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    heatherlew
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    Dave's Picks Volume 28: Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, 6/17/76

    This year's Dave's Picks series comes to a close just as the band's getting back together again in '76. By the time the Grateful Dead hit New Jersey’s Capitol Theatre - for the very first time - on 6/17/76, they were buzzing from their reunion, armed with new and revived material, the Rhythm Devils reformed with the mischievous Mickey Hart once again behind the kit. They'd skived off the unwieldy Wall of Sound and scaled back the venues from cavernous arenas to intimate theatres. Quite the treat!

    During the first set, the Dead's playing was nuanced ("Cold Rain And Snow"), detailed ("Looks Like Rain"), and intricate ("The Music Never Stopped"); the singing struck softly ("Row Jimmy") and raised hairs ("Ship Of Fools"). But it’s the big barreling energy of the second set you’ll want to brace yourself for, replete with a disco'd "Dancing In The Streets," a low-down funky “Help”>”Slip”>”Franklin's” and a wind 'em up to wind down "Let It Grow">"Wharf Rat">"Around and Around." Can you keep up? There's only one way to find out.

    This complete show, balanced out with a couple of bonus tracks from 6/23/76 and 6/28/76, was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

    Dave's Picks Volume 28 is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

    Grab a copy before they're gone, gone, gone.

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • flounderfe
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    80% Solution?
    Honestly, if you have 6/9/76 from the Road Trip Series...you have 80% of this show already. Seriously, compare the set lists. I was really hoping for 1991 (8/16, 9/26 or 10/31). I guess I can chalk this up to yet another miss. I have yet to get one correct. Cool art work as usual, on a positive note.
  • kevjones
    Joined:
    Playin' from 11/15/72
    Soaked in this Playin' from OK City this afternoon. It was pretty cool, I thought I picked up on a little "Caution-like" jam towards the end, also heard Jerry toying around with a Slipknot! type melody and even a few chords that sounded like the intro to Terrapin. Jerry also toys with a weird UJB tease before they go back to the reprise. It's amazing the little things you can dissect when listening intently
  • Vguy72
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    Quoting said William & Mary's Supplication....
    ...."a little bolt of inspiration". 1976 is AOK in my book.In regards to the boyz and girl finding their footing in '76, that's part of the magic. I've noticed that during '76 Playin's, Jerry seems to play a couple of octaves higher than other years. Going down tight on the fretboard. Personally, my household is stoked for this Pick.
  • Mr. Jack Straw
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    This pick
    I'm among the unenthusiastic. I'm open to my mind being changed, however. 1976 is my least favorite year from 1967-1980, and June is probably my least favorite month. They sound like they're still searching for their footing.. I've always really disliked DL 4 (6/18/76), if only because Garcia is nearly inaudible on the entire show (it does pick up in the second set). June 1976 is really hit or miss for me. I enjoy 6.9 and selections from the Boston shows, and I do like 6.29 as well, but there's not much from 6/17-6/28 that's ever intrigued me. I haven't listened to anything from this run in a VERY long time, so last night I dug out 6/19. Let's just say my opinion is unchanged after the listen. I've changed my mind about shows before, so I'll give this one a few listens. And I'm happy for everyone else who is psyched for this. I do agree with those (admittedly few) who have voiced their disappointment in the 2018 Dave's Picks. I suppose it was a bit handicapped by the Pacific Northwest set that prevented prime years of 1973-1974 from being considered for a selection. Right now, my personal tastes are decidedly narrow, and I really want to see more from 1968-1970 as well as Fall '72 and ALL of 1973. 1971, 1974, 1977, and 1978 have been mined pretty exhaustively, and unless they pick 11/7/71, 12/15/71, 2/23/74, 6/23/74, 2/26/77, or 10/29/77, I'd be satisfied not seeing anything from those years for a LONG time. An inspired Brent pick would also have been more welcome than this one. Sorry if I offended anyone with my negative outlook on this pick...just my personal tastes.
  • Vguy72
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    Snow in Denver this early....
    ....Is great news for us states further down the Colorado River. Just finished watching the Dolphins win in OT vs Chicago. What a game. Busting out Dave's Picks 4 now. And to those that call '76 too slow (including me on occasion), check out the Playin'->Supplication->Playin' and the Slipknot! if you have it.
  • hendrixfreak
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    6-19-76 was a hot show
    Pretty sure I was at the third night, which started with the "new" Help on the Way medley, not the 17th when that medley opened the second set. Ticket stubs are long gone. A friend had scored something like 6th/7th row tickets in the center, the closest I think I ever got in maybe 75 shows -- close enough that the backline amps were louder than the side PA and crackling with electricity. It was loud that close up. Looking back, the Help medley provided some peak excitement as it was new and mesmerizing. We were keyed up to see the band, after a drought after an October '73 show -- no GD in '74 (I was on the road, hitchhiking coast-to-coast, turned 17 on the road) or '75. And this was the third night in a three-night stand, which offered the band a chance to settle in. I remember at the time the newly crafted harmonies and often slower pace, but loved the new material, which included Lazy>Supplication and plenty of other rocking material such as Might as Well. I have never really enjoyed the disco Dancin' in the Streets, though some jam out quite nicely. Generally, in this day far removed from the actual proceedings, I don't care for '76 GD, at least compared to other eras that really deliver for me today in the era of just listening to the tapes. The question for me is whether this particular show will stand up as a recording vs. the event itself -- the perennial question when a show I attended is released from the vault. Englishtown seemed to match up with my experience and the two '78 Red Rock shows produced some mild flashbacks -- more accurately, moments of genuine memory, sans the hallucinations. And this show is not the one I attended, so who knows? I'm genuinely interested to hear how this sounds and if it seems a break from other '76 shows that I find a tad too slow to embrace. I believe the 19th is release-worthy as well. As it's '76, I have little doubt that this was a returned tape and will bear the ABCD Enterprise mark. Just musing on a snowy Sunday in Denver. Cheers all!
  • KeithFan2112
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    Digging it All
    Lot of interesting comments. Simonrob, I believe there's plenty left in Vault. PNW has some of the best sounding stuff the've released from '74 yet, as well as some kick ass material from '73. Everyone's done plenty analysis on the quality of the material. I think it's a winner, and a sign there is no lack of content. I have not heard 6/17/76, so I would say, as long as the audio is in the neighborhood of Road Trips 4.5 or DaP 18, we're just fine. I saw some comments about 6/18/76 having a better set list. Hmmm. I like my Cold Rains & Snows and my Help / Slip / Franklin's. Looks like a cool Let It Grow in there. Also a Scarlet. Music Never Stopped, Cassidy, and Wharf Rat. They had me at Help / Slip / Franklin. Jimbo - I think you laid it out as accurate as can be, based on our info, and the future's looking bright. Jeff Smith - thanks for the artwork once again. I see we have our first Dead Bear on a Dave's Picks - I was wondering why those little fellas hadn't made an appearance!
  • JeffSmith
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    Early Cover Art for a Change
    Here’s a link to a crisp image of Dave’s 28’s cover art. Thanks to one of our fellow travelers who forwarded it to me with a note: “From Twitter. Should save us all some work. Enjoy!” https://www.dropbox.com/s/jbpnnvvddfh6l3c/Dave%27s%2027%20Cover%20-%20B… Looks like the square “Booklet Crop”. Plus it’s a pre-print version without the printer's half-tone haze to deal with! Wish TPTB could/would include links to quality artwork like this on the deaddotnet page for each release. It seems like at one time they did. . . Won’t get into the personal preference discussion about 28’s cover art, except to say the facial hair’s gone in the slack-jaws in the foreground. At first I thought that guy on the right in the ’76 tank top was lighting farts, but now I’m not sure exactly what the turquoise ameboid is – there's gotta be a story about some legendary blotter that circulated that night. . . I will say that I really am liking Vicker’s Pacific Northwest artwork – it reinforces Nick Meriwether’s observations in the PNW book about how locale and geography could influence the GD’s music and state(s) of mind. The art definitely imbues the box, digipaks and music with an unmistakable “sense of place”. Onward!
  • twoswans
    Joined:
    SLOW is GOOD!!!
    I’m listening to Vol. 4 of the Download series right now and I find the slower tempo to these songs to be really nice. No ones in a hurry and there is a sense that everyone is sharing the space. Dave’s Pick 27 was the exact opposite. The band played almost the entire show at warp speed as if large amounts of cocaine was consuming everybody. Nice set list on #27 but I just couldn’t hear any soul in it. With the exception of the last song. At least 76 was more relaxed and they all seem to be really listening to each other. As Billy mentioned in his autobiography, cocaine doesn’t make great music.
  • daverock
    Joined:
    9/28/72 Stanley Theater
    Talking of Fall 1972, one of the interesting things about collecting tapes in the late 1980s was that I didn't know which shows were regarded as classics, so my enjoyment wasn't prejudiced by general opinion. For the first few years of collecting-say from 1987-1993-this show, 9/28/72, was my favourite-well, second favourite after Binghamton 1970. But it doesn't seem to get mentioned much in terms of being a great show. I haven't heard it myself for many years-but if memory serves me well, it would be great if this one turned up as a future release. Any release from this timespan would be great.
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Dave's Picks Volume 28: Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, 6/17/76

This year's Dave's Picks series comes to a close just as the band's getting back together again in '76. By the time the Grateful Dead hit New Jersey’s Capitol Theatre - for the very first time - on 6/17/76, they were buzzing from their reunion, armed with new and revived material, the Rhythm Devils reformed with the mischievous Mickey Hart once again behind the kit. They'd skived off the unwieldy Wall of Sound and scaled back the venues from cavernous arenas to intimate theatres. Quite the treat!

During the first set, the Dead's playing was nuanced ("Cold Rain And Snow"), detailed ("Looks Like Rain"), and intricate ("The Music Never Stopped"); the singing struck softly ("Row Jimmy") and raised hairs ("Ship Of Fools"). But it’s the big barreling energy of the second set you’ll want to brace yourself for, replete with a disco'd "Dancing In The Streets," a low-down funky “Help”>”Slip”>”Franklin's” and a wind 'em up to wind down "Let It Grow">"Wharf Rat">"Around and Around." Can you keep up? There's only one way to find out.

This complete show, balanced out with a couple of bonus tracks from 6/23/76 and 6/28/76, was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

Dave's Picks Volume 28 is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

Grab a copy before they're gone, gone, gone.

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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Not a bad pick, although I’d be more excited if it were the June 29th show in Chicago, with a couple extra cuts from the Jersey run for filler. Also, it’s a bit of a downer to say goodbye to Tim McDonagh as the DaP artist. I think his covers for the series has been the most consistently excellent so far. (Justin Helton comes a close 2nd place.) Nice style, cool imagery, and extraordinary use of palette. Hopefully he’ll be back again soon. (DaP 2020, please?!?) And kudos to Dave for a solid run of shows this year; I never would have thought there’d be a series wherein the 80s show was my favorite.
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Wow that sold out fast but I am not surprised. Glad to be a continuing DP subscriber. If the road trips Boston Music Hall is any indication this is going to a fantastic release. Need to get going on the PNW '73 and '74 box set before this comes! Thank you Dave!
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When I logged on, it was available, looks like a great song list. I was at June 22,1976 at the Tower Theatre (a small venue)on third row,they did a 4 night stand there, with only a couple of the same songs played. So, why didn't I jump on it, I knew it would not be available long ,I was thinking about all of the debt I had, 30 bucks is a lot for me, so with less than 10 minutes, it was sold out. My local Barnes and Noble has the last single 3 disc sale for about 22 dollars, the one that is a sampler of the last big disc sale from this year that had sets from 73-74, which is a bit odd, I think they sound so different recorded on the "Wall Of Sound". Should be a good set of music.Have a great weekend !! Jim
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12 years 11 months
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I received an email from dead.net regarding DaP 28 at 1:01PM EDT it is now 2:29PM EDT & it's sold out. That is why I subscribe. It's Friday DeadLand PLAY DEAD & play em LOUD
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good to see something from the NJ area getting picked. I heard tale NJ was known for it's rowdy drinking crowds. sounds great on the sampler. patongonian fox: I hear ya, in a perfect world the series would have 1 from the 60's, 1 from the 70's, 1 from the 80's, and 1 from the 90's.
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Ive been lucky to be available right at go time for the last 4-5 releases , but why take chances? They are selling out faster and faster so Ill be a Daves 2019 subscriber for sure!
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7 years
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Wait, so HE had not met GD?
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13 years
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I received my e-mail today at 1:21 PM. Sold Out! How did all these other people receive e-mails at 10AM?
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8 years
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Although we are on the subscription program I really wish Dave should up the numbers of these shows. It seems to me that the demand justifies the increase in numbers and they should limit the amount for each pick should be one per customer not two. Evil Bayer’s are reaping big profits at the expense of loyal deadheads. It’s just not dead like to me. Isn’t it really about the music???
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15 years 2 months
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1976 was a good year for the Dead but not one of the best. June was a good month for 76 but not one of the best. 6/17 was a good night on this run but not the best. 5 stars out of 5.
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12 years 11 months
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it was the go to year from the 1970-1978 comfort window, oh well - 1981 will have to wait until DP#29....this show looks good on paper, but no doubt will sound like every other 1976 release- slooooowwww!! I think it is time to start a subscription series based on decades..jus sayn'
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7 years
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Decades subscription series, hah, I like it! Meanwhile, since we're on the topic...I agree with some earlier comments and disagree with others about upping the numbers. It does seem like they've found the right number. 24-27 are basically available at cost on secondary sites, with possible exception of 26 (1971, bonus disc, etc.). 27, might I remind y'all, is still available via the Instagram site. So maybe let's take it easy and not imagine that they don't have marketing researchers identifying the exact number that they can optimally make $. Would be surprised if 2019 is more than 18K. 17/76!
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14 years 10 months
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bring it on, bring it on yo, everyone: SUBSCRIBE, please. I learned the hard way. I truly feel for people who missed out. You gotta bite the bullet and subscribe. the peace of mind is worth at least 50% of the cost.
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7 years 9 months
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I love 1976. Subscribe. \m/
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11 years 3 months
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Shake it Filler Sign me up for 2019 subscription rhinos while I got some extra cash to burn 1970 X-Factor
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7 years
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mmm, love me a good 1976 h/s/f. More played in 76 than any other year (17)- and most played in June (9). (Incidentally, 1983 second most played year.)
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10 years 9 months
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Just got the e-mail, logged on.....SOLD OUT!!!
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17 years 1 month
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Can be found on second sell sites for 40$ because its DaP 27.
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Can be found on second sell sites for 40$ because its DaP 27.
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9 years 7 months
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Yo guys at Deadnet , You need to make more copies so everybody can get one. C'mon man don't be bogartin'!
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9 years 7 months
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This year they upped the number 2k I believe, I feel with them almost selling out the subscriptions for the first time they will do around 20k next year. Just my thoughts on the number they will produce.
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With a bajillion and a half Dead Heads out there worldwide,only 18,000 copies.Just like a gajillion other posters here,I received an email last week and was waiting,by the time I received the email today and clicked the link,,,"Sold Out",,,really.Oh yeah,I received the email @ 1:29PM EDT,,,well after being sold out. I think it is time to re-evaluate the "Limited" amount of production copies as well as "2 per order" which will turn up on ebay for an exorbitant amount of money.
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12 years 11 months
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Come on, all. If these are selling out in so quickly, please consider increasing your production. I really wanted this. Folks work and some can’t afford to be checking their e-mail and logging on a minute’s notice. -Disappointed Dan
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10 years 7 months
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That picture is great! Thanks for the laugh.
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9 years
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Those guessing this was going to be 2/7/69 kind of got my hopes up for that show. Probably irrationally. Oh well. Anyway, I'm a fan of 6/14/76, hopefully this is in that vein.
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16 years 4 months
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#LedDed - I think '76 is the most underrated year. I used to not like it so much because it's so mellow sounding, and Jerry's guitar sometimes sounds squeaky, but it's the most unpredictable year, and there are a lot of great jams. This show, though, doesn't look as jammy as some of the others. Still waiting for 8/2/76.
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Does it need to be said every single time? Yeah I guess so. Anyone disappointed is disappointed at themselves. Stop your whining. The subscription has never sold out thus no one has gotten locked out. It's their business and their business plan. If you can do better make them an offer. The only caveat I would add is if the sub ever does sell out they keep it open until their planned closing date
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Is there another artist who might be able to think/feel/sense/imagine past an animated skeleton? Is that the only viable inspiration in this huge GD universe...? These releases deserve high-functioning art minds, this was never a "dumb" band. Quite the opposite. Thank you!
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9 years 5 months
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did you see that note at the bottom of the email about Dead.net being offline next week starting on the 16th? like they are having a big party for Bob and none of us were invited.
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17 years 5 months
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Not surprised by this choice. My guesses would have been either '70, '72 or '76. Would have loved to see something from '67-'69, another '80's release (which I knew wasn't going to happen) or a step into the Vince/Bruce era. This one looks good and I recall having heard some of it at some time. I'll always welcome a Help>Slip>Franklin's show anytime. Still making my way through the '73-'74 PSW box and had to give 10/12/84 it's obligatory spin. My wishes for 2019.....more variety in the Dave's Picks series.....more two-three show boxes.....bring back View From The Vault releases to coincide with the Meet-Up at the Movies....oh, and an Alpine '89 DVD/CD complete box.....and more '80's.
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To the fine gentleman who sold my girlfriend and I some excellent blotter, while we were waiting on line that night- you made a great night, even better. Sitting second row certainly didn’t hurt either! Can’t wait to hear this show. An excellent choice for DP #28. Thank you Dave!
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15 years
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The slow songs were great this year and the Slipknot jams were some of the best. When will the 2019 subscription be available? Thought it would be announced today, along with the finial pick of the year.
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Love 1976. It is the single most unique year in the band's history. With that being said, this year's Dave's picks releases have been fairly tame by recent standards. Last year's releases might have been the best of the series with the Eugene '78 show and Boston show from '73, as well as the unreleased Felt Forum show. This year's releases seem somewhat uninspired. There was no "WOW" factor, and all shows have been widely available for years in trading circles, with the exception of ABQ (but I'm not a Fall 1971 guy). Really wish we could hear something from 1987 (Roanoke?), 1991 (Sandstone or final night of Boston Garden), or some acoustic Dead from 1970. Hell, even a Spring show from 1971 would be awesome. Maybe some more magic from 1979-1981 as that was some of the best playing of Jerry's career IMO? Hoping for a little magic in the 2019 series. 2018 was the first year I didn't subscribe. The biggest crime committed by Dead.net at this point is breaking up those From Egypt with Love shows from October 1978, and putting them into a Road Trips. I have been revisiting all of those shows over the past week and they are so good. Note 10/20/78 wasn't included, so that might be a release some day--hope so, since that 1/2 Step>Frankin's is an all timer. Not a complaint, just an observation. Hoping to get a discussion going.
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I agree. Same old red, orange, busy skeleton patterns. Looks kind of cartoon childish already. I guess I’m okay with skeleton motif but it could be simplified like in the DaP 18. Kind of silly “Art” here to represent such great historical recordings
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10 years 11 months
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I couldn't agree more. The skeletons and silly dancing bears court derision from those who don't know the music, and deservedly so. The Dick's Picks series was nice in that the artwork changed with every sixth release. In particular, I liked 13 - 18 and 31 - 36.
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8 years
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My sentiments exactly, such an average year...save for Day on the Green...praying for a 68-69 release next year...and for those of you who enjoy 76...enjoy
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13 years 2 months
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Wow. That was quick.
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I agree they are getting old. Speaking of others perspectives it brings to mind a story of years ago. Back in 85 I brought my 12 year old Godson to a couple of Worcester shows. He loved them got to see Bill Walton backstage. I bought him a t shirt with skull and roses. I found out from him later his mother obviously a close friend wouldn't let him wear it due to the skeleton. Oh yeah 68/69 and the 80's would be nice
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11 years 4 months
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You had me at Help Slip Franklin's (and it's a Betty!) I'm excited about this one but apparently not as much as "Cousins of the ..." I love this year, I love this month, I love this show. Skeletons are overdone. Morbid, redundant, unimaginative. VERY interesting that they are including filler songs - possibly the first time in the DaP series? I wonder why they start this now? I certainly take this to mean there is no intention to release these shows.... I predict we'll see additional tracks from these 2 shows in the November Download series. Space - Agreed the '89 Alpine run needs to get out someday. The was a high point. I was there and yes the moon was sitting above the stage for Standing on the Moon. (Duuuuude)
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'Cause the 70's were the best that is why. In the 90's Jerry's voice was trashed. So for those asking, why the 70's, this is why.
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Already have decent soundboard copy of this show free from the internet. Good show but never stood out to me to be a Dave's Picks. Hope we get some Primal Dead in 2019.
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Already have decent soundboard copy of this show free from the internet. Good show but never stood out to me to be a Dave's Picks. Hope we get some Primal Dead in 2019.
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