Dave's Picks Volume 29: Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77

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January 23, 2019 - 9:54am

1,510 replies

clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018

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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April 12, 2019 - 4:09am

#121

hbob1995

Joined:
June 26, 2007

DaP30

THE worst cover of any of Dave's Picks by a long shot. Very disappointing.

Rock on
April 11, 2019 - 8:51pm

#122

alvarhanso

Joined:
January 16, 2014

1/3 mysteries

Can't wait to find out what parts of these fantastic looking shows we're gonna be devouring! I've been preparing by listening to DaP 6 2/2/70 (the show after the New Orleans bust, and sans TC), and 12/20/69, finished 2/2 on lunch break in the car, hoping Pig didn't go too much on the "reach over my left shoulder" rap as there was a young lady sunning herself whilst I blasted my music with my windows down eating my Zaxby's. But since somebody suggested they go into Not Fade Away for shits and giggles, we were all spared from a salacious Pig rap from 1970, and he only mentioned getting yo hands outta yo pockets once I recall. But the ride home featured the incredibly lovely 20 min Dark Star opener from the second show, 12/20/69 at the Fillmore West (with TC), 9 months previously the site of 4 nights of fire and fury captured for all eternity on 16 track reels (the first ever 16 track live recording) and gifting the universe with Live/Dead, but a lot had happened over the course of 9 months, if the setlist stayed somewhat the same. The band on the second part of DaP 6 goes Dark Star> St Stephen> The Eleven> New Speedway Boogie instead of into the Lovelight they eventually get to, and instead of light, they plunge into the darkness that was Hunter S Thompson's great crashing wave, sweeping the dreams and idealism of the 60s back out to sea. Talk about coming full circle... Which brings me back to DaP 30 and the wonderful mystery meat we get to devour in just over 2 weeks time. From 2 weeks after they played the Fillmore West, they were on the left coast to play Bill's legendary theater, and here's the only thing missing from keithfan's post, the 1/3 setlist:
Ealy show: Morning Dew, Me And My Uncle, Hard To Handle, Cumberland Blues, Cold Rain & Snow, Alligator > Drums > Jam > Bid You Goodnight Jam > Jam > Alligator Jam & Reprise > Caution Jam > Feedback, E: Uncle John's Band;
Entire Late show played was: Casey Jones, Mama Tried, Big Boss Man, China Cat Sunflower-> Jam-> I Know You Rider-> High Time Tease, Mason's Children, Cryptical Envelopment-> Drums-> The Other One-> Cryptical Envelopment-> Cosmic Charlie, Uncle John's Band-> Black Peter, Dire Wolf, Good Lovin', Dancin' In The Streets-> Drums-> Dancin' In The Streets, E: Saint Stephen-> In The Midnight Hour

I am so looking forward to hearing some tasty stuff from that! I'm actually listening to The Other One from it now... But the combinations of these setlists is just mindblowing. We get everything. It's a Thanksgiving feast of epic proportions.

And I wonder if these were part of the Houseboat Tapes, been a while since we got something from that batch. DaP 19 1/23-24/70 I believe was from that, as well as DaP 6 as mentioned above, and DaP 10 Thelma 12/10-11/69.

Also, no 1969 show to come out with Aoxomoxoa?
April 11, 2019 - 7:54pm

#123

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

DaP 30's reflection cover....

....it's fresh on my brain, but I freaking love it!! Looks like my dog's paws! And dogs are always the first to greet you when you get home. If you scroll down a bit, you get a cool rotating AOXOMOXOA thing. Ye haw!!
Newcastle 4.11.72's first set is under the belt. Taking a break. I'm exhausted though, so the second set may be broken up.
April 11, 2019 - 6:23pm

#124

MDJim

Joined:
March 16, 2017

No Email For Me!

Fargin Bastages..

Edit: One of the kind folks here forwarded me the email.. agree, they seem to be wolf paws. I like the cover art if for no other reason there are no cartoonish skeletons and especially no skeletons with full beards.
April 11, 2019 - 4:58pm

#125

Cousins Of The…

Joined:
September 10, 2009

Got the email too

Fantastic cover, no skeletons, no beards; just the Dire Wolf's paws.
April 11, 2019 - 4:45pm

#126

nappyrags

Joined:
January 24, 2013

the email just hit my box…

the email just hit my box that the sale date for DP 30 is next Thursday the 18th...Don't quite understand the cover but that's ok...
April 11, 2019 - 3:50pm

#127

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Yes Sir 80s Fan - 7/7/89 - The Bus Came By and I Got On.....

I'm from the Philly area, so it was big news that the Grateful Dead were taking the stage for the last event that would ever be played at JFK Stadium. It was the summer between my Junior and Senior years of high school. What do I remember? Well, I've told this story before, so if you've heard it, feel free to stop me.....

It was a sweltering hot sunny day, as humid as NJ and Philly ever get. I had no idea I was going to the show until 4pm that day. I was sitting at my kitchen table playing around with my brother's unloaded Glock, shooting imaginary bad guys, just like Martin Riggs had done a few hours earlier at the premier of Lethal Weapon 2. As I goofed around with the 9mm, which, I actually had a legitimate reason for holding nearby (the purpose of which does not come into this story), I made phone calls to WMMR and WYSP, as well as the local record stores, in an effort to figure out the song that was played at the end of the movie, right as it looked like it might be Riggs' last stand; after all, he was lying in a pool of blood with knife and gunshot wounds, and the most somber gospely blues tune I ever heard playing - something about going to Heaven. Well, [SPOILER ALERT] Riggs lived to make two bad sequels to the sequel, and my eyes dried up by the time I left the theater; but I couldn't remember how that damn song went, and nobody I contacted had a clue.

Then into my house walked two complete strangers: one was tall and lean, perhaps a year or two older than me; the other was a little bit shorter, thickly bearded, and smiling. I wasn’t expecting anyone when I heard the front door open, so call it instinct if you will - you know, the kind of instinct that guides us to mindlessly remove bongs and other various sundries from site, when an unannounced visitor enters our domain - only it was the Glock and ammo cartridge that I was reaching for. I might have jammed the clip in at once if the shorter bastard hadn’t been smiling so friendly and looking so damn familiar. He greeted me by name, still smiling, still friendly-like. You would think this might have settled my uneasiness, but among other things, the FBI guys instructed my brother not to acknowledge any strangers who called out his name (apparently this is a technique that some would-be harm-doers use to identify a target they’ve never met in person). A lot of things went through my mind in a flash: I should have loaded the gun instead of hiding it; I should have locked the door after I came back from the matinee; I can’t believe this “very small chance they would bother us” possibility came to pass; but overriding all of that second guessing was a rush of adrenaline that hit me when I realized they never saw the gun. I croaked “hello” or something equivalent, and began to insert the clip, out of site, under the table. I had no reservations about living out a different movie now, the one where our hero famously gets off a round from under the table - kill or be killed - at least until George Lucas got bored and started f***ing around with CGI; except now the bearded hippie SOUNDED familiar too. The whole encounter played out in just a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. The voice belonged to my cousin from Buffalo. We're the same age and grew up spending a couple of weeks a year together; but up until that day, the visits were announced, and he certainly never showed up long haired and bearded (hell, I didn't even know he could grow a damn beard yet - we were only 17). Never met his friend before, so the duo WERE 50% strangers. Suffice it to say they didn't get shot that day, but the story echoed through our lives for many years.

His buddy had come with him from the Truckin' Up To Buffalo show on the 4th of July. They enjoyed it so much they decided to surprise me with a visit and an invitation to go. I was not too familiar with Dead in those days. I knew In The Dark from MTV and MMR, and I may have heard Friend of the Devil once. But I wasn’t about to pass a Dead show by, just because I didn’t know their music. After all, my cousin was my partner in crime: we'd seen KISS in '79, Rush in '86 and '87, Van Halen in '86 on Sammy's first tour, Pink Floyd in '88; and now we had driver's licenses, so it was only getting better. He was supposed to be arriving a couple of days later for The Who Reunion at Vet Stadium, and then we had the Stones Steel Wheels Tour kicking off at the end of August. Good times.

I remember the circus atmosphere of the crowd at JFK. I imagine the tailgating scene in the 70s was a drop in the bucket compared to this. We've all been to the rodeo, so I won't rehash it. But it made me feel liberated, watching all of these liberated people. Liberated from what? I don't know - just free. However free you may feel, I think live music intensifies that feeling, and I don't think any more so than with the Dead. I'd never seen so many people in one place before. When Jerry walked out, I remember my cousin smiling and saying "there he is – Jerry Garcia. He's like a messiah around here." My response was, "well, he has my respect - he's playing Pete's Woodstock guitar". Of course in hindsight, he was not - at least not since 1970. The guitar I mistook for Townshend's "Woodstock guitar" was The Tiger, which has a very similar shape and color. Pete had played the Gibson SG, which Jerry also used on Live Dead and into 1970 (depicted on DaP Vol 6). The crowd erupted when Jerry walked out, like no greeting I'd ever seen for a band, let alone one guy in the band (he came last and was greeted loudest).

Then completely unheralded - no light show or elaborate stage rig, no announcement stating we'd got the best - they just simply started playing Hell In A Bucket. Good by me, I knew that song. But that was like a soundcheck for the crowd. The real DeadHead personalities came out on the next number - Iko Iko. Now that was a unique concert experience. In the course of the next 7 or 8 minutes, I GOT what all of the hoopla was about for this band. If ever a performance captured a band's soul and spirit and allowed it to be imbibed by the audience, it was Iko Iko at JFK, where the kids all danced and shaked their bones. Did I mention all of the beach balls? It was a sea of Tie-Dye and beach balls.

Check out the contrast in crowd movement between Hell In A Bucket, the show opener, and Iko Iko, song #2

Hell In A Bucket:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkAzMiEUUQ8

Iko Iko (crowd shots around 1:47, 2:10, and 3:02):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMpaD-ktv7Q

Highlights at the time include Blow Away, Standing on the Moon, Garcia's soloing during Scarlet Begonias (how did he produce that tone???), the crowd singing Fire On The Mountain, and of course the encore, which, by some strange twist of fate was the very song I was trying to track down from the Lethal Weapon movie. I turned to my cousin and exclaimed "holy shit! THIS is the song I was talking about from the movie!"

"Oh!" he said, "This is an old Bob Dylan song - Knockin' On Heaven's Door."

Amen.
April 11, 2019 - 3:02pm

#128

bob t

Joined:
November 21, 2007

Anniversary shows that I was in attendance 4/11/88 and 4/11/89

Got to say you know how you always secretly hope that the shows you attended will always be released, well I have to say these two I can wait for other shows to be released. I am a pretty positive person and would love to see a show tomorrow with the lineup that played at these shows. Not knocking these years because I saw the 3 Alpine shows from July 89 which were awesome, and the 88 Landover shows with Ripple... 4/11/89 Rosemont Horizon had a great Shakedown to open also. They were just the shows that you went to hoping to get that killer show. The Mecca shows from 4/15 and 4/16/89 were really good!! Maybe I am just trying to say in a round about way that there a lot of good shows that can still be released! Or maybe they used all the magic up on 4/11/72?? bob t
April 11, 2019 - 2:43pm

#129

MDJim

Joined:
March 16, 2017

Awesome

You guys (and hopefully gals) are awesome. Great posts.. great vibes.. plenty of energy and ideas on what to listen to next.

Thank you.
April 11, 2019 - 12:08pm

#130

80sfan

Joined:
April 17, 2015

keithfan

thanks Keithfan - I was actually thinking of you the other day when I was listening to the Crimson White & Indigo release (7/7/89 I believe). You were there right? Must have been an awesome experience!

1989 is full of so many amazing shows up and down the calendar. Wouldn't mind seeing a Dave's Picks from say, 10/19/89 (one of my favorite all time shows)

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

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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.

DAVEROCK and Ascension

You should definitely check out Ascension, but there are 2 versions that were recorded, and Coltrane decided, after the initial pressings, to put the other version out. The only way to know, on vinyl, is on the runout, it is etched "Edition II". So get the cd that has both versions, Edition I and Edition II.

MP51-Ascension

Thanks for your advice regarding Ascension, which I will make note of. Its not always easy to identify the best version of albums-especially when you step outside your comfort zone. I decided to buy "Blue Train" on the spur of the moment-but I have no idea whether the one I got is the one with the best sound. There were two versions on vinyl available-and although I bought the least expensive, it is marked as being 180g, and was released in 2017-so I guessed it would sound alright-and I have to say-to my ears-it does.

Maybe Ascension is best bought on cd rather than vinyl, as this seems to be the only sure way of getting the definitive version. A new world beckons.

Motörhead

Picked up my first Motörhead vinyl, Ace of Spades on Friday afternoon amongst a few others...Appropriate for the weekend as we went to the casino on Saturday and played hold em until 4am...just now recovering and listening to the album now...

This album rocks...think I’ve heard a couple of y’all mentioning Motörhead...then on the first Episode of “Billions” on Showtime, Axe was wearing an Ace of Spades shirt, and they ran the final credits while The aforementioned “Ace of Spades” song was rocking. Too much synchronicity with the board to. It but the album....been banging my head for the last 45 minutes!!!

Daverock...Since this is a London band, I have to ask...CockRock? or did that label fall off by the mid 70s?

And ...What other Motörhead is recommended by the group?

KCJ

Motorhead

I've only got two Motorhead albums, Overkill on cd, which is pretty good, and an amazing looking double album compilation called No Remorse on vinyl. Th sleeve is actually made of black leather and has a silver image of some sort of monster on the front. This is great, if its still available.
The live album No Sleep Till Hammersmith was a good one-though I haven't heard it in decades.

No, Motorhead weren't really considered cock rock in my neck of the woods. Cock rock was normally a bit slower, and typically featured a male long haired singer- a putative sex symbol, if you will- who wore a shirt half way open down his chest and ball breaker trousers. They/he mainly sang about his sexual prowess with women. Led Zeppelin and Free/Bad Company were notable examples. Blues rockers were always at risk of falling into this ditch. Motorhead were much better!

recommended Motorhead

essential, in my book:

Motorhead
Overkill
Bomber
Iron Fist
Orgasmatron
Bastards
Sacrifice
Overnight Sensation
We Are Motorhead
Inferno
Aftershock

and then there are the great ones
and then there are the good ones
and then there are the OK ones

Stoltzie & Simonrob

I got a chuckle out of your work email commentary. Really, what was I thinking, allowing work to encroach on the sacred holy Head commute? It did me listening to that kick ass Miracle. The Closing of Winterland is a show I put on sparingly, because I love it so much. Stagger Lee - has Garcia ever sung it any better? That's a rhetorical question, no he has not :D.

Also just enjoyed U.S Blues from Pacific Northwest (6th Show). I love the heavy piano chords the key to companies Garcia's main hook with. I used to think 76 was where this one was at, but I think Billy and Keith really make it swing in 74. Well time to tune out of here and TuneIn to the drive home. Jimbo, it's not lost on me that I mentioned probably your two least favorite Dead songs, Truly a coincidence.

How????

How is this band so gat dam good!

re: how

Lucky, I guess.

"How is this band so gad damn good!"....

....are you talking GD or Motorhead? Please specify.
....and yes. Jimbo is not a Miracle fan, but Stagger Lee? News to me! (lol. I rhymed that shit).

Re: Miracle

Correct.. not a miracle fan.. I just cant get into the lyrics. ...and the finger people on the way into the show. But that's just me, not meant to distract those that like that tune. If it works, great. I always wanted to like it...

Man.. my taxes this year somehow became brutally difficult. Mine.. will not fit on a 4X5 card. It's been a year of major change. Oh well.. scratch that. Onward.

Listened to half of 7/19/74 this morning, I think because of several call outs from the kind folks here this week and last. It sounded better than I remembered, and it's a nice little show. Funny all the grief this one got because it didn't have a Dark Star or an Other One. To me, it's an 8.5 to 9.0 out of 10, which is really, really good.. Mighty fine.

Having a shitty weekend into the this week.., nothing unusual, just normal life shit. I think I must remedy this immediately and take tomorrow morning off from work and get out. Calling in for a play day and will be sure to avoid the boss. Now what to play, what to do.... time for bed, cannot oversleep, up early. I guess I should finish Selland Arena and take it from there. I might just venture into 2/23/74 Winterland. Man.. they really should have released that three night run as a box set. Obvious choice..

Night all. Be good, be nice, have fun. Do something random and unnecessary tomorrow that makes someone else happy.

*RE: 30TATS

...wishing everyone a grateful day today, remember to smile smile smile!...

...this is making me smile as I type this message, September 24th 1972. Palace Theater, Waterbury CT... :) :) :).....
The magical 72’ era but at a different pace than Europe 72, No PigPen :(...
Still theirs plenty to love about this show!
Just listen to the Dark Star >>China cat>>I know you rider>>sugar magnolia ! Wow , holy Toledo !
Ending the performance with a fine ‘One more Saturday night’... 🤠
Rock on my brothers & sisters!
🙏❤️😎

*RE: Last Five Listen’s...

... last week in between my Grateful Dead listening, I thru these 5 LPs on my turntable, anybody dig these bands?... 🙏❤️😎
#1) ‘Good Rats’ -“ RATCITY in BLUE”...check out the song that’s the title of the album, ‘ratcity in blue”! Killer track/song.
#2) ‘Bowie’- “Diamond Dogs” , some primo tracks on this album including “Rebel Rebel.” 😎
#3) ‘Jefferson Starship’ - “SPITFIRE” ...’Dancing with the Dragon’ 🤯 and “ST. Charles “
#4) ‘Jethro Tull’- “Bursting out” ...a sweet “Flute Solo Improvision/GOD” 😉
#5) ‘Cat Stevens’ - “Buddha & The Chocolate Box!” ...lovely track/recording of “Oh Very Young!” ... a beautiful song, both musically, lyrically and spiritually ! 🙏❤️😎

... now back to to earth , have a grateful day everyone! 🙏❤️🤠

Ace of Spades behind his ear…

Ace of Spades behind his ear...

Anyone care to wager a guess?

What will 'they' release first:

New cover art for Dave's vol 30....or will they unveil the next box set?

BOX SET: 1969....in accordance with AOXOMOXOA 50-year anniversary... 4.21 4.22 4.23 ARK plus something from Fall 1969

the ace of spades, the ace of spades behind his ear

just had to say it

mo' March 81 fluffing...3/5/81 has a sweet To Lay Me Down

and 3/3/81's China > Rider... :)))

stay Grateful, my friends

The Dead

I was referring to the Dead vguy. I had a moment while listening to my newly purchased Dick's Picks 24 during the Morning Dew. The medley it's in was mentioned by someone recently. The PITB part is fierce. Now I want to see how the other 2 times they played this arrangement sounds.

MDJim I just listened to Daves Picks 17. I have been into 1974 lately. I enjoy the jazzy rocky improv. The second set is exceptional and a much cleaner recording than Dick's 24.

Stoltzfus

Yes, Garcia had some insane moments in 1981!!!

last five

Kaptain Kopter and the fabulous twirly birds; Randy California some great guitar work on this one
Alan Parsons project, Tales of mystery and Imagination, Dr Tar and Professor Feather
Grateful Dead 4-1-91, Jerry and Bruce on point
Back Street Crawler, The band played on, Paul Kossoff at his best
Paul and Gracie, Sunfighter Earth Mother your children are here

If the border gets closed, will that mean we won't have to deal with shitty mexican discs anymore? If so, I all for it :)

Stoltzy and I

Are on a 81 kick together! For me it started with a visit to MSG 3/9 and 10 and burned from there.

Also suggested: 3/7 for a 17 minute Bird Song and I am loving the sound of the matrixed Uptown Theater tapes. The second sets for all three nights are well played in my opinion. Check out Jerry's licks at the beginning of GDTRFB on 2/26.

I am now starting the September Greek shows. There are several AUD recordings. Can anyone recommend a favorite recording?

As usual, A day late and a dollar short....

Yesterday (4/1) was the 39th anniversary of my first show, Capital Theater, Passiac, NJ. I knew NOTHING about the Dead, my now wife was the head. So the show was a complete blur to me. I remember when we sent away for tickets the local TV channel show tickets being picked. They had filled a small above ground pool with all the request and they had a babe in a bikini walking in the pool randomly picking names,,, I guess we got luckly!

https://www.jambase.com/article/grateful-dead-pull-off-instrument-switc…

Here's a link to jambase talk of the show. The April Fools day joke went right past me then!

Stoltzy And I

Check out: 10 16 81 Netherlands....acoustic and electric....smoker!!!

There's a GLORIA in there somewhere....they open the electric set with Playin'.... GARCIA STRETCHING OUT HIS LICKS LIKE SILLY PUTTY. SO flippin' funky!!!

I believe the electric set, sans drums/space, is one long stream of tunes.
G
L
O
R
I
A
Ahhhhh

4/1/80 as first show?

the opening must've blown yer funky mind

seeds that were silent all burst into bloom

GD81 was always "yeah, that's nice... I like a few of the shows..."

until I was gifted a bunch.

bloomin', bloomin' like a red rose

It's like being a freshly minted Deadhead all over again.

THANK YOU, CRAIG!!! :)))

Like a Rolling Stone...and the FBI...and the BBC....

Stoltzie I enjoyed the March 3rd 1981 China Rider. I finally started bringing my headphones to work and listening at my desk. I don't know why I didn't start doing this years ago. Not only is it quality listening time, but people approaching my desk know to f*** off now, without me having to figure out a polite way to convey the sentiment. Also partook in Feels Like a Stranger and Bird Song. It sounds like Bobby stopped playing the Bird Song melody alongside Garcia by '81. I miss him, because he always went high when Jerry went low.

Butch, I recognize your user picture - "Sunshine Daydream" poster (not to be confused with the album / movie release). I have it hanging framed over my fireplace.

Jimbo & Butch - count me on board with DaP 17 "Coattail Skeletons" there are some shining moments in set 1. Set 2 is solid - WRS, Jam, Eyes of the World top 5 for me. Even the China Doll keeps my attention. That song usually depresses me, along with Black Peter. I can't imagine they ever played the two back to back. But what I wanted to add about DaP 17 are the great harmony vocals - mixed so well. Dig it.

5

My People Were Fair and had Sky in their Hair, But now they're Content To Wear Stars on Their Brows- Tyrannosaurus Rex
Impressions John Coltrane
Blue Train John Coltrane
Blonde On Blonde Bob Dylan
Nassau Coliseum 3/29/90 GD

Also-re Randy California-listened to Future Games for the first time in years last week-Spirit's best album in my humble opinion.

first show,,, mind blown?

Actually had clue not 1 what was going on. Six to nine months before, couldn't spell Greatful Dead, thought they had to be HEAVY METAL DEVIL MUSIC. Hell I was grazing on Andy Williams, disco and 50's "oldies". It was only maybe a month before I had tripped for the first time. Now here I was freshly divorce, living the life with this hot babe, almost no clue to the music (she had skeletons in the closet on cassette and I like Friend of the Devil), in the old small theater, tripping balls,,, so no my mind wasn't blown at that point, sensory overload must have prevailed.

Month or so later went to a midnight showing of a Pink Floyd, once again no idea who this Mr Floyd was. Tripping once again and still not being a veteran, a little paranoid (THEY know I tripping!!) The movie starts gets about 1/2 way thru first song and bang, the movie stops, the house lights come and this old usher looking guys comes down, first flash,,,,, THEY DO KNOW!!! Then he mouthing words,,,,, They people came later, were going to restart the movie from the beginning, sorry. That blew my mind a bit. I never had a movie stopped and restarted for late comers!!

We did that Rocky Horror thing around them, tripping once again,,,, meh,,,, still don't really care for the RHPS.

Firesign starting to arrive!

Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death!

DiP 24

A classic.. doesn't get discussed much. One day they will get around to releasing Maples Pavilion 2/9/73 which for some reason I put in a similar category as the Cow Palace 74.. both somewhat flawed and early in the year but classic nonetheless.

I will have to check out the recording, but I am not surprised of your comment. I think something between 8 and 10 years ago something clicked with the remastering process and we started getting cleaner sounding releases, all other things considered. I first noticed it on Road Trips Volume 3 Number 3, Fillmore East 5/15/1970. Listen to acoustic stuff and compare it to Harpur College and a few of the other 1970 acoustic shows.. perhaps he found a sweet spot with compression techniques.. who knows, but we are seeing cleaner sounding releases now than when they first started, all other things remaining equal.

Randy California future games

I concur with you on your pick of Future Games being Spirit's best lp, totally wore out 2 copies of that lp, listened to it a lot when it first came out, being a big Randy fan and was dosing a lot back then and that is a great album to trip to. I asked him about that lp and he just smiled a big cosmic smile and said it was a "late nite" in the studio, with eyes as big as saucers. If you listen to the version of All Along the Watchtower on that lp, it's notes are different than Jimi's version kinda backward progression if that makes sense. Don't think that one is on cd, at least I have not been able to find it. Potatoland is also a very good lp, with Kaptain Kopter and Commander Cassidy in orbit. Take my hand, going to potatoland..... (which was Randy's name for the mainland when he was living in Hawaii). I was living in Florida back in the 70's and 80's and Randy and Cass had a home there on the time coast (Tampa/St Pete) we partied several times back in the day, he was a great man, as was Cass. Cass had a big crush on my wife at the time, he loved big chested women :) (and she had biguns)

Future Games-Sam

What great memories you must have of that time. You were definitely in the right place, at the right time. I came across Spirit through a Dead fanzine in England in the late 1970s, called Dark Star, that championed Spirit, and interviewed Randy and Cass whenever they came to England. I was impressed, and bought Future Games, Spirit of 76 and Son of Spirit. Also a great live album called Made in Germany-that was actually recorded in England and Florida. I have never heard Potato Land. In fact, it hadn't come out then-I can remember the magazine campaigning for its release. I haven't heard the other album you referenced either-Kaptain Copter and the Twirly Birds.

I also saw them-just the once in about 1981-the three piece of Randy, Cass and Larry Knight-I think.. A truly great band. I actually prefer the 1970s version of Spirit to the late 60s one-although Dr Sardonicus is a classic also.

4/1/80 opening: band switched instruments

it is a sound only a Deadhead could love

I would have been like, wtfuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

Long Strange Trip

I watched it today finally. Pigpen is so cool!! I never heard him speak before what a blast. I laughed so hard when Bill said he often forgot what song they were playing after they had entered the jam part. All rock n roll to him! I wonder if he sat back there sometimes just thinking damn these guys are good! It made me sad though. Poor Jerry. I miss him.

Happymod Apk Download

Happymod Apk Download
https://www.neeapps.com/happymod-apk-download/

Mods

Nice to see some mods on here, to balance out the rockers.

Mods, and Rockers, and Robots...

Oh My!

Re: DaP 17 Not Having Dark Star or The Other One

Guilty as charged!

Speaking of The Other One

I am trying very hard to get into the other one from 1972 to 1974. What are everybody's top five or six? I like

4/26/72
8/25/72

But besides those, they get very "out there" and I'm usually not patient enough to wait to see if it's going to knock my bra off later. Any suggestions would be helpful as I conquer one more Dead frontier. I love all the 1971s, and most of the later ones. It's those jazzy spacey ones in that 72-74 period I must master. Thank you.

Lovejerry...I am shocked!

please listen to 8/12/72 asap.

* ‘Road Trips’ Volume4 Number 4

...April 5-6th 1982 Live from the Spectrum,PA
I have to start by stating for my personal taste this is a Primo Mix, I love everything about it! Audio wise this works for me. 🙏
I’m listening to it right now actually, “Jack-A-Roe” Jerry is just as sweet as a slice of pie. 🙏❤️😎
...the set-list is to die for, very Good Ol Grateful Dead three discs in a row!!!

‘Road Trips’ Volume4 Number 4

very much agree on that one , I'm a bit of a sucker for " baby blue " and this is a nice one .
also stumbled over Vol 3 No 3 which I'm very much enjoying ( is this similar to what's coming at the end of the month I wonder ? )

Spring is here

The time

is right

for Dancin' in the Streets

4.3.70 ~ U.C. Fieldhouse ~ Cincinnati, Ohio

The wind in the willows

Play

Tea for two

The sky was yellow

and the sun was blue

April 3, 1982

Scarlet Fire

Other One-Lovejerry

I would be very surprised if I personally could recommend an Other One from 1972-1974 that you hadn't already heard the like of. For me, the great thing about them is that they are jazzy, and do go out there.

But they are obviously totally different from the previous eras ones-especially from when Mickey was in the band up to February 1971. Those are really powerhouses-my all time favourite being Binghampton 2/5/70-but I also like all the great ones from 1968 and 1969. Which probably accounts for...all of them

In 1972-1974 they seem more "jazz" than "rock" without a drummer and with the added piano. I wasn't sure I liked them as much when I first heard them, about 30 years ago- but I do now. But I like jazz more now than I did 30 years ago. It is almost like a different band playing-the dynamics are so different.

A Musical Chuckle for Coffee Lovers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlc5Bii_Qf8

Cool daverock + Stoltzfus

The two I mentioned from 1972 are more melodic than most. They remind me more of Dark Star during the parts that are not the Other One theme itself. I love the 1971s because they are less Space than 72. I like the Jazz of 72 but can also deal with just the rock of 71, where the Jazz has not yet taken hold. I was very happy with the ones we got with Dave's Picks 22 + 26. I have yet to deeply explore the duel drummer ones that you speak of. Your use of the word powerhouse makes me I think I may have been overlooking some incredible listening experiences. Thank you

EDIT : Stoltzfus aye aye cap'n! Thank you

A Different Band

...Daverock....your accounting below is spot-on from where I sit. Couldn't have said it better myself.
That's the Thing.
From one era to the next, one year to the next, sometimes, from one tour to the next (and even within tours), the songs evolve and morph into something brilliantly different. Jazzy included. The Other One, a prime example.

Also take Eyes of the World in this Spring 90 tour as another example. The first time it's played in Hartford, early in the tour, it's briskly-paced and drummy-driven - fairly typical for those 80's Eyes that were FAST. Then the second time they play Eyes in spring 90, it's remarkably SLOWED DOWN in Albany. They pulled back on the throttle; it's not as percussion-driven, and has a more laid-back vibe. Then, the final time Eyes is played, of course it's with Branford and that one speaks for itself but again - the slower more jazzy feel to it. And it seems there it remained, til the end. And Most will probably agree that this wasn't the first time Eyes made a stylistic change - it's happened at least twice before. Cool, that stuff. But again only reinforces Daverock's epic point.

BTW, Spring 90 wraps up today; about to launch that one since I've found myself working from home this afternoon. Love that top-half of the second set, which I refer to as "The Kitchen Sink Set". At least on paper it looks kitchen sink-y.

https://archive.org/details/gd90-04-03.sbd.hinko.17811.sbeok.shnf

Its sunny on my back patio as I type....

Sixtus

72 - 74 The Other One's

It's been a while since I listened to it.. but I recall 5/10/72 Concertgebouw as not completely unravelling into insanity like some of the others from that period. It seems more focused on jazzy, blissful contentment.

..but I could be wrong, it's been a while. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't at least a few moments of dissonance.

I believe I understand what you are getting at, though. When DiP 23 first came out (September 17, 1972 at the Baltimore Civic Center) my first impression was that it got pretty out there and took some time to get to the point.. I mean way out there. But I have warmed up to them since then. One of my favorites from that period has become 5/3/72, but it took a little time to absorb it. It achieves liftoff for sure and clocks in at 37 min, 43 seconds when you add in all three parts and the drums in the middle. So I guess I have warmed up to those 72-74 versions, but for me.. it didn't happen immediately.

Oh, and the one from DaP 11, Wichita 72 is shorter than most.. but it does seem to pack in some out there moments into the song nonetheless.

DaP 11 Other One

It may be "short" at 19:49, but as I was literally listening to it on my ride home from work today (not expecting to find it mentioned, but not too shocked either), I was wondering about it as I do each time, as to why it's tracked as starting where it does, but The Other One on DiP 1 is like 1:37, but clearly one of those jam tracks is part of The Other One. Here, there is no definite start until that verse comes in like 18 min in, and they've never, not a single member, actually touched on the Other One riffs until about a minute before that verse. The jam where the tracks split seems to shift to 6/8, but doesn't really stay there, and doesn't intone TOO. The whole thing is basically a long, weird Truckin' Jam that ends up with a nice Other One verse and a beautiful segue to Brokedown Palace. Mr. Norman is not the only one calling it a 19+ Other One, the one's on Archive are tracked similarly. I just find it odd is all. I also just find this all the way out there Other One to be one of my very favorite ones. Certainly my favorite weird Other One.

The one from exactly a year earlier on DaP 26, also mentioned, is in my top 5 easily. One not mentioned enough, IMO, is 12/20/69 the one from the 2013 bonus disc with DaP 6, in addition to a magnificent Smokestack Lightning, TOO is 13 min of primal Dead, that gives way to Cumberland Blues.

DaP 6 and bonus disc: throw 2 Dark Stars, 2 St Stephens, an Eleven, 3 versions of Mason's Children, 2 Lovelights, 2 Cumberlands, 2 China Riders, 2 New Speedways, 2 Hard to Handles, 2 Black Peters (this could be a minus, as could the Masons), and throw in a Cold Rain & Snow and High Time, and you got a stew going, baby! And maybe the most badass cover in the series.

DaP 6 props

I remember trading an extra sealed copy I had once upon a time (to a user on this very site) for a lightly worn copy of JGB Warner Theater 1978. Great deal for both I'd say! Still looking for a trades if anyone has any they want to slang my way. Still looking for original pressings of JGB Kean College 1980 and Bay Area 78. I have several to trade including a sealed copy of DaP 10 (alas w/o bonus).

Double drums late 1967-February 1971

There's a great and famous clip of The Dead on Playboy After Dark from 1969, during which Hugh Hefner interviews Jerry. Hefner comments on the two drum set up and asks Jerry if there is any particular reason for this. I can't hear everything Jerry says in reply, but he uses the word "annihilation" and compares the sound to "the serpent that eats its own tail."
I imagine The Dead's sound between 1968 and February 1971 as being very, very loud. It was presumably loud in 1974, but during those earlier years the volume may have been part of the effect - the distortion and feedback etc- rather than simply an amplification of what was being played, like it seems to have been in 1974.

Changing the subject- and on reading Sixtus's post - maybe I should listen to more 1990 shows. Every year I play the one 1990 box I've got from the Spring tour, the second one, with 3/29/90 in. Every year I enjoy every show, and then I forget about 1990, and head back to where I feel I belong.

Morning Rockers!

Some serious recommendations for The Other One. The one I could absolutely not recall ever listening to, although I'm sure I must have, is the Dave's Picks Volume 6 bonus disc from 2013. Just as good as advertised. How many times does Pig Pen say wait a minute afterward? I'm in the middle of the other ones that were recommended, no pun intended. I think it may have even been Wilfred t who recommended the Dave PIX11 version to me, possibly two years ago. Or maybe it was wissinoming deadhead? Well, that one's cooking my speakers up as we speak. Jimbo, I have Amsterdam queued up after that. I don't have a great recollection of that one, other than great loud crunchy guitars , more than usual for the show is on this box set. I know it goes into a fantastic Wharf rat with very nice mesmerizing intro riff.

Love Jerry, check out Europe 72 beat Club version. That one's about 20 minutes long and not to spacy.

Just have to add - the Drums that precedes the Amsterdam Othet One is crazy fast, and Billy is walloping the shit out of them.

Have to add this too - while not in that '72 - '74 range, and not in that two drummer period, and not with Keith Godchaux- The Other One on Three From the Vault is a cooker. Even features an intro Cryptical. Also departs into one of the best Wharf Rats I've ever heard. Speaking of which, I listen to this the other morning after listening to the February 18th show version, which of course was the first time it was played, and Mickey's last show. There is some really mesmerizing keyboard undertones in the 2/18 version that I don't hear for the rest of the Port Chester run on Wharf Rat. Made me wonder if there was any chance Mickey was playing some organ, as it doesn't quite sound like Pigpens style. He did, afterall, compose Fire on the Mountain on a keyboard.

last 5

hope everyone is well!

Last 5:
Winterland 73 Bonus
Road Trips 3.3 Bonus (getting in the mood for the upcoming release)
30 Trips: 1991
Dicks Picks 12
A random iPhone mix I made for running, which includes Cumberland Blues (4/8/72), Scarlet>Fire (5/8/77), Estimated>Eyes (2/3/78), Help>Slip>Franklins (one from the vault), Row Jimmy & He's Gone (Dicks Picks 28), China>Rider (5/3/72), 1/2 Step (5/7/77) and the NFA>GDTRFB>NFA from that Nov 71 Road trips release...I know, very random but gets me over the hump when I'm out there running...

On another random note, I saw a cover band called Grateful Shred when they were in Ardmore PA not too long ago. Believe they are an LA based band. Anyway, they were very fun and worth the fairly inexpensive ticket price if they ever come to your town. A band called Garcia Peoples opened for them - not a dead cover band but really cool vibe about them and worth also checking out (believe you can stream an album on Spotify).

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