• 8,064 replies
    marye
    Joined:
    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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  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    love your comment about liking licorice, Vguy

    :)))

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    comparing Keith & Donna's last and Brent's first....

    ....fun fact. They repeated eight songs.
    That being said, comparing the Passenger's alone is....interesting.

  • billy the kid
    Joined:
    Rock thing ,great write up

    Rock thing , that is a great write up on 2/17/79 you did. Big Railroad Blues hadn't been played since 1974.

  • rockthing
    Joined:
    2/17/79 Second Set

    PROUDFOOT, RE relieved to move on: Sounds about right.

    BILLY THE KID: Nice. I thought that Greatest Story does seemed special, too. It's got tight energy, but I also don't recall hearing a Greatest Story with that free-form a guitar solo from Jerry. I was definitely startin' to think I could go for a bit more fidelity on this show, too.

    THE GOOD OLE GRATEFUL DEAD: Yeah, man, from Playin' on, it's anybody's guess. The tape I Downloaded has that tracked as "Playin' >", "Drums >", "Space >", like you say. Playin' isn't really known for its drum solos, but I think I'd just keep all that as Playin' until they made a definitive move into The Wheel. I realize that no one else would ever do that. There's just Space all over the second set after Playin'. The Wheel disintegrates into Shakedown. That Shakedown back into Playin', though, eh? Definitely the stuff. You can hear Jer hinting at Playin' quite a while before they actually get there. Would not want to be responsible for seeding that. Where do I cut it?!?! :)

    Man, this second set jumps like a Willys in four wheel drive.

    Might as Well!!!: Went to a Dead show and a Jerry Band gig broke out! Yeah! Rocketing out the gate for the second set. Might as well. This show has a seriously stacked set list imo.

    Miracle: Damn. No chance to catch your breath tonight! Jerry’s soaring, then doing some crazy runs in the first solo. Pretty manic, really, just trying to make something happen. Nice ending jam too. A drummer seems to be losing his footing or a stick or something, but no one else… Whoa!!!

    Bertha!: I don’t think ANYBODY saw THAT coming, least of which the band. Whoever pulled the tempo back to something sensible is a hero, because that was about to set a record. Ohp, gonna get one of those big unison hits goin’? Not yet. Pickin’ up the pace again. Phil is not giving up on the big bang… unnnnn… not quite….hahaha. Phil’s still goin’ for it. The drummers are just hittin’ all ones like they're wired as hell. This whole second set is coming off with it’s teeth grinding. Crowd cheers an almost earthquake bass bomb, but Phill still can’t quite get everyone there. Test me! GONG. Got it. Memories starting to clear. Synchronization critical. Sounds like double kicks from the drums. What is this? The lets see how many notes we can play contest?

    Good Lovin’: Nice, seamless transition. Just, suddenly their playing Good Lovin’. Nice crescendos. Jerry’s boppin’ along for the solo. One of his more coherent solos so far. They seem to have a better handle on the dynamics now. This is a really, really nice performance of this tune. Bobby’s got just the right atmosphere here. He’s givin’ it everything, but not overblowing. This will be excellent if he keeps the rap under control. No danger of Bobby sellin’ the Brooklyn Bridge. Mickey goin’ crazy with some heavy percussion runs, but they are buried deep in the mix, might not even be goin’ through the main PA. Long cheers ensue. Well deserved. That was excellent. They are taking no prisoners tonight, but that really struck the perfect balance. Wouldn't normally gush over Good Lovin', but that was excellent. At this point, I think I’d almost be wishing for five minutes of tuning.

    Heart of Me. Ahh, nice farewell for Donna. Nice little breather for us, too. She sounds really good. Sounds like maybe Jerry missed a chord change and his fills are a little off key at one point early on. Nice little descending flutter from Jer that one of the drummers picks up on, adding some 16th high-hat cymbal to. Wow. Really nice. The ending was superb.

    Big Railroad Blues. Jerry came to rock tonight, that’s for sure. Goovin’ on the, which solo is this? They seem to have settled down a bit from the insanity that was the teeth numbing first half of the second set.

    Terrapin!: Sorta slips into the hall, almost without being noticed. Not the kind of thunderous greeting it would become accustomed to in later years. This performance seems almost quaint in its simplicity. One of the drummers continues to have happy foot. Cool guitar solo leads everyone out into open space as the various counterpoints begin to emerge, everyone expanding out into their own direction before drifting gently into a little space of equilibrium. Jer’s not quite ready for the big finale. He starts to play the melody that will bring everyone out of their trance, then decides to let the ride get a little more gentle as it drifts along. There it is. Not monumental, just recombining into a gentle reading of the last verse. Ahh.. Jer’s sweet old voice… Nice build up to counting stars, but Jerry’s vocal doesn’t quite soar. Finding the right mix of harmony without building up too dramatically and the finale has begun. This Terrapin seems, somehow, understated, but it’s difficult to say exactly what gives that impression. I mean, Mickey is off the hook as usual. Nice, Phil plays the signature melody line in a high register on the bass instead of Jerry, as Jerry continues to wiggle about with all sorts of lead lines. Mickey gets a bit too tricky for his own good, but that slightly clumsy moment doesn’t trip up anyone else.

    Playin’: Just where you’d expect “Drums” to begin, nice call. Not sure I really dig the four on the floor and the open and closed high hat feel for this tune. Don’t have any particular qualms with disco Dead, or the Disco Cowboy things they did, but it feels like it’s tying Playin’ down too much. And, as soon as I type that, the bottom drops out and they out into an open ended Playin’ jam with Jer out in the echoey distance working’ the envelope filter. Really nice atmosphere here. Jerry’s makin’ sure they don’t get back to the song any time soon. Little too much kick drum in the mix is sorta harshin’ my mellow, but always happy to see a thorough deconstruction of Playin’. …and it seems to be just petering out, but then someone adds some nice textures. Almost sounds like a Fender Rhodes, but I can still hear Keith plunking away, so maybe it was Bobby… Someone in the audience hoping they’ll play I Need A Miracle, forgetting that we already heard that, what seems like several lifetimes ago. Wow. Completely abstract, now. Oh, and there IS a “Drums” track, but this feels like Playin’ with a drum solo (ok, got it), but that Playin’ jam would have definitely qualified as “Space” in a latter day show, albeit out of conventional order. Still an array of all acoustic percussion. Do I smell a Not Fade Away out of the drum solo? I see that someone has tracked this as a transition into “Space”, but all I hear are drums, still. Not hearing any “Space” here. Oh, and just as I type that, Phil joins the jam with Jerry not too far behind.

    The Wheel: This setlist is a dream. Guess they didn’t have to save anything for the next night. This is a nice Wheel. They’ve really settled down into atmospheric mode after the totally outrageous start to the second set. Some cool tremolo picking from Jerry as the song breaks up.

    Shakedown: Starts off a little, not a little, really… er… shaky. Nice echo effect on Jer’s guitar. Drummers haul the tempo up from the crater left by Phil’s opening bass bomb. You really get the impression that they are not working with a set list tonight. Settling in a bit just before Jerry starts the first verse. Whoo! Oh, yeah. Dancin’ shoes on now. Such a contrast. First part of set two could barely stay on the rails, but now they’re so spaced out they forget to put their foot down on the accelerator. Not a complaint, at, all. I usually imagine Shakedown jams to be more rhythmic. There’s sill a hint of the groove in the background, but well, there it went. Phil just introduced a completely different groove. Getting loose like that let’s them slip into other things, which is, I think, what’s happening now…. or not… This must be the most abstract Shakedown jam I’ve ever heard. I mean, there are literally hundreds of tapes I’ve never heard, but still. Jerry really working out now. Super fast little tremolo picking like in the high registers. Drums have started driving again. Sounds like Jerry’s teasing a Playin’ Reprise. Did they even do that in the 70s? No doubt. Jerry is definitely hinting at the Playin’ lick. Either they’re taking the long way home or they’ve given up on it. Wow. Jer getting’ pretty avant garde now. Where. Is. This. Going?! Lovin’ it!

    Playin’ Reprise: Wow, Jer managed to get everyone on board for a Playin’ reprise after all that. And, damn, does it thunder onto the scene when it finally takes form. Still doin’ that insistent four on the floor thing that makes it feel kind of agro.

    Sugar Mag: Love how this comes up for air out of the disintegrating Playin’ reprise. This show has had something for everyone, from super high energy numbers to complete space outs. Even with the free form mood that took over in the second half of the set, this is nice and tight; moving right along. Everyone in. Bobby thanks Bill Graham.

    One More Saturday Night: Solidly above par. Wailing sayonara for Keith and Donna. I’m exhausted. What a show!

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    4.22.79 New Kid on the block....

    ....sounds like he fit right in and liked licorice.

  • billy the kid
    Joined:
    2/17/79 4/22/79. Two great shows

    2/17/79 & 4/22/79 are two great shows that should be official releases. I went to 2/17/79, it was a benefit to stop environmental cancer called Rock for Life. The show started with the lights all on in the house as the Dead blasted out a killer version of Greatest Story. The version of Don't Ease Me In was great, they reworked it when Brent joined the band and it was never the same. I didn't make 4/22/79, it was my moms birthday, we were having a party. Charlie Daniels and Greg Kihn were both on the bill before the Dead. It's so nice to hear Brent's organ playing on Jack Straw for the the first time. The Dead seemed really pumped up and into it for the whole show. This show at Spartan Stadium wasn't to far away from where the Dead played their first show as the Grateful Dead, at the San Jose Acid Test on 12/4/65.

  • rockthing
    Joined:
    2/17/79 First Set

    Wow. I remember thinking this was a really upbeat show considering it was Keith and Donna's last, but they must have given them one hell of a going away party. It is all goin' off in, like, every direction. I was exhausted just listening to it. This show goes from absolutely manic teeth grinding rockers and old timey tunes that barely hold it together to some seriously out there space jams. You'd have to label this with, like, three "Space" tracks if you were inclined to breaking things down as much as possible.

    I already had the Bob Menke AKG source in my music library, so I was listening to that. Not checking the set list. Can’t remember what it was, other than Donna gets to sing a lot, iirc. Here and there saw the song title pop up. Sound is pretty thin. Really need to crank it.

    Greatest Story: Usually like this as an opener. Jer seems to have carte blanche once his solo starts. Always a good idea in my book. Really searching and experimental as the four on the floor drives away behind him. Isn't this tune usually a little more cut and dry?

    What’s Bobby saying’ about technical adjustments? Had to reach for the volume control, but still couldn’t make it out.

    Don’t Ease: Damn sure am glad I left the volume where it was after that announcement. Love this tune. Haha. Oh, yeah, this must be when Bobby was learning to play slide on the job.

    Mama Tried: Love this one too! Seems like there might actually be a bit too much energy, if there is such a thing. Seem to be just barely holding’ it together.

    Mexicali: Despite the fact that it’s Keith’s last show, he’s been really prominent in the mix so far. Departing gift? Emotive delivery from Bobby. Jerry’s chorus vocals are really standing out too, for better or worse. This is pre-MIDI, obviously, but damn, Jer’s guitar sounded just like a trumpet for a minute there. Read somewhere about Branford Marsalis commenting that Jerry didn’t need MIDI to make his guitar sound like another instrument. This may be the proof. Can’t believe I have so much to say about Mexicali Blues!

    Friend of the Devil: Chill slow tempo version. Some weird polyrhythmic syncopation goin’ on. Jer starts signing on the wrong beat, but has it together before the first verse is over. Keith gets several choruses for his somewhat aimless piano solo, before giving way to a spirited solo by Jer, who’s playing fast triplets and fluttery phrases over the slow tempo before bringing everyone in smoothly for the last verse and a strong final chorus.

    Passenger: Did they ever do this again? Kinda relies on Donna. I don’t keep a Deadbase handy, unfortunately. Someone seems to get a little lost going into the “Only Game in Town” part. Jer slide solo. Bobby’s guitar is pretty much inaudible. I think the sense of roughness I’m feeling is due to both lack of rhythm guitar and Jerry trying to double on slide and normal fretted runs. It’s a tough juggling act. Pretty wild ride, this one. Stretchin’ out the second solo. Thought they were gonna end it in a jam, but someone brings it back to sing one more chorus before the ending, but it appears the memo did not circulate widely. Donna seems to be the only one who managed to get back to the chorus on time, but everyone recovers beautifully to end. I read that Phil wrote this song because he wanted to hear some raunchy guitar playing from Jerry and Bob. Well, he got it that time.

    High Time: Wow. That's not something I normally expect to hear. Nice, delicate interplay from everybody. Pretty difficult song, actually. Not surprising it didn't see much action on stage.

    Looks like Rain: Never really warmed up to this tune. That said, sometimes it gets stuck on repeat in my head and no matter what I do, I cannot stop hearing it… What the hell’s with those loud snare hits? lol My guess is that prankster Mickey, but who knows? Still laughing. Sounds like someone wants to pick up the tempo a bit. This is actually a pretty sensitive rendering of this song.

    Jack a Roe: Electric! There’s something else ya don’t hear every day. Man, this show is absolutely stacked with tunes I totally love. Again, can’t hear Bobby’s guitar at all. Keith has been reigned into the mix better at this point. Phil’s givin’ it his all playing in and out of Jerry’s first solo. Ahh.. there’s Bob. Welcome to the show, dude. Sounds like only one drummer at this point, too. Pretty sparse, but then again, as much as I love this tune, there’s not a whole lot for everyone to do.

    Lazy Lightning/Supplication: Period piece. Dunno why Bobby gave up on so many of his old tunes in favor of blues numbers, and Dylan covers. Donna sounds strong here. I believe I read that she and Keith actually wanted out at this point, so perhaps that contributes to the sense of jubilance (not a word apparently) here and Keith’s relative engagement. Jerry really, really, flying again. Float in’ like a butterfly, stinging’ like a bee. Phil senses blood and a jamming frenzy ensues. I guess if Bobby never cued them to go back into the song everyone else’d just go on forever like that…hmmmm…. It is so manic at this point, I don’t see how you could even dance to it. Spinners’d be achieving physical lift off, I think, depending on the robustness of their skirts.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    Tonight on "Wha'appen?":

    My theory is the agreement to part ways happened, everyone was relieved about it, so they made 2/17/79 special.

  • The Good Ole G…
    Joined:
    Grateful Dead Memories

    2/17 is good stuff.

    Based on what I was reading, Donna mentions her & Keith discussing leaving the band through out the last tour. So maybe it was agreed upon between 2/11 in St. Louis & 2/17 in Oakland. Just speculating.

    In regards to Tracking, since Rockthing brought that up....
    I'm feeling it as Playing In The Band > Drums > Space > Wheel > Shakedown Street > Playing In The Band Jam > Reprise.
    The Jam after Shakedown seems to turn into a PITB jam at around 12:30.
    I like to give PITB as much labeling as possible, so that I'll pick that show out and listen to it again.
    PITB rules.
    (All of the above is killer! Listen to Jerry's voice in Terrapin & The Wheel segue is sweet, but that jam from Shakedown into Playing Jam is the stuff.)

    Alright, I feel I'd not be performing my obligation to the nation if I didn't mention the 4/17/79 Rehearsal tape as a potential listen before you blast off into 4/22/79.

    I gotta do it.

    Keep on Rocking, Rockers.

    PS - 2/9/73 was one of my first 3 bootleg tapes, it still gets me every time, so I'm with ya on that Jim.
    Mickey was right they were into Time Travel.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Tapes / Spartan Stadium and Maples Pavilion

    I remember dropping off a 10 pack of TDKs with an acquaintance. I got 4/22/79 Spartan Stadium, 2/9/73 Maples Pavilion and 06/29/76 Auditorium Theater - Chicago in the same box. They contained their share of new songs (with Spartan Stadium, not so much songs but a new keyboard player).

    I ended up getting a few more boxes from the same friend before geography and time brought that to an end. I have a crystalline memory of these first listens, like opening up another world of shows, songs and peeks into parts of eras I had no prior exposure into. Like Christmas morning..

    In my mind all the shows from that glorious 10 pack take up the same real estate in my frontal lobe. Funny how memories work, especially grateful dead memories.

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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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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Yes, Rider is slow and steady-I like it as they really seem to dig in and locate the meaning of the song. If it had cropped up too often in this format it may have worn out its welcome. But as this approach didn't last, it works really well for me when I hear it.
I like the way the acoustic set provides a sort of historical framework for the approach and songs on Working Mans Dead. The newer songs fit in well with the covers, taking them as a source, but moving on into their own identity.

The electric sets are stellar - very powerful r'n'b roots showing through. I prefer the Good Lovin's of this year compared to the ones in 71 and 72. In 1970 emphasis was more on the guitars and not so much on the rapping - but I accept that I am in the minority there.
Another thing I noticed was Bob's high profile in the mix. I found myself focussing on his playing during Lovelight-truly one of the most original rhythm guitarists, and for me, he really shines on these two shows.

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As I was 16 this concert was like going to a carnival with two bands. Even though the Fillmore had seats great moments in music would have people dancing. This concert was liberating for me in that I was way more lively then my first Dead show a few months earlier. This time i was up dancing when the music lended itself., that was a good portion of the early show. Joshua Light Show was other worldly. For the Dead they mainly used the overhead projector with the pulsating ameba effect. During the acoustic set and NRPS the light show used 16mm footage from upstate NY & VT of old farms and meadows , mountains, and had a travelogue footage driving on back dirt roads, horses grazing. Also an old locomotive coming around a curve headed straight for the viewer. And then the more psychedelic light show for electric set. All super tripped out but low tech by any modern standard. The music has a fresh sound to this day.

I attended this concert with three different friends, Mikey D, Dickie Z, and B. White. Fifty years ago, Eee-ho-lay ! Listening today is a mind bender of time , and space.

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This show has some of my favorite acoustic Dead.

* The Ballad of Casey Jones. I've always loved old-timey country and bluegrass, like Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. For me, Garcia's vocal here stands head and shoulders with those two greats. I remember when I first heard it on an old low quality cassette. It was like discovering an ancient scratchy Jimmie Rodgers recording. Now, luckily we have it in great quality. Garcia said he had deeply conservative and traditional musical instincts that he tried to fight against. I think his traditional instincts won the day for much of this early acoustic stuff.

* Silver Threads and Golden Needles. This performance sounds to me almost like a duet between Garcia's guitar and Weir's vocal. Garcia follows Weir's vocal line so closely, it's like a "call and response". Brilliant Garcia picking on this tune.

Thanks for sharing your memories of this show Strider.

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In reply to by Gollum

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I had grand plans for this show, but everything conspired against me. Instead of plowing through it.. I am rain checking it until I can give it the attention it deserves.

By grand plans.. well. If you know me you know what I have in mind. All day, no phone, no email and more than a little extra to keep my attention. Today would have been a distracted listen at best.

I will be sure to write. I will say.. adding to Gollum's comments, I think it's either the best recorded or the best remastered 1970 acoustic dead to be released, and I for one am thankful for that.

I promise to fit this in, it is a show that deserves some careful attention.

When are we working towards valentines day, 11/8 and February / March 69 again? hehe.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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....I Hear A Voice Calling is so lilting. So smooth. So glorious. Some songs have been known to make my eyes moist, and this is on the list. The narrow way indeed. I love these shows.

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Yes, I may also need a rain check on this one. I couldn't give it the attention it deserves today. Nice point Daverock about the historical framework for the Workingman's Dead material. I hadn't thought about that before. Also agreed on Weir's guitar in Lovelight. He's really in a groove. Not to mention his vocals! Those primal scream howls near the end really work for me.

rain check- I didn't even get to the Dark Star today.

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I forgot to say.. the fact that the Dead wrote a song called Casey Jones, and then revived a song called The Ballad of Casey Jones, which is apparently a traditional song, also seemed to underline their desire to reconnect with American roots music. Both played on 5/15.

I saved the Dark Star till late at night, when I felt I would be a bit more receptive to its charms. And then fell asleep about 5 minutes in. Oh well, I've not got much planned for today.

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In reply to by daverock

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....to quote Bobby at the start of Greatest Story Ever Told, "Whoooo!!".
Took the family out to eat last night for the first time in nine weeks. BBQ. It was glorious. I got my baby back, baby back, baby back ribs. Double "Whoooo!!

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You are correct Sir!

I've only got these three albums on vinyl, and I got them down from the attic a few hours ago. I haven't listened to any of them yet, but I am struck by the covers. You can really appreciate them in this larger format. The one for Rolling Thunder-as can be seen by your avator, VGuy - is beautiful.

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Garcia, Ace and Rolling Thunder are all three by far my favorite solo records by said artists.
Only listened to early show yesterday of 5/15/70 . Late show today. Maybe Garcia later. So I will Garcia later on the (72 alligator)

"Garcia" is a favorite album. LP Side 1 introducing 4 classic Hunter-Garcia songs. LP Side 2 is a brilliant, sublime suite of music and sonic weirdness. One of the songs at the core of my GD "universe" is The Wheel, and Jerry's pedal steel here is out-of-this world beautiful!

Not sure if everyone here knows it - there was an expanded version of the album released by Garcia Family/Rhino ca. 2005. 1 CD, OOP, pricey nowadays on the secondary market but to my mind very much worth tracking down. Very cool liner notes by Hunter, he was in the studio - he describes lyrics for The Wheel coming together as he listened to Jerry's pedal steel. A fascinating bonus track is the Late for Supper/Spidergawd/Eep Hour alternate take. Jerry begins by playing a series of crashing chords on the piano, letting them hang and fade to nothing. I love listening to each banging chord in its fullness. At the start of the track, Jerry's telling Billy K. what he's about to do re the chords, and then he says - "I'll do some weirdness - it'll be weirdness, weirdness, weirdness." Ha!

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First impressions. What a gem. I can't believe I'm just hearing it for the first time now. Thanks to Wiki for the album notes and credits.
* Two jams with Jerry, Mickey and Zakir Hussein! I love Zakir and have been lucky to see him live a few times. I knew he worked with the Dead and Mickey before but didn't realize they went all the way back to 71/72. Top shelf stuff.
*"Deep Wide and Frequent" - a major highlight. A guitar blizzard with Jerry, Cippolina, and two other cats I haven't heard of before. The guitars are all great here, but the only one I can recognize for sure is Jerry (maybe Cippolina)
*David Freiberg does some nice vocals. Freiberg seems to get lost in the shuffle of fine San Francisco musicians and it's nice to hear him here. "Fletcher Carnaby" is an oddity- a menacing song with Hunter lyrics.
*The arrangements of Playin' in the Band ("Main Ten") and Greatest Story ("Pump Song") are interesting and the expert horns are a nice touch. Garcia playing "Insect Fear"? Well I don't know what Garcia is playing exactly, but it's unmistakably Jerry.

[Vguy- yes, alas, "Walk in the Sunshine", the poor thing. at least the Dead identified it as a turkey early on]

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I know it's not released but it will be something different, and I could go for the Scarlet>Touch>Fire second set opener and was as Dark Star encore.... bob t

....that show will be a Daves at some point. Just biding our time. And yes. And it was released. 36 years ago.
Rolling Thunder is the shit. My neighbors are firing off fireworks in celebration!

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In reply to by Vguy72

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....Main Ten = PITB.
That's how things work. Eep Hour.
Dead Horns are under represented.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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Presented in three segments, an evening with the Grateful Dead featuring the New Riders Of The Purple Sage falls more into the category of a music experience than a concert. - Jeff from Variety May 27 1970

I spent the weekend having that music experience, Friday for the Early Show & Saturday for the late show. And it all lined up on the 50th anniversary.

It was an epic revisit of some beloved shows. Throughout this revisit, I couldn’t help thinking as I listened to the amazing quality & completeness of this material that I would’ve killed to have these tapes in high school. It was unattainable for me then. But I used to dream of it…
Well, we’ve got them now!

These two shows represent the first “an Evening with the Grateful Dead” at the Fillmore East and the last time they did Early and Late Shows there. By this point the NY heads had learned that the early shows were kept short & the true magic happened in the late shows.

There’s magic in both of these shows, but the “true” magic definitely happens in the late show.

I decided to do the full meal deal on these two and grabbed the NRPS sets as well, which are both nicely recorded by the patched in Fillmore East crew, I believe.

Early Show -
Acoustic 9 songs = 46 minutes
NRPS 8 songs = 30 minutes
Electric 7 songs = 1 hour
Over 2 hours of music

Late Show -
Acoustic 10 songs = 51 minutes
NRPS 13 songs = 1 hour 13 minutes
Electric 14 songs = 2 hours
Over 4 hours of music!

TOTAL BOTH SHOWS = Over 6 hours of music!

The Acoustic set for the Late Show is one of the best ever, as previously mentioned here on this thread. Pigpen teases Good Lovin’ in the early show a couple of times, and throughout both shows, they didn’t play it until like 5 hours later and boy when they did, it is Hot. The Dark Star > St. Stephen, incredible! Throughout it all you can feel the Fillmore East vibe, especially apparent during the closing Turn On Your Lovelight rave up after about 6 hours of melting minds.

What it must’ve been like in the Fillmore East that night! The Dead lit that place on FIRE. While listening, I sat there shaking my head so many times, amazing amazing stuff here folks, just amazing.

The only real flaw in the music we have here is the omission of the late show Candyman*, which suffers from a reel flip on the FE crew tapes & was left off the official Vault release. That makes me curious to compare the uncirculated Vault version of the Bob Matthews recording to the FE crew version and see if there’s some patch material. It is an amazing version of Candyman! Very similar to Calebration version from 8/30/70, but earlier and more intimate, somehow. Jerry’s voice is just amazing on both of these shows and in 1970 in general.

I’ve always had some issues with this release due to the tracking of the songs being cut up and spread out on various CDs. I’ve had them in the right order for years in my music player, but the in’s & out’s weren’t working for me, causing my completist OCD to flair every time I listened and therefore avoid repeated plays. I understand the reasoning behind these edits and am not complaining, just saying. But this weekend I found myself with the time and finally re-tracked the songs, especially the late show, added the NRPS and was able to fully immerse myself in the music in it’s original order at this high level of quality.

At the time of these shows, Workingman’s Dead was done and pressed and would be released shortly after this show (the exact date seems to be in question, but in my research it drops about 10 days later.) This show represents the new material as good as any shows from this time. You get every song that would be on Workingman’s Dead except High Time (played quite well the night before) and you get the three songs that they’d already written and were performing from American Beauty: FOTD, Attics & Candyman.

Cool point of interest.. Robert Hunter would be writing 3 more new tunes very soon after this, all in one day, when the band headed to England for the Hollywood Music Festival on 5/24/70: Ripple, To Lay Me Down, Brokedown Palace.

* The Late Show Acoustic set group of Black Peter, FOTD, Uncle John’s Band, Candyman is a must hear in it’s original order, even with the reel flip. It’s some of the finest representations of these songs at this point in the Dead’s recorded history. Also of note the missing banter after Candyman leading up to Pigpen’s performance is fun and worth a listen. Jerry announces that they’ll finish off the Wooden Section with a gospel tune with some NRPS, Pigpen says wait a minute don’t I get to play a song before you do that fuckin’ religious song? And Bob hops on the mic asking the crowd if they wanna hear Pigpen, and does his Dog Suckin-ist man in showbiz rap. Then you get to hear the rare set up & crowd situation of Fillmore East, somebody does a Tarzan Yell, and Pigpen says “Heard You’re Fired!” (Sonny Heard), another Tarzan Yell, “You’re fired twice” and then a female audience member does it too, it just makes you feel like you’re there. And then you get Pig’s two fine acoustic tunes from the release.

That brings me to wonder if David Lemieux has ever posted the 5/15/70 late show Candyman from the Vault anywhere? I’d sure love to see if we can patch this FE crew Candyman with the Vault version. It’s worth an ask as the version is sublime.

David Lemieux may we request a 5/15/70 Late Show Candyman please? Thank you very much!

Well if you made it this far… thank you very much!

I wonder how many people actually saw both shows from that night and lived to tell about it.. if you’re out there, I would love to hear your stories.

To wrap it up, when I first heard “rumors” of these legendary shows the Dead would do in 1970, with an Acoustic Set, the NRPS and The Electric Dead and they’d call them An Evening with the Grateful Dead, I would drift off and think how amazing it would be to hear that!

Well some 35 years later, it’s as amazing as I’d always dreamed it would be.

PS - Yesterday’s pick of Garcia, Bob Weir “Ace” & Mickey Hart “Rolling Thunder” was the perfect music to come down from this here wild trip through 5/15/70.

Thanks Bolo!

PPS - Strider88: Thanks for that great story!
Everyone Else Here: Thanks for picking shows to listen to everyday and for your wonderful input and insights.
BobT: 7/13/84 you say, I’ll listen to that.

Be Well

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I've been out for a bit - just needed to take a bit of a break from the computer, as that is now all that I do during the work-week. That being said, I grilled some brats and veggies on Friday, which was hot and sunny here in Bmore, and listened to all three discs of 5/15/70 - what a release. I was planning on skipping it, as I had listened to it quite recently, but I am glad that I thought better of it and dug in. I agree with all here - those acoustic tracks may be the best acoustic 70 released. Love it!

I didn't do the solo albums yesterday, as I was away from the house and I do listen to them on a regular basis - well, Garcia a lot, Weir a bunch, and Rolling Thunder here-and there... I will at least try to give Rolling Thunder a relisten soon.

Yesterday and today I've listened to Greek 8/13/83, and today I have gone through 8/14 and 8/15... loving it!

I think that today is 7/13/84? Perhaps I will put that on if I ever get out of this Greek Theater 83 groove. Talk about a box set that is crying to be let out!

Peace

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Ace: "Playing In The Band" is my pick for a studio recording that most closely resembles a quality live performance. Just splendid! Jerry's nothing less than a savant on this one.

Garcia: "The Wheel" is sublime, my favorite version across any spectrum. The way that frantic opening just dissolves into a vat of honey-dripping pedal steel goodness is soul-cleansing. And Eep Hour - wish it went on for another 20 minutes. So calming and transportive, then handing the baton off to that ethereal "To Lay Me Down." Just what I needed yesterday.

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The solo album triple header was a great idea. Thanks to all. I don't know why I've ignored those albums before, but now all 3 are going to be getting plenty of love from me.

Thanks for the excellent 5/15/70 write-up GOGD. Spreading the listening out over a few days is definitely the way to go with such an epic show. Anyways, several of us now have a rain-check for the show. To be continued!

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....go by so fast. General consensus that The Garcia Wheel is certainly special. It's cool that what I think is cool is pretty much cool with y'all.

This was the one I was least familiar with, out of the three, so this was the one I played last night. And I remembered why its the least played. I don't like it very much. I didn't then, and I'm afraid I don't now. With one shining exception...who plays that blinding guitar solo on Deep Wide and Frequent? Looking at the guitarists who feature, I assume its Jerry, but I wouldn't have identified him if I had been played the track without knowing who was on it. Sounds like John McLaughlin to me.

I don't know if I'll get round to the other two-but I remember them as stone classics.

Studio Album Double stretched into a Triple

Ace - I agree with Bolo24 the band nailed that Playing In The Band, that’s about as close to their live sound as I’ve heard them jam on record. I can’t even think of any contenders off the top of my pointy head. Anybody?

And it’s recorded really well by Bob & Betty.

The band & Jerry in particular sound pretty comfortable at Wally Heider’s by this point.

The ole “What If?” Scenario comes to mind.
What if they’d recorded the other new songs there at this time…

It struck me that part of the reason they played at such a high level during the Europe ’72 tour could’ve been directly related to this extra Studio time that Weir booked.

It would seem that when the band got together and worked on stuff, it usually showed on tour.

This wouldn’t be the only factor, but just an additional factor to why they played so good on that tour / year. Just speculation, but damn ’72 is a good year!

and I like to think about the reasons why…

Garcia’s album is timeless.. I love his playing, his choice of what to play never ceases to please. His tasty organ fills especially stuck out to me upon this listen, check out Bird Song. The Wheel that’s some good jams.

Mickey’s Album was a fun listen.. filled with oddness and seems to represent Mickey quite well. I hadn’t really listened to that one other than the Main Ten & Pump Song, and was curious. It’s different, just like Mickey!

Alright, what’s on the haps today? I saw some mention of May ’83 & July ’84 Greek Theatre shows.

Taper’s Section made me want to listen to the first Acoustic set from 12/19/69

Picks, picks anybody got some Pick’s of the Day?

RE:GOLLUM - that’s a good rain check to have my friend!
Enjoy that when it’s the right time, I’m still recovering, it’s definitely a music experience to be savored.

RE:VGUY72 - What you’re saying here is pretty much cool with me ;)

RE:DENNIS - PM received, Thank you!

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I went to this show, it was alot of fun. Most all the shows I went to were fun. This show certainly could be a Dave's Picks, or part of Greek box set.

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You got any 7/13/84 stories?

Did you see all 3 nights of that Greek Run?

You saw a lot of shows!

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Was fortunate to attend all of 'em.

Billy the Kid usually sat/stood right behind me with a beer in each hand and a supermodel on each arm.

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Had a party when the album Garcia came out in early 72.. As I remember I played the record several times in a row. The clarity was a rush. Eep Hour is truly a
masterpiece. All tracks are excellent .
Ace was also a major release that year. We had the 8-track version of Ace as part of driving w friends from CT. to CA. in June 72. The portable 8-track player would make the chachunk sound when tracks changed. Ace’s “Playing”was defiantly the closest to a live recording of any studio album GD or solo records. Rolling Thunder was the most avant-garde album start to finish . I still have a very holy original Rolling Thunder t-shirt made by Mouse around mid 70s that I bought at the old long gone Postermat in North Beach , San Francisco. Ben Friedman who had the Postermat was a legend in his own league.
Will check out Greek 84, seems like I had a cassette copy.

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BOLO24: Nice! Billy The Kid just gained more status..
I'll limit myself to 2 questions, you can answer none, 1 or 2, or do whatever you want.. that's how we roll, I'll be happy with whatever you decide.

1. Did you have a favorite from those 3 nights?
2. Did you see the shooting star during Dark Star?

Also any great stories or anecdotes you wish to share are totally welcomed, jsyk ;)
(BTW Someday you must share the Human Be-In tale, but I digress)

Always loved these Greek shows and hearing about them from people who were there is fun.

STRIDER88 - Ben Friedman sounds like someone I should learn more about. At first I thought you were talking about Glen E. Friedman, another legendary figure. But I'll do some research now that my curiosity is peaked. Dig the flashback on the Studio Albums.

VGUY72: It sounds like BTK didn't stop.. but maybe he just stopped listing them. BOLO24 says BTK used to stand behind him with supermodels.. there's more to this story I believe.

Keep em coming you all, this is a nice distraction to doing anything productive.
Plus I'm on chat hold.. forever.

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I kept going to shows after 1983, it's just a pain in the ass to list them all . 7/13/84 was a great show, Garcia's voice sounds nice and strong , some of my favorite songs, Dire Wolf, Duprees, Stella Blue, the Dark Star was a real treat to end a fun show. The Greek was a cool place to see the Dead, my favorite Greek show was 9/11/81, the set list doesn't do the show justice, you kind of had to be there. The place was electric as was I. When Garcia sang" I guess it doesn't matter anyways" during Morning Dew, you could hear a pin drop in that place. That was such a powerful moment, and the absolute truth, that me trying to write about it doesn't do it justice. Yeah Bolo, that was me, two big cold cups of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I'd graduated from the Fallstaff I was drinking outside of Winterland, waiting for the show.

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RE: Billy The Kid

I say Well done!

Great pictures of Jerry and the band by Ed Perlstein from that September '81 run.
Super Dope Tie-Dye backdrop via Courtenay (assuming).
Jerry in particular looks stoked in all the pics, like he's enjoying the vibe.
But the whole band looks pumped - https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/grateful-dead-berkeley-1981

That was one of "the" venues we always talked about wanting to see a show at..

Based on the nod, the story and the pics, I think I'll try and give Mickey's B-Day show from 9/11/81, a spin real soon.

Definitely looks and sounds like it was one hell of a good time!

Thanks for sharing.

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Did not attend the 67 and 68 Greek shows, just 1981 on

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Shall we listen for today... Great quality Dick's Picks release with a very unique opening for Uncle John's Band?? Bob t

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One of my favorite t-shirts back in the day.. then one day I couldn't find it. Gone somehow..

I only made it there one year. Beautiful venue, perhaps my favorite. I was standing behind Bolo and Billy the Kid all three shows. I was hoping Billy would share one of his supermodels.. as for Bolo, he looked exactly like the picture in his Avatar.

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First off, it shouldn't surprise me, that JIMINMD, BILLY THE KID & BOLO24 were all hanging out at the Greek in '84.
The supermodels.. I'm not so sure?
Mighta been, but you can't believe everything you read on the internet kids!

After talking about it, I wanted to hit up all 3 shows.
Night 1 & 3 are GREAT.
I'm thinking 7/15/84 is still my favorite, the Bird Song rivals the Dark Star and if Dark Star wasn't more than a song, and had they played it more than once in the 8 years between 1981 & 1989, it might be more talked about, but shit who cares, they're both great to listen too.

John Dwork's story in the Taping Compendium about finding out they were going to play Dark Star the night before and making his way to the show at the last possible minute, is just a great read and I highly recommend seeking it out. I didn't look for it online, but it should be out there somewhere. Great reviews of all 3 nights.

Slap that together with the 3 Great Quality SBDs & some of the pictures floating around on the web that are out there.. and presto-chango you got yourself a little unofficial box set, you can dig in and enjoy. It makes for a nice little trip back to the Greek '84. Recommended for any and all.

The 7/15/84 tape is one of those tapes = you know every note and nuance because they were your best sounding tapes that you played in every cassette deck you got in front of.

The Set 1 Opening Dancin' > Bird Song, Cumberland, Esau, Ramble On all great '84 versions. Set 2 is just one great jam! The WDWDIITR > China > Rider > PITB > UJB > Don't Need Love > Drums > Space > China Doll is so ingrained in my memory, it's like an old friend you've been partying with for years.

There's a cool interview I remember hearing with Phil where he talks about how excited he was to play Dark Star on 7/13/84 and how he wanted to go places after and Jerry shook him off and they wrapped it. Ah well... nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.

And listen!

BobT: 5/19/77 you say? I'll listen to that..

Gonna still try and spin 9/11/81 too, looks like I got the Joani Walker recording, she made some sweet tapes!

Alright, be well

Not 84. 87 was the only time I made it to the Greeks. I would have gone in '88 and '89 too, but I could not find any supermodels to go with me, and after my last embarrassment there (my girlfriend at the time was a looker, but in the mere mortal way).. I just couldn't live up to the expectations.

I wish I hade it to the Frost. That's my one venue regret.

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Dang, hate it when I get my dates wrong.
Okay, you were all there together at some time and there may have been models, and it was fun.
Good 'nuff for me.

Being a broke Mid-Western kid, I had some serious West Coast envy BITD.

The Greek was up there on my wish list.

Frost looks dope, Love them Frost '82 tapes!

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Stand alone, symmetrical, legendary . Was at Red Rocks my first time a month earlier. Two weeks before Red Rocks saw Robert Hunter my one time perform with the Dinosaurs at the Line Camp in Poaque , N.M.
1984. George Orwell would roll over in his crypt if he saw the world now.

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The summer before I worked in a crappy warehouse.. the job was so bad I decided to save every penny and never do that again. With my savings, and a little more earned in a restaurant during the school year the next summer I Crisscrossed the country several times in my blue 1980 corolla hatchback. Gas was around a dollar a gallon that year (I think).. slept a lot in my bullfrog tent. I was accompanied by the lovely Terry K. Long brown hair, pretty smile, looked great in a tie dye.

Caught Veneta, Greeks, Red Rocks, Telluride, Alpine, a few more closer shows and a couple stadium shows with just enough money left to make it to New Years. I was given two strict rules, I had to be back for my sisters wedding in August and I had to get my hair cut before the wedding. Made it back with minutes to spare...

Good fun, miss those days.

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STRIDER88: Ha ha, George Orwell would totally flip out!!! That's funny, thanks for that.

Red Rocks 6/14/84 was the shizzle-lit! Nice and another legendary Venue to see this band play.

I remembered which Phil interview it was that he was talking about the 1984 Dark Star..
It was because of "The Face On Mars" Nasa photos.
Phil got the idea we have to play Dark Star as an Encore and show these photos.

BOLO & BTK you all remember the slide show playing?

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....very nice Althea and a smoking Deal. There's a Cumberland, so of course I'm loving that. Like the outro from Truckin' into Drumz. The Rhythm Devils are presently laying down some good beats.
Let's mix thing up? How about one of these days, we pick a show that is kinda bad. They are out there.

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Summer '87 baby!!

Those were some good times..

Nice story, that was a flash.

Sounded like you were doing it up in a bit more style then me and my teenage buddies.

I ended up with that crappy warehouse job after the following summer..

I guess my big question, did you get the Haircut?

Good times!

Yo! I've been meaning to listen to 8/24/85 to see if it's as bad as everyone says, but keep finding other things to do.

Maybe during a plague is the time... hmmm.

Can't decide if I should start with 9/11/81 or 5/19/77.. You're kicking it with 9/11 huh? Well, well, well.

I gotta get off the computer and do this..