Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,101 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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June 18, 2021 - 6:39am

#3541

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

12/31/85
Thanks for giving…

12/31/85

Thanks for giving me an excuse to break out this old familiar that hasn't had a listen in a while.

Out of the gate like a rocket with Touch ...just a touch too fast.

Everybody takes a deep breath and, somewhat ironically, they take Tons of Steel at a much more sensible pace. Sounds like Brent's playing a DX-7. Bobby seems to give a little off-mic HAA! just before the guitar solo.

CC Rider keeps it on a slow boil until Brent stokes the flames with his B3 during the second round of solos. I love the guy to death, but I've never really been able to buy Bobby as a blues man, despite his apprenticeship to Pig, but this thing is really escalates into a resounding climax. Hot stuff.

Dupree's is a cool song to have back, but they probably should have thought about doing it in a different key 'cause it's totally out of Jerry's vocal range at this point.

Cassidy. Love this tune. Feels more like a Brent lead vocal as Bobby is almost rapping it, while Brent carries the melody. Jam feels good with the drummers going off as usual, but it feels more like a warm up, seeming to end rather quickly.

Brown Eyed Women, man, this is like all time hall-of-fame level piece of songwriting and it's criminal that this isn't well-known outside of Dead circles. I love the "drink down a bottle and you're ready to kill" line, but "the bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean"? just sheer brilliance. One vivid image after another.

Not sure if the rhythm section listened to Bobby's admonitions about getting too busy before Let It Grow. It's all full of 16s and marching rudiments. Phil's takin' it kinda easy, but it's hard to say if he should really be lumped in with the rhythm section. Jer tears into that first solo. You can really hear the trumpet influenced lines he's playing even without the MIDI. The interplay between Jerry and Bobby during the full-on jam is such a web of strings and inversions, they're blending into a two headed, 12 stringed southwestern psychedelic beast. Behind them the percussionists flow like a gurgling stream with Bent's synth weaving in and out of their groove. They just fall into the return melody without ever actually going into full unison, but rising toward it like sunshine into the cool desert air.

Ahhh, the Father Guido Sarducci and Ken Kesey countdown. I don't know how many time's I've heard this, but it still cracks me up to this day. "It's a representation of the U.S.S. Miramack!" "It's an enormous Perry Como!" "It's Rasputin, FDR, and Eric Clapton!" "That's not Eric Clapton." Poor Guido. "I'm outa here" lol.

I love Bobby's little Blues Brothers shtick during Midnight Hour, and he sounds genuinely hurt when Phil later welcomes the home audience when he's just done it twice!

I let Sugaree and Man Smart Woman Smarter go by as I was typing, but basically more good stuff

Ship of Fools seems like a tune that just doesn't get enough plays.

Compact Playin'. They seem to be stacking the set, but at the same time also keeping an eye on the clock for the broadcast, or something. The second of two hot Bobby jams that we just get a taste of. Was that a hint of guitar synth?

Certainly not complaining about this Terrapin getting plenty of room. They nail it. A nice, long drums/space jam follows on.

Bobby's in a talky mood, making rare comment about the ragged Truckin'.

Black Peter has a relatively brisk shuffle going on. I like this one best as a dirge, but they've got a lotta NFA and Throwin' Stones ahead of them, I guess. Nice interplay between Brent and Bobby's vocals. At some points it the two songs become pretty much indistinguishable.

My tape has Mississippi Half Step, and the "We want Phil" "You can't have him" Tom Thumb from 6/29/86 Alpine Valley as filler, and then Box of Rain from RFK 7/7/86 as filler. Talk about a couple of infamous heat wave gigs. These selections reveal nothing of the apparent travails.

"If you're looking to get silly, you came to the right place!" Indeed.
June 17, 2021 - 8:44pm

#3542

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

a few days late

that Baltimore show from March '73 is super fantastic cool. release it dave.

that Shakedown opener from 4/26/83 is top shelf.
June 17, 2021 - 5:56am

#3543

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

12/31/85

I will give it a go Jim.

Alright Rockthing. Good to hear from you.
June 17, 2021 - 12:17am

#3544

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Funny how I don't come …

Funny how I don't come 'round here no more. I'm a binge drinker personality, I suppose.

JimInMD:
I'm in for 12/31/85. One I've had on cassette for years. Unfortunately Let It Grow did not leave such an indelible mark on my memory... or well, never mind... Definitely looking forward to revisiting it based on Dennis' assessment. Interesting how things can just pass you by sometimes. My main memory of 12/31/85 is Ken Kesey on the FM, or wherever it was that my copy was dubbed from. Man, to me, this show is all about that Kesey intro. Gold.

DeadVikes:
I go back to the 4/20/85 show a lot, too. I'd never heard it until it came up as pick of the day earlier this year, but that was definitely a find for me. Thanks, everyone!
June 16, 2021 - 4:14pm

#3545

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

So 12/31/85 Tomorrow?

I'm intrigued..
June 15, 2021 - 2:11pm

#3546

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Dave's Picks 35

Jim, I am a day late but I am going back to Dave's #35, 4/20/84. This show continues to get better to my ears after each listen, so I am looking forward to it.
June 15, 2021 - 12:50pm

#3547

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

12/31/85

I will definitely check that one out.

Yes.. I have definitely listened to hot LIG's when hitting the harder stuff. Sometimes music helps me get into a groove, into the flow and helps with timing and muscle memory. ..but pick the wrong music and it can work against you. No more scary dark stars on really difficult stuff with consequences.. bad trip music can manifest itself into upside-downness in a hurry. Which is bad.
June 15, 2021 - 9:12am

#3548

Dennis

Joined:
November 1, 2012

Jim 4/26/83 - Let it Grow

Nice, but my vote for GREATEST LET IT GROW goes to 12/31/85, the NYE show, that Let it Grow is a monster. Jerry is on fire seems uncontainable. Bobby rhythms are front and center in my copy,,,, Brent's keys are anything but "plinky" to me and the drummers sound like they've taken a blackjack to the skins. GREATEST 4 Sure!!

But 83,,,, great year. A couple of weeks b4 at the Meadowlands (4/16/83) has the greatest LL Rain at about the 7 minute mark Jerry is on fire, I don't think he could squeeze anymore notes into a measure. Bobby vocals are right there. My fave!!!!

On the subject of Let it Grow since you are the canoe man,,,,, sorry kayaking man,,,, I always visualize Let it Grow as a great example of moving from running the rapids (at incredible speeds) and spilling into mirror smooth water. Do you find Let it Grow a great kayak song?
June 14, 2021 - 2:55pm

#3549

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Ha...

I guess I am the opposite. If I eat enough.. by the time I come down you can list the house as new. I get into details like that..

Stated another way, nobody likes housework, but if you have to do it.. it numbs the pain quite nicely. ...and it had to get done.

Dennis.. at the very least hit up the Let It Grow, and the second set. A fun show that I had never heard before. Also, I will shoot you some pictures tonight when I get back..
June 14, 2021 - 12:56pm

#3550

Dennis

Joined:
November 1, 2012

Proudfoot Edibles

They go together if the housework doesn't have to get done!

I find them best when I want to THINK about housecleaning.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

Orange Sunshine

I remember Buffalo '90 we had motel room like right across the street from the stadium I know it was in walking distance. Anyway we went up a day ahead and went to The Anchor Bar for wings and pizza. Then we went to The Falls Canadian side my buddy had family up there. That night we got back to the room we took the bed spread off the beds and went down where they were camping and stayed up all night eating Orange Sunshine and drinking Fosters.

1969-05-23 - Road Trip!

I know it’s a surprise, but the Highlight = Dark Star > St. Stephen > Eleven > Lovelight

The Infamous Dark Star Suite of ’69!

Dark Star
If I waxed poetic, I’d go on and on about this Dark Star, but mostly I wanna say, it’s got the Vibraslap, and I love the Vibraslap, especially in Dark Star, and therefore I love this Dark Star.

St. Stephen!
Can’t beat a Classic Version like this. You get the Xylophone, Cannon, William Tell Bridge, it’s all there. This is a great St. Stephen of old.

The Eleven
It’s good! Crazy good you ask? Well.. Crazy good might be a bit much, but it’s good I say!

Turn On Your Lovelight
Sir Ron McKernan aka Pigpen with his blues and soul. I’ve come to feel that Pigpen is a tragic figure, and the band would forever change with his passing, but here he is young and alive and that’s how I like to remember him.
Cause she’s got Box-backed nitties… what’s he say?!?!? (Let’s leave that for the scholars)
Calm down Bobby.. it’s no time for screaming like that!

Alright, well.. that was fun.
I guess I should put on the next show and follow my bliss.
5/24/69 you’re up next…

Note:
When they rehearsed and played St. Stephen with regularity, like in 1969, it was such an amazing song.. alas Jerry would remark that he felt that the song was a cop and due to that and less time spent rehearsing, St. Stephen would leave the garden.

If you watch the Grateful Dead Movie with the director’s commentary, Susan Crutcher tells a pretty fascinating story about how, she wanted to include St. Stephen in the section with the photo montage and Jerry was like, we don’t even play that song anymore, and Susan said yeah but it’s sooo good. And while listening to the song repeatedly during the editing process, Jerry’s interest got peaked and that led to the band resurrecting the song in 1976. The story holds water as they were editing the movie in ’76 when St. Stephen came back. Not to mention Susan strikes me as a cool person who would have no reason to embellish a story like that. I found that to be pretty cool and wanted to share.

I love St. Stephen of old!

FOURWINDSBLOW: How much of that there Orange Sunshine did you eat? That's the question...

GOGD-OSS

Enough! That's all I'm saying.

There were just the three of us out of ten that went to the camping site, we were the crazed of the group. The next morning when we went back to the motel room waking everyone up with a hearty breakfast of Orange Sunshine.

Good Show! CSN and The Dead! We went in early and sat right up in front of Jerry.

RE: OSS

FWB - That sounds like Good Times!

You seen that Doc on Orange Sunshine? Pretty fascinating.

That and Heads by Jesse Jarnow.

So much info. Such a Taboo subject... You gotta love it!

Oh Yeah

I just remembered that right before set 2 the band on the stage and the camera rolling a camera guy center stage got me giving the thumbs up as he panned the crowed I know he saw me cause he smiled. Hope it makes it on the official video.

7/16/90

Check out Bucket> Half Step if ya wanted to listen to more that would be okay.

https://archive.org/details/gd1990-07-16.sbd.miller.95782.sbeok.flac16/…

I have a cool story about taking mexican quaaludes at a show....

....I'll fill you in later.
I have a pick to throw into the ring. It's not official, and I'm sure most have you have heard it, although maybe not in a long time (like me). 10.16.81 Club Melk Weg. Amsterdam. Bobby's birthday. One acoustic set. One electric. Borrowed instruments. High AF on hashish. Lovelight bustout after nine years. It's a really fun show. My two sense.
https://archive.org/details/gd1981-10-16.sbd.miller.110351.flac16/gd81-…

Taboo Subject, Let the Good Times Roll

Not sure why this would be a taboo subject here.. the band certainly didn't try to hide it. Besides.. most of this is folklore by now, happening between 55 and 25 years ago. It could be just because I am old and in the way.. but you don't see or hear of it that much these days.

I enjoy reading peoples stories, most of which (probably all that are told on these threads) by far predate any statute of limitation. Like it or leave it, this is American and World History. Let the good times roll (deja que los buenos tiempos pasen, deixe os bons tempos rolarem, laissez le bon temps rouler).

Edit: Speaking of LSD, I finished discs 1 and 2, 3 later. Still one of my favorite 69 releases behind FW and Fillmore Auditorium. I agree with the Good Ole GD.. disc one probably delivers the goods and is the highlight, but my favorite is disc 2 simply because He Was a Friend of Mine > The Eleven speaks to me... As for disc three, I have never met a Morning Dew or an Alligator I did not like. Even the squatty little yeller one with no tail.

vguy 10/16/81 Melk Weg

There was a video of both shows on Youtube, a few years ago, don't know if it is still out there!!

Back to Pow Wow....

....i never met an Alligator i didn't like, and i really like this one. Love the Feedback as well. Great show!!

Mmmmm.....Melk Weg

https://youtu.be/WvvYChZTXMw

https://youtu.be/b4p1zBuqYDk

5-23/24/69 Pow Wow RT 4.1(?)

I actually was awarded this for a prize back in 2010 for the inaugural version of 30 Days of Dead. It was on the 5th day and the song was Playing in the Band from 5/20/73 UCSB. As I recall it was a totally random guess! Funny the things we remember (and what we forget!)

Re: Pow Wow

Couldn't have happened to a better person.

Pow Wow Wow

Had a good time listening to 5/23 & 24/69 today.

The opening Lovelight almost seems to be a prankster response to the rookie mc telling people to be seated... never trust a prankster.

All the banter is fun. The difference between the closing Lovelight & opening Lovelight was interesting as well.
The opening Lovelight seemed to be much more exploratory with different themes being introduced, especially around 14:30, Jerry gets into a cool groove. The Drums > St. Stephen transition was a trip too.

Good stuff all around.

Milkweg is cool, I like Milkweg

11/17/73 Dap 5 is calling me too, I can feel it's pull.

WILFREDTJONES - 30 Days, look forward to it every year, and that's a good prize! Thanks Dead.net for being cool.

JIMINMD - I agree! That subject should not be taboo. May the human exploration into the cosmos and beyond continue!

Alright you all, keep on rockin' looking forward to the next pick here and in my mailbox.. shipping noticed received!

Be Well

Tomorrow's Pick

What's on tap for tomorrow?

Jimbo, good to see you over here. Time for a pick. Send us one.

Still no shipping notice here.

Pick

Oh,.. the pressure. I am not good at this. But since we are on the best sounding of the road trips. I would humbly suggest either the WOS road trips (6/18/74) or the 5/15/70 Road Trips.

If I had my way.. I would pick Louisville 74 in honor of the eminent release (Road Trips Vol 2 No 4). One other ask.. on or about the first received date of the next Dave's Picks. Would it be possible / make sense to hold this show open for a week so both the folks that get it first have time to comment and the folks that get a day (or six) later have time to participate? Seems reasonable to me. So a week and day of 1974?

Pick

We could do 'From Egypt With Love?' Mix it up a little.

Real great Stella Blue even with the audience patch.

Pick TOO

I want to pick a show Vguy saw. It was his second and it cooks!

Jim's Pick

Good choice, let's do The RT.2.3. Shows from 6/16 and 6/18 74.

I like your idea for Dave's #34.

FourWinds, let's hit up The From Egypt with Love RT tomorrow. 10/21 and 10/22 78. I have not listened to this one in a while.

Thanks guys.

Deadvikes Egypt with love tomorrow

How funny i was grilling last night and I listened to half of the first CD!! Now i have a reason to listen to the rest.. bob t

orange sunshine

there was orange sunshine in the 90's? I only remember it back in the 60's and early 70's and it was the bomb, 4 way hits, which meant you only needed to take a quarter of a hit and they were kinda small, so it was quite easy to take a bit too much. :o fun times indeed. Did some yellow sunshine back then too, it was suppose to be 8 way, never did more than a crumb of that stuff, talk about mind blown. They don't make it like that anymore.
Mexican quaaludes, mandrax I think they were called, not the same as 714's but still lots of fun, they had an antihistamine in the mix to help keep you awake the first 30 mins or so, then it was all fun and stumbling and falling and laughing and feeling invincible, sure wish they hadn't outlawed that drug, one on my favorites. Ever try ludes and acid together? wow, what an experience that was, add some black nepalese hash on top and you are now in heaven. Back in those days, it was ok to have a trove of drugs, like Hunter Thompson said in fear and loathing:
"We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers...and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." and push it we did.

O S

If it wasn't O S it was very good and very clean. After our first dabble we stayed up all night looking for the girl that had it bought a bunch and ate it all day. Don't want to put misinfo out there but, thats what she called it, we had a good time.

6.18.74 sounds most excellent (Wyld Stallyns guitar riff)....

....cueing it up now on the Archive (i don't own the physical copy). Avatar updated. Four winds says he wants top pick a show i saw? I recently listed my attended shows if you want to look. Just don't choose 5.19.95. Yuck. Vocal drop outs during the Freedom Hall Promised opener. Good ole Wall Of Sound.

Vguy

Check your PM.

Wall of Sound

Many happy Road Trips over the years. Just finishing 5/23/69 lovelight . Amazing all the changes from live-dead era into Workingman’s era , nothing short of phenomenal creative drive.
There were a few lackluster Dead shows in the 70s ,but I never went to one back then that was less than amazing.
Would like to see a board tape of UCSB May 74 with Great American String Band set official release. Maria was real hot also. 74 was a banner year.
Seminole Powwow kicked ass. Dark Star was super improvisational . The 11 was exciting . Love-Light was also reflective of the youthful vigor of the band at that time.
Miss Indian World ,Cheyenne Kippenberger 2019-2021, is from the Hollywood , Florida Band of Seminole Tribe. Met her in Albuquerque during Gathering of Nations Powwow a year ago. She’s a real good person from one of the strongest of all the tribes in the country.
I still nominate 5/2/70 for this Saturday on its 50th anniversary .

Vguy

I suggested the 2nd ever show you saw. I thought this show had some unique Jerry playing on it especially for the time period. If we don't get to listen to it I'll understand but, maybe you can give your take on it I thought it was good for the time.

Ps. Fun fact, though I've never counted till today I got 28 of the 39 I saw on video.

You mean Anaheim Stadium?....

....it's View From The Vault 1. Maybe a video of the day with discussion is in order?
6.18.74's Ramble-On Rose was so good, i played it twice!!
pm checked

Meet Up At The Movie

Quarantine style. Sounds good!

Pick has Started = Contact High

Alright, firing up 6/16/74 and already WOW on Sound Quality and playing on China Cat..

My Completist OCD has prevented me from frequent listening of this & from Egypt with Love.
It might be cool to hear them both again in their compilation order... already struggling with the whole notion of rearranged songs.. Deep Breath.. they sound good.

Talking about Orange Sunshine, Mexican Quaaludes, Ludes & Acid, HST gave me a nice Contact Buzz!

Thanks UNKLE SAM & FWB for that.. Keep ‘em coming.

I was still tripping from the Great Pow Wow! Both nights rocked real good. I dug that.

He Was A Friend & Death Don't were real good too hear again, along with all the rest of that psychedelic stuff.

Good times!

Meet Up At The Movies Quarantine Style sounds Awesome!

Shake up the Shakedown Stream.. with a little bonus footage:)

This Eyes sounds real nice..

EDIT: And 5/2/70 Anniversary sounds promising as well!!

The Logistics....

....to have everyone cue up View From The Vault at the same time would be incredibly incredible. Zoom Meeting?!

RE:VGUY72 - Zoom Meeting

Bad Ass!

ZoooooooooooM!....

....I'm considered essential, but I'm off this Saturday and Sunday. jUSt SaYIn'.

6/16

Eyes, Playin. Nice! Nobodys Jam, now were going old school. Love it!

RE: Zoom Vault View

VGUY - Saturday works for me! PST

And 6/16 Eyes > Stronger Than Dirt > Big River is super!

Keith's piano... is he using a pedal or what's going on there?

Video pick?

If nobody has interest in the '87 Anaheim second choice would be in honor of the resident care-taker of the Vault, the man on the inside. With Dave's very first pick 'Truckin' Up To Buffalo' '89.

RE: Video Pick?

FWB - 4/10/20 - Shakedown Stream was "Truckin' Up To Buffalo" but 7/7/89 "Crimson White & Indigo" might have you in the crowd somewhere? Haven't seen that in awhile.

I'm down for View From The Vault V1 or '87 or whatever, just maybe something other than "Truckin' Up To Buffalo" as I just watched that recent. Just sayin'

DL said this week Shakedown Stream would be Closing of Winterland.

Alright, stoked to hear this 6/16/74 PITB for 28 minutes, but gotta wait till later and take care of some business first...

Be Well you All

GOGD

Yeah I forgot they did the '89 show but , The one I was talking about that i could be on film was Buffalo '90. Sorry for any confusion. JFK '89 we were in the bleachers half way back Jerry, Brent side.

I have the opener and the main act on audience video from Buffalo '90.

6/18/74

Had to cue this one up on archive too, (and will tomorrow's "From Egypt" pick.) I really don't know why I slept on these Road Trip releases - I guess I was put off by the cut-up nature. Oh well - LMA is a-ok with me :) Just now on "Roses."

I had to run out for my weekly grocery trip yesterday, and Sirius was playing "To Lay Me Down" from Jai-Alai - sounded very good, though I am not sure if it was the soon to be delivered version or not.

I know that many here already know this, but if not, the Freedom Hall show "Eyes" is the version that Holly Bowling does on solo piano. She apparently transcribed the whole jam. I have never directly compared them note for note, but her version is really great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voLdRQ-19dc

EDIT: She actually does her own "version" of the verses, but the jam is transcribed. On "BTW" and it looks like the WoS has settled in and is sounding better - still some vocal drops, but the band sounds incredible!

Peace