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Poster: Cliff Hucker Date: Nov 2, 2010 6:45am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

Way too much political discussion going one here lately. Can't we spend some more time with the Grateful Dead?

One week prior to today's TDIH performance marked the first ever pairing of the two beautiful themes; the Feeling Groovy and Tighten Up jams played in succession, in the fantastic 10/25/69 Dark Star. And while that dynamite Star is certainly among the best of 1969 (which is really saying a lot!), the Dark Star from one week later on 11/2/69 is even more extraordinary in my opinion.

Both of the thematic jams are even more developed than the performance from one week prior, offering another great opportunity to compare/contrast these two, which are frequently confused with on another. Both are gorgeous in this rendition, the Feeling Groovy Jam in particular is one of the very best performances of this jam ever. Perhaps eclipsed by only the performance in the Dark Star from 2/13/70.

But the 11/2/69 Dark is much more than just these two post-verse themes. The pre-verse segment is just as amazing, exploratory and emotive, not unlike the performance from 2/27/69. And it features some really cool contributions from T.C. in the form of some really eerie keyboard work, marking one of his finest ever performances with the Grateful Dead.

clementinescaboose has called this one the best Dark Star of 1969. I'm not sure it's possible to name the best Dark Star of '69, there are so many superb renditions during the year. To borrow a phrase from LIA describing the best Stars from 1972, "there are probably twenty top-ten Dark Stars in 1969." But this one is definately up there with the best of them! The rest of the show is excellent as well. Particularly The Eleven and Death Dont't Have No Mercy. Superb Charlie Miller sound quality.

So go out and vote today, but let's leave the political discussion for elsewhere...

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1969-11-02.sbd.miller.32350.sbeok.flac16

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Poster: light into ashes Date: Nov 2, 2010 9:06am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

This is, at least, in the top two or three Dark Stars of '69, and perhaps of any year. Just perfect.

I feel it's kind of a twin to the 1/2/70 Dark Star...

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Poster: rastamon Date: Nov 2, 2010 11:26am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

GRATE choice Cliff! I listened to it this morning and now I'm at the library listening to this MOTB - a rare and very fine Aud. Though I'm put right in the middle of a crowd, the sound is really nice and the folks around me don't stink like showerless waifs the vibe is toocool and stash abounds...works for me! VOTE and roll away the dew!! http://www.archive.org/details/gd1979-11-02.fob.nak700.glassberg.MOTB-0077.94220.flac16
This post was modified by rastamon on 2010-11-02 18:26:41

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Poster: jmb1 Date: Nov 2, 2010 11:51am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

this show is off the hook!!!
The Saint Jam is HUGE

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Poster: Diamondhead Date: Nov 2, 2010 11:44am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

Thanks. Guess it's time to leave 1974 for a little while.

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Poster: duckpond74 Date: Nov 2, 2010 7:11am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

One of my most treasured finds here at these archives - this one holds a special place in the collection. I love the pared down beginning of Big Boss Man after Jerry cries out "this evening has been fraught with difficulties, absolutely fraught with difficulties" . . . they rise well to the challenges it seems. The version here of the rare Seasons works the best for me - sweet and understated delivery by both Bob and Jerry, and this night's suite of Dark Star > St. Stephen > the Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy may be my favorite performance of this string of tunes. Qualitative superlatives seem redundant when discussing this set of tunes from 1969 - not unlike comparing the Dark Stars of '72. The Live/Dead version is imprinted fondly on my psyche through decades of repeat playings (familiarity begets fondness), but ever since the first time I heard this 11/2/69 show, I've been enthralled by the fluid and emotive playing on each of the four tunes - sheer magic! There are passages that jump out with the sheer energy and/or emotion of the moment, as in The Eleven and Jerry's deep reading of Death Don't Have No Mercy.

It was the rich and clean audio capture of this show that first drew me to it. The tape itself is quite good for it's vintage - crisp, clean and quiet. The mix itself also is quite good, if not excellent for The Family Dog. Nice audio spatial imaging allows for a rich and present sound with a quiet background, onstage sound and attentive audience. The way the organ, gong and cymbals underscore the early feedback and jam in Dark Star helps create this pensive, almost chilling, vibe that resonates so strongly later in the blues dirge of Death Don't. As they say about time flying by when you are having fun, the Dark Star never feels like 30 minutes - it always seems to wind up all to quickly!

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Poster: Dudley Dead Date: Nov 2, 2010 7:52am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

Late 69 is so interesting , Workingman's , and the "Bear's Choice" concerts are just around the corner, and yet the "Live Dead" band is still present ( always great to hear TC in this period ) . They are starting to take the jams into different places , as evidenced here .

As for the political thing , note, I have avoided the whole thing here .
Long live the Grateful Dead .

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Poster: clementinescaboose Date: Nov 3, 2010 12:43am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

yes cliff! i knew you'd be on top of this awesome show!! just to clarify i can't really say with absolute certainty that it's the best (a matter of subjectivity of course) and it's not necessarily my favorite of the year either (that goes to 4/22 i think). but i feel that the argument could easily be made for it being the best and i would not argue with that person. the jamming in this DS is light-years ahead of its time, pointing the way to the all-time heavy hitters that would come in '72 and '73.
This post was modified by clementinescaboose on 2010-11-03 07:43:44

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Poster: light into ashes Date: Nov 3, 2010 6:24pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

I wouldn't argue with 11/2/69 being the "best" of the year, though 4/22 is certainly a wonder as well.

I haven't listened to it in a while so I could be mistaken, but I think 12/4/69 is the most "ahead-of-its-time" Dark Star of the year. It's like they make an effort NOT to play any of the familiar themes, and just do pure improvisation for a half-hour like they would a couple years later.

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Poster: clementinescaboose Date: Nov 4, 2010 12:50am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

i'm gonna have to give 12/4 a listen, it's one of very few that i haven't heard in '69!

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Poster: light into ashes Date: Nov 4, 2010 1:00pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

Having re-listened to 12/4/69, I have to say that overall it's a pretty weak show, and inspiration isn't really flowing in the Dark Star as much as I remembered... BUT, I have to give them credit for trying: they're really putting some extra effort into this Star, it's one of those that steadily builds and gets more intense. (It's also the longest Dark Star played at a Dead show in '69, next to 4/22 and 11/2!) So I would no longer say it's 'ahead of its time', but it is unusual for the time (no thematic jams) and well worth hearing.

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Poster: deadmax Date: Nov 2, 2010 8:10am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: TDIH - Feeling Groovy Jam> Tighten Up Jam (reprise)

Good call as usual, Cliff. Years ago I asked for advice on the 60's sound of the Dead because I was such a 70's guy. Got lots of good responses and started listening from 66 to 70. I found Fall of 69 quite intriguing especially the two shows you just mentioned. I listened to 10/25 and truly fell in love with Dark Star. It did everything it should do and I play it, and the whole show, quite often. Then I listened to 11/2. I like the aliveness of 10/25 better but they are a little more polished with it on 11/2. Still, both are beautiful and well worth the listening.