Dave's Picks Volume 30: Fillmore East, New York, New York 1/2/70

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April 18, 2019 - 9:01am

2,500 replies

clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018

Who's up for a revolutionary evolutionary ride? DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30: FILLMORE EAST, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 1/2/70 captures the Grateful Dead as they make their first foray from the experimental 60s into their early 70s acoustic Americana period. Yes, this one is a little bit country and a little bit (psychedelic) rock and roll.

When the "Magnificent Seven" - Pigpen on percussion, T.C. on keys - first took the stage on 1/2/70, evidence was clear that the trip was about to take a turn. From their western wears to the twang in Jerry’s “broken-string blues,” it appeared they'd brought the Bakersfield sound to the Big Apple. They worked through much of what would become Workingman's Dead, stunning the crowd with laid-back numbers like "Uncle John's Band," "Casey Jones," and "Black Peter." Just the same, they satisfied 60s stalwarts with magical versions of "Dark Star," "St. Stephen," and "That's It For The Other One." Sonic alchemy, indeed!

DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30: FILLMORE EAST, NEW YORK, New York 1/2/70 has been rounded out with a bit of 1/3/70 (the subscribers-only bonus disc features the bulk of 1/3/70). It was recorded by the great Owsley "Bear" Stanley and has been lovingly mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

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April 29, 2019 - 7:05am

#2241

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Sure get stoned at night!

The 30 trips Alligator from The Shrine in 67 is one of my favorite 30 trips moments, yet somehow I never fully engaged on the Caution. Probably my favorite Gator, not counting the one under the seats between rows Double EE & FF at the Academy of Music. I probably play the ladies and gentlemen version the most. I think it's time I hunted down that whole Fillmore East run in good quality. I have some of it, like the 26th with its Dark Star.

And with regard to the Dead Hand in Hamburg anniversary today, I don't know where I was getting off not mentioning Big Boss Man. Probably my favorite short Pigpen Song from the tour. Hindsight is 50/50, but I think it would have been cool if pigpen have played a few less good Lovins, and mixed in some smokestack lightning and good morning little school girls. Not to mention an alligator or two.

Jimbo, love the reference to The Blues Brothers. I just watched they're warm up set for the closing of winterland on YouTube. Lightning in a bottle. Also came across a picture of Donna sitting with Belushi. Good Times. Let's get that Wayback machine and get directly involved.

Anybody get a shipping notice for Dave's Picks 30 yet?
April 28, 2019 - 9:52pm

#2242

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Re: Caution / Alvarhanso

My absolute favorite moment from 30 trips.. and as I have written here several times, I blew out the speakers in my car on that one. For me, it was an epiphany moment.. I was left wordless and slack jawed.

Nitecat.. except for the last song, your last five was entirely GD. Glad I am not the only one.

Let the good times roll.. great topics on all things music.. We play both kinds.. Country and Western (aka Grateful Dead and everything else).

Man. that caution. Wowwow stuff.

Edit: Or perhaps it was The Other One where I blew my speakers.. no bother, that entire show was pure mayhem and simply wonderful (especially played very loud). Plus.. I blew out the rear speakers and dialed it back just so it was as loud as it could be without blowing out he fronts. What a great night and that show set the mood for the road trip. I think I was driving to visit my dad in the hospital if memory serves, six hours each way = 4 shows total. Blown speaker worthy? yes. It certainly eased the pain.
April 28, 2019 - 7:36pm

#2243

stoltzfus

Joined:
January 13, 2010

Forced to take a pallette cleanser

Godflesh Merciless

10/6/80 just wasnt happening :(
April 28, 2019 - 7:27pm

#2244

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Jimbo & Oroborous - great…

Jimbo & Oroborous - great 1983 / mid-80s commentary. You guys had me flipping through 30 Trips '83 and DP 6 today on the way to the food store. The live Touch Of Grey led me to the great studio version, which I hadn't put on in quite some time. Nice memories.

Alvarhanso - thanks for the Cautions, I'll check those out this week. Also glad I'm not the only one to notice how similar the BTW and JS intros are.

Bobby T - great call on the TC Dark Star from the Fillmore East. I love 1971 Dark Stars, and TC brings his trademark organ part to this one. It's followed by my all time favorite St. Stephen (Bobby is exceptional on the outro jam). I like putting The Eleven from Two From the Vault after that Dark Star / St. Stephen combo. The drums go together almost seamlessly on the transition. I can't wait for that whole Fillmore run to be released. I really enjoy Ladies & Gentlemen, but I don't have great soundboards of the entire run.

Nitecat - "I repeated the best stuff twice" - great quote, and the reason it's taking me so long to get through the E72 steamer trunk.
April 28, 2019 - 2:58pm

#2245

alvarhanso

Joined:
January 16, 2014

Caution!

My favorite is the one from the Shrine 11/10/67. When I got the 30 Trips Box that was my immediate favorite show and has remained so with subsequent listening. The opening clang of Viola Lee sold me, but that Alligator> Caution cemented it. The Greek show from the next year has a great one, too, if brief (funny that we can describe an 11 minute song as brief), and goes into what is probably my favorite Feedback. Maybe it's just the stage announcer's blown mind that gets me on that. The one from Thelma DaP 10 12/10/69 is a good one. For some reason, as fantastically as they play through the Fillmore West shows, the 2 they played that run never blew me away. The bonus disc one is pretty damn fantastic, but you already mentioned that one KF.

Funny you mention the BTW/JStraw intros; they used to get me every damn time, and still do occasionally. Odd how they had two intros so close together, especially given that Bob would sometimes apologize for playing another song in the the same key as the previous one "at the risk of being repetitive". Ironically, few people would likely have even noticed, though I'm sure playing BTW and JStraw back to back would have been confusing.

Three more days, though I may be counting chickens early, no shipping notice as yet...
April 28, 2019 - 1:47pm

#2246

nitecat

Joined:
November 1, 2010

Last five

DP 5 12/26/79: Great show, I was at this run of five nights at the Oakland Auditorium.
Spring 1990 4/2/90: I'm almost done listening to these two boxes for the third time. What a tour!
E72 4/26/72: T>Drums>TOO>Comes a Time> SM !! I've been listening show by show to the trunk for a few months now, so I didn't jump on the anniversary train and go back. The box that keeps on giving.
DP 31 8/4,5,6/74: This collection took several evenings, I repeated the best stuff twice. Wow that 8/6 'filler' Eyes, Playin>Scarlet>Playin, UJB is a keeper.
The Rascals Complete Singles collection: These guys dominated the airwaves in the late 60's-awesome songs and playing. People got to be free!
April 28, 2019 - 11:30am

#2247

bob t

Joined:
November 21, 2007

4/28/71 Fillmore East Anniversary

Tom Constanten joining in on Dark Star>St Stphen>NFA>GDTRFB>NFA...... Good Hard to Handle, Cryptical>Drums>Other One>Wharf Rat... Overshadowed by the next night, and the prior night you had the Beach Boys. (I am a big fan of Pet Sounds)

Speaking of special guests, hard to top the Bangles 10/18/88 New Orleans joining on the encore of Aiko and Heaven's Door!!! Another rainy day in Rhode Island.... Bob t
April 28, 2019 - 11:06am

#2248

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Mid 80s-Oroborous

Nice review of what it was like seeing The Dead in the mid 80's. There was so little coverage of the band in those years, in England, that I thought they'd split up ! Then in 1987 I saw a bootleg tape for sale in a music paper of a show from that year, and started digging around. And here I am.
April 28, 2019 - 10:40am

#2249

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Ahh mid eighties...

L.M.G.; be well brother, may the four winds be with you!

Jim, astute analysis as usual. 83 was such a transitional year in many ways, some I don’t think many folks realize.
Yes JG was starting to really show signs of “health” issues. Musically, it seamed like they were starting to get a little looser, perhaps a little weirder? So because of both variables there was inconsistency. But we liked that go for broke vibe, and occasionally stumble and falling added to the excitement. That’s what I don’t like about 77, it’s too dam tidy, it’s too professional, too clean, I know that sounds nuts, but too me that’s not what the dead were about....don’t get me wrong, I totally get why many consider this the Dead at their best.
So Brent had meshed for four years at this point, so compared to say 80 or 81 where songs are more short and tight, it seamed to me like they were melting around the edges more.
They also were going through huge technical changes that I think factor in way more than most would think about.
Phil was using the new Modulus 6 string and new gear, Weir had new stuff, most importantly they now were using the mighty Ultra Sound Meyers PA and monitors full time.This was awesome but it was definetly a process getting a handle on all this. I think this is why 83 sometimes sounds so funky...they hadn’t used it all enough to 1) collect enough acoustical data from the different venues and 2) totally learned/adjusted technique for this ridiculous, amazing new system/technology. Add to that the whole cassette master thing, and well, yea, sometimes it’s not so hot. On the flip side there are also some awesome matrix tapes from this year....but as Jim says it’s all over the place in 83.
They also were starting to use the new vari lights full time this year too, and they had switched sides on stage only a year earlier...so much was going on that year, like many of the transitional years, and it showed, for good or for ill.
Hell, one could argue the whole long trip was a constant transition, with of course certain times being more pronounced I.e., personnel changes, but a whole new P.A. system and monitors cannot be overlooked!
Like you state, this process seamed to continue, both the good changes and the ahem, bad, through 84 and into 85.
I recall also feeling like the whole scene was changing too. Like it was all getting bigger and better, but crazy and almost out of control, like that train jumping the tracks....to me 85 was when it sorta peaked. All that process that started in full back in 83 seemed to come to fruition. They were breaking out more psychedelic stuff, and getting weirder. Anyone who was on that 85 summer tour hopefully can relate?
We went from super laid back scene at10k hockey rinks and half empty sheds to the madness of 2 around the clock days at Toga, then Hershey and Merriweather. Too much of everything was just enough! By 86 they started playing more stadiums, and it all just kept growing. The band, us, the scene, it was nuts, but like all things of hubris and excess it went too far. Throw in a hit record and crowds of uninitiated and by 87 it was over. Not the whole deal but that little wave ala HST in fear in loathing., that to me peaked in 85.
Yes they could be sloppy and sometimes Jer sounds pretty ruff, but didn’t they always when they were going for it, trying to find the edge? More HST; “you don’t really know the edge unless you go over”....
And yes we all got too big, and perhaps sometimes outta hand, but wasn’t that part of it? “Too much of everything...”, I don’t know what I’m going for, but I’m gonna go for it for sure”....
All I’m saying is it was a great time to be in your twenties, on the road, and high with the Dead!
Until it wasn’t, but luckily they played through it and came out the other side even stronger and better as we all know how great 89 through 90, 91? perhaps into 92? was.
Sorry to ramble, just in a mood this AM and Jim’s post brought out the old member berries and nostalgia of perhaps the greatest time in my life, sniff, sniff 😢 ok enough, Onward!
April 28, 2019 - 10:32am

#2250

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Hamburg

Mr Heartbreak, I'm pleased you picked up on that reference. Indeed, he deserves better than his ex bandmates have given him in the Press. I was sure Mind-Ledt-Body would get it!

I'm on to 4/29/72.

The opening Playing in the Band only has a four minute jam section. I know it took them some time to build up the jam on this one, but I guess I didn't realize how short the actual jam sections are. Well, the last few on the tour stretch out a bit longer. Then of course by '74, they went on for a half hour regularly, and Kreutzmann couldn't remember which huge jam song he was in the middle of (Long Strange Trip quote).

I've decided I like they 1972 Sugarees best, even if 5/28/77 is my favorite (19 minute, huge solo); but generally speaking, '72 is the year for me on this one. Short and sweet. I think that's the theme on most early Grateful Dead songs for me. In 71 & 72, everybody was still playing guitars that I liked, and all the right backup vocalists we're involved at the right times.

First UJB of the tour on this show. That's balls. Nine shows in before they play UJB. Then they only played it four more times in Europe. In hindsight I guess they always played this tune sparingly.

First He's Gone to feature the middle 8 / winds don't blow so strange verse. I think I'll always enjoy Rockin the Rhein's performance the best, even without the middle 8. My dog has no nose... in any event, I think it took them until summer to really get that part well oiled. Right around Berkeley.

Starting with the Dusseldorf show on 4/24, they changed up the intro to Black-Throated Wind, from a little drum roll thingy to a guitar strum thingy that sounds almost identical to Jack Straw. When I first got into the Dead, I couldn't tell the difference until Jerry either went into the BTW riff or the Jack Straw improv fill. And I used to think, man, how do they keep from getting mixed up when they're playing it live? The answer is they didn't. This is the one they mixed up. Jerry plays the Jack Straw fill and Bobby sings the BTW verse. Jerry doesn't play the BTW riff until the second verse. I always get a kick out of this, thinking they probably figured nobody would ever notice. Little did they know their legend would overtake their anonymity.

And of course it's Dark Star night. Lots of cacophony on this one - Probably not one of my favorites. They hit the Feeling Groovey riff early, but leave it behind pretty quickly. They hit the main Dark Star theme at the halfway mark. Jerry throws in a little Caution riffing somewhere around 23 minutes. Keith is audible at times. How I would love to interview every last one of them while listening to these ancient Dark Stars.

Caution does eventually appear for one of only five appearances, if my memory serves me. I'm trying to think if these are the only ones to feature Keith, before Pigpen died. In any case, I like the piano and organ duo, despite Keith's being mixed low or not at all. I lean towards the Europe 72 Cautions, but I admit I don't know the early ones nearly as well. Except for the 30 minute romp from the FW bonus disc. Any great Cautions you guys want to throw them away, I'll be sure to listen to them soon. Thank you. Bomp>Bomp>BOMMMB!

China Rider - always welcome in a set list. They didn't play it quite as long on the Europe 72 tour, but it was about as tight as can be, and the Rider vocals we're stunning every time.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

Who's up for a revolutionary evolutionary ride? DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30: FILLMORE EAST, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 1/2/70 captures the Grateful Dead as they make their first foray from the experimental 60s into their early 70s acoustic Americana period. Yes, this one is a little bit country and a little bit (psychedelic) rock and roll.

When the "Magnificent Seven" - Pigpen on percussion, T.C. on keys - first took the stage on 1/2/70, evidence was clear that the trip was about to take a turn. From their western wears to the twang in Jerry’s “broken-string blues,” it appeared they'd brought the Bakersfield sound to the Big Apple. They worked through much of what would become Workingman's Dead, stunning the crowd with laid-back numbers like "Uncle John's Band," "Casey Jones," and "Black Peter." Just the same, they satisfied 60s stalwarts with magical versions of "Dark Star," "St. Stephen," and "That's It For The Other One." Sonic alchemy, indeed!

DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30: FILLMORE EAST, NEW YORK, New York 1/2/70 has been rounded out with a bit of 1/3/70 (the subscribers-only bonus disc features the bulk of 1/3/70). It was recorded by the great Owsley "Bear" Stanley and has been lovingly mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 30 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

*Re/ listen’n & Boxset

...9/24/72 Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT
A grateful show included in the ‘30TATS’ boxset. I really enjoy this mix, Keith sounds Divine, and Phil is great as usual and comes thru amazingly thru the mix. Really everybody sounds wonderful. Very different feeling not having Pigpen there. :( non the least this is a primo show! I love it! Disc three begening of the wicked Dark Star sequence and then a surprise twist at the end. Pretty good. Rock on everyone, hoping everyone had a grateful holiday weekend. God bless🙏❤️😎
...Boxset On June 3rd, I was told deffently ?! I’ll take it though!!! 😁😁😁

Mailbox

I have quite a different experience at the mailbox on release day. There's a lot of reaching in and contorting my arm this way and that to avoid the plethora of bills, collection notices, subpoenas, and hate mail, just to get my fingers around that manilla bubble mailer. Then I carefully extract it like a game of Operation.

My Mailbox Melted

...probably due to that smoldering third Disc from the last Dave's Picks.

Still on a 69 binge that started with Big Rock last week.. and it's still huge fun. Subpoenas.. Ha!
(..and thanks for the shout out, LMG).

I've been known to listen to the Blues....

....game on!
Don't worry Stoltzfus, I have minimal emotional investment. Or do I?
The first Stanley Cup game is usually tentative on both sides. Pick your chance, and roll with it.

Wait a second here...

I just realized we may have gotten the last William Tell St. Stephen with the 1/2/70 release. The next night on the bonus disc goes right into Midnight Hour. The next show that I have with St. Steven is High in Hawaii aka DaP 19, and it goes right into Lovelight.....hmmmm.....

Edit: Jimbo - I just saw your plug for the Big Rock show(s). I've only listened to that one a couple of times. Which show grabbed it, or was it the whole shabang?

Re: Big Rock Pow Wow / KF, Grabby Moments

Those two shows keep growing on me.

I started with this sequence:

Doin' That Rag>
He Was a Friend of Mine>
China Cat Sunflower>
The Eleven>
Death Don't Have No Mercy
and added Morning Dew for good measure.

Powerful.

Dicks Picks 16 is next up. Perhaps one of the best shows of the year. I might have to get all fungal for this one.

Mailboxes +

Operation; Hee-here, KF you constantly crack me up. Thanks!
Melting 3rd disc indeed....actually currently rocking the 1/3 material in “order”...yeowsa!
Somewhere over the blur of the five day weekend, I dove into the 5/24/69 stuff in “order”. Also snuck the 5/23 DS sequence in there somewhere? Did the 5/26/72 monster.....eventually needed some eighties to cleanse.....fired up Dave’s 27 while I fought with machete through the jungle, er a, the garage, ahem....good working music, but a, not holding up so well to all the top shelf stuff of late....snuck a little 4/7/85 in this evening. Great show, not so good recording...but I’m totally biased on this one...and it was nice to change it up. So now we’re sneaking a little 1-3-70 in before we fire up the DVR and find the “B”s getting their ass handed to them.....yea Vguy, I don’t have any emotional stake either......except I hate the #$&$&**& Bruins! A,aaaa, sorry, ahem. Now that we have that out in the open.....
“Go on home your mommas calling you” yea you Marchand, you walking hemorrhoid! Sorry, into UJB now....”ain’t no time to hate”....well maybe the Bruins? and that big Goon Chara, “where ever he goes the people all complain”....
But sad but true folks that’s how the Bruins win, and win they do. From that bigger garbage goal donut eating pig Phil Espo they’ve all ways done it ugly! But in the annuls of time, and the in record books, a win is a mofo win, and a Champion is immortal! All I hope is it’s clean/no ref BS! Go Blues!

5/1/80

I would like to design a t shirt with tje cheap trick logo

But it reads "5/1/80" instead

Its a gem

4/22/69

Rip roarin' fun

Go Bruins!

Anyone catch that 1st game last night? Hehehe.

Last Five

Last Five Music Endeavors. All of these treats are highly recommended. Have a grate day Heads!!
11.17.73 UCLA
Cannonball Adderly and Milt Jackson: Things are Getting Better
Vampire Weekend: Father of the Bride (2 listens)
Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane
5.7.77 Boston Garden

***I am not a robot! :))

Lovemygirl/ Box Release Date

So, do you know when the release date is? Please share and let us know any other information you may have. I am sure we would all love to hear it.
The last box was announced the first week of June 2018. Man, it has been a long time!

Gainesville!?!?!

Hell, I want my digital download of the 45 selection of the month!!!!

download
download
download

Bruins

Oro - right on point.

The Bruins are completely unlikable. Marchand is nothing more than a cowardly punk.

I fear that the Blues blew their opportunity last night giving up that two goal lead. After vanquishing those referee-aided Sharks, their season may be ending shortly. Let's hope not.

Thanks Jim!

Big Rock is of those releases that didn't grab me right away, but if you're seeing melty Uncle Sams ushering in a troup of Dancing Bears on it, then I want in. I'm going to make the prescribed playlist and go for a walk with my headphones. Offa work 2day.

Edit: whoa Nellie, leave it to me to f*@# up a recipe. I programmed in all of the Big Rock songs and then noticed there's a little 4 minute Alligator after Death Don't Have No Mercy that's not in the play list. Plus I just watched Back to the Future Part 2, so I have a heightened awareness of the consequences that even a small deviation can have on the melted face continuum.

So far so good. Doin' That Rag was right on target, and I've been newly awakened to to the goodness of He Was a Friend of Mine, ever since that 3/31/69 experience (perfect transition into China Cat too).

Obororous I may need to borrow that machete. Just walked out through the garage and it's bad out here.....

*Re/ RSD Warfield CD

...Incase anyone missed the opportunity to pick a copy up, Dead.net Store has some RSD Warfield CD’s copies back in stock!!!
Rock on my brothers & sisters. 🙏❤️😎

What is happening?

Come on its hockey...since when was this ever a "gentleman's" game? What do you want it to be, croquet?

croquet with steel balls

and lead mallets

maybe a sharpened stick or two

"and even a bear"

Lovemygirl

Did you see Dead Vikes question?

Stoltz and the Bear

…. I was at a motorcycle event once and one of things that had was a "wrestle the bear" thing. Had this 'restler lookin' fellar and a small(?) bear. He'd tumble around with the bear and offer some amount of coin, if you'd stayed some amount of time. But he warned "don't grab the bears nuts or I will not pull him off"!

SAY NO MORE!

Some fools did wrestle the bear, the bear was gentle, but you had NO hope of preventing a pin!

Butch and the Question

A dollar a doughnut he saw it. He is under double secret oaths NEVER to reveal exact shit. If he did, TPTB would never tell him shit again. Shit is a one way street, people tell you shit, but you can repeat shit.

GQ Weir Article

Saw this and wanted to share:
https://www.gq.com/story/bob-weir-grateful-dead-profile

thanks for the article

will need
to read
the whole thing
later

interestingly...

I interacted with Jerry in a dream last night

I don't remember much about it, but it was definitely a Jerry dream.

Thx 80s Fan

That's a great article you've shared.
Bobby is a really likable guy.
Critter butt-sniffin' and all.

Sixtus

Curiouser and curiouser....

I never said anything at the time, but I had an illusion of seeing Jerry when I saw Live Dead 69 last month. During one of the jams, I closed my eyes and let myself get carried away. Just in my mind-I'm not one for jumping about. After a while, I opened my eyes, and there he was on stage, playing guitar. Just for a second, then he morphed back into whoever it was who was really there.

Dead dreams....

....i didn't know Bobby chewed. Anyway, i had a cool dream a few years ago that i saw the Dead playing on an aircraft carrier in SF Bay. That was neat.

Little Help from you guys

Hey Folks

I am having trouble finding what the Original Cost of The Europe 72 Trunk. Does anyone remember what those were being sold for back in 2011?? Thanks for the help!!

Trunk Cost

I believe it was right on the $450 mark. It was supposed to be 72 discs as I recall (were there 72 discs???) , which would bring it to just under $7 a disc which seems about right.

The best $450 I ever spent (the next best was the $6 bail it cost to get fresh out of prison, topic for another day perhaps).

One Alligator tidbit, from the Annotated Grateful Dead / David Dodd.. "I recently saw in Scott Freeman's book Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band that Duane first played "Mountain Jam" one night while sitting in with the Grateful Dead (p. 123). The melodic strains of Donovan's "There Is a Mountain" can clearly be heard right at the 09:00 minute mark on the Anthem of the Sun version of "Alligator". Ironic: that one of the ABB's most famous pieces was originally employed as an improvisational springboard by the Dead... " I wonder what show that was?

#1969 Melts.

Jim you know that seems to me to be about right

2/14/68

First there is a mountain
Then there is no mountain
Then there is

Old Brain

Dennis, a few months back, while ordering a bunch of music, I threw a copy of Mahler's Eighth Symphony (Solti conducting) into my Presto Music cart and checked out. When the big box of CDs arrived, I went to put the Mahler on the shelf, and realized that I already HAD a copy of the same recording! Doh.

I'm not a robot, but I play one on t.v.

Number of discs

Jim I think you got the money just right. The # of discs were I believe planned at 72 but for perfection it went to 73

Re: Mountain Jam

Jim, unfortunately that Midnight Riders book was terribly researched on that tidbit. I have a tape as early as 5/4/69 in Macon with a 25 min Mountain Jam. Now, the story is true that Duane got the idea from teases Jerry did while The Hourglass were still together, as they apparently opened for the Dead a couple times (Liberty Records wouldn't let them play much, which frustrated Duane), and that's where he first heard it, and this would be 1968, as he quit The Hourglass, went back to Florida, then made his way to Muscle Shoals to try his hands at session work. The only definite sit ins he made with the Dead were 2/11/70 at the Fillmore East when Duane, Berry, and Gregg joined Peter Green and Danny Kirwan for Dark Star> Spanish Jam> Lovelight and 4/26/71 (leaving Gatlinburg, TN where the Allmans were rehearsing to guest at the Fillmore East). I read in a guitar magazine about another possible jam as Jerry, Duane, and Bob went to a radio station and had planned on doing some jamming on the air, but Duane lacked an acoustic, and caught some shit from Jerry about being unprepared. But Duane didn't hold it against him in the least, saying of Jerry that "He could do anything that any man ever could. He could walk on water. He's a prince" and in another radio interview when asked who he'd like to jam with, Duane listed some people, but ended with a line about he'd play with Jerry Garcia anywhere. Too bad Gregg's legal (heroin) issues led to Jerry dismissing him as a narc and pretty much ending any further associations between the two bands after the early 70s.

Ironically, I visited the Big House in Macon this past weekend for the first time. Jaimoe and Friends happened to be playing when we arrived, so that was a bonus. A great museum, and experience, would be cool if 710 got the same treatment. I visited the graves of Duane, Gregg, and Berry as well. Sad and moving. There were several people already there, three guys jamming on acoustics.

May have to pull out some of my rarest ABB after this trip down memory lane. Time to dust off the cassette deck!

Re:DaP 30

One of the best from 1970.

Didn't Duane also play with the Dead on 4/4/71?

Midnight Riders

The book by Scott Freeman is also surprisingly dismissive of The Dead, too. Butch Trucks is quoted as saying the Dead's use of two drummers didn't work, as they were " contrived" and stuck to previously worked out patterns. He goes on to say "Their whole approach is very structured." Whereas he saw himself and Jaimoe as being completely free and spontaneous.
The trouble with making and quoting a comment like that is that the reader is inclined to apply the criticism to the person who is making it. Which isn't necessarily true either, of course. But it doesn't present the opinionated person in the best of lights. The Allman Brothers deserve a better eulogy than this one.

Re: Mountain Jam

Well.. that's interesting. I did find it somewhat incredulous that he walked away from an improv session with the basics of a song without recording and re-listening. I know I couldn't do it, but then again I am no musical genius.

It's a testament to the knowledge of this group that something so obscure was fact checked so quickly. Thanks for the feedback.

Back to our regularly scheduled Feedback > We Bid You Goodnight.

*Re/ Recycled Shit, huh

...I feel bad for those who believe in your statement, a very negative & uncouth approach to your problem...peace be with you brother...🙏❤️😔
...”one man's trash is another man's treasure!”
Thats much more my cup of tea folks...
*This morning I’m recycling 5/28/77, from the Grateful Dead ‘To Terrapin’ Hartford 77’ Release from 2009. Primo! :) :) :)
Have a grateful day everyone, rock on!

DP

Great Woodgreen Jam!

Re: Daverock

Interesting, and kind of ironic....I thought the opposite. Surely, Mick and Bill had some parts of the early, more complex psychedelic stuff “worked out” but contrived? I’ve seen the Brothers many times and I would sometimes wonder why they had 2,3,4 ? Drummers, they all were playing the same thing....generally B&M would not.

Drums - Oroborous

Yes, same here. Part of the incredible innovative power of the band between late 1967 and the end of 1970 was precisely because they had two drummers. I haven't seen it for a while, but as I remember it, Hugh Hefner comments on the two drum set up during the Playboy After Dark appearance in 1969. Jerry describes the effect of hearing it in action as like being exposed to "rolling thunder"-or words to that effect. If there was anything like this sound in rock/jazz /whatever, before The Dead utilised it...I haven't heard it yet.

Screeching Halts and the '69 / '70 Bug

The E72 anniversary project came to a screeching halt at the Lyceum run. Tough to keep up with 4 shows in a row, which is the most they did the entire tour. I've gotten most of 5/23 in (excellent set list, blistering Promised Land - wait, I think I said this last week). Anyway, up to 5/24, but the '69 / '70 bug grabbed me.

Jimbo, the Big Rock play list is hot. I didn't recall how well-recorded this show was. I also didn't realize until I got into it that these songs are one contiguous piece of music. When I saw it on paper, I knew China Cat & The Eleven were connected, but not the rest; it makes all the difference in the world. Let me first say - extraordinary transitions throughout the entire set. Smooth, smooth, smooth. Excellent Doin' That Rag - I can't say I recall a better version. My new favorite of the era: He Was a Friend of Mine. After hearing the 3/31/69 version of Stoltzie's, and now this one, I'm scratching my head on how they didn't play this song more often. It was always kind of a novelty item for me on the Thelma release, paired with that trippy UJB. Can't wait to queue up the 3rd and final "official" version from the FW Bonus Disc soon. The China Cat transition into The Eleven struck me as "particularly good", as my recollection from the '68 versions is that they go into it with more of a bang than a sneak, after a few measures of Jerry playing the lead intro, followed by the group pounce into The Eleven; but here in the only 1969 China Cat / Eleven that I can think of, Jerry begins the transition with the Eleven lead intro (par for the course so far), but the rest of the band kind of lingers on the China Cat jam a bit longer, before joining in one at a time; then we get the big Eleven pounce. The subtlety here makes for one of those seamless transitions where you don't quite recall how you went from one song to the next (which is precisely why this version stood out for me - one minute I was driving along admiring a good looking lady in a jeep, the next I realized the Eleven had started without me - REWIND). Death Don't Have No Mercy doesn't come up on my play lists too often, mostly I guess, because they didn't play it that much. Every time I hear it though, I think, wow, this is right up there with Zeppelin doing Since I've Been Loving You, and the blues wasn't even Garcia's forte (or T.C.'s for that matter, and he lays down some nice organ chords and fills). Not that I would ever compare the Dead with Zeppelin for sustained Blues prowess LedDed - just saying they sound like they know what they're doing up there ;-) Anyone who's enjoying the new Dave's Picks and wants more of the Magnificent Seven, Jim's unearthed a perfect medley from Disc 2 of Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 1 / Big Rock Pow-Wow '69. And it's only 35 minutes....unless you add the Morning Dew "for good measure" which I advise. The pre-song banter will give you a chuckle.

With regard to the Butch Trucks / two drummer comment - I think he expressed the limitation for improv that I felt had hit the band after Mickey rejoined in '75. I would be interested to hear if he made the remark before or after Mickey's departure (I assume before, since this is when the two bands were most closely affiliated). There was a spontaneity to the music from '71-'74 that I really enjoy. Even on the shorter numbers, anybody in the band could swing this way or that to change things up a bit. Probably the reason Playing in the Band evolved as it did. Prior to Mickey's leaving, however, his presence made for some powerfully live concert moments (The Eleven I was just talking about not least of all); without him on the early stuff, Primal Dead would not quite have been so primal. We're lucky enough to get the best of both worlds with the archival releases.

Europe '72: The Other Ones Reviewed?

Hey Sixtus. We're all pretty spoiled, but I have to ask: Now that the anniversary has passed, any chance of a "Sixtus Over-, Under-, Around-, and Re-view of Other Ones from Europe '72"? You and Keithfan and others started down the path in early April, but there've been lots of distractions since then. I still pull up your Europe '72 Dark Star review regularly. Just wondering. . . ;-)

In my musical life, before the GD, there was the ABB

I was at a Wisconsin KMart, 1979, 15 years old, buying an album of my own...deciding between Enlightened Rogues by ABB and Journey. Yes, Journey. One look at the back cover photo, and...

I chose ABB. later bought Fillmore East, Eat a Peach.

Three years and one move to California later, I found the GD.

ABB were ok after that, but nowhere near the GD in my rabidity.

the ABB camp dissing the GD camp...laaaaaaaaaaaaame. Like a scooter critiquing the space shuttle.

Like many artists, I'm sure they envied the GD's...loyal fan base.

I do like ABB guesting on 7/16/72, 7/28/73, and 2/11/70.

but ABB overall...I'm done with them.

re: JeffSmith & TOO Rankings, Mtns

....thx Jeff for the reminder and also keeping me honest in this monumental task of cataloging The Other Ones from the E'72 trunk. Invoking said honesty, I am behind - but not for a lack of trying.

I've made it up to the May 16th/Luxembourg show, but have only been taking 'mental notes'. I can say with fairly definitive certainty that the April 11th/Newcastle Other One is my favorite so far - it gets into a bit of a feelin' groovy jam in there too - but beyond that I have little to offer otherwise, at this exact moment.

I will say, and I've mentioned it before (as have many others), the consistency of the playing here is what is remarkable, however the fact it is still '72 means the song selection can only go so far and of course each show is fairly similar in this regard save for swapping songs in differing slots. Nonetheless, each time I listen to a show there are things that pop out at me enough to make mental note that "this is a pretty damn fine show".
I still really like each and every Mister Charlie - it's a fun, punchy tune with loads of personality. Too bad it all but disappeared following this tour....with Pig on the decline, you can't win 'em all.

Oh...I also enjoyed the history on the mountain jam whoever started that discussion. Pretty cool about the origins of the ABB's take on this (at least as described here). I love the reference Jer makes in the 2/14/68 Alligator to it and I find inspiration in the fact the ABB saw the same. But in the end, I gotta agree with Stoltzie, ABB can't hold a candle to the good ole GD.

Sixtus

Butch Trucks

Since Trucks shot himself in the head in front of his wife, I think it safe to assume mental illness/dementia/Alzheimer's played at least a small part in his suicide. Several news articles of the time cite mounting financial debt ($800,000) as a possible motive. Trucks had to sell his condo in Florida and was being hounded by the IRS.

The 'trash' talk regarding GD in general and BK & MH in particular could also have been the result of mental incapacitation.

things (maybe 2 of them)

Jim - you got me looking at powwowville. When you listen, do you listen in the disc order of the set or show order. The section you referenced is from one show (on the 2nd disc), the dew is from the 3rd disc, different night. I have them stored in show order. How the dew work in that location?

Shultzy - I think I agree about ABB and done with them. Not so much them per se, but some acts. I can hear the screw you's already, but I always feel that way about the who. It's like the catalog of live playing isn't thick enough or different enough to warrant drooling. Tom Petty hit me that way, saw him 3 times with years between each and felt I saw the same show :-) (hey tom, 30 fucking years can't you throw an extra note or two in Refugee! :-) There are just groups you feel you've gone to a performance of their greatest hits, versus a performance of great live dynamic musicianship.

Exception for me - Pink Floyd, shows from that catalog are always incredible sounding, you only need to see 1 show per tour since they are virtually the same every time. But damn, they always sound good!

Sixtus / Mr. Charlie

Yes, yes, yes to every one of them…If I remember correctly it was the only song played at every E72 show with 'Black Throated Wind' next at 20…not played at Bremen 4/21 & Paris 5/4.

I think 'Mr. Charlie' along with Sly Stone's 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' are 2 great examples of proto-funk or Pig-Funk in the GD's case (imho).

Butch Trucks and (not necessarily) old and in the way.

How sad. I've just had a look in "Midnight Riders", and the quote I referred to isn't sourced, so it could have been made at any time under any circumstances. It occurs during a consideration of the Fillmore East album, 1971, which suggests the comment was contemporaneous-but there is no evidence that it is.

The other thing is - we all say ill considered things at times. If someone had recorded all the stupid things I have said in my life, and written them down at a later date you would have a book as thick as the Bible.

There are a few old bands and musicians I see who can still kick out the jams. Jeff Beck is better than ever, and King Crimson were incredible last year when I saw them. Though to be fair, it was also the first time I had seen them. I will be there at the Flamin' Groovies gig next week, followed by Steve Hillage the day after. I am, it is fair to say, a man of my times.