• 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
  • mcgrupp216
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Re: Dennis
    I'll second that, Dennis. We're also not discussing the fate of Western civilization, we're discussing a band- a band beyond description?
  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Wow
    Can we stop with the name calling? Let's assume nobody here is stupid and even if they are, the "smarter" ones should be smart enough and classy enough not to call them stupid. I've always agreed with the basic premise that all releases sound better than the cassettes I had. Maybe some people knew Betty and got tapes directly from her, but I got from a buddy, who got from unknown people that he met at shows. Is the recording of this show better or worse than others, of course. But I also go with the assumption that the "official" releases are the best available out there. True? I don't know, I just assume that. I'll take all official releases, it's the anal completist in me. On this release I like the Looks Like Rain, this is the closest to the greatest Rain ever done (4/16/83 Meadowland, NJ). Don't believe me, take a listen, Garcia's on fire in the last minute or two, his notes hit like raindrops at the moment it goes from a drizzle to a downpour. And Weir yelling is in perfect form (can't take no more fuckin rain today) https://archive.org/details/gd83-04-16.sbd.miller.28294.sbeok.flacf/gd8… Don't agree, then you're a fucking idiot :-) (notice I didn't say stupid :-)) I agree with whoever below that I seldom will listen to a whole show, but listen to "parts" and there is ALWAYS a good part. Finally, where is Jim (JiminMD), I'm assuming on vacation, but I still worry.
  • Thin
    Joined:
    McGrupp
    Agreed. But the recordings generally stink compared to the 70's offerings. Your comment totally ignores this fact. For each quote from someone saying the 80's had some great shows, there are 10 more quotes from Dick, Dave, and yes Blair Jackson questioning the 80's recordings' viability as official releases. Do you want to add some of those quotes to balance your comment, or should I?
  • mcgrupp216
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Re: Thin
    No, I agree with you. And some of those patches are definitely sorta cringe-worthy. But as someone mentioned: they also highlight how much of a general improvement the sounds quality here is. Dave spoke (in the liner notes) about the "unfortunate at best" recordings from June 83 or in his words, "magnificent full shows for which no usable recording exists." My response was more so to snoone about the quality of the 83 performances (not the audio).
  • mcgrupp216
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Re: snoone (um, so basically pre-hiatus?)
    Hmm, so basically releases should be just pre-hiatus? So the 30-yr GD legacy is really about the first (less than, actually) decade? If the Dead were just a 9-year band, I would've stopped listening long ago. This is from Blair Jackson's Garcia bio: "Despite Garcia's plainly visible malaise, the Dead played better in 1983 than they had in 1982. In fact, they improved each year through the first half of the '80s, as if Garcia's deteriorating physical condition almost didn't matter." Of course we know he gets busted in Jan. 85 and (presumably) starts cleaning up. BJ continues, "The Dead's tours that summer and autumn [of 85] were unusually strong, with especially varied set lists, crisp and purposeful jamming and a higher level of energy onstage than anyone had seen in quite a while." No question, that summer of 85 is hot. And 89-90 is some of my absolutely favorite years. But so is 83-84, more so the more I listen to them. There's a sort of rushed (or is urgent the right word?), yet raw, 80s psychedelic sound. At the risk of hyperbole, it's the best, most energetic and raw sound since 73- so in nearly a decade.
  • frosted
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Gratefulhan
    Nice, balanced post on your review of DaP 27. Just thought I'd say it, 'cause it hit a lot of the same chords I was feeling after a few listens.
  • mustin321
    Joined:
    Bird Song
    Are there any bad Bird Songs out there? This is one of those songs were it got better over time, in my opinion. 7/26/87 is great. Loser & Cassidy both also got better over time, in my opinion.
  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Stealing a quote from Jim Cramer
    “A subscription business is perhaps the most reliable and predictable form of revenue” I’m ready to subscribe to Dave’s Picks 2019!
  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    7-27-73 Bird Song
    Not saying it’s one of the best. But it is one that I always liked.
  • Thin
    Joined:
    Butch re 11/17/72 DaP11
    Yes, for only 11 minutes long, this is a very concise yet perfect Birdsong. Not only is the beginning of Jer's first solo great (the slinky "get ready" bends you mentioned), but check out the 2nd guitar solo at 9:15~... Jerry starts with a few building licks over several measures (once again, kinda of a "are you ready?...) until he reaches a peak, THEN resumes the soaring, bending "bird in flight" thing all over. I've said it before, but if you showed Mozart the general gist of "Birdsong", THIS is how he'd map it out: each part of solos seem to logically connect to the next.... intro>body>conclusion. Despite the fact that it's not long, never goes too far "out there", and the energy is controlled and deliberate, this version is simply stunning. Kind of like a perfectly mapped-out studio version that they executed live, flawlessly. One of my favorite GD tracks of all time. But I'm curious to hear your answer to icecrmconkid's question.... If this recording is a "1" out of 10, What '83 releases or other early/mid 80's recordings do you feel are better?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

8 years 1 month

"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

7 years 1 month
Permalink

I disagree, it's a full 10 out of 10. They're priming DaP 27 for national release. I'm changing my avatar to it right now. You're a cute little guy, keep up the spirit!
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

You seem locked into that avatar picture somehow.
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

Pass me some of that psychedelic licorice. I’ll take the purple. I’ll even take 2, they seem a little small.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....Bobbys voice was a couple of octaves off for the first two lines. I almost pushed the stop button right then and there, but I trudged on. Much to my delight.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

Just received Vol. 14 It's numbered, but the front of the cover is a little sunk in; it looks like the seam is cut too wide, so when the cover closes there's a gap. These may be factory 2nds, sets with cosmetic issues.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....this, my friends, ranks right up there with Nessie, alien abductions and Bigfoot. Hmmmm. I was abducted once. At Monterey '88. Then the goonie birds wore off. The real test begins now. The wife and son went to get a new treadmill. They'll be gone an hour or so. The volume on my Onkyo goes to 70. Boise is poised at 53 (get it?). I finally get to crank this shit legit like. Wish me luck!!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....our wedding song. I'm biased so this would be an unfair review. I love them all. Next!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

.... suddenly, Bobby's singing in a barn. A little more echo than the first three songs. We all know it sometimes takes that many to get the sound just exactly perfect. Jerry's throwing coke infused licks. It is what it is. You can't un-coke it. It's not Norman's fault.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

yeah I was also wondering why we needed constant reminders that phish psucks........sry to those who find listening value?????
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....OK. I'll admit. The harmonies are off, but the music is still breakneck speed. I think Bobby's more off than Jerry. Jerry even throws some growls. Brent is in your face. But I love Brent, so there's that. The train comparison shows up during Garcia's solo. Chugging along. Watch your speed....
user picture

Member for

13 years 11 months
Permalink

I'm loving this Boise pick and all the debate about it. For me, it is easily tied with Augusta 10/12/84 (30 trips) for my favorite release from 80-85. I think the instrumental mix is almost perfect (except the keyboards might be a teeny bit high). Finally, an 80-85 release where Weir's guitar is right up front in our face where it belongs! Such a treat to hear Weir's early 80's guitar like this. IMO, this is the best sounding recording yet from 80-85 (not counting Dead Set/Reckoning and Go To Nassau). Well, we are all listening on different equipment and are looking for different things, right? Musically, I think it is as fascinating as 10/12/84. Better or worse? I'll need many more listenings of each to decide.
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

Thank you. Pulling out 21 tonight. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. No problem. But very weird.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....way too fast. 4/10. Not a very solid version. Oh well. Time to sell it.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....Phil!!! Back on track. Rocking with their rocks out. Nowhere else will you hear "stay right here in Boise" so it's a keeper.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....I've already sung my praises on this version, so I won't bore you.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....not bad. But there are tons better. More vox drops. Stay at the mic Bobby Rockstar! The coda is very nice though. Usually is. Here it comes again. I will admit, it's nice to let off the pedal. I'm a huge fan of the thunder effects Healy gave this song later on in the 80's.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....watch each release you play, and play it slow. Just wait until that Deal goes down. Who knows? On 2.24.21, you might just want to bust Boise out. Yeah, there's some dust, but at least the musics clean. 4:50 mark. The boyz huddle up and get their shit together. You know, the Dead were known to play some rock n roll at times.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....time to drop the volume down to 25. (sad face).
user picture

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

I don't think the recording does the performance justice. The limitations of the mix make it impossible to accurately gauge how good they may have sounded that night. I get the impression Betty did a whole lot more mixing in real time than Dan Healy. Forget the cassette tape source, the show can hardly be mixed worse. The vocals on on a few of the July 1978 shows are not nearly as smooth as May 1977, and that's the same band, same songs, a year apart, recorded by the same person on presumably the same equipment. Sure, the band was a much less consistent band in '78, but the July shows are good performances. Yet to my ears, the background vocal mix on some of that box set is lacking, compared to May '77. My point is that I believe some mixing factor accounts for what I hear as inferior vocals in some sections of July '78, as compared to May '77. Even a non Betty from '77 like 4/29 makes the band sound much worse than they were really playing. We don't know what kind of audio enhancement effects Betty may have used on her mixes to provide us with the final products we have today (except the reverb, and look how different a perspective that gives us on the band). Add the same principal 10 fold to Boise '83, and what's the point of discussing how good or bad the show is? There's no way to tell as far as I'm concerned. For whatever reason, Dan Healy's mix here is so bad it does the band an injustice. Apply a mild harmonization effect to the vocals at the mixing board and maybe there wouldn't be so much distance between each vocalist. Anyway, I'm not saying a better mix would turn this show into a replica of Go To Nassau, but it would improve the performance immensely. For what we do have, I felt like many people posted. The music is so inconsistent as to be a distraction. Parts sounded really strong, but quickly turned me off a moment later. I don't think Brent's voice will ever grow on me. It just sounds so ragged and tired and overbearing.
user picture

Member for

11 years 9 months
Permalink

I've played it, not the best not the worse...It'll sit on the shelf with all the others and I doubt I'll pull it down and play it again for quite awhile...one thing it did do though was have me pull out the Santa Fe Downs Matrix shows and give them a spin...fun to hear those again...my '83 collection is a bit sparse after my first external HD crash from some time back...now I do back ups of back up etc...ya pays your money and take your chances after all...
user picture

Member for

6 years 10 months
Permalink

Back to my point about people hearing things differently...
user picture

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

First I got to ask. Is it love Jerry like you love Jerry? Or is it love Jerry like: "What a long strange trip it's been." Love, Jerry I kind of noticed the same thing you mentioned about July 1978. Not quite as smoother than smooth as May 1977. I would love to get Betty sat down for an interview. Anyway I think your point is well stated and very accurate. For the people who are loving this release, I'm sure it would rank even higher with better mixing. I teach chorus, and it's very difficult to mic up the kids for the spring and winter concerts. For people who don't like this release, a great mix may have made all the difference. But oh well what can you do it is what it is. As far as the series goes, I think this is definitely subpar, but it's the only way they ever would have moved 18000 units of a show that sounds this way. Also agree with your Brent comment. It seems in the Grateful Dead circles he has a love it or hate it voice. I love it when it's real low in the mix. Or not at all. Eagles fill the sky, blecchhh. I cannot So what will they pull out for the fourth quarter? Can't be 1971, unlikely to be 72 73 or 74, impossible to be 75, also unlikely to be 77, although I would love to hear that swing Auditorium show from February. I can't see it being 1978 either, but maybe. I think some kind of 69/70 mix like Vol 6 maybe. I'd be great with that. 1976 is due. I would be surprised if Dave reaches into the 80s or 90s twice in a row.
user picture

Member for

16 years 1 month
Permalink

don't make me laugh, move along now
user picture

Member for

11 years 4 months
Permalink

I tried for years to like Phish.. bought tons of releases and saw a bunch of shows - but THIS is what they sound like to me now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHIFM0Y87c Impossible to watch the whole thing without cracking up. The vocal bits sound like red-stapler guy from Office Space. TAlk about "hearing things differently"....
user picture

Member for

16 years 1 month
Permalink

for name-calling, why? I think an intelligent conversation is better than whom ever calling whoever uninformed or someone else calling them illogical. There are just a few unkind folks on this site. I don't care much for this release, but if you do, far out. The band didn't go to Idaho, or Montana often (once each?) but both of those shows are now released by Dave, maybe he's just trying to get unheard or not often heard releases out there for the faithful. Can't really blame them for not going to these places again, beautiful scenery, but not a very hospitable atmosphere for hippies.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years
Permalink

Hey, it’s 8/4, so why not 8/4/76? Someone mentioned Dekalb, there’s a Betty Board of 10/29/77 in the vault- that would definitely be a treat. Lots of talk of 79, which would be nice, but why not another 80s/90s? Su91, anyone? Mmm. Sp/Su 93? Yes, please. Although maybe these contradict the seeming mission, in ways actually that 9/2/83 did not, in releasing more relatively unknown and less heard of dates. Who knows?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years
Permalink

I like this Bobby, Brent and drummers jam out of Eyes! Good stuff. Also, if you like this little jam check out the Bobby, Bruce and drummers jam from Dicks #17 aka Boston Clam Jam!!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

What he said! You got it “just exactly perfect” Enough already. STFU and just sell the dam thing....don’t worry, we’ll be back to 99% 70s soon enough!
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

(such as Chicago, the Bay Area, or NYC) more people would be more open to this release. Boise is indeed one of the strangest of places to have a GD show. "well it's 8:00 in Boise Idaho"
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

thanks for the laughs Phish: I do appreciate them, but rarely listen to them. the thing that drives me crazy about them is the cutesy stuff they do. but they can jam when they want to.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

80s Dead just isn't my thing...to each their own. My DP 27 has been sitting unopened as I pondered what to do. For those who want but missed out, I just want to cover cost plus shipping, no EBay style gouging involved, maybe some interesting 70-73 trade? PM interest...
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Jerry's soloing on this version is phenomenal. His tone and harmonics jumps right out of the mix. Awesome.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 5 months
Permalink

Got a last minute present to go to his show last night in Toronto. Only know some of the Talking Heads stuff from way back. Was blown away by the show - top notch production, uniqueness and grooves. Had a bunch of the age 50+ crowd on their feet and dancing from 3 minutes in. Highly recommended if the tour hasn’t passed by your city already. Will definitely be checking out his solo catalogue in between Dead releases. Maybe he appeals more to the Phish crowd than Dead, but the guy is quite an artist.
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

he was in town re his and Fatboy Slim's musical "Here Lies Love".she went with a friend. on the way out, he was standing right there, so she said "hi", he greeted politely back, and she went on her way. he has been part of my musical landscape since I heard/saw Talking Heads on SNL in 79. love deez: More Songs About Buildings and Food (not about Fucking, though...tip of the hat to the poster who shared Big Black with us ;)) Fear of Music Remain in Light attended a concert of him solo in 1992 during the LA RK riots. "Burning Down the House" took on a whole new relevance
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....came through Vegas recently. I didn't even know.
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

For those who think the sound sucks, what type of speakers did you hear it through?Obviously, computer speaks are the wrong tool for this job. For those who think the sound is great/good/acceptable, what type of speakers did you hear it through? I suspect that SpaceBro has a Wall Of Sound replica in his house. Combine that with his unbridled enthusiasm (Seinfeld reference) for the era, and he’s in pure ecstasy. I’m using Bose 301 speakers that are about 5.5 feet in the air on stands (helps to fill the room), an Onkyo subwoofer, Onkyo receiver, Onkyo 6-disc changer. I do have to turn the volume up past the ‘normal’ point for DaPs. Most DaPs are pretty consistent in the sound level on my system, ‘40’ on the Onkyo display. For DaP 27 CD1 starts at 44 but I just had to turn it down to 42 during Deal. These numbers are a little arbitrary and are influenced by how much I want my neighbors to hear the GOGD. Just turned it up a tad to 43 for H/S/F. It’s Saturday afternoon, not like it’s In The Midnight Hour. I can clearly hear all the instruments on Slipknot!, with Jerry right up front.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....I use two tin cans and 15' piece of string. Am i doing it right?
user picture

Member for

7 years
Permalink

I'm listening on earbuds that I have suspended from the ceiling about 6 feet above the floor. The sound doesn't bother me at all.
product sku
081227931599