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    clayv
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    An institution in American rock music, the Grateful Dead continue to surprise the ears with new arrangements and altered styles. If their playing continues with the force that was heard in San Bernardino, the spirit of the Dead will live on. - Sun Telegram

    We are more than pleased to kick off this year's Dave's Picks series with the much requested and quite spirited complete performance from Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77. The Swing ’77 show was a unique beast, unlike any others from this era: as the band’s first concert of the year, it bridged the gap between the new and re-emerging sound of the returning 1976 Grateful Dead and the precision excellence of the spring ’77 Dead. Debuting two of their most intricately crafted songs of the 1970s, “Terrapin Station” (to open, no less!) and “Estimated Prophet,” the Dead demonstrated right from the start of this new touring year that they were not going to be a nostalgia act; they were going to be as adventurous and ambitious as they were at any time in their career.

    Join the adventure as they soar through tried and true ("Playing In The Band," "Tennessee Jed"), well-loved covers ("Mama Tried," "Samson and Delilah," "Dancing In the Street"), and epic new jams.

    Rounded out with three songs from Santa Barbara, CA 2/27/77, this one was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

    Dave's Picks Volume 29 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

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  • #51
    Lovemygirl
    Joined:
    *Re/ Keithfan

    ...Road Trips ‘The Wall Of Sound’ minus the Bonus Disc...I play it quit often! Thank you again my friend, I hope your still enjoying those major Europe 72’ shows...love it!
    🙏❤️😎

  • #52
    MDJim
    Joined:
    6/20/83 -The First and Most Memorable Merriweather Show

    I apologize for the length of this post.. but man.. that storm.

    I grew up perhaps an hour hike from Merriweather Post Pavilion.. and after getting harassed by Howard County's finest for hiding beer under my car instead of pouring it out on the curb as instructed at a Jethro Tull show a few months earlier culminating in a thorough and regretful search of my parents car and a loss of a nice pipe and some hash.. I just started walking to shows from that point forward (at least until I moved out of my parents house). I probably saw between a hundred and a hundred fifty shows there over the years.. probably about the same number of times I saw the Grateful Dead. I'm ashamed to admit now.. but I knew how to get in that place for free plus the ticket collectors were mostly people I went to high school with, so taping two stubs together and presenting an amicable grin was usually enough to gain entrance. I did buy tickets for many/most shows, certainly for all the Dead shows.. - never take unnecessary risks.

    Some background.. I wouldn't compare this to one of the greatest or best shows, but it was memorable for lots of reasons. My first show was 4/19/82 at the Baltimore Civic Center (perhaps my biggest lysergic GD moment, save that for another day).. I believe I made the Capital Centre shows in the fall that same year but they weren't playing super close in the Spring so we headed South to Hampton and my first GD road trip in April for my one and only birthday show. I think I drove and I am confident we did not tell my folks we were taking the family car to partake in all kinds of shenanigans and see the Dead.. in hindsight, so dishonest. Then it was announced that they would be playing two nights in the summer for the first time at Merriweather Post, my local venue. I couldn't believe it.. That would make this run my fourth and fifth shows.. I was still quite green behind the ears.

    I had friends that worked as busboys and room service at the Columbia Inn, where all the bands stayed back then that performed at Merriweather, they told stories of bands partying in the bar, tips they got (or not) and what floors they would put them in, etc.. so the night before, on whim.. we showed up and went to the bar. I could barely drive but with an older brother that looked similar, and the drinking age being 18 at the time, I had an ID and we headed past the lobby to find Phil sitting at a table by himself.. we closed the bar that night and had some passes for the next day... I have to say, he was super nice and not at all an icon or unapproachable. I do recall a few of the stories told, but the memory I left with was that I could not muster up the courage to offer anything intelligent to say and couldn't think of a decent question to ask until I was walking through the parking lot to the car at the end of the night. After a few beers, humor was flying and things seemed fine. Phil seemed happy to have a group to party with. I was so young I couldn't even order a beer correctly.. I asked for a tap beer and she brought me a tab (soda).. so she returned it and brought me a draft Budweiser.

    So the next day.. a few of us walked from the neighborhood where we all lived to the show, a bit early.. I had my pass and went backstage and it was so weird.. plus early. I just couldn't handle it. I didn't know anyone except my buddy.. and it was like being in a foreign country. Nobody seemed to want anything to do with us and the band wasn't there yet.. So we decided to split before the show started, inhale a bit in safety and get to our seats, which were pretty close.. I am fairly sure we took some mushrooms too which only made it all the more weird. So the only time I ever had backstage passes, I totally wasted them. ..Perhaps for the best.

    I don't think you can talk about the show without talking about the storm. Growing up there.. the only time I recall it raining harder was during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. This is the only time I recall the highway on the way in (Route 29) flooding and being shut down like it did that night. The storm was biblical and it wasn't just rain. It thundered and lightninged for hours that night and I believe lightning hit the lightning rod at the venue or perhaps the shed itself at least once (during He's Gone, Truckin' and perhaps one other time), but that's probably impossible to verify. You can hear it on the tapes though including the PA going in and out several times.

    So the performance aside, there was other energy and stimulus going on that night.

    The setlist was fairly standard for the day.. my second Peggy-O, second Truckin', second China>Rider. The first set was pretty standard, but things started to get weird by The Music Never Stopped.. I forget exactly when the started and ended and then started again, but I think t had had rained in the first set and the beginning of TMNS, then the sun came out for a bit during this song, then set break.. then big cumulonimbus clouds, then it started getting spooky dark as the setbreak came to an end. ..and then things really got weird. In hindsight, we should have starting building an ark.

    The second set started with China>Rider>Sampson>He's Gone>Truckin'>Drums. By the transition in China>Rider, everyone was getting soaked and the rain entered the pavilion area as it was raining sideways. I had to pee as Sampson started and by then people were body sliding down the lawn and everyone was so soaked that it just didn't matter anymore. Soaked to the bone, you couldn't get more wet.. When I got back to our seats, the heavens opened up and the lightning started and it went from weird to downright scary. The people working at the venue sought shelter, anarchy ensued and there was a mad rush from the lawn to the pavilion area. Everyone got squashed and became bug eyed.. and safety became a big concern. We got pushed forward and what row you sat in mattered less than the need to create more room inside, under the shelter. By He's Gone, there became a general feeling of insecurity and helplessness, just as I began to peak. Lightning struck the shed and the power went out.. but the weirdest thing of all, the band was just as freaked as we were, but the they kept playing on. I swear Phil and Jerry were playing power chords in sync with the thunder and lightning. By the time Space ended, we got a rare Bob Star (one of three times played).. during Sugar Magnolia I think Bobby got shocked and put down his guitar and took his mike to a strange part of the stage and started wailing into the mike.

    There was no encore and no soundboards exist.

    So what to 20k tripping, soaked, disoriented hippies do when the show ends? The deluge had stopped but it continued to rain. There was a tiny creek between the venue and the parking lot, usually a trickle like you see on a water fountain.. it was flooded way over the banks and to make matters worse had washed away the foot bridges, so you really couldn't safely walk to the parking lot, but people managed.. the lawn was so eroded both from the rain but more from people doing mudslides down it that at dawn, they had to bring in heavy machinery and rebuild the lawn as there was another show that next night. After they Dead left.. they really went to town and had to do a total rebuild of the lawn area, changing the contour forever.. lots of heavy machinery. They spent the day off to rebuild it with different contours to the format we have to this day.

    When we walked home, still tripping.. we could not go the way we came, it was not passable. So we went an alternate route. Getting over the highway, which was still flooded.. we held hands as the current was strong and waded in waste deep water eventually getting to other side and about an hour later to mom and dads house. Some quick showers, then post show activities until the sun came up then sleep.. only to do it again the next day on a reformatted lawn with straw and new sod. They played Looks Like Rain that next day and you can imagine the crowd reaction.

    So back to the show.. Yea.. I sort of remember 6/20/83. It was the weirdest, highest energy GD show I ever saw. Not the best, but certainly one of the most memorable. I saw every GD/JGB show played there but this was perhaps the most fun. Thanks for jarring my memory.

  • #53
    KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    Unbelievable

    They say the oakwood interior of the cathedral was built in the year 1200, requiring trees that would have been 400 years old, thus sprouting out of the ground in the 8 or 9th centuries. Hard to believe.

    Bob t - thanks for the heads up on One From The Vault release date. I could use a change from the E72 binge. I did manage to get in 6/14/76 and 12/26/69 today, both on the Rolling Stone top 20.

    Lovemygirl - I don't recall which ones you sold me, I'm thinking Tivoli II, Lille France, and maybe one of the Lyceum shows? Lotta weed in between ;-) I don't remember what I sent you, refresh my memory. My memory is outstanding on everything until I was 25, and then past 3 weeks. But everything in between is shit.

  • #54
    MDJim
    Joined:
    6/20/83

    Holy Smokes.. yes, I was there. It was biblical, as much or more from the storm then from the music.. but it all combined for a complete sensory overload.

    I wrote something on this a couple times over the years.. but I think I was too shy to share details, or perhaps too lazy to try and remember it all and it put to paper.

    Just getting home, if I have some time once I get settled I will try and put my arms around it..

  • #55
    Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Our Lady

    Such sad news.

    Not just an architectural marvel, but one of the most important structures in the history of mankind.

    My deepest sympathies to the people of France.

  • #56
    nappyrags
    Joined:
    Hey Stone Jack Baller...

    I too just got my notice that the CD issue of the Warfield performances will be in my grubby paws in a few weeks...I tried at first on a couple of record shop websites that do online ordering of what is left of the merchandise on Sunday but no luck...I went to Amazon and Bingo! i feel like I won the jackpot considering how many copies are on Ebay for over a $100 a pop...can't wait...meant to say that the nearest record shop to me is over three hours away...at least it's all downhill but still...

  • #57
    bob t
    Joined:
    One from the Vault Anniversary 8/13/75, released 28 years ago

    Did anyone just see the post on facebook from the Dead about this. Released 4/15/91, 28 years ago..... This changed everything if you were trading tapes back then!!! Everyone had this show, either FM, or the bootleg called Make Believe BallRoom.. But now we had a legit release!! It really did change everything... It took away i have 1000 hours of tapes and only want to deal with someone who had the same amount and started to level the field..... Sorry to rant but I was in that era... bob t

    Edit my first copy of this were two cassettes!!! Didn't get the CD's because wasn't a fan yet!!!

  • #58
    daverock
    Joined:
    Fire

    Hopefully no lives were lost or people injured-doesn't seem to be much in the news about that. The only thing I could find was that one firefighter had been burned. Pretty remarkable.

  • #59
    Exile On Main St.
    Joined:
    Sounds to me

    like we have a false prophet among us.

  • #60
    Lovemygirl
    Joined:
    *RE/ Trainwreck, Keithfan & Paris

    ...first I’d like to make a statement about the horror in Paris today, a sad day in my soul, so much lost turning to dust & rubble, my prayers are with Paris’, May the songs of old play on in heart & soul. 🙏❤️😢
    ...Trainwreck, you asked me about my last post and by what I mean by “treasure trove” is a new batch of tapes have been recently found. 😉 I’ll share more info when I can. ‘Exciting News For Me’, I love new and unheard recordings of all bands, the Grateful Dead more so now in my life than my past with the likes of ‘Elvis’ & ‘Beatles’ Records lol ...Plus Some confirmed dates for new Dead releases/product...😌
    ...Keithfan, hope all is well as always. What three shows did I send you from the ‘Europe 72’ boxset, i can’t remember, but I do remember them being Primo Shows ! 😎 and the Primo Show you sent me, love it! 🙏❤️😎
    Off to dinner, have a grateful evening everyone...

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An institution in American rock music, the Grateful Dead continue to surprise the ears with new arrangements and altered styles. If their playing continues with the force that was heard in San Bernardino, the spirit of the Dead will live on. - Sun Telegram

We are more than pleased to kick off this year's Dave's Picks series with the much requested and quite spirited complete performance from Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77. The Swing ’77 show was a unique beast, unlike any others from this era: as the band’s first concert of the year, it bridged the gap between the new and re-emerging sound of the returning 1976 Grateful Dead and the precision excellence of the spring ’77 Dead. Debuting two of their most intricately crafted songs of the 1970s, “Terrapin Station” (to open, no less!) and “Estimated Prophet,” the Dead demonstrated right from the start of this new touring year that they were not going to be a nostalgia act; they were going to be as adventurous and ambitious as they were at any time in their career.

Join the adventure as they soar through tried and true ("Playing In The Band," "Tennessee Jed"), well-loved covers ("Mama Tried," "Samson and Delilah," "Dancing In the Street"), and epic new jams.

Rounded out with three songs from Santa Barbara, CA 2/27/77, this one was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

Dave's Picks Volume 29 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

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Submitted by daverock on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 05:41

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My favourite era for The Beatles, hands down is also the psychedelic era, which I think of as being from 1965-1967. This would include all the singles in this time span, plus Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sergeant Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour and the new tracks they recorded for Yellow Submarine.

I also like the early singles, which still have an incredible rush to them. But The White Album has always sounded a bit disjointed to me. Definitely some good tracks in there, but a massive come down from the previous three or four albums. Same with Abbey Road and Let it Be. Up to Sergeant Pepper, it seemed-and this is a retrospective judgement-as though they led the world in pop music. But as 1968 dug its heal in, and rock music took over from pop, they became just another band-nothing they recorded from that year on could compare with contemporaneous recordings by The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who...or The Dead, for that matter.

Must be in the air, when downstairs yesterday and Billy Budd was on! Didn't want to be depressed so I didn't watch.

... that video made me smile too!
Smiling is healthy, everyone should smile some more especially when the going gets tough!
#4037 landed this morning as well as a nice gift from a friend I’ve met on this very Grateful Dead board... it’s feels like Christmas all over again, I can’t help myself but I keep on “smile smile smile” -ing!!! Thank you guys.
The audio/mix on Daves Picks #29 is Primo!
Every member shines on this release in my opinion !!! Rock on my brothers & sisters, have a grateful day ! : )

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Submitted by perithecat on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 16:32

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Still waiting for my DaP 29 😾😾😾
I’m sure us UK heads will be smiling soon .
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Dennis 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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Submitted by Garrett H on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 18:05

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I found the Dead after Jerry died and have loved the music ever since. I never traded tapes and bought all of Dick’s picks and most of Dave’s picks. This concert 2/26/77 is just blowing me away ! My God I’m loving the thought I get to hear the original recording and man does it sound good !

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Submitted by CaseyJanes on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 19:01

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No it doesn’t get much better than that, and speaking of Promised Land, I love the tease of St. Stephen coming out of Promised Land and into eyes on this one...too bad they didn’t get the 4th reel from 2/27 which I suspect contained the St. Stephen from that show. Oh well, at least they got the Dew, which I think someone already commented is “mind blowing”!!!

Beatles: never got into them but I expanded my vinyl collection today with Revolver, Sgt. Peppers, and Magic Mystery Tour....don’t think I’ve ever listened to any of them straight through but Dave Rock, KeithFan & MDJimcan’t be wrong so should be good times!

They don’t charge admission here, but it sure is expensive....Hope everyone is enjoying this release, and it sounds like it so far. No disc skipping here.....just music, sweet sweet music.....rock on my Dead friends!

...of Beatles albums you bought Casey. I wouldn't want to be without Rubber Soul, though. Its got two of Lennon's best ever songs on, "In My Life" and "Girl", as well as "Norwegian Wood", "Nowhere Man"-lots of great songs in fact.

Another one I liked by The Beatles was a compilation put together by George Martin that came out about 10 years ago, called "Love". Tracks from all points of their career segue into each other in surprising ways-beautiful opening with "Because" sung unaccompanied. It might not seem like much, in the telling, but it works really well.

No Dave Picks yet here in England-but that's alright. As soon as it looks like it will never arrive...it does.

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Submitted by CaseyJanes on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 06:01

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Shit, I forgot that one...there goes another $20! It’s an obsession, but man is it pleasin!

Also picked up Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. The Stones are another band that I have largely ignored over the years. This is only the 2nd Stones album I’ve ever purchased, and I think the first was a greatest hits compilation. I think the reason for my ignorance towards The Stones and also The Beatles is mostly a generational thing. By the time I was born these bands were already towards the downturn of their commercial popularity, and they seemed very “main stream” to me growing up. Guess I was looking for something more cutting edge....

Got my copy of Dicks 36 from Real Gone (but ordered through eBay seller). I was surprised that it was packaged in plastic jewel case as opposed to the soft cardboard like Dave’s? I thought I had read from someone on here that the Real Gone copies were in the soft packs? Doesn’t really make a difference to me but thought I would mention it.

So now you know my next 5....good timing too. I’ve been hearing rumors of boomers in town........but first another ride on The Swing!

Happy Sunday Funday to you all!!!

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Submitted by Dennis on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 08:18

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Generally I'm the guy who says a release isn't heads and shoulders over what I have, but the 3 bonus tracks are FAR superior to the ones I have. Wish the rest of that show was there.

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Submitted by unkle sam on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 09:42

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She is singing with Jerry again. I remember the time I saw JGB with both her and Jackie in attendance, the show didn't start until after midnight and ended around 3 am, they played Dark Star that night and it was pretty magical. Such a soulful voice.

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Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 09:59

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Fun hearing some people revisit The Beatles.

Picked up their Mono releases several years ago. They're quite stunning. Mastered from the original analogues and on the original pressing equipment. It's like hearing them all again for the first time, and they come to life in monophonic sound. If there are any vinyl collectors out there, I can't recommend these reissues highly enough. If you can find them for retail price, grab them as they are gaining value on the secondary market quickly. Avoid the new stereo reissues as they are digitally sourced.

Listening to For Sale right now. Love this underrated record as it has a very nice country feel to it.

Highly recommend diving into the new White Album set too. The Esher Demos are quite awesome as are the abundance of outtakes. White Album in mono is also a lot fun, and quite different from the versions we all have ingrained in our head.

Most Millennial and iGen kids will never understand The Beatles.

An aside, I've only heard the Terrapin from the new release and it sounds amazing.

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Submitted by unlearnfear+hate on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 10:51

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BEATLES: I cant imagine life without all of the studio releases. I have the monos & stereos on vinyl. Kimda like the Dead in that I can always find albums to match my mood or situation.

SWING: One of the first Betty Boards I obtained in the 80s when the trove hit the trading market. The digitized bersions on the archives was a strong improvememt over my original third gen casette. This Normanized CD is THE BOMB - aside from the “new” somgs debuted to make it an historic show, the band was outstanding in nearly every way. This new mix comfirms my owm subjective opinion that this was one of the better 77 Playins.

Looking forward to #30 already!

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Submitted by Born Cross Eye… on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 11:21

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I used to have the vinyl reissues of the US Capitol Records releases, the ones with purple labels, several had the green labels and 1 or 2 were the original black labels with the "rainbow" ring. The 1968 white album, Abbey Road, & Let It Be were the original Apple/Capitol green apple labels with Let It Be had a red apple label.
I got rid of them not long after the compact discs were released in 1987, they weren't in pristine shape so I didn't get much money in return form Princeton Record Exchange in Princeton N.J. I still have several 45 r.p.m. Apple singles
At the time I thought the compact disc was the greatest thing in the world, but I have found out the CD does have flaws too. I sorta wish I had kept them every now and then.
I recently listened to the 1st issue CDs, and I think they sound great. I wish that Capitol would release the Christmas recording on CD with improved sound and nicer packaging. The bootleg Yellow Dog CD (YD 031) sounds very good for a 1992 bootleg CD.
I think I may have an original Christmas Album (SBC 100), but the label sort of just doesn't look right, it looks like a photograph of the original labels in color. The front of the jacket has photos of The Beatles in boxes with a blue background. I bought it at a record "convention" and sale in Philadelphia PA in later 1981. I remember the event because MTV had just come on the cable television spectrum and they were promoting themselves, where I met VJ Mark Goodman.

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Submitted by bob t on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 13:42

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Got it Friday and I have had the Betty board since 1988... I have listened to this Dave's Picks more than any other since the 72 Wichita show... I love Tennessee Jed through the end of the show especially the Santa Barbara filler that i thought we would never see on a board!! Not saying I don't like Disc 1 with the first Terrapin and Estimated, and killer Playing>wheel>Playing, because i do.. For me it really starts with the Help>Slipknot>Franklin's. This Franklin's reminds me of the 6/9/77 one just not as long and drawn out... Throw in the one from 5/9/77 Buffalo show and what a great bunch of Franklin's Towers.... The Promised Land after is awesome also, doesn't have the typical let's get the spider webs out start of a show Promised Land. The Eyes is awesome, great Phil solo and then the Dancing really starts off the awesome 77 versions that follow, so different then the 76 versions!!! Not gonna spoil the 2/27 filler!! Have a good Sunday bob t

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Submitted by UncleJohn61 on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 14:27

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It's a beautiful day here in SW OH.... sunny, mid 60's.... spent some of the afternoon cleaning out my car and shining up my Road King... having a cold one and enjoying 29..... I really like this release. Was always one of my favorite tapes. Reading the liner notes... never thought I'd see The Dead, Muhammad Ali, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in the same sentence.

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Submitted by msmiranda on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 15:39

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And what a stellar addition to the DaP series it is! I haven't had time for a full listen yet, but Jerry's guitar licks at the end of "They Love Each Other" are breathtaking. I'm now half way through Disc 2 and am blown away.

Tonight I'm catching Phil and the Terrapin Family Band at the Showbox in Seattle. And the release of Jerry's shows at French's Camp on the Eel River has just been announced.

The bus keeps rollin' on!

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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 16:12

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Caseyjanes - you're going to love the Stones trip. Exile is considered by many to be the pinnacle of their late 60s early 70s run of 5 star albums. It took me awhile to catch the vibe on that one, so if you find yourself having trouble, try the one before it, Sticky Fingers. Mick Taylor and Keith Richards were an incredible guitar duo, trading rhythm and lead or playing dual rhythm in different octaves; damn, it's great stuff.

Born x-eyed, I've been to the Princeton Record Exchange. It may even be the place I finally landed a copy of Jon Anderson's Olias of Sunhillow in high school. A buddy and me were huge into Yes in '87, and the album was out of print (and had never been put to CD at that time). We spent a day hunting down the LP, which had legendary staus as the "lost" Yes album. On a day we should have been in school, we grabbed a bunch of phone books and a full tank of gas, and made a day of it. Pretty sure the Princeton Record Exchange was the one that actually had it. Great stuff.

Also loving DaP 29. I'm not the biggest '77 fan, but it's that good. The Slipknot! is a face melter for sure, my favorite on account of Jerry's lead work and guitar tone (and volume). I think he snuck in Wolf on that one :D

Franklin's Tower, as noted by others, is top-shelf. I think it's close to Go To Nassau 1980. All depends on how much rhythm Jerry plays on the main riff. On a lot of occasions he leaves it to Keith and Bobby to carry it after the opening, but he stays on it most of the song here. Rock and Roll.

Phil knocks us out on that Eyes ending, no doubt.

Morning Dew - to quote V-guy - Morning Dew ain't no filler!

A+ Playin'
A+ Recording
A+ Filler
Best Dave's release in three years. Donna sounds unusually good in the mix. And please, please, please, filler on every release. This Dew is an amazing surprise to finish the experience. P.S. No skips

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Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 22:17

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Sand Castles and Marbles followed by the Hollywood Cantata. Good Stuff.

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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 06:46

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The thing I love about this show is that it's a great hybrid of '76 / '77. The Playing in the Band features real piano like '76, and to me, they sound like they still take an explorative approach. The Wheel segue is prime '77 smoothness, which, for that song, benefitted tremendously (was never a fan of the big drum intro of '76). The Wheel in '77 is one of those tunes like Brokedown Palace, where they play it just infrequently enough that it's always a treat. Any Wheel fans out there? If so, check out Dick's Picks 18 - only time they played it that year, and in my opinion, it was the best performance they got with the Godchauxs. The intro with Keith's quiet Wheel chords and Jerry's noodling on the Wolf reminds me of trippy old Peter Green Fleetwood Mac. No other like it.

or, auf Deutsch, "etwas ganz besonderes".

Swans.

Like the GD and FZ, a wide, wide, deep, deep body of work. Not for everybody. Some of it is pretty straight forward, some is extremely unique, some is challenging.

I highly recommend Swans. Start with Soundtracks for the Blind, then White Light from the Mouth of Infinity, then Filth, then Cop, then Feel Good Now, then Public Castration is a Good Idea, then wherever you want to go.

it s.a.f. ain't Ariana Grande.

I got my copy over the weekend. I have only listened to the first few songs but I'm just so damn happy. each and every year Dave and co continually blow my mind. I said this especially after last year's box set, but i truly feel so content - I'm of course not going to stop collecting, but I am also no longer chasing or waiting/hoping for a particular show. I feel set for life and everything else that comes out in the years to follow is all gravy.

hope everyone is well - I've vowed that in 2019 I am going to disconnect a lot more (no social media, less phone time, etc) so may only check in here from time to time, but hope everyone continues to enjoy these releases as much as I have been...

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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 08:29

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Is there a well engineered splice at about 5:50 of Around and Around? I can't totally tell. If so, it's barely noticeable. It just seems the flow of the music shifts a bit oddly there. There sounds like some tape weirdness somewhere during the H>S>F triptych, but overall the sound is really, really good. Ok Dave 10-29 next, then 10-2, then 4-23, then, then, then....

1977 seems almost like an inexhaustible well!

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Submitted by SteveGold425 on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 08:41

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I love any and all of the live Dead releases: Dick's, Dave's, from the Vault, Without a Net, Sunshine Daydream, the PNW set. All just candy for the soul. And also the JGB "Electric on the Eel" box set released recently! Let's not forget that the JGB live releases have been stellar too. Anyway, the few hours I spent yesterday with Dave's #29 was pure bliss. Great sound mix and the show totally sizzles from the get and never lets up. The "Filler"? Also Prime. The Morning Dew from 2/27 is choice. So I just want to stop and embrace the gratitude for this music and the people who help release it. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Submitted by Seth Hollander on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 09:41

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Two for the show and one for the bonus tracks.

Already had a great recording of 2/26/77, but am always happy to get a greater one! Both this and DaP30 are shows I already have with added material I don't. Kinda perfect for me!

Strongly support 3rd disc filler! More please! Not so supportive of filler on 1st or 2nd discs as it disrupts show-flow, but my complaints are easily ignored...

Very happy to have received this at all since I have had both a change-of-address and change-of-credit-card since ordering the sub. Read too many horror stories here about hijinks ensuing from such things...

AND NO SKIPS! Had both the Birdsong skip in the 73/74 3CD release and the Let It Grow skip in DaP28. Nice to not have such issues this time.

How's about fitting a 4(or5)/82 show and a 10/89 show in the DaP series before DaP36, eh?

Ever since the site rebuild, I have not been able to log in without "request(ing) a new password", so I don't log in too often now. I suspect the problem arises from my browser being non-updated for years (due to a tangle of issues I have revolving around needing system compatability with a non-updatable program), but I wonder if some of the posters that are no longer here are gone due to log in issues

Sorry for your loss, Bolo. Living is often a brutal experience and our emotional systems don't seem to have any effective work-arounds to soften the blows. May you and your family have much to hold on to in this season of loss.

Set the tractor for Jan/70, Jim! Let's go!

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Submitted by Sixtus_ on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 10:41

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Love this show inside and out...and of course there are many moments of barn-burning. My personal favorite is the Eyes>Dancin'...and I believe this was in fact the first Dancin' they performed with the wah-wah pedal? Is that right? Also they've dropped the '76-implemented transition toward the end of the Dancin' jam, and it just heads right back to the final verse. Always wondered if this was planned, or they just 'forgot' to play that part, cause I don't recall ever hearing it done that way again up until it was retired some time in '79.

Enjoy this one Folks!
Sixtus

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Submitted by wadeocu on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 10:42

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Like Dave, this recording has a special place for me having been one of my prize acquisitions back in the cassette era. It was one of my best tapes and I listened to it regularly as a young teenager. This fact affects my perception, but my gosh what an exalted perception. This is one of my favorites.

Listening extensively over the weekend caused me to ponder why. One answer that kept coming to mind: KEITH GODCHAUX!! While one could debate whether this is one of the Dead's best ever performances, I think it would be hard to argue against this being one of Keith's top performances. He is so intuitive with his timing and tasteful fills. Those twinkling, rolling fills he does throughout the night are just superb. I cant really think of another show where he does this as often or effectively. Hyperbole aside, I think Keith was having a great night and is a big part of what makes this show so good. He is all over the Morning Dew from the next night as well!

This is an intriguing show because it contains no "jam" segment per se yet it happens to include at least two examples of what I consider some of the best improvisation the band ever performed. The jam in Playin is unique in several ways, but the lead into The Wheel contains superb improvisation especially from Garcia, Weir and Keith that showcases them at their best. Then we have the transition from Eyes into Dancin'. It is a very tasteful piece of music and, once again, I have to give Keith credit for making it so. To my ear he is the one that makes that transition so great with that repetitive lick on the high end of the keyboard that he carries on through the introduction until everyone is charging forward on the new groove. Then there are just really good renditions of some of their best material like Music Never and Help>Slip>Frank.

It is just such a lively show all the way around. Even the well timed finger whistling we get from a particularly tuned in head. That guy hit it at just the right moments: the transition into Dancin, the transition segment at the end of Slipknot, the beginning of Playin' etc. That whistle is an indelible part of this recording and I have a soft spot for it. I wonder if whoever it was listens to this recording and smiles wistfully to themselves about that night.

I know all of this is highly subjective and no doubt affected by my nostalgic familiarity with the recording. None-the-less, there is my take on it. I just love this tape!!

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Submitted by Sixtus_ on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 12:33

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thanks for that tip Wadeocu - and I thought I had a trained ear for these disco Dancin's. Some sleuthing may be in order....

Still, pretty sure it was the first Wah-wah! But I'd love to be shown incorrect....

Sixtus

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Submitted by stoltzfus on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 14:10

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This sounds magnificent.

Kudos to all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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Submitted by Born Cross Eye… on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 14:11

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16988 arrived this morning.
I was at home when the "Letter Carrier" arrived with the snail mail this morning. I live in an area where the mail is delivered door-to-door. I opened the door as the "Letter Carrier" was about the put the mail in the mailbox. I joyfully said, rather loudly,
"ALLL RIIIGHT! Grateful Dead at the Schwiiiiiggg 77 Daves Picks 29!"
I sort of startled the carrier and he smiled and said that he wished he had been there but was serving in the US Army as a 20-year-old Corporal. Turns out that he is a Dead Head also, and born 4 days after me on 10/31 - Halloween.
Before this DaP 29 arrived I was able to find set 1 of this show on cassette in my "archives". It sounded very good for a tape, but not really anything to get excited about anymore. I also found discs 1 & 2 from this 3 CD-R set and they were really good, but in mono and rather compressed to irritate me.
This one of my favorite shows.

Here on the official release, we have the full show in uncompressed Betty-board stereo and it is EXCELLENT!
SONIC NIRVANA!
THANK YOU TO THE POWERS-THAT-BE that got this chestnut released and to all us heads who kept on requesting the release this show.
We also are treated to an audio sample of 2/27/77 Santa Barbara and the "booklet"/folded one-sheet has reviews of the 2/27/77 nugget. Could this be a prelude to a future full-show release in the future?

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Submitted by stoltzfus on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 14:12

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or some kind of parasite.

yo Marye!!! throw him into the pond!!!

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Submitted by Vguy72 on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 14:23

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....I have to drive across the city in about an hour. C'mon mailman!
....edit. Swing is here. #1978/20000. Soooo close 😔. Time to drive 🙄

Lots of Phil.

Also had this on cassette, then CD-R, then CD-R upgrade, now the Full Norman.

Cheers to Betty, Dave, Jeffrey, TPTB, and ABCD Enterprises.
THANKS!!!!!!

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Submitted by icecrmcnkd on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 18:19

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Preamble to the 5-9-77 monster.

For my commute last week and this week I’ve been working my way through the 6-7,8,9-77 Box. Another fine ‘77 offering.

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Submitted by mcgrupp216 on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 18:48

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Amazing. Also, 302 Terrapins, only one time played as show opener. 11 times - that I count - as set two opener: 5/7/77, 11/1/77, 1/18/78, 11/6/79, 3/12/81, 10/8/84, 10/28/84, 3/29/85, 4/3/85, 4/13/85, 8/31/85.

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Submitted by Brian2005l on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 23:15

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Man, I am just blown away. This is an old favorite, but I must have forgotten just how good it is. Just about every song is really special. I almost guarantee that every song in this show is someone's favorite version of the song (I think this is my favorite HSF because of the slipknot). I think this is also one of the best Keith shows out there. On top of that, we get some pretty incredible unreleased (on SBD) material. This is the happiest I've been about a release in some time. It's doing that thing to me where it reminds that I loved x about y show and I should go dig it up again, which will turn into a multiple week rabbit hole. Thanks Dead.net folks!

In the spirit of immediately agitating about the next thing. Does anyone know if the festival express shows are in the vault?

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Submitted by KeithFan2112 on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 06:51

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I'll be sure to check out the 81 wheel version you mentioned oh, thank you. Also wanted to let you know that I was listening to 11 19 1972 last night, end the determination I came to is that it's probably going to be released very soon, possibly the next 1972 show that we get. I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside... a very good buddy of mine pointed me in that direction last night, as it was on taperssection on this site. And as I started to listen to it on taperssection on headphones through my phone browser, I also put it on my music player at the same time so that there was maybe a 2-second delay between the two. I don't know man it sounded pretty wacky and cool to me! I am really impressed with that dark star, and Weir is a big part of it.

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Submitted by kmrbriscoe on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 08:35

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I am sure this has been asked before, but will Dave's Picks ever be available digitally?
thanks, Rob

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Submitted by Dennis on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 11:28

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WOW!!! I thought several things, the recording I have is GREAT. Apparently played the night before and broke out Cumberland after 7 years (what I read on archive). My recording of that is also Damn Good, listening to very nice Bird Song right now. The 2nd night recording maybe a soundboard, the first is a audience, both have amazing sonics and Jerry burned up the end of Wheel, Bob was very well recorded (everyone was). My next thought was this would make a nice box set. Small and affordable by all & a wonderful 81 recording.

...well I'd buy it :-)

Thanks for the heads up on Wheel, Mr. Stoz and K-Man, both shows in phone, I'll play at store tonight.

product sku
081227924317
Product Magento URL
https://store.dead.net/dave-s-picks-vol-29-1.html