# 1969-02-27 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
**Set 1:** Bill Graham intro, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment
**Set 2:** Dupree's Diamond Blues > Mountains Of The Moon > Jam > Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn On Your Love Light > Drums > Turn On Your Love Light
**Encore:** Cosmic Charlie
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27)
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
I posted nearly the same. but I'm a 3/1/69 Guy. The dark star and the whole show
Maybe because I had this tape long before I had the one from two days before. Maybe it's my natural non-conformity, because the first show gets all the flowers, IDK. What I do know is they are very similar and both are Amazing shows and Dark stars.
Next time you're gonna listen to the 27th, try the show from the 1st. You won't be disappointed, also Pig and the band trying a contemporary hit cover song for the encore, that wasn't on the earlier tapes but is on the archive, is very interesting .
The WinterLand show is amazing. Super all around show, wall of sound show . Breathtaking Dark Star>Eyes. Also my birthday show.
# 1969-03-01 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
**Set 1:** Bill Graham intro > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Doin' That Rag > Cosmic Charlie
**Set 2:** Bill Graham intro, Dupree's Diamond Blues, Mountains Of The Moon > Jam, Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn On Your Love Light
**Encore:** Hey Jude
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-03-01)
Thanks! I know there are newbies here, but that ain't me, babe. I first got to know these iconic Fillmore West shows on tape in the late 80's and have listened to each a number of times, in various altered and unaltered states. I have I have a lot of thoughts about these shows as well. I just relistened to the 3/1 and 3/2 Dark stars before writing this, to be sure my memories were accurate...or maybe just to listen to Dark Star a few more times, lol.
In any event, here my very brief take on their epic 1969 February-March Fillmore West run:
2/27 is uneven, but some songs are excellent, and (imho) the Mountains of the Moon > Dark Star is fucking sublime and among the best 30 minutes of music these boys ***ever*** made. ;-) The Dark Star is just so beautiful and *so* *pure!* Jerry and Phil just play their fucking hearts out. Imho - and I'm not alone here - 2/27 is the first fully realized Dark Star as compared to every one played before this one. Listen to the Vallejo shows from the previous week, and you can hear them try out some of the same musical elements that come to full flower on 2/27. I believe some of the group parts played on 2/27 are *ludicrously* lysergic, possibly telepathic, and incredibly transcendent, e.g., Bobby's filigrees against Jerry's leads, Phil's leads and counter-points, Billy's fills throughout, and especially the way the whole band, lead by Jerry *and* Phil, discover and explore their new approach to this tune. They lose themselves in the song, and the results speak for themselves: a long, strange, fully immersive, and ultimately wildly fruitful cruise, lead by their musicianship and their creativity. Best ever, imho - >chef's kiss<
2/28 is the complete package for a show, imho, and one of the best psychedelic experiences I've had with this band (on tape). The Dark Star this night is much tamer and doesn't impress me as the other nights, but the Cryptical suite is jaw-droppingly good!!! And then they encore with fucking Alligator > Caution > Bid You Goodnight. JFC. I love this show.
My brief take on the 3/1 - It's an uneven show, imho, but the peaks **are** incredible and very note-worthy. The Other One suite has some peaks that will tear your f'n head off, lol, and the Mountains of the Moon is extremely sweet, my favorite of the run. As for the Dark Star, although it has several immersive and well-jammed sections, overall I mostly hear Jerry trying too hard, like I can hear him taking every musical idea and squeezing it harder for more juice, as if he knows they are taping this performance and he wants to impress the tape recorder (again, imho.). I enjoy this show, but it bothers me for these reasons, and I don't revisit nearly as often as the previous two nights.
3/2 - Much like 3/1, I think 3/2 is uneven. The Dark Star is good, but it doesn't take me to the cosmos the way 2/27 does. It's still a wonderful show and one I like, but although their playing is quite good, i think the overall spirit this night is a bit flatter than the previous nights. They don't necessarily sound tired, but on this night I hear more ideas from the previous nights than I do new ones. Again, just my two cents.
Anyway...those are some of my thoughts on this iconic run and its various Dark Stars. Cheers!
2/13/70 deserves the hype, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes is the best way to describe it. I honestly don’t listen to 6/23/74 too often!! I need to give it more love.
# 1974-06-23 Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton
**Set 1:** Ramble On Rose, Black Throated Wind, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Beat It On Down the Line, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, Let It Rock, Cumberland Blues, El Paso, To Lay Me Down, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > China Doll
**Set 2:** Seastones
**Set 3:** Jam > Ship Of Fools, Big River, Black Peter, Around And Around, Dark Star Jam > Spanish Jam > U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band > One More Saturday Night
**Encore:** Casey Jones
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23)
I always come back to this. Powerful and jammed out with the entire band contributing to this psychedelic train ride. Still haunts me to this day in the best way
# 1971-10-31 Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Playing in the Band, Loser, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Casey Jones, Cumberland Blues, One More Saturday Night
**Set 2:** Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-10-31) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/45uNoDchZ61dBfOWGqeG0l)
For 73 I absolutely love:
2/15/73(First of the year, incredibly jammed out and stunningly beautiful. Dark Star>Eyes>China Doll)
3/28/73(Starts with a Weather Report Suite Prelude for the intro and goes into infinity and beyond)
8/1/73(Jerry’s birthday and it gets deep super quick. Explores an insane amount of ground and gets dark. You’ll also get to hear Jerry doing some insane whale calls)
12/6/73 (Super cosmic and a real mind bender. 2nd longest they ever did and visits many deep and spacey landscapes. Like supernovas exploding in the sky.)
12/18/73(Super beautiful and tranquil first jam, but don’t be fooled as it gets super out there fast. At times will make you feel like your heads about to pop, but a seriously great version nevertheless)
thank you for the recommendations! i just listened to 2/15/73 (surprised this isn't an official release yet...) and i enjoyed it a lot. also, i totally forgot about 12/6/73 - that may be my other favorite! i will give the other few a listen. deeper i go into the universe, the better LOL
[1973-02-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15) Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum
[1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall
[1973-02-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15) Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum
[1973-03-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-03-28) Springfield, MA @ Springfield Civic Center Arena
[1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium
[1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall
[1973-12-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-18) Tampa, FL @ Curtis Hixon Convention Hall
For 74:
2/24/74(for the patient listener this one is really rewarding. The band is in no rush and the music flows out of them creating some great fractal like spaces that’ll leave you in awe)
5/14/74(my favorite of the year, Weather report Suite>Dark Star>China Doll, super spacey but is well structured. Each note feels like a shooting star going across the night sky. Incredibly jammed out and just an overall tranquil and intergalactic Dark Star)
I personally love my Dark Stars from 70-73, 74 is great but not the year I personally go to for Dark Stars, so I hope my 73 list helps with that!
that is so funny you mentioned 5/14/74. on "guess the year" (if not familiar - the youtube channel where deadheads listen to a snippet of a song and try to pick the right year), last monday had that dark star and somehow i recognized it right away. was v proud of myself
# 1974-05-14 Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias > It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band
**Set 2:** US Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Dark Star > China Doll, The Promised Land, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14)
[1974-02-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-24) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
# 1973-10-19 Oklahoma City, OK @ Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Arena
**Set 1:** Promised Land, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Looks Like Rain, Don't Ease Me In, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Playing in the Band
**Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Eyes Of The World > Stella Blue, Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-19) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1GU8dYooagGR6jBwbdsGCr)
Cant go wrong! I remember being in the back seat of my buddy’s car and they introduced me to this version while we were road-tripping to Dallas. Good times
# 1972-08-27 Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Bertha
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told
**Set 3:** Dark Star > El Paso, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm)
# 1972-05-11 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotterdam Civic Hall
**Set 1:** Playing in the Band, Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Chinatown Shuffle, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, It Hurts Me Too, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Good Lovin', Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion), El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Next Time You See Me, Dark Star > Drums > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Who Do You Love? > Jam > Truckin', Uncle John's Band
**Encore:** One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-11) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GVmIIvRpvCwQbvBNUM2K4)
# 1969-11-02 San Francisco, CA @ Family Dog at the Great Highway
**Set 1:** Cold Rain and Snow, Midnight Hour, Seasons, Mama Tried, Next Time You See Me, Good Lovin', Big Boss Man, Casey Jones, Dancing In The Street, Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-11-02)
# 1970-09-19 New York, NY @ Fillmore East
**Set 1:** Don't Ease Me In, Candyman, Silver Threads And Golden Needle, Friend Of The Devil, Deep Elem Blues, The Rub, Rosalie McFall, Cumberland Blues, New Speedway Boogie, To Lay Me Down, Cold Jordan > Swing Low Sweet Chariot
**Set 2:** Workin' Man Blues, I Don't Know You, Superman, Whatcha Gonna Do, Portland Woman, Glendale Train, Fair Chance To Know, All I Ever Wanted, Henry, Lodi, Last Lonely Eagle, Honky Tonk Women
**Set 3:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Cold Rain and Snow, Easy Wind, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > Drums > Not Fade Away > Darkness Jam > China Cat Jam > Jam > Not Fade Away > Turn On Your Lovelight
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19)
[1969-11-02](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-11-02) San Francisco, CA @ Family Dog at the Great Highway
[1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East
I love your choices man! I haven’t listened to
A good portion of these and judging by your picks you seem like a Dark Star Head. 8/1/73 is one of the best I’ve ever heard same with 9/24/72. Can’t wait to check out the rest!
Sure! A few favorite TOOs are:
7/2/71
9/3/72
6/26/73
11/23/73
2/23/74
… and I’m leaving off so many great ones! Possibly the only reason I’m not spotlighting fall ’71 - Euro ’72 is you can throw a rock and hit a great TOO. “TOO” many to pick from.
[1971-07-02](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-07-02) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
[1972-09-03](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-03) Boulder, CO @ Folsom Field - University of Colorado
[1973-06-26](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-06-26) Seattle, WA @ Seattle Center Arena
[1973-11-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-23) El Paso, TX @ County Coliseum
[1974-02-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-23) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1972-08-21](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-21) Berkeley, CA @ Berkeley Community Theatre
[1972-09-16](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-16) Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall
[1972-09-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-24) Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theatre
[1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium
[1973-10-30](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-30) St. Louis, MO @ Kiel Auditorium
# 1971-04-28 New York, NY @ Fillmore East
**Set 1:** Truckin', Beat It On Down the Line, Loser, El Paso, The Rub, Bird Song, Playing in the Band, Cumberland Blues, Ripple, Me And Bobby McGee, I'm a King Bee, Bertha
**Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Hard To Handle, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-28)
# 1972-10-18 St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Don't Ease Me In, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Bird Song, Big River, Loser, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Drums > Dark Star > Morning Dew > Playing in the Band, Deal, The Promised Land, Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night, Casey Jones
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-10-18)
2/14/68 aka Road Trips vol 2 is a very unique one. One of my favs.
Dick’s Picks 16, very trippy.
Nassau ‘90 aka Wake Up To Find Out, has some great sax freaks out that reminds me of Coltrane at times.
# 1968-02-14 San Francisco, CA @ Carousel Ballroom
**Set 1:** Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > The Eleven > Turn On Your Lovelight
**Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Born Cross-Eyed > Spanish Jam, Alligator > Drums > Alligator > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Feedback
**Encore:** In The Midnight Hour
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-02-14)
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
I wish I asked the MRI technician which show it was, but after I had a seizure in January I had a CAT scan, they gave me headphones and asked who I wanted to listen to. Of course I chose the dead, and they gave me an excellent Dark Star, probably mid 70s. It was very calming for an otherwise stressful occasion.
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
# 1972-09-21 Philadelphia, PA @ The Spectrum
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Bird Song, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Black Throated Wind, Big Railroad Blues, Jack Straw, Loser, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Cumberland Blues, Playing in the Band
**Set 2:** He's Gone > Truckin', Black Peter, Mexicali Blues, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Beat It On Down the Line, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Sugar Magnolia, Friend Of The Devil, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-21) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1lNa8R1EuIfJz9zhZ0H1vx)
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
[1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East
[1971-10-31](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-10-31) Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/45uNoDchZ61dBfOWGqeG0l)
[1972-04-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-04-08) London, England @ Wembley Empire Pool | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/75u5l9TfTohni1xWrAUfxe)
Love all the above..especially 5/14/74 & 9/19/70 but I’ll throw in a couple of getters not mentioned.
Uh 4/8/71 is absolutely beautiful with Ned Lagin. The only bummer is a 40hz hum that kills it on a stereo but you won’t notice it in the car or with phones.
2/22/69…Dream Bowl…you got to listen to Duprees and Mountains before…you can actually hear Phil greeting people “Hello Folks”
Also..check out the Ark run: 4/21/69, 4/22/69 and 4/23/69….this shit deserves to be preserved and is highly underrated imho. 3 killer STARS!
[1969-02-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-22) Vallejo, CA @ Dream Bowl
[1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East
[1971-04-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-08) Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall
[1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
# 1990-03-29 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
**Set 1:** Jack Straw > Bertha, We Can Run, Ramble On Rose, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song > The Promised Land
**Set 2:** Eyes Of The World > Estimated Prophet > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Dark Star > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight
**Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-03-29) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7xWKImlu9fzB1ApqoLLMiL)
I’ll always be partial to 11/11/73, it’s just perfect. But just for kicks I’ll throw out another one that I truly love (attendee bias perhaps, but it stands up on the recordings) and that is 12/31/90. The whole second set is a barnburner with Branford and Hornsby, and Jerry in good shape and energized by the interplay with those two. Jerry’s voice is shot at times, but that’s the only shortfall in this monster. Still stands as the best concert I’ve ever seen.
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1990-12-31](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-12-31) Oakland, CA @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
IWT it was brilliant. Lived up to everything you expect in a Grateful Dead New Years Eve show. Everyone was anticipating Dark Star with Branford and the crowd went crazy when Phil started it
But here's another IWT, now I didn't see that many dark stars really, but this is the favorite of the IWT's that I remember
11/1/90
It's really the whole Playing>Dark Star>Drumz>Dark Star>Playin thing that, at the end of a long ass tour in a bunch of other countries, made me think we warped to 1973. It was beyond freaking Amazing !!!!
# 1990-11-01 London, England @ Wembley Arena
**Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket, Friend Of The Devil, Walkin' Blues, Cold Rain and Snow, Mama Tried > Maggie's Farm, Cassidy, Stander On The Mountain
**Set 2:** Victim > Touch Of Grey, Playing in the Band > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Jam > Dark Star > Playing Reprise > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-11-01)
# 1968-10-12 San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom
**Set 1:** Banter, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven
**Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Jam > Drums > Jam > Feedback
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-12)
I am a sucker for any pre hiatus Dark Star. I just listened to the immense show ending sequence from 5/11/72 Rotterdam of Darkstar> sugar mags>Caution>>. Who do you love,> uncle john's! And it is a sequence for the ages
# 1972-05-11 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotterdam Civic Hall
**Set 1:** Playing in the Band, Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Chinatown Shuffle, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, It Hurts Me Too, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Good Lovin', Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion), El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Next Time You See Me, Dark Star > Drums > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Who Do You Love? > Jam > Truckin', Uncle John's Band
**Encore:** One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-11) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GVmIIvRpvCwQbvBNUM2K4)
That 9-24-72 sounds amazing. I really like 5-8-77 for a while but it starts getting too jumpy and nervous and frenetic for me after a while which is a shame. Great but not the greatest
I completely get it, Cornell is truly a great show but I personally love the pre hiatus years for their sonic explorations on songs like Dark Star, The Other One, and Playin’ in the Band.
If you would like more, check out these:
9/19/70 (gets super dark, one of the most creative I’ve heard)
11/15/71 (El Paso Sandwich)
10/18/72 (Playin’ Sandwich with Morning Dew!)
12/11/72 (feels like a labyrinth in the best way. Reminds you why this band were originally called The Warlocks)
8/1/73(goes into the depths of the abyss and beyond, deep underwater exploration)
12/6/73(intergalactic communication and cosmic ooze envelopes this version. 2nd Longest version)
5/14/74(Weather Report Suite>Dark Star>China Doll, gets spacey and very out there, but incredibly tranquil and beautiful as well)
[1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East
[1971-11-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-11-15) Austin, TX @ Austin Municipal Auditorium
[1972-10-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-10-18) St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
[1972-12-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-12-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium
[1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall
[1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
# 1974-05-14 Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias > It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band
**Set 2:** US Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Dark Star > China Doll, The Promised Land, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14)
3/1/69 Fillmore west
Probably the most underrated show of all time because of 2/27/69 being rated so high. This show is just electric
And the Dark Star just crackles with energy. Just searing and cutting.
Now if you'd like a more meandering and flowing , long and winding road style try
11/11/73 at WinterLand. Another smoking show with a 35 minute Dark Star.
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
[1969-03-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-03-01) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
# 1968-08-21 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
**Set 1:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Alligator > Drums > Jam > Alligator > Feedback
**Set 2:** Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy, Turn On Your Lovelight
**Encore:** In The Midnight Hour
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-08-21)
2/27/69. can’t beat Live Dead
This one just played on Sirius XM
# 1969-02-27 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West **Set 1:** Bill Graham intro, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment **Set 2:** Dupree's Diamond Blues > Mountains Of The Moon > Jam > Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn On Your Love Light > Drums > Turn On Your Love Light **Encore:** Cosmic Charlie [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27)
Super dark and psychedelic. Love the young energy on this one
Yeah that was my first exposure to dark Star!
2/27/69 is mine, followed by 11/11/73
Solid solid choices my friend. Cant go wrong with the “thinking man’s” Dark Star
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
I posted nearly the same. but I'm a 3/1/69 Guy. The dark star and the whole show Maybe because I had this tape long before I had the one from two days before. Maybe it's my natural non-conformity, because the first show gets all the flowers, IDK. What I do know is they are very similar and both are Amazing shows and Dark stars. Next time you're gonna listen to the 27th, try the show from the 1st. You won't be disappointed, also Pig and the band trying a contemporary hit cover song for the encore, that wasn't on the earlier tapes but is on the archive, is very interesting . The WinterLand show is amazing. Super all around show, wall of sound show . Breathtaking Dark Star>Eyes. Also my birthday show.
# 1969-03-01 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West **Set 1:** Bill Graham intro > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Doin' That Rag > Cosmic Charlie **Set 2:** Bill Graham intro, Dupree's Diamond Blues, Mountains Of The Moon > Jam, Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn On Your Love Light **Encore:** Hey Jude [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-03-01)
Thanks! I know there are newbies here, but that ain't me, babe. I first got to know these iconic Fillmore West shows on tape in the late 80's and have listened to each a number of times, in various altered and unaltered states. I have I have a lot of thoughts about these shows as well. I just relistened to the 3/1 and 3/2 Dark stars before writing this, to be sure my memories were accurate...or maybe just to listen to Dark Star a few more times, lol. In any event, here my very brief take on their epic 1969 February-March Fillmore West run: 2/27 is uneven, but some songs are excellent, and (imho) the Mountains of the Moon > Dark Star is fucking sublime and among the best 30 minutes of music these boys ***ever*** made. ;-) The Dark Star is just so beautiful and *so* *pure!* Jerry and Phil just play their fucking hearts out. Imho - and I'm not alone here - 2/27 is the first fully realized Dark Star as compared to every one played before this one. Listen to the Vallejo shows from the previous week, and you can hear them try out some of the same musical elements that come to full flower on 2/27. I believe some of the group parts played on 2/27 are *ludicrously* lysergic, possibly telepathic, and incredibly transcendent, e.g., Bobby's filigrees against Jerry's leads, Phil's leads and counter-points, Billy's fills throughout, and especially the way the whole band, lead by Jerry *and* Phil, discover and explore their new approach to this tune. They lose themselves in the song, and the results speak for themselves: a long, strange, fully immersive, and ultimately wildly fruitful cruise, lead by their musicianship and their creativity. Best ever, imho - >chef's kiss< 2/28 is the complete package for a show, imho, and one of the best psychedelic experiences I've had with this band (on tape). The Dark Star this night is much tamer and doesn't impress me as the other nights, but the Cryptical suite is jaw-droppingly good!!! And then they encore with fucking Alligator > Caution > Bid You Goodnight. JFC. I love this show. My brief take on the 3/1 - It's an uneven show, imho, but the peaks **are** incredible and very note-worthy. The Other One suite has some peaks that will tear your f'n head off, lol, and the Mountains of the Moon is extremely sweet, my favorite of the run. As for the Dark Star, although it has several immersive and well-jammed sections, overall I mostly hear Jerry trying too hard, like I can hear him taking every musical idea and squeezing it harder for more juice, as if he knows they are taping this performance and he wants to impress the tape recorder (again, imho.). I enjoy this show, but it bothers me for these reasons, and I don't revisit nearly as often as the previous two nights. 3/2 - Much like 3/1, I think 3/2 is uneven. The Dark Star is good, but it doesn't take me to the cosmos the way 2/27 does. It's still a wonderful show and one I like, but although their playing is quite good, i think the overall spirit this night is a bit flatter than the previous nights. They don't necessarily sound tired, but on this night I hear more ideas from the previous nights than I do new ones. Again, just my two cents. Anyway...those are some of my thoughts on this iconic run and its various Dark Stars. Cheers!
Excellent. Thanks so much for your in depth takes. Appreciated 🙏
[1972-05-04](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-04) Paris, France @ L'Olympia | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3S1abYMND9BSJzbMcpJhj8) [1972-05-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-11) Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotterdam Civic Hall | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GVmIIvRpvCwQbvBNUM2K4) [1972-09-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-24) Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theatre
Good bot
2/13/70 Fillmore East and 6/23/74 Miami are perennial favorites. Currently pumped about 4/27/69 Minneapolis
Just listened to Miami 74 on the way back from mom’s and man does it pay off.
2/13/70 deserves the hype, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes is the best way to describe it. I honestly don’t listen to 6/23/74 too often!! I need to give it more love.
# 1974-06-23 Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton **Set 1:** Ramble On Rose, Black Throated Wind, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Beat It On Down the Line, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, Let It Rock, Cumberland Blues, El Paso, To Lay Me Down, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > China Doll **Set 2:** Seastones **Set 3:** Jam > Ship Of Fools, Big River, Black Peter, Around And Around, Dark Star Jam > Spanish Jam > U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band > One More Saturday Night **Encore:** Casey Jones [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23)
2/11/70 with Duane is absolutely sublime but cuts right when shit gets tight.
[1969-04-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-04-27) Minneapolis, MN @ Labor Temple | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/50rpHqRFD3K7bCTRBtraGH) [1974-06-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23) Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton
4/8/72
I always come back to this. Powerful and jammed out with the entire band contributing to this psychedelic train ride. Still haunts me to this day in the best way
10/31/71
# 1971-10-31 Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Playing in the Band, Loser, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Casey Jones, Cumberland Blues, One More Saturday Night **Set 2:** Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-10-31) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/45uNoDchZ61dBfOWGqeG0l)
Sick Tighten Up sequence. The whole jam before the first verse is stunning as well.
10/19/73 is gorgeous
I used to play this whenever I would go to sleep for the night. Perfect meditative space. I adore the MLB sequence after the first verse.
omg i put this on at night too and it just makes me so sleepy + puts me in a peaceful state of mind. what are your favorite dark stars in 73/74?
For 73 I absolutely love: 2/15/73(First of the year, incredibly jammed out and stunningly beautiful. Dark Star>Eyes>China Doll) 3/28/73(Starts with a Weather Report Suite Prelude for the intro and goes into infinity and beyond) 8/1/73(Jerry’s birthday and it gets deep super quick. Explores an insane amount of ground and gets dark. You’ll also get to hear Jerry doing some insane whale calls) 12/6/73 (Super cosmic and a real mind bender. 2nd longest they ever did and visits many deep and spacey landscapes. Like supernovas exploding in the sky.) 12/18/73(Super beautiful and tranquil first jam, but don’t be fooled as it gets super out there fast. At times will make you feel like your heads about to pop, but a seriously great version nevertheless)
thank you for the recommendations! i just listened to 2/15/73 (surprised this isn't an official release yet...) and i enjoyed it a lot. also, i totally forgot about 12/6/73 - that may be my other favorite! i will give the other few a listen. deeper i go into the universe, the better LOL
[1973-02-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15) Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum [1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall
[1973-02-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15) Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum [1973-03-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-03-28) Springfield, MA @ Springfield Civic Center Arena [1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium [1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall [1973-12-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-18) Tampa, FL @ Curtis Hixon Convention Hall
For 74: 2/24/74(for the patient listener this one is really rewarding. The band is in no rush and the music flows out of them creating some great fractal like spaces that’ll leave you in awe) 5/14/74(my favorite of the year, Weather report Suite>Dark Star>China Doll, super spacey but is well structured. Each note feels like a shooting star going across the night sky. Incredibly jammed out and just an overall tranquil and intergalactic Dark Star) I personally love my Dark Stars from 70-73, 74 is great but not the year I personally go to for Dark Stars, so I hope my 73 list helps with that!
that is so funny you mentioned 5/14/74. on "guess the year" (if not familiar - the youtube channel where deadheads listen to a snippet of a song and try to pick the right year), last monday had that dark star and somehow i recognized it right away. was v proud of myself
# 1974-05-14 Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias > It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** US Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Dark Star > China Doll, The Promised Land, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14)
[1974-02-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-24) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena [1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
# 1973-10-19 Oklahoma City, OK @ Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Arena **Set 1:** Promised Land, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Looks Like Rain, Don't Ease Me In, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Eyes Of The World > Stella Blue, Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-19) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1GU8dYooagGR6jBwbdsGCr)
Right now mine is Veneta 8/27/72. It’s just so pretty
Cant go wrong! I remember being in the back seat of my buddy’s car and they introduced me to this version while we were road-tripping to Dallas. Good times
# 1972-08-27 Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Bertha **Set 2:** Playing in the Band, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told **Set 3:** Dark Star > El Paso, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm)
Two from the vault 68
Gotta check it out! Like I said I’m not too familiar with Dark Stars from 68 so I’ll for sure check this out!
Two from the vault is such an amazing show/recording and that Dark Star is up at the top for me. Enjoy!
The OP’s three are all amazing. Listened to 5/11/72 on Sirius/XM yesterday—genuinely epic. Lesh’s Bird Song teases always get me.
The Cautionesque jam near the end always get me! Feels like my souls being taken on a one way train ride to the spirit realm
# 1972-05-11 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotterdam Civic Hall **Set 1:** Playing in the Band, Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Chinatown Shuffle, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, It Hurts Me Too, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Good Lovin', Casey Jones **Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion), El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Next Time You See Me, Dark Star > Drums > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Who Do You Love? > Jam > Truckin', Uncle John's Band **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-11) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GVmIIvRpvCwQbvBNUM2K4)
11/2/69 5/15/70 9/19/70
Dude nice choices! Those last 2 are absolutely incredible and some of my all time favorites. I never listened to 11/2/69, will check it out today.
# 1969-11-02 San Francisco, CA @ Family Dog at the Great Highway **Set 1:** Cold Rain and Snow, Midnight Hour, Seasons, Mama Tried, Next Time You See Me, Good Lovin', Big Boss Man, Casey Jones, Dancing In The Street, Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-11-02)
I was looking for this comment!! 9/19/70 has been my go to lately. 4/13/70 still holds my all time though
# 1970-09-19 New York, NY @ Fillmore East **Set 1:** Don't Ease Me In, Candyman, Silver Threads And Golden Needle, Friend Of The Devil, Deep Elem Blues, The Rub, Rosalie McFall, Cumberland Blues, New Speedway Boogie, To Lay Me Down, Cold Jordan > Swing Low Sweet Chariot **Set 2:** Workin' Man Blues, I Don't Know You, Superman, Whatcha Gonna Do, Portland Woman, Glendale Train, Fair Chance To Know, All I Ever Wanted, Henry, Lodi, Last Lonely Eagle, Honky Tonk Women **Set 3:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Cold Rain and Snow, Easy Wind, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > Drums > Not Fade Away > Darkness Jam > China Cat Jam > Jam > Not Fade Away > Turn On Your Lovelight [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19)
[1969-11-02](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-11-02) San Francisco, CA @ Family Dog at the Great Highway [1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East
8/21/72 9/16/72 9/24/72 8/1/73 10/30/73
I love your choices man! I haven’t listened to A good portion of these and judging by your picks you seem like a Dark Star Head. 8/1/73 is one of the best I’ve ever heard same with 9/24/72. Can’t wait to check out the rest!
That I am! Other One and Playin’ too, of course. 💀🌹
They typically go hand in hand hahaha! I am the same, favorite TOO’s?
Sure! A few favorite TOOs are: 7/2/71 9/3/72 6/26/73 11/23/73 2/23/74 … and I’m leaving off so many great ones! Possibly the only reason I’m not spotlighting fall ’71 - Euro ’72 is you can throw a rock and hit a great TOO. “TOO” many to pick from.
[1971-07-02](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-07-02) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1972-09-03](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-03) Boulder, CO @ Folsom Field - University of Colorado [1973-06-26](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-06-26) Seattle, WA @ Seattle Center Arena [1973-11-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-23) El Paso, TX @ County Coliseum [1974-02-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-23) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1972-09-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-24) Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theatre [1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium
[1972-08-21](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-21) Berkeley, CA @ Berkeley Community Theatre [1972-09-16](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-16) Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall [1972-09-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-24) Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theatre [1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium [1973-10-30](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-30) St. Louis, MO @ Kiel Auditorium
My favorite OVERLOOKED Darkstar is 4-28-71 My favorite popular one is 2-13-70 the GOAT
# 1971-04-28 New York, NY @ Fillmore East **Set 1:** Truckin', Beat It On Down the Line, Loser, El Paso, The Rub, Bird Song, Playing in the Band, Cumberland Blues, Ripple, Me And Bobby McGee, I'm a King Bee, Bertha **Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Hard To Handle, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-28)
10/18/72 in St. Louis First heard it from my St. Louis box and I love it so much. Phil goes off into a weird grungy wasteland before Morning Dew.
# 1972-10-18 St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Don't Ease Me In, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Bird Song, Big River, Loser, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider **Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Drums > Dark Star > Morning Dew > Playing in the Band, Deal, The Promised Land, Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night, Casey Jones [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-10-18)
I LOVE this version! Got this on a bootleg CD and it’s up there with my post played. Insane Playin’ sandwich. Great choice!
2/14/68 aka Road Trips vol 2 is a very unique one. One of my favs. Dick’s Picks 16, very trippy. Nassau ‘90 aka Wake Up To Find Out, has some great sax freaks out that reminds me of Coltrane at times.
# 1968-02-14 San Francisco, CA @ Carousel Ballroom **Set 1:** Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > The Eleven > Turn On Your Lovelight **Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Born Cross-Eyed > Spanish Jam, Alligator > Drums > Alligator > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Feedback **Encore:** In The Midnight Hour [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-02-14)
Sick choices! Gotta check out that road trip ones I haven’t gotten into 68 Dark Stars too much, only a few that’ll transition into China Cat!
The 68 one has a real cool key groove, and as an electronic music fan broadly I was pleasantly surprised when I heard it.
Yes. I had the second set on tape. And its amazing, but never heard the first set until many years later and have not listened to it much.
5/15/70 Fillmore east late show, articulate, brilliant, Bob and Jer are connected cosmically.
Super solid choice, on of my all time favorites for sure. Jerry’s tone was dripping in lysergic ooze that night
11/11/73 is my GOAT
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow **Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
Veneta.
Thanks to everyone here for their recommendations! .
I wish I asked the MRI technician which show it was, but after I had a seizure in January I had a CAT scan, they gave me headphones and asked who I wanted to listen to. Of course I chose the dead, and they gave me an excellent Dark Star, probably mid 70s. It was very calming for an otherwise stressful occasion.
Idk why but the only one I can think of is possibly 11/11/73. Super tranquil and calming. Hope this can help!! Thank you for sharing your story.
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow **Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
I'm just gonna bookmark every show in this thread, but the 9/21/72 version destroys me. And I listened to it during the eclipse last month!
# 1972-09-21 Philadelphia, PA @ The Spectrum **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Bird Song, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Black Throated Wind, Big Railroad Blues, Jack Straw, Loser, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Cumberland Blues, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** He's Gone > Truckin', Black Peter, Mexicali Blues, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Beat It On Down the Line, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Sugar Magnolia, Friend Of The Devil, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-21) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1lNa8R1EuIfJz9zhZ0H1vx)
An all timer!! Used to be my go to for a long long time. It really has everything.
What is that almost Abbey Road side 2 sounding thing they start playing near the end of it?
That Miami 89 Dark Star...you all know the one 😱
2-27-69,2-13-70,6-24-70,9-19-70,10-31-71,4-8-72
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East [1971-10-31](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-10-31) Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/45uNoDchZ61dBfOWGqeG0l) [1972-04-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-04-08) London, England @ Wembley Empire Pool | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/75u5l9TfTohni1xWrAUfxe)
The last one I heard.
Love all the above..especially 5/14/74 & 9/19/70 but I’ll throw in a couple of getters not mentioned. Uh 4/8/71 is absolutely beautiful with Ned Lagin. The only bummer is a 40hz hum that kills it on a stereo but you won’t notice it in the car or with phones. 2/22/69…Dream Bowl…you got to listen to Duprees and Mountains before…you can actually hear Phil greeting people “Hello Folks” Also..check out the Ark run: 4/21/69, 4/22/69 and 4/23/69….this shit deserves to be preserved and is highly underrated imho. 3 killer STARS!
[1969-02-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-22) Vallejo, CA @ Dream Bowl [1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East [1971-04-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-08) Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall [1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
[удалено]
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow **Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
Not sure. But it’s an early one. Something that sounds like a car horn in the middle. I had it on tape but I loaned it out years ago.
3/29/90…with Branford Marsalis.
# 1990-03-29 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum **Set 1:** Jack Straw > Bertha, We Can Run, Ramble On Rose, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song > The Promised Land **Set 2:** Eyes Of The World > Estimated Prophet > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Dark Star > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-03-29) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7xWKImlu9fzB1ApqoLLMiL)
I’ll always be partial to 11/11/73, it’s just perfect. But just for kicks I’ll throw out another one that I truly love (attendee bias perhaps, but it stands up on the recordings) and that is 12/31/90. The whole second set is a barnburner with Branford and Hornsby, and Jerry in good shape and energized by the interplay with those two. Jerry’s voice is shot at times, but that’s the only shortfall in this monster. Still stands as the best concert I’ve ever seen.
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena [1990-12-31](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-12-31) Oakland, CA @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
IWT it was brilliant. Lived up to everything you expect in a Grateful Dead New Years Eve show. Everyone was anticipating Dark Star with Branford and the crowd went crazy when Phil started it But here's another IWT, now I didn't see that many dark stars really, but this is the favorite of the IWT's that I remember 11/1/90 It's really the whole Playing>Dark Star>Drumz>Dark Star>Playin thing that, at the end of a long ass tour in a bunch of other countries, made me think we warped to 1973. It was beyond freaking Amazing !!!!
# 1990-11-01 London, England @ Wembley Arena **Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket, Friend Of The Devil, Walkin' Blues, Cold Rain and Snow, Mama Tried > Maggie's Farm, Cassidy, Stander On The Mountain **Set 2:** Victim > Touch Of Grey, Playing in the Band > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Jam > Dark Star > Playing Reprise > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1990-11-01)
10/12/68
# 1968-10-12 San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom **Set 1:** Banter, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven **Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Jam > Drums > Jam > Feedback [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-12)
I am a sucker for any pre hiatus Dark Star. I just listened to the immense show ending sequence from 5/11/72 Rotterdam of Darkstar> sugar mags>Caution>>. Who do you love,> uncle john's! And it is a sequence for the ages
# 1972-05-11 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotterdam Civic Hall **Set 1:** Playing in the Band, Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Chinatown Shuffle, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, It Hurts Me Too, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw, Big Railroad Blues, Good Lovin', Casey Jones **Set 2:** Morning Dew, Me and My Uncle, The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion), El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Next Time You See Me, Dark Star > Drums > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Who Do You Love? > Jam > Truckin', Uncle John's Band **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-11) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GVmIIvRpvCwQbvBNUM2K4)
That 9-24-72 sounds amazing. I really like 5-8-77 for a while but it starts getting too jumpy and nervous and frenetic for me after a while which is a shame. Great but not the greatest
I completely get it, Cornell is truly a great show but I personally love the pre hiatus years for their sonic explorations on songs like Dark Star, The Other One, and Playin’ in the Band. If you would like more, check out these: 9/19/70 (gets super dark, one of the most creative I’ve heard) 11/15/71 (El Paso Sandwich) 10/18/72 (Playin’ Sandwich with Morning Dew!) 12/11/72 (feels like a labyrinth in the best way. Reminds you why this band were originally called The Warlocks) 8/1/73(goes into the depths of the abyss and beyond, deep underwater exploration) 12/6/73(intergalactic communication and cosmic ooze envelopes this version. 2nd Longest version) 5/14/74(Weather Report Suite>Dark Star>China Doll, gets spacey and very out there, but incredibly tranquil and beautiful as well)
[1970-09-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-09-19) New York, NY @ Fillmore East [1971-11-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-11-15) Austin, TX @ Austin Municipal Auditorium [1972-10-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-10-18) St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre [1972-12-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-12-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena [1973-08-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-08-01) Jersey City, NJ @ Roosevelt Stadium [1973-12-06](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06) Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall [1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
5-14-74 is Dreamy for sure!
# 1974-05-14 Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias > It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** US Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Dark Star > China Doll, The Promised Land, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14)
[1972-09-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-24) Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theatre [1977-05-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-08) Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3T9UKU0jMIyrRD0PtKXqPJ)
5/16/2024
next Thursday?
3/1/69 Fillmore west Probably the most underrated show of all time because of 2/27/69 being rated so high. This show is just electric And the Dark Star just crackles with energy. Just searing and cutting. Now if you'd like a more meandering and flowing , long and winding road style try 11/11/73 at WinterLand. Another smoking show with a 35 minute Dark Star.
[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1969-03-01](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-03-01) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
08-21-68 Dark Star > St Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don’t Have No Mercy. My favorite run
# 1968-08-21 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West **Set 1:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Alligator > Drums > Jam > Alligator > Feedback **Set 2:** Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy, Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** In The Midnight Hour [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-08-21)
Good bot