Grateful Dead

I have been a break from the dead lately. I tend to take a couple months off every so often to enjoy other music and to help keep fresh ears. Honestly the last few Dave’s Picks haven’t done much for me. I love it all but lately it has felt like more of the same when recieving them. While driving today I had a thought and I felt the GD juices beginning to flow again. That thought gentleman and Mary was some primal dead. That down and dirty mid to late 69 goodness. Then it all came into focus...... WE NEED THE ARC BOX! Now is the time Dave!

Is it Mucic or Muclc? Until now, almost 23 years later, I was sure the mis-print was Muclc. Now I know and I used a magnifying lens to really see the "correct" mis-print. Thank you all for bringing this obscure detail to light. I remember calling the 1-800 number on the (printed) Grateful Dead Almanac and ordering this release. I was put on hold and Dark Star from Live/Dead was the on-hold Muzak playing in the background. When the operator got my call, I said to her after I placed my order, "I sorta wished I was kept on hold, I love that background music." We both laughed.

First, has anyone thought how fun this next week or so might be; not only do we get to WATCH the cup finals...we get a ring side seat for what I hope will be some amazingly entertaining “cup talk” between our very own Angry Jack Straw (Caps), and Vguy (Knights)..... Daverock, I think I was thinking lol, that musically, perhaps some of the bands then, could be considered to have been at their peaks?....I know crazy subjective nonsense, but just a thought. And of course we have recordings, as limited as they are comparatively, that influence this theory for many. So to see in cool venues at band peaks is I guess what I meant. i.e., 73 Winterland.....As lucky as I was to see/hear what I did, I’m sure shows like that would stand out? I think I have experienced and heard about enough of the venues/vibe thing to get that part. Perhaps one of the great parts of Phil and Bob getting back at it in the late 90s was everything was able to get small again. Seeing Further for the fist time at Broomfield made me think I was at a new, clean Rochester War Memorial. The place seemed half empty, everyone was on the floor, you could sit almost anywhere. The vibe was amazing. The venues, the tech, the vide, probably the stress etc, all got real small and laid back, so for us “youngin’s” Seeing say P&F at the Denver Philmore, gave us perhaps a glimpse of what it was like scene/venue wise waaay back. Obviously, “culturally”, ahem, there would be a big difference between 69 and 99.... And I saw enough and heard first hand about those old drafty 10k “war memorials” etc. To me, the ultimate vibe was portrayed in the Dead Movie....wanted to be that dude in the front row every night and have a intimate knowdlege of the music like that, not just some causal fan who came just to get high and dance. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s just we were young fans as well as budding musicians and sound techs etc, so getting in the front row was like going to college! “What pre amp is he using this tour?” ”Oh, that’s how he plays that.” Yeah know, that kind of stuff. It was on a whole different level for us, and of course I cannot begin to describe the connection with the band when you were up there.....phew, still gives me shivers.... The letting go, freaking out and dancing phase came later ; ) Hell, shows didn’t always sell out then, so often larger venues would be kinda empty. But to be at like winter land with 5k or what ever uncle Bilbo packed in, and just the lay out etc. And the vibe, seemed sooooo laid back. The band that era, and the Wall, to me that might of been up there at the top, well, let’s not go down the “favorite” dead end road again.... But it’s all Yin/Yang. Yeah the scene got too big etc, and general admission mostly became a thing of the past, and the crowds did change drastically, no offense to the Touchers etc., but it did. On the other hand they played some great venues, they got tight, the sound and lights got way better, they for a while became a tight knit, and dare I say professional working unit. Hell, for a while it was even cool/popular to be a Dead Head! So like everything else in the whole Dead equation, it constantly was changing for good or for ill....and one can find good and bad at any point, any era, any configuration. Luckily, with the right kind of eyes, there’s usually more of the former, than the latter! “In the strangest of places if you look at it right” Anyway, mostly just love R&R stories, so keep em coming all y’all.... Dave, love your insightful and detailed reviews/posts. How the hell do you have that kind of time to not only listen so intently, analyze and then write for us. You must be a lucky dog! Wuff!

I've always felt EXACTLY the same!! Every concert from'74 back to '68 was better than the 1,000+ shows I've seen since '75!! It's crazy how that goes. Also, if I didn't start listening to a band until album 3 or 4, I was hopelessly out of touch & behind the times. Even if the artist now has 15 or 20 releases. Case in point, the first Springsteen album I bought was "Darkness on the Edge of Town', #4. I believed I was so out of touch because I missed the first 3 albums. And now it turns out that after album #6, I pretty much don't like anything else. We music nuts have a lot in common with weird little minutiae like this. It's the beauty of sharing with like minded people!!

From what you write, I get the impression that you started going to gigs in the late 1970s, and that you regard the early 70s as being a better period for seeing gigs. I started going to gigs in 1972, and I always felt that the same way about late 60s - that they were better, and that I had joined a party just as it was ending. I wonder if this is a bit of a mis-perception-that things were always better before we arrived, which is usually the opinion of those who were participants during the earlier era. If you stared going to gigs in the late 70s-that was probably the best time for going to gigs-for you.

....now I have never listened to this show before. Not bad for '95, but I'm scratching my head at the FOTM. I don't want to say it's the worst version I've ever heard, but it's up there. https://archive.org/details/gd1995-05-26.sbd.larson.35169.flac16/gd95-0… ....Jerry is plucking his magic twanger for sure, but I'm not a fan of this twang...the vocals during the final coda are also cringe worthy. Moving on.

Its spelt Mucic on my copy, although I have only noticed, now since it has been pointed out. Just shows how we sometimes see what we expect to see-not what's actually there. I agree that its a great show. Help-Slipknot-Franklins is my favourite 1977 jam, although it didn't crop up that often. I have always considered the one played on 9th June at Winterland to be the greatest-but I haven't played it this year yet-and they are all good. You sure listened to 18th June 1974 in more favourable conditions than I did, Jim! Not that there's anything wrong with my front room-but it doesn't sound as expansive as where you heard it.

You are correct, 10-26-89 has been released, bummer. Sorry, not overly familiar, since I didn’t get Boxilla... I did happen to go through list of shows (Wikipedia?) last night since I’ve seen so much here about it.....cursing myself, though it was a lot of scratch for me at the time... Always been a tad obsessed with those Miami shows as I had tix, but had to sell since I went to Hampton instead...(went to Philly also, but that was planned). Enjoyed Fla. 88 shows, and saw more shows at Spectrum than any other venue (13 I t think?) so the plan was to do Philly/Miami, but then Hampton happened.......Glad to hear the first night of Miami was good too, perhaps that will end up on something? Always thought perhaps not all, but a nice representation/sample of remaining unreleased 89 fall shows would make a nice box, especially since there are multi-tracks etc...perhaps that 9/29/89 also if it’s as good as it looks? I will have to get 10-26 copy elsewhere.... Really enjoyed your Floyd comments, especially the 73 show stuff. It must of been amazing to see all these great bands in perhaps their primes..... Personally, I really enjoy the posts by you folks that were a bit ahead of the curve age wise regarding early 70s, and sixties shows that you were at etc. I know how I remeber how much things changed from late 70s when I became concert goer, over the ensuing years. So using comparitve analysis in reverse, can only imagine what it was like back then; probably even more laid back, smaller scenes, with bands in their prime? Thanks to all who recall here their early experiences for those of us to young to have been there, so we can use these visions to enhance our imaginations etc., At least we have much of the fantastic music made in those days to enjoy!

braver, stronger people than me.

Bob t.. Couldn't agree more. daverock, funny you brought up 6/18/74 Louisville. I had a busy day planned.. needed to start my day early, change the oil in the truck and get on the river early. So just after reading your post I go to move my truck to the oil changing spot, the radio was last on SiriusXM 23, The Grateful Dead Channel and that remarkable eyes of the world was playing. I recognized it immediately.. and it gave me a chuckle. Seeing how serendipity was already interfering with my plans.. after I changed the oil I made sure to grab my waterproof shuffle that had 6/18/74 already loaded and enjoyed most of the show on what turned out be a spectacular sunny day carving turns through the beautiful mountain canyon just upstream of my home. 11 miles of Class IV and V whitewater.. didn't see another soul except the buddy I was paddling with and even spotted a bald eagle in the top part of the run, which doesn't happen every day. Thanks for that post, you tilted karma my way and set in play what turned out to be a most enjoyable Saturday morning. Happy holidays all. 5/25..yes, I think that's what I will listen to on my bike ride up to get my truck. It's a stunner and the ride will likely take almost a couple hours. Just enough for the second set. Nice ramble, unkle.. a few nice little bits of history you got to attend.