Dark Star Catalog (Guest Post)

By Jim Powell

Jim Powell’s Dark Star document on deadlists dates back to 2008, and other versions on the web are even older, so I’ve decided to post a new, updated version here.

This document catalogs all known Dark Star performances by the Grateful Dead and gives timings for all circulating tapes. It is comprised of five lists:

·         Circulating Tapes Of Dark Star

·         Dark Stars Still Missing From Circulation

·         AUD Dark Stars (Dark Stars available only on AUD tape)

·         Fragmentary Dark Stars
-     Dark Star Transitions

CIRCULATING TAPES OF DARK STAR  (6/1/17)

The following is a list of the 230 live performances of Dark Star (and studio versions) for which tapes currently circulate. It gives the timing of each, and an indication of what is missing if the tape is fragmentary. (Due to varying tape speeds, the timings don't always match each source.)

Guests and official releases are also listed. 1970s AUD sources are noted when available on the Archive. (Later AUD tapes, and AUDs not digitally circulating, are not noted.)

Some of the more remarkable Dark Stars are tinted.

* indicates short instrumental teases without the full theme.
Updates and corrections are welcome.

11/14/67 American Studios, LA: 2:39 (instrumental studio version)

Late ’67, various studios: 2:50 - Warner Bros Single 7186

1/17/68 Carousel Ballroom: #4:48 (start clipped)

1/20/68 Eureka: 3:08#  (cuts off)

1/22/68 Seattle: 5:36 [Actual date 1/26.]

1/23/68 Seattle: 7:06 [Actual date 1/27.] – Road Trips Vol.2 No.2 bonus disc  

2/2/68 Portland: 6:33 (standalone encore) – Road Trips Vol.2 No.2

2/3/68 Portland: 5:26  

2/14/68 Carousel Ballroom: 5:54 – Road Trips Vol.2 No.2

2/22/68 Lake Tahoe: #6:24 (missing start, no vocals) – Taper’s Section

2/23/68 Lake Tahoe: 6:48 - Dick's Picks 22 [Possibly from 2/24/68.]

3/16/68 Carousel Ballroom: 7:15 – So Many Roads

3/29/68 Carousel Ballroom: 7:28 (standalone DS) (Formerly mislabeled “3/26/68.”)

3/30/68 Carousel Ballroom: 8:59

Circa 6/68, Unknown Venue: 16:06 (mystery reels, track 39)

8/21/68 Fillmore West: 14:30 - Origins deluxe ed. vinyl (circulating copies missing start)

8/22/68 Fillmore West: 12:07 

8/23/68 Los Angeles: 15:30

8/24/68 Los Angeles: 11:21 - Two From The Vault

8/28/68 Avalon Ballroom: 10:49 [Mislabeled; there was no such show; this was likely from a Fillmore West show that week.]

9/2/68 Sultan: 14:06

10/8/68 Matrix: 12:00 (Hartbeats)

10/10/68 Matrix: 13:05 (Hartbeats)

10/12/68 Avalon Ballroom: 15:00 (Used to circulate mislabeled "10/13/68.")

10/13/68 Avalon Ballroom: #13:50 (missing start)

10/20/68 Berkeley: 10:17 – 30 Trips

10/30/68 Matrix: 17:30 & 19:10# -- two Dark Stars on this tape (Hartbeats)

11/1/68 Chico: 12:17 

11/6/68 Pacific Recording, San Mateo?: 12:20 (studio rehearsal with Tom Constanten)

11/22/68 Columbus: #11:50 (missing start) AUD

12/7/68 Louisville: #13:24 (missing start)

12/29/68 Hallandale: 10:26

1/17/69 Santa Barbara: 13:08

1/24/69 Avalon Ballroom: 19:38 (standalone DS)

1/25/69 Avalon Ballroom: #14:08 (missing start)

1/26/69 Avalon Ballroom: 9:#38 (cut in the middle)

2/2/69 Minneapolis: 15:33  

2/4/69 Omaha: 13:15  

2/5/69 Kansas City: #11:43 (missing start)

2/6/69 St. Louis: 14#:02 (cut in the middle)  

2/7/69a Pittsburgh: 14:09

2/11/69b Fillmore East: 12:29 – Fillmore East 2-11-69

2/12/69b Fillmore East: #4:58 (only the end)

2/14/69 Philadelphia: #19:03 (first bars clipped)

2/15/69 Philadelphia: 22:19 

2/21/69 Vallejo: 20:38 

2/22/69 Vallejo: 22:17 – 30 Trips

2/27/69 Fillmore West: 23:05 - Live Dead; Fillmore West 1969 Complete Recordings

2/28/69 Fillmore West: 19:50 - Fillmore West 1969 Complete Recordings

3/1/69 Fillmore West: 23:01 - Fillmore West 1969 Complete Recordings

3/2/69 Fillmore West: 20:03 - Fillmore West 1969 Complete Recordings

3/15/69 SF Hilton: 20:30

3/22/69 Pasadena: 14:47

3/28/69 Modesto: 22:45 (Formerly mislabeled "Merced 3/27/69".)

3/29/69 Las Vegas: 21:01

4/4/69 Avalon Ballroom: 20:03

4/5/69 Avalon Ballroom: 17:27

4/11/69 Tucson: 19:59

4/12/69 Salt Lake City: #21:35

4/13/69 Boulder: 24:01

4/15/69 Omaha 20:20 AUD

4/17/69 St. Louis 21:36 – Download Series vol. 12

4/20/69 Worcester: 21:12

4/21/69 Boston: 22:41

4/22/69 Boston: 27#:22 (brief tapeflip)

4/23/69 Boston: 20:56

4/26/69 Chicago: 1:37 (instrumental)* – Dick’s Picks 26

4/27/69 Minneapolis: 26:31 - Dick's Picks 26

5/7/69 Golden Gate Park: 22:19

5/10/69 Pasadena: 20:59

5/23/69 Hollywood: 18:57 – Road Trips Vol.4 No.1

5/30/69 Portland: 17:02

5/31/69 Eugene: 23:58

6/5/69 Fillmore West: 20:32

6/7/69 Fillmore West: 20:46

6/14/69 Monterey: 15:10

6/21/69b Fillmore East: 7:#21 (nearly all of central jam missing)

6/22/69 Central Park, NYC: #11:26 (missing start and cut in the middle) AUD

6/27/69 Santa Rosa: 26:07

7/5/69 Chicago: 18:19

7/7/69 Atlanta: 26#:50 (brief tapeflip)

7/12/69 Queens: #9:52 (missing first half?)

8/3/69 Family Dog 23:20 (standalone DS with saxophone & violin players)

8/16/69 Woodstock: 19:06 – Woodstock: 40 Years On

8/21/69 Seattle: 6:33

8/23/69 St. Helens: 26:#57 (1st vocals missing)

8/28/69 Family Dog: 47:#33 (Dark Star 31:16 # 16:16 > Eleven jam 16:40) [with Howard Wales and flute; without Weir, McKernan, or Constanten]

8/30/69 Family Dog: 28:56

9/1/69 New Orleans: 17:39

9/26/69a Fillmore East: #16:50 (missing start) AUD

10/25/69 Winterland: 22:02

11/2/69 Family Dog: 30:06

11/7/69 Fillmore: 26#:00 (18:33 > UJB jam 1:45 # 5:47) (cut in the middle)

11/8/69 Fillmore: 21:03 (DS 14:03 > Other One > DS 7:00 [DS 1:04 > UJB jam 2:33 > DS 3:23]) – Dick's Picks 16

12/4/69 Fillmore West: 30:14 

12/11/69 Los Angeles: 20:32 – Dave’s Picks 10 bonus disc

12/20/69 Fillmore: 20:38 - Dave’s Picks 6

12/26/69 Dallas: 24:00

12/30/69 Boston: 19:23# (end missing)

1/2/70 Fillmore East: 31:30 - Dave's Picks 30 (end cut on circulating tapes)

1/17/70 Corvallis: 20:00

1/23/70 Honolulu: 18#:46 – Dave’s Picks 19

2/2/70 St. Louis: 21:54 – Dave’s Picks 6

2/8/70 Fillmore West: 26:11 AUD (& partial SBD)

2/11/70b Fillmore East: 25:58 (DS 16:18 > Spanish Jam 9:40) (SBD with AUD patch) (instrumental, with Peter Green & Duane Allman) 

2/13/70b Fillmore East: 29:24 – Dick's Picks 4 (also AUD)

2/14/70a Fillmore East: 23:36 – Long Strange Trip soundtrack

3/24/70 Dania:13#:48 (cut in middle, 4:54 # 8:54)  [Actual date 3/23.]

4/24/70 Denver: 24:39 AUD  [Actual date 4/25.]

5/8/70 Delhi: #18:05 (missing start) AUD

5/15/70b Fillmore East: 19:40 – Road Trips Vol.3 No.3 (also AUD)

5/24/70 Newcastle: 21:21 (also AUD)

6/24/70b Port Chester: 19:57 (9:45 > Attics > 7:09 > Sugar Magnolia > 3:03) AUD

9/17/70 Fillmore East: 26:30 AUD

9/19/70 Fillmore East: 25:24 (also AUD)

10/11/70 Wayne: #20:29 (missing start) AUD

10/17/70 Cleveland: 19#:17 (two cuts in the middle) AUD

11/5/70 Port Chester: 21:06 AUD

11/8/70 Port Chester: 25:18 (DS 16:36 > Main Ten 8:42) AUD

2/18/71 Port Chester: 14:21 (DS 7:02 > Wharf Rat > DS 7:19) (with Ned Lagin) – excerpt on So Many Roads

4/8/71 Boston: 14:38 (with Ned Lagin)

4/26/71 Fillmore East: 12:52

4/28/71 Fillmore East: 14:00 (with Tom Constanten) – Ladies & Gentlemen

7/31/71 New Haven: 22:36 (SBD with AUD patch) – Road Trips Vol.1 No.3

10/21/71 Chicago: 17:09 (DS 14:57 > Sittin' > DS 2:12) – Dave’s Picks 3

10/24/71 Detroit: 20:47

10/31/71 Columbus: 23:14 – Dicks Picks 2

11/7/71 Harding Theater, SF: 13:58

11/15/71 Austin: 20:44 (DS 12:55 > El Paso > DS Jam 7:49) – Road Trips Vol.3 No.2

12/5/71 Felt Forum, NYC: 20:17 (DS 8:01 > Uncle > DS 12:16) (instrumental)

12/15/71 Ann Arbor: 20:23

3/23/72 Academy of Music, NYC: 22:43 (standalone DS) – Rockin’ the Rhein bonus disc

4/8/72 London: 31:30 – Steppin' Out, Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

4/14/72 Copenhagen: 29:14 (also AUD) - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

4/17/72 Copenhagen: 30:54 - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

4/24/72 Dusseldorf: 40:38 (DS 25:45 > Uncle > DS 14:54) – Rockin’ the Rhein, Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

4/29/72 Hamburg: 29:54 - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings (also AUD)

5/4/72 Paris: 39:25 (DS 19:22 > drums 2:31 > DS 17:32) - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

5/7/72 Wigan: 19:27 – Europe ’72 Vol.2, Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

5/11/72 Rotterdam: 47:11 (DS 13:45 > drums 3:40 > DS 29:46) - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

5/18/72 Munich: 26:34 - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

5/23/72 London: 29:54 - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

5/25/72 London: 34:30 - Europe ’72 Complete Recordings

7/18/72 Jersey City: 27:13 (also AUD)

7/26/72 Portland: 30:49

8/21/72 Berkeley: 27:25

8/24/72 Berkeley: 27:10

8/27/72 Veneta: 31:27 – Sunshine Daydream

9/10/72 Hollywood: 35:20 (DS 32:17 > drums 1:33 > jam 1:30) (with David Crosby)

9/16/72 Boston: 26:56 (end patched with AUD)  

9/21/72 Philadelphia: 37:22 - Dick's Picks 36

9/24/72 Waterbury: 33:56 (DS 27:43 > drums 1:59 > DS 4:14) – 30 Trips

9/27/72 Jersey City: 30:49 - Dick's Picks 11

10/18/72 St. Louis: 28:21

10/23/72 Milwaukee: 28:23 AUD

10/26/72 Cincinnati: 21:32

10/28/72 Cleveland: 27:43

11/13/72 Kansas City: 33:50 AUD (Bear's AUD patched @ 11:17 w/ 1:35 of 2nd AUD)

11/19/72 Houston: 31:#40 (DS 25:40 > WRS Prelude 6:00)

11/26/72 San Antonio: 25:11

12/11/72 Winterland: 34:26 (also AUD)

12/15/72 Long Beach: 25:00

2/15/73 Madison: 19:17 (also AUD)

2/22/73 Champaign: 13:30

2/26/73 Lincoln: 25:05 – Dick’s Picks 28

3/16/73 Nassau: 27:13 (also AUD)

3/21/73 Utica: 21:41

3/24/73 Philadelphia: 4:00 (jam/Spanish jam/space 22:30 > DS)  

3/28/73 Springfield: 32:08 – Dave’s Picks 16 (also AUD)

6/10/73 Washington, D.C.: 26:34 (also AUD)

6/24/73 Portland: 27:13

6/30/73 Universal City: 16:15 (also AUD)

8/1/73 Jersey City: 24:52 (also AUD)

9/11/73 Williamsburg: 22:16 (also AUD)

10/19/73 Oklahoma City: 26:20 - Dick's Picks 19

10/25/73 Madison: 23#:02

10/30/73 St. Louis: 27:07

11/11/73 Winterland: 35:38 – Winterland 1973

11/21/73 Denver: 3:25 (instrumental)* – Road Trips Vol.4 No.3

11/30/73 Boston: 9:37 (instrumental) - Dick's Picks 14 (also AUD) (needs 20-second AUD patch)

12/6/73 Cleveland: 44:07 – Road Trips Vol. 4 No.3 bonus disc

12/18/73 Tampa: 21:44 (also AUD)

2/24/74 Winterland: 29:37 – Dave’s Picks 13 (also AUD) (needs 30-second AUD patch)

5/14/74 Missoula: 26:41 – Dave’s Picks 9 

6/23/74 Miami: 22:04 (instrumental, DS 17:54 > Spanish Jam 4:10) – excerpt on So Many Roads, complete Dave's Picks 34 (also AUD)
6/28/74 Boston: 3:30 (instrumental after MLB jam)* - Dick's Picks 12 (also AUD)

7/25/74 Chicago: 23:59 (instrumental)

9/10/74 London: 31:18 – Dick's Picks 7

10/18/74 Winterland: 31:58 (jam 7:47 > DS 24:11) (with Ned Lagin) – Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack 

12/31/78 Winterland: 12:21 (11:21 + 1:00) – Closing of Winterland (also AUD)

1/10/79 Uniondale: 18:28 AUD

1/20/79 Buffalo: 9:16 AUD

12/31/81 Oakland: 14:50

7/13/84 Berkeley: 15:54 (standalone encore)

10/9/89 Hampton: 19:23 – Formerly the Warlocks

10/16/89 East Rutherford: 16:59 (11:36 + 5:23) – Nightfall of Diamonds

10/26/89 Miami: 27:59 – 30 Trips

12/31/89 Oakland: 15:05

3/29/90 Nassau: 21:05 (18.18 + 2:47) (with Branford Marsalis) – Wake Up To Find Out

7/12/90 Washington, D.C.: 24:55 – View From The Vault II

9/20/90 MSG, NYC: 27:12 (12:01 + 15:11) – Road Trips Vol.2 No.1

10/20/90 Berlin: 17:44 (13:06 + 4:38)

11/1/90 London: 21:10 (10:10 + 11:00)

12/12/90 Denver: 13:46

12/14/90 Denver: 9:10

12/31/90 Oakland: 20:39 (with Branford Marsalis)

4/1/91 Greensboro: 26:19 (23:34 + 2:45)

6/14/91 Washington, D.C: 10:58 – View From The Vault II

6/17/91 East Rutherford: 1:31...1:16...3:35 (several instrumental teases)

6/22/91 Chicago: 7:30 (instrumental)

6/28/91 Denver: 1:28 (instrumental tease)

8/16/91 Mountain View: 10:17

8/17/91 Mountain View: 1:18 (instrumental tease)

9/6/91 Richfield: 3:25 (instrumental)

9/8/91 MSG, NYC: 9:05 (instrumental)

9/10/91 MSG, NYC: 24:40 (12:24 + 12:16) (with Branford Marsalis) – 30 Trips

9/24/91 Boston: 14:40

9/26/91 Boston: 21:40 (15:27 + 6:13)

10/31/91 Oakland: 13:46 (10:32 + 3:14) (with Ken Kesey)

3/9/92 Landover: 11:03 

3/20/92 Hamilton: 14:13 – 30 Trips

6/8/92 Richfield: 8:46

6/18/92 Charlotte: 6:00 (instrumental)

6/22/92 Pittsburgh: 4:05

12/12/92 Oakland: 17:32 (12:57 + 4:35)

12/16/92 Oakland: 7:09 – Dick’s Picks 27

3/17/93 Landover: 10:15

6/23/93 Deer Creek: 6:25

9/13/93 Philadelphia: 5:36

9/22/93 MSG, NYC: 7:44 (with David Murray)

3/16/94 Rosemont: 11:14

3/30/94 Atlanta: 10:29   


DARK STARS ON TAPE, YEARLY COUNT: 
1968 – 31 
1969 – 66 
1970 – 20 
1971 – 12

1972 – 31

1973 – 20

1974 – 6

1978 – 1

1979 – 2

1981 – 1

1984 – 1

1989 – 4

1990 – 8

1991 – 13

1992 – 7

1993 – 4

1994 – 2  

(These counts don't include ambiguous instrumental teases without the theme.)

See also the Dark Star Graph: 
http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2020/06/dark-star-graph.html 

  

*

DARK STARS STILL MISSING FROM CIRCULATION

There are at least 17 dates on which Dark Star was reportedly played, but for which no tape yet circulates. These dates, and the sources of the claims, are:

[12/13/67 Shrine Aud, LA – There was no such show.]

3/17/68 Carousel Ballroom – DeadBase. (The first set of this show is in the Vault, but “the majority of the songs from set 1 could not be salvaged due to technical problems.”)

[5/24/68 National Guard Armory, St. Louis – This was a mislabel of 2/5/69.]

6/7/68 Carousel Ballroom – DeadBase

6/15/68 Fillmore East – audience member

8/20/68 Fillmore West -- DeadBase

11/30/68 Hyde Park Teen Center, Cincinnati -- DeadBase

12/31/68 Winterland – DeadBase

1/69 Fillmore West – newspaper review

2/19/69 Fillmore West – unknown

5/3/69 Winterland (late show) -- DeadBase

2/21/70 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio - audience member

3/17/70 Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo (w/ Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) – newspaper review

3/23/70 Pirate’s World, Dania – audience member

4/11/70 Fillmore West -- DeadBase

[4/25/70 Mammoth Gardens, Denver – this is the “4/24/70” tape.]

4/26/70 York Farm, Poynette -- audience member & DeadBase

5/10/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta (with Duane Allman) – audience member
7/9/70 Fillmore East - newspaper review & audience member
9/25/70 Civic Auditorium, Pasadena -- newspaper review

11/13/70 46th St. Rock Palace, Brooklyn -- audience member

Audience members vaguely recall Dark Stars from other shows in these years too. Possibly a hundred more Dark Stars may have been played in the lost shows of 1968-70.

*

  

AUD DARK STARS

17 live Dark Stars circulate only or primarily on AUD tape:

11/22/68 Columbus: #12:47 (beginning missing)

4/15/69 Omaha: 20:20

6/22/69 Central Park, NYC: #12:01 (beginning missing & cut in middle)

9/26/69 Fillmore East: #17:24 (beginning missing)

2/8/70 Fillmore West: 26:43  (The SBD tape in circulation begins 3:42 before the end of Dark Star – possibly the rest of the Dark Star is on the Vault SBD tape.)

4/24/70 Denver: 24:39

5/8/70 Delhi: #18:05 (with beginning missing)

6/24/70 Port Chester: 10:20 + 7:48 + 3:01

9/17/70 Fillmore East: 26:30 (see comment on cut)

10/11/70 Wayne: #20:19 (with beginning missing)

10/17/70 Cleveland: 19#:17 (with two cuts in the middle)

11/5/70 Port Chester: 21:00

11/8/70 Port Chester: 24:48

10/23/72 Milwaukee: 27:03

11/13/72 Kansas City: 32:16 (Bear's AUD master, 1:42 gap patched w/ alternate AUD)

1/10/79 Uniondale: 18:30

1/20/79 Buffalo: 9:16  

*

FRAGMENTARY DARK STARS

Over 30 circulating live Dark Stars are incomplete. Most cuts are minor, some more serious:  

1/17/68 Carousel Ballroom: #4:48, brief cut, missing beginning

1/20/68 Eureka: cuts after 3:17# on the master

2/22/68 Lake Tahoe: #6:24, brief cut, beginning clipped, vocals mixed out

   

8/21/68 Fillmore West: #14:21, 50 seconds are missing at the beginning. The Dark Star is complete in the Vault, and a different 8-track mix was included in the 1/19/15 Taper’s Section.

10/13/68 Avalon: #13:35, brief cut, missing beginning. (A slightly more complete start was included in the 2019 30 Days of Dead collection.)

11/22/68 Columbus: #11:50, brief cut, missing beginning

12/7/68 Louisville: #13:24, missing the first minute or two

1/25/69 Avalon Ballroom: #14:08, missing beginning

1/26/69 Avalon Ballroom: 9#:45, there is a piece missing in the middle. It has a cut at 8:06 and resumes just before the second verse.

2/5/69 Kansas City: #11:43, missing the opening

2/6/69 St. Louis: 13#:54, there is a cut at 8:34 in the middle.

2/12/69b Fillmore East: only the final #4:58 circulates

2/14/69 Philadelphia: #19:23, brief cut, just the first few bars clipped

4/12/69 Salt Lake City: #22:21, probably less than a minute is missing at the start

4/22/69 Boston: 27#:22, tape flip at 23:59, very little missing

6/21/69b Fillmore East: 7:#43, nearly all of central jam missing

6/22/69 Central Park, NYC: #11:26 The first minute or so of this Dark Star is missing on the AUD tape, which also has a cut around 10:25.

7/7/69 Atlanta: 27#:58, there is a cut at 19:39 into Dark Star -- obviously a tape flip. Very little seems to be missing here.

7/12/69 Queens: #9:52 The SBD tape cuts in somewhere in the middle of Dark Star; at least several minutes are missing, including the vocals, assuming there were vocals.

8/23/69 St. Helens: 26:#44 There is a cut at 11:50; the first vocals are missing, and not too much else -- 2 minutes at most.  

8/28/69 Family Dog: 47:#19 (31:16 + 16:03) > The Eleven jam 9:49 > Dark Star 6:43 = 63:#51. There is probably a minute or so missing at the tape flip.

9/26/69a Fillmore East: #17:24 brief cut, missing beginning

11/7/69 Fillmore: 26#:00 The circulating tape has a cut at 20:12, 1:45 after the beginning of the Uncle John's jam, followed by another almost 6 minutes of Dark Star; an uncertain amount is lost.

12/30/69 Boston: 19:06# This Dark Star cuts off as they are gliding down toward the second vocals; probably around 3-4 minutes of Dark Star are missing on the master.

1/2/70 Fillmore East: 30:10#, cuts in the last verse

1/23/70 Honolulu: 18#:46, there is a cut around 11:40 with very little missing.

3/24/70 Dania: 4:54 + 8:54 = 13#:48 with vocals missing. There is a tape flip in the Dark Star at 4:54, before the first vocals; the remaining 8:54 fragment cuts in during the Space following the vocals; probably around 2-4 minutes are lost here.

5/8/70 Delhi: #18:05 missing beginning; probably several minutes lost.

10/11/70 Wayne: #20:19 missing beginning; probably 2-4 minutes are lost.

10/17/70 Cleveland: 19:#17 Has two cuts to note. There's a big cut in the intro jam after 3:10 which takes out most of the first verse; about 2-4 minutes are lost. There is another cut after 17:40, during the transition to the second verse; probably less than a minute is lost.

11/19/72 Houston: 31:#22 cut in the middle

10/25/73 Madison: 23#:14 cut in the middle

Some cuts are too brief to list: 2/3/68, 2/14/68, 3/29/68, and 10/20/68 are missing just the opening notes, and 12/26/69 is missing the last few seconds.

Many other Dark Stars are likely to have internal cuts that aren’t noted.

  

Some of these Dark Stars may be intact on the masters – especially:

2/12/69b: The rest of this Dark Star may exist on the Vault tape. Rob Eaton lists 84 minutes of cassette SBD, but only 69 minutes circulate. Probably the missing 15 minutes on the circulating tape represents the beginning of the Dark Star.

6/21/69b: Rob Eaton lists 101 minutes of cassette SBD for this show, but only 91 minutes circulate. One would guess that the 10-minute discrepancy comes from the missing core of Dark Star.

  

The rest of these Dark Stars are almost certainly fragmentary on the master tapes.

Some Dark Stars are incomplete in another sense: Ned Lagin says he played in the Dark Stars on 11/5/70, 11/8/70, 9/16/72, and 6/23/74, but he is apparently inaudible in them. 

*

LIVE DARK STAR TRANSITIONS

Dark Star was typically part of a suite of several songs, but only the songs that directly segue into or out of Dark Star are listed. The main purpose of this list is to easily spot unusual transitions. (It's sometimes debatable whether to count a themed jam as part of Dark Star or not.) Unique and rare pairings are noted. Set-opening and first-set Dark Stars are also noted, unless there was only one set.
In the '90s, Dark Star usually went into or came out of Drums>Space, so the song on the other side is also listed, although I don't count it as a direct transition. Drums>Space is abbreviated d/s. Some '90s transitions are really just brief pauses, marked (>).
Also see comment below.

1/17/68 Dark Star>China Cat (set I)
1/20/68 Born Cross-Eyed>Spanish Jam>Caution Jam>Dark Star//
1/22/68 Born Cross-Eyed>Spanish Jam>Dark Star>China Cat
1/23/68 Dark Star>China Cat 
2/2/68 standalone encore
2/3/68 Dark Star>China Cat
2/14/68 Dark Star>China Cat (set I)
2/22/68 Dark Star>China Cat
2/23/68 Dark Star>China Cat
3/16/68 Dark Star>China Cat (opens set I)
3/29/68 standalone
3/30/68 Cryptical>Dark Star>China Cat (set I)
Circa 6/68 Dark Star>Stephen
8/21/68 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
8/22/68 standalone (opens set II)
8/23/68 Dark Star>Stephen
8/24/68 Dark Star>Stephen
8/28/68 Dark Star>Stephen
9/2/68 Dark Star>Stephen (opens show)
10/8/68 Dark Star Jam>Cosmic Charlie (Hartbeats)
10/10/68 Dark Star Jam>Eleven Jam (Hartbeats)
10/12/68 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set I)
10/13/68 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set I)
10/20/68 Dark Star>Stephen
10/30/68 Dark Star Jam>Death Letter; standalone Dark Star Jam (Hartbeats - the only Death Letter)
11/1/68 Dark Star>Cryptical (opens set II)
11/22/68 Dark Star>Stephen
12/7/68 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set I)
12/29/68 Dark Star>Stephen

1/17/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
1/24/69 standalone (opens set II)
1/25/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set I)
1/26/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
2/2/69 Dark Star>Stephen 
2/4/69 Dark Star>Stephen 
2/5/69 Dark Star>Stephen
2/6/69 Dark Star>Stephen 
2/7/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens early show)
2/11/69 Dark Star>Stephen
2/12/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens late show)
2/14/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
2/15/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Stephen 
2/21/69 Dark Star>Stephen 
2/22/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Cryptical (set I)
2/27/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Stephen
2/28/69 Cryptical>Dark Star>Stephen
3/1/69 Dark Star>Stephen
3/2/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set I)
3/15/69 Dark Star>Stephen
3/22/69 Dark Star>Stephen
3/28/69 Dark Star>Stephen
3/29/69 Dark Star>Stephen
4/4/69 Dark Star>Stephen
4/5/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
4/11/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
4/12/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
4/13/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
4/15/69 Cryptical>Dark Star>Stephen
4/17/69 Dark Star>Stephen
4/20/69 Dark Star>Stephen
4/21/69 Dark Star>Stephen
4/22/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Stephen
4/23/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
4/26/69 Mountains>Dark Star Jam>China Cat (really an extended Mountains outro; DS theme not played)
4/27/69 Dark Star>Stephen
5/7/69 Dark Star>drums>Lovelight
5/10/69 Dark Star>Stephen
5/23/69 Dark Star>Stephen
5/30/69 Dark Star>Cosmic Charlie (first since 10/8/68)
5/31/69 Dark Star>Doin' That Rag (only time)
6/5/69 Top of the World>Dark Star>Stephen
6/7/69 Mountains>Dark Star>Stephen
6/14/69 Dark Star>Stephen
6/21/69b Dark Star>Stephen
6/22/69 Dark Star>Other One
6/27/69 Dark Star>Stephen
7/5/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
7/7/69 Dark Star>Stephen
7/12/69 Dark Star>Other One
8/3/69 standalone [there's a pause before Alligator]
8/16/69 Dark Star>High Time (first of two)
8/21/69 Cryptical>Dark Star>Cosmic Charlie (last DS>Charlie)
8/23/69 Dark Star>Stephen
8/28/69 Dark Star>Eleven Jam>Dark Star (Hartbeats)
8/30/69 Dark Star>Stephen
9/1/69 Dark Star>Stephen
9/26/69 Dark Star>Stephen (early show)
10/25/69 Dark Star>Stephen
11/2/69 Dark Star>Stephen
11/7/69 Dark Star>Uncle John's Jam>Dark Star>Cryptical
11/8/69 Dark Star>Other One>Dark Star>Uncle John's Jam>Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
12/4/69 Dark Star>High Time (second of two)
12/11/69 Dark Star>Stephen (set I)
12/20/69 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
12/26/69 Dark Star//New Speedway (transition cut)
12/30/69 Dark Star//Alligator (transition cut)

1/2/70 Dark Star>Stephen
1/17/70 Dark Star>Stephen
1/23/70 Cryptical>Dark Star>Stephen
2/2/70 Dark Star>Stephen
2/8/70 Dark Star>Stephen
2/11/70 Dark Star>Spanish Jam>Lovelight
2/13/70 Dark Star>Cryptical
2/14/70 Dark Star>Stephen (early show)
3/24/70 Dark Star>Other One 
4/24/70 Dark Star>Stephen (goes into last Eleven)
5/8/70 Dark Star>Dancing in the Street (first of two)
5/15/70b Dark Star>Stephen
5/24/70 Dark Star>Stephen
6/24/70 Dark Star>Attics>Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia>Dark Star>Stephen (only DS>Attics til 10/16/89; first DS>Sugar Mag)
9/17/70 Dark Star>Stephen
9/19/70 Dark Star>Stephen
10/11/70 Dark Star>Stephen
10/17/70 Dark Star>Stephen
11/5/70 Other One>Dark Star>Stephen
11/8/70 Truckin'>Dark Star>Dancing (first Truckin'>DS; second DS>Dancing, with Main Ten interval)

2/18/71 Dark Star>Wharf Rat>Dark Star>Me & My Uncle (set I - first of three DS>Uncles)
4/8/71 Dark Star>Stephen (opens set II)
4/26/71 Dark Star>Wharf Rat (set I)
4/28/71 Dark Star>Stephen (last time)
7/31/71 Dark Star>Bird Song (only time)
10/21/71 Dark Star>Top of the World>Dark Star>Bobby McGee (first of each)
10/24/71 Dark Star>Bobby McGee (second of three)
10/31/71 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
11/7/71 Dark Star>drums>Other One
11/15/71 Dark Star>El Paso>Jam>Casey Jones (set I - last first-set Dark Star until 8/16/91; first DS>El Paso of four)
12/5/71 Dark Star>Me & My Uncle>Dark Star>Top of the World (second of each)
12/15/71 Dark Star>Deal (opens set II - only time)

3/23/72 standalone
4/8/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
4/14/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
4/17/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia (set III)
4/24/72 Dark Star>Me & My Uncle>Dark Star>Wharf Rat (last of three DS>Uncles)
4/29/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
5/4/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
5/7/72 Dark Star>drums>Other One
5/11/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
5/18/72 Dark Star>Morning Dew
5/23/72 Dark Star>Morning Dew
5/25/72 Wharf Rat>Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia
7/18/72 Truckin'>Dark Star>Comes a Time (second Truckin'>DS; first DS>Comes a Time)
7/26/72 Dark Star>Comes a Time (second of two)
8/21/72 Dark Star>El Paso>space>Deal (second DS>El Paso of four)
8/24/72 Dark Star>Morning Dew
8/27/72 Dark Star>El Paso (opens set III - third DS>El Paso)
9/10/72 Dark Star>Jack Straw (only time)
9/16/72 Dark Star>Brokedown Palace (only time)
9/21/72 Dark Star>Morning Dew
9/24/72 Dark Star>China Cat (last since 3/30/68)
9/27/72 Dark Star>Cumberland Blues (only time)
10/18/72 Playing in the Band>drums>Dark Star>Morning Dew
10/23/72 Dark Star>Mississippi Half-Step (only time)
10/26/72 Truckin'>Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia (third Truckin'>DS)
10/28/72 Dark Star>Sugar Magnolia (last time)
11/13/72 Dark Star>Morning Dew
11/19/72 Dark Star>WRS Prelude>Mississippi Half-Step (only DS>WRS Prelude)
11/26/72 Dark Star>Bobby McGee (third and last)
12/11/72 Dark Star>Stella Blue (first of three)
12/15/72 Truckin'>Dark Star>Morning Dew (fourth Truckin'>DS)

2/15/73 Dark Star>Eyes of the World
2/22/73 Dark Star>Eyes
2/26/73 Dark Star>Eyes
3/16/73 Dark Star>Truckin' (only time)
3/21/73 WRS Prelude>Dark Star>Eyes (first of two WRS Prelude intros)
3/24/73 Truckin'>Spanish Jam>Dark Star>Sing Me Back Home (only DS>Sing Me) 
3/28/73 WRS Prelude>Dark Star>Eyes
6/10/73 Dark Star>He's Gone (only time)
6/24/73 Dark Star>Eyes
6/30/73 Dark Star>Eyes
8/1/73 Dark Star>El Paso (fourth and last)
9/11/73 Dark Star>Morning Dew
10/19/73 Dark Star>Morning Dew
10/25/73 Dark Star>Eyes
10/30/73 Dark Star>Stella Blue (second of three)
11/11/73 Dark Star>Eyes
11/21/73 El Paso>Playing/Dark Star Jam>Wharf Rat (DS theme not played)
11/30/73 Let It Grow>Dark Star Jam>Eyes
12/6/73 Dark Star>Eyes
12/18/73 Let It Grow>Dark Star>drums>Eyes (last DS>Eyes)

2/24/74 Dark Star>Morning Dew
5/14/74 Let It Grow>Dark Star>China Doll (last Let It Grow>DS of three; only DS>China Doll)
6/23/74 Dark Star Jam>Spanish Jam>US Blues
6/28/74 Let It Grow>Mind Left Body/Dark Star Jam>US Blues (passing theme inside larger jam)
7/25/74 Dark Star Jam>Stella Blue (third and last - with Slipknot jam)
9/10/74 Dark Star>Morning Dew
10/18/74 Seastones Jam>Dark Star>Morning Dew (last DS>Dew)

12/31/78 Dark Star>Other One>Dark Star Jam>Wharf Rat

1/10/79 Dark Star>Drums>Space>Wharf Rat
1/20/79 Other One>Dark Star>Not Fade Away (only DS>NFA)

12/31/81 Dark Star>Bertha (opens set III - only DS>Bertha)

7/13/84 standalone encore

10/9/89 Playing>Dark Star>Drums>Space>Death Don't
10/16/89 Dark Star>Playing (opens set II); Miracle>Dark Star>Attics
10/26/89 Dark Star>D/S>Wheel
12/31/89 Victim>Dark Star>D/S>Mr Fantasy

3/29/90 Estimated>Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Wheel
7/12/90 Foolish Heart>Dark Star>D/S>Watchtower
9/20/90 (Man Smart)>D/S>Dark Star>Playing reprise>Dark Star>Throwing Stones
10/20/90 Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Throwing Stones
11/1/90 Playing>Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Playing
12/12/90 Dark Star>Terrapin Station
12/14/90 (He's Gone)>D/S>Dark Star>Miracle
12/31/90 Eyes>Dark Star>D/S>Other One

4/1/91 Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Playing
6/14/91 Estimated>Dark Star>D/S>Stella Blue
6/17/91 teased throughout show: before Masterpiece & Truckin', and after Uncle John
6/22/91 (Terrapin)>D/S>Dark Star Jam>Playing
6/28/91 brief instrumental tease within Wharf Rat
8/16/91 Dark Star>Promised Land (only time - ends set I; only first-set Dark Star since 11/15/71)
8/17/91 brief instrumental tease between Space & Morning Dew
9/6/91 (Terrapin)>D/S>Dark Star Jam>Watchtower
9/8/91 Saint of Circumstance>Dark Star Jam>D/S>Other One
9/10/91 Estimated>Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Miracle
9/24/91 Dark Star>D/S>Foolish Heart
9/26/91 Dark Star>Saint (opens set II), Other One>Dark Star(>)Attics (only DS>Saint)
10/31/91 Spoonful>Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star>Last Time

3/9/92 Corrina>Dark Star>D/S>Miracle 
3/20/92 Dark Star>D/S>Other One
6/8/92 (Corrina)>D/S>Dark Star>Last Time
6/18/92 (He's Gone)>D/S>Dark Star Jam>Watchtower
6/22/92 Victim>Dark Star>D/S>Spanish Jam>Other One
12/12/92 Dark Star>D/S>Dark Star Jam>Miracle
12/16/92 (Playing)>D/S>Dark Star>Watchtower

3/17/93 Playing>Dark Star>D/S>Other One
6/23/93 (Terrapin)>D/S>Dark Star>Wheel
9/13/93 Playing>Dark Star>Terrapin
9/22/93 Estimated>Dark Star>D/S>Wharf Rat

3/16/94 Dark Star>D/S>Miracle
3/30/94 Playing>Dark Star>D/S>Miracle