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Grateful Dead
1971-02-18
Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included
1st Set
01. Bertha
02. Truckin'
03. Hurts Me Too
04. Loser
05. Greatest Story Ever Told >
06. Johnny B. Goode
07. Mama Tried
08. Hard To Handle
09. Dark Star >
10. Wharf Rat >
11. Dark Star >
12. Me + My Uncle
2nd Set:
01.- Chandelier Incident >
02. Casey Jones
03. Playing In The Band
04. Me & Bobby McGee
05. Candyman
06. Big Boss Man
07. Sugar Magnolia
08. St. Stephen >
09. Not Fade Away >
10. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad >
11. Not Fade Away >
12. Uncle John's Band
For a brief 18 month period from February 1970 to July 1971, the Capitol Theatre in Portchester NY (not to be confused with the Capitol Theatre in Passaic NJ) was one of the premier concert venues on the East coast. Name a major rock act and they most likely played the venue. The Allman Brothers, Hot Tuna, Yes, Leon Russell, Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain, James Taylor, Traffic, Van Morrison, Jefferson Airplane and Derek & The Dominos, just to name a few, took the stage at the Capitol. (Go here for a complete list of shows). The Grateful Dead were one of the most frequent visitors to the venue, including a 6 night run in February 1971. In addition to featuring the Dead in top form, these shows are notable for several other reasons. First, Mickey Hart left the band after the first show, not to return until October 24, 1974. Second, all 6 shows were taped for the live Skull and Roses album, but not one of the recordings was used for that disc. Third, the band played numerous songs for the first time during this run, including, Bertha, Greatest Story Ever Told, Loser, Wharf Rat and Playing in The Band. Finally, the six shows were used to test Dream ESP, as audience members were asked to look at a picture being projected on a screen and told to try to send it telepathically to a doctor at the Maimonides Dream Laboratory in Brooklyn. (More on that here). This soundboard recording captures the Dead on the 1st of the 6 nights at the Capitol, on February 18, 1971, 45 years ago today. We'l bring you the rest of the shows as well over the next few days, with the exception of the February 19 show that officially released.
9 comments:
I have a love/hate relationship with the famous 2/71 Capital Theater shows. Yes, they're undoubtedly historic as, by the end, we were back to the stripped-down 5-piece 'original Dead' of 1965-1967, and yes, there was a songwriting explosion that led to many of the group's most endearing and lasting numbers...
BUT...
I have to take issue with the idea that the Dead were in 'top form' for these shows. The rapid changes in personnel, repertoire and approach (cutting way down on the psychedelic jamming and re-emphasizing the rootsy rock'n'roll they had started with) meant that this was a transitional period, with flashes of brilliance, but also plenty of signs of a lost band trying to re-find their focus: ridiculously long between-song tunings (they hadn't figured out that 3 minutes of tuning between 20-minute songs was one thing; 3 minutes of tuning between 3 minute songs was another), and changing musical roles (for example, after Mickey left, Kreutzmann overdrums for a lot of shows, trying to fill the hole left by Hart's absence, until he learned to relax and just play naturally) meant that these early '71 shows can be a really weird listening experience.
But that's mostly just quibbling; a lot of great stuff here, but maybe not as great as the setlist and legend would have it.
Or maybe I'm just a cranky old curmudgeon? In any case, thanks for a chance to revisit these!
That's what makes it all so much fun - the Dead were so varied throughout their career that its easy to see why different folks prefer one era over another. I love 1977, but even amidst the wonderful playing that year, you weren't getting a first set Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star > Me + My Uncle segue like you have here. The Dead constantly evolved and so its doesn't surprise me you might love and hate elements of the very same show! I know I feel that way about numerous Dead shows and years!
Thanks for this. Looking forward to listening
Hi there. Could you possibly renew the link please? tony
NEW LINK IS UP - ENJOY!
Thank you
Love the Dark Star>Wharf Rat>Dark Star segment but something is nagging me. About 2 minutes into the 2nd part of Dark Star, Jerry starts soloing what seems to be a familiar tune. But I can't put my finger on it. Anybody know?
New Link please. Thank you for what you do.
New link is up - enjoy!
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