Grateful Dead

I have decided that I really don't need to be kvetching over what will the next release be, and when will the announcement come, that instead, I can use this time to go over some releases that time doesn't always allow me to. With that in mind, here are my last 5...... 12/26/79 (DP 5) 2/13-14/70 (DP 4) 8/7/82 (DP 32) 4/5-6/82 (RT 4.4) 8/25/72 (Da P 24) Enjoy your Holiday all, and thanks to all our veterans (past & present)!!

finally gave this a thorough listen. nice show. Jerry sounds like he is whispering the lyrics.

I’ve been in a late-era mood for the past week…some really great stuff that I haven’t listened to in a little while… 6/23/90 9/19/90 4/1/91 6/22/91 9/24/91 6/20/92 Quite a binge… If anyone wants any of these shows, just reach out

All 3 of King's albums on the Shelter label are good. If you love Freddie, like I do, they are all essential. The 3 are Getting Ready (awesome cover), Texas Cannonball, and Woman Across the Water.

Yes, I agree, Magic Sam was amazing. Both the albums mentioned by estimated-eyes are tremendous. Another great one is "Magic Sam Live", which features two live concerts. The first is in a club in October 1963, and the second is at The Ann Arbour Blues Festival in August 1969 The sound quality isn't all it might be-but the quality shines through. The version of "I Feel So Good" may just be the best application of THAT John Lee Hooker riff-Boogie Chillun- that I have ever heard.

Yes, the cost of paying for security at the Royal Wedding was extortionate. And this in a year when cuts to law enforcement in London have contributed to record numbers of people, many of them children, being killed in a so called epidemic of knife crime in the capitol. There has been a disproportionate number of young black people being killed in these crimes. Also a bit sickening that they cleared the streets of homeless people before the wedding. I think they have been allowed back now.

To be fair (and to balance my Kardashian comment) I've looked at the cost of the royal family over the years and the security costs of $45Mil is a bit one-sided. The royal family (even just the wedding) does bring in a ton of tourism revenue. I know a few people who went to London just to be in the same country during the ceremony and pageantry. The wedding generated a ton of revenue from TV rights, t-shirt sales, plane fares, hotels, catering, taxis, etc etc. From "The Atlantic", July 23, 2013: "The British tourism agency has reported that the royal family generates close to $767 million every year in tourism revenue, drawing visitors to historic royal sites like the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace. Tourism is the third-biggest industry in the U.K. and supports about one in 12 jobs." Of course a "Royal cynic" could argue that most people would still visit all those sites regardless of any diamond-soled twats eating caviar upstairs.... But the existence of the royal family helps spur tourism income, and any measure of the cost of the royals needs to be balanced by the revenue they arguably generate. But they're still just Kardashians with British accents.

Interesting thread on the blues. There is so much good stuff out there. My favorite of the Kings is by far Albert King. He was so smooth and could get funky when he wanted. BB King is highly overrated, IMHO. Buddy Guy's Stone Crazy is essential listening for any guitar fans-- absolutely Buddy's very best. I think I have seen Buddy Guy more times than any other artist, though I stopped seeing him in recent years as his live schtick finally ran its course with me. True story here: I mostly would see Buddy play in Milwaukee, Madison or his Chicago club in the 1990s and early 2000s. If you have seen him play, you know he always does what me and my buds called 'Roamin' Buddy'-- going out in the crowd with his guitar and playing. He would always stop by me for some reason. In fall 2002, I am in Portland for a work conference and Buddy is playing a small theater there, so I go with a friend (that I met at the Alpine Valley Dead reunion shows). Buddy gets into his Roamin' Buddy and somehow finds me and I swear to you, does a double take-- like WTF are you doing out here on the west coast? My friend even asked me, "What was that look he gave you?" Magic Sam Blues Band is amazing-- Black Magic and West Side Soul are classics and without a weak spot. The under the radar guy that I will always preach from the mountaintop, however, is Luther Allison. I have seen many concerts in my 30+ years of concert-going and he put on, hands-down, the best show I ever saw. His albums are great, but that live show was something else (get Live in Chicago for a taste). I went by myself to the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee as nobody had heard of him in my group. I was free to roam around and loved it. The guy did a two-hour set and came back for an hour encore-- just blistering on guitar the entire time. I always say that is the only concert I have seen that the artist left it all out on the stage. Turns out he had tumors throughout his body and he died within two months of that gig. Amazing show. Dead content-- I haven't chimed in on this release. I like it-- the piano is really nice and while the setlists are similar between the two gigs, they are definitely two different shows with separate vibes. Pig's keys in The Other One from Ann Arbor-- love 'em.

what a waste of money, the rich suck in that aspect of wasting money on nothing, they could have donated that amount to anything else but a wedding. Who cares anyway? On a separate note, just read a review of the new band Saucerful of Secrets, Nick Mason's new endeavor. What a set list, playing all the old Syd songs in a small venue, must have been so cool. Check it out, would love to see this band. See Emily Play.

....dollars or pounds? Who cares. Yawn.