Best of The B List: 10 Killer Dark Stars
[Originally Published: September 27, 2007] When San Francisco’s Grateful Dead first played the song Dark Star in 1967, it signaled a major change in the both the band’s songwriting and the way they approached improvisation. What had been a jug band two years earlier was now revolutionizing rock by combining aspects of psychedlia, jazz and classical music into their songs.
The Dead played 232 versions of Dark Star between 1967 to 1994, according to Deadbase, and each one sounds completely different from the others (there’s a snowflakes and fingerprints joke here, but we’re not quite that lame). Over the years we’ve listened to many of these 232 versions, and we’ve come up with a special B List of our 10 favorites, including a link to streams of each show.
1. 9/21/72 – Jerry and the boys do a nice job of keeping things interesting throughout 37 glorious minutes of improvisation
2. 2/15/73 – Great cohesive jamming throughout the entire song
3. 2/27/69 – This version of Dark Star, which was released as part of Live/Dead, was the first version I ever heard and helped me get into the music of Dead. It still stands up today as an incredible example of how ferociously the Dead used to jam in the early days. Read on for seven more classic Dark Stars…
4. 12/2/73 – Check out this Dark Star for an example of how quickly the Dead can move jams from jazzy to spacey to rockin’ thanks to the incredible drumming of Billy Kreutzmann. This jam from Boston’s Music Hall is great, and the segue into Morning Dew is absolutely mind blowing.
5. 11/11/73 – I know, I know I just can’t get enough of ’73 Dead. The band was firing on ALL cylinders on this night
6. 2/13/70 – One of the most triumphant versions of the tune ever laid down took place during the band’s 1970 run at the Fillmore East. A Deadbase readers poll in 1993 listed this version as the best Dark Star ever, and I’m not sure I could argue with that assessment
7. 8/27/72 – The Dead tear Dark Star a new asshole during mind melting 90 degree plus conditions at the Creamery in Springfield, OR. Many of the best Dark Stars are about group improvisation, but this one is all about Jerry letting it rip
8. 10/31/91 – A mature version of the classic tune with special guest Gary Duncan [Quicksilver Messenger Service] that gets ultra emotional when Ken Kesey comes out at the 7:30 mark to riff on death a few short days after Bill Graham passes away
9. 10/18/74 – A jazzy Dark Star that comes out of Phil Lesh and Ned Lagin’s crazy Seastone segment
10. 3/29/90 – On March 29th, 1990 Branford Marsalis joined the band at Nassau Coliseum for the beginning of what would be a beautiful friendship. Marsalis added beautiful horn lines which spiced up the tune
Obviously we haven’t heard ‘em all, so if you have a favorite, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment below..
Scott Bernstein
Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.
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I thought I was gonna be #1 on the list of dark stars…
I know it’s easy, but the Live/Dead version has always been my favorite. I wish I weren’t lame enough to go with the obvious, but there’s a reason it’s on that disc.
Relatedly, I thought it was interesting that there’s no Dark Star on Fallout from the Phil Zone. Seems like perfect Phil material.
Martin…there is no question that I am the true Darkness!
the nassau ’90 dark star was the shit. the entire arena stood slack-jawed for the entire jam.
fair list i will give you but wheres rotterdam 11 may 72 a staggering 50 mins in the cosmos and thats not to mention the rest of the show.cheers dave
Have to agree with Dave Weir that Rotterdam 1972 has to be on the list, indeed it was listening to it that sent me to the net & this site to see what others think. Will now listen to as many of the other 9 as I have in my collection
Duuh Duh Duh Day…..Duuh Duh Duh Day…Da..Da.Da…Da…
Dark Star Crashes…….
One of the best Dark Stars of all time? That’s an easy one 2/24/74 Winterland Arena. Hand’s down sick shit. Love it.
B
That 2/15/73 is so beautiful. Oh, to be a Deadhead in Madison Wisconsin in 1973…
I saw three GD/Branford shows and although 3-29 was classic 9-10-91 should definitely be recognized as one of the best.
Branford played the entire show which helped and the setlist is amazing.
Shakedown Street-> CC Rider-> It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry, Black Throated Wind, High Time, Cassidy, Deal Help On The Way-> Slipknot!-> Franklin’s Tower, Estimated Prophet-> Dark Star-> Drums-> Jam-> Dark Star-> Jam-> I Need A Miracle-> Standing On the Moon-> Turn On Your Love Light, E: It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
What about 6/25/03? Actually, I’m just kidding around. But… for “The Dead,” it’s a scorcher.
Dark Star (v1)> Lady With A Fan> Peggy-o> Lady With A Fan> Terrapin Station> Drumz> Dark Star (v2)
Fluff, I’d have to echo your sentiments, although you forgot to mention that Mr. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce Hornsby was with the boys during that stretch as well. The Help>Slip>Franklin’s from that night is undeniable. Just thinkin about Jerry coming in through Bruce’s piano tinklings immediately after Branford’s first solo in Franklins gives me the smiles. Confused? Me too, but just listen to it and it sounds like if Jerry wasn’t playing the guitar at that second he’d have his arms wide open giving everyone inside MSG a collosively monster bear-hug.
11/11/73 is my personal fave!
I love when they get really out there and phil starts the desert wind shaman notes…I also think of Don Juan or someone out in the desert. The drop into Eyes is great as well…
Great list Scotty. My fave Dark Star is 9/21/72, as it never feels forced and always stays interesting and somewhat rocking. At over 37 minutes, that’s not an easy feat.
Right now, my favorite is April 5, 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom. Jerry plays every single note beautifully. Throughout the entire song, the guitar sounds like it’s a person talking to you. Then it changes back to a guitar so Jerry can sing the first verse. And then it comes back to life. And what a story it has to tell!
8/1/73. Graceful power, and nary a moment of aimless wandering.
http://gratefuldeadprojects.com/Dark_Star.html
C’mon 9-2-68 Betty Nelsons Organic Rasberry Farm or 3-29-69 Ice Palace. These are a couple of my perssonal favorites.
The Dark > Me and My Uncle > Star from ’72 on “Rockin’ the Rhein” is sick. Really out there.
I’m also a fan of the I think it’s 2.18.71 in Port Chester Dark > Wharf Rat (debut) > Star in which the jam out of Wharf Rat has been dubbed simply “Beautiful Jam”
Good to see Veneta here. Personally, I don’t think there’s a bad version of this classic tune.
Definitely a solid list. I love the inclusion of 10/31/91 Dark Star. That’s a one of a kind moment and the jam in there knows the cliff is coming up and keeps running faster until it jumps right off the side. While it is very hard to narrow Dark Star down to 10, it never stops being fun. We all have different taste and with a song that often included so many different styles getting even 2 or 3 people to agree on the 10 best is impossible. That said, I have to say I agree that 5/11/72 belongs on any list. I can get over that one, I can’t get over omitting 4/8/72, featured on Steppin’ Out. That one is sitting right next to 9/21/72 on top of the mountain.
My list would have to include 9/19/70 and 11/2/69 as well.
Some other must hears, 12/6/73, 4/22/69, 1/2/70, 5/15/70, 8/21/72, and 8/24/72. For my money, 8/21, and 8/24 take the week over 8/27…well maybe just 8/21, but 8/24 puts up a good fight.
rfk 90 was cool my first D.S.
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11/8/69 is amazing. Going from Dark Star to The Other One to an embryonic Uncle John’s Band while weaving Dark Star in and out is fantastic. It’s on Dick’s Picks Volume 16.
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2/18/71 10/31/71 9/19/70 5/15/70 11/2/69 and 8/21/72 are noticeably absent (most of these mentioned above). perhaps top 10 is not long enough, but all 6 of these dates have no trouble bumping the 1990 versions back a peg.