07-31-1971
Yale Bowl, Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
The show kicks off with a high energy Truckin’ before the Dead roll out the first Sugaree. The latter tune is certainly a bit raw, but the inimitable heart – pleading but still arrogant – of the song is there in spades. And, right afterwards, Pig inaugurates Mr. Charlie. This, too. is a little rough, but the interaction between Pig and Jerry that made this tune so good, not to mention Pig’s swagger, is present from birth. After a solid Mama Tried and Big Railroad Blues, a short, but so sweet Playin’ comes out. In fact, it is so short that the band spends almost as much time dealing with some technical issues in the aftermath than they did on the tune. But when the Dead finally get going again, it is with a massive, spellbinding Dark Star that wanders through a spectral, psychedelic landscape, finds the Feeling Groovy theme for a while, and then goes on to reconnoiter the furthest galaxies. Coming back to the DS theme at the end, the band seems confused about whether to break out the second verse or head somewhere else. Eventually choosing the latter path, they also don’t really settle on an actual tune, with a pregnant pause before rolling into what sounds like the first notes of Wharf Rat before shifting to Bird Song. And it is an odd Bird Song with Billy’s drums prominent throughout, setting up a more primal version of the tune. After Bird Song, El Paso leads to a raunchy, off-the-hook Hard to Handle. Pig is a beast on the song, and the rest of the band just lights it up. Then a Loser and absolutely beatific Me and Bobby McGee take it into the break.
Bertha kicks open the second set, but a long tuning break on the back end kills some of the momentum. Still, we get some banter, including an early – and weak – take a step back of sorts from Bobby and some quips about Mickey’s whereabouts: “he’s on safari in Africa” and such. Then Pig comes out for another turn on Big Boss Man, and even though it is so good, it also makes clear that the only thing this show is missing is a Good Lovin’ or Lovelight. Me and My Uncle and Deal then take it to a sharp China Cat. The China Cat has a momentous jam in the latter half, leading into a solid Rider. Then a ponderous – in such a good way – Sing Me Back Home comes out with some absolutely crispy vocals. Next, Sugar Mags washes away all the melancholy in one joyous romp. And Casey Jones does its part while also setting up what is one of the highlights of the show: a NFA> GDTRFB that then heads through a Darkness Jam before returning to NFA again. The jam at the end of GDTRFB is terrific with Jerry’s guitar beautifully set off by Billy’s thumping drums. But then the band pulls into the Darkness Jam, which would be the last one the Dead ever played. It is a keeper besides as the interplay between Billy and Jerry continues with some deep bombs from Phil and Bobby giving weight to the frenetic charges. And then it all spills right back into NFA, raising a few goosebumps alongside the cheers from the assembled. After NFA subsides, there are a few minutes before the Dead return to the stage for an Uncle John’s> Johnny B. Goode encore that provides a righteous, rocking cap to the evening.
A Marty Weinberg audience recording of this show circulated long before the soundboard became available. The band first released part of the board, including the DS> Bird Song, NFA> GDTRFB> NFA, and the latter two Pig tunes, as the first disc of Road Trips Vol.1, No. 3. Charlie Miller then got ahold of the entire soundboard, worked his magic, and sent it out into the world. What we have here, though, is a Dave Usborne matrix that combines the Weinberg audience tape with Charlie Miller’s soundboard. It gives you a sense of the Yale crowd – raucously cheering, hooting, and bantering with the band – and outdoor atmosphere while also retaining most of the clarity of the soundboard. Thanks to all who contributed!
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