• 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
  • unkle sam
    Joined:
    9-2-83
    Just had a listen to this show yesterday. I like the way Wang Dang Doodle starts and slowly builds to start off the show, makes you think something really cool is about to happen. A lack luster first set except for the opener and that great Deal at the end. Second set not so hot either, the pre drums is kinda muddy, the drums is short and goes no where, the space is nice, but really doesn't build to anything either, the post drums with a "new song" delivered like a single, Throwing Stones gets so much better in the late 80's and into the 90's. All in all, I give this show a C average and certainly not the "stunner" it is advertised as. Sure hope the next pick is better than this one. I don't know if any of you were around in the 40's, I wasn't. But I think you can trace Rock and Roll all the way back to then, or even the 30's, or maybe the roaring 20's, hard to say. Of course, back then it was "Heathen" music, "Black" music and a thing that you kept your young children away from, "no son/daughter of mine is going to listen to some muggle smoking darkie music". Segregation was in full swing back then and Rock and Roll was a thing to be feared. It was, after all, youthful rebellion which happens in every generation, that put rock and roll on the map, back then, if our parents hated it, we loved it. There were a lot of us in the 60's and music meant something back then, it was our call to arms, our mantra, we actually thought that music and love could change the world. I'm not a historian nor do I know exactly when rock and roll got it "birth". Glad it did tho, sure was an uptight world full of lies and hate back then, wow, I just got a feeling like I've been here before. I think someone said that they had been following history for X years or some thing like that, gee, they should know ;) But can you believe them? Most that were around then are gone or are so old that they just can't remember, and I can relate to that, memories are very subjective and history books can be distorted, or rewritten. I have had a conversation or two with my 93 year old mother-in-law who was a music teacher all thru the late 50's, 60's and 70's. When she is able to, she remembers rock and roll as a bad thing, one that was openly discouraged and frowned upon, until that "nice gospel singing hill billy" came around. He was "so nice, and good looking too". But that was rock just finally being accepted, not the birth of.
  • daverock
    Joined:
    Mr Heartbreak
    Thanks for the film clip of Bruce Cockburn. Some beautiful guitar playing-in fact the whole band is good. I've never heard Bob Dylan play like that!
  • garciaddicted
    Joined:
    Rock 'N' Roll
    "I’ve stolen every lick he ever played", Keith Richards on Chuck Berry "The Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll", Bob Dylan on Chuck Berry "No group, be it Beatles, Dylan or Stones, have ever improved on 'Whole Lotta Shakin'' for my money.” John Lennon
  • frosted
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Everybody knows who created rock and roll
    Hey hey with the Monkees! What I find odd though is that I cut my teeth on R&R in the late 60s and into the 70s. Back then, we called the 50s the oldies. Elvis, Jerry Lee, Fats Domino, Bill Haley, Buddy Holley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Eddie Cochrane, all those guys seemed ancient to us. Thinking about 30s and 40s music back then? Fuggettaboutit. What was that even? Musicians wearing suits with skinny ties, and huge brass bands with our grandparents swirling around the dance floors all dressed up? What gets me is that now the 60s and 70s are more than twice as long ago for today's kids as the 50s were for me, and that seemed pretty far back at the time. So the circle squares, and now I listen to more jazz from the 30s-60s than I do rock and roll from any era, the GOGD being one of the few exceptions. Get off of my lawn!
  • simonrob
    Joined:
    This is not the place
    for intellectual discussions between non-intellectuals.
  • kyleharmon
    Joined:
    you all need more Unicorn
    you all need more Unicorn Jesus in your lives and less of this Devil rock music.
  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Good Lord
    Such nonsense. My cat can cut and paste. Stop it. Dave. You disappoint. No knowledge of Bruce? I posted about him during the worthless doors/who tripe.
  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Good Lord
    Such nonsense. My cat can cut and paste. Stop it. Dave. You disappoint. No knowledge of Bruce? I posted about him during the worthless doors/who tripe.
  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Dear Butch, DS and Keithfan
    Sorry, I thought we were having a intellectual discussion about opposing theories, not trying to insult one another. So since I now feel insulted. I also feel I have to defend my self..... Please find Butch’s comments in quotes.... “Nobody even said the Beatles invented Rock n roll or coined the term, only that they brought it to life in front of the world. “ So the millions of folks for all the years before the Beatles did not enjoy RR, because it hadn’t yet been brought to life? Even though they did have some success; album sales, performances and quite a bit of airplay, RELETIVELY speaking? Because your statements could be interpreted that RR was such an underground, insignificant thing that not until the Beatles did it become well known? or “given birth” To me that’s an insult to all the men and women who actually made RR, long before the Beatles came along.... “The bottom line is that our generation DID witness the birth of rock and roll, and yes you can use the concept of birth, it's an appropriate form of symbolic language called personification. It's laughable that THAT part of the dicussion even came into question.” As I’ve politely stated, I agree with most of KF’s fine, articulate essay, just not this part. I’m imho, based on reading dozens of RR biographies, the only thing wrong with this is you could say all the same things about Chuck, only on a smaller scale...due to technological and cultural circumstances he had no control over. i understand your point just fine. You don’t need to insult me. Sorry to all you folks if this seems like I’m being snarky etc. Not trying to be, actually having a bit of fun participating in a verbal chess match, mental gymnastics, intellectual discourse etc. Used to stay up and party hard and do this sort of thing about authors, music, movies etc when I went back to collage in my thirties..... “The biggest reasons the Beatles gave birth to it, is 1)they were original,” And Chuck wasn’t? “2)they brought their brand to way more more people, WAY more people,(70 million people, come on now)” Never debated that, if you actually read my post, I ponder whether album sales and/or popularity alone is really a true distinction of what makes one relevant or not. I don’t believe album sales alone is. And comparing album sales from completely different technological and cultural times is like comparing apples to oranges....I’m sorry i obviously did not articulate my point well.. I don’t think that’s a fair, objective measure. “3)they influenced most of the bands that followed after (as well as the popular culture at large).” I have openly agreed with this statement throughout....? “Nobody else went on Ed Sullivan 1st and ushered in a movement in rock pop music. None of their predecessors did that.” Unfortunately I don’t know that much about the show, but I don’t believe in the fifties, a black man, with subversive lyrics was going to get a fair shot at a show of that prominence? I do think I recall reading that they did not want RR, but they felt they needed to make the show more current, to generate ratings, and because RR was already so prevalent in society, they needed to get with the times.....but please don’t quote me on that.....my memory is deteriorating rapidly... I also believe part of the reason Chuck received the airplay he did get, was many didn’t know he was black by his “sound” Another way for the suits to take “race music” and make it popuar with whites, so they could cash in. “They took what was out there, made it their own and in doing so TRANSFORMED rock and popular music. The bands that came after helped continue the movement,” Again, I’ve only supported this sentiment. But I also believe you could say the same, in a different way, about Berry et el... “but there's no question the Beatles brand came first.” This is where we disagree. Again, it’s an insult to all those who were oppressed and struggled through the early years of RR, so that eventually it was legitimized enough so the Beatles could explode and change the world! Kinda like the big brother or sister who breaks in the parents, so the younger siblings have an easier time.... “Millions of people latched on to to the Beatles, not Haley or Berry. “ So again, numbers are your criteria? Apples to Oranges.... “It was their mold that came first and endured” Not unless they had a time machine....sorry, that was snarky. I apologize! “Chuck Berry still hugely important and I love him to death, but he didn't do what the Beatles did” Never said he did. I repeatedly acknowledge that the Beatles were perhaps the greatest band of all time, influentially at least, if not more.... “that wasn't his role. His role may have been even better in the history of rock and roll as he influenced so many. That's not what this discussion was ever about. This discussion was about whether or not our generation was here to witness the birth of rock and roll.” Again, I understand perfectly what this is about. I’m sorry that because we disagree you feel I don’t understand your point, so much so that you have to insult my intelligence.... “The one excellent point I agree with is that Bob Dylan brought a brand that was equally important, but I don't think you could credit him with heralding in the rock movement.” No, not in and of itself, but one could argue that his innovations also had a unmeasurable influence on RR. Perhaps one of the few that came close to the Beatles level of influence? “Oborious, yes Chuck Berry was important and influenced many, but same thing, he wasn't the Beatles” Never said he was, only that he is constantly not given the credit myself, and more importantly, most of the RR elite all state in their books that he deserves, of which being credited as the true Father of RR is one. I believe Rolling Stone said something similar in their tribute to him? I’m sorry, but most of my personal belongings, including my RR library are currently in storage or I would stay up and provide references. . “You seem to be personally offended by all of this,” Not at all. I truly apologize to you, as well as everyone if that’s how this is coming across. I just think your making a generalized statement that ignores a huge block of actual history, which insults those who made it. By doing so, I don't think your theory is logical. “as you are making statements like what if Chuck has been white or what if Elvis wasn't in the right place at the right time. The discussion is about what is not what might have been or could have been. If the queen had balls she'd be king.” How can you not consider what America was like racially in the fifties, and how that would effect the success or failure of a black person? And to compare what a Fearless Black man did, during that repulsive time in our history; actually “give birth to”, basically a whole new cultural scene, and making it popular (sounds familiar?), with a group that did all the great things they did, in part, because of the foundation people like Mr Berry laid for them to build upon, only by comparing popularity or numbers? That’s like saying Miles Davis gave birth to Jazz with Kind of Blue, while all his predecessors, from decades before, did not? “I think where people are getting stuck in this dialogue is that they're feeling like the birth of rock and roll on the world scale should go to (pick your name) instead of the Beatles. There is no single person or band who invented rock and roll, but the Beatles did give birth to it in the larger world, and that was the only point that was being made along with the fact that we were here to witness it.” Sorry, agree with everything except the term birth. I have never disputed the rest. birth bərTH/Submit noun 1. the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being. 1. give birth to (a baby or other young). "she had carried him and birthed him" “A physically SEPARATE being....” Your argument presupposes that the Beatles would be the parent, that gives birth to a new being... Mine presupposes that Chuck was the father that gave birth to the new being. The Beatles were that being when it fully matured, and became an adult force of nature....that went on to conquer the world, in part because of the DNA of the father.....now I may not be right, but I don’t think that’s so hard to follow is it? “V guy you're absolutely right the sensitivity scale is just beyond words. But one thing that is clear if you read through this discussion thread is that words our being misinterpreted even after clarifications are made. It's like there's no effort being made.” Touché my friend, no need to insult. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean I don’t understand, and that you need to insult me. You say “potAto”, I say “potaahto” And finally (I promise no more outta me anyway, hopefully I’ve made my point. Not looking to be “right” just properly understood. I don’t think you can fairly critique ones argument if you don’t properly understand it) So finally, I'd just like to state I’m sorry if I’ve bummed folks out. That was never my intent. Especially no bad vibes toward Keithfan. I thoroughly enjoy his articulate posts, and usually agree with like 98% of what he says. Think maybe I’ll just go away for a bit......”you know this space is getting hot” Peace!
  • snafu
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Mr. Ones and FZ
    We can now shut down this site Mr Ones you have sumed up everyone here no matter what our other disagreements " Music is the Best"
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

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

Hey Rayski:The keyboardist on this show is Brent, not Keith; the drummers are Billy & Mickey.
user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months
Permalink

I like the distinction you draw between seeing a live show, and listening to a live recording. I saw countless concerts in the 1970s and 1980s that were great nights out- for all sorts of reasons-the music being just one of them. Sitting at home, now, listening to a recording-its a world away really. I love listening to live recordings-but just because I had a great time at a particular live show is in no way an indicator that I would enjoy listening to a recording of that live show at home, now.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

You're right my mistake. I was overtaken by my despair over the sound quality. I have rarely commented on any release here. I always accept the quality of play for the Era I'm listening. You expect a different sound, dare I say even style, in each mini era. But for me the quality of this mix is just so poor. I believe it is possibly the poorest recording they've released. Even some of the very early 30 Trips recordings as weak as they were far surpass this thing. :(
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Now that I've had a few days to absorb this release with a few listens through, this is easily in my top 5 Dave's Picks. Sure, there are a few botched lyrics (was listening to 7/31/74 recently as well, and there were even botched lyrics and cues, even in this era...nothing new), but the playing is top notch. Wang Dang Doodle - became pretty standard in the '90's, but this version has a more psychedelic gleam to it. Well played. Jack Straw - energetic high octane performance. Jerry was clearly playing his ass off. Doesn't feel ruched to me. Seems just about perfect. They Love Each other - a nice tight version that well played. Mama Tried > Big River - these cowboy Bob tunes are as solid as any other versions played in any other era. They rarely botched these tunes, even in the later years. Brown-Eyed Women - definitive for this, or any era. It's like they step it up another notch in a show that's already off the charts for awesomeness. Minglewood - typically solid. Big Railroad Blues - if this version of this song doesn't do it for you, then you probably aren't a fan of the Dead in the '80's and beyond. Looks Like Rain - good solid reading. Inspired. Deal - if this version of Deal doesn't do it for you, you may want to reassess how loyal of a Deadhead you really are. This version is deninitive for any era. One of the best ever performed. Help > Slip > Franklin's - A few botched lyics aside, the performance is to notch. Slipknot hits spaces right up there with any versions performed at anytime in their career. Franklin's is also well played. Estimated > Eyes > Jam - pure awesomeness. Drums > Space - typical for the era. Throwing Stones - cool early version and nice to see how it evolved into the staple it became. The message still applies to current events, and probably even more-so. Our country, and the world on a whole is in a particularly shitty place now, and getting worse. We proably will leave this place an empty stone if we continue to allow the types odf debacles to unfold that has over the last year-and-a-half. GDTRFB - like deal earlier in the show, if this version doesn't do it for you, you may want to reassess your status as a Deadhead. It rocks. Jerry plays and sings extremely well. Black Peter - I think this version is the highlight of the entire show. A top 5, or perhaps top 3 version of all-time. Absolutely hits everything in every possible way, and beyond. jerry's voice brings an emotional level, as does his playing. I had to relisten 3 times in a row. Worth the price of the entire years subscription alone. Sugar Magnolia - solid rockin' version. It's All Over Now baby Blue - as good as any version from any era. In regards to sound/mix quality, to my ears, this sounds very upfront and kind of in-your-face. The bass is very punchy. All of the elements are there and clear within the first couple of minutes into the show. Where reel tapes tend to have a softer more rounded feel, this is raw, up front and indicative of a well mixed FOH. All in all, this one will probably get more play from me than most of this series, because I like this era a lot, and desire to hear mloits more of it. I like all era's and this one fills a void that needed to be filled. The last couple of years I've been more focused on listening on anniversary dates, or close to them. The next big release is the PNW '73 and '74 box. At almost $200, it's currently beyond my budget to place an order, and if it doesn't sell out anytime soon, I'll eventually and hopefully be able to get my own copy. It's nice that, for a change, we get a release from the 80's that isn't a part of a $200, or $250 or $750 box set, for a change.
user picture

Member for

12 years 7 months
Permalink

I think Dave must have picked the most horrid chalkboard scratching recording available from the 80's so he never has to release another pile of stinking dogshit like this. I don't know how anyone can say this is a good quality recording. If this is the best of the 80's I don't need to hear any more. Not only is the recording bad but Jerry sounds like he's been on a 3 day heroin run, him and bobby can't sync up at all and even the guitar playing is questionable. I've listened to this 3 full times and while every now and then there is something almost promising it soon goes back to the hellish sound. Even my 16 year old daughter who is subjected night and day to the Dead asked why this recording sounded so bad. Not just the recording is bad but the timing and execution. I too went to dozens of 80's shows and most were much better than this and even under the influence I could walk out of a show and know it wasn't that good. This is the Dead at its worst and should be called Warts and All. Please don't waste 25% of my subscription cost on another one of these turds. You guys that were clamoring for an 80"s show need to dig the wax out of your ears and stop justifying this because you were so desperate for the 80"s. I know there is way better stuff out there. For example Frost Amphitheater in 82, both nights were great and even the crappy bootlegs I have on the dc90 cassettes sound better than this.
user picture

Member for

11 years 4 months
Permalink

Love ya, and I do like this release, but if all you do is blow 100% ozone-unfiltered sunshine about every aspect - sound quality and EVERY single song (even saying Help On the Way is top-notch) - it's hard to take your review seriously. Every release has it's pros and cons. But we get it - you're super-excited about this release. And we're all in awe of how much of a "true" Deadhead you are.... How do you do it???
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

Best screen name ever. Agree with everything you said. I was looking forward to this release, as the Dead shows I saw were almost all in the 80s. But it's a debacle almost from start to finish. You know you're in trouble when Wang Dang Doodle is the highlight. Let's face it, many of us have a shitload of versions of these tunes. I have over 1,200 folders on an external hard drive, each of which has a live show in it. That's about half of the Dead's live career. So why do we need so many shows? It's because they never played a song the same way twice, right? Well, for me, a big part of it - the main part - is Jerry. And why do I love to hear Jerry solo so much? Because he could play a nice, unique, tasteful solo in any given tune. But even Jerry couldn't do it on this show, as evidenced especially by Throwin' Stones. I could not believe it, but I actually heard him play a solo that sounded like it was a solo for some other song. I winced throughout it. By that point, I couldn't wait for my "test listen" to the discs to be over. This is the first time I have ever played a Dead show all the way through and was anxious for it to be over. By the way, I have those Frost '82 shows, and yes, my mp3 files of that show sound better than this release. I love much of what's in those performances. Contrast the Throwin' Stones from this show to the ones from Frost, and you'll see what I meant above. I wish they would put one of those in the series. Who cares if they're not in the vault? Pull the SBD files off the archive, rip discs, and they'd be light years ahead of Vol. 27. Performance-wise, this show is just mediocre at best, terrible at worst. It's more embarrassing than the Dick's Picks '83 release. At least that thing had an interesting Scarlet>Fire. This release...one and done for sure.
user picture

Member for

13 years 2 months
Permalink

This whole show is top notch (performance wise)...even Help On the Way...does a few minor vocal flubs really turn you off of such a powerful performance? And "no cohesion at all" ...really? none at all? Really? None at all...wow. At the very least, I'll consider myself grateful for not hearing what some of you are hearing...but I still wouldn't want to be in a band with any of you.
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

talk about yer cupcakes.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

Dave Lemieux goes out of his way to throw accolades at Jeffrey Norman for the mastering work he did for this release. Possibly the originals from which this release came from were so poor and Mr Norman did do a marvelous job. But we're not afforded the opportunity to hear the masters for this - just the final results. I'm guessing that many who have found this recording acceptable might have been lulled after 30 minutes or so of thinking "ah this ain't half bad". But I suggest stopping in the middle of Eyes of the World or Estimated Prophet after being into it for a good hour and a half, throw on any other show they released. You'll be amazed just how bad the sound of this one is. So much of the music is flat out missing. I'm not talking a specific instrument, though some are very hard to hear, but rather the musical range you're left with, the missing sound frequencies. And then there is the whole mix issue. Jeffrey I have to believe this isn't a recording you'd share with your professional peers to demonstrate your skills unless you also have the master to show what you've done, because by itself it is a disaster. If it were me, I'd have my name removed from the credits.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years 11 months
Permalink

Glad to get such a good release for DP#27, and of course to get back into the 1980s(about time). This show is really good, there is a total energy throughout the show...even on the few sleeper songs. You can really tell Jerry was into it on this night, not just mailing it in or "tired" ;) as he was at some points in 1983-1986. This is a great start to get the ball rolling for this series in the 1980s, I know DL mentioned that DP#28 "probably" would not be a 1980s show- who knows? I think the obvious year for #28 will be 1979(maybe 1981-82). I think we will see a hot show from 1979 for the DP#28 release, most think 11/25/79 or 12/1/79 are the two go to shows for the next release…..I think a better & more obvious choice will be 9/5/79: GREAT show, GREAT setlist, & GREAT venue. If not 1979, I believe he will venture into the 1990s with a show from 1991. The obvious choice there would be: 6/7/91, 9/4/91, or 9/26/91... BOTTOM LINE- It's great to see the Dave Picks series move to the 1980s, LET'S KEEP THAT DECADE GOING! Also, I know there is always chatter about sound quality/kick drum etc for 1980s shows as far as being unreleasable....BUT MY GOODNESS- think of all the 1973-1978 shows released that even with a nice recording were ruined because of DG's howling 'er singing (IMHO)
user picture

Member for

12 years 7 months
Permalink

-----glad you like it. Why do you have to slam on Donna? Just being a dick I guess.....IMHO
user picture

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

Jeff, thanks so much for the high res cover art. I will be upgrading several of my digital files this evening. I appreciate you sharing with us.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I can't wait for this to make it across the pond and hear it for myself. What people have said here about it are pretty much the most diametrically opposed sets of views ever to grace these boards. On the one hand there are the known 80's fanatics (nothing wrong with that) and a few others who are spurting out verbal orgasms of praise on both the sound and performance aspects of this release. Their comments are so over-the-top as to be hardly credible as subjective reviews. On the other hand we have the people whose favorite period was probably not this period, together with some who saw all their shows in the 80's who largely seem to pan both the mix/sound quality and the performance. Can it really all be that bad? Is there nothing to redeem it? We all (should) know that a PA mix is never going to sound like a Betty Board, so there is a maybe a hint about about the quality of the mix. Typically a reel-to-reel recording will have better sound than a cassette simply due to tape track width and speed considerations so that is maybe another hint. I suspect the reality lies somewhere in between the views of the opposing camps, but just where it lies is something I will have to decide for myself when I finally get my copy which shipped a week ago so, with luck, should arrive in a weeks time.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

I usually try to avoid reading too many of the "review" comments here on the board before I get one of these Picks, because the over-the-top praise is usually just not realistic at all. That leads me to be disappointed almost every time. Let's face it, almost none of the shows released in the series is on a level with the Europe '72 tour or Fillmore '69 - in recording quality (2-track) or performance. However, for you, it might be good, because at least it enables you to keep your expectations low. I really did have high hopes for this Pick, as I saw my first show in '82 and most of my shows were during the '80s. I had just watched the New Year's Eve '83 show on YouTube recently, and it didn't seem to me to be as bad as this show. It was a real letdown. The patches, Jerry's voice, his playing...just about everything. Well, the cover art is cool anyway. As a means to keep my own expectations low, I starved myself of listening to the Dead for a good week or more before my copy arrived. I figured that way, I'd be hungry for my dose of Jerry and boys, and wouldn't so much mind some sub-par performances or recording issues. But once I got past the first track, I was dismayed many times throughout. I guess a few people dig it, but for me, it goes to the bottom of the list...even below that '81 Pick, which I got rid of almost immediately after it arrived.
user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months
Permalink

My copy won't arrive in England for a few weeks yet. I like reading these reviews, though. Its quite lively, the way one unconditionally positive review is followed by one unconditionally negative one. Its like watching a game of tennis. Nothing I have read has led me to expect it to be one thing or the other-but the controversy around it makes me very curious to hear it.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I think modern technology will always be able to improve a multi-track recording far more than a 2-track, simply because one has the ability to remix a multi-track. The Fillmore '69 box, Europe '72 box and the Spring '90 box (the other one) are almost bound to sound better than a Dick's Picks or a Dave's Picks. The multi-track 1967 & 1989 shows from the Thirty Trips box sounded far and away the best of the bunch, whereas I thought the majority of the '80s shows exhibited disappointing sound quality, for the very reasons I mentioned in my previous post. You can't polish a turd, but if it is solid at least you can try! As for trying to avoid "Review" posts, that is easier said than done when you know your copy will take 2 weeks or more to reach you. In that time, all manner of cool subjects could be discussed on here that I would miss. We haven't had a beer discussion for a while. I've been consuming bottles of an 11% Belgian bier lately. So far, I'm not showing any ill effects! The old bottle-in-front-of-me vs. frontal-lobotomy dilemma rears its ugly head again.
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

"A good performance will get you through times of poor sound quality, better than good sound quality will get you through times of poor performance."
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

thank you. well said. such vitriol from some folks. just enjoy the show.
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

Won't you show me how yaWon't you tell me how ya Won't you show me how ya Got your mind so crazy P-s-y-c-h-o P-s-y-c-h-o P-s-y-c-h-o One two three four
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

Seems I have to reassess my status as a Deadhead. How do I do this? Is there a form? Can I do it online? Was I supposed to have my status as a Deadhead calibrated when I signed up to dead.net? Is there a Deadhead status value they assign you and this needs periodic updating? Do you get discounts on merchandising if your Deadhead status value is over a certain grade or percentage? Help me out here!!!
user picture

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

Its bad enough they plied their divisive (and derisive) rhetoric during the 2016 election, now they appear to be doing the same to us here. Ain't gonna work, Vlad. We infiltrated your Duma years ago! We're Deadheads, and we are everywhere!
user picture

Member for

11 years 4 months
Permalink

I'm lost as well. 52 shows, bought every release (even Infrared Roses!) and suddenly my status is revoked! Maybe there's an appeal form? I keep googling for it, but all that comes up is a GIF of Jerry saying "Thanks for playing, man!". It's OK though - Nickelback could use some enthusiasts... we can just go there. Nickelheads? Hamilton's on the nickel, and he's pretty trendy now, right???
user picture

Member for

16 years 2 months
Permalink

Do you still have your r.m.gd.* decoder ring? It's the silver one with an large sized stealie on front that opens up to a secret dial, twist it left and right and you'll get all the music and answers you need - everything - for the exception of Jerry's shoe size and Pigpen's (well I can't tell you anymore in fear of the Men In Black and Pig's B-3 organ) *r.m.gd. = rec.music.gdead (look it up)
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

When the internet was only text and no images. I have Jerry’s funeral eulogy from r.m.gd printed from a dot matrix printer on that green/white paper with holes on the edges.
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

Maybe being saved for a mini-Box
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

Just finished my first listen and I like it, except......CD2 has a 33-minute My Generation, which is pretty cool, but there is 47 minutes of unused space. Why no filler?
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Well, after some sound adjustments I was able to here more of the instruments in the mix especially during the singing. The show is not all that bad, and after drumming most of the first set I have to say it rocks I was praying for LLR so I could get a break.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

9-2-8010-16-81 3-9-81 7-28-82 5-10-87 7-31-88 10-19-89 some shows from 6-85 some shows from 6-91 Cal Expo '89-'90 Any Heads exploding yet? Just having some fun! Be kind everyone ;-)
user picture

Member for

9 years 2 months
Permalink

"Warning: This is not an audiophile recording! Many of you may have read the numerous Dick's Picks Caveat Emptors over the years and thought "Oh yeah... sure... whatever." Well, this old analog recording source exhibits many audio flaws including high distortion, low vocals, tape hiss, and missing pieces. No fair calling Customer Support and complaining! However, let it be known that this CD also includes some pretty damn exciting and historical music, and for that reason is brought to you with pride." ~DL
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

Bell’s Oberon, 5.6%Bell’s Oberon, 5.6% Bell’s Hopsoulution, 8% It being Tuesday, and a worknight, I had to cut myself off after 3.
user picture

Member for

6 years 9 months
Permalink

Ha, I guess I'm also reassessing my "loyalty" as a Dead Head. This Deal barely made it into my top 100. It's easily the worst I have. And when I sort iTunes by song I have 99 versions. Has nothing to do with the audio quality. While it is poor, I can still hear everyone but Weir, and he's inaudible half the time anyway. This is played so fast I expect to hear the chipmunks start singing the vocals, like when you play a 33 1/3 LP at 45 speed. But that tempo might be fine if they were tight, but they're not. It's just this big garbled mess where everyone is playing something different and off time. The rhythm section is in chaos. Space Brother I don't know how you do it, but shit, you definitely like it man, good for you my friend, gooood 4 U. Wang Dang Doodle was nice. Brown Eyed Women, yikes the chorus sounds awful. In fact most of the chorus vocals sound awful, just a bunch of people shouting out of sync and resulting in nothing that sounds like harmony. Jerry slurs through half the vocals. First set among the worst of Dave's Picks. Help and Slipknot! are decent, but vocals are uneven and slurred half the time in Help, so that's a bummer. Franklin's sounds good. I feel tired and pressed by the tempo, but all the other shit I complained about isn't happening too much on this one, but really, that only demonstrates they're not so far gone that they can't manage a two chord song. It hurts to hear them like this. Estimated Prophet oh boy what a travesty, I won't even get into Brent's voice, apparently it's awesome to everyone but me. The sound is getting worse on this one. It's clear as a bell but for some reason I barely recognize what they're playing. Maybe that's the muddle, mix, sorry. Phil's laying down a groove, that's nice, oops, where'd it go. Why doesn't the output of these four musicians make music???? I'm not a musician somebody help me out, is it all in the same key or whatever? I hear four guys playing on this Estimated Prophet outro but it's not making cohesive music like on Crimson White and Indigo. Eyes of the World chorus, okay, now we're sounding good. Dig what Brent's up to on the keys, this has potential!!! WHOA Noooooo!! The patch is at the sometimes the songs that we hear verse???? And I've just been utterly kicked in the balls. That is the story of Dave's Picks 27. Right when you think they've caught the old lightning, bam! Night in the ruts. I get why Dave released it. He's got lobbyists. By rights, this historical snapshot should be relegated to the Download Series, as it doesn't hold up to the quality standard of a Dave's Picks release, either sonically or performance-wise. The DaP series would certainly not have subsisted this long on 27 picks of this caliber, but that's okay for me, because the game is to keep as many people happy as possible, and this will keep the hardcore 80s fans coming back for 2019. Wait, caught the groove on Sunshine Daydream. I better cover my nuts, here it comes. This version of the band never would played their way out of San Francisco if this was the beginning. But this was not their swan song. They still had In The Dark and Mega Dead on the horizon, and they kept it together on the road for 30 uninterrupted years, God bless them.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....I have a hate/love relationship with that week. Mostly love, but I do get a little melancholy. I'm only human. And I miss them. Even the Boise '83 version. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
user picture

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

I think the song you've quoted is by The Plasmatics. I think they chain-sawed a car in half while performing the song?
user picture

Member for

7 years 8 months
Permalink

As someone who listens to a lot of jazz from the 1920's and 1930's, and who came to love the Dead through cassette bootlegs, I've discovered that once the music begins, your ears adjust to the fidelity of the recordings. Issues like hiss or limited dynamic range, for me, fall away quickly. This release, though not from my favorite period (I love '76 shows best) surprised me with the energy and occasional novelties of the performance. There are downright rocking songs and Jerry gives several songs a real workout (looking at you Big RxR and Deal, among others) and some fascinating moments (Bobby's slidework, the sinister Slipknot jam, the fragile & pleading LL Rain, a spanking Minglewood, and the post-Eyes jam into drums as well as Bobby's unusual riffs in the Space portion) It's a show that deserves to be blasting out of your minibus while you're parked on shakedown watching folks spin and dance by.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 7 months
Permalink

Haven’t posted in awhile but there’s nothing like an ‘83 Idaho firecracker to ignite my two cents worth on this release. So briefly- Is the recording good? Not really, no. It’s unbalanced, lacks clarity, and sounds like- it was recorded on a cassette, because it was. On the bright side of this sonic experience, this show feels far from the best of what exists in the vault from the first half of Brent’s reign. There is however almost a manic energy to the performance itself that’s exciting at times. So, for me, it’s a worthwhile release, because it’s another snapshot of history, not a modern professional recording. And here we’re given another portrait- this time from Idaho in 83. Do I think people that attended this concert heard it like this? Not by a country mile. To me it’s no small coincidence how highly regarded the Spring of ‘90 tour is, coupled with how well recorded that tour was. The recordings are our map- our snapshot of history. And this recording unfortunately paints a foggy picture at times, whose landmarks are tougher to discern through the somewhat blurred imagery. But it’s a fun night in Idaho, sounding as best as they could make it. So I enjoy it for what it is, and regret how good it could have been.
product sku
081227931599