Dave's Picks Volume 31: Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL 12/3/79

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July 16, 2019 - 9:35am

1,184 replies

clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018

Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

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July 30, 2019 - 11:13am

#531

fourwindsblow

Joined:
October 13, 2008

First Nights

To me it always seamed that the first night of a three night run was just a warm-up night and the goods would come the next two nights. The only thing I can think of to release this first night over say the last night is that maybe the recording sounds better.
July 30, 2019 - 11:09am

#532

Sydney Prentice

Joined:
April 5, 2014

rhinos,winos and lunatics

Which one are you? So now we could be getting a no number numbered edition when and if we do get it, I'm consoling myself that at least it's not a '71 or '72 pick, guess what I'm listening to in the meantime.
I do hope that Rhino isn't involved with MUATM on Thursday night.
July 30, 2019 - 11:03am

#533

unkle sam

Joined:
October 3, 2008

no nit picking, just the facts

So sorry for you UK folks, Rhino, you have done it again, how can you continue to make these mistakes and keep your customers happy? I hope it will get sorted out for you folks which it always seems to, it just sucks that you have to wait and wait for this release. I have not received my copy yet either, but it will come tomorrow according to the tracking site.
I concur with others who have stated that Jerry is out to lunch on this show. I said it before, Jerry is slow and just not into it that much, sure, he tries to muster up something during a couple of the tunes this nite, but he just doesn't seem like he wants to be there. I agree also that there were better shows from this run and tour and yet, we get this one. I was hoping a new remaster would spice it up a bit, but from what I hear on this thread, it just doesn't make up for the fact that the mastro is off, and not in a good way :) and I have only heard the Charlie Miller pull.

They try this nite and Bobby tries to pull it off, but that Lazy Lighting>Supplication is a poor rendition of a great couple of Bobby tunes. There are a couple of other Kingfish tunes that I would have loved to have heard the Dead do, Jump for Joy, Goodbye your Honor, Hypnotized, all had room for Jerry to tear up a lead or two and were great songs but they chose Lazy Lighting>Supplication which are also good, don't get me wrong, just wish they would have done others/more Kingfish.
I am still looking forward to hearing this release and the art work is very cool, would make a great shirt....
July 30, 2019 - 10:43am

#534

Infinitejest3

Joined:
January 28, 2019

If daves picks 32 is a 73 or…

If daves picks 32 is a 73 or 74 show this year will have been a perfect 4 part 2019 Dave’s picks series for
Me!
July 30, 2019 - 10:40am

#535

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Compilations

I hear what you are saying, Mr. Jack.. but I would still rather see whole show releases with perhaps filler on disc 3 from neighboring shows.

I could be in the minority, but I don't mind having a few songs or even a full disc that get skipped from time to time.

I just don't trust them on deciding what to cut vs. keep (remember Morning Dew on the Wall of Sound Roadtrips) and the shows themselves tend to lose cohesiveness and flow when they cut stuff out. @$9 a disc, I would rather have the full shows then to buy an official release and rebuild the full show myself with what's available on the archive/traders market. I do skip the occasional Mexicali from time to time.

I see your points. I would expect periodic releases from outside some of our comfort zones once or so a year. I have a few shows on my wall that I have not listened to in years but I feel somehow I already got my monies worth from them.

As an alternative point.. I consider much of the first set material from 72 to be very similar and it often doesn't get the repeat listens that the meat of the show does. ..but I would hate to not see it included. 74 is one of my favorite periods but there are a few shows where they seem to get lost on a tangent that I don't always want to revisit.. but again I don't like to see them cut out.

Still waiting on mine.. it takes some extra time to reach the backwoods. Hopefully today.
July 30, 2019 - 10:31am

#536

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

The Emperors new clothes

Mr Jack Straw...I agree with the part of your post describing DaP 31, the rest I disagree with, which means nothing of course. I too, thought some of this show was a bit.....wont say flat, perhaps subdued is the word? I must preface this by saying that I’m comparing to other fall 79 shows.....
I think it is a good show, I thoroughly enjoyed it, I think it sounds great for a cassette master, the set list is good, there are definetly some high points, but felt a few times like Jerry was not fully on this night.....(all of your examples for instance, though I did not feel as intensely as you did)
So once again, I wonder about the show selection for this release, as has happened in the past, some of the recent 71s, the fall 83, and the Berkeley 72 show come to mind...all good shows, but i.e. “what about the night before/after” etc....
Now before everyone’s panties get all in a bunch, I fully admit I’m being “the picky deadhead” here! As I’ve said I love it and I’m glad I have any/all these wonderful shows to listen to etc, but, perhaps others might also feel like there was a stronger show available, especially as a representation of this fine tour! Just a thought, please don’t kill the messenger! ; )
Ok, enough nit picking, I’m glad to have this show, and REALLY glad they used a little variety. Sorry Mr JS but there were 30 years not just 5, so some of us want the best of ALL years! No doubt that was the sweet spot, but there are hundreds more, from most eras, that move me just as much! But that’s just me, which as I say means nothing!
July 30, 2019 - 10:28am

#537

simonrob

Joined:
June 7, 2007

UPS vs Rhino - Who do you believe?

So UPS say they have been trying without success to contact Rhino and Dr. Rhino has stated that they are working with UPS to resolve the issue.

Unfortunately I think it is more realistic to believe that UPS are more likely to be trying to sort this out than Rhino. Time after time Rhino have committed acts of such gross ineptitude that it is hard to believe that they are still in business. As for communication, surely no one is as deageningly silent as Rhino. Possibly, hopefully, UPS will refuse to do business with Rhino ever again.

I am curious to know if or when I shall see my copy of Dave's 31.
July 30, 2019 - 10:11am

#538

Steve Jones

Joined:
February 19, 2011

The UK despatch saga

Someone on the Eurotraders list has been badgering UPS over all this and got a response that they have been trying without success to contact Rhino/Warner to try and sort what they are now realising is a serious problem causing major chaos to their European operations.
July 30, 2019 - 9:24am

#539

simonrob

Joined:
June 7, 2007

Tracking...

The tracking info that I can see on the UPS site is all over the place. The package starts its journey in Indianapolis, IN, presumably a WMG shed. on 7/24 in the early evening. Before midnight the same day it has made it to Louisville, KY, to a UPS shed I guess. There is the first sign of trouble - the activity log states "A missing commercial invoice is causing a delay." Half an hour later it seems to be back in Indianapolis. That is pretty fast, but there are not a lot of miles between the two places. Two hours later it is back in good ole Louisville. At 8:23am on the 25th it was being processed at the clearing agency and at 4:43am (Central European Time) on the 26th it appears to have arrived in Rotterdam here in the Netherlands. The activity log states: "Duties or taxes are due on this package." This is not what is stated elsewhere on the UPS website, where it states that the package is free of Government charges, brokerage charges and BTW (VAT) but there is the freight charge of EUR 81.88. The activity log then states: "Import cash on delivery charges are due on this shipment." At 12:22 the same morning of the 26th (in the relevant US time zone) the package is scanned in the UPS facility in (Yep, you guessed it...) Louisville, KY. Since then there have been warehouse scans in Louisville on the 27th and the 30th. I have received no communication in any form from UPS about charges or delivery and no UPS van has come near to my house to attempt delivery.

My fervent hope is that the item is indeed back in Louisville, recalled due to action by Rhino and that they will either reship it without the freight charge or return it to Indianapolis so that Rhino can ship it again, this time using the tried and (reasonably) trusted method that they have used in the past. That method may take about two weeks, but it least it doesn't impact my blood pressure or my wallet.
July 30, 2019 - 9:20am

#540

perithecat

Joined:
May 4, 2018

P.S.

it's gonna make any potential box ordering a bit of a roulette

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

Box?

....just talking out my ass but....

10/74; you’d think they’d wait for the 50th? Remarket etc...
Fall 72: do they have multis from this tour? Think winds is right about multi/plangent....I think we all agree that would be a Bobbie Dazzler though!
Alpine: seems too small. If he’s that busy makes it sound big!
Perhaps fall 89, but don’t think they’d go with a big one from that tour yet? Personally would love this!
Fall 80 is a possibility IF, they actually have the multis? Personally hope not...great stuff but kinda limited/repetitive imho for a biggin.....meaning not sure they’d sell enough for the big production costs?
Summer 91; my dog sense keeps coming back to this because they have multis, it’s something different i.e “variety” , they haven’t done much post Brentski, and it’s the muatm show, which is why I’m thinking that’s partially why their waiting to announce; to coincide with the muatm....might be anticlimactic otherwise.....don’t know 91 well enough to know if there are enough quality shows for a big box? Do know there are some great shows, just don’t know if there are enough?
73/74; too soon after PNW....and are there multis from this period?
69; think many would dig 69, but perhaps not enough to chance a big box? which brings us to...
Spring 71; personally my least interest out of the above, but there are multis, there’s enough shows, and there are a whole lot of folks been yammering for this one for ages!

So I’m going with 71 or 91.

HF

not according to the misses lol...
I agree about size does not equal greatness, i.e. Sunshine Daydream, but I’m stuck on his comments about Norman’s work load/hours etc...said they’ve been on this one for a while and as others said only other times he’s had to pass on releases was when he was trenched in on a big un! Throw in the plangent equals multi and I’m guessing a big one?
But hey, my opinion and a couple bucks might get ya a gas station coffee! ; )

Grateful

This is a nice pick. Not only is it from the Brent era, it features many of the songs from their upcoming album Go to Heaven as well.

-thanks.

———

Box Set

The rumor mill states this year's box set will be Giants Stadium shows from late 80s/early 90s.

Fall 72

I'm with Phil. Fall 72. Would also jive with bolo's hanoi jane clue.

Recently Moved: How do I…

Recently Moved:

How do I update address (for subscription)? Customer Service number on site doesn't seem to get me anywhere, not serviceable or something.

Laid up sick at home today....

....just woke up, and this news kinda makes me feel better. Oh well. Back to bed.

31

Set List looks like fun.

But with Lazy Lightning/ Supplication AND Lost Sailor/ St. of Circumstance, let the kvetching begin.

As to any box: Exactly, any box is fine with me. Weekend with Bruce or Branford, the Greek, Frost, or Ventura.
The possibilities are, well, not endless. But virtually endless for my lifetime.

Workingman's Dead

Dave said Jeff was working six days a week.

This is gonna be a Big 'Uns or it has video and had to have surround mix which would take longer.

Mcgrupp...

Our virtual den morher marye should ve able to help.

Ms. Marye?

Lazy>Supp kvetching? NEVER.

Ls>soc? That can be fun.
I remember a special day listening to that from 3/10/81...oh yeah...

Good pic

Nice Pic, late 79 was a great year w/ brent and the Band rockin in the fall tours (like cap cod 79)
But still don't get the lack of 83-85 shows. Especially the lack of 1984! For example the Philly 1984 3 night spring run 4/19/84 4/20/84 4/21/84 all are amazing and tight well played!!! Don't believe me listen to estimated Prophet on 4/19/84. Dave listen to it! you'll be surprised Lol.

To quote Han Solo....

https://youtu.be/7e7qtfjfXqE
...."where did you dig up this old fossil?"

Thanks Stoltzfus

Looks like my ticket went through for address change, found a working customer service #. I need #31 to land herself safely home, love that show!

sold out?

I can't get back to the DP31 page, just the separate comments page. Wanted to check out that cover again - boy is that T-Shirt worthy!!!

Hope you feel better VGuy! Just got GL11 today, hopefully my vinyl FW 2/28 arrives at the record store manana!

Uptown, December, '79!

I was there - still have the ticket with the outrageous price of $9.50!

The last 2 shows I saw before this one were with Keith and Donna and neither show was very good in my book. So when they came out with Brent it was time to give the new guy a chance. The energy level was through the roof and this still ranks among my favorite shows (that I attended) ever. Seemed as if everybody was ON that night.

The Uptown was a great venue and last time I saw them before they moved to larger arenas - the good old days!

Highly recommended - and thanks, Dave!

I like everything about

This

Let me say this, Oroborous.....

Dave also said they spent quite a bit of time on the DaP that was Dec '81 Boulder. And though I attended that show and did my (or more than my) share of tootskie and enjoyed it immensely -- I mean, IMMENSELY!!! -- I thought the tape did not support my, um, perceptions at the show.

So again, not sure that Jeffrey being real busy equates to a huge box. Still, when all is said, I'll be at MUATM on time, with shooters in my socks and PAX packed, ready for the news.

Look, what the hell could they be thinking? I couldn't afford 30 Trips, so I kicked in for my buddy's copy and he keeps it, but shared with me. I only wanted the first 10 years anyway.

How about: "Dave Lemieux's Fifteen and a Half Trips around the Moon?" (I mean it's the landing anniversary this weekend. )

Or: Bolo's Big Box of Indecipherable "Clues"? Also available on vinyl (tableclothes)...

Or: a 45-disc set dubbed "HendrixFreak's Worst Nightmare" (all from 1985-86).

Back to wishing and washing: give me spring '71 or fall '72 pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!

Dap 31

What a pick. New era and cool cover art. So much for the 3rd Dap being "Meh". Love it!!!

Phish's Ruby Waves jamfest from Alpine....

....I try not to bring up this band from Vermont very often here, but I would be amiss if I didn't at least share it. 38 minutes of dips, about faces, peaks and valleys. At least six different themes. Simply incredible. Faces were melted. Drool happened. Music is universal. What a jam.
https://youtu.be/zxytYVzQWzk

Available copies

Did all 20,00 copies sell today? The site wouldn't accept my mailing address earlier today and when I came back to the computer to try again it was sold out. very disappointing. And if that's it, will it be available digitally?

Kiev

No digit. On any Daps. P.S. Early bird coming up before last Dap of year. I think.

Hope it sounds better then the listening party

I'm a little nervous about the sound quality here. The listening party ain't too hot. As much as I want some quality 79-80, I'd I'd rather have something that sounds good when I turn it up.

Come on man this is…

Come on man this is ridiculous. I just got my email notice today about the release of this show and it's f**k*n sold out already!! Dave finally releases a worthy show from his lackluster selections of late. In case you were wondering, there are so many more [especially old heads] who want an opportunity to have this release.
So, please reconsider releasing additional copies!! Gratefully requesting

From Healy's cassette master....

....I admittedly got a bit nervous when I heard that.

Grrrrr

Was overseas and didn't get the subscription. Damn it. I'd suck a room full of _____ for a copy of this.

Got

They have to go with what they have. If they went with only pristine sound or betty's then Daps would end not to far into the future. IMHO.

Daverock and keithfan

Don't take the bait. Ha!

Exile

Criterion at barnes and noble 50% off on criterion. Just to let you know.

Subscription, subscription, subscription

Why do we have to say it every time?

Also, it was announced last week in the GD Bulletin that it would go on sale today at 10 am PST.

You know that annoying yellow box that keeps popping up? “Get on the list”

That box knows what it’s talking about.
The ‘list’ is how we knew last week that DaP31 was being announced at 10 am PST 2019-07-16.

But if you subscribed it wouldn’t matter.

Available Copies

Thanks for the reply Carlo. I'm very disappointed.

“Next year is going to be even better”

That’s the take home message from Dave’s seaside chat.

The site wouldn't accept my…

The site wouldn't accept my shipping address (and I've ordered many things from dead.net). I had this on my calendar and I tried when there were still copies available this morning, with credit card and paypal, with "same as billing" and with "shipping entered manually". Then with a second browser. When I came back to my computer this evening to try again it was sold out. Such a shame. Not the first time I've had issues with the site

12-3,4,5-79

Got them on CD-R about 15 years ago.
3rd and 4th are listed as lineage: Mcass/DAT/CD-R.
5th doesn’t have a lineage and is missing 2 songs, and has splices in 2 other songs. Dave said that he could see the 5th being released in the future. That would be grate if they have the complete show.

Spinning 12/3 set 2 now and it sounds pretty good for a cassette. Hope the mastering kicks it up a notch.

I would love a massive Box, with delivery at the end of September and all fall/winter to soak it up.

Sold out -sell out!

You guys are really going the wrong way! I attended 238 shows and have bought multiple copies of almost everything The Grateful Dead have ever released and yet I am beginning to feel that loyalty is becoming more and more a one-way street.

Who the hell is running this train? What business strategy dictates that you alienate your customers? Did you guys hire that genius who came up with the idea of "New Coke" or something? If I were one of your stockholders, I would be furious that you were urinating away unsatisfied demand AND infuriating your customer base.

Hopefully, it is just incompetence. If you are selling out a product with immense economies of scale AND significant sunk costs in 4 hours, you need to hire someone with a much greater grasp on demand forecasting! You can do better. You are the Grateful Dead for Pete's sake.

Crap shoot

If you need an ala cart you need to be there waiting for the screen to flip, then you might have a chance.Otherwise like icecream says sub. Sub. Sub. So you don't cry,cry,cry.

Joedunn totally lost me....

....it's been the business model for six plus years. Just subscribe. November.
btw. Casey Jones is running the train.
Beating a Dead horse.

If you want Dave's Picks....

....if you really, REALLY want them, check in during the end of November. If not, then quit complaining. I did the math years ago.

31

SOLD OUT!!!!

How to

How to wave goodbye without using your hands.- George carlin.

31 was available ALL day

Longer than any in recent memory. That said, agree with vguy, this is a subscription series, no real room for complaints.

A MASTER CASSETTE RECORDING

A big thank you to "the-powers-that-be" for releasing this show.

Please, folks lets not have complaints about this Dave's Picks sounding murky or lower fidelity. "Consumer quality."
The analog cassettes were good music carriers, but they weren't top-notch high fidelity in comparison to the compact disc. That less-than-perfect dynamic range, headroom, tape speed hiss, and tape generations were all downsides. I have this show on cassette and if I pull it out to compare it to the DaP31, it couldn't compare, it probably is an 8th generation copy.

So with that aside, this DaP31 will sound like I'm listening to the original master cassette recording, not even a 2nd generation copy. Quite a long time ago, I read what brand of tape and formulation of tape was used and the brand and model of recording deck was used.

He’s Gone...

Oh, oh, what I want to know is.....

Does HF or anyone know if they have multis of Fall 72?
I apologize if you’ve already told us and this senile geezer forgot again!

Well, there is every right…

Well, there is every right to complain. I was on the subscription before and I was disappointed with some of the selections in the series! Soooo, I don't particularly care to spend the money for the series and pay money for discs I don't want. All I am saying, some would say I am complaining [whatever], is that there are so many heads out there who just want to get a chance to buy a f**k*n show without paying into a subscription! If you do a pre-order then you know how many discs to rip and there are no worries about being stuck with any unsold discs. I'm just saying...

Were There Any Multi Tracks, Fall 1972?

I believe they gave all the Multi-Tracks they had to give in the Spring.

The longshot is 12/31/72 which was broadcasted on KSAN, San Francisco. I don't think it's unheard for them to bring in a multi-track recorder for radio broadcasts.. but I just don't think they did for this one. I reserve the right to be wrong, however.. If anyone has better info please do tell.

Sold Out

I am sorry some got shut out on this today. Honestly I thought there would have still been copies through tonight.

Initially these have not been selling too high above the ala carte pricing on the secondary market.. so if you got shut out look on eBay sometime in August. Consider the $10 or so extra you paid to be the hedge against the $95 it costs to subscribe.

The Road Trips Series was non-numbered and they had a hard time with it. It's been like this for almost eight years, and I don't see things changing because this works better for them.. Predictable revenue and costs and it does get people off their butts to purchase by the release date (if not before).

I wouldn't expect #'s 32 and beyond to be any different. Again, truly sorry for those that got shut out.

Subscription = 4X + Bonus + Early Bird Discount - Stress
Ala Carte = 4X - Bonus - Discount + Possibility of getting shut out + Stress
______________________________________
Math shows us that Subscription > Ala Carte.

Cassettes

Good post by Born Cross Eyed on the cassette master issue. I used to be pretty psyched with any cassettes of live dead that I could get in the '80s, and what I could get was few and far between. I would never have believed the sonic riches that dead.net would release.

I know that you can't judge a show by its set list, but this set list looks hot. I am particularly looking forward to checking out the Scarlet-Fire as I am partial to some of those '80s FOTMs. If past predicts future, then I can safely say that my brain will quickly adjust to the sound quality without being distracted and I will dig the release for what it is rather than pine away for what it is not. This also gives me hope that we might see some summer '85 releases down the road even if they are also cassette masters. (SPAC '85 SPAC '85 SPAC '85).

The cover art on this one also looks wicked cool, as I think someone else noted, it would make a good shirt. Love the fiery dragon motif to go along with that extended FOTM.

if anyone is interested in some vinyl...

I'm trying to raise some scratch for the box set that's coming our way soon. Seeing that I've got these on cd's I guess I really don't need these on vinyl as well. Anyone interested feel free to drop me a PM and then post a message for me to check my PM.
11-10-1967 Shrine Exposition Hall~Los Angeles,Ca. 3LP set. 180gram
Dicks Picks Vol. 34 11-5-1977 6LP set. 180gram
...both are new and still in their shrink-wrap. Never been opened.
Drop me a line...

Don't Overlook Stanley 11/30

All this excitement has me heading down the the music room for a little 11/30/79 sound board action...whoa, got this one on tape "hot off the presses" right after it came out. My bet on Dave's 32 is a post-Brent, because Dave wants to have one of each with the different keyboard players...yer thoughts. Bring on the Megabox!!!

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