K--------now this is up there with 2/15/73
i ---------noticed so many reviews from 05
N----------o way you should miss this recording
D-------------o I wish every show was this pristine

I agree with the review below..This dark star, dare I say, is among the top 5 best of all time. The show itself is easily top 3 of the year and some of the finest Grateful Dead music every played. The dark star>eyes will bring tears to your eyes if you listen carefully enough.

This is hands down the best and sweetest Dark Star The Boyz ever did. Going smoothly and seemlessly into MLB into Eyes is 49:23 minutes of pure, unadulterated bliss. I like to turn off all the lights and just float away to sleep some nights...but I never seem to fall asleep until I get to hear the very last notes of Eyes? I've told my wife and my friends it's the only thing I want to hear before I take my last breath on earth... but I'll refuse to go until I hear the last notes of Eyes !!! The whole show is wonderful.

Very few have mentioned how unbelievably hot this Sugar Magnolia is - Jer just will not stop bringing the uber heat!!!! Unfortunately the sunshine daydream vocal entrance is real sloppy but- who cares!! This is a somewhat overlooked highlight b/c this show is just one big freekin' highlight after another...

Get this from nugs.net

anybody interested in trading give me a shout!
tymanboyd@gmail.com
this is one awesome Winterland run!
worth the bones for the box but too bad we cant listen for free..
Peace

Not one of those nit-picky Dark Star listeners, who has their top five list or something...
but this Dark Star is really out of sight. Primal dead and the second set feel lives deep in this jam, reaching over 35 minutes and spanning WAY larger territory than most i have heard. Less in your face than the 69' dark stars, this one turns into a fusion jam about two thirds in that will go on to foreshadow the magnificent jazzy jams that would perfect themselves in 1974. Jerry twinges Stella Blue and drives the jam towards a more cohesive, melodic jam.
I can't say enough about this second set, or that beautiful Dark Star.

I NEED to get this in Mac format...can anyone help me?

This show is the second greatest concert I have ever seen in my life.

In appreciate for three superb performances in a row, and after they had finished their encore of UJB, Bill Graham's farewell song "Greensleeves" came upon the P.A. Then, after several minutes the house lights came up and there we were - all blinking at one another. We (same crowd each night) had just witnessed the greatest experience of our young lives and we would not leave.

First we started clapping. Then we began screaming "MORE" and after that we set ourselves to stomping on the floor. Then we clapped, screamed "MORE" and stomped the floor simultaneously, in unison and as one unified body for 25 solid, nonstop minutes. Very few of the original crowd left. We stood our ground because we wanted to bid them a goodnight.

All of a sudden, at the smiling crescendo of our final vociferous demand, the house lights came down and the band donned the stage for a double encore.

When it was done a fully satiated crowd funneled out through Winterland's portals into the dark and quiet night. There was every bit the evidence that we were all going straight home to bed for, after a donnybrook like that, any further merry-making would have been superfluous.

Damn...this show is consistent with every other Winterland show - AMAZING! I think this is now my favorite Winterland show of all time. The mood is just so warm. So many songs are played with such a delicacy..and others have the furiosity they deserve. This is just an all around spectacular show. China>Rider...well, fantastic. Dark Star > Eyes...mind blowing. Now quit reading this and download the show for yourself and enjoy the magic that happened 32 years ago.

Every song of this show is vintage dead. Especially the second set. The Dark Star is a tour de force of psychedelic jazz(after listening i understand why it has been dubbed the "thinking man's Dark Star". This Dark Star has to be in the top 5 of all time in my book (11/2/69, DP # 2, 4/24/72, 9/21/72, and this one- these are in no particular order). The eyes will have you searching to find your face! To me, this show is up there with the legendary Harper college show, the spring 77 shows, and the epic europe shows from 1972.
This is a must have for any deadhead! As for the sound it couldnt be any better. Their are a few flaws in the recording, but nothing major- dropouts during eyes and 1/2 step, but they are patched with an aud source i believe. Overall this is a 5 star show no question about it.

4 words - stop reading, start downloading.

the 1/2 step --> eyes is unreal... listen to it again and again and remind yourself why you think the dead is maybe the best band of musicians to have ever graced this green earth.

enjoy

i agree, with the caveat that the reason is that all the cylinders of this multifaceted machine were in gear: as well as any humans can be i such a primordial unison.

Jerry couldn't get much better this, true gold, Eyes of the World blew me out of my seat.

El Paso he really cuts loose like some of the other folks pointed out, does the same on Me and Bobby McGee of all songs. Really inspired playing. China>Rider is one of the best ever and the Let it Grow was really hard hitting and powerfully well played. DS is long and well played with a healthy dose of Jer on the wawa. Eyes is killer definately top three, and Sugar Mag one of the best ever as well.

There is no question in my mind this is the best show from 1973 - It is riveting start to finish. The sound quality is very good as well.

This show starts off without much steam until Billy comes in late on a drum fill and manages to catch up by the time its over. This occurs in the last 30 seconds or so of promised land. It seems like the whole band suddenly realized..oh yea, we are playin a show. Jerrys voice on bertha is angelic. Unfortunetely this was during bobbys second attempt at puberty and his vocals are inconsistent. Berthaoh jeez. Greatest story, much better.

Jerry by now has dipped around the bend and is waving from the shadows behind the moon. Greatest story has always felt that way to me. Jerry is almost extending, hmmif youve seen Donnie Darko, his notes are like that plasma fluid thing. I dont know, I can feel it, I can see it, but Ill be damned if I can explain it. Donna isnt really on, but she doesnt kill this show. The Greatest story is nothing short of awesome. Reviews of bobbys voice being off are true, but did you listen to what Jerry is doing. Just push the voice away. A nice sugaree, an eh BT Wind. A freaking beautiful To lay me down.freaking beautiful. Jerrys voice has the edge of 89 with the clarity of 68just incredible. And when Donna isnt trying to do Janis screams she can add nicely, which she does here.

One thing that always irks me abit is when someone says they only really like Jerry tunes and then use that as an explanation for why they dont like a song. For example El Paso. If you dont dig country thats one thing, but while not sung or arranged by Jerry he ripped this tune numerous times over the years.b/c he loved playing it. Sometimes Im not into a song for awhile and then I will hear Jerry completely absorbed in a version and I find a way to love it. This El Paso falls into said class. The man is simply having a blast runnin scales over it. Great version. Ramble on Rose is never anything but great. Just an impeccably well written song. Bobby McGee, a song that got played about 100 times in 2 years, and then 20 times over the next 22 they were really cooking on this one. Keith starts to settle in nicely during this. It very interesting listening to this show from the perspective of knowing the ending. The first set is almost like they are all getting reaquanted with one another and then finally with China Cat>Rider all the pleasantries and introductions are over and its down to business. Phil bombs, watch out! One of my favorite China Cats hands down, its really fantastic, super duper even. Turn on a dime time starts now and does not stop, well really for the next 2 weekslol what a band. Very strong me and my uncle. Loose Lucy is middle of road, I love this tune but this is not one of the better ones out there. WRP>Let it GrowBobbys vocals arent the best they ever were but they are fine here. Jerry rips LIG apart, sick version. The ½ Step opener is what it was then, underdeveloped.

The next hour of music ranks among the best the band ever played imo. It starts out with a crumpkickity Big River. Yea I made up that word, so what. To review this Dark Star the way Id like would require a whole page of its own so I will just say it definitely ranks high. Its not my favorite, top 10, sometimes, top 20 for sure. I guess it depends on the week. It doesnt wobble in wind as much as some from 72 and isnt as full of chops as in 74, and its not like many other 73 versions. Include the MLB jam and it jumps up to the higher ranks, include the whole segment and its historic music. Its great-period.

For my money this is the eyes I would want. Its structure is brilliant, Keith and Bob both play major roles, its tight and lose. There is, as mentioned a fumble changing into a minor scale in the breakdown, but I have found that when they didnt have one or two of them in 73 74 they usually werent pushing the limits, more of a play through. All the big name eyes have a miscue if you look for them. What sets this apart for me is the interplay and the mix. The mix is perfectperfect. They are bouncing off each other in a very special way. I wish I was listening to it right now so I could include a few time signatures, but I am at work with up to Big river only. An inspiring china doll segued into just right.

After that segment the rest of the show is nothing special. Just some playing around really and Bobs voice comes back to sink Sugar Mags. There are a few cuts and patches here and there, notably a seemingly damaged sbd reel for a bit of eyes. However I kind of like the texture it produces..any longer would be no good, but its just right.
Sound 4/5
Show 7.9/10
Set II 9.5/10

p.s. Zonker- Im glad you enjoyed the morning dewwait, huh?

This is a good show, I can see why people enjoy it. On the other hand, I can see why the few who did not give it fives gave it that rating. It is not a gift from god, but it is damn good. I agree that the sound is pretty good, but by no means awesome. On a few songs Jerry is a little hard to hear of the guitars. Bobby is not in good voice tonight! The cowboy songs are good tonight except for BTW which sorta blows. First set is pretty standard... nothing that makes me WOW. The second set... well i could write an entirely different review of it... its like its a different show completely. Every song in the 2nd set kicks... no need to elaborate. Deffinetly worth the download esp. the jam and eyes. 4.25

This is my favorite Darkstar. Perhaps not for eveyone, but to just float off into another place this one can get you there. Eyes wakes you up and gets you back down. Morning Dew Kicks.

Without a question download this

25 reviews, all but 2 are 5 star ratings. I expected perfection. There certainly are some wonderful things about this show, but I have to speak out about some weak elements, lest anyone else rushes to download and uses up time and bandwith based on the glowing reviews, without fully knowing what they're getting into:

There's a weird tape cut at the end of Promised Land into Bertha. The energy level rises in Bertha, things start to cook... but Bobby's vocals are ragged. By Greatest Story, Bob's voice is really sounding strained. Donna is trying to harmonize, but that just makes it worse. Sugaree is nice. Black throated wind suffers from Bob's strained vocals again.
Later we're off to El Paso... and something strange happens... Bobby's voice is FINE! This song is in his range, his singing is comfortable, expressive, and assured. Why does he strain and holler through songs when he can sing like this? Keith also steps out with some energetic piano.
Ramble on Rose is okay, Phil (who has been doing the occasional nice run) drops some NICE bombs coming out of the solo. Jerry's playing is lovely and expressive. Bobby McGee is cool too, with Bobby McWeir's voice just fine again, and Keith doing some cool saloon-style piano. China/Rider is mellow, but good. Jerry lays way back in the transition, and Bob's guitar work (which is crystal clear in the mix) is nice. Me & My Uncle is good, thankfully Bobby has been sticking with the cowboy songs that are in his vocal range. Lucy is fine, but I didn't think it was anything special. WRS/Let It Grow suffers from Bobby's strained vocals again, Jerry's playing is quick and jazzy through the L.I.G. jam, and really does some mindbending work, but I'll be looking for a version where Bob's voice sounds better.

A lot has been said about the second set, and I mostly agree. Big River hasn't been mentioned much, but it's fantastic. Jerry does some nice work-he seems to have some equipment trouble during his second solo, and lays out for a bit while Bob and Keith do some really energetic vamping and the tune just catches fire coming back into the final chorus.
The Dark Star is incredible, and Eyes is too... although the way Phil had been 'hinting' all night, I was really ready for him to tear up the 3rd vamp section where he often 'solos'- and he sounds ready to do it, doing some cool runs leading into the section... but Jerry deedles a bit like HE's going to take one... and then Phil just lays out. There is some weird tape source patching kind of stuff happening here too, and a couple of the transistions to the minor key are shaky.
Sugar Magnolia suffers from Bob's voice, reaching its nadir at the end with a bunch of screaming and caterwauling and carrying on... maybe you had to be there.
I was scared of Uncle John's Band being ruined by Bobby's voice, but he's pretty quiet, and Phil steps to the mic, which is always nice. Johnny B. Goode, a nothing special tune with strained vocals again.
And We Bid You Goodnight is great, Bob tries to end the show with a 'thankyouallgoodnight' but Jerry sets it off, as if posessed by the holy ghost, doing some really cool gospel style lead singing over some nice harmony singing, with Donna doing a lovely job and Bob singing comfortably.

I don't want to sound like the grumpy guy who has to rain on the parade of everyone's favorite show, but there are some weak points that I didn't think had been addressed in the reviews thus far. Overall I do think this is a good show, and the sound quality and mix are fantastic. I'll probably commit taper's blasphemy and chop up this show to fit second set highlights onto a single disc, maybe look for a better '73 first set.
peace.

This is a really good show and perfect sound. The Dark Star is not the hottest version, but really spacy and dreamy. There's a long stretch after the verse where nothing seems to be happening, and then they bust out of it. The MLB jam is more like, "Your mind has re-entered your body!" It's a much more rocking version than 12/2/73 (DP14), but that version is so gorgeous it's beyond words. The Eyes utterly rips. I'd say this is a 4 1/2 star show if 12/2 is a 5.

The section with the AUD patch sounds just as good as the rest of it, except you can hear the audience a little. I wonder why more audience shows from the Wall of Sound years don't exist - you get a little of the ambience of being there combined with great sound.

I have to say this is one of the GREATEST if not the greatest Dead show i have ever heard. The sound quality is astounding and the songlist... well speaks for itself. You'll be happy, download it

Peace

I burned this show last night, fantastic show and quality recording.Disc three times out at 80.07. I had to delete Johnny B. Goode from my disc to fit everything else. Disc three is a bombastic assault on the cosmos, make sure you pull 1 track back to the previous disc. IE: put track D2T1 on D1, etc.

Enjoy !

Great sounding recording first off. I think many dead shows have been recorded w/ the drums too hot, but this one has a very very good mix.
Having said that the WRS is very good ending the set. To start the next set miss half step (listen to the few notes of mountain jam played at the begening of the song, possibly a glimpse ito the epic cow palace allman brothers show (12/31/73) w/ a lot of the dead and boz and others doing a intense mountain jam)..anyways, a great miss 1/2 step (with donna mixing well instead of screaching), then the best segement of the show, imo, big river, dark star, eyes. the DS>eyes is 55 minutes of extremely well spent time. One of the best Dark stars, imo, which runs the gambit from cacophonous, to trippy, to happy and all points inbetween, right into a mesmerizing eyes.
In the end, all that should be said is that if you havent heard this show, you are doing your ears an injustice.

This might be one of the best shows ever.

It's been discussed over and over what a great Dark Star -->MLB this is (and I agree though the MLB from 6/28/74 is far superior), but in my mind this may be the best Eyes you will hear anywhere. Jerry's guitar is truly hypnotic and in an instant you are floating on the breeze right outside that lazy summer home.

Even the low points of the show are very well played and the best are transcendent. A gem.

If you are looking for a solid set list, good sounding, and very well played show from the '72-'74 period this is it. Everything about it in my mind is perfect and should be in everyones collection. The Dark Star and the China>Rider stand out for me but there are no bad tunes in the whole show.

The mix on this is absolutly sublime. Phil's bass is not overload, and yet shakes the room. Bertha, El Paso, To Lay me Down all shine. The "Thinking Man's Dark Star" is exploritory and bouncy, winding into a graceful MLB jam. I can't get over how clear the guitars and drums are. The trick on these downloads is always in the cymbals, and here they sound crisp and clean, not compressed and tinny. A great show from the very first note. I would say amoung the very top ten of all time. What a set list!!!
As Ringo sang "Don't pass me by!"

5 stars! One of THE best Dark Stars ever. I guess that's the point. If I was trying to introduce somebody to the Dead, this is one of the shows I'd use. Dark Star>Eyes>China Doll!! Even my wife likes it.

Do not hesitate to download this show.
This simply is one of THE BEST shows of the Grateful Dead's long and magical career.
A Desert Island Disc for sure in the closing set but it is all good...melts...just like butter.

from the moment the dark star got long..{ 12-28-69 is a good place to start} they couldn't go wrong------I judge a show {when ii stream, which is unreal to me still} on the dark star, or other one, or playin----they really stretch here, and the hiss is so minimal---far out jerry!!! 51 minutes these guys played together quite a bit and deserve to have long conversations like this---31:20 is a beautiful section real jamming

Not much original to add to the fine comments already posted, but I'll put in my .02 cents: The second half of the show, especially the DS->MLB Jam, is career highlight material; the aural equivalent of light being both a particle and a wave. Magical stuff!

- Best show of 1973? A good bet!
- Best of all time? Perhaps! (all IMHO)
- I'm not sure what 'thinking man's Dark Star' means (see the dr. below), but if it pertains to all the endlessly intricate and creative passages herein, so be it.
- Of all 'third stage' Dark Stars (1972-1974, see http://deadlists.com/dlsite/dark_star.txt for an excellent database/discussion of Dark Stars), this, IMHO, is hands down #1. Though it's apples and oranges to compare shows from this era with, say, the late 70's, I'd give up a 'rockin' 1977 show any day to keep this as my one 'desert island' show.
- Download and enjoy.

and sweet and down right bone-chilling good. This is a must. If you get anything from 73.. make sure this is on your burn list. I am in love with this show

One could argue this is the best show of 1973. Lets see here.....A great Bertha>Greatest plus a China>Rider AND Weather Report in the 1st set!

Set 2 starts with an overlooked 1/2 Step and then perhaps the greatest Dark Star ever. Including the Mind Left jam about 30 minutes. This goes to places unforseen. The only song to follow is of course Eyes. Jerry snakes thru multiple grooves here which eventually melts into China Doll. An Uncle John's encore is only an afterthought at this point. A Must!

One highlight for me is the best El Paso, bar none. I know its not in the same league as the heavy hitters (Dark Star, Eyes, WRS, etc), but this El Paso is just phenomenal. Rather than being a throwaway, like it often was, this version is played with an intensity and passion I haven't heard in others. D/L the MP3 of this tune for a quick taste, then d/l the whole show in shn for burning.

Seriously... 2nd half. Wow.

by far the 2nd set of this show is just insane..Dark Star is one of my favorites and will always be. it is a complete mind melt. dl and enjoy it. Thank-you archive.org for this wonderful site and to all the deadheads and those who are not who contribute the wonderful music to it for all of us to enjoy.

There are hardly enough superlatives to describe the back half of this show! IMO a very nice 1/2 Step and an awesome Big River to start. Then one of the most adventurous and greatest versions of Dark Star leads to a Mind Left Body Jam that is the most intense and focused version that I have ever heard. The Eyes of the World that follows is phenomenal and deserves to rank right up at the top with the likes of 5/7/77 & 6/18/74. A minor tragedy that the middle had to be patched, but it is basically in the verse and the sound returns to its otherwise STELLAR level. A lovely China Doll caps it off.

To quote John Scott in Deadbase, this is a "thinking man's Dark Star", and indeed it is. Likely the best version of 1973 (well, there's 3/28, check it out) and shows the band at their peak in 1973. The jams go to some very cosmic places with lots of thematic interplay. And the Eyes that follows is every bit as special, into a heartbreaking China Doll. This was the last night of 3 at Winterland, and with Uncle John and Bid You Goodnight for encores, I'd say they got their money's worth tonight! A must have 1973 show.
Dr. Flashback ;-)

This show is on the same level as the legendary 8/27/72, 9/21/72, 6/16/74 and insane 5/7-8-9/77 run as the best show EVER. No GD collection is complete without it, so you might as well start here with your '73 explorations. Get all those other ones I mentioned too.

This has long been one of my favorite shows. The whole show is solid '73 - jazzy and well jammed. The meat of the second set is perhaps my favorite suite of music ever performed by the band. Dark Star -> Mind Left Body Jam -> Eyes -> China Doll. The Dark Star is magnificent - long, jazzy and intricate. The mind left body jam is bliss. The Eyes is one of the best they ever played, maybe even the best (from an Eyes-aholic). The China Doll is poignant.

GET THIS SHOW!!! Kick off your shoes, tip the recliner back, smoke 'em if you got 'em, and get ready for your journey...

Every dead fan should have this show. One of the best from the year, if not the best.