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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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  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    10/18

    For me there's a certain point where both the right brain and left brain agree that it's kick ass Grateful Dead I am listening to and recording anomalies fade into a blissfull background.

    Let it be known i am a recording snob.. so it hurts by my left and right to commit to great performance vs. great recording.

    I still think so highly of this run. Warts and all, it's classic Fall '72 GD.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    72 St. Louis Shows

    Appreciate the insight Jim, BC and OB.
    I have found sometimes, for whatever reason I hear differently after the first go around with the Dave's and the Box sets. Most of the time, I think damn this sounds so good, once in a while I think, this sounds a little off. Sometimes I panic and think my speakers must be blown. I need to go out and replace them.
    Of course, yes, we are lucky they recorded almost all these shows. We all know there are all kinds of different results of the shows and recordings for various reasons. I would think there is no way Norman finished mastering 10/18/72 and texted Dave and said you can't believe how good this sounds. I could be wrong.
    I totally hear what you are saying on the 71 shows OB. Some of them definitely have a different sound to them, Dick's 35, RT#1.3. Great, but different. And then I compare them to the 71 Port Chester shows which sound incredible and are some of my alll time favorites.

    Jim, sorry to hear about the issues you are having, definitely hard stuff to deal with.

    Let me offer up Charlie Miller's 100th show for tomorrow, 6/16/90. There is a newer version from the man himself from 2019 and the version from VFTV III.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Great.. just great

    So I saved.. squirrelled, pinched pennies for 45 years and finally dropped the dime on my dream system I have been planning for all these years. I went completely with Fender Amps on the recommendation of some guy named Hal and now I read this.

    What are these McIntosh items of which you speak?

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    That is Gold Jerry

    OB- Kenny Ban??. The Fatigues episode.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Calling inspector Clouseau

    Man I wish I had time….for anything lol
    I’ll try to check some more of these audio anomalies out this WE.
    Hit me with examples if ya got em.

    Ive noticed this phenomenon with other recordings, think mostly 71-72s.
    Definitely could be tape degradation and/or perhaps a little oversaturated originally, but I think there’s amp distortion going on too? They were still mostly using dirty fender power at this stage. So like any real Rock and roller by the end of the night the amps are on 11 etc and with those old tube power sections/power supplies their easy to overdrive.
    By 73 they had pretty much fully switched to big McIntosh power amps, though they were still using the Fenders for pre amps. Like your pre amp at home though, you wouldn’t be pushing the pre amp that much (let the power amp do the heavy lifting). Think overworking a small car engine versus barely stepping on a big V8.
    Could be compromised cabling somewhere. Could be dirty and/or insufficient venue power too? That’s the problem with E lic tri city though, could be a number of things. Probably a bit of all the above…

    Yep BC, glad your digging the nice February weather. These days where it’s sunny and up in the 30s, “it’s gold Jerry, gold I tell ya! I should try to check out the ole St Louie, Louie, box, another I’ve barely been introduced too.
    Hoping 🤞I might be getting a little quality time off soon.

  • bluecrow
    Joined:
    10/18/72

    The '72 shows from the not quite the Fox Box have been in and out of the disc drive several times the past few weeks. All great for sure. I know first run through that it was the 10/19 jam that really kinda floored me. Yesterday listening to 10/18 again with the sound quality question in mind. One thing that struck me was that Keith sounded muddy and almost sort of kind of out of tune. I pay a lot of attention to Keith's playing, especially the "earlier days." Something was off and my guess was it was a SBD thing, how he was miked, and not Keith. (Edit - or as Jim suggests maybe some tape degradation.) Bobby's guitar also sounded a bit fuzzed in a recording artifact kind of way, though not unpleasant in any sense. But none of that stopped me from a thoroughly enjoyable listen. There was a point during the Dark Star where I was suddenly in a zone of complete wonder - a place that reminded me of my first deep "now I understand" listen to the Rotterdam Dark Star (on my weird balance SBD many many years before the box.) A really very cool place to be inside the music. So yes, that Disc 2 is some serious magic. One thing struck me as funny is Donna's yell in the Playing Reprise. I have no issues with her singing in those early days, truly dig it. And that Donna Playing ROAR was maybe the most primal vocalization I've ever heard from her. She was feeling the "Holy Spirit" big time!! Loved her quick soft little "Thank you Thank you Thank you" after it was all said and done. Another truly epic jam sequence.
    Listening to 10/19 Disc 1 right now this morning. Keith is hard right - i think he was slightly left of center 10/18. A little lower in the mix, tone sounds better to my ear. I'd have to do a hard A / B to be sure that my thoughts are correct on that. Now on Sugaree and Keith's piano and Jerry's vocals have now moved to center of the sound stage. I think Keith sounds a little better than 10/18 but still a tiny bit muffled? Maybe its my brain, who knows.
    Thanks DV for suggesting 10/18 awhile ago. I feel like these are my first really good deep listens to the '72 shows from that box. Like you said, great stuff. I ran through '73 a week or so ago and need to revisit that. At the time I remember thinking that the '72 resonated with me more and given that '73 is generally a big fat sweet spot for me I know that my head may have been ever so slightly out of alignment.
    To echo KeithFan over on the 45 thread - I'm really really digging Dave's 45. Spectacular sound. Great playing. Boy are we some lucky Deadheads. It was 10/1 Set II that really got me first run through. The Black Peter is so freaking gorgeous. And then the "random current" of that CB or whatever for a couple seconds and its like oh my freaking goodness. I can only laugh. Really, Universe? I first heard 1/31 NOLA last year while exploring a little around the 2/6/70 Fox (personal favorite.) I remember being very pleasantly surprised to find that they played that acoustic set. I think every single acoustic set they have in the vault needs to be released. Gave 1/31 acoustic another run through Sunday morning. Woke up from a short nap late Sunday afternoon and had Sawmill chorus running through my head again and again. I"m like "What is this song? where do I know it from? Oh Yeah, Bobby sings it on 1/31!" Talk about a poor boy, talk about a poor boy, let me have a dollar bill.
    Nice Poster Oro!! Your first show! Glad that the Almanac shone a light on your post - hadn't seen it. Another beautiful day here in paradise. Always loved this time of year in the high desierto. Onward!!

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    10/18

    I have to revisit this.. but I think I recalled thinking something similar and attributed it to someone spinning the master reel a couple times too many before they locked it away. All three nights are good, but 10/18 is probably my favorite of the bunch, it would not surprise me a bit that someone on the inside thought so too. That and the BCT shows a month and a half earlier are both special runs from a special year.

    For kicks and giggles.. check out the Morning Dew from 5/26/72 at the Lyceum from the E72 box and then listen to it from the version on Europe 72. There is static on the box set version where the original sounds crystal clear. The masters degrade especially when people with two left thumbs (like me) handle them. A lot of the early shows suffer from this, listen to 4/18/70 (the Mountain Girl returned reels) sound and frankly a lot of 69.

    Well, at least someone remembered to hit record. Didn't Sony or one of the other music houses have their entire archive burn down a decade or so ago? Image the horror if GD masters were lost in a fire.🔥🔥🔥😭

    Been gone a bit lately.. spending quality time in the hospital with my aging parents. They seem to be on the mend though, which puts me back home and in good spirits. I hope to participate more as I get back on line with work and fun.

    Thanks for keeping the train a rollin' guys.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Listen to the River 72

    Thanks for looking into it OB.
    I have noticed it on all three CDs from 10/18. I don't hear it on 10/17 or 10/19, which I think are both smoking!

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Yeah

    I only listened to disc 2, but yeah, now that you mention it…
    Seemed to get more noticeable near the end?

    I notice occasionally on 71-72s…some is just the actual distorting of the amps from playing loud…

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    10/18/72

    Hey OB, did you notice any distortion on 10/18?

    I think 10/17 and 19 sound spectacular.

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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.

If we are going to do 11/8/69, I am going to have to carve out the requisite amount of time like we did Saturday.. no distractions, no cell phones, no texts, no questions, no one tapping me on my shoulder.. and not the dreaded words, "one more thing" .. and of course get in the proper frame of mind beforehand.

Honestly.. these two shows, add in 2/14/68, 2/13&14/70, sprinkle in FW 69 for good measure and I have taken a liking to 1/2/70 + Bonus disc and an honorable mention for what I think of when I want to get in the transportation business.

Boy does listening to these shows take a lot out of you.. perhaps that's why they wrote AB & WMD.. to slow things down just before we careened off that cliff and into mental oblivion.

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GMLSG sounds as smooth as butter,,,

re, Well... I just hit play but, I paused it. Jim, when is a good time for you I'll wait??

The planets seem perfectly aligned this Thursday. That seems enough time to plan.

That will give us some time to switch things up too.. play around the calendar, pick shows from different periods too.

Does that give us enough time to plan?

That's a pretty nifty number ya got there!

I am all for Dick's 16, but if we need to pause on it to soak up Jai-Alai, I get that too. Let's keep this thing going! I am all for GD from any era!

Today was a good day for 74 Dead around here. Shortly after my early morning Dave's 34 was delivered (at 6:30 am!) I got another package from Real Gone containing Dick's 31, which I looked into after all of the discussion around these parts.

I hope I don't over do the 74 stuff - wait, I don't think that will ever happen.

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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....and the sound is already impeccable. And to quote Bobby "Its the real thing".
Just like Billy Sunday in a shotgun ragtime band. This pick came at the right time.

We can pause while the WOS gently peels the plaster from our ceilings.

Whatever works.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Okay on the pause for the Picks. I will keep my own going tomorrow as my #34 is still in CA.. Okay, no whining here, that gets old.

Oh yah I might have chased a couple women around..., the waiting is the hardest part.

Week eight of this crap, be well people.

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No problem all good. Those who have received the 34 happy listening!

"New ones coming as the old ones go"

Alright, sounds like the Pick of The Day is in hold pattern as we wait for & listen to the Pick of The Dave.

#34 to be exact - 6/23/74 & 6/22/74 Bonus Disc

Roger that.

I'll proceed accordingly...

Sherman set the Wayback machine to June 1974, we're going to listen to the Wall of Sound.

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I love the overlap of old ( psychedelic ) & new ( country/workingmans ) . It’s the palindrome 69 major phase shifting. The sound of small venues compared to larger halls or outdoor concerts all have different ambience . Same goes for instruments ( Jerry’s guitars) . Gibson SG in 1969-70. A whole slew of different axes in 1971. Wall of Sound 1974, with Doug Irwin Wolf Guitar.
Suggesting different eras of GD has been educational, even heard / seen fresh, and in 2020. Who would have known fifty years ago.

RE: STRIDER 88

Interesting observation and I believe you've tapped into something.

Hypothesis:
Does inspiration then lead to a love of learning?

I would venture to guess.. Yes!

Prediction:
Being inspired by Grateful Dead music, if I listen to the Grateful Dead from many eras over and over and over, through the course of many days and years, I'll want to learn more and will be loving it!

Test Prediction:
Continue listening to lots and lots of Grateful Dead from many different eras and discuss with friends.. ad infinitum

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Perfect timing. I got an amp and speakers on the way. Had to take advantage of the 30% offer. I got the speak's for half price and ac line filter for free. I'll be putting off listening to 34 till I get set up.

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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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Carson, CA 5.5.90. 30th anniversary.My final Brent shows.
https://archive.org/details/gd1990-05-05.141262.sbd.miller.flac2496/05S…
Rumors were rampant these shows that Timothy Leary was backstage dosing everyone. The band does sound "fat and juicy", so I can see where it could be true. Phil was turned WAY up.
I remember hanging out with some hare krishnas after the show eating free rice.

Strider...I think Jerry started playing a strat at some gigs in 1969, and on through 1970, as well as the mighty SG. This always seemed to me to be a signifier of the bands gradual shift to a more country based sound. As you indicate, they could still turn on the psychedelic power in 1969 and 1970 - but the times they were a changing .

Whew.. saved from an 11/8/69 induced nervous breakdown.

Edit: Saved for now. It's always the bats that start these things. Well, a melty PITB, then the bats. Look out for Dark Star>The Other One>Dark Star's too. A sure sign that society is in collapse.

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Bats have got themselves a bad reputation lately. Hunter knew it long ago.

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DaveRock , I can only go on photographs before 1970. I believe you’re correct, Jerry would use a strat for some late 69-70 songs. Of the ten times I saw them in 1970 I only remember the Gibson SG. 1971 was all over the map. Starting with seeing the SG my last time same night as Mickeys last show 2/18/71. The next few nights was the peanut Alembic experimental . By April Jerry was playing a Les Paul and then the peanut some nights. First time I saw Jerry play a Fender Stratocaster was at the Felt Forum 12/4/71. Then 2-3 strats through 72/ 73. The Wolf was a real game changer.
This is a fresh way of listening the good ole Grateful Dead.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Strider...I am only going off photographs of course-I have nothing like the first hand experiences you are talking about. It must have been amazing to see them in 1970-1971-truly a mythical time. The photos I remember of him with a strat in 1969-70 are mainly in the Taping Compendium. Jerry is holding a sunburst strat in the picture accompanying the Feb 70 shows.
Its always interested me which guitars he played at shows-and Bob too, to a lesser extent. I watched the Festival Express dvd a few weeks ago, and Jerry is jamming with...a band who's name escapes me...but he is playing a tele. I don't think he played one of those very often.

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In reply to by daverock

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Good call Daverock, I need to watch that this weekend

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Thanks for joining in on this one Vguy and Jim. Loved the cover last night Vguy. Recording is Multi Track excellence as all these shows are. Have not listened to this show in maybe three years. Of the three Omni shows, I usually pull 4/3/1990, maybe because of that glorious Shakedown opener.
Anyway, Vguy, agree with you on this show. Great first set, with a great Althea, to Lay me Down, Music Never Stopped. Even the Victim is good. China Rider, what did that guy say last night about Ship of Fools??
Great Truckin, Stella, Sugar Magnolia and one of favorite encores, It's All Over Now Baby Blue. Great show.

Check it out if you have not listened in a while.

Be well all!

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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....Victim -> Lay Me Down -> MNS is solid. Raucous Sugar Mags. And who doesn't like a Baby Blue? I know this guy does!

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*

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I'm half way through 4/1/90. Althea was playing on our boombox at a motel room at an airport at the giants show in '89 with my friends. Like anyone would care.

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He called us fools talking about potholders and other normal things. Strange.

I didn't make it through the whole show.. but made it beyond the Victim/Lay Me Down. Let it be known I LOVE To Lay Me Down, but the Victim was so much better ( a song I don't normally adhere to).

Anyway.. just had to comment. Not coherent enough to add much more than that.

Who's fucking idea was it to watch Festival Express anyway.. a great yet terrible idea all at the same time. Thank god nobody drives cars anymore. My liver and my lungs both suddenly hurt both at once.

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Man, it was HOT down there!

Anyway, just catching up. I did dabble with disc 2 of Dick's 16 the other night... that is some mind-altering stuff. It looks like yesterday was 4/1/90 - just started "Touch" now.

Today is Three from the Vault? Sounds good to me :)

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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Sounds grate, and it’s not even Plangentized.

Smokestack Lightning! Grease it up.

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I’m there. And was there.

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I loved that Omni show! I didn't get either of the Spring 90 boxes, so this show was new to me (at least for a good, quality sit-down and listen.) I LOVED it! The band is so hot, Brent in particular was on fire, the Bobby tunes rocked, and there were so many high-quality Jerry ballads. I mean, a show that has a "Candyman" "To Lay Me Down" "Ship of Fools" "Stella Blue" AND "Baby Blue" - c'mon... all played very well too!

Just started on 2/19/71 - the first Billy-solo show. Was this chosen to celebrate Billy's b-day? Good choice! I haven't listened to this one in a while!

Peace

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I remember from 2/19/71 was, “where’s Mickey?”. Was disappointed at the beginning of the show. The level of musicianship had greatly evolved since 1967 or last time as five piece. They blew the roof off the Capitol Theater that night. Jerry played his Alembec experimental “peanut” guitar for the first time on 2/19 and continued to play it the next several nights.I went Thursday through Sunday nights. I vaguely remember Weir commenting on Sunday as it being slow. As I remember it was sold out all nights. Unlike November 1970 shows in Port Chester when I could buy tickets night of the shows at the box office. Fillmore East was harder to get Dead tickets and February 71 shows sold out in hours . I bought tickets by getting in line at 5 am on a December (1970) Saturday morning. “What’s become of the baby that cold December morn”. Blair Jackson was in that same ticket line. 70/71 was quite the phase shift. Keep em guessing.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Strider...do you remember much about the ESP experiments at these shows?

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In reply to by daverock

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Nice pick Conekid!.
Always thought it was odd this came out in 2007 and with no real explanation why it took so long to get it out.

Great recording with A+ sound quality. Really good Truckin, Dark Hollow, China Rider. Really liked the Greatest Story, early Bird Song. Did somebody say, Easy Wind? This was great and I wish this got more play as well as New Speedway Boogie.
Great finish!

Strider, you were there, really cool.

Good to see you here Oroborous, I thought a Spring 1990 pick might peek your interest.

Otis, as a huge Brent fan, you should consider the Spring 1990 box sets. Highly recommend.

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I think this is the thread where Jim mention Victim -> Lay Me Down (1990-04-01). I'm a huge fan of Victim, this is a great one. I think this is the depths that, Just a Little LIght, Blow Away, Foolish Heart (if Jerry could remember words when he came out of jam :-) ) could have reached. Picasso Moon probably didn't have much too go! :-) But I really like a good Corinna.

Great Victim though, thanks for pointing it out.

Is there a better "Just a Little Light", than Dozin' at the Knick? Come on? Is there? Just took it off , best.

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Only that it was a random image , not all the time. I do remember Bob and Betty being set up on a side balcony booth. Saturday night was the major rave up night. NRPS finishing their set w Honkey Tonk Woman and the crowd going bonkers, balcony shaking. Weir, Pigpen and Pigs girl friend Veronica watched the end of the NRPS set from back stage right, Bobby shaking his head as if to say”tonight’s the night”. Highlights from 2/19 for me are Smokestack Lightning. Jerry’s use of the Alembec experimental peanut guitar looked amazing after he used his Gibson SG the night before. The peanut guitar was very small in its size but belted out a sweet big sound that was especially evident during Johnny B Goode, that had most of the audience up dancing. A few people at my high school would go one night only , but I was completely consumed.
Too bad there are not many (any)more 1970 tapes. Anything from either 1970 or 1971 is no less than spectacular .