• 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:
    Avengers Infinity War comes out today on bluray....
    ....steelbook edition available at Best Buy.
  • Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    27
    If you missed it, Ebay has an over abundance of these; copies have been selling for as low as $34, and dealers still have a lot of stock. I doubt 28 will sell out on this site within an hour, and I don't believe production numbers will go up anytime soon either.
  • shirdeep
    Joined:
    merry pranksters
    PHISH, THURSDAY 08/14/1997DARIEN LAKE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Darien Center, NY Soundcheck: Buffalo Bill, The Old Home Place, Funky Bitch, Crosseyed and Painless SET 1: Ya Mar, Funky Bitch > Fluffhead, Limb By Limb, Free, Cars Trucks Buses, Tela > Train Song > Billy Breathes, Run Like an Antelope SET 2: Chalk Dust Torture, Love Me, Sparkle > Harry Hood -> Jam > Colonel Forbin's Ascent -> Merry Pranksters Jam[1] -> Camel Walk, Taste ENCORE: Bouncing Around the Room, Rocky Top [1] Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The second set featured a remarkable jam after Harry Hood ended and before Forbin’s began, as well as an appearance by Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The Merry Pranksters Jam contained a Somewhere Over the Rainbow tease from Trey, an If I Only Had a Brain tease, a Spam Song quote, and a Frankenstein jam.
  • Mind-Left-Body
    Joined:
    What Dave said
    Yeah I posted that question a couple weeks ago. I think Dave might be right, but can only know for sure by someone who was there seeing shows in the 80s. This was the question I posted and didn't get any response (safe to assume the answer is no?): Is there anyone who has never seen the Dead in the 80s or 90s who loves this show? I think seeing the 80s lineup makes this tape more accessible. Grateful Dead Europe '72 and One From the Vault is a pristine representation of the band, so I think it's an easier listen than something like Boise. But like one poster said, the people at the show that night had a much different experience. Unfortunately I don't recall who I was referring to in the last sentence, it was something someone posted.
  • Dogon
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Who likes what...
    What Dave said.
  • daverock
    Joined:
    Who likes what and why
    Reading all the various reviews of DAP 27, and thinking of my own feelings about it, I am beginning to think that enjoyment of it depends to a large extent as to whether you actually saw them at that time. If you did, especially if you followed them round on tour, then this release may be emblematic of that time, and a signifier of the ritual of a Dead gig. In which case, individual performances of individual songs may be less important than if you weren't there at the time If you are listening to the release purely as a recording, without reference to the experience of seeing them at the time, then you are surely coming at it from a different angle, as you are listening to the performances without referencing the event in which they were performed at. This argument could be levelled at any era of their music of course. But it feels less necessary to have seen them, say, between 1967-1974, to enjoy the releases, than it does form 1979 onwards. Just a thought, and of course there are always exceptions!
  • Dogon
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Heraclitus he say you cannot step into the same river twice
    Coincidentally my Anthem and Daves 27 arrived within a day of one another. Anthem, is, and has always been, transcendental. The 67 live show is, in my humble opinion,a great addition to the canon.Daves? Well 27 has a pretty cover, indeed one of the best of the series. But musically? To me, again, my opinion as a gnarly old timer, who did see both Pig and Keith shows, is that its not the same band not withstanding the continuity of its membership. Spanish jam is counting votes, inferring and extrapolating statistics for the defence, my opinion is that its a shoddy piece of work, musically and soundwise it hardly passes muster. Glad it scratches the itch for those who caught the band in the 80s, but its not for me. Now bring on the Pacific North West!
  • SpanishJam
    Joined:
    DaP 27
    I don’t know what it is, but I’m really diggin’ on this release. I wasn’t expecting to, but I took a bite and I’m on the hook. It’s uneven at times, sure, but it gets so funky (particularly in the second set) and it rips. I’ve probably listened through the show 4 or 5 times now and I keep enjoying it. I really, really like that GDTRFB and the eyes>jam>drums>space>stones sequence leading into the GDTRFB. The first set isn’t so bad either. This show has got me spinning through several of those September Mountain West shows. That’s some good stuff there; how oblivious I’ve been… I can’t say that this release will go down as an all time favorite for me, but it’s certainly opened some doors. Thanks Dave! It’s weird, but I think DaP 20 (12/9/81) is a better show but I never really got into it, though, I’m enjoying 9/2/83 a whole lot more. Go figure? Thanks to several prior posters for sharing their thoughts and experiences on this show. Would love to hear from others that were there at these and other shows in the tour. Really helps someone like me who was so far removed from the day to get a feel for the scene and experience. A fart in the wind, of course, but something… Dreading, I do enjoy your posts so I don’t want you to think I’m calling you out, but I think you’re reasoning might be flawed the you state, “…too many people already agree this show came up short, so the polls are in and the numbers are significant…” I’m not a statistician by any measure, but to infer that what you have read constitutes a significant sampling of the population is likely an over-statement. I haven’t gone through to tabulate the total number of responses on this thread (nor have I read any other GD threads—barely keep up with this one), but if I’m being generous, there have maybe been 100 profiles that have voiced an un-approving opinion here. For the sake of making the numbers easy, let’s round up to 180. So that would put the total sample size at 1% of the population (based on a population size of 18,000, which is the total number of discus issued, though, the total number of people who have heard this release would likely be greater). What you have likely read on this thread is the vocal majority which is not necessarily the same as a true sampling of the population. To paraphrase VGuy’s point, to infer too much from a vocal majority and not a true sample of the population is to have “hivemind” and deriving one’s own opinion from small segment (albeit a more-or-less informed sampling of the population) can in some ways be misguided. I know you have first-hand knowledge of retail, price points, shelf-life, etc. for these GD releases, and I believe you when you’ve previously stated that 80s sell for less and take longer to sell (this agrees with my anecdotal inference from Ebay as well). So I definitely respect your informed opinion on this and other shows. In my opinion DaP 27 is what it is: sometimes uneven with hot moments. How it reaches and impacts individuals in the population is something that’s less tangible and I haven’t seen anything from this thread that convinces me of what the true population response is like. I tend to think most people are somewhat ho-hum about it and it neither get’s them too excited or too disappointed. I’m glad I had the opportunity to get a copy and will gratefully file it along with many others in the series to listen to when the time is right. One last thought: I missed the original offering on the 30 Trips box, but managed to snag a copy of the factory extras. Should land in a couple days. Thanks to the good folks on the message boards for the heads-up on those—they didn’t last long. This site is full of kind folks and it’s greatly appreciated.
  • Exile On Main St.
    Joined:
    Deadwired
    I've come to the conclusion we're all Deadwired different. I like this show, but I understand why the people who don't like it don't like it. I enjoy all the parts that you mentioned Mr Jack Straw, but I don't think it holds a candle to 12/7/71. That show is certainly not at the top of my 1971 list, and I understand why people don't like that show. Side by side though, it's better in my mind on all measurable aspects. I think we're all just Deadwired different.
  • Mr. Jack Straw
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    DaP27
    I dunno, I like this release OK. Early-80s Dead is very hit-or-miss, and this hits more than it misses. It's SQ is acceptable for an official release and it has moments. The GDTRFB is especially fiery and the Slipknot! grooves nicely. I have yet to hear an It's All Over Now, Baby Blue that isn't worth listening to. I probably won't listen to it very much, but it fills in the early/mid 80s hole, so it's nice to have. I know I'll listen to it more than DaP4 (9/24/76), DaP7 (4/24/78), and DaP20 (12/9/81). It's probably on par with DaP22 (12/7/71), and definitely in the lowest quartile of DaPs. I hope Dave closes out the 2018 subscription with a bang. There's nothing wrong with 11/6/77, 12/17/71, and 9/2/83, but I don't feel that it has been up to the standards of previous years. DaP27 is acceptable, but not a top show. Yes, the Half-Step and Truckin' on 11/6/77 are other-worldly, and The Other Ones from '71 are always worth listening, but if you remove those moments, there's not a lot left. It's especially disappointing when 2017 gave us 4/2/73 and 1/22/78, which are all-timers. 8/25/72, which unfortunately is not 8/24/72, is still better than anything we have received from 2018. I think we're going 1969 with DaP28...we're due.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 11 months

"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

6 years 10 months
Permalink

Jason, Icecream, Alvarhanso: Interesting. So...basically we need 84, and 93-95. I've been saying 84 for some time and I recall a lot of really crisp boards from back in the day floating about. But I think definitely 93 and 94/95, as well, are very underrated years. The top shows from those years are really excellent, and of a whole other nature. Garcia ballads (dirge-like), drums/space, etc. Billy talks about it in Deal, that whole "missing album" (much of it featured on disc 5 of SMR) really could have been their best. Not holding my breath on these for DP28: Thinking 79, 76, or 70.
user picture

Member for

11 years 2 months
Permalink

Why do chicken coops only have two doors?Because if they had four, they'd be chicken sedans. Ararar.......... Nope, Vguy's funnier.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 5 months
Permalink

I've now listened to this release several times. Disc 2 is such a fun time and will probably get repeated playings especially when I'm in the car...or jacked up on caffeine. Otherwise I'm not sure when I'll revisit the rest of show (though as I've mentioned, I really do like the release). Starting to turn my attention to the box set coming out next month. Spent the morning listening to DaP 2 (7/31/74). I still cannot believe we're about to get 6 shows from two of the best years the band ever had. The last few years have just been a barrage of amazing (and in some cases legendary) releases all happening at lightning speed (at least compared to the past). After this one though, it's all gravy.
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

This refund is for the following item(s): Item: Dave's Picks Vol. 20 CU Events Center, Boulder, Co. 12/9/81 Quantity: 1 ASIN: B07 Reason for refund: Item out of stock Well, that's a bummer considering I got a "shipped" notice stating it was arriving tomorrow.
user picture

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

I heard discs 1 & 2 today (so far) it's a strong show. not legendary, but strong and hot enough for a "three smiles up" rating. it sounds like classic 83 GD to me. yes, there is the splice in Eyes. Some other minor things here and there. I can live with that easily. I like this release a lot. I like that it is from the early 80s. more, Dave, please. release 6/10/73 and 11/19/72 first, and then more 80s.
user picture

Member for

10 years 1 month
Permalink

in his sunglasses and dirty grey hair, sitting back and coolly strumming the Baba crash cords with I guess the Tiger guitar, that looks like the old Gibson SG. I would love a still of that (i.e. Shirdeep's video posted below) Weir looks hysterical doing his Townshend-esque jump and pseudo windmill, but I love him still. Who's guitar dude #3? Also looks ridiculous jumping like Townshend. But it's all good fun, they know they look silly. First Baba I heard was an Napster download with no TNK attached to it (probably edited out). I have no idea from where it hails, but it sounds like a AUD recording, and the place goes bonkers when Vince sings the opening verse.
user picture

Member for

11 years 1 month
Permalink

I think it might be RFK '92. If it is then guitar guy #3 is Steve Miller. He opened the show & joined the boys during their set as well.:o)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

Folks, I'm trying to figure out if the recording/mixing quality of DP 27 is as marginal as most of my discs sound, or if perhaps I received some poorly "pressed" discs. The show is obviously great, but only song on all 3 discs that sounds like an "A" recording/mixing is the very last song, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue. This last song sounds fantastic, but most of the previous songs sound OK to marginal. Particularly, on Disc 1, Bobby's voice sounds like he was separated the band and was singing into a bad mic... or something like that. Anyone else experience this? I'll feel better is so. If not, I'll contact Dead.net to inquire about getting a replacement set. Thanks!
user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months
Permalink

Uh, no, there is nothing wrong with your discs (unless they have skips or won’t play), they were designed to sound like that. That’s what was in fashion in 1983. Put your seat back in it’s upright, locked position and hang up the phone. Do not call customer service (unless you actually have a defective disc that won’t play). Wait, maybe you should call customer service...... For more information on the special qualities of 1983 recordings just scroll down this page and take in all of the informative opinions.
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

Nope, back on the phone with customer support. You have to ask them for the rose-colored glasses they send with some of these sets. A lot of people think it sounds great.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 10 months
Permalink

Gene Lopez, is that a bit? Sort of amusing
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

I like this recording. After the first track, things seem to sharpen up. This isn't the best, but it most certainly isn't the worst.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

Have you folks realized that this Amazon account isn't legit?
user picture

Member for

15 years
Permalink

Hey Ummmmmm...can you expand on your statement? Thanks!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 10 months
Permalink

...yeah, no. The "surplus" discs are coming from the returns department. In all likelihood, like we've already said, these are extras slated as replacements for defects. So, again as we've already suggested, they must be clearing house; and seem to have already cleared house. I was able to grab some of the DP, but had my order of Hampton box cancelled (sold out- as someone else here had for DP20). Re: Hampton cancellation, that makes sense, as I think when I ordered it said only "3" remaining.
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

I took a shot, ordering Dave's 22 & 20. Scheduled to arrive today... they cancelled 20, so I'm interested to see what or if anything shows up.
user picture

Member for

12 years 5 months
Permalink

If this isn't the worst Dave's Pick release then what is?I've read a lot of posts on many other releases and have never seen so many people that think this is a king size turd. You have to work hard to justify and fool yourself into thinking this is great. I've given this 4 listens front to back now and still don't get it. Finally the last song was good. It's not even the sound quality, I can deal with that. It's the total lack of cohesiveness, horrible vocal harmonizing, and the guitars sounding like they're on different songs and tempos. This like defending your favorite restaurant even when the food has gone so downhill it's inedible.
user picture

Member for

11 years 1 month
Permalink

if ya hate it so much why not stop listening to it?Pick something else and relax.
user picture

Member for

12 years 5 months
Permalink

Perfect idea and already executed on, will probably never leave the expanding row of releases ever again. I listened to it enough times to be sure I wasn't being overly critical.... I wasn't. This is the first release out of 27 that I've ever complained.
user picture

Member for

13 years 2 months
Permalink

It's definitely Warner. You can tell by because they seemingly don't have a solid grasp on the amount left in inventory. I find it all quite humorous.. at this point, it's a gift to those that didn't get them and now can at cost, so it's hard to be bitter about it all. But this is not a scam vendor. It will be interesting to see how many 30 trips are left/how long they stay on sale. These things have become impossible to get.
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

As seen on an ancient (1988) tape trader's list: 1983/09/02 - Boise ID, Pavilion, SBD - B+ --- What we really have here in this Dave's Picks 27 is a B+ (trader's sound quality rating) cassette that was painstakingly transformed into a three compact disc set by Jeffery Norman, supplied by Dave Lemieux.
user picture

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

....I'm not sure if that is praise or sarcasm. I like it. That's the most important factor to me. I would give it a solid B- though. Of course, that ancient review was before the discovery of Normanization.
user picture

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

Heywood I hear what you're saying and I agree. This show is so very mediocre at best. Band is tight half the time and completely out of sync the rest. Audio is all over the place. It may be good for 83, but I can't think of an official release from the 70s that it's better than. I think it's a necessary step for the powers that be, to keep the guys who want 80s shows coming back, but fellas, perspective, it ain't great by a long stretch, and it's not in the same league of anything that's come before it. Except DaP 20. It's a far cry from the series mission statement. I'm fine with an 80s clunker every 8 - 12 releases since it keeps the machine moving.
user picture

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

9/25/91avoided it for a long time finally gave it a proper listen H>S>F Roses > Dire Wolf all Disc 2 is great filler on disc three is 3/31/91 Eyes, 20+ minutes 9/26/91 would have been better, in my opinion, but this one's ok.
user picture

Member for

10 years 1 month
Permalink

Some of my earliest Grateful Dead collection consisted of a couple of tracks from Dicks Picks 17, Throwing Stones and the Mighty Quinn. At the time I was not yet a fully trained Jedi, and was cherry-picking songs from all of the available releases I had at my disposal. I loved throwing stones, especially the jam and solo, and of course I was a sucker for all of the great covers, so I downloaded the Mighty Quinn as well. Eventually I bought the whole thing, and quite frankly I love it. There's a smoothness to Vince's keyboards that I enjoy - thanks for the reminder Stoltzie, I think I'm going to put this on.
user picture

Member for

6 years 11 months
Permalink

Dick's Picks 17 was one of my early purchases as well. I've always been a sucker for Jerry's anthemic guitar solo on Throwing Stones but on this version, Bruce's piano absolutely steals the show! Pretty solid '91 release as I recall. It's been a while since I've listened.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 6 months
Permalink

Anyone have an extra Dave's Picks 12 they want to sell? I have 25, 26, 27 to trade as well. PM me if so
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

I completely agree...came back to see what others were thinking. This is a first - albeit big - disappointment from Dave's Picks.
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

9/26/91 was a better show to pick for Dick's Picks 17. Someday, and hopefully very soon, 9/26/91 will be released. But the fact was already established to hold back on some of the jem-of-a-show for later and not to release all the best shows first so later down the road there would be no more great-to-excellent shows to see official release. The only parts of Dicks 17 I listen to anymore is the Help> Slip> Franklin's opener and the 2nd disc: Victim> Crazy> PITB> Terrapin> "Boston Clam Jam" Drums> Space. The Drums> Space really is neat when you're stuck in slow traffic. Most, if not all of my listening of music is done when I'm driving my car. I am totally grateful that this show was released.
user picture

Member for

13 years 10 months
Permalink

It looks like these verified fan presales are selling out fast. Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara sold out in 15 minutes, but there are a couple of VIP seats left.
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Not even close. This is a nice release and it sounds fine. Now April 24, 1978 aka DaP 7, I might call a clunker. Never been a fan of that show, the sound of it or the performances. When quoting the "Bee Gee's Saturday Night Fever" during the "cowboy songs" is the big highlight, it's not a good show. In contrast, Jerry's playing on 9/3/82 far surpasses the dredge from 4/24/78. The show from 2 days prior, 4/22/78 (DaP 15) on the other hand, is a great show and far better.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Wash your ears with soap, it helps.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years
Permalink

So uneven. A great time was had by all, however. You didn't "have to be there", but it certainly helps contextualize some of the awful GD archival product we occasionally hear.
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

Working on another HD gift for a member of this board who contacted me for "more shows". I love being able to pay forward the kindness I've been blessed by from the good folks here. Sir, if you read this post please check your PMs. 76 is loaded, I await your instruction.
product sku
081227931599