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    marye
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    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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  • rockthing
    Joined:
    5/19/74 (Part II)

    Wrote these notes on Monday morning while drinking my coffee and getting ready to do some work from home. After a while I was mostly distracted by the show.

    I'll get to that Feb. 22 '69 show if I can, but I don't have that one handy. Hafta stream it.

    The ETree identifier of this source is 115876, btw. I don't have the box set, so these are my first impressions.

    It Must Have Been The Roses: Ok. /Now/ I'm awake. Possible tape change? There is suddenly a big improvement in sound quality for this hauntingly sensitive rendition. Jerry's voice is now clear above the guitars. Everything, save Phil, is suddenly much clearer and the sound field feels wider. Up to this point the tape had sounded like the tape the biker is listening to at the beginning of the Dead Movie. Nice harmony work during the refrain, blended well in the house mix.

    Loose Lucy: Gettin' in the funk. Jerry's just perfectly behind the beat to make it nice and nasty. If the syncopation isn't just right, this tune can completely lose all form really quickly. Loose Lucy must be a pretty new song at this point. I have no idea when this tune debuted. They didn't do this in concert much, as far as I know. I was lucky enough to see'em do it once, but the performance I saw was almost unrecognizable. Something was wrong with the timing, so it sounded all backwards. I was embarrassed to not even recognize it until Jerry started singing. This is a nice treat.

    I Know You Rider? Something seems to be wrong here. The info text says Money Money should be next followed by China/Rider, but we're just dropped into IKYR. Looks like some minor surgery might be needed on the meta data.

    Money Money: Ok. Someone's just mislabelled these files. Man, this has always been one of my least favourite songs in the Dead's catalogue. I rarely skip songs on albums, but being the album closer on Mars Hotel makes it easy. I don't think I've ever heard a live version of it, so this is kind of a treat, in its own sort of way. Having not heard it in such a long time, I guess it's not such a bad song. The negativity of the lyric just sems to strike such a contrast to most of the other stuff in the repertoire. John Lennon, for example, has a lot of negativity in his lyrics, but when I listen to him, I expect that.

    China Rider: Yeah. They're keepin' that funky groove going that was working so well during Loose Lucy. The transition jam seems to go almost immediately to an I Know You Rider feel. The guitar tone is very unusual here. It almost sounds like Bobby's Gibson 335 tone. He's playing lots of double-stops, where he plays two notes at a time even while soloing… wait… maybe that /was/ Bobby!? Some very cool interplay between Bobby and Phil before a guitar sound that is unmistakably Jerry joins in just ahead of the trademark unison bit before I Know You Rider. What is now clearly Jerry's tone keeps it going after the unison part, and now there's a Feelin' Groovy jam. I can almost see the smiling faces and twirling homemade sun dresses with flowers in the hair right now. Big, big ovation from the crowd as they settle into the Rider vamp before going into the first verse. They know what they've just heard. That was sweet, breezy, and smooth as can be. I'm guessing Jerry had some sort of equipment or other issue causing him to stop playing for a bit at the beginning of the transition. Oh, yeah, Jer, dig into that "On a north bound train" line. This and the out-of-place IKYR are going to get merged into one track when I get a chance.

    Set II:
    Promised Land: Yeah. Everybody's definitely up off their blankets now.

    Bertha: Got a little "Yee Haw" from someone nearby for "All night pouring, but not a drop on me." It's quite amazing how inobtrusive the audience is, considering this was recorded with a handheld mic by someone just hanging out in crowd.

    Greatest Story: Nice wah wah Jerry licks. Jerry's wah is so bubbly and has a rich swell, like the sound of a wave on the ocean. Using the rocking motion of the foot pedal definitely puts the player physically off balance, so I can understand why he seemed to abandon it later in favor of the Mutron "auto-wah" tone filter. Sounds so good here, though. Jerry's volume sounds cranked, though, totally drowning everything out. I ain't complaining. Oh, yeah. A little jam in GSET? They seem to have gone into something altogether different. I'm not sure if this is a set piece, but it feels unfamiliar to me. I know that I've heard occasional jams in Greatest Story, but they seem rare. This is definitely no longer the Greatest Story chord progression, but I don't know what it is, and then Wamp, Wamp-Wamp, right back into it. Now I'm gonna hafta start checking out Spring 1974 Greatest Stories. That was hot and adventurous, like maybe something went wrong and they fought through it… but maybe there was just a jam in this song back then.

    Ship of Fools: Giving the manic dancers their first break of the second set. The taper is stopping the tape between songs, though, so who knows how long they spent tuning in between. Very nice harmony work from Bobby and Donna.

    Weather Report: Seems a bit tentative in the earlier segments, but the Let It Grow jam is developing interestingly. The whole band just seems sort of in a gentle mood this night. Everything is soft and malleable, and most of all, creative, when they go off into improvised sections. The straight tunes are tight and, well, straightforward, but I'm hearing all sorts of novel ideas coming through during the instrumental segments. There seems to be a completely different confidence at work during this jazzy work out. You can hear Billy getting back to his swing roots and playing off Keith. This is fantastic. Such subtle interplay. Normally when I hear the full suite performed I wonder why they didn't continue to use the first parts, but in this case I didn't feel that way.

    Peggy-O: Jerry's picking is quite aggressive, and his tone is very chimey, even behind his vocal. Relaxed tempo, even by Peggy-O standards. In this recording it sounds almost like Billy and Jerry doing a duet, but Keith adds some accents here and there.

    ??: What is this? A playful little jam and some quiet noodling where the audience's shouts and requests become more prominent. Bobby announces technical difficulties.

    Truckin': Nice buildup, but not the major bomb drop I'm used to, and from there things start to get really weird. It's not spacy weird, just, "Whoa, what the heck is this?" weird. Some of the early 70s Truckin's could get totally abstract, so this is just the way they rolled back then. Great stuff. Gettin' that funky groove goin' from the first set again, even as the changes take on some jazzy influences. Bobby is very clear in the mix, and my oh, my it's gettin' Weir'ed. Jerry busts in with a burst of guitar feedback which seems to shock everyone for a moment, but they're still groovin'. This is the gold I look for in any show. It's funny because Mind Left Body actually sounds a lot like Loose Lucy. Billy and Phil getting' into a little funky-drummer exchange. Finally Phil breaks through in the mix with some space for him to hit that Bootsy one. In the info text "Jam" and "Mind Left Body Jam" had been listed separately, but they're actually all included in the Truckin' track, which is my preference. Cousinit made a real mess of this file set, but I can fix it. Rarely are there such glaring mistakes on the Archive, but this one has definitely been put together somewhat carelessly.

    NFA: This interesting because I've been listening to a lot of Alligator era NFA's or Bean era NFA's, and that gives a nice context to compare to this Wolf tone… of course, there is a LOT of recording tech affecting the sound here, but even though there's a nice honk, everything seems so nice and round and gently muted. Hey. What's this breakdown in NFA. Pretty sure I've never heard that before… and GTRFB. THAT, was an interesting transition.

    GTRFB: Nothing to worry about here. The old standby. Billy's hi-hat figure during the breakdown is, again, getting really funky with a swinging 16th note feel, or something. Very cool.

    US Blues: Mars Hotel weighted setlist. What month did that come out? Good, tight version.

    Johnny B. Goode: Full colosseum clap along for a high energy reading that does justice to the Check Berry original. Sometimes this can get a bit too languid. This one is rockin' hard.

    On repeated listen, I've messed with the EQ some. First of all I bumped up the EQ preamp level, I dunno, about 10db, I guess. I then added a further 12db of 64Hz, and 125Hz on the 10 band EQ to bring Phil nicely into the mix, but also lowered almost everything else about 6db on frequencies that had been flat to make the bass frequency differential greater. The bass still isn't terribly defined, but it at least brings Phil into play. He was completely inaudible without EQ. Got just a touch more vocal by giving the 1KHz and 2KHz about 1db. The tape has a sort of nostalgic cheap car speaker sound, so I actually wanna preserve a bit of that… not that I could really get rid of it. There's quite a nice venue ambiance, especially when there is more space in the arrangements, like during the Mind Left Body Jam.

    The vocal drop-outs others have mentioned were not audible to the audience.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    2/22/69

    That is a great show. According to the cd notes it was recorded, along with shows in late January and the Feb-March shows, for possible inclusion on Live Dead. It probably won't happen - the song lists are obviously very similar, but it would make a great box set to release all the shows recorded.
    The shows from 1967-1971 inclusive are the main ones for me in 30 Trips.

  • Forensicdoceleven
    Joined:
    You can't blame gravity for falling in love…..

    Mornin’, rockers!!!

    Pick Of The Day: Dream Bowl February 22, 1969

    Relatively speaking, the yang to the yin of February 21, 1969. True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist…..

    I have the space, you have the time, let’s revisit. Officially released in October 2015 as part of Thirty Trips Around The Sun, one almost never hears about this show, possibly because it gets overshadowed by the blazing white hot glare of the Fillmore West Shows of February 27th to March 2nd. This is very much “of a kind” with those shows, featuring the typically sweet Mountains Of The Moon (always loved that song!), a long exploratory Dark Star, a fierce, crunchy Other One, a deathly Death Don’t, a fine Eleven, and a greasy Lovelight that clocks in at a mere 21+ minutes.

    Great music, great sound quality, I suggest you find the time…..

    The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once…..

    Rock on,

    Doc
    There comes a time when the mind takes a higher plane of knowledge but can never prove how it got there…..

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Heads in Mississippi

    That's good to read - they opened with Mississippi Half Step - Franklins Tower the first time I saw them 3/24/81. A great start to the show for sure.

  • PT Barnum
    Joined:
    5-19-74

    In my experience, any show that starts off with Mississippi half-step uptown toodleloo is usually a great one and 5-19-74 is no exception. That pacific northwest box grows on ya, for sure.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    5/19/74

    I haven't played it this year yet, but it has become one of my most played shows from this year - mainly because I bought it on vinyl. But it is really good, too. To me, it's better than its song list suggests - the songs leading up to the Truckin' jam are well played and forward moving, and that final jam is superb. It has been castigated in some quarters for the vocal drop outs. A price worth paying, in my opinion. All three 1974 shows in the box it was culled from are top notch.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Dave's 13 and 42

    Hey Bluecrow, #13 is definitely in my top five. Love this show. Listen to it quite a bit. #42 hasn't resonated with me as much as #13, don't know why. How do you all feel?

    I will throw out Dave's Picks #7, 4/24/78, for our old buddy That's Otis. I believe you are fan of this era. Hope all is well out there for you and the rest of the crew!

  • rockthing
    Joined:
    5/19/74

    I've got a beta-max transfer of 2/24/74... which stayed in heavy rotation for a long time when it first hit my library, but low and behold Portland 74 has collecting proverbial dust in the old hard disk, too. Time for something brand new (to me).

    A Pat Lee master cassette passed down the generations.

    It's a little hissy, and I'm not getting much Phil at the start, but Jerry and Bob's gutiars are crystal clear. Jerry's voice coming in a close second in the mix with some occasional Keith flourishes wafting to the fore. Billy's cymbals sound crisp, if somewhat thin. Getting a nice Jamaican dub sound when he switches to the highhat. Kick is in there, clear, but with with a soft tone, and none of the hyper-compressed abrasive contemporary festival sound. Donna's harmonies are on, and blended well with Jerry and Bob for the Across the Rio Grande-oh finale of Halfstep. Jerry plays an aggressive outro solo.

    Mexicali: The mix and tape quality remain consistent. It's mostly a guitar oriented sound, but Bobby's voice is clear, if slightly too far back. Even in '74 they could do this one in their sleep. Have you ever heard a real train wreck during Mexicali? I can't recall one. A fan let's out a hoarse, "Whao!" apparently feeling the southwest polka vibes.

    Big Railroad Blues. Love me some BRB. There are short pauses in the tape where Pat Lee is clearly well aware of the need to conserve footage. Could do with A LOT more Phil in the mix. Might fiddle with the EQ in a bit.

    Black Throated Wind: Awkward song that I sometimes really like, and other times can do without.

    Scarlet: Crowd gives Donna a big cheer as the song reaches it's finale. Of course they egged Bobby on with some of his crazy antics, too, but it's nice to hear that early 70s audiences appreciated her contributions.

    Beat It On Down The Line: Always love this one. Nice double vocal from Bobby and Donna. Some unfortunate microphone feedback during Jerry's solo. Phil's backing vocals are there. The bass frequencies either never made it onto the cassette, or have evaporated through the generations of open reels and cassettes.

    Tennessee Jed: Nice bounce to this laid-back rendition. Another one of my favorite tunes, as I've mentioned before. Another nice, appreciative response from the audience who are almost completely unnoticeable for the majority of the time.

    Bobby McGee. I picture the audience mostly having a lie-down on the lawn during this first set. Just a nice day in the park with some live music in the background.

    Ok, well, that's as far as I'll get in this sitting, but really looking forward to that big Truckin' jam at the end of the show. Now spoilers! 😉 Just kidding.

  • rockthing
    Joined:
    Woodstock

    >DAVEROCK>

    "It's about 37 minutes long, but it seems more like an hour when you watch it."

    HAHAHA

    I'll be on the lookout for that CCR set. John Fogerty strikes me a somewhat difficult man. Brilliant songwriter and producer, though. Never get tired of Cosmo's Factory, in particular. Gotta get reacquainted with the first album. I recall it being more psychedelic.

    Got a trove of stuff to listen to after yesterday's catch up. Thanks!
    Not sure where I'll start, but probably with something that already has ID tags. lol.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Woodstock

    There was a good cd of CCR's set that came out a couple of years ago. Apart from Hendrix, possibly my favourite set of the whole festival. "Lovelight" was included on a dvd as an extra, on one of the celebratory reissues of the festival. I don't think I'm being controversial when I say that it wasn't there finest hour. It's about 37 minutes long, but it seems more like an hour when you watch it.
    The Dark Star, I've just remembered, was included in the 6 cd 40th anniversary release of Woodstock, too. That's okay. But it's not a show I would suggest as a contender for an official release.

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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.

I believe that was the decision, but I know GOGD is also jamming the 50th of 5/1/70 today.

This one seems to be missing the 2nd set, but it has 1 and 3, and sounds typical Charlie Miller awesome!
https://archive.org/details/gd1970-05-01.sbd.miller.95683.sbeok.flac16/…

I'm going with Dick's 5, as it was my suggestion, and one of my all-time favorites! Shakedown>UJB Reprise encore? Yes, please :)

Peace

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....starts off with Cold Rain & snow, C.C. Rider and Dire Wolf. No complaints so far!

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@VGuy - Dick's 5 12/26/79 is gonna rock!

@OTIS - Nice PICK bro!

Didn't mean to muddy the waters I just had to listen to some acoustic Dead to start my day, anniversary and all.. so I hopped that train.

But that next train be passing later today and I'll be hopping aboard it to join you all fo sure!

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Nice pick and, the best thing is it's Betty Board.

Starts off with CR&S you know it's gonna be Hot!! haha

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Now maybe I can catch up with all theses great picks!

Wait...every day is like a weekend.

Never mind.

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Hot DAMN!

"Alabama>Promised Land" should have ended more sets. Scorching!!!

What a wonderful set - incredibly strong playing throughout. Aside from the closing duo, I particularly liked the opening combo of "CR&S" and "CC Rider," the "Brown-Eyed Women," and Bobby's reading of "LLR."

Got some meetings to pretend to care about, so Set 2 will have to wait for a bit.

Peace

the little brother in the Christmas story...trying to keep up with the bigger kids in his giant snow suite!
But I’m trying, lol

- 5/23&24/69 ✔️ Smoking! Got this a year or so ago. Gets lots of rotation...
RT 2.3 6/16&18/74: do not have yet. I’ve been catching up on the RTs I was missing as they were re-releasesing them regularly almost on schedule with Dave’s. Started at 4.5 and were moving forward until last year then it stopped for some mysterious reason? Started again this winter so I’m up, down, whatever to 3.2, but no news as to when they’ll do next one? This is a bummer because I’ve been drooling for all the volume 2s, which would of been out by now if they’d kept to their schedule. Doooaaaahhh! I have most of vol 1, and at least copies of everything except vol 2...did pick up Dicks 29 and 31 though. Have a copy of 31. Not a big 77 fan but most of 2 shows for $69, WTH....

RT 1.4 10/21&22/78 ✔️ Just went with the chop release, but easy enough with my trusty Album Player SW to put in correct sequence (including bonus disc material). This release is all over the place, but I mostly enjoyed it, and some parts, like most of 10/21 were fuggin ripping! Estimated, Mojo, TOO, and holy shit Batman, forgot how hot that Stella is, patches and all! The rest was ok, though I was preoccupied so maybe missed something. But 10/21 was a pleasant surprise as I don’t normally listen to 78 much. Nice pick, hadn’t heard in too long.
Oh, yeah, that Workd to Give >> A&A was awesome. That song has always been one of my favorite Jer tunes. Yes, it boggles the mind why they didn’t keep playing it? This and Believe it or not, though I like WTG better...I need to check out that 10/17 show as it gives me the “hot” vibe...

Also been sneaking in some E72 shows or at least the good parts. Looking forward to DP 5 12/26/79 today as I continue to sort through great piles of accumulated crap in the lower level. Hopefully get 4/29/72 in tonight on the big boy system. Definetly DP 8 5/2/70 tomorrow. Haven’t heard either of these Dicks in quite a while. Love them both so stoked. So enough rambling, let the tunes begin!
Rock on folks!

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I just got done with set 1 now I have to take a
break to put the fire out, that was blazing.

Takes a whole pail of water just to cool him down.

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I just got the Sting openers from Sam Boyd '93

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DiP 5 was one of the first of the series that I got, and I have been in love with it ever since. The heat of the first set is only enhanced over the course of the next two discs - every tune is a highlight for me. The track after Drums, labeled "Jam 2" is a trip! Sweet "Brokedown", rocking "Around>JGB" (another pairing they should have done more often) and then the awesome "Shakedown>UJB Reprise" encore - just an all around killer show.

This pick is a big reason why I consider the Fall/Winter of 79 to be a pinnacle in the band's illustrious career. Thanks for jamming to this one with me today, and...

Happy Friday, DeadLand!

Peace

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You talkin' to me? :)

All 3 nights? I'd like to hear those.

How was Sting at RFK.. you got to see Jerry jam with.

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I only got the last two nights at Sam Boyd and the second night at RFK so far they are from sbd and sbd-aud. The RFK is the one Jerry jammed on so I get to hear it now.

When I was at RFK '93 I unfortunately didn't go in for the openers. I only saw a few Dead show openers, CSN Buffalo '90, Little Feet Giants '91 and Steve Miller Giants '92.

ps. They sound good. Intermission music.
pss. I wish I could get them to you I can only go snail mail.

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Good to see you Oroborous! What burn out?

Bolo, what did you send Jim?

When is the next mind bending contest?

79 has a lot to offer, good pick. Would love to see this one remastered.

Peace folks!

FWB: Nice! I had to look for a minute, but I do have that 5/16/93 opening set after all.

RFK '93: Were peeps raving about it when you got there that Jerry jammed with Sting? Curious

That was trip seeing Donna Jean! She's funny. Bobby Weir and 7/2/89 next week Bro!

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Don't want to say, as I'm not sure he's opened it yet.

Another contest (perhaps) after the warm glow of receiving DaP 34 has subsided a bit.

Does anyone have Dave's #34 yet?

Mine still just says label created, which is not a good sign.

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'RFK '93: Where peeps raving about it when you got there that Jerry jammed with Sting? Curious'

I don't remember people saying much about it I don't think many peep's went in for Sting. I personally was a little worried that last night of the tour I hadn't planned on the RFK shows so I didn't have a plan on how I was going to get home after the show as I was hitch hiking that summer but, I new that I had friends there I tried for two days to find them to get a ride home. So I skipped out during Liberty on a last chance to find them in the lot it was like looking for a needle in a haystack so I started to go up and down the rows in the lot and I hear someone ask me If I would like a cold soda and here it was my buddy I was looking for I was so re-leaved I found them and was not stuck in D C.

Things always seemed to work out at the shows.

12/2679 remaster, I have the vinyl record of this show and that was supposed to be a remaster J. Norman

Have a goodnight everybody see ya tomorrow.

....we saw him the first night in Vegas '93. He was pretty good....Partied a little longer in the lot the second and third shows because we assumed they would be pretty much the same sets (which they were). Sting never sat in either.

FWB: that summer ‘93 story is great! Good times :)

DeadVikes - my tracking stayed shipping notified until today, looks like it might come tomorrow.. hang in there, it’s coming! :)

Reissue 5/2/70 now has CR&S said DL. (Remastered?)
I did not know that..

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There's a lil variety in those set lists, especially the 3rd night

Prob caught wind that he needed to try a little bit harder ;)

Race ya! Portland or Nevada... who gets there first?!?!

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....had focused listening to the first set @ work. Solid. Then phones and clients. Home now. Second set starting. Very familiar with this release, but never got tired of it.

....it was right there! Then they decided to make a left hand turn into a Caution Jam. That then faded into a Mojo jam? (echoes of 10.21.78 sans Lee Oscar's harmonica)....for a few seconds there, is it Stella or a rat in a drain ditch? Ditch it is.

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....good pick dude. Nothing Shaking on Shakedown Street. Ain't that the truth.
12.26.79 gets 8.8 out of 10 goonies.
Harpur College on tap. The cream.
Be safe people. Wash hands. Play Dead.

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Well, I'm ready when you are. In fact I've already listened to half of it.

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Poor Jim was probably sworn to secrecy by agent Bolo to never reveal what the prize was with threat of being put in front of firing squad.

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Thanks man!

The transition from U.J. into Estimated was perfect.

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Perhaps because the Dead are about to blow some college minds wide apart.

Dick's Picks 8, 50 years ago today. Acoustic set for breakfast - very nice indeed :)

Peace

.. sorry for the delay and for getting behind here. It all started a few days ago, when I got a parcel on my front porch addressed from:

Bolo24
CIA

I didn't think much of it.. I set it aside in the part of the front porch where I let mail age for a couple to three days before opening. Then at some point yesterday I got to that stack of mail that had cleared the quarantine period, I opened the package. Now.. I live in a quiet neighborhood for the most part, but immediately upon opening I heard the sound of three large vehicles pull down the street and stop in front of my house. Turned out to be three Lincoln Navigators with dark shaded windows. I did glance briefly at the contents of the package, which was sparse. A change in skivvies, an n95 mask, some minimal food, water a gps device, a high def portable music player with a small graphic of the 5/2/70 Dicks Picks cover, a Visine bottle marked for emergency use only and a new passport with my picture and the name Henry Spencer on it.

After getting in one of the Navigators, we proceeded several miles away to a clearing. When I went to get out of the vehicle, someone placed an ether soaked rag over my face. I am just waking up now from a tranquil dream state, my bed, a thin layer of straw covering the dirt floor. The structure, privative with a thatched roof. There is a stump next to my sleeping space with some items on it including a small laptop with access to the internet somehow.. The bottle of Visine is now empty and I have this strange taste in my mouth. The portable 5/2/70 music player is there, I can hear running water in the background.. rapids of some sort and a small booklet that appears to be instructions. I can hear monkeys howling in the background, something must be going on and it's quite hot and humid here.

Reading the instructions now.. "....barely time to wait.., grab your stuff, put the headphones on, hit play don't forget your passport. Walk out the door ..now. Watch out for the monkey's they are not friendly....." The monkey's all stopped howling in unison, not a good sign. more to co

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Your the tops! Your the tower of Pisa, your the smile on the Mona Lisa...

I don't how you do it but, keep it up brother.

I got to get out today so stay safe and everyone have a great show.

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I Know You Rider, very spiritual ,
Kinda like that feeling I get when I listen to Iggy Pop. Just kidding.
Three set Grateful Dead was a rare bird . 1970 throw in NRPS and one had an awesome , exciting night of music.

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I got a head start on this in the wee small hours this morning, starting with the Dead acoustic set. I realize now this must be my favorite Dead acoustic set. Every rendition here is an all-time favorite. There may be more carefully played "Rider" 's but none more heartfelt and urgent. Well, the whole show is heartfelt and urgent. A half acoustic/electric "Cumberland" - perfect! The crowd is electrified by the "Friend of the Devil". Note the band's half-hearted reprimands when it ends.

Next, the spectacular NRPS set. I didn't realize before that Mickey was still their drummer at this show. It's a treat to hear Mickey as the sole drummer, and I think he's perfect for this music. Marmaduke's vocals are always good for the head. David Nelson's picking is right on point. (dang, I was supposed to see Nelson for the first time last month before the Covid Kabosh) Garcia is tearing it up on pedal steel, you can tell he's having a blast. Here again, the crowd is electrified. McDuke seems pleasantly taken aback by it - witness his exclamation of "far out" after Lodi.

Both sets have a good amount of Dead Freak screams from the audience - like the Aoxomoxoa St. Stephen screams. These are always a welcome addition to the proceedings. For me this cosmic cowboy music is just as deep and profound as the psychedelic electric stuff - next up.

p.s. Jim have you been watching Ozark, or something? :)

Hey y’all! Last night’s show on shakedown stream was a blast! What’s today’s pick? I need to clean my apartment and need some tunes!

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In reply to by gr8fulgal77

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"We're going through some transitions. Our music is not what it was: it's continually changing. What we've been doing in the States lately is having like 'an evening with the Grateful Dead.' We start off with acoustic music with Bobby and I playing guitars, light Drums and very quiet electric bass. Pigpen plays the organ. Then we have a band we've been traveling with, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, where I play pedal steel, not guitar, Mickey plays Drums, and three of our friends from the coast, musicians that we've known for a long time, are fronting the band. So we start off with acoustic music and then The New Riders of the Purple Sage - it's like very snappy electric country-rock, it's kinda hard to describe - and then we come on with the electric Dead, so it keeps us all really interesting, and it's six hours of this whole development thing. By the end of the night it's very high." - Jerry Garcia speaking to Dick Lawson 5/24/70 - England

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For those of you looking for some extra credit on this fine Saturday, here is a link to the Charlie Miller transfer of this immortal show, which contains the full NRPS set and sounds WAY better than the only other version of that set that I can seem to find. It also has the full Dead show, in case some of you don't have the actual release.

https://archive.org/details/gd1970-05-02.138227.sbd.miller.flac1648

JimBo - Letting your mail age for a couple - three days... priceless! I hear the news contained therein gets a little smoother that way. Stay safe out there, and watch out for those monkeys!

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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Tell ya all a Story -
At some point shortly after High School, I got a hold of the Mama Tried, Me & My Uncle & The Weight with Bobby Ace from Harpur College, I think it was from the Grateful Dead Hour in around ’88 (can’t confirm that) or maybe it was just filler on a tape. Anyhow, it wasn't properly labeled and didn't have a date, so it was kind of a mystery. When I heard the harmonies & pedal steel on Mama Tried, MAMU I was mesmerized, what is THIS!?! Then The Weight came on, a song I’d grown up hearing on the radio, so familiar and yet never like this. Is that Bobby & Jerry singing? Is this the Grateful Dead playing The Weight (not sure I even knew the song title). I listened to that tape over and over and over. It was unlabeled, there was no internet, I was just a high school kid in Ohio, didn’t have a good trading connection, got most of my “quality” stuff off GD Hour at that point, would sit in front of my tape deck and anxiously wait & look forward to it every week. I loved listening & thinking about that tape. The tape would remain a cherished mystery for years. At some point I lost the tape, and would think about it from time to time, I wonder where that was from? what the hell was that?…

Flash to today. Well all these years later, on it’s 50th anniversary, I can hear that “tape” in it’s proper context along with the most Amazing evening with the Grateful Dead.

What A Long Strange Trip it’s Been!

Grateful Dead coming on in about 10 - 15 minutes.. Thank you!

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If I had to pick just one Dead show to attend out of all the Dead shows ever played, this would be the one. Only gripe, I wish they would have played the full version of Candyman, like the killer version on 5/15/70. Love the Dire Wolf.