Grateful Dead

Both shows are gems and stand strong on their own merits, but Albuquerque hits the sweet spot for me (though it may not be as smooth as Ann Arbor). Nothing sounds embryonic or remotely throwaway to my ear. The first set line up may not be as exploratory or as expansive as they would quickly become, but the band is clearly in the zone and firing on all cylinders. And, more importantly, they sound like they're having one hell of a good time. There's a collective enthusiasm that radiates from each gig, with and without bacon.

Well, earlier i was finally reading the liner notes late at night and Dave discussed the Austin Road Trips release from 11/15/71. I have a tough time buying a la carte on the web with the prices these command, but with DaPa 26 playing, and a head soaked in red wine, I found one at a nice price on Discogs. It just arrived two days ago, I've been spinning that heavily. It is nice to listen to Austin and then Albuquerque. Both really good recordings. I'm turned on to 1971 like never before. Concerning the fist set, i'm enjoying these songs, there's an exuberance to them. I really like hearing the strong harmonies and vocal inflections that changed or got lost over time. They have young voices and the recording highlights them well. I'm also digging Billy's drumming, played like a lead instrument. So much already said about the single drummer years, these recordings are just more testimony time to that. Keith's playing is great, i like that it's right up in the mix and driving the songs along. Just a plug, RT Austin was my first purchase on Discogs, and it seemed to me a more laid back, personal event. Check it out. Kinda between craigslist and ebay?

...that Next Time You See Me from Ann Arbor is sublime.

Currently finishing up a second full listen of this release, and while I like all of it a lot, I would agree with Spacebrother's description of the Albuquerque sequence starting with Cryptical Envelopment and continuing through Wharf Rat as indeed transcendent. The same is true of Ann Arbor sequence starting with Cryptical Envelopment through Wharf Rat on the bonus disc. I really don't know which sequence I like more at this point, but both are definitely highlights. There is just something different about these Other Ones, I lack the vocabulary to adequately describe the difference, but the difference is in a way that helps blunt the long dry stretch between Dark Stars in the recent Dave's Picks. Also find myself taking notice of the Sugaree's and the Pig contributions on this release as well. The more I listen to it the more I like it. The sound quality is top shelf as well. I used to worry that there would be a decline in release quality over time, but that does not appear to be the case, they just seem to sound better and better.

I don't know Jim, your post sounds right to me.

I thought the Playing and Cumberland were exceptional. Throw-aways? I don't know.. I consider the first set more a spicy but excellent breakfast burrito myself. To each his/her own I guess. I think both shows are well played and find myself liking them about the same. I could be alone here.. but I also like the fact that we pretty much got two shows in close proximity to each other date wise with similar setlists packed into one release. Both shows are well played, they seem relaxed and having fun.. yet both are vastly different in my opinion. Had they come out as separate releases at different times I might not have given them comparative listens. It really brings to the surface what the Grateful Dead were so good at.. improvising and making each show different and special. Just my thoughts, certainly no wrong or right here. Have a great weekend all.. I'm heading out for what promises to be a grand adventure.....

Having recommended Goin' Back by The Byrds earlier today, I decided to listen to its parent album-The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Superb album-both the songs and the laidback flow. Earlier albums, Younger Than Yesterday and 5th Dimension also surely pass the acid test. Things were less happy in Deadland. I decided to listen to DaP 4-24th September 1976. I haven't got to the 3rd cd, which looks promising, featuring as it does Help=Slipknot-Franklins-but the first 2 cds are a bit ordinary. I am not sure I would welcome a 1976 box...I think I've got enough of this sort of thing already.

Gave the CD proper a one-time through listening session (not the bonus disc yet). I find the Albuquerque show to be interesting in that most everything up until Cryptical feels like the band is still working out the songs. Embryonic. Kind of throwaway material in my opinion. Cool as a historic document and reference to see how they grew into the newer material and Keith's recent addition. By the time they hit Cryptical though, it's like a switch gets flipped, and the band goes from rehearsal mode/working out the kinks into what really makes this band awesome. Transcendent. The Ann Arbor portion on the other hand, awesome from start to finish. pigpen's presence clearly lifts the band considerably, and keith plays and sounds the best here of his entire time in the Dead. A true Keith peak. The piano has never been mixed better prior or after in my opinion. I understand wanting to release shows that the Dead didn't have in the vault, and welcome them all, but man, that Ann Arbor run should have been released as it's own standalone package. Those who didn't subscribe, but were lucky enough to score one ala carte, are getting totally gipped out of the best part of this entire release. I oftentimes find these bonus discs to surpass the actual release. I've had the legendary Ann Arbor shows forever, and in good quality, but this is by far the best and cleanest I've ever heard of this first nights show. Absolutely amazing. Another legendary show cannibalized as use for filler. Yikes. (just like 3/24/90 and 7/12/90 and many others...wtf) Sometimes these marketing decisions leave me scratching my head. Hopefully 12/15/71 won't be stuck into some $1500 box set and/or hacked-up into multiple releases. Waaaaay too important of a show for that.

Amazing song from the "Oh Mercy" album. My bro and I have agreed this song is played at the funeral of whoever goes first. FIND THE STUDIO VERSION ON I-TUNES. It's not on youtube. If you think Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is powerful, you will love this. Some of Dylan's most powerful lyrics: Ring them bells ye heathen from the city that dreams Ring them bells from the sanctuaries cross the valleys and streams For they're deep and they're wide And the world is on its side And time is running backwards And so is the bride Ring them bells Saint Peter where the four winds blow Ring them bells with an iron hand So the people will know Oh it's rush hour now On the wheel and the plow And the sun is going down upon the sacred cow Ring them bells Sweet Martha for the poor man's son Ring them bells so the world will know that God is one Oh the shepherd is asleep Where the willows weep And the mountains are filled with lost sheep Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf Ring them bells for all of us who are left Ring them bells for the chosen few Who will judge the many when the game is through Ring them bells for the time that flies For the child that cries When innocence dies Ring them bells for Saint Catherine from the top of the room Ring them bells from the fortress for the lilies that bloom Oh the lines are long and the fighting is strong And they're breaking down the distance between right and wrong

... in the first four minutes of Bobby McGee.