Today in 1969: McFarlin Auditorium, SMU Dallas, Texas

https://archive.org/details/gd1969-12-26.sbd.warner-evans.28448.sbeok.fl...

Review from "Dead of the Day"

Back in 1969, the Dead dropped one huge holiday present on the world with this incredible show. For only the second time, Bobby and Jerry start off with an acoustic set. The previous go at it came just a week earlier on December 19th when they blamed it on Phil running late. On this night, Billy is the fall guy, supposedly still on a plane somewhere over Omaha as the show begins. It seems more likely that the boys wanted to try an acoustic set out on the audience, but wanted to have an excuse should the folks in the crowd revolt. Whatever the reasoning, here we get the real birth - the 19th set was only four songs long.

Acoustic Set:  Themes of tragedy, murder, prison & death

Monkey And The Engineer (2nd time played)
Little Sadie (1 of 7)
Long Black Limousine (1 of 5)
I've Been All Around This World (1 of 5, before Radio City)
The Master's Bouquet (Only Time Played)
Black Peter
Uncle John's Band 

Early versions of Workingman's tunes that premiered earlier in December, Black Pete, UJB (3rd time), Speedway (3rd time after a nice Dark Star with both Feelin' Groovy & Tighten Up jams)