“There Is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert!”
Grateful Dead, Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
8/21/1972
Betty Board SBD>MR>PCM>DAT>CD>EAC>SHN via D. Hollister, G. Hamilton
Moving ahead in time just one year and one week, we have the only recording of this date that circulates,
and it is a fine master reel!
Funny that the Taper’s Compendium gives this a mediocre review, while the online reviews are mostly
4-5 stars…
Disc 1 – Set 1:
1. The Promised Land
2. He’s Gone
3. Black Throated Wind
4. Friend Of The Devil
5. Jack Straw
6. China Cat Sunflower >
7. I Know You Rider
8. Me And My Uncle
9. Sugaree
10. Beat It On Down The Line
11. Stella Blue
Disc 2 – Set 1 cont’d.:
1. Playing In The Band
2. Brown Eyed Women
3. Mexicali Blues
4. Casey Jones
Set 2:
5. Greatest Story Ever Told
6. Ramble On Rose
Disc 3 – Set 2 cont’d.:
1. Dark Star >
2. El Paso >
3. Space >
4. Deal
5. Sugar Magnolia
6. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodle-oo
7. Uncle John’s Band
Encore:
8. One More Saturday Night
REVIEW: where there’s a will…
My girlfriend and I posed as Ushers at this sold-out show. Complete in black pants, white shirts, name
tags and flashlights……we got in! A soon as we got inside, folks were shoving their tickets for direction
to their seats. We did a few, then sat down in some empties and enjoyed the show…..seeing the Dead at
Berkeley Community Theater which was carpeted, was like sitting in an acoustically tight spaceship..and
it took off that night! awesome show!
REVIEW: One of my first tapes
Great second set. The entire second set is some of my all time favorite. The DArk Star get out, and the
move into ElPaso is fantastic. Everything else is very well done. This is the beginning of the post pigpen,
one drummer, really loose jams that tended to define ’73 and ’74. I think this show gets overshadowed by
8-27
REVIEW: wow
what a recording is supposed to sound like! Absolutely great!!!!
REVIEW: Awesome summer Dead!
This show just absolutely rocks! So many highlights, can’t name them all. The Dark Star, as mentioned
already, really is a 4-star restaurant unto itself.
REVIEW: Dark Star for the ages
Ohhhh man, if I had a dollar for everytime I put this one on after a bong rip or a tab drop in the last 15
years or so. While I had heard Veneta before this, this one absolutely KICKED MY ASS when I first
heard it, and the quality was stunning. To say that this one gets OUT T H E R E is an understatement!
there’s something about this Dark Star that really puts it above most of the ones not just from 72 but
71-74. Phil shutting down jerry as he tries to play Dew is so awesome! he was not ready to end this one,
and Jer ended up spinning a few more scorching licks before Bob fell in love with a Mexican girl.
REVIEW: 5 Star Show
This show has so many qualities about it that make it a top pick that I am surprised that it has not been
appointed to the Dick’s Pick’s series. This particular recording has a nice listenable tone and the sets are
as solid as they get. Check out China Cat.
REVIEW: Great Great Stuff
This one’s special to me, the 27th is the most talked about and the 22-24th have their qualities too, but
there is simply some fine points to be heard within this recording that lifts it, songs like el paso and deal
find their way to the top of the setlist interest, on the back of some interesting transitions. I’d caution
don’t look for magic, just put it in the background and let it grab your attention. Tunes Like FOTD and
Miss Half Step, echo the september to come and all those DP’s. Maybe August got a bum rap.
REVIEW: Yeah, well that’s like your opinion, man…
This is great semi-early Dead at its best. The Black Throated is full of energy as is the majority of the
first set. The China->Rider is amazing and exhibits a level of play that only the early 70’s attianed.
REVIEW: Full On
Soooo much tastiness that it’s hard to fathom the beauty. I feel I must pray – literally! Both Bob and
Jerry’s voices sound so great. Take special note of Jerry’s in Stella Blue – an especially moving version,
not just vocally – Garcia’s leads are crisp, powerful, and authoritative. This show’s version of Playing in
the Band is also superlative. This show is Mighty.
REVIEW: Harmonies
The most noticable aspect for my listening is the clarity of the harmony that Phil provides. (Maybe I
have this wrong since I’ve never seen footage to be sure). The one I’m speaking of can be heard most
clearly when he outsings Weir and Garcia in Jack Straw. The strain is evident but the results are great.
After listening to JS it’s no wonder he stopped singing. One of the things that makes ’72 distinct for me is
the strength of this harmony that he provides.
REVIEW: change of lyrics on stella
Jerry sings “can’t keep from crying” instead of “gonna make’em shine” in the 3rd verse of Stella. Can’t
remember another show in which he’s uses this line. (But there are manymany Stellas I have yet to hear.)
The change parallels the other “cryings” in the standard lyrics, but I was wondering if anyone out there
has other insights/information to shine on Jerry altering the line. As everyone else has said: this is a
magnificent show.
REVIEW: 8-21-72
Amazing and wonderful are the words that come to mind. Every time I get lost in the old school Grateful
Dead I feel happy. It’s so nice to hear Jerry young and healthy. By the way this is a stellar recording.
REVIEW: Playing In The Band!!!
I love this playing! They waste no time just going off. Jerry on the Wa-Wa is masterful! At about 7:39
the band commences to playing some powerful magical sequence that is just really special….give it a
listen and see for yourself. I have many favorite versions of this tune and 1972 as some wonderful ones
in 8/27, 10/26, and 11/18. Those are special too!
REVIEW: Great Concert
Although this show gets much less attention then its epic following shows it is in fact an energy filled
epic concert. The me and my uncle is rocking, and is definitely one of my favorites. From the first song
to last this concert is energy filled and one not to be missed.
REVIEW: Stellar Stella
This is the best Stella Blue I have ever heard. Honestly though, this is a song I often skip. Here though,
Jerry shows full intent: vocal and guitar. Just as importantly though, the rest of the band is on the same
page; that is playing with subtlety. The mix is also strikingly competent complements all of this
wonderfully. In a word: captivating. Excellent sound, playing and overall vibe. Did I see somewhere this
is a Bear/Betty collaboration? Jeez Louise!
REVIEW: Nice Piano! – I was a little too young to hear it
Was listening to this show while working late and realized I was born a scant 6 days beforehand. My
parents listened to Bing Crosby and other old-school stuff so there was no GD going on in our house!
I’m sure my 7lb frame was grooving to the music in my crib on this date some 3,000 miles away. Piano
on FOD is fantastic!
“Today’s Dead Tomorrow”, Upcoming Gig Events
As always, verify with the venue…
Kettle Of Fish:
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Wed., Aug. 23rd, 7:00 p.m.
5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, 346-5443
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Thurs., Aug. 24th, 6:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
Cortez Kitchen, Fri., Aug. 25th, 6:00 p.m.
Cortez Fishing Village, 198th Street, Cortez, 798-9404
The Blue Rooster, Sat., Aug. 26th, 8:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
Ship Of Fools:
Kelly’s Live at Sarasota Sky Bar, Fri., Aug. 25th, 7:00 p.m.
1927 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota,
The Blue Rooster:
Tues., Aug. 22nd, Memphis Rub Band, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 23rd, Al Fuller Blues Jam, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 24th, Lauren Mitchell, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 25th, Victoria Ginty & Ladyhawke, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 26th, Kettle Of Fish, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe: (all shows start at 7:00 p.m.)
Mon., Aug. 21st, Open Mic with Rick Alvis
Tues., Aug. 22nd, Catskill
Wed., Aug. 23rd, Rick Miller
Thurs., Aug. 24th, Stumblecreek
Fri., Aug. 25th, The Missing Links
Sat., Aug. 26th, Smokin’ Bones
987 South Packinghouse Road, 371-9358
Sarasota Folk Club:
This month’s Sarasota Sailing Squadron concert is Mon., Aug. 28th, Rick Hardeman.
Open mic at 7:15 p.m., concert at 8:30
1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy. 388-2355
For all information regarding the Sarasota Folk Club, go to their website:
http://www.sarasotafolk.org/