Hey, thanks for giving this song such a thorough and respectful listen! It's such a pleasure to see someone else appreciate the musical landscape the Dead create, especially as they express themselves in THIS version of Dark Star. You have a keen ear, lol! Dark Star is the Grateful Dead's signature tune, and this performance, recorded on February 27, 1969 and released as side 1 on their 1969 album "Live/Dead", is this song's most widely known version. Although they debuted the song about 20 months before this was recorded, this performance was actually the very first time this song took flight *like this*, and it was a revelation for everyone, band and audience alike. This is the Grateful Dead captured at one of their musical peaks.
This musical exploration changed everything for me. Sitting alone in a basement in 1971, only light shown from a reel to reel tape player. Before, was handed something to drink and led down the basement steps where someone placed headphones upon my ears, and left me alone. I remember “Dark Star” coming on. I had never heard the Grateful Dead before, had no preconceived notions. Next thing I know, I am sobbing in delight as my body FEELS the music, it went beyond hearing & listening, it was all encompassing. To this day, when ever I hear this version, I have a physiological reaction that I can’t explain. Transformative, beautiful, inexplicable. Thanks for playing this. ❤
That's a beautiful story . And as a psychedelic tour guide I give high praise to whoever it was that knew just exactly how to best facilitate for you a journey tailor made and clearly life altering as it has proven to have life long lasting positivity. Peace be the journey
This is truly music from another time. I saw the dead at least 6 times and every concert was peaceful and relaxing. Even the police loved doing security at their performances. No fighting and everyone was in a great mood (if you catch my meaning). This is truly the epitome of psychedelic rock.
I am not sure if you're a fellow Deadhead but I am glad you've said this. Beyond the labels the media have given them you find the true element that makes them special. Their music.
My favorite Dead tune that got me started as a young 15 year old kid in 1970 on a life long journey with the Dead and psychedelia. I'm old now but still on the bus. Acid was not required to see and enjoy the Dead, but it sure was icing on the cake. Especially with this tune.
Only the Dead would have this as an opening track to a double album in 1969. Their definitive grand opus in my humble opinion. One of their finest moments
This a bone fida Yoga, Many Many Many people existed thier whole life in this free form music and never went back to constructed planning Even in thier day to day existence, they just let it happen and tried to be uninvolved Cortexully as possible and they did it form the gig to the grave , happy little deadheads , No ssri's Like a Mantra against depression The Real issue is that you have to hear St Stephen after this as well as the eleven as well as the whole damn gig at a Gig :) Come,
Dead Head here in STL, MO, USA- I discovered them in the 80's with Touch Of Grey, but I didn't know the legacy. Fast forward to 1994, and I'm at my first Dead concert at age 17. Fast forward again to 1998 and I'm lying on the floor, tripping balls while listening to this. Dark Star is a masterpiece. This was the album that finally caught their fire. Even though they were better represented live, their next two studio albums are absolute classics, as well.
I love the Dead, and I credit them for helping me look at things from a different perspective. That said, Dark Star can begin to drone on. I had a show on tape many years ago where the entire A side was Dark Star. Shesh 😂
This is such an amazing song........I have had many good memories to this song... You should check out "the eleven" Not only is it an amazing song, but it is totally unique in which the timing is an 11/8 beat. It's hard to explain, but just listen to it, and you will see ❤
Sophomore year college was introduced to this jam…we would start this tune and by the end be so lit we didn’t know who put the song on in the first place … so good
I always tell people that this is the song that makes the Dead who they are. You will probably get lost in the middle. It's weird, get over it and get into it
Picture this….1971 a dark college dorm room at night, one candle with this album playing and you took something called LSD25 along with four other people. Wonder how that would play out. An experiment?
Love the fact that while talking about playing with the dead and how it effected him Branford Marsalis remarks . " yeah I have dead heads that come to my concerts now and you know who they are and someone shouts out " play Darkstar woo!"
August 1972. Some friends and I, as well as a young guy from Germany I'd met on the bus from Portland the night before took a hike through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. After about 2.5 days of hiking, we came out on the Eastern side of the Kalmiopsis, where we split up and hitchiked to Eugene. Went out to Veneta the next day and saw the "Dead in 100' heat. They played from about 3:00 PM till slightly after dark. WHAT A SHOW THAT WAS!!!
"Dark Star is always playing somewhere. All we do is tap into it." - Phil Lesh
Nice 🌑🌠✌
1969 peak psychedelic Dead. This album captures it and the quality of the recording is unmatched for that time
Perennially Under-appreciated band member: Tom Constanten
Couldn't agree more
Hey, thanks for giving this song such a thorough and respectful listen! It's such a pleasure to see someone else appreciate the musical landscape the Dead create, especially as they express themselves in THIS version of Dark Star. You have a keen ear, lol! Dark Star is the Grateful Dead's signature tune, and this performance, recorded on February 27, 1969 and released as side 1 on their 1969 album "Live/Dead", is this song's most widely known version. Although they debuted the song about 20 months before this was recorded, this performance was actually the very first time this song took flight *like this*, and it was a revelation for everyone, band and audience alike. This is the Grateful Dead captured at one of their musical peaks.
Be very, VERY careful dude because you are DANGEROUSLY close to becoming a deadhead It's ok though, we don't bite!
Sometimes I forget how good this song really is. The Dead are the greatest rock band in history.
This musical exploration changed everything for me. Sitting alone in a basement in 1971, only light shown from a reel to reel tape player. Before, was handed something to drink and led down the basement steps where someone placed headphones upon my ears, and left me alone. I remember “Dark Star” coming on. I had never heard the Grateful Dead before, had no preconceived notions. Next thing I know, I am sobbing in delight as my body FEELS the music, it went beyond hearing & listening, it was all encompassing. To this day, when ever I hear this version, I have a physiological reaction that I can’t explain. Transformative, beautiful, inexplicable. Thanks for playing this. ❤
You listen - and HEAR!!!
That's a beautiful story . And as a psychedelic tour guide I give high praise to whoever it was that knew just exactly how to best facilitate for you a journey tailor made and clearly life altering as it has proven to have life long lasting positivity. Peace be the journey
can’t tell you how much pot i cleaned using this album cover back in the day when you had to clean out seeds
This is truly music from another time. I saw the dead at least 6 times and every concert was peaceful and relaxing. Even the police loved doing security at their performances. No fighting and everyone was in a great mood (if you catch my meaning). This is truly the epitome of psychedelic rock.
Grateful Dead 6-9-77 Help on the Way/ Slipknot!/ Franklin's Tower: Winterland
I’m enjoying these trips back into time. I’ve discovered that the Grateful Dead is a band that needs to be explored more deeply.
I am not sure if you're a fellow Deadhead but I am glad you've said this. Beyond the labels the media have given them you find the true element that makes them special. Their music.
My favorite Dead tune that got me started as a young 15 year old kid in 1970 on a life long journey with the Dead and psychedelia. I'm old now but still on the bus. Acid was not required to see and enjoy the Dead, but it sure was icing on the cake. Especially with this tune.
Me too, I was 15 in 70, learning to play guitar. This version of Dark Star opened my eyes to true musical freedom and exploration.
I'm still looking for that icing on the cake......was just too young back then.
Only the Dead would have this as an opening track to a double album in 1969. Their definitive grand opus in my humble opinion. One of their finest moments
Can't beat the Grateful Dead when you want to take your brain to interesting places.
Good Work !!! the other choices have been less than stellar !!!
This a bone fida Yoga,
Many Many Many people existed thier whole life in this free form music and never went back to constructed planning
Even in thier day to day existence, they just let it happen and tried to be uninvolved Cortexully as possible and they did it form the gig to the grave , happy little deadheads , No ssri's
Like a Mantra against depression
The Real issue is that you have to hear St Stephen after this as well as the eleven as well as the whole damn gig at a Gig :)
Come,
The one from Veneta aint too shabby either.
this whole album🔥
The first 16-track live rock recording. Revolutionary for the time.
I remember getting this album in 1969 - from that point on there was the Dead - then everybody else
Jerry’s voice on this was so powerful.
Dead Head here in STL, MO, USA- I discovered them in the 80's with Touch Of Grey, but I didn't know the legacy. Fast forward to 1994, and I'm at my first Dead concert at age 17. Fast forward again to 1998 and I'm lying on the floor, tripping balls while listening to this. Dark Star is a masterpiece. This was the album that finally caught their fire. Even though they were better represented live, their next two studio albums are absolute classics, as well.
A masterful 20 minutes from one concert of thousands that they did.
Thanks Patrol! Grateful Dead way ahead of the curve. They carried in the first ever live-mobile 8 track/channel recording system for this gig.
It was 16 track, this was the first 16 track live rock album
A GD song is about 3-4hrs long in live concert because they start playing and just don't stop, jamming into and out of songs for the whole concert.
I love the Dead, and I credit them for helping me look at things from a different perspective. That said, Dark Star can begin to drone on. I had a show on tape many years ago where the entire A side was Dark Star. Shesh 😂
This is my anti stress song. I can hear it perfectly in my mind whenever I need to.
This was Robert Hunter's first song he wrote for the dead.. Hunter is the man behind many of their best songs lyrics'..
Not one interruption - went with the flow and went the same place we all go when hearing - not merely listening...
Hearing the Dead live was unlike any other concert experience. I never did acid either and always had an amazing time.
This is such an amazing song........I have had many good memories to this song...
You should check out "the eleven"
Not only is it an amazing song, but it is totally unique in which the timing is an 11/8 beat. It's hard to explain, but just listen to it, and you will see ❤
In another times forgotten space, your yesloomed from your mothers face..
Grateful Dead baby!
You should check out 1977 Cornell University Morning Dew!! The best
It's a LIVE take.....live audience performance! Imagine that!
Sophomore year college was introduced to this jam…we would start this tune and by the end be so lit we didn’t know who put the song on in the first place … so good
When I saw Dark Star reaction....I thought and I thought and I thought...lol
Cowboy neal is at the wheel and bus has found you brother might just aa well hop on amd enjoy the ride. We are all happy to have you .
I always tell people that this is the song that makes the Dead who they are. You will probably get lost in the middle. It's weird, get over it and get into it
Check out Veneta 72' Dark Star over 30 mins of 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Music creating a sacred place
9-10-74 Dark Star>Morning Dew best ever
Picture this….1971 a dark college dorm room at night, one candle with this album playing and you took something called LSD25 along with four other people. Wonder how that would play out. An experiment?
The Music Played the Band
That particular Dark Star is a tough listen at times. There are some versions like 9-21-1972 that get super jazzy and dark.
yess that dark star from 9/21 is amazing, jazzy, noise rocky, then there’s country and space rock at the end, it’s a true masterpiece.
Love the fact that while talking about playing with the dead and how it effected him Branford Marsalis remarks . " yeah I have dead heads that come to my concerts now and you know who they are and someone shouts out " play Darkstar woo!"
It’s like a roller coaster ride!
Get some, they come at you in waves
The whole band (except for Pigpen) were most likely high on Owsley's finest LSD during this performance. Open minded musical exploration at it's peak.
I think he gets it
You didn't finish it - plus it needs to be followed by St Stephen's
August 1972. Some friends and I, as well as a young guy from Germany I'd met on the bus from Portland the night before took a hike through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. After about 2.5 days of hiking, we came out on the Eastern side of the Kalmiopsis, where we split up and hitchiked to Eugene. Went out to Veneta the next day and saw the "Dead in 100' heat. They played from about 3:00 PM till slightly after dark. WHAT A SHOW THAT WAS!!!