• 1,815 replies
    heatherlew
    Default Avatar
    Joined:

    "The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

    And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

    Dave's Picks Volume 27 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.

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    SAMTHARTMAN....
    ....not even gonna take Boise for a spin around the block? Time to take off the training wheels and ride. That's sarcasm btw. To each their own. But, really? Guess I'm in the minority that any Dead is better than no Dead. I won't be playing this every day for sure, but when the moment hits, it's right there. Those moments can catch one off guard if you're not careful. I would think why break up the numerical beauty that is Dave's lined up all in a wonderful row? I've been know to be a bit OCD, so maybe it's just me. I like me. And that's enough for me....oh. And UB40 was really fun. Have you heard of The Movement? My step daughter turned me into them a couple of hours ago. Good stuff.
  • nappyrags
    Joined:
    VGuy72
    thanks for that awesome pic...need to steal...Bob's slide playing has always driven me to the Donna edge...YAWWWWW!!!!
  • SAMTHARDMAN
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    27
    Butch, that my man is one hell of a good opinion. I could not have said it better. Last year, a kind soul sent Dave 24 to me free of charge. Don't ask why I did not buy the subscription last year, because there is no good answer. 80's Dead is not my cup of tea. I am returning the favor done for me a year ago. Please PM me if interested in 27. The cd is still in the original packaging. Please no one interested in re-sale. Just somebody who was at the wrong place at the wrong time; and missed out. Be kind, Sam T
  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Sounds pretty good for an 83
    I’ve heard way worse many times.For those who complain about the sound quality, how many hissy, muddy cassette recordings did you listen to before the doors of the vault were thrown wide open? Back when a single CD cost $20 (the time when I got on the bus) and there were no complete show releases - just compilations like Live Dead, Skull Fuck, Eur 72, Dead Set, Reckoning, I was happy to get a complete show recording, even if it was hissy and muddy. I spent many hours listening to low quality recordings on cassette because I was, and still am, addicted to Grateful Dead. These releases are a blessing!!!!! My music listening is >98% GD, ~1% JG, ~1% others. I need all the years available so that I can move around the eras and not burn myself out on a single year. I love all the years, warts and all, although I listen less to the very warty years, but there still are some good parts to those years. I think that a good model for Dave’s Picks is ~3:1 pre-80’s/post-80’s for the time being while we get the returned reels released. Mini-Boxes and regular Boxes of the later years sounds like a good plan. That way you can buy it or not, and it’s not part of the subscription. It’s time for a Bruce release. For those not happy with DaP27, put it up for sale, there are people who want it and will be happy to listen to it. Thanks Dave, Jeffrey, and crew for another great release that sounds so much better than the hissy, muddy cassettes that I cut my teeth on, and that made my non-Deadhead friends want to leave the room. Sitting on the couch, playing the CDs on an Onkyo 6-disc changer, Onkyo receiver, Onkyo sub woofer, Bose 301 speakers. Franklin’s just started. H/S/F sounds better than CD1, I can differentiate all the instruments, vocals not too loud. For CD1, some parts were clearer than others. The jam part of Big RR Blues seemed to have distinct separation of the instruments, while some other songs were a bit more blurred. One thing I noticed is that Bob’s guitar was not obscured by Jerry, but that sometimes Bob and Brent were playing similar tones and it all rolled into one.
  • Butch
    Joined:
    MV67
    I think Dave has to offer up something occasionally from the 80s, even if the sound is sub par. There are some Dead fans who want to hear it, that simple. I also think there's something to be said for representing all eras of the band. I got my copy and the sound isn't too good here. But I understand where people are coming from. If I was only able to hear one great 1972 show from an audio standpoint because that was all they had in the vault that sounded that good (like Veneta), I would definitely want something from 1972 that sounded like this 83 show. In other words sub par 83 is better than no 83 to some. I think Dave and Rhino know this and keep it flowing to appeal ti all parts of the market. I don't think we would ever get 4 in a year like this, and I am sure it's no accident that the three 80s shows in the series came as #s 3 & 4 in the year. In other words, they're not marketing an 80s show to sell the year's Dave's Picks subscription when they sell the subscriptions in January or whenever it is, they pick a more marketable show (1977, 1973, 1974, etc). I've never seen the band live, so there is no emotional ties to them for me with regard to concert memories. I simply want the best sounding best performances I can get. That's obviously not what we have here. I do like it better than the RFK 89 set, because I can't hear Brent too well here and I don't like the way he sounds when he's mixed in at the same level as the rest of the band. Not towards the end of his stint with the band anyway. I have listened to Dead set and it's not nearly as rough as the 89 / 90 era, and his keyboards don't sound intrusive like they do in the later era. Does Hornsby play on the 89 RFK set? I thought back when I came out somebody identified him as the one playing the chordal spacey synthesizers.
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Hornsby does sit in at RFK '89....
    ....in fact, he helps create one of the best Man Smart, Woman Smarter I have ever heard! Accordian yes, synths no.
  • msmiranda
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    DP 27 Sound
    I've only done a cursory listen through of DP 27 and I have to agree the audio quality was somewhat less than I expected. My first thought was "muddy" and I would have expected better from the time period. Maybe it's because it's from a cassette master rather than reel? But I liked Brent back then and still do today.
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    "Brent has many issues"....
    ....don't we all? Lol
  • MV1967
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Dave's Picks 27
    The sound quality is questionable with this one. The vocals are way too loud. It is good when the band is not singing. I wish there was a way for me to adjust the mix so the vocals are tuned down, way down. I think Dave should stay out of the 80's. Brent has many issues.
  • KRIYAS
    Joined:
    anthem
    the 50th with that sneaky live show so good morning little school girl inspired to dl 2-11-69 never heard just dig dead
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

8 years

"The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

Dave's Picks Volume 27 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.

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 7 months
Permalink

Thanks Dave!
user picture

Member for

9 years 2 months
Permalink

Yes!
user picture

Member for

13 years 2 months
Permalink

Interesting choice & a nice change of pace.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

Dave's27 is only the third officially released 83 show. It includes one of the 27 (or so) 83-85 performances of Help/Slip, the first officially released.68-72 is my favorite period. I will happily add an infinite number of Dark Star performances to my Deadshelves. The glut of 71-74 releases HAS taught me that Billy alone at the drumkit IS better than Billy and Mickey working together. But this will be the FIRST time we hear Mickey's 80s percussion leadwork in Slip Normanized! Could be awwwwwwwwwwwwwwesOME! Yeah I want more Dark Stars and those epic 70s Playin's, but diversity is way overdue (IMO) and I want more of these "firsts"!
user picture

Member for

7 years 2 months
Permalink

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years 11 months
Permalink

Well over due, nice show....bring on the early 1980s for the next 4-5 picks DL!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years
Permalink

great tour. looking fwd to this one. love those Chicago Poplar Creeks!
user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

Well.. it was a nice streak, but it's over. I had successfully guessed all the shows from the Dave's Picks series from Dave's Picks 1, 5/25/77 through Dave's Picks 26, 11/14/71 by deciphering the quarterly Bolo riddles. I missed this one though.. and it was so obvious.
user picture

Member for

6 years 9 months
Permalink

Excited for those who were hoping we'd see an 80's release, but this won't get any play in Tripville. Anyone who doesn't nab an a la carte copy, PM me and I'll gladly pass along my subscriber copy (at cost). First message after it sells out is the one I'll go with.
user picture

Member for

7 years 9 months
Permalink

Being fairly new to the Dead I am not familiar with much 80's, really looking forward to it!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

Well, I’ve been hoping for a long string of 80s-90s releases, but only because I generally find anything past 1975 to be unlistenable. Still, I’m a huge fan of the Santa Fe show just nine days later, (it’s one of only four 80s shows I’m actually able to listen to without regretting it) so I figured it’s best to get this one since the playing is on par, and the sound is probably better than the circulating boot. But Dave, please listen to these people and make the next five Pics from 80-95; my wallet needs a break.
user picture

Member for

10 years 9 months
Permalink

Not overwhelmed by the setlist, but that isn't always important. Hope the sound quality is up there. I would've liked an Althea or Touch or West LA Fadeway for a Pick of this era, but c'est la vie. Looking forward to another show for the collection.
user picture

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

That was a clunker if ever there was one, only goes to show how much the energy and playing ebbed and flowed on the same tour, weeks apart. That and City Island was a horrible venue.
user picture

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

That was a clunker if ever there was one, only goes to show how much the energy and playing ebbed and flowed on the same tour, weeks apart. That and City Island was a horrible venue.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 4 months
Permalink

I was going to come on here and post, "Thank God Dave picked a show from the 80s. Now maybe the tiny vocal minority that comes on and complains every single time a 70s show is released will stop complaining!" But of course, that's asking too much. The next 4-5 picks?? Come on, man. You know that's not going to happen. Did you watch the video? Did you listen to what Dave said? Did any of it register? It's really pretty simple: if you want to buy a release, buy it. If you don't, then don't. There's no need to come on the board after every single flipping release to whine, complain, make demands, or critique every Dead.net decision. It's so, so old and played out. It's been going on for years. Thanks, Dave. I'm not excited for an '83 release, but I am relieved that maybe, just maybe the Vol. 28 announcement will be met with a slightly smaller chorus of boos and rotten tomatoes.
user picture

Member for

13 years
Permalink

nice to see the '80s represented again. ----
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Thanks for this release, can't wait to hear it!!
user picture

Member for

13 years
Permalink

...listening party sounds great, looking forward to this release.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

It’s funny that you say that, and to each their own, (after all, this is Deadsville) but the set list is the only reason my resolve crumbled and I bought this one. I just can’t resist a good sounding Help>Slip>Franklin from what may have been Jerry's last good year. That, Scarlet>Fire and Crazy Fingers are the only Dead thrills I can’t get from the No-Mickey years.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Not familiar with this show so I checked out the Listening Party. Sounds very good and I agree we needed something different. I can't wait to listen to this one and the cover art is outstanding again.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

Hey Dave, nice Pick. Interesting how the sound sample on this page has an audience patch. They seem more common now -- I noticed a number of them on the 30Trips shows, amongst other releases. I'm assuming it's a result of getting deeper into the catalog. I also notice that you guys rarely acknowledge the patches in liner notes or credits. I think the tape geeks like me out there would love more info. Cheers
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

Agreed, Fox!! Very psyched to get an ‘83 and one I haven’t heard even in part. A blessing from the Vault, thanks Dave L and company!!
user picture

Member for

15 years 4 months
Permalink

welcome this jam! hope the SQ crushes any doubts
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

And 110 bumps to CeeDee’s comment. It really is just wrong to not give a shoutout to the Aud tapers in the fine print in the liners.
user picture

Member for

7 years 9 months
Permalink

With the PacNW box set coming out later this year, and with plenty of Dave's Picks material, I'm feeling pretty satisfied with the HQ material that I can listen to from '73-'74. '77 is well represented, too. We've had a '72 and '71 release in the last 3 picks before today. So even though I've never heard this show and even though '83 was probably the year that I collected the least back in my tape-trading days, I'm still really happy that we're going to get some early 80s love. Thanks, Dave!
user picture

Member for

11 years 9 months
Permalink

Oh well...Happy for the pre-drums...so so on the post drums, but that's just me....Ventura or Santa Fe me would've likey more but I do have good boards of those so... so when does 28 release??? ;)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

Just saw it's out of stock, not sure if I'm the first message though.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

When I saw the new Pick was from 1983 my 'disappointment reflex' kicked in, but that's not really fair to the year or the show or the band (or Dave!). Great rock & roll show and set-list, and the show is near enough to the show on September 6th at Red Rocks to know they were on a roll. The sound is much better than what's already in circulation too, so I'll have to give it a good listen when it arrives!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

But i'm going to listen to it with an open mind.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Every Dead era has treasure. Very happy to see a mid-80s show being released.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

I'm looking forward to this release!
user picture

Member for

11 years 2 months
Permalink

i got the tank top . love it , a guy i know from Albany is always raving about the "Dew" from SPAC June 1983 over the weekend Dead and Company performed in Boulder , the poster from those shows has a very similar look/feel to this classic image from Alton Kelley, that was my initial thought. And coincidentally the purple color tee takes me back to summer 2016 Dead and Company tour, each venue had a shirt with date , venue , city and SYF. When i saw those purple tees being sold at places like SPAC i was thinking this exact shirt from 1983 I am going to wear a shirt from 1983 later today in honor of this release
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 4 months
Permalink

I used to have a review of this show from a local newspaper taped to the wall of my office cubicle. Let's just say it was a stellar review. The reviewer had never heard the Dead before, so it's not much use for comparing this to other shows, but the show certainly made an impression. Until now, I'd forgotten about that review, and I've yet to listen to the show. The setlist looks pretty good. I'm among those who feel that the Dead peaked in the '70s, but there's still a lot to like about '80s and '90s Dead. My big complaint about these years is that, due to the basically fixed format, the shows became highly predictable. Before that, I used to completely lose track of time during a show. In the later years, I always knew pretty much exactly where I was as the show progressed.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

Very happy with this choice...I love so much of 1983. I will take an Estimated->Eyes with some jets on it from this era any day. The listening samples sound GREAT for this show...nice and crisp with some audience feel. Thank you, Dave!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 6 months
Permalink

I was a fool to have been in Boise and to miss this show! Coming home early from a 3 week family camping vacay to go back to work on Monday, thinking I needed few days to decompress, wanting to get home before the weekend. . . . All the way back to town, driving with all the heads on tour rolling in for a Friday show, every rest area & gas fill-up begining to look more and more like Shakedown ("Help us with some gas bro, buy a grilled cheese?") really kicking myself for NOT scoring a ticket before vacation, especially the last 200 miles in...! My ex even said "go, find a miracle" & I remember muttering something about being on the road 3 weeks, bathing, laundry, staying home with her & the baby, & not having anyone else to go with that night at the last minute, deciding to be responsible instead of following the dream. Only the second time I ever passed on a ticket, the other having been for a brother in law funeral ("But, it's The Dead--he's dead--he won't miss me," didn't cut it with my family, so I ended up having to miracle the ticket) but this time--not even a good lame excuse. Thanks Dave--for the returning that miracle--about 25 years later, but FINALLY--the Boise show that got away!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

As with most of the early 80s, there are some gems and some rough spots. '83 has some high energy moments... but also some sloppy playing and Jerry's voice sounded a bit nasally (and got worse in '84 and '85). Still, I saw 7 shows in '83 (2 in New Haven, 1 in Saratoga Springs, 2 in Hartford, and 2 in Worcester). I have some very fond memories of those shows (and one of them 10/14/83 already wound up on Dick's Picks). Fans who like how tight they were in '77 or how exploratory they were in '72-'74 may not like 1983... but those who like high energy rock 'n' roll Dead will find some high peaks to enjoy in this release. From '83 I would rather hear that monstrous second set of Saratoga 6/18/83... but perhaps there is no pristine SBD recording of that. Anyway... thanks, Dave for choosing an 80's release. I saw the bulk of my shows from 1980-1991 so I have some amazing memories tied to that era. How about a release of Greek Theater 5/21/82-5/23/82 (all 3 shows have some great moments)? How about Worcester Centrum and Augusta from fall of '84? How about Oakland 12/27/86 (4th show after Jerry's coma)? We have plenty of releases from '89/'90... but the early/mid-80s is worth looking at to find a few hidden gems!
user picture

Member for

12 years
Permalink

Did it really sell that fast? Or just saying that to put the scalper type off? I'll take a nice 83 show, thanks Dave. Not sure if the "official" release is much better than "soundboard" I have. Shame they didn't record the shows better in the 80's. But lord knows anything sounds better than MOST tapes I had back then. :-) In any event, again, thanks Dave.
user picture

Member for

9 years 6 months
Permalink

They almost sold out of pre-orders so i would assume much less then 500 left for the a la cart. That is why they are giving all a fare chance by saying we are posting at this time on this day.
user picture

Member for

12 years
Permalink

So do you accept blame or congrats for this release? :-)
user picture

Member for

9 years 11 months
Permalink

Wow, can't wait to listen! Don't have much of middle 80s concerts, so this one will fill a huge gap in my collection. Interesting setlist, by the way!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 6 months
Permalink

Was that you following me back then? I managed 38 shows that year.saw tje ones you mentioned to me Worcester 1st night was the climax of the 80's. Scarlet >Fire>Estimated >Eyes >Drumz> Other One. I still vividly remember that. Everyone was dripping. Unfortunately the Dick's Pick was an example the weakness of the record in the vault for the 80's . My friends's aud had more of a feel for the energy but he saturated the tape. Definitely looking forward to this release
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years
Permalink

Of 36, Dick picked just one 81, one 82, one 83, and one 85. And for what it’s worth just a couple from 90s (one 90, one 91). Nassau 81 and Hartford 83 are easily among my favorites. As for Dave, so far of 27, there’s been just two (one from 80, one from 81) and now three with this one from 83. Happy to hear more are on the way, though I don’t expect it for 28. From the Roadtrips, of 17, there’s 3 from the 80s (80, 82, 88) and 2 from the 90s (90, 93). Otherwise, including boxes, dvds, etc, there’s been plenty of official releases from 89/90. Interestingly, I don’t know of anything from 84 (or 86, for what that’s worth) other than that monster Shakedown on So Many Roads- and that’s practically 85! 84 would be nice and I’d definitely get a kick out of more 91 and 93- some of my absolute favorites.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

I know, I know, wrong release but figured a lot of people will be visiting here today. So.....shot in the dark but if anyone has an extra Dave's Picks Vol. 26 and wants to "gift" it to me (or privately discuss other arrangements) please get in touch. Thanks!
product sku
081227931599