This follows a Spanish jam, with the first lick briefly blending with the latter at the end. The Introduction Theme is still played in a call-and-response style by Garcia and Lesh. Garcia begins to play lead at :29. A staccato take on the Main Theme begins at 1:13. First verse, with distant vocals, begins at 1:37. The guiro is prominent on this version. Verse melody at 2:48. Falling Star at 3:46. A staccato allusion to the Main Theme at 4:04, with the second verse--barely audible at first--coming at 4:19, then the Closing Theme; goes into China Cat Sunflower.
It's another really cool embryonic version where you can start to hear hints of where it might be heading in the near future. Nice to finally have a name to go with the guiro. Speaking of 1/22/68, the following comment is given over at Heady Version: "This is the 'live' radio edit Dark Star that rose up the charts in some small town in '68 according to Bobby. Def worth a listen." I had no idea, nor do I have any idea of this is remotely true. Interesting tidbit, to be certain.
Decent version. I like the room sound on the recording for the vocals.
The 1/22/68 Eagles Auditorium Dark Star is back to having more of a mystical quality that wasn’t quite as present in the 1/20 version. It has more consistent Pigpen ROR too. Jerry’s vocal is distant in the mix at times but in a way that adds to the mystery. When those final rising guitar notes at the end come to a stop my brain instantly hears the St. Stephen that would eventually follow, but I think China Cat works in that slot too.
One oddity. On 1/17/68 and 1/22/68 I think Jerry sings "reason shatters" (instead of "tatters"). On 1/20/68 he sings "reason tatters."
I think drums weren't regularly used in Dark Star until early 1969? Through most of '68 it's just the scratcher or other percussion, maybe by late '68 there's a little drumming in some performances. I'm not sure Bill does much of anything in these early versions. But that is something we can trace in this thread.
SJR writes:
ReplyDelete"Eagles Auditorium, 22/01/68 -- There’s an almost mystical quality to this one. Lovely beginning strumming before Jerry’s voice comes through the haze. They sound like they’re playing from the bottom of a well! Neat version though. Phil is prominent. I’m not so sure on the loud scratchy sounds throughout, they’re too high in the mix and detract somewhat."
The scratchy percussion thing heard here is a guiro (often just called "a scratcher"). Will frequently be heard through '68-69. Played by Mickey, as seen here in this Woodstock photo:
https://twitter.com/mickeyhart/status/1162428826955239425/photo/1
Mr. Rain writes: "I think drums weren't regularly used in Dark Star until early 1969. Through most of '68 it's just the scratcher or other percussion; by late '68 there's a little drumming in some performances. I'm not sure Bill does much of anything in these early versions."
(However a Dark Star coming up on 2/2/68 does feature drums, but that's still rare in early '68.)