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Seems like this show used to only circulate in parts. It was hard to find complete and in the correct order BITD of Blanks & Postage. Their only time at the U of Wash basketball arena, this Wall of Sound show is of course known as the one with the 46min Playin'. There's a lot more.



First Set. The bad mix on Me & My Uncle is just the SBD, not FOH, so the AUD is fine. Brown Eyed Women is a paragon; couldn't be smoother. After an average Beat it on Down the Line-7 and a sleepy-but-solid-enough Deal, Mexicali impresses as Jer and Phil push Bobby. Though Musta Been Roses is typical, thankfully it's not draggy. Scarlet is just the 4th one. This is an example of the early faster arrangement peaking. In a quick change, Row Jimmy is kind of dead. The briefly-played Money Money is the last of only three (but not the best). There are differing stories about its demise (some not entirely plausible), but in the Dead stuff usually got ejected if Phil wouldn't play it. Nobody capture the very beginning of Ship of Fools. The AUD is pretty close, and is used to patch the SBD (the official release instead edits-in the first 22sec from 6/28). It's tighter than a rusty spanner, but not as sparky as other '74s. However, Weather Report is consistently good in '74 (the first 5sec on the official are also from 6/28). Let it Grow is pretty typical of the period, but the last few minutes are just great. Even if not the most detailed, China Doll is absolutely sterling.



Second Set. The marathon Playin' history piece comes right at the top of the set. There are some bland sections and some great sections - which would be expected in the course of 46min. That's enough time for every nook and cranny to be painted over, even if some were fine the way they were. There's even some Donnaskreech™. Once they get out there, Jer wants to stay. Finding the way back with him lashed to the figurehead, still hunched over playing, takes awhile. Weird for a set opener, and a must-hear-once. The intro riff for U.S. Blues is still a month away. There's so much going on/packed into Big River. It's amazing here how Jer starts singing the final chorus just before finishing his solo. The tempo in Stella starts with health but then slows. The official version abruptly switches to the end solo from 6/18 @~7:33. Around is a total smoker, and that spins the top for an aggressive Eyes of the World that rides the zenith. Wharf Rat ain't half bad. But Ouch!: Sugar Mag gets awfully messy during the verses. Somehow things went shaky, but Johnny B. Goode gets them back just enough to leave 'em happy on campus (thank you Phil).



1st Set : B

2nd Set : B-

Overall = 3⅔ stars



Highlights:

Brown Eyed Women - paragon-ish

Mexicali Blues - impresses

Scarlet Begonias - great ex. of early arrangement

China Doll - sterling

Big River - so much going on

Around & Around - real smoker

Eyes of the World - big, wonderful Eyes (though short next to the PitB)



SOURCES: The wier_22801 is the updated (patched) SBD. The miller_98822 is the Pat Lee AUD; astonishing qual for '74 and lends itself to a great Tobin MTX. The official release is the whole show except for edited versions of Weather Report, Ship & Stella. Brown Eyed, Playing & China Doll are on Believe It If You Need It. The Playing in the Band is also on a third release: split onto two sides of a stand-alone vinyl.

- November 20, 2019Husky show