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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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  • mcgrupp216
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    DP 29
    Dave said 29 [sic!] is a “bonafide classic...really something special.” Also, “a true classic...special, special release.” Too early for speculation? Ha!
  • Dark-Star
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    daverock / Nasty Surprises
    When you say "there are no nasty surprises from Donna", you mean like she didn't always flush the John or something? Well then. 1976 was a good year.
  • mcgrupp216
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    RE: subscriptions and 76
    Excited about this release. 69 is of course coming - honestly I can wait longer than most on that one - there’s plenty of it in the meantime and not nearly enough official 76. As for Dave’s, this is a subscription series. A la carte, as stoltzfus put it, is dead. It’s like the leftover crumbs- you can all fight for it. Only way I see an increase in production coming is if subscriptions start selling out- or really approaching it. Really not there yet. PS: replay right now on Sirius, DP 28 preview!
  • daverock
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    1976
    I tend to be drawn less to 1976 shows than any other year featuring Keith and Donna. But when I DO play one, I usually enjoy it. The music does seem genuinely exploratory to me, as though they are feeling their way without too much premeditation. Very different from 1977 shows, where they sound very sure of their footing-shows that fly like an arrow from a bow and hit bullseye with amazing consistency. 1976 shows seem to wander about a bit, as the band look for direction. But 1976 does have links with the jazzier feel of 1974. The singing is good in 1976, too-Jerry's vocals-Stella Blue comes to mind from this year - sound as good as they ever got. And there are no nasty surprises from Donna, either. I am not familiar with this show-but I'm pleased to see that they have chosen one with Help-Slipknot-Franklins in-a signature suite for the year.
  • Gratefulhan
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    So DaP 28 is looking really
    So DaP 28 is looking really good to me. As many have commented, 1976 is different year on the whole for the band, but I like it. I used to view it as a “soundcheck” for 1977, but that was completely wrong. There are some great shows in 1976. One that I have been listening to a lot recently is the Cobo Arena show from 30 trips. Now this particular run of shows from that Capitol have been on my radar- I have watched 6/19 extensively on YouTube. 6/18 is there as well, but only the second set. I haven't listened to this show so this is a real treat. I am continually surprised at the ramblings about the limited release and sell outs because this series has existed since 2012. So if people are not subscribing by now then there is not much to say. These sell out fast, even #27 which was debated in terms of music quality, sold out. We are 6 years into this series, and quick sell outs have become the trend. I will subscribe to the Dave's Picks series for as long as it is being produced as I think it is one of the best things any band has done for their fans. Seriously how could you go wrong, I mean getting 4 (actually 5 at this point with the bonus discs) shows per year delivered right to your door? It is a dream come true, at least for me. Speaking of DaP 27 and now 28, I do find the discussions of the specific release in terms of music quality and year/era interesting. I have already commented on my feelings towards 1976. Yet I do feel that we are going to continue to get more shows from the 70s, and the 60s to a lesser extent. I don’t think the 80s (or 90s) will get the same volume, which I think the recording quality that has been cited for 80s shows being the main deterrent for that decade. Plus I think this is a reality, but the bulk of shows with both good sound quality and good playing will land us in 70s more often than not. Please understand, I am not against other decades, I am just looking at what has occurred thus far. I hope they mine the vault for the best shows possible. There will certainly be a show or two released from any decade/year/era that will be a little underwhelming but that's OK. I am going to listen to whatever is released because I trust Dave L. and his crew. In the end I love it all and I really look forward to the these Dave's Picks coming every 3 months.
  • jaydoublu
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    Dave's releases...
    Glad to see the releases continue to not have the same band incarnations, back to back.
  • carlo13
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    Already?
    This pick came upon me quick. I'm ready for the early bird. Strap a rocket on your back and fly, fly from the dream squashers.
  • Jack Baller
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    I see you got your list out
    @ Craigeyler, here's what I got for starters: 4.21-23.1969 Boston (Ark Box!) 12.28.1969 Hollywood Pop Festival (best Mason’s Children ever) 12.29-69.1969 Boston (Tea Party Box!) 5.14.1970 Meramec CC 9.19.1970 (epic Dark Star) 9.20.1970 (period) 2.1971 All Port Chester shows 8.24.1972 Berkeley 2.9.1973 Stanford 2.15.1973 Dane County 2.24.1973 U of Iowa Fieldhouse (you turned me on to this amazing jam!) 5.26.1973 Kezar Stadium 6.9-10.1973 (RFK Box- hello?) 7.27-28.1973 Watkins Glen 12.18.1973 Tampa 6.23.1974 Jai Alai Fronton 2.26.1977 Swing Aud 6.30.1988 (Green Onions, baby) I would agree with you on 2.23.1974, but that’s my ex-wife’s birthday, so…
  • kevjones
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    Spirit of '76 Redux
    As mentioned in my earlier comment, 1976 is the the most unique year in the bands history. There was a radical departure from the 72-74 sound,yet you can still find some of that Good Old Grateful Dead from the pre-hiatus days lurking around. Stand alone 1st set Playin' jams are available and many of the songs like Big River, Promised Land, Sugaree, US Blues and Row Jimmy still have that pre-hiatus feel. More importantly, the wealth of new material that was radically different from what the band had composed before was prevalent. This was probably that last "best batch" of songs the band ever unleashed on its audience. Lazy Lightning/Supplication, Help>Slip>Frank, Crazy Fingers, Music Never Stopped, Mission In The Rain, Samson, Might As Well, The Wheel, and Cassidy are just a few that come off the top of my head; many of these songs became show stoppers. One could consider the wealth of new material that debuted in early 1977 to be an extension of this highly fruitful period--Terrapin, Estimated Prophet, Fire On The Mountain and Passenger as the jet wash of 1976. Note, with the exception of Lazy Lighting, the majority of these songs remained in the bands repertoire for the duration of their career. (Mission in the Rain for JGB). Finally, what is the most unique cherry on top for 1976 is the reimagining and rebirth of so many songs from the pre-retirement days. St. Stephen, High Time, Cosmic Charlie, and Dancin' were all completely re-imagined. Not to mention new arrangments for Let It Grow, FOTD, NFA and Eyes of the World. All in all a crazy year, and don't even get me started on those imaginative setlists. Probably the most diverse song pairings in the band's history. Where else are you gonna find a Dancin>Cosmic Charlie?
  • cheyler196
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    1976
    '76 I can definitely do without but I'll be financing part of next year's subscription with the proceeds from its sale on ebay. A few shows I'd like to see released: 04-08-78 Jacksonville, 10-02-77 Portland, 07-26-72 Portland, 02-23-71 Port Chester, 05-13-73 Des Moines, 05-26-73 Kezar Stadium, 05-20-73 Goleta (a May 1973 box would be nice, but I suspect there would be too much overlap), 08-21-68 Fillmore West, 09-20-74 Paris, 06-23-90 Eugene, 06-24-90 Eugene, 06-17-91 Giants Stadium, 06-??-91 Denver, 05-25-95 Seattle, 06-21-80 Anchorage, 05-12-80 Boston, 05-10-80 Hartford, 06-14-80 Spokane, 02-23-74 Winterland, 08-13-87 Red Rocks, 06-15-85 Greek, 08-01-82 OKC, 08-03-82 Kansas City, 08-06-82 St. Paul, 08-10-82 (I forget where), 07-22-84 Ventura, 05-07-84 Eugene, that's enough, there's always more...
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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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In reply to by Sixtus_

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First double post in a while.. '77 Swing, FE 1/2/1970. Wowwy.

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In reply to by MDJim

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Pass the whiskey round

10.27.79

Dancin'

Dancin'

In the streets ~

Roll Away

The Dew ~

Won't you tell everybody you meet

The Candymans in town ~

You Better

Roll Away

The Dew

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Hi all! Just seeing that there is talk of 1/2/70 being Dave's 30. Did I miss the announcement somehow? Will it be both shows? Guess I'll poke around the site a bit.

If that's true, I'm a happy guy... good to have another Dark Star in the collection. Still waiting on that Shakedown tho...

Changed my avatar for the new site, though I do miss the rainbow boot. Perhaps I'll switch back someday.

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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6/30/85 Merriweather Post would be a nice one... Great Shakedown, fun show, 3rd of 5 late era Crypticals. The recording is pretty good by 85 standards. Vocals are a little rough in spots, but.. one of the better shakedowns.

Cycled through a two shows today with Comes a Time today (Riverbend 85 and Cal Expo 86, both from 30 trips). Love Comes a Time and She Belongs to Me. Two songs with a lot of heart.

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Yes indeed....1/2/70 and 1/3/70 coming at us in May 2019....finally I can exhale

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Yep just testing

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I'd like to wish all of my fellow Deadheads a very Merry Chriskwanakkah and Happy Holidays - May your New Year be filled with wonder!

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This year's Christmas chart-topping single in the UK is "We built this city on sausage rolls", a remake of the ghastly Starship song. You couldn't make it up! Hahaha.

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"We Built This Shitty" has to be one of the cheesiest pieces of schlock the 80's gave us. Still, I suppose it was catchy in a dumb-ass Cyndi Lauper kind of way, and God knows it paid for plenty of divorces and vices given that bunch (Kantner, Slick, etc).

Every time I hear it I want to take steel wool to my brain and scrape off just enough cells to erase the memory.

Still, Jefferson Starplane did give us a few classics, from White Rabbit to Miracles, Find Your Way Back, Count On Me, and of course, the immortal Jane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmrMMYpQL4

\m/

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In reply to by LedDed

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Some people in England based their opinion of Jefferson Starship on singles like that. I can remember one bloke saying that I was the only person he knew who was brave enough to admit to liking Jefferson Starship. So not only did they damage their reputation, they damaged mine too. Such as it was.

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In reply to by daverock

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A lot of it came from England.

But yeah, We Built This City is really bad. And Bob’s video? The only explanation can be that all the drugs fried his brain.

Happy Festivus!!!!!

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Good music was hard to find anywhere in the 80's.

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In reply to by simonrob

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So in the decade where cocaine was (arguably) the cheapest, most plentiful and purest good music was hard to come by..

I wonder if there is a correlation? :D

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It was also the decade when greed became acceptable, was even celebrated. Music became commercial, a commodity. Even album cover art was generally bland. I'm sure the availability of Columbian marching powder only exacerbated the situation. A decade better forgotten, I reckon.

Wishing everyone a very happy festive season and hoping 2019 is good to all.

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Good point. The Greed thing doesn't seem to be working out too well either. Imagine that.

Yes.. happy holidays folks. Many hopefully have a few days away from work, many spending some extra time with family and friends. A good time to listen, reflect, plan and care. Oh yes, and celebrate.

Hopefully some of us are heading to Kauai on New Years for a little fun, warmth and GD.

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...and peace for all. It's going to be an amazing 2019!

Love

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Keithfan, there's a Family Guy that talks about how awful that video is, and they play the entire video. And afterward Peter says, yes people, we let that happen. Good laugh.

I'm listening to 30 Trips 1967 from the Shrine, and I just have to say that Pigpen's Hammond ability should never be questioned. You cant play that instrument any better. And he does solo quite a bit on some tunes (Viola Blues for example).

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In reply to by Butch

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And now that we know Dave's 29 and 30, I guess we need to start thinking about the box set possibilities for 2019. I know the 2018 73-74 Pacific Northwest box set was a big surprise, although I believe LoveMyGirl may have called it.
I sure hope we don't have to wait until June for next year's announcement. I would love a May release like we had in 2016 and 2017.

I think 73-74, 77, 78 and 1990 are out. Would love to see the fall 80 run released, but of course the long held belief is those tapes were recorded over. Will Dave ever confirm that one for us? Who knows.

Maybe LoveMyGirl will give us some hints again?

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Just catching up to the party here . . .
I see I'm not the only one who's really geeked for 30.
I love the recent trend of the Bonus Disc Pick giving us nearly two full shows in one release.
Got Dave's 26 queued up in the ole MP3 player for work today. (Lossless of course).

Peace

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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I think we can expect the source tapes from this years box sets are either multi-track or well recorded (Betty-like) masters. That seems to have been the precedent. Or something older that is recorded very well (like the Ark?).

Since we got a 73/74.. and there is likely to still be a few copies out there by the time they announce the next box, I would be surprised if they pulled it from this period. There are still a few copies left of the July 78 Box and there are still quite a few 77 GSTL Music Only Editions available, so 77 and 78 are unlikely. Oh, and there seems to be plenty RFK 89's left as well.

I don't know what we will get. There are still 5 unreleased shows from the Capitol Theatre 71 run, there might be a couple from 1980, but I am doubtful on this one.. we could get the Ark, 12/5/71 is multi-track I believe. Also, isn't 11/11/67 still available and recorded on 8 Track, plus potentially several from the PNW 68 tour? I am not sure Anchorage will be released as a box set, but people are always calling for this one. ..Not sure what else exists from multi-track that has not been released yet, but I asked Lemieux about this a few years back and he indicated there were 'many..' left to pull from.

So the drum roll begins. I am sure I left out a lot of potential picks..

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Yeah, you said, maybe LoveMyGirl will give us some hints again? Has he ever given us something that wasn't a write-up from another website? Seems like he hears about the vinyl release on the RSD site, copies the article and posts it here. There was another box that that was supposed to come out over a year ago that we haven't seen yet.

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Hey DeadTony, I was wondering the same thing as I am still waiting for my replacement discs to arrive as well. It would be nice if the quality control level was a bit higher for the 2019 releases, seems like there were quite a few defective discs in both the PNW box and DaP28. They did replace my defective disc from the PNW box, so I am still expecting things to work out with the DaP28 replacements, but it would have been nice if it was right the first time.

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Funny to see the comments about the 2019 Box set, I was just starting to wonder about that myself.

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In reply to by Charlie3

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Here’s what’s still available.
https://store.dead.net/music/boxed-sets.html

RFK is not shown.
RFK, July 78, and May 77 AME were recently on sale for pretty good prices.
Wonder if RFK sold out.

2019????
Probably something from 68-69.
We’re due.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Interesting.. the RFK link is gone from here, but it is still for sale basically at list price on Amazon from Warner Music. Makes me think they still have inventory but it somehow didn't make it to the newest version of this website or something. Looks to be a snafu or an oversight.

I agree with the 69ish focus, we are due. Wasn't there mention of a returned Mountain Girl box five or six years ago.. material above and beyond the stand alone Family Dog 69?

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In reply to by MDJim

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Jim it was one of the items that popped up on the December promotion!! As far as a prediction for 2019 box, i think they need something big.... Maybe the 6/9 6/10/73 shows will finally clear legal hurdles.... Happy New Year all... bob t

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In reply to by bob t

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That's right.. I do remember seeing that now. At a pretty good discount too.

I must be getting old, when the memory slips and holiday dinners revolve around pervasive talks of Power of Attorneys and questions like, "do you still use this.., can I have it?.." you know the end is near and the nursing home close. I wonder if all my boxes will fit in the nursing home cubicle? Will anyone steal them when I nod out? Do they make edibles you an get to with a bendy straw? Nurse Ratched!! My Meds Please!

I'd really be stoked for either
- Ark 69
- Fox Theatre 72
- BCT 72
- Something old, preferably not well known.

I'm not sure what makes me say this, but I don't think all the Berkeley 72 shows are in the vault even though we know good masters exist. I forget what makes me think this...

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Does anyone know how to go about getting a replacement disk for dap 28 disk one? Thanks

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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... just saying what we're all aware of... 76 was the best year for ol' Charlie...

Any 69ers out there care to weigh in?

Donna sounds so sweet on them, perfect refig of that tune.

Peace

EDIT: Box Set - MSG 79, Hogs' n' All

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In reply to by bob t

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I lack the dedication to focus my listening on anniversary shows-though it seems like a good idea. But I do tend to look back at past shows from the month-well, season-that we are currently in, and give those a listen. And this has led me to Dicks Pick 14. No less than two complete shows from Boston-11/30 and 2/12 1973. Both shows are quite slow paced-the second set of 2/12 STARTS with Wharf Rat- but the playing has a wonderful relaxed flow to it. The highlight for me is when the jam starts on Playing in The Band on 2/12-there is a complete and sudden drop into space almost as soon as the song part has ended-no gradual build up, it feels like they just drop off the edge straight away. A very spacy peaceful jam follows-nothing like the internal combustion of the 1972 Playing jams. The shows are also pleasingly palindromic, too, if there is such a word, starting and ending with Morning Dew. All this makes me think that, as far as 1973 is concerned, maybe less is sometimes more. These are short shows, by the standards of the day, but everything feels beautifully put together and aesthetically "right".

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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Yes, I agree, Dick's 20 is a gem, fantastic two shows, great mix. I would also add Dick's 33 to the list, another two great shows that sound unbelievably good. And one of my all time favorites is Live at The Cow Palace to close out 76, multi track recorded by Betty! One of the best Around and Around.

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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....my wife's favorite Dead year. After twenty-three years with me, she knows when a '76 show is spinning. Bless her heart. Peak Donna. Peak Cosmic Charlie. Peak Let It Grows. My phone's battery power is at 76% as I typed this. I don't believe in coincidences....

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I love the High Time's from this year!! Also Looks Like Rain,(and Mission in the Rain, but that's cheating)!!!

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In reply to by bob t

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....walking along in the mission in the rain, come again. It's only cheating if you're caught.

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I also hear if you're not cheating you're not trying!! I know Jerry kept playing Mission in the Rain, but I wish 6/29/76 wasn't the Dead's last version!! Also my favorite version.......

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In reply to by bob t

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Powerful and emotive. One of my favorites and yes.. 6/29 is gravy.

I saw an interview once where Garcia was asked why the Dead quit playing it after just a few times. He said something to the effect that Reflections was recorded in parts, some with the Garcia Band and some with the Dead and it just seemed they were better performed that way too. This doesn't explain They Love Each Other and the few Missions that did slip out though.

Anyway.. what a great song.

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Daverock, I got a kick out of your phrase "pleasingly pallindromic". That was alluringly alliterative.

Ark, Ark, Ark, as Robin Williams used to chuckle in his role as Mork.

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In reply to by frosted

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Shakedown Street

Spinning the last few days

Dave's Picks 6 * Fillmore Auditorium
10.27.79
11.30.80
1.22.78
12.26.79
12.28.79
12.29.77

I suspect that you will receive a complete DaP28 around the same time that the replacement CDs are sent out.

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