Oh look! Another pick from the new Spring 1990 box set. I’m sorry I’m not sorry….
Far From Me wasn’t played a lot, but it was played more than I thought it was upon looking it up. Aside from a respite in 1985 and 1986 it was played at least a few times a year between 1980 and 1990 (mostly in 1980 and 1987). This was the first outing of the song on the Spring 1990 tour and the first take on the song since the night before (10/15/89) the show that would be released as Nightfall of Diamonds (10/16/89).
Not only was it the first performance of the song on the spring tour in 1990, it was the only one. There would be only 3 more versions, the last one coming in Brent’s penultimate show on 7/22/90 in Tinly Park, IL.
While the song certainly had that AM radio/Steely Dan type of feel to it, I think that it actually aged alright and it sounded better on this evening that most others. A large part of that is probably due to the overall sound and vibe of that tour, which was a homerun all the way around by pretty much all accounts. I haven’t heard the other 3 versions from the summer tour, but it may not be a stretch to say that this is the last good version of the song (I reserve judgment to alter that statement if I ever sit down and listen to the other versions though!). Of course, depending on your stance on the song itself, that may not be a ringing endorsement, but it’s worth a listen if you ask me.
This sounds great and I really like this song a lot, in part because Go To Heaven was one of those studio albums I listened to often before seeing the band live. I feel lucky that they played this (for the last time) at my first show. I didn’t know it at the time but that 7-22 show was a big Brent show featuring Hey Pockey Way and Gimme Some Lovin’ as well as Far From Me.
Keep the Spring 90 stuff coming, Lunchbox. I’m a Godchaux era guy first and foremost, but I really enjoy those last few Brent years.