Grateful Dead

Nothing brings me out of Lurkerville like a reference to the #1 item on my Grateful Wishlist - Alaska 1980. For years I've begged for a "Grateful Dead in the Land of the Midnight Sun" box - all kinds of art possibilities. But I must say, "Basked Alaska" is a fine title too. Also, I saw there was some discussion of Keith's piano in the Fall '77 shows. According to Blair Jackson in "Dead Gear" Keith didn't switch from the grand piano to the Yamaha electric grand until "summer 1978." He indicates that Keith changed to the electric grand piano because it was easier to transport (important for going to Egypt, for example). Ironically the damn things still needed to be tuned, and the piano tuner didn't show up in Egypt. That is so Grateful Dead. Anyhoo ... if you look at this video of 12/30/77 you can see that he's still playing the traditional grand piano. Good shot of it just before the 32:00 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqZP8ihyfs8&list=RDyqZP8ihyfs8&t=1916 So I think the sound of his piano in the fall shows really is due to him pounding away on the chords, and keeping his foot firmly on the echo pedal.

The following list was shamelessly lifted from Steve Hoffman Music Forums: Advance Acoustic MCD 204 (CD Player) Arcam Diva DV 79 (DVD Player) Arcam Diva DV 135 (DVD Player) Arcam Diva DV 137 (DVD Player) Arcam FMJ DV 139 (DVD Player) Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC (DAC) Cambridge Audio Azur 650 BD (Blu-ray Player) Cayin CDT-15A (CD Player) CyberHome CH-DVD 635 (DVD-Player) Denon DBP-A100 (Blu-ray Player) Denon DBP-4010UD (Blu-ray Player) Denon DVD-A1UD (Blu-ray Player) Denon DVD-A11 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-A1XV (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-A1XVA (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD 2800 mk2 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-2910 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-2930 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-3800 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-3910 (DVD/SACD Player) Denon DVD-3930 (DVD/SACD Player) Harman/Kardon FL-8370 (CD Multi Disc Player) Harman/Kardon HD-750 (CD Player) Linn Majik CD (CD Player) Mark Levinson ML 37 (CD Player) Mark Levinson ML 39 (CD Player) Mark Levinson ML 390S (CD Player) Mark Levinson No. 36 (DAC) Mark Levinson ML 360 (DAC) Mark Levinson ML 360S (DAC) Music Hall CD 25 (CD Player) NAD C 542 (CD Player) NAD M5 (SACD/CD Player) NAD M55 (SACD/DVD Player) NAD T 585 (SACD/DVD Player) Naim CDX2 (CD Player) Naim CD5x (CD Player) Naim CDS3 (CD Player) Naim CD555 (CD Player) OPPO BDP-80 (Blu-ray Player) OPPO BDP-83 (Blu-ray Player) OPPO BDP 93 (Blu-ray Player) OPPO BDP 95 (Blu-ray Player) OPPO DV-980H (DVD Player) OPPO DV-981HD (DVD Player) OPPO DV-983H (DVD Player) Original CD-A8T (CD Player) Panasonic DVD-S52 (DVD Player) Pioneer DVR-550H-S (DVD Player) Restek EPOS (CD Player) Rotel RCD-02 (CD Player) Rotel RCD-1072 (CD Player) Rotel RCD-991 AE (CD Player) T+A CD3000R (CD Player) Toshiba SD 500E (DVD Player) Vincent S1.1 (CD Player) Vincent S3 (CD Player) Vincent S5 (CD Player) Vincent S6 (CD Player) Personally I have a Naim CDX2 and I can highly recommend it.

Uncle John's Band Playin' in the Band Uncle John's Band Me and My Uncle Mexicali Blues Tennessee Jed Samson and Delilah Easy to Love You Althea Looks Like Rain Deal Feel Like a Stranger Ship of Fools Estimated Prophet Eyes of the World drums Saint of Circumstance Black Peter Sugar Magnolia Alabama Getaway Brokedown Palace https://archive.org/details/gd80-06-08.eaton.tome.7193.sbefail.shnf

Thanks MidwayKid for this reminder about the reissue - / Real Gone series. I had missed out on the Denver '73 Road Trips back in the day for whatever reason and indeed found it there. Gotta round it out I say. As for Gainesville, that one picked up some serious steam on this thread and I've been spending ample time with this very fine audience recording over the past 18 hours or so. Not being all too familiar with the explicit year of 1980, aside from the scant officially released shows / compilations, I definitely find this show packed full of energy. I think in the past I sort of subconsciously avoided this year, and early 80s in particular due to the fact that inherently, the songs were shorter and thus I assumed less jammy or intense or whatever. What I have learned, however, as my ears and attitude got adjusted to the different style & take on how they played (aka...fast/faster), I've learned they are very good at "getting to the point" in the jams, hence things moving along a little more quickly than if they took their sweet ass time. I am happy with myself that I've sort of stuck with it in that sense, and allowed my ears/mind/expectations to fall in-line with the reality of their playing during this period. I'll also say that 30 Trips helped to break down this barrier for me as well, even if the sound quality on a few of those are a bit questionable. Nonetheless, I'd never have been exposed to this Gainesville phenomenon as well as a lot of other gems without the input from Yous All - Appreciation Factor = Level 69 Sixtus

Thanks for the feedback regarding HDCD players. It looks like it's going to be difficult finding a player that decodes HDCD. Microsoft owns the rights to the technology, and it didn't become a mainstream digital source. Either way, we're lucky to have high quality GD.

Nice analysis of how and why the bands sound changed after 1974. I have never read of a reason why Weir changed from a Gibson hollow body to and Ibanez-but what you say makes sense. Having said that, the Dead cd I was listening to this morning was Dicks Picks 28, which features highlights from 26th and 28th February 1973. The photographs inside show Weir playing a Gibson SG, which has been used by some very loud guitarists-Angus Young, Tony Iommi and Pete Townsend come to mind. Maybe there was another reason why he retired that one. Maybe he liked the thin sound of the Ibanez! I haven't received the new Daves Picks yet. The 1973 shows quoted above are excellent-very much featuring the earlier non bombastic Dead. There is so much clarity in the sound, with no distortion or use of volume for dramatic effect. Very untypical for a rock band from 1973. I do like the heavier handed approach of 1977-1978, and am looking forward to hearing the new release-but the playing in 1973 (and 1972 and 1974) was of a different order entirely.

....load me a bowl.

Damn. The potato's back in my hands. Well, at least it feels a little cooler after its trip around the board.

....oh. It will happen. Just biding our time.

You finally cured me from posting here :)