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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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  • Gollum
    Joined:
    10/12/68

    Thanks for all the great reviews of this show. I now know I will be stuck re-listening to this show for the next couple of weeks. That's the way this thread has worked for me. I can't always keep up with the daily schedule but I've gained a whole new appreciation for some shows, namely, the 2 DP #18 shows(2/3&5/78), DP#5 (12/26/79), the Cow12/31/76. It's just been taking me a couple of weeks to grok each pick. Thanks to everyone for contributing. This thread has been one of the few highlights of this lockdown!

  • The Good Ole G…
    Joined:
    Thank You Mr. Garcia!

    Yesterday's 10/12/68 pick definitely took me places.

    Places I'd been before, and new places as well.

    As said here by others, some really wonderful stuff going on throughout this magical show as the band jettisons into a new universe & explores the improvisational music cosmos.

    By October '68 Dark Star has begun to grow larger wings, but it's still a baby bird that will take flight and leave the nest soon. Of note in this version is Bear's recording (I believe) and Mickey's playing of the "Scratcher". It sounds as though Mickey's walking around on stage while he plays, at least that's how it sounds with Headphones, the instrument is truly circling around your head in this recording. How bad ass is that? And this is a bootleg from over 50 years ago!

    However, while Dark Star is just beginning to really gain strength in it's legs, St. Stephen is Standing Proud & Tall and has possibly reached it's greatest height, this is an almost absolutely perfect version of the song, and if you listen to some of the earlier versions from the summer of that year ('68 mystery reels come to mind, possibly from Carousel June '68), it's some amazing growth that this song has gone through in appx 4 months! The audience already loves this song as evident when you put on 9/2/68, within the first notes on that version the crowd starts getting so excited it throws the band off with surprise. St. Stephen, with it's William Tell Bridge, will continue to be this height for a little while longer, but will begin to diminish and shrink with age in the following year. I'm not sure it ever gets much higher than this version.

    That brings us to The Eleven, I think Bolo says it best, this version can convert a non-believer. So imagine what it does to all of us already at the church. This is an absolute ripping version of the song and all the long months of rehearsal are truly evident when you listen to the effortlessness of which they throw this song down.

    And to complete the suite they seg seamlessly into a sultry Death Don’t. Listen to Jerry sing during Death Don't, man could that guy sing a song with emotion. People would criticize that voice, but I always thought it was the most wonderful voice of all ;)

    Oh... and there's a Set 2!!!

    Which just absolutely shreds your face off, if it was still left, hanging there by a thread.

    This is manic air guitar, give you the chills, tears in your eyes, shake your head in wonder stuff here people!! I want to hear it again, and again and again!

    So like I said, it took me places, I dived deep into some '68 after this 10/12 relisten, I had to hear the next night 10/13/68 SBD (not as good, but see for yourself), 10/20/68 30 Trips release (check the difference between the Dark Star’s), and 9/2/68 (interesting recording, I need to check back on this, my mind was melted at this point and life distracted me).

    What a Trip!

    And like mentioned here, this was all during a time when Pigpen & Bobby were on thin ice and "fired" from the band.
    Fascinating.

    I believe a ’68 release or box set was mentioned, it’s hard to think that we’ll get one based on what exists (appx 37 shows / fragments) and quite a few have been released. Sadly most of Summer ’68 is a black hole, as well as the touring at the end of the year. There are definitely shows that were recorded that we don’t have, whether or not they still exist or not is a bigger question, I know Bear recorded more than we have especially in regard to the later part of the year, but for now the trail stops there and I’m afraid it is a bit cold…

    That all being said, if there was a ’68 box style release I’d vote for The Quick And The Dead tour in January - Feb ’68. Always loved that stuff, it’d be repetitive and have some warts and all feel, but shit I love it.

    Love to hear thoughts on what you all would see as potentially release worthy. This 10/12/68 show should be a definite consideration.. if they can make it sound even better I’ll be the first to drop down some cash to get it!

    You’re still here?? Crazy kids..

    After I came to earth from that I continued our little Cal Expo ’90 relisten and loved it too. I think 6/10/90 is my favorite show from the run, but you know Playing In The Band usually makes me say that. The Jack Straw is definitely worth listening too. And Phil saying he’s not gonna quit the band and it’s all a bullshit lie, with Jerry saying yeah, the rest of us are, well.. that’s priceless.

    What’re we gonna listen to today?

    Edit: 5/28/77 you say... looks promising and it's been awhile.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Today's Pick

    What's on tap for today gents?

    FourWinds, where are you?

    I might check out 5/28/77, the last night of the Spring Tour. To Terrapin Release from 2007.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    1968 - you're fired!

    This was the year that drew me in. Back in the 70s, I had heard a few albums by the Dead, but it was only after I heard Anthem that it all clicked into place. After getting into that one, all the others started to make sense.

    Incidentally, it was in October, as I understand it, that Pigpen and Bob were...strange as it may now seem...sacked. And those Mickey and the Hartbeat shows were played between October and December, without either of them in attendance. I used to think that was why Pigpen didn't play on 10/12/68. But I could clearly be wrong - both he and Bob played a lot of shows with the Dead during the same period as the Mickey and the Hartbeat shows.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Right on Bolo!

    I have several buddies that still refer to it as pots and pans.
    They clearly don't get it.

    So much unbelievable music! Still can't explain it to even family members.

    But every day, I still want to listen to the treasuries we have.

    More to come.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Relisten....

    ....been Relistening for a while. Cool app. The right side sidebar lets you pick the source. Less clunky than the archive for sure. Sacrilege? Maybe.
    10.12.68? I was five months old. Bring it to my diapers!!

  • bolo24
    Joined:
    Here's the thing...

    Today's pick was recorded over 50 years ago - half a century. In 5 decades, no other music created since then comes anywhere close to what I heard today. Normally, I'd probably add "IMHO" to the end of that last sentence. Not this time - it's an indisputable fact.

    I had a non-head musician friend years ago question my over-the-top enthusiasm for the Dead, saying they were slow and sloppy, couldn't rock out, Garcia just "noodles" aimlessly, etc. In other words, the usual misinformed opinions we've all heard and read before.

    I played "The Eleven" from this show for him on a really good sound system, sat back and watched his face morph from surprise to disbelief to joy and wonder. He was literally speechless for a good chunk of time before the expected "WOW" passed his lips. An instant convert! He still blames me for his "incurable disease" on a regular basis.

    Gollum mentioned the drums. While one can intelligently debate the one- vs. two-drummer format from 1975 on, there is probably little dissension regarding the irreplaceable impact of Billy and Mickey abusing their instruments during the"primal" period. The whole band was a flat-out juggernaut during that time and the two drummers had a lot to do with that.

    What a band. So grateful that we here all "get it."

  • Thats_Otis
    Joined:
    10/12/68

    The "Jam" before Feedback is cool - starts off in "Other One" territory, then moves to something totally original, then gets very close to "Caution" - I bet they would have gone there if Pig hadn't been missing.

    Feedback... and, goodnight!

    Does anyone know if the "Morning Dew" that starts the set on this recording (at least the one that Bolo posted) is from this show? It doesn't seem to be on the setlist.

    On to Cal Expo!

    Peace

    EDIT: It looks like "Dew" was the opener, but for some reason it was left off the set list.

  • Gollum
    Joined:
    10/12/68

    Great show! I don't think I've listened to this in its entirety before. This is also my first time trying the Relisten app -(how nice!) I love the separation of the drummers in this music.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Did someone say 1968?

    Hell yea. Light the fuse and run away.

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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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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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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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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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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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"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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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.