no Dark Star after El Paso. They just noodle for about 7 or 8 minutes. Not even a hint of the tune, so i am not sure why it is labeled as so. Should just be some sort of space jam/jam--> Casey Jones.

Killer show. I echo everything else that's said about it. Great and relatively rare '71 Dark Star and one of the best NFA>GDTRFB>NFA's ever.

Note to Cliff: First set Dark Stars would become rare after 1971, but four of the 13 from '71 were played in the first set. The other three:

2/18/71 - Dark Star> Wharf Rat> Dark Star
4/26/71 - Dark Star> Wharf Rat
7/31/71 - Dark Star> Bird Song

Another treasure from Texas, and also a top ten performance for 1971. The band has really settled into a nice groove after adjusting to the personel changes. A thrilling first set is eclipsed by some rather fine jamming during the second set suite of NFA> GDTRFB. The sound quality of this file is fine, but certainly the Gans sourced partial here is much better. (98 pts)

This is a stand out show, not so much for the audio quality, which is okay but the playing is off the charts. The NotFade>GDTRFB>NotFade is one of the best jams ever, you will not be disappointed. Put this on now!

`

~^|\_@|@_/|^~
~<->/<->\<->~

As of the date of this review I prefer the sound of this show compared to the others on the IA.

It's not a Charlie Miller or Chris Chappell transfer but it's not bad.

5 stars for the mix
4 stars for the recording
5 stars for the performance

I am sure when I open this beauty in my WMP and use my 10 band EQ and my SRS WOW Effects it will sound better.

I prefer the sound of 1971 GRATEFUL DEAD. Their sound back then was alive, vibrant, fat, full, and fantastic.

"In My Opinion" April 71 shows at the Fillmore E/W are still among the best shows ever performed by the GRATEFUL DEAD.

You used to be able to download them here, but someone shut the music off. Sacrilegious sycophants did it. I wouldn't want to face Garcia in Heaven and tell him I was the idiot that turned off his music so his loving fans couldn't hear it anymore. Jerry was a man of peace and love, but I wouldn't want a knuckle sandwich from a guy with nine and half fingers...eh?

You know Jerry had friends in the Hell's Angles too, so if you die and wind up in Hell for turning off Garcia's music, what's left of you after the Hell's Angels get finished with you will probably wind up as Satan's butt buddy for eternity...so put the music back up on the IA and leave it there.

If you are using Windows XP, you should be using RealPlayer to stream/download the music it's real easy...and don't forget to click on the DeadLists Project link and download the poster for this show.

I recommend adding this show to your 1971 GRATEFUL DEAD collection.

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN, GET IT WHILE IT'S FREE, GET IT NOW OR YOU WILL BE SORRY. THEY YANK SHOWS OFF THE INTERNET ARCHIVE EVERYDAY.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE from November 1971.

PS: I miss 1971, may the music live forever on the IA...That's what Jerry wanted.

Long live the music of the GRATEFUL DEAD on the Internet Archive, now that is real CHANGE!

This really is what the Dead were
going for...
Wonderful Stereo Recording, Great Vocals
Keith is in the pocket already after only 2 months...
Check out Loser...etc
Nice.

Very nice sounding