T for Texas Dead November 18-19 1972

The Grateful Dead dressed in their leathers and rode into Texas for some smoke and shows in 1972.
At first, the Allman Brothers were supposed to play two nights with the boys, but Berry Oakley's death put those shows on hold until Watkins Glen the following year.

This was the 10th and 11th shows in Texas as the band had been playing there since 1968.

Our friend Dick loved this Texas run as he says :

The last 5 shows in Texas, are each worth getting. The quality is not
so hot, but the playing is ferocious. On 11/18, in Houston, there is a
major, top 10 of all-time, version of "Playing in the Band". (I am
starting to think that this period has possibly the most intense versions
ever for this defining piece of music.)  The show on the following night
(11/19) is one of the most exciting shows over-all, from this southern
tour. There is a "jam"  segment before "Miss.1/2 step..", that contains
several distinct, and very unique themes, including the "philo stomp",
"weather report" theme, a brain-fry, and a very lengthy bass solo!
http://www.agitators.com/gd/dick_1972.html

Before the record store day release of 11-18-1972, there was a killer Tapers Section release of Playin' In The Band which you can hear above.  There is another interesting review of the first show below, but what is really special is this article here which speaks to someone stealing a cassette of the 1971 radio broadcast, which is the first reporting discussing a FM cassette of a show (before reviewing the new Europe '72 album (which was released just a few days prior to these shows on Nov. 5; the review is about Nov 26)  Here's some of these shows

1972 Warner Ad

Ace Review 1972

Blackjack!: 21(now 24) Once-Only Dark Star Pairings

So it's New Years Eve at my 52nd show. First third set. They play Dark Star. My head explodes.  I am thinking what are they going into? It's uncharted waters, and I'm thinking 1978, St Stephen, but they turn 15 minutes later in Bertha, an "inspired choice" according to Light Into Ashes from my prior post.

I am certain this interesting list will need to be modified, but this topic has been twirling around all head. A few years back, I was listening to the first Keith Godchaux shows in Fall 1971 (which he really really shined in my opinion right out of the gate). The set lists for these shows suggest that the boys were slowly breaking him in, with sets one and two both consisting of the mainly single songs.
However, starting in the first first shows of the tour in October, there was usually a Dark Star or That's It For The Other One that evolved into a more typically first set song (Me & Bobby McGee, for example).

So I sat down last night and made a list from mi original Deadbase 11 (and the Kindle Deadbase 50 on my phone), of all the Dark Star partners that only occurred one time.  My one Dark Star in 80 attempts is one of these (Dark Star->Bertha) from New Year's 1981.

I loved back in the day listening to tapes for the first time and Dark Star made one of these unexpected pairings   New Speedway, .Half Step, Deal!  A lot of these surprise me, only one goes into Truckin, one in He's Gone.

I welcome corrections. (Thanks spring mountain high and Quincy, twice on archive for three more) Since its Saturday, I'll put the music files here.  Sorry dont have all flacs on these.

One-Time only Dark Star Destinations

1. 05-31-1969 Eugene        Dark Star->Doin That Rag
2. 12-26-1969 Dallas          Dark Star ->New Speedway Boogie
3. 11-08-1969 SF                Dark Star -> Uncle  John's Band Jam
4. 12-30-1969 Boston         Dark Star -> Alligator  
5. 05-08-1970 Delhi            Dark Star->Dancing In The Streets
6. 07-31-1971 New Haven  Dark Star->Bird Song
7. 12-15-1971 Ann Arbor   Dark Star -> Deal
8. 03-23-1972 NYC            Dark Star -> Big Boss Man
9. 09-10-1972 Hollywood  Dark Star -> Jack Straw  (drums before Straw but with David Crosby)
10. 09-16-1972 Boston         Dark Star -> Brokedown Palace
11. 09-27-1972 Jersey City  Dark Star -> Cumberland Blues
12. 10-23-1972 Milwaukee  Dark Star -> Mississippi Half-Step
13. 11-19-1972 Houston      Dark Star -> Weather Report Suite Prelude
14. 03-16-1973  Nassau       Dark Star -> Truckin' (into Dew, wow!)
15. 03-24-1973 Philly          Dark Star -> Sing Me Back Home
16. 06-10-1973 RFK            Dark Star -> He's Gone
17. 05-14-1974 Missoula     Dark Star -> China Doll  (let It Grow->Dark Star, thanks Dave)
18. 07-25-1974 Chicago      Dark Star -> Slipknot!
19. 01-20-1979 Buffalo       Dark Star -> Not Fade Away
20. 12-31-1981 Oakland      Dark Star -> Bertha
21. 10-20-1990 Berlin         Dark Star -> Throwing Stones
22. 08-21-1991 Shoreline    Dark Star->The Promise Land (last first set Dark Star)
23. 09-26-1991 Boston       Dark Star -> Saint of Circumstances 
24. 12-16-1992 Oakland     Dark Star -> All Along The Watchtower 

Notes: 

06-19-1968  Only Dark Star Jam->The Other One Jam know

10-30-1968  Only Dark Jam->Dead Letter Blues

02-18-1971   Dark Star->1st Wharf Rat>Beautiful Jam  First Set, Beautiful Jam is top-5 Dead Moments in History

06-23-1974  Dark Star Jam  -> Spanish -> US Blues   (only a DS jam, but so cool)

06-17-1991  Hornsby Dark Star Jam ->Truckin'

09-16-1991  Dark Star Jam into Watchtower

06-18-1992  Dark Star Jam into Watchtower

List does not include songs separated by drums like  Dark Star > Drums > Space > Foolish Heart from 9-24-1991.