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    heatherlew
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    "We left with our minds sufficiently blown and still peaking..."

    We're headed back to that peak with the newly returned tapes from Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, 11/6/77. The Grateful Dead's last touring show of 1977 finds them going for broke, taking chances on fan favorites like "Jack Straw," "Friend Of The Devil," and "The Music Never Stopped," carving out righteous grooves on a one-of-kind "Scarlet>Fire" and a tremendous "Truckin'." An ultra high energy show, with a first set that rivals the second? Not unheard of, but definitely rare. Hear for yourself...

    DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 25 features liner notes by Rob Bleetstein, photos by Bob Minkin, and original art by our 2018 Dave's Picks Artist-In-Residence Tim McDonagh. As always, it has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually numbered copies*.

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

    Get one before they are gone, gone, gone.

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  • LedDed
    Joined:
    The Incredible Jimmy Smith
    Midnight Special, 1960. Talk about hanging out down low... man, these cats had groove. Donald Fagen turned me onto 'Gets Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi,' but this takes it, right up there with 'Round Midnight and Kind of Blue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBo870lVUyc Tommy Bolin and Roy Buchanan... two unholy sons of bitches on the guitar. You can just hear the soul bursting out of these people, and wonder how they lasted as long as they did. \m/
  • Kate_C.
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    Re: outbound vanity prep time...
    ...clearly you boys haven't dated a millennial male; your successors have taken the reigns. Oi./K
  • PearlyBaker'sMan
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    the B3 and me, late 71 RT fun
    re: Denis' acknowledgement: yes sir, Jimmy Smith is THE MAN who conquered and popularized and just plain killed it on B3, brining it out of the juke joints and clubs and roller rinks (dug your story Denis, wish I could have seen that scene) and into serious jazz circles (all while maintaining the best and gresiest vibes of what those previous places had to offer). See Groovin' at Small's Paradise and his Blue Note stuff, especially anything with Stanley Turrentine and Kenny Burrell, Prayer Meetin', Back at the Chicken Shack, Midnight Special. A once-in-a-lifetime and highly influential talent. For other classic jazz B3ers, many of whom could really walk those pedals, see: Brother Jack Mc Duff, Larry Young (who took it in a whole other direction), Groove Holmes, Johnny Hammond (Smith), Charles Earland, Big John Patton, Melvin Rhyne, Freddie Roach, Don Patterson, and to some degree Jimmy McGriff, Shirley Scott (awesome in conjunction with her husband Stanley Turrentine mentioned above ,or with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis), Rhoda Scott, underrated Frenchman Eddy Louiss, and a million others I'm not remembering at the moment. Many other contemporaries are keeping the instrument alive as well: Joey DeFrancesco (who unabashedly claims Jimmy Smith as his primary influence and can really get down live, or anywhere else); a guy from the midwest, Tony Monaco, who absolutely smokes live as well; a kick-ass NYC player orginally from Japan named Akiko Tsuruga, and still rockin' it, Chris Foreman, out of Chicago, who also happens to be blind; Jared Gold, Sam Yahel, Larry Goldings, and Gary Versace, who all come a bit more from the Larry Young side of things; and finally, Dr. Lonnie Smith, who is awesome live, legendary almost to the Jimmy Smith degree, not a doctor (except of groove) and for the last 20-30 years has worn a turban for no definable reason. ...wait, where are we? oh yeah, a Grateful Dead message board. So, I'm at the moment making another run through the Austin '71 RT and man is this sweet. Setlist, execution, jams and that undefinable liquidy smoothness that makes up a lot of what I enjoy about my favorite years of '72, '73. If the new DP shows are anything like this, and with divine messengers like Doc pushin' us to the light, I just might become a big '71 fan yet.
  • Vguy72
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    Crosby's a bitch....
    ....good player, but still a bitch.
  • KeithFan2112
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    China Cat 4/11/72
    Damn good. Couple of moments with some real punch.
  • Angry Jack Straw
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    Pardon the Interuption
    Arguably the best sports talk show out there. Michael Wilbon called out Crosby as a whiner on the show tonight. Too funny. Cries to the refs when he gets hit, but has no problem slashing off Methot's finger.
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    I don't know if its because of the popularity of Dead & Co....
    .....but the Dave's Picks prices on eBay have been going through the roof. Even the recent ones. Wow....
  • Roguedeadguy
    Joined:
    I do live in Michigan
    But I grew up in Pittsburgh. Saw some Pens games and a sweet Monster Truck show at Ye Olde Civic Arena, but never the Dead. I knew some Crosby hate would come out when I posted that. I get that all the time from my Red Wings friends. I'm usually too busy shopping online for championship merch to pay it much mind. Was any of yinz guys at the Civic Arena show in 89 when riots broke out? Must be some wild stories there. Probably different than the ones I heard from my Uncle, Sgt. Deadguy of the Pittsburgh police.
  • fourwindsblow
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    darkstartheothe... re: Dicks Picks 26
    I think you are right 12-14 is from the returned Betty's(it is on the list) and 11-17 has been in the vault. 11-17 will be the huge up-grade here. re: Cactus_Jack "Also I'm unaware which set from Ann Arbor is going to be included a la carte" That would be set 2 bro.
  • Cactus_Jack
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    2nd set JAM
    I was waiting for the new Dave's Pick page but it's been bugging me... Why choose 2 shows from the same era with virtually the same sequence in the 2nd set JAM? (11/17 & 12/14)... One might think that they might throw us the dark star (Dark Star>Deal!) from 12/15 for the sake of variety. Also I'm unaware which set from Ann Arbor is going to be included a la carte and which set for the bonus Disc. I was underwhelmed by Dave Picks 22 bonus disc. These Bonus Discs usually include a jam/something sought after or special but last year it was first set material and pretty ho-hum. I wonder what they're planning this year in regards to that split. Does anyone know? Can't wait
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"We left with our minds sufficiently blown and still peaking..."

We're headed back to that peak with the newly returned tapes from Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, 11/6/77. The Grateful Dead's last touring show of 1977 finds them going for broke, taking chances on fan favorites like "Jack Straw," "Friend Of The Devil," and "The Music Never Stopped," carving out righteous grooves on a one-of-kind "Scarlet>Fire" and a tremendous "Truckin'." An ultra high energy show, with a first set that rivals the second? Not unheard of, but definitely rare. Hear for yourself...

DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 25 features liner notes by Rob Bleetstein, photos by Bob Minkin, and original art by our 2018 Dave's Picks Artist-In-Residence Tim McDonagh. As always, it has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually numbered copies*.

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

Get one before they are gone, gone, gone.

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Three From The Vault Limited Super Deluxe box 02.18.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.19.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.20.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.21.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.23.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.24.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York Take my money please!
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Actually I may also have attended one of those Boston shows. Either '76 or '77 we shot up there in my pal's Toyota Celica and had to sleep in it half-way back to NJ. You read me right originally, I was in error and too lazy to fact check my memory. And Duryea once again hits the jackpot! I'd gladly wait on Summer '73 to get my sweaty paws on the full Feb '71 Capitol run. I believe there was much chanting for this when we were in the grips of forensicdoc fever.
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13 years 5 months
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My aging memory.. Channeling my inner 1971 might help.. (for the next five weeks anyway).
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11 years 6 months
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Thanks all for there HELP. ;) I have some listening to do. I do remember 9/11/83 and the Help>S>Franklins.... I recall a pretty good audience recording (the old 80's paradox where the audience recordings improved while the SBD quality fell off a cliff). But I know the 80's Help on the Way's are hit or miss. There's a LOT of very technical, prepared parts including odd timing signatures in this song and it's tough to bluff your way thru it - you're either well-rehearsed or your flailing, and Jer-bear spent a lot of the 80's struggling to get through this song cleanly.... I recall one or two versions that were VERY rough (possibly '85, which would make sense since they shelved it quickly in early '85.) I also recall 11/2/84 was in heavy rotation in my cassette deck - Help has some great moments despite the quick pace, blown lyrics galore and COMPLETELY blowing the dismount into Slip (which may have been caused by the caffeinated pace.... and speaking of fast Help on the Way's, see 6/9/77) And no, the length of the song never changes too much... the only variable is the length of the guitar solo between verses 2 and 3. I'll never forget getting the Betty's of '77 and realizing that on 5/9/77 and 6/9/77 Jerry takes 3 runs through the guitar solo (!!!) instead of just one, as I was used to on 1FTV's 8/13/75 (until then, my only live version) - I was so excited, pumping my fist in the air... As I gave cassette copies to friends I told them "GOTTA check out the triple solo on Help on the Way!"
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I think sometimes when I am deciding what to listen to between 77 and 78, not having the Help/Slipknot/Franklin's combo makes me lean toward 77. I know the 1/2 Step/Franklin's combo started in 78 and we were introduced to Shakedown towards the later part of 78, is awesome to listen to, I can only wish. Lacking that combo leads to some repetition that started that year.With that being said, I have posted before on here I think one of the most unique sets is 11/20/78 Cleveland Music Hall Set II!! Box on the Way!!!
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9 years 2 months
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Clearly, the people here want Boxes, Boxes, and more Boxes. I think that the June ‘76 Box should be modeled after the recent Pink Floyd Box which has several small releases, each from a single year, that can each be purchased individually, or combined into a single larger Box that contains bonus material. Thus, the June ‘76 release could consist of mini-Boxes, one from each city with all the shows from that city in the mini-Box (except for 6/9 which has already been released on CD), and each mini-Box could be purchased separately. (6/18 was part of the Download Series and never released on CD, and so would be released on CD this time). Or, all mini-Boxes could be obtained in a single Box that contains all of June, and bonus material from ‘76. Dave, can you hear me? Dave? . . . Dave? . . . . . . . Daaaaaaaave........???
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10 years 9 months
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So I had to be the dork to say it. There! Now I can wait another 30 years to try another aging stoner retro "joke." But wait! I don't HAVE 30 more years. Although this fresh Sativa is making me feel invincible again...
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I'm with Dave D. Release the 71 Capitol run. Sorry folks, but 76 just doesn't get it done for me. Too slow and meandering for my taste. I realize certain shows may be worthy, but overall, meh. Other than the Cap run, the Ark or a 73 summer box, I'm at the point where I will likely pass on box sets. I rarely listen to the 78 box or the 77 box. The latter not based so much on interest, simply listener fatigue over the years. More and more I find myself reaching for the old standbys, FW69 and E72.
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9 years 8 months
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Hope all on the east coast enjoyed the snow day. Was kind of fun until 2, yes 2 trees fell on our house. Damage is pretty minimal and no one was hurt thankfully. All Dead shows are safe and accounted for... About to pour the biggest glass of red wine you've ever seen and dive into some of shows mentioned below. Always been a big fan of H>S>F so should be a fun journey...
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Barry Chen: If you want to find Tiger, this is where you'll find him.Insp. Joe Dominguez: This is a marijuana club. Barry Chen: I know. Totally legal under prop 215 as long as you have a valid medical excuse. Insp. Joe Dominguez: For what? Barry Chen: Weed. Pot. Dope. Marijuana. Grass. Insp. Joe Dominguez: No, I mean what's wrong with you? Barry Chen: Oh! Depression. Insp. Joe Dominguez: Depression? Barry Chen: Yeah, I get really depressed when I'm not getting stoned.
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15 years 7 months
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This is my favorite song to song jam sequence after China Cat/ I Know You Rider. My favorite version is the one on "One From The Vault". I love when Mr. Graham is announcing each member and they go into their part of the song. Listened to version on early spring of 1983. Very good version, Jerry's voice is real smooth, his guitar playing is clean and he is not missing a note. I kept listening to the recording and it is a great show. I saw them play the Spectrum several times in the 70s, They probably knew where to set each knob. During their career, they played the Spectrum around 56 times. They did not play the Wall there, they used the Convention center. The Wall might have damaged the Spectrum. Not the sturdiest building. Best, Jim
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Angry Jack,Careful or your old stand bys will soon suffer from listener fatigue. Which is why new Boxes are constantly needed. Slow and meandering........ Yes, just exactly perfect........
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Barry Chen: I can probably get him to set you up.Insp. Joe Dominguez: Actually, I stopped smoking pot years ago. Barry Chen: Oh no? What's your drug of choice now, man? Insp. Joe Dominguez: Uh, Rogaine. Barry Chen: Rogaine? What's that? Do you snort it? "[about Harvey] A.J. Shimamura: Jerry Garcia's been dead for months. When's he going to take off that armband? Nash Bridges: Probably when his LSD runs out. "
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12 years 2 months
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Agreed. Although I fear that I don't find the time to listen as much as some here. A few disks a week is about as much as I can manage these days. I'm still working on 2/27/69 from last month. Unfortunately most listening occurs in the car. All the downloaded files are fine for the sound quality of those speakers.
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13 years 5 months
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Holy crap batman... check your pm. Sorry to hear this man.. I had a 150 year old maple tree branch fall on my house about three years ago.. mangled the roof near the spare bedroom and I am still dealing with fixing the gutters and a few other bent odds and ends... Be good man.. and I hope the bad things happen in threes can wait a while aka kids, we are going to sleep in the basement tonight.... FW69 and E72.. the problem with my old motto, the best was the last thing I listened to is.. if you only go to your old standards, that's all you end up liking. :D Have a good night all.. looks like Larry Campbell and his lovely wife are sitting in with Phil and Bobby tonight.. channeling a good Sugaree??
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10 years 1 month
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Pst, you can tell me, whats in the box????Please, I promise I wont tell anyone. Promise
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Glad to make your heart grow Jim. That's my mission. Pearly's been true to me, so... (though I cannot take credit for 5/24 praise, that was libertycapps97211, my ears are pretty ignorant of that one, but looking forward to another listen...but speaking of Lyceum, oh that 5/25 show is dreamy: UJB>DS>Wharf Rat is heaven and just a mellow tasty vibe to the whole show). Haven't heard all of the DaPs (i'm talking to you 1-4) but otherwise my top ten are quite similar to Slow Dog Noodle: 11 11/17/1972 Wichita 5 11/17/1973 Pauley Pavilion 13 2/24/1974 Winterland 21 4/2/1973 Boston Garden 17 7/19/1974 Selland 18 7/17/1976 Orpheum 15 4/22/1978 Nashville 16 3/28/1973 Springfield 9 5/14/1974 Missoula 12 11/4/1977 Colgate 7 4/24/1978 Horton Fieldhouse . . . and maybe with another listen or two one or both of these will join: 23 1/22/1978 Eugene 24 8/25/1972 Berkeley Fiendishly, Pearly
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...of immediate access to everything like we have now in 1995. Question for the GoGD Peanut Gallery: Are the 9-15/16-78 Giza, Egypt show(s) really that bad?!?
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14 years 10 months
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From my notes for DaP 25, I have "BOAT Half-Step?; BOAT Dupree's?; BOAT Music?; BOAT G.Lovin'?" I don't have answers, but any time I ask if MAYBE no fewer than four songs from one show are possibly BOAT, then I know it's an awesome show.
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10 years 3 months
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Yes, unfortunately. Going off the recorded evidence anyway. Having said that, I have always enjoyed the Estimated from 15th, on the bonus disc from Rocking The Cradle.
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Taking a break from shoveling 5 inches of SOLID slush... a few thoughts. 80's - Sorry for the trees on the house. We had a big branch fall on our driveway (just missed wife's car - luckily I put the car on the other side of the driveway to avoid... potential falling branches!) and a neighbor's tree fall on another neighbor's house (wife and I trying to decide who pays for removal? - My take: Ya don't make them pick up the leaves, why is the tree falling any different?). Egypt: Definitely not great, imo, and there's too much "great" to waste time parsing through this release. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea when they planned to release it: "1978 is a good year, Egypt itself has a lot of mystique, the box art will look so cool! Let's do it!"." But yeah, apart from some moments of brilliance and some cool grooves with Hamza El-Din (sp?), quite unremarkable. I remember my palpable disappointment when I tape-traded for these. "Egypt!!! Wait, what the hell?" GOAT Good Lovin on DP25?? Where to start.... First of all, you have to distinguish between the long, jammed-out "Other One"-ish PigPen versions and the Bobby "US Blues"-type pop song versions - night and day. 4/17/71 (which I just realized is missing form my computer for some reason - damn) is amazing, and some of the Europe '72 versions are hard to beat, especially by one of the shorter '77 Bobby versions that basically have one brief solo and out. But I agree DP25 is a good version. I also recall being impressed with the 5/28/77 "To Terrapin" version, and kudos to 9/18/87 (mash-up w/ La Bamba), and 10/29/77 Dekalb - kind of smooth glide Good Lovin' (unlike the bombast of most) on the heels of the slinkiest Bertha ever.
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Personally, I love the Egypt shows. Also, imagine _being there_. Eg78 is not E72, yes. but it is a tasty little run of shows, imnsho. get all the E72 shows you can, then think about Eg78.
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That is exactly what happened to me.. it wasn't my tree that fell, but the neighbors. Typically.. it's an act of God and the owner of the house (or car) goes through their insurance company. Unless you can prove negligence.. which would almost require notifying the neighbor in advance of the tree falling that it is dead and needs to get taken care of or something equiv. Sounds like a good day for a nice Weather Report Suite. Darkness falls and seasons change..... Besides the last one I listened to.. my second favorite WRS is the one on the bonus disc from the Beyond Description Box Set (10/17/74).
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10 years 1 month
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Snow day here too up in Boston - it's heavy stuff, the guy across the street from us has half of his beautiful maple tree laying in his yard, the other in his driveway. We have a tree leaning over onto our pergola which I will go and save momentarily by shaking off the snow. Weather Report Suite indeed... Hope those out there in the realm don't have too much damage although it sounds like trees are the culprits today. Phil and Bobby are snowed in then it seems! Hope they can still fly-in any special guests for this evening....hmmmmm. Oh and as for the awesome 3-peat solo in Help on the Way ...i absolutely love that. Just keep going man, keep going... Be well today All! Sixtus
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11 years 6 months
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Too be clear, I'm not saying the Egypt shows were horrible, just unremarkable and chosen more for the novelty/multi-track/year aspects of it than for the music itself. BEING at Egypt would have been amazing just for the experience. Just like being at Highgate '94 for the whole multi-night, multi-friend road trip/camping/outdoor experience was amazing even though the show itself was not.
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13 years
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Before The Dead to be released May 11th.
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12 years 1 month
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This looks great guy, if you (or anyone else) sees anymore info on this release send heads up to all. My quick circuit of google only found talk of the release, not the where or when. I would assume there be an announcement for the Jerry trust/family site that I get my GarciaLive stuff from, but if not.... update - of course as soon as I post the Sixtus man come thru! Pre Ordering right now. Good price on the cd's. The one cd is a repeat of the Hart Valley Drifters cd they put out last year, but I'll still bite. I'd maybe buy the LP's to put up, but I know as soon as I order it this site will announce the box set for MAY also, that will cost 500 bucks. Sometimes hard to hide these things from "she who must be obeyed".
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6 years 11 months
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Egypt has grown on me over time. I find reasons to justify playing "Rocking the Cradle" occasionally, despite the absence of any real rocking (aside from "Miracle", "Deal", and "Truckin'", but even then). It's usually on in the background while I'm working under a deadline. Nothing I plug into for those musical "Ah-ha!" moments. Great sound quality though.
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10 years 8 months
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Before the Dead and the RSD releases look awesome, I haven't bought much vinyl in the past few years (Bob Dylan's Triplicate being the most recent). But I may have to try to pick one of these up, I'm forsure going for the Before the Dead cd release. On the Topic of Egypt, I would say that the official release is worth getting for the 2nd disc and dvd. I would also recommend getting the bonus disc if you can find it for under $40 or so. The Egypt shows may not be as good as one might expect considering the location/year/event, but they are all unique, sound good and have a certain warm energy/vibe to them. The first night of Egypt wasn't included on the official release but might actually be my favorite of the 3 shows, highlights being the Ollin Arrageed>NFA, Sugaree (somewhat ragged but has a good energy/feel to it), Scarlet>Fire, and the Truckin>Other1>Drums>Space>Black peter segment. Here's a good audio source for that show: https://archive.org/details/gd1978-09-14.fob.sonyecm280.porray.motb-010…
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10 years 3 months
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It must have been amazing to actually see the Dead in Egypt. Maybe some of those shows that underline the massive difference between seeing a show, at the time, in the flesh, and listening to the same show decades later at home. I also rate the Winterland shows after Egypt very highly indeed. I haven't listened to them for years-apart from that Road Trips compilation-but I always used to hope that one day they would be released as a box set. Its slightly gone off my radar now...and we have had quite a lot from 1978 recently...but maybe one day these shows would make a nice box. Summer 1973, Ark 1969 first, though.
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8 years 2 months
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I hope the days of bearded skeletons for cover art are over.
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13 years 5 months
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I have it good authority that bearded skeletons are out for now.. to be replaced by skeletons with tasteful, Steelie tattoos. I did like the color theme on the last DaP.. Perhaps the beard is just a part of the same part of the color spectrum hallucination..
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15 years 3 months
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According to Owsley, they failed to rehearse before the gigs, spending the time finishing recording Shakedown St. LP. Rehearsing is good!
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14 years 1 month
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Yes, thumbs down on the bearded skeletons. Didn't it only become a thing recently with the Dave's picks? Lots of skeletons in the original Grateful Dead art (65-95), but none with thick full brown/black beards. Wispy gray hair or flowers are fine with me. p.s. Ventura Skull is roses festival 2018 is on for next month :) https://www.skullandroses.com
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6 years 11 months
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Personally, I'm hoping for hairless dancing bears and terrapins with mustaches. But that's just me being optimistic.
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17 years 1 month
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I always think that it would be cool if they could mimic the old tape covers that people use to sell out of construction paper at the shows?? They could hand print the songs to make it look how we use to label tapes. Anyone else have these on their old tapes? Not forever maybe for a year..
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15 years 8 months
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I really enjoy these shows, they have a very different energy/pacing than the rest of 78. (I often fall asleep to the dvd, too.)If I could borrow Jim's time machine to go to any concert ever I would choose Egypt 78, and without much second guessing.
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