Clearly these are the sessions where the fellas started opening up Playin' In The Band. Every version before is a "song." Every version after, at least for the next few years, evolves deeper into the jam.

Jack Straw--Those subtle lyric differences are sweet!
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There is some cool banter between Phil and Bobby as to the story line of Mexicali Blues.

cool different versions/ tempos of things T.J is neat as are the others . a bit too much hiss.well sung Attics though still kinda punishing. over all pretty nice.

This is a really sweet treat. New lyrics in Jack Straw and a Deep Elem that really shreds it. I'm really looking forward to listening to the upcoming concerts in my chronological journey through the Dead's live SBD recordings, especially coming up around NYE in '71 when Donna joins up.

Call me crazy, but i love the way Playin in the Band sounds. The whole set is cool. The quality is a bit muffled, but Ive always been a sucker for outakes and demos. I love this stuff

Interesting stuff here with some (almost) final drafts of new tunes getting aired out w/ Keith --as well as a great work-up of Deep Elem that I wish they had brought on the road.

Keith plays his ass off on these songs...almost as if he's still trying to prove himself to the band. Interesting to note considering how well he carved out his niche and was so in the pocket while brining fresh influences to the groove in years to come. What a solid musician and what a solid dude who was clearly the man for the job.

very nice sounding stuff, and one of the nicest attics I have heard, the first turn doesn't drag, it jumps (when there was no ear to hear- you sang to me) . it shows the country harmony of 1970 meeting the up tempo rock and roll of 1971. This would have been a great 1971 tune. Still worth checking out in sept and oct of 72 and the winterland 2/22/74 soundcheck. I feel that 71 would have been a great year for a few other 70 tunes including till the mornin comes and operator, high time and friend of the devil. Brown eyed woman is great too, ten jed is strange but good, keith on organ as he played it on october 19th in minn on other one seems to try to fit into the pigpen mold a bit? Thank god for keith.

email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com happy to share with some good listeners.

Sound quality detracts from this a bit. This Tenn Jed is really fun!

this is the last of the godchaux rehearsals from santa venetia, ca.....historical value

Several interesting treatments here. A loping Playin' is nice. Deep Elem has a much blusier, honky tonk feel than I've heard before. Jack Straw, with some extra lyrics is the gem here. The sound is rather muddy and hissy. Three stars because of sound.