Welcome back to the Tapers Section. Not only is the weather getting really good, but so too is the Grateful Dead's summer performing schedule through the years, so plenty of great music was played, with some of it being brought to you here today.

First stop will be 6/10/73 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. This show saw the band sharing the bill with the Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead certainly delivered the goods by playing one of their finest shows of a great performing year. From the end of the first set, we have a typically hot Playing In The Band. Phil has a particularly great tone on this one, and Weir and Keith are crystal clear in the mix, with the drums mixed perfectly. Oh, and Jerry. Yes, his guitar playing here is exquisite.

While we're checking out 6/10/73, we might as well play you something from the second set. So, here's an excellent Here Comes Sunshine. What a great addition to the repertoire this tune was. Once again, Weir stands out, not only in the mix, but in his playing as well.

Next we'll jump ahead three years to 6/12/76, the final show of a four night run at the Boston Music Hall. The band had returned to active touring a week before with the 6/3&4/76 shows at the Paramount in Portland, OR, with the real touring starting in Boston on 6/9. From this final show in Boston, we have this excellent Dancing In The Street>Around and Around. I can only imagine what New England Dead Heads must have thought when they heard this arranegment of Dancing In The Street, after such spectacular regional shows such as the April, 1969 shows at the Arc, 5/6/70 at MIT, 4/7&8/71 at the Music Hall, 9/15&16/72 at the music Hall, 4/2/73 at the Garden and the Fall 1973 three night run back at the Music Hall.

This Boston run had loads of great music, but one of my favourite jams of the entire run is the second set opening sequence of St. Stephen>Eyes of the World>Let It Grow. Unfortunately, the start of St. Stephen is missing from the master reels (reminiscent of Harpur College, eh?), but it's such an insignificant omission when compared to the quality, and quantity, of the music that was to come. There is a rough edge around some of the playing, but the jam into Eyes of the World was a real throwback to 1974 improvisational jam. And Eyes>Let It Grow, a nice pre-hiatus sequence.

Lastly this week we'll stop into Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, on 5/16/81. A few weeks ago we played you the opening of the first set, and this week we have the end of the first set, specifically Passenger, High Time, Let It Grow, Don't Ease Me In.

Be sure to stop by next week for more great music from the vault. It's always great to hear from you, so feel free to write with questions, comments, suggestions or requests.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net