• 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 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

10 years 3 months
Permalink

You know it's funny you mentioned it. After I put it on this morning for the drive in, I started wondering if I was hearing Bruce, not Vince. So many shows, so little time. I was in a Throwing Stones frenzy at the time. I also recall a killer one that had a reprise a few songs later. I want to say DL series or Road Trips, but I remember there smooth synths, not piano. I'll dig around for it....
user picture

Member for

9 years
Permalink

My favorite Roxy Music song. I’ve been up all night Party time wasting It’s too much fun This version is better https://youtu.be/hHKFDPsaASg I have a DVD with Roxy Music from 1971. The DVD also has T. Rex on it. I don’t need TV When I got T. Rex All the young dudes....
user picture

Member for

16 years 1 month
Permalink

The debate about this pick is not steeped where the sound quality is or is not; though it may seem. For me, the sound is exactly what I expected. It’s an 80’s recording sprinkled with Jeffrey Norman’s magic dust. If you (which is YOU) have listened to the archive 80's recordings, minus the latter mulitracks, then you know what the 80’s “sound” is all about. There is only so much the good Doctor Norman can do. The sound quality is rich, but certainly not in the way that those 70's recordings are rich. I did the side by side Pepsi challenge with this Dave’s next to Dave’s 23 McArthur Ct., Oregon. The results were not stunning. Dave’s 23 sounded better; but for craps sake! not sooo much better that we need to throw Dave’s 27 out with the bath water. This is great show and worthy of repeat listens. No dust collecting on a shelf. I love Brent’s organ grinder twinkle sounds. I dig the dink, dink, dink…..dink. I also love his soulful voice. This is the distinguished sound of this recording / release. Sure Bobby is way up, but Brent’s presence sets this release apart from the others. Keep the releases coming! The fact that it rains down live Grateful Dead shows all year long keeps me smiling! Rock on rockers! Cheers!
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

I love the entertainment you bring to this board space brother. You pick April 24th 1978, Daves pick 7 to go after?!? I'll get to that in a minute. From a factual basis, I don't think I've seen a more heavily disliked show in Daves picks than this one except for maybe the Boulder debacle that was Dave's Picks 20. I think half the comments may be about how bad the band sounds. But you're an 80s cheerleader I got that and I love it, I can just picture you with the skirt and pom poms. Dave's Picks 7 has more outstanding tracks on it than I can count on one hand. Heady version where the fans vote, there's a million songs in the top 5 all time versions ffrom that show for goodness sakes. Scarlet Fire 4th place Me and my Uncle 1st place Big River 2nd place Brown Eyed Women 3rd place Music Never Stopped 1st place Promised Land 2nd place Cassidy 1st place Werewolves of London 2nd place The final tally: 3 Gold 3 Silver 1 Bronze And let's face it Scarlet Fire had Cornell to compete with so may as well be a bronze.
user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

Is this Box of Rain that I'm cranking from April 2nd 1973. I'm having a blast prepping for "The Box". It's been 73/74 Fetivus this week. I guess I should have posted this on the other page. Oh well what are we talking about here, Dave's Picks 7. That was my first Dave's Picks. I bought it after reading how good the music never stopped is. It's no joke folks. I don't remember much about the Big River and me and my uncle, but I much prefer those pre hiatus. The Scarlet fire is pretty solid, let it burn let it burn let it burn. It is a ripping Promised Land, even though the opening lyrics get missed or flubbed or something I forget which. Anyway I'm not sure how Dave's Picks 7 ends up in a worst of conversation but, I don't know how accurate that is. Definitely one of the better shows from 1978. I think it might even be in Rolling Stones top 20 shows. That being said, I think I also prefer the show from the 22nd which was Dave's Picks 15 that space mentioned. I think the first set of that show is almost flawless. Although it does have a couple pallets in a row that I'm not fond of. The second set is pretty solid too. I definitely don't have to fit over the equalizers much on this one either. I am in full babble mode how long has this been going on for? Feels like forever, what was in that stuff I smoked. Good luck hippie chick. Yours in coherence, KeithFan2112 P.S. This DaP 21 sounds unreal. I'm talking audio at the moment. If "The Box" sounds this good we going to get high high yes sir.
user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

I remember that episode stoltzfus. Man that brings back memories. I think a lot has to do with what I listen to DaP 27 on, at least for me. It sounds much better in the car than on headphones to my ears. I also prefer this early 80s keyboard sound to the late eighties. I would say it's definitely growing on me. At least the parts I've been listening to, disc 2 mostly. I like the raunchy tone on Jerry's guitar, is that the Tiger?
user picture

Member for

10 years 10 months
Permalink

Spacebrother and I agree on DaP 7 as weak. The Music Never Stopped is very good, but I don't recall anything else that stands out to me. Yes Jerry says "let it burn, let it burn, let it burn" in Fire, but there's nothing special to me about that Scarlet Fire musically. The novelty of the briefest of Stayin Alive teases does nothing for me either. And I like Werewolves of London as a song, but also a relative novelty. But, just to prevent the world from spinning on its axis, my points of divergence with Space would be that while this would rank below almost every other DaP for me, 27 and 20, and possibly 4 are all right there with it, if not below. The challenge though was for a 70s official release worse than 27, so obviously 20 doesn't meet that criteria; still 4 and 7 are my bottom of the barrel 70s releases. The most glaring issue with DaP 7 for me is Bob's slide "playing". More like the sound of 2 street cats making love while someone steps on their tails. But on DaP 27, 5+ years later, it ain't any better. And you don't have the Healy effects on vocals on DaP 7. Another place Space and I agree: DaP 15 from 2 days before is fantastic. Especially, the Deal and Wharf Rat. Jerry botches his first Wharf solo (or is slightly out of tune), but definitely makes up for it with a second go at it. Also, it's fairly ironic that my agreement is with Space and my disagreement is with KF, so this is like Elaine's trip to Bizarro World to continue the Seinfeld theme.
user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

As I was deciding where to go in '73, I scanned Dick's Picks 1 and thought, hmmm, I never listen to this one, why did Dick choose this as numero uno? Solid HCS I know. There are a lot of great WRS now, but this was a novelty at the time. Truckin' I don't recall too well, but how much better could it be than '72? Probably none better. Anyway, I thought I would put on DP 14, then reach out to you guys for DP 1 impressions. And then I saw the postings from kyleharmon and Terrapin Moon with Truckin' and WRS. Maybe I should just listen to it. Alvarhanso, I basically said the same thing you did, I think you might be mixing my comments with Ace Freh...I mean Mind Left Body - awesome picture dude! Where was I - oh - DaP 7 has some highlights in my mind, and better than a ton of 1978 shows, but not as good as DaP 15. Love Donna on Scarlet, love the Fire and the let it burn, and can't think of a song more ruined by Bobby's slide than this FOTM performance. Mind Left Body has the bonie for it, but I have to admit, that's a lot of Gold and Silver on Heady. Some people are bigger fans than me for sure. Mind Left Body - I just googled Ace and can't find that pic - can you hook an Ace fan up?
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

It's comical that people are arguing that DaP 27 is better than DaP 7. KF, alvahanso, you may prefer DaP 27 and for the sake of making a coherent point, I'll agree with you. But here we are, the three of us in our DaP 27 creek without a paddle (and Space brother with his pom poms cheering us on from land), but all of those people voted for a quarter of the songs on DaP 7. I'd like to say nay, but let's see, we are not talking votes in the 10 or even top 5 lol, it's 1st place, 2nd place, etc. Let's be reasonable gentlemen, we are in the minority. DP36 I don't understand your post. You said the sound isn't the problem, but half of the dissention is being cited for bad sound. And what do you mean when you say DaP 27 is about Brent? Are you saying people aren't truly unsatisfied with the sound but rather with Brent? Please explain. KF, PM me your email, I'll send the pic.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Every fool who ever did blow and made music thought they were a genius at the time, this proves they were not. Almost done with my first and last listen to make sure the discs (made in Mexico) don't skip. Then this piece is going on the shelf behind my bootleg copy of Brent's solo album. Looking forward to some good stuff come the PNW box, Go Hawks.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 5 months
Permalink

This late summer '83 tour has long been my time capsule Dead. If I could travel back in time and do any single GD tour this would be it. Boise/Sawtooths to Park West/Wasatch to Red Rocks/Rockies to Santa Fe/Sangres camping and road tripping all along the way would have been a real hoot. I have an older cousin who first turned me on to the Dead with tapes, including Boise '83, and he was living in Park City when this tour blew through the Mtn West. He still talks about this tour with reverence, one of his first after leaving MN behind. There's a vid out there of the first set of the band at Park West, and it looks just like shows I still enjoy at State Bridge or Rancho....but with the goddamn Grateful Dead on stage! Phil in particular is a BEAST with his new Modulus and girlfriend front and center. (He devotes at least a couple pages of his autobio to this particular tour and period....the beginning of his renaissance.) Sooo I'm very psyched to have an official release of this one after diving in to another DLP sub despite misgivings. In fact this is my favorite Dave's release of the last few years hands down. Admittedly I'm biased for the aforementioned reasons, but I think the uniqueness and energy of this show standout despite some sound and era limitations. Frankly the peak 70s Dead releases from Dave over and over and over again have started to bore me despite their obvious musicality. I guess I like my Dead a little less predictable and rougher around the edges in order to really highlight the truly inspired moments. Like the Boise Big RxR Blues! My one suggestion for Lemieux on future early-to-mid 80s releases would be to stick to the matrix format of the Fox '80 release. It definitely serves the music and context better than a straight Healy SBD mix, and I know from my own listening that there is no lack of worthy AUD recordings on the LMA and elsewhere that I'm sure any taper would be willing to share for the greater GD good. Cheers to the Citizens of Boise and their Surrender to the Cause!
user picture

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

"It's the total lack of cohesiveness, horrible vocal harmonizing, and the guitars sounding like they're on different songs and tempos." And you gave to read Trainwrecked's real time review for a good laugh. I can deal with the sloppy playing since the old flash is in there at least half the time, but I don't get how Brent starts singing on Estimated Prophet or any number of tunes, and there are people who think it sounds good. This just sounds like a band on the ropes to me. I really think Garcia made a mistake inviting this guy into the band. Their harmonies sounded so much better before. I'm no Donna fanboy either, just an objective listener. I thought she was great on the songs she was present for when they wrote them, like Music Never Stoped, Crazy Fingers, Estimated Prophet, Eyes of the World etc, but not so much on the real early songs like St. Stephen, Sugar Magnolia, Wharf Rat, and Ramble on Rose, to name a few. But I have to FF> past Brent's vocals on this show. I was hoping he'd be low enough not to ruin songs for me, and I gave it a half dozen listens. I hope to never get another Brent release as part of my Dave's Picks subscription (fingers crossed). Keep the quality in Dave's Picks and release the 80s on the side, unless there's another tape of the DaP 8 quality, where Brent isn't overwhelming on vocals. If it all sounded like that, I could deal, but that appears to be the rare exception.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

If I were to rank every Dave's Picks this on would fall around 23 or 24. Having said that, I'm really enjoying it after multiple listens. Of course they're not at their peak here, we knew that going in. And yes, the sound quality is not great and fluctuates throughout. But the playing here really cooks throughout despite the many flubs. But that's what drew me to this band, the willingness to take chances and to go in without a set list and try to create something spontaneous. I'm not old enough to have gone to concerts in the 70s but I'll take this over any concert I saw in 1983 where Ozzy Osbourne or April Wine played the same scripted show night after night. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind here, but, as a Godchaux era fanatic, I'm pleasently surprised by how much i enjoy this one. Maybe some of you would like it more if you didn't compare it to 72-74.
user picture

Member for

16 years 2 months
Permalink

We miss you, Jerry. More than words tell. Today I'm listening to: Jerry Garcia Band Pure Jerry: Bay Area 1978 released: August 31, 2009. Label: Jerry Made JGCD0009 Disc 1 "Mystery Train" (Junior Parker, Sam Phillips) — 8:27 [a] "Catfish John" (Bob McDill, Allen Reynolds) — 9:36 [a] "I Second That Emotion" (Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland) — 14:02 [b] "Mission in the Rain" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter) – 8:44 [b] "Don't Let Go" (Jesse Stone) — 29:46 [b] Disc 2 "Tore Up Over You" (Hank Ballard) — 9:04 [c] "Simple Twist of Fate" (Bob Dylan) — 10:58 [b] "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Robinson, Bobby Rogers) — 10:17 [b] "Let Me Roll It" (Paul McCartney) — 11:04 [d] "Gomorrah" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:26 [d] "I'll Be with Thee" (traditional) – 5:37 [d] "Lonesome and a Long Way from Home" (Delaney Bramlett, Leon Russell) – 23:56 [a] Recording dates and locations: [a] February 18, 1978 – Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael, California [b] February 19, 1978 – Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, California [c] June 10, 1978 – Keystone, Berkeley, California [d] June 18, 1978 – Keystone, Palo Alto, California Sorry, it's Out Of Print. This recording probably could be found on the secondary markets for a rather hefty price.
user picture

Member for

6 years 10 months
Permalink

devil, good vibes to you. It's refreshing to hear it described as such. I believe the bickering stems from this push and pull against reality. May Jerry's magic twanger reign over Deadville. KF, check out the Big River and Big Railriad Blues from DP 1.
user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months
Permalink

I liked your summing up of DAP27, which I heard for the first time yesterday. When it started, I thought all the negative criticisms were proving to be true. The playing and the sound seemed well below par. But from Big River on, the sound become more consistent and the playing really gels. Either that-or I just get used to it. Things go down hill again with the Help-Slipknot-Franklins jam, unfortunately, but Estimated and Eyes are fine and the jam into drums, led by Brent and Bob is great. Jerry's vocals are a let down throughout, though. On the final cd, Throwing Stones is alright-although I don't actually like the song that much-and Going Down The Road is great. Its a long, long, way from the highs of, say, 1968 or 1972- as rdevil said. But as a snapshot of how they played in 1983 I would think it was pretty good. I'm quite happy with it, anyway.
user picture

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

"I really think Garcia made a mistake inviting this guy into the band." Wow. So many things I could say there but I'll let it go. Hopefully you realize the sour backing vocals on Estimated on this release are Jerry and not Brent. Brent is so low in the mix for this chorus you have to strain to find him. It's the high harmony buried deep in there. And on-key.
user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months
Permalink

the version of Poptones on the album is exquisite. drive to the forest in a Japanese car the smell of rubber on country tar hindsight done me no good standing naked in this back of the woods the cassette played Poptones or in my case, Deadtones
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

...this place has become lately. Not that it matters, but count me on the side that enjoys this pick and am glad to have it. I was concerned with the sound at first... the Wang Dang>Jack Straw does sound odd with the vocals WAY up and the instruments seemingly WAY down, but as others have said here before, Big River through the rest of the 1st set sounds good to these ears, and the band is cooking, (save perhaps on the verses of Minglewood, but the jam is HOT on that one, so I can forgive the lackluster "song" portion... I've got more Minglewoods than I need as it is.) The BEW, RxRBlues, LLRain, and Deal are all top notch performances too... As for Set II, not sure where the hate is coming from in terms of the Help>Slip>Frank. Does Jerry totally botch the lyrics to Help? Yes! Is the rest of the triptych well played? Absolutely! The Slipknot and Franklins are particularly strong. The Estimated>Eyes is strong too, and the patch in Eyes, while jarring, lasts for about 5 seconds... not going to lose sleep on that one. The Jam>Drums>Space is really cool, and like Dave mentioned, the Space on this release is really great. The solo in Throwing Stones? I hear noise, chaos, and craziness, and all of it sounds well placed to me, though not perfect. As a new tune, they were still working out what to do with it, and I think that it's pretty cool to hear the band experiment with Noise Rock like that... can't think of anywhere else they did. Also, isn't that Bobby making all of the noise? Obviously, they didn't think it worked, so the made the Samson-jam part, (something that has always bugged me a bit,) but it is cool to hear where they may have been heading. The rest of the second set is average... Black Peter has been called out as unlistenable by many here who say Jerry's voice sounds terrible... Really? I know it doesn't sound like 71 Jerry, but terrible? Unlistenable? I just don't get it... I think that is what gets me down about the discussion around here lately. So many here clearly have an ax to grind, or some point to prove, on both sides of the coin. What I see more than anything is a bunch of "Deadheads" shitting on the band and more over, shitting on each other. You all know that people have favorite eras, favorite keyboard players, favorite tunes, but rather than let them have that, a lot of you seem so keen to tell them that they are wrong for liking what they like. Get over yourselves. Now that Dave's Picks have made it to #27, this place seems to be more and more toxic... kind of like the lot scene 27 years in. Whatever. I like this pick, you don't. Discussion over. Now, where the hell is that HUGE n'FUNKY Shakedown Street Dave? The past few days, I have really enjoyed the two Alpine 82 shows, 8/7, which was Dick's Picks 32, and yesterday's 8/8 show. Check them both out if you have the chance! (Of course, if you Hate the 80s/Hate Brent/Hate the Grateful Dead, than these are not the droids you seek...) 8/7/82 https://archive.org/details/gd82-08-07.sbd-streeter-wise.unknown.7689.s… Pretty classic show all around... TMNS>Sugaree>TMNS opener! 8/8/82 https://archive.org/details/gd82-08-08.sbd-wise.unknown.7690.sbeok.shnf… Good 1st set, Very strong 2nd Set with Scarlet>Fire, Estimated, Other One... The Double Encore of Satisfaction and Brokedown is perhaps the highlight for me... check out Bobby dropping Wang Dang Doodle for the (1st time?) in the middle of Satisfaction. Cool stuff! Shouting in the wind, Peace
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

We all lost Jerry 23 years ago today. RIP good sir, and thanks for all of the joy you gave to so many. Is it a coincidence that there are no GD shows from 8/9? Peace
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

....lets try something new. Can we all agree that '76 Cosmic Charlie's are awesome? I'll start. '76 Cosmic Charlie's are awesome.
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

76 Cosmic Charlie's are totally awesome! My favorite of all the Cosmic Charlie's! Headed to Merriweather to see the boys this weekend, then up to Watkins Glen for Curveball... I doubt you're coming east for either, but maybe you'll see me on the webcast! BTW - I have heard there is a free webcast of Friday night's show at Walnut Creek! This may be the link for it right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kcoOF7_mfU Peace
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

On this day, like all of you, I reflect on the events 23 years ago. The reality of it is still a little hard to handle for me sometimes. This time around, I have come to this realization that my generation (or age group might be more appropriate) was likely one of the last if not the last to ever see Jerry play. I have talked before about my own personal experiences of getting on the bus in 92, to get see a few shows, and then only to have it end all too suddenly . I have also talked about what I think is a common feeling for everyone of these importance of all of the shows that were recorded. These recordings are the next best thing to being at the show. I know that being at the show is different and is the ultimate best thing about the Dead. The experience is “it" , but the reality is that experience only happens once. After it is done those that attended any given show have the memories - which by the way I greatly appreciate when these memories are shared. Please keep that going when appropriate/needed! However after that the only thing that is left are these recordings which gives all a chance to hear the band go at it. The other reality of this is we all know that the number of shows in vault is vast, with variety being the key. I think DaP 27 is good release, certainly not perfect. When i look at how many shows have been released The Dead, Rhino, and Dave L & Co. have been generous. When I look at Deadbase 50 and I see the lists of favorite tapes, a lot of them have been officially released. I know there is more to come. We have also got some releases that were sleepers or maybe lacking in some aspects. The reality is that with the volume of releases that have been produced there will be some that just aren't to the level as many others. Of course everyone will have different opinions on this but it is bound to happen. It looks DaP 27 is one of them. In the end I have yet to discover a show that I hated. With sound quality, performance, and completeness being variables I feel I am lucky to be able to own any of these shows with the 9/2/83 show being one of them. I will say this though, if I was approached by the good Doctor with a Tardis or Marty and Doc in a Delorean and I was told this: “You can go back in time to attend 3 Grateful Dead shows but you can't choose them. The shows are 4/24/78, 12/9/81, and 9/2/83. Do you want to go?” Without hesitation I would say “Hell Yeah!” I say this all of the time but I appreciate all of you regardless of show/era preference. If it wasn't for these comment pages I wouldn't have anyone to talk about this with.
user picture

Member for

8 years
Permalink

'76 Cosmic Charlie's are bad.............but in a good way (did I fool you for a second?)
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

Dude! This show is great! Thanks for the recommendation! I have been working from home on an online course for work the past few days, so I have had the pleasure of being able to dig deep into the archives, and this one is hitting that sweet spot right now! That is one hell of a Shakedown opener, the Bird Song is nice and exploratory, Sweet Peggy-O... the band does sound great! Thanks again for the tip :) Peace
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

I noticed a general dislike for DaP 4, is it for sound quality or performance? I've always liked this show, the 2nd set jam is great!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

Big fan of the 76 versions of Cosmic Charlie. In fact lately I've been listening to the second set of 7/16/76 (the complete set, not the one that was released as a DaP 18 bonus). Man I love that jam...one of my favorites of the whole year. The dead offer something for everyone - that's one of the reasons I love them and that's why I collect everything that comes out (more or less). I have learned that even if I'm not in the mood for a particular release on the day it comes out, doesn't mean I won't want to binge on it down the road. I'm working from home today too and very caffeinated. Will check out that 84 show now. RIP Jerry - was always a blast
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

4 - 080sfan. I listened to the same bonus disc last night while prepping dinner with the wife. Her favorite year is '76. No need to twist my arm....
user picture

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

But It's a fact. Verifiable. If every day was sunny, how would you know that it's beautiful?? If all food tasted the same, how would you know what is good & what is bad?? If every day was 26 degrees, how would you know what a bikini looks like?? If every Dead show was a 10, how could you appreciate it's greatness?? The answer is, you could not. You have to have the proverbial yin/yang or else you would not be able to differentiate one from the other. So if for no other reason, appreciate the less than stellar shows, they help you know when you are truly listening to a gem!!
user picture

Member for

11 years 4 months
Permalink

'76 Cosmic Charlie's are hyp-no-tic...... thanks for the tickle - been a while - I really should check that out tonight.... gratefulhan - Glad you got on the bus in time to see Jerry. There was something about being in the same room with him that the uninitiated will never know. Agreed that all the releases are generally great. Its easy to nitpick, but Dave & Co DO know what they are doing despite all the second-guessing.... at the end of the day, we get more and more great shows. Glorious.
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Wait a MINUTE....to be "initiated" into the dead family you had to have been in the same room as Jerry at a concert? Uh-oh, our numbers are gonna drop significantly in the next 15-20 years, ouch! My kids won't be happy about this. And are we talking 26 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius? Cause if you dont specify the scale, we could be in bikinis all day...but, I'd have to shave my chest first. 76 Cosmic Charlies can be quite fun, the one from the Orpheum release is very nice and the 76 Dicks release with the Autumn looking cover, whichever one that was. I'm gonna go give another listen to the Winterland '73 Bonus disc 12/4/73 and Dave's 2012 bonus 7/29/74 those have a been wonderful rediscovery the last few days.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Finished DaP 27 and was very disappointed. Its definitely a cellar dweller for me in the series. 83 is my favorite year in the Brent era though this show had escaped my attention. I agree with all the comments posted about how uneven the audio quality is in the first set. By the time the sound is enjoyable we are up to Big RR. I agree that song smoked, and Deal was nice and long. The second set was classic 83, which is good, but Help was a hot mess and the cut in Eyes was killer. Overall, I might go back to that second set, but there are so many better shows in fall 83 that i'm just not sure when. I am concerned we might not get any more 83 official releases given Dave's comments about recording quality/availability and the indication that if this is the best out there, we might be in serious trouble. FYI - for relief, listened to 10/14/77 afterward. ahh.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Hi - has everyone in the U.K. got their copy yet? Waiting patiently here in Nottingham.....
user picture

Member for

10 years 10 months
Permalink

Where we disagreed was I think DaP 7 is I took issue with the idea that 4/24 is better than most '78 shows. Granted, my knowledge of '78 is limited to the official releases and I had a couple of decent non-officials (3 of which are now officially released in 1/22, 7/7-8) back when I was collecting as much as I could get, and still physically trading tapes and cds. But I will take DaP 15, DaP 23, DP 25's 2 shows (one Bear one Betty), July box (esp 7/1 and 7/8), and the 30 Trips (the show before or after DP 25) over DaP 7 any day of the week. I like the Rupp Arena show that would have been the third of the mini-box before they put DaP 7 out over Normal, too. That was the bottom of my DaP personal rankings before 20 and 27. Also, I was really joking about the disagreement line, mainly because Space and I rarely seem to see eye to eye on releases, and you and I are usually more on the same page. Probably the inner Who freak. And I add 4 in there, too not for performnce necessarily, but because it just does nothing for me. I've listened to the full show probably 3 times, and Playing> Supplication> Playing a couple other times, and it doesn't move me. (I know that wasn't your question KF, but I saw it as I was catching up on the conversation, so thought I'd answer why that one is lowly ranked in my own case.) It's not an anti-'76 thing, either, I really like some of the '76 stuff, it has more space to it, more groove than other years. That particular show, and the DP from the night after would not be put on my stereo by my choice if I wanted '76. RT 4.5 would be my go to, DaP 18 next for officials, 8/4/76 for just a '76 show. To That's Otis, it's very funny that you bemoan the toxicity of the debate and seeming unwillingness of others to compromise/hear each other out, then you literally say "Discussion over." Was that irony? I just don't think someone has to have an ax to grind not to like a particular show. Sure, it probably sours other people to read a really damning review, but we can only hear things with our own ears and not somebody else's. I wish I could hear DaP 27 the same way Space does, but the fact I can't doesn't harm your enjoyment, nor his, and this seems to be the appropriate forum for that discussion. If you were being ironic, my apologies for taking it seriously.
user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months
Permalink

this whole release is a major experiment like the "what color is the dress" and "what does the voice say".
user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months
Permalink

it's "inner Doors freak" because they are much better than the Who ;)
user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months
Permalink

Mine arrived here in sunny Lowestoft on Wednesday. Hopefully yours will arrive any day now.
product sku
081227931599