THEMES
Some of these themes were named by Light Into Ashes of the Grateful Dead Guide; these will be marked "LIA." Others were named by ourselves, or are of unknown origin.
Introduction Theme
This appears at the beginning of most Dark Stars, particularly when they do not emerge from another song or ongoing jam.
1970-02-13
Main Theme
This appears near the beginning of Dark Star in many early versions, but eventually it comes to introduce the verse.
1971-10-31 4:22
ROR (Repetitive Organ Riff)
This is an eight-note figure Pigpen played on the organ on all the versions of Dark Star he played on up until late 1968, when Tom Constanten (who also sometimes played the ROR) took over on keyboards.
1967-11-14 (Studio Version) :05
Bright Star (LIA)
Falling Star (LIA)
This already appears in the first existing Dark Star, 1968-01-17. It is a very simple theme---Garcia bends and then releases a note (he bends up to B, then releases it so it descends to A).
1969-02-27 (Live/Dead) 20:38
Sputnik
This was apparently coined by Jim Powell, author of the Dark Star Document. This is an arpeggiated figure that appears in numerous variations. The one from Live/Dead is likely to be familiar:
1969-02-27 11:39
Tiger
The origin of this name is unclear. This is not really a theme, it's just a name given to the sort of "meltdown" the Dead used to play in various places (so there is a lot of variation, and ambiguity, in what can count as a "Tiger"). What they all seem to have in common is Garcia picking fast while pumping the wah-wah pedal.
1972-07-18 22:48
Bright Star (LIA)
A variation of the "main theme." Light Into Ashes, who named this theme, says it is "almost the same notes as the basic Dark Star theme, but rearranged a bit so that it sounds uplifting or triumphant."
This already appears in the first existing Dark Star, 1968-01-17. It is a very simple theme---Garcia bends and then releases a note (he bends up to B, then releases it so it descends to A).
1969-02-27 (Live/Dead) 20:38
Sputnik
This was apparently coined by Jim Powell, author of the Dark Star Document. This is an arpeggiated figure that appears in numerous variations. The one from Live/Dead is likely to be familiar:
1969-02-27 11:39
Tiger
The origin of this name is unclear. This is not really a theme, it's just a name given to the sort of "meltdown" the Dead used to play in various places (so there is a lot of variation, and ambiguity, in what can count as a "Tiger"). What they all seem to have in common is Garcia picking fast while pumping the wah-wah pedal.
1972-07-18 22:48
Closing Theme
This passage occurs at the end of the song for the first few years of its existence, often serving as a gateway into the next number (at first this will most often be China Cat Sunflower, but St. Stephen soon settles into the slot).
1968 Lick
A short figure Garcia plays on guitar directly after the restatement of the Introduction Theme after the verse on early Dark stars.
Single Version 1:11
MODULAR JAMS
These are jams which are modular in the sense that they sometimes travel from one song to another. All of these have appeared in Dark Star at one time or another. All of them, as far as I know, have gotten their names from Deadheads rather than from the band, and in cases where they are named after an existing song, it is by no means clear that any of them are consciously based on the song from which they get their name.
Soulful Strut:
This is often called the "Tighten Up jam", but it is actually closer to the song "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited.
1971-10-31 13:22
Feelin' Groovy
This is so named because the chord changes are reminiscent of the Simon and Garfunkel song of that name. Sometimes it is mistakenly called an "Uncle John's Jam," since it is sometimes thought to be reminiscent of "Uncle John's Band," although the descending chords here resemble the Simon and Garfunkel track more than the ascending "Uncle John's Band" chords. Feelin' Groovy disappeared from Dark Star after 1972, taking up residence in China Cat Sunflower from 1973-03-16 until the Dead went on hiatus at the end of 1974, after which Feelin' Groovy disappeared.
1970-02-13 18:20
Mind Left Body Jam
This is named after the song "Your Mind Has Left Your Body" by Paul Kantner, from the album Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. Although Jerry Garcia plays on that album, he apparently is not on this track; however, it is possible that the riff was developed in conjunction with Garcia, as an earlier jam with The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (PERRO) that uses the same progression. Bob Weir later used a similar progression in both "Heaven Help the Fool" and "The Music Never Stopped."
1972-09-21 32:00
Spanish Jam
This is something the Dead began playing in early 1968, sometimes as a stand-alone jam, and is probably based on a passage of Miles Davis's "Solea" from Sketches of Spain.
1973-03-24 11:11
MODULAR JAMS
These are jams which are modular in the sense that they sometimes travel from one song to another. All of these have appeared in Dark Star at one time or another. All of them, as far as I know, have gotten their names from Deadheads rather than from the band, and in cases where they are named after an existing song, it is by no means clear that any of them are consciously based on the song from which they get their name.
Soulful Strut:
This is often called the "Tighten Up jam", but it is actually closer to the song "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited.
1971-10-31 13:22
Feelin' Groovy
This is so named because the chord changes are reminiscent of the Simon and Garfunkel song of that name. Sometimes it is mistakenly called an "Uncle John's Jam," since it is sometimes thought to be reminiscent of "Uncle John's Band," although the descending chords here resemble the Simon and Garfunkel track more than the ascending "Uncle John's Band" chords. Feelin' Groovy disappeared from Dark Star after 1972, taking up residence in China Cat Sunflower from 1973-03-16 until the Dead went on hiatus at the end of 1974, after which Feelin' Groovy disappeared.
1970-02-13 18:20
Mind Left Body Jam
This is named after the song "Your Mind Has Left Your Body" by Paul Kantner, from the album Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun. Although Jerry Garcia plays on that album, he apparently is not on this track; however, it is possible that the riff was developed in conjunction with Garcia, as an earlier jam with The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (PERRO) that uses the same progression. Bob Weir later used a similar progression in both "Heaven Help the Fool" and "The Music Never Stopped."
1972-09-21 32:00
Spanish Jam
This is something the Dead began playing in early 1968, sometimes as a stand-alone jam, and is probably based on a passage of Miles Davis's "Solea" from Sketches of Spain.
1973-03-24 11:11
Elastic Ping Pong Jam
The origin of this name is a post on a defunct Tumblr account, which has fortunately been preserved by the Wayback Machine. This jam probably began during the Europe 1972 tour, and is always initiated by Phil Lesh. He would insert various jazzy bass lines into jams at different times, and it has been speculated that this one (which has some variations) derives from Wayne Shorter's "Footprints," and that it eventually developed into "King Solomon's Marbles" (from Blues for Allah).
1973-06-24 6:36
The origin of this name is a post on a defunct Tumblr account, which has fortunately been preserved by the Wayback Machine. This jam probably began during the Europe 1972 tour, and is always initiated by Phil Lesh. He would insert various jazzy bass lines into jams at different times, and it has been speculated that this one (which has some variations) derives from Wayne Shorter's "Footprints," and that it eventually developed into "King Solomon's Marbles" (from Blues for Allah).
1973-06-24 6:36
MISCELLANEOUS
Insect Weirdness
This is not exactly a theme or a jam, per se. The term was coined by JSegel on the Steve Hoffman forum. It refers to the guitar sound Garcia would adopt just after Sputnik on many early versions of Dark Star. A clear instance is from Live/Dead:
Philo Stomp
A heavy riff Lesh employs in his bass solos, given this name by Dick Latvala. See 22:41 below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1klOkGfWHKoXJiATg2nUGHTeE01V3udR2/view
ReplyDeleteWhat is that, hanwaker? I'm afraid to click it
ReplyDeletemy friends and my dark star chart as pdf..no virus !
DeleteIn Elder Scrolls Online,some tasks can help players get ESO Gold or more resources.
ReplyDeleteAttached link: https://www.iggm.com/eso-gold
Many New World players will choose to buy New World Coins at IGGM, which will help them gain an advantage in the game.
ReplyDeleteAttached link: https://www.iggm.com/new-world-coins
But it's been Tighten Up for so long...
ReplyDeletec une bonne idée
ReplyDeleteThere's a professor named Graeme Boone who has published a couple studies of Dark Star, one called "Dark Star Mandalas" in a book called "The Grateful Dead in Concert" which you should be able to see here:
ReplyDeletehttps://books.google.com/books?id=0WdG60ECkekC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=graeme+boone+dark+star+mandala&source=bl&ots=nnjSg1fC-y&sig=ACfU3U0P_of8lfRR71U4BpqL2v9SDnmLSQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiVx97uo4rrAhWCIjQIHSFbD8k4ChDoATABegQICBAB#v=onepage&q=graeme%20boone%20dark%20star%20mandala&f=false
(I didn't find a downloadable version. His other Dark Star essay is here --
http://www.lipscomb.umn.edu/rock/docs/Boone1997_GratefulDead.pdf
-- which looks like it's strictly for musicologists.)
Anyway, there's a table in there charting out all the repeated elements in Dark Stars up to April '69. He uses terms like "Jerry's theme," "starting riff," "verse episode," "arpeggio-riff episode," "volume-dial episode," "growling episode," "climax episode" and so on to identify them. Not very catchy names but maybe they could be helpful.