Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,084 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

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

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August 2, 2021 - 6:37pm

#3361

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Hey Now. I guess this thread…

Hey Now. I guess this thread /is/ called "Pick of the Day", not simply "Now Playing with Discussion", but I'm just gonna bore you with stuff I've been listening to lately.... and then you probably won't see me again for a month, so, hey, decent trade-off, I'd say.

First off, right now I've got 3/24/93 Chapel HIll rollin'. (I'll explain later) It's weird how in the second set the band totally sees-off Jerry's attempt to start Crazy Fingers out of the Playin' Jam. Phil basically sounds like he's just thrown his hands up, and completely stops playing. In fact, basically every just stops, er... dead. Only Vince seems game to find something to do. When Jer finally gives up, they launch into Box of Rain. After they finish BoR Jerry immediately starts Crazy Fingers again and they actually do it, and do they ever.

Whadda ya figure's goin' on there? Did Jer "forget" the pre-written set list? was it like a super-tease, or did Jerry just get vetoed on his audible? The Playin' jam was sounding cool and a spaced out transition into Crazy Fingers would've been killer. However, Box of Rain into drums would have been, let's just say, unusual. It seems Billy's got some bidness to take care of, 'cause it pretty much immediately turns into a Mickey Beam solo.... as did the 3/25 drums, but Space takes off into a Spanish Jam that seems to go on and on, thankfully. When they launched into GDTRFB I was thinking, wait, what song were they just playing, did I space out?... well, I guess in a way I got spaced out. ... Now that I think of it, there may have been a "We Want Phil" chant starting in the Phil Zone, but it's not audible in the SBD, and I can't remember if that was actually before Box of Rain, or not.

The Crazy Fingers is actually really cool, btw. SPOILER ALERT there's this momentary, and initially slightly awkward, little Playin' reprise before someone gets on the intercom (you can hear the ambient noise disappear for a second... yes I'm listening to a board for once) and seems to call it off. All of these questions seem to typify the sort-of cool, detached, risk-averse nature of this period. Haven't found an AUD source from the Dean Dome that has much life to it. Might be some new ones. It's a basketball arena designed to amplify cheering voices, not music, I'd imagine.

Anyway, just wanted to take a peak at Jer the last time I saw him, in Vegas back in '94, and the same YouTube uploader also had the second night from Chapel Hill, which is notable for its nice Terrapin, and perhaps more so for the stellar Morning Dew. Jerry keeps trading sly grins with someone, and getting an outright laugh out of watching Bobby do his thing. I actually read the comments on YouTube videos 'cause, wow. there are some opinions out there. One dude mentioned this Crazy Fingers from the 24th and how the first night had "always" overshadowed the second. In my mind it had been the other way 'round, which sent me to the Archive this monsoon-drenched morning. Yeah, nobody goes back to listen to 90s Dead, I know. Even the band seems bored sometimes, but there are diamonds in the rough. More often, however, there are outright wth? mysteries like the one above.

The other one... on heavy rotation has been the 50th Anniversary Skull & Roses 180g vinyl. Missed the propeller variant waiting for the credit card roll-over date. Anyway, wow, the bass is boomin'. I mean, it's not overpowering booming, but there is a LOT of Phil. I A/B'ed it with the single disc CD, and even though there's a lot of Phil on that too, he's allotted a lot more low frequencies on this version... which is odd, because people will tell you that you can't put too much bass on vinyl or it'll cause the needle to skip. No fade in, but Bertha also starts a few seconds earlier than on the CD version. There's some little warming up noise before they hit it. Pretty superfluous, but, hey, 2 more seconds! I have not heard the OG Skull and Roses vinyl, but I actually debated on picking one up from Discogs instead of getting the anniversary edition, which ended up being released three weeks late. The price is comparable. Maybe next month.

Speaking of records skipping, I've had the 5/4/72 Olympia Theater vinyl for, what, less than two months and Bertha is already skipping. I think I screwed it up with the generic replacement stylus that I installed back in April. Apparently the Sure stylus/cartridge division has gone belly up. I've kept the old needles lying around, and found one that had been swapped out really early for some reason, so I went back to that. Otherwise, I can't figure out what the problem could be. I play my records, but consider myself more careful than most when handling them. Hard to say. I might have damaged the record, or stylus myself, but it looks like I'm in the market for a new cartridge. The vinyl had no problems at first, but I have records I bought 30 years ago that still play fine, while this one is skipping after 5~10 spins.

The difference between Phil's bass frequencies on the Olympia Theatre record versus Skull and Roses, is beyond description. Phil is fully present in the Olympia Theatre release, but he couldn't deliver a bass bomb if he tried with the frequency range he's assigned here. Wanna compare with the Europe 72 album, but actually don't have a copy of Europe '72 in any format. Just ordered a green label '72 pressing. It was a mint for one in decent condition, but so will any 50th anniversary that might come out next year be. These are supposed to sound amazing. They've already done a bunch of Europe 72 reissues recently, so it might get the Live/Dead treatment.

Two non-audio notes about the Olympia Theatre box are regarding the photos used for the inner sleeves. At first they seemed really dark, and not particularly interesting. The photo of out-of-her-mind-on-Owsley Donna was of interest for how calmly she appeared to be peering out into the spotlight, but a closer look reveals a rather wild set to her jaw, or perhaps I'm just projecting. The other photo that finally grabbed my attention was the Side 1 photo of the band, completely washed out in red lighting taken from stage left, almost behind them. Bobby is standing out front in the spotlight singing and Jerry and Phil appear to be standing behind(!) Billy with Pig at the organ stage right harmonizing with Bobby. So, Jer and Phill would totally just retreat into the shadows when they didn't have any singing parts in those days? Fascinating. Might depend on the stage. You don't see that in the Veneta footage, but there really weren't any shadows that day, were there.

Anyway, my answer to a question nobody asked.
August 2, 2021 - 4:55pm

#3362

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

5/14/78

Good Housekeeping tunes!
Kept the mother rolling with first disc of 2/14/68 etc. shizzle fo sho!

Next chance I get we will get down to tge funky sounds of 3/24/73!
August 2, 2021 - 4:29pm

#3363

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

5/14/78 - 30 Trips

Great show... It's been a long time since I listened to it.
August 2, 2021 - 1:39pm

#3364

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

5/14/78-OB

The 30 Trips show, yes, this one smokes. On it!
Thanks Oroborous.

I was going to offer up another Spectrum show, Dave's Picks #32, 3/24/73. Maybe tomorrow.

My #39 still has not shipped, 😩.
August 2, 2021 - 10:43am

#3365

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

How’s bouta pick?

Maybe 5/14/78?
Got my server back, up and running and need to HEAR, some good sheet mon.
August 2, 2021 - 9:55am

#3366

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Thanks Strider!

For the reference, I’ll definitely have to check that one out. Love Babs, what a character!
I’ll bet his memoir will be very interesting after all he’s lived.

And thanks for the rest of your sage words of wisdom.
You should write a book!

Been really digging 71. Was sorta a flyby year for me until nice folks like you and Doc helped show us the light.
His job was to shed light, not to master...
August 2, 2021 - 9:43am

#3367

Strider 808808

Joined:
June 20, 2007

Babbs

Who Shot the Water Buffalo is a great book by Ken Babbs. The title has a funny twist , double meaning. Any of us old time wild land firefighters knows what it refers to. Once they get to that point in the book.
Pick of the day. I have been staying on the 50th anniversaries of 1971 Dead shows since January. Otherwise taking a break from Grateful Dead music. Kind of like smoking ganga all the time. The effect may become lack luster. As was said in the old days, “space your trips”. Although yesterday I did watch the black & white video of Robert Hunter sitting in with the Garcia Band 1980 at the New Jersey Capitol Theater. Tiger Rose “where the children play ringolevio”.
Speaking of books, “Ringolevio” by Emmett Grogan was one of Jerry Garcia’s favorite books.
On the subject of the mountain west states. Ironic that the people who lost the most , true Natives and in the case of Montana where I lived from 1975-1981 the Blackfeet treated me the best. Very similar here in New Mexico where I’ve lived most of my life. But respect has to be earned and that doesn’t happen overnight.
As an old professor Joseph E. Brown who taught Native American Studies at the University of Montana used to finish his class by saying, “Be of good heart”.
August 1, 2021 - 9:49am

#3368

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Happy happy joy joy

To Mr JG. Hope yer digging the jam...

STRIDER: thanks for the tales, always a pleasure!
Your Yale description let’s us be there, instead of in our mind.

Interesting show. CM SB Audio started out less than stellar but was pretty good bye and bye...
Really dug the Dark Star, perhaps the spaciest of the year so far?
Perhaps this show is a slight step back from some of the earlier beasts, but it’s another solid, very enjoyable 71!

4/12/83: glad you liked it DV. This one goes under the radar, which is a shame, as I think it hangs with most any other on the tour. Among other highlights, forgot about that sweet Rat!
Of course I’m big time biased on this one;
- My 10th show
- front row between Phil and Bob (closer to Phil)
- first show tripping (purple dot I believe, had beautiful death experience)
- first time seeing new, awesome varilights etc
- first time hearing, awesome new Meyers PA
- first time seeing/hearing Phil’s new awesome Modulus 6 string bass (perhaps new Bob guitar?)
- first Help/Slip/Franks, which besides slight early vocal hiccup was awesome
- first (I think?) NFA fadeaway/chant to end, then Mickey came back out and they quietly pick back up and fade back into for encore NFA, followed by sweet Baby Blue!
One of those shows that even after the lights came up nobody moved right away, many still doing the chant! The kind of night where it appeared like A LOT of people were tripping, total 10k mind meld, gives me shivers to recall....

BABS memoir, bet that’ll be interesting!
Loved Last Go around, and that bus one, but don’t have Water Buffalo?
Guess we’ll have to talk to Santa about some books...
August 1, 2021 - 7:47am

#3369

Strider 808808

Joined:
June 20, 2007

Happy 79th birthday for Jerry Garcia

I listened to the complete July 31, 1971 yesterday late afternoon and into the the night. Aside from my copy of Road Trips that is only part of that Dead show I had never heard the complete concert since being there 50 years ago. There was a fresh new sound that brought a flood of memories during last nights listen. First a couple quick corrections. I mentioned Pigpen stepping out in front during the third song. Obviously he was playing the Hammond B3 organ while singing Mr Charlie. Another correction is from reading the notes of Blair Jackson in Dead Base 50. Blair states that the audience rushed the stage during the first song Truckin’ but it was indeed the third song, Mr Charlie when people poured on to the grass in front of the band. My friend Danno who I have stayed in touch with for over 50 years also correlates that sequence of events. Practically nobody danced during the first two songs. It was as if it was a high school dance where hardly anyone was wanting to be the first up and dancing.
On a side note the best writers involved in the history of the Grateful Dead in my biased opinion are Blair Jackson, David Gans and Dennis McNally. I have to include Rosie McGee in that mix as combined writer and photographer who was there from the beginning (or damn close) of course add in the books by Jerilyn Lee Brandelius (GD family album) , Phil Lesh (Searching for the Sound) , any of the books written by Mickey Hart ( Song Catchers my favorite) Bill Kreutzmann’s book with ghost writer Benjy Eisen. Must include John Barlow autobiography. So much for book reviews
What struck me about 7/31/71 was the high energy that comes through. Jerry is candid as in effervescent, both singing, playing and commentary with the audience.
Another aspect I remember was the moon was out, and I looked this up on the internet, it was waxing gibbous at 60% illumination.
Another important note, my old school classmate and friend Missy Infante attended her first Dead show that night. I mention her to honor her memory as she passed on in recent years.
So those are some of the flashes I can remember from Yale Bowl, July 31, 1971.
This was at a time when I was earning money cutting oak for firewood. It was how I paid for my first trip to the Bay Area a few days later to visit my sister who was living in Sausalito. That trip included my first two west coast Dead shows that were at the Berkeley Community Theater mid August and then hitchhiking to Oregon to visit my brother and his wife who were spending the summer living in a tipi 35 miles southeast of Eugene. But that’s a whole other story.
Yale Bowl Grateful Dead was an amazing night.
Jerry Garcia would have been 79 today. Also, today Ramblin’ Jack Elliot turns 90.
“ Rollin with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay”.
July 31, 2021 - 8:14pm

#3370

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Strider

That is cool Strider. I will have to check that Ken Babbs book out. Gunther your kid is waiting for you at the Kiddie corral.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

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

*Re/ jimMD 1/26

I have to concur, a all time favorite of mine! the Grateful Dead’s Art at its Peek! What a trip! Love it !
Have a grateful day everyone!
Ps I listened to Dicks Picks #19 yesterday during the early afternoon at I have to say Kieth is just fantastic! During the complete performance, from start to end he kept that vibe flowing thru his crazy Fingers and it just sounds beautiful absolute beautiful! I great mastering/mixing job and excellent recording. I can feel and hear the sound of air! Lol, always a grateful listen and reminder what Keith added to the dead’s sound at that time in musical history! Rock on my brothers and sisters, peace be with you All!
🙏❤️💀🌹

The List

Here’s that Dave’s Possible List that someone posted I think last winter? Sorry, can’t find the link to the original interview...
The gist was these were shows he was “thinking“ about back then (2012?, maybe earlier?)...
Since he’d been around for a while by then you’d assume he knew of sources? Maybe not?
Apologize for any mistakes...just find it interesting that he’s used 17 outta 45 of this list in what? 8 years or so...

POSSIBLE LIST
-1/20/68 Eureka DS
-4/21/69 Ark DS
-4/23/69 Ark DS
-1/2/70 Fillmore DS - DaP 30 ✔️
-1/3/70 Fillmore p/o - Dap 30 ✔️
-9/19/70 Fillmore DS
-11/7/71 Harding DS
-1/2/72 Winterland
-8/24/72 Berkeley DS
-2/15/73 Dane DS
-5/26/73 Kezar (BB)
-6/10/73 RFK DS
-6/30/73 Universal Amp. DS
-9/11/73 W&M DS
-5/17/74 PNE - PNW Box ✔️
-5/19/74 Portland - PNW Box ✔️
-6/23/74 Miami DS - DaP 34 ✔️
-7/31/74 Dillon - DaP 2 ✔️
-9/28/75 Lindley - 30Trips ✔️
-6/14/76 Beacon (BB) - 76 Box ✔️
-6/15/76 Beacon (BB) - 76 Box ✔️
-10/3/76 Cobo - 30Trips ✔️
-5/18/77 Fox
-5/26/77 Baltimore
-11/4/77 Colgate - DaP 12 ✔️
-1/18/78 Stockton
-1/22/78 Eugene - DaP 23 ✔️
-1/15/79 Springfield
-8/30/80 Spectrum
-10/14/80 Warfield
-3/9/81 MSG
-5/16/81 Cornell - 30Trips ✔️
-8/30/83 Hult
-10/21/83 Worcester - 30Trips ✔️
-10/9/84 Worcester
-11/2/84 Berkeley
-9/18/87 MSG - 30Trips ✔️
-7/29/88 Laguna
-10/26/89 Miami DS - 30Trips ✔️
-12/27/89 Oakland
-10/27/90 Zenith- 30Trips ✔️
-6/22/91 Soldier Field DSJ
-9/26/91 Boston DS
-3/29/93 Albany HCSS
-9/13/93 Spectrum DS

The List & The Pick

Far Out!
Cool to see 9/19/70 on there. Hope that happens.

Curious about the list's origins, if you find out more deets about where the list came from, lmk.

Thanks for posting, seems like the Jones is on to know what's next.

Anybody got a Pick for the Day?
Or did I miss it.

Thanks Oroborous

Interesting list. There are some great possibilities there.

I went with 6/23/74 today, Dave's #34. Man, I can't get enough of this show.

Thanks a lot people.

Lemieux's Pre-Dave Wish List

Looks like RockyMtnJed saved the list of show possibilities that came out with the original Dave's Picks announcement. Appears they grabbed it 4 years ago from comments here on dead,net. Whatever, their list (without the helpful annotations) 'echoes' Oroborous's list:
https://www.reddit.com/r/grateful_dead/comments/3q6g5j/list_of_shows_ne…

Pre-Dave Wish List

Tight! Thanks JEFFSMITH for the further information.

I think in honor of the list, I need to revisit 11/7/71

Love me some Comes A Time & Brokedown Palace from '71
And well, I know it's not often talked about but that Dark Star song... man that's really something.
Too Much!

Kezar 5/26/73

Hear Here, or Weir here there and everywhere. My third outdoor Dead show. First two 7/31/71 Yale Bowl; 8/27/72 Veneta
How about 9/3/72 Folsom Field for Thursday pick. I know it’s only a partial official release . Looks like complete concert on Archive.org
Feels like September, longer nights, cooler mornings. Enjoy the full moon🌕⚡️

9/3

9/3 sounds good to me.

Thanks Jeff!

I knew some intrepid traveler would know!

Today's Pick?

Two items for your consideration por favor:

A little ditty from '68:
https://archive.org/details/gd1968-09-02.sbd.miller.115592.flac16

and/or

A show I have been meaning to get to for some time. I think it has one of Dick's favorite Scarlet Fires and I have yet to give it a spin. This show is complete with a one fisted Bill the Drummer, the other being in a cast because of a broken wrist.

https://archive.org/details/gd1978-09-02.sbd.miller.106818.flac16

__________________________________
09/02/68
Betty Nelson's Organic Raspberry Farm - Sultan, WA
Set 1:
Dark Star
St. Stephen
Cryptical Envelopment
The Other One
Cryptical Envelopment
Alligator
Drums
Alligator
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)

09/02/78
Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
Set 1:
Jack Straw
Friend Of The Devil
New Minglewood Blues
Dire Wolf
Looks Like Rain
Stagger Lee
I Need A Miracle
Peggy-O
Lazy Lightnin'
Supplication
Set 2:
Good Lovin'
Scarlet Begonias
Fire On The Mountain
Estimated Prophet
Eyes Of The World
Drums
Sugar Magnolia
Encore:
One More Saturday Night

9/2/68

Cool show, I wish I would have been there. I was just starting 6th grade, although I was listening to the Dead at the time, my brother had their records, I don't think my parents would have been to receptive about me hitchhiking up to Washington to hear them. Hopefully, we get some more 1968 Dead released, they were really firing on all cylinders. The only people who truly know what is in the vault,are Dave & co. , so hopefully more 1968 Dead has been found or returned and will be released one day.

9/2/78

Say, this looks like a keen pick Jim! I've never heard of it before. I just did a quick comparison, but my ears liked the Rolfe audience. The archive also has some entertaining comments.

And 9/3/72 also looks good for Thursday. I've never heard the full show. Thanks guys!

Rolfe Audience

Checking this out too.. I noticed a Bob Wagner also. I pulled down the Miller.

Today's Pick

9/2/78 sounds like a winner to me. Thanks Jim.

Lotsa Picks

A plethora of picks!
Nice.

Betty Nelson's Organic Raspberry Farm in '68, wonder what the story is behind this show.
There's some epic pictures and I dig this tape.
1968 What's in the Vault curiosity lives on..

9/2/78 - One armed Billy you say?!?!

Dave's List still roiling in my head, or maybe it was the epic Full Moon.
5/26/73 - Monster 3 Set rocker... I'm feeling the pull.

And 9/3/72 sounds fun!

Good Stuff you all, happy listening, report back about what you hear out there, we gotta keep our heads together ;)

PS - Dave's right, 11/7/71 would be a great pick and a welcome upgrade to the Pre-FM in circulation now.
Highlights = Comes A Time, Dark Star > TOO > MAMU > TOO, Deal, Brokedown Palace, UJB and Early PITB which is starting to Jam out, it's like a baby bird getting ready to flap it's wings. Kinda like '68 Dark Stars. Dug this!

PPS - 1977-09-03 Englishtown I know at least one person mentioned looking forward to a re-listen as a September ritual. Just so it's not overlooked in the Plethora of Picks Vol9 N2.

listening to 9-3-72 now

Sounds great, though the recording is a bit muddy. Fall '72 was so good.

Miller 9/2/78

Made it through the first set.. yes, the soundboard is a little muddy and has some interference as if a tape somewhere along the line was re-used and there's a trace left of whatever used to be on the tape.

I bet the master reel sounds much better.

40th Anniversary

of my first G.A. show and first in the front row (between Phil and Brent so JG was looking right at us) and first:
- Dew
- Terrapin
- China/Rider
- Sailor/Saint
- Playin
- Ship of Fools
- FOTD
- Iko
- CC Rider and
- Don’t Ease
So quite a night!
Love the picks, will definitely sneak in the 68, but need to do this 9/2/80 anniversary...always wondered about the 78 show? Like was it a blow off before the big excursion or were they stoked? Thought I heard it was a dud? Guess I’ll have to find some time ASAP for this one too. Of course tomorrow is 2 beasts: 72 and 77, and maybe I’ll get try to the 80 stuff ya all did recently....

Did a bunch of “other” stuff recently, mainly, shows I was at but never heard from the late years:
- 6/13/93
- 7/13/94
- 7/31/94
- 8/1/94
Haven’t made it to 95 yet...
All were actually enjoyable (sans a couple of Vinny tunes, ahem) I used to think 6/13/93 and 7/13/94 were perhaps the worst shows I saw, and maybe they were, but that’s good because they were actually decent shows and were totally listenable! So pleasant surprise there. Still don’t like the things I didn’t like then etc, but from years afar and a hopefully more open minded and enlightened perspective (thanks to all y’all) these idiosyncrasies don’t ruin the whole show for me like back then. Plus the whole experiential factor has faded which totally helps with perspective,i.e., Vermont 94 was super hot so after long fast drive my little Accord was overheating stuck in traffic trying to get through town, didn’t dig the scene, didn’t dig the sound, oh, and did I mention it was really muggy/hot?
It’s been really entertaining to finally listen to many shows at but never heard. So far all the ones I didn’t recall fondly have been decent to really good (3/13/81 comes to mind first). Some of the ones I used to consider “bests” on the other hand now just feel like average/good, which is fine cause I ain’t complaining, always felt very fortunate and lucky!
Still have a few years to catch up on, but I don’t recall much of those which leads me to assume their average/good?
It’s been fun to finally hear many of these...some times you get shown the light indeed!
Well, I better get busy, got a lot of shows to cover!
Schlater!

Re: Oroboros

Great little show, some of it filler for Dicks Picks 21. Jealous.. If I finish the other two shows I have slated for today.. I will hit this up late night. Three shows in a day and you've pulled off the elusive and difficult "Deadhead Brewer hat trick" Listening to three complete shows in a day.

9/2/78

This has been a nice discovery. I went with the Rolfe because I was in the mood for an audience tape but maybe the Miller is a better source. Count me in the camp of thinking this is a top tier 1978 show. Maybe the sound quality issues have held it back. One person on the archive claimed Jerry was hassled by a cop for smoking a joint backstage, so he was pissed off(!) How do those things get started? I dunno, the whole show sounds good to me.

Notes:
Audience banter: B+ .
*excellent audience banter in the first half of set 1. Banter is clear and well-articulated.
*A girl with a Jersey or NewYork accent talks about how they jumped the fence to get in and are hoping to hear "Werewolves of London". My kind of gal!
*Joint being rolled after FOTD.
* Banter settles down after the first few songs. Maybe the heat and/or consumables began to take their toll.

Music: A/A+
*Brilliant Garcia solo in Friend of the Devil. great Peggy-O. Rest of 1st set high energy.
*The second set jam tunes Scarlet-Fire, Est.-Eyes are top shelf for 1978.

-Just my thoughts on a first listen......(am I too easy a grader?)

9/2/78

The archive has a lot of colorful and funny reminiscences of this show. This one, from Sedula, cracked me up:

"Bobby had some short, shorts on and knee high argle socks with wallabees. He looked like an idiot!"

Bobby's shorts were problematic for Deadheads even back in 1978.

Re: Comments

You got me to read the comments.. much more colorful than normal and cracked me up.

Short Shorts

Haha that's rich!

Ironically, the shorts aren't as short as they would get.

Bunch of pictures from that show, it was massive.

Re: Shorts - Too Funny

Compared to what they would become in '84.. these shorts were more like highwaters or capri pants. Too funny... The socks weren't all that weird either compared to what would become. Bob Weir, fashion icon. Ha.

I have to admit.. I got a little carried away with edibles and home improvements yesterday.. I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked and to be honest.. I got a little lost in the cobwebs of the second set, but in a good way.. a feeling that carried right into the Berry farm 68 show. So to hell with productivity in favor of scary fun.. and hopefully a good time was had by all.

The shortest shorts

I dunno, I’m thinking the 89 or 90 vids where as a viewer your worried that somethin’s gonna pop out......ewww

Scary Fun

I feel ya Jim.

I'm just listening to 9/2/78 now.. got a stack of more to come.
I wonder if Dick changed his thoughts on best ever Scarlet > Fire seems like his review was 6/16/83.. before he had keys to the Vault I believe.

While off the beaten path and in the weeds I stumbled on a New Audience source of Alpine '87 night two, I thought it was killer diller! Has that Alpine feel, and man that '87 Crowd Roar (peaking during Terrapin) was giving me the chills.
Dug it, here it is if anybody else wants to dig it -
https://archive.org/details/gd1987-06-27.148849.senn.me80.hessberg.mill…

Set 2 Rocks!

Also stumbled on a SBD of Dylan & Tom Petty set from 6/26/86 and really dug it, IMO they smoked the Dead that night, Dead opened with 1 long set, so not their typical scene, but Dylan was annunciating and seemed really into it and Tom Petty and the HBs are Hot along with Dylan's back up singers.

I saw them at the next show on 7/2 and Dylan was slurring / mumbling and not as on.

Fun Trip... but now I'm playing catch up.

How was 9/2/80 OB?

Enjoying the comments all, keep em coming!

I'm in the weeds for sure, might have to stay here and get deeper ala Jim style :)

Scarlet Fires

I might have to check out the Dick's Picks 18 version to compare this with from Cedar Falls in February.

Mighta Been High?

Thinkin' Dick might've been High (Both times).

It's good and all, but Best Ever?
I'm not seeing it.

But then again, I'm not high.
Maybe I oughta get High..

For now 9/3/72 is kickin' in.
Gonna see where this takes me.

Dick's 18 Scarlet Fire

2/5/78 has that weird beautiful passage in Fire (~9:56...). That's hard to top. I'll need to listen carefully to 9/2/78 a few more times. Even if Latvala thought 9/2/78 was among the best, that means a lot.

EDIT: Legend has it that Latvala was known to enjoy a puff occasionally, GOGD, so you might be on to something

I wasn't convinced...

...and the recordings all seem to be subpar. I didn't realize his review predates his keeper of the vault keys period.

I think 2/5/78 might be a stronger and more cohesive effort, the recording is certainly better. That being said, the jam in Scarlet is hot, the transition smooth, they sound rehearsed on this one. Plus it marks the first version with the added verse in FOTM. For these reasons it's noteworthy. Not shabby, best? Well.. until five minutes ago it was the last one I listened to.. but not anymore.

9/2/xx trifecta

9/2/68; AWESOME! Had to check and make sure it wasn’t 69? Great Lil show! Yeah, wish they’d come up with some way to release more of these. Perhaps a “60s” box; maybe a few sets from the early years; say 3 or 4 short 68s; and a bad ass 69 or 2...? That would be a way to get the short stuff out and feed our primal Jones!
9/2/78; really enjoyed the first set, and yes the chatter was fun and brought back memories, especially jumping the wall to get down on the floor! The second set, not as much. Good S/F but best? sorry MR L RIP, not with ya there, and the Estimated was a bit of a train wreck...after that started losing interest a bit and/or was preoccupied, but still an enjoyable show. Glad I finally got to it, good call!
9/2/80; didn’t get to this one until today so didn’t get the natural DHbrewer Hat Trick, but really enjoyed it!
Now I’m pretty biased, but still, I think it’s an all around great show with a neat set list. Awesome Dew! Wish there were slightly better recordings, but I like Aud tapes. Tried the matrix but that wasn’t working for me.
Funny, I was so green back then, I know I loved it, but not having many reference points yet, many of my early shows really surprise me now how good they were! And I don’t think it’s nostalgia so much since I can’t remember much, lol.
Rock on Mi Amigos, maybe I’ll circle back to those 9/3&4 shows since I’m in a 80 mood?

STRIDER; been doing some 8/27/72 detective work...I remember you said third set you got to trade with your brother “back stage” on a platform, next to a particular cameraman. So I assumed you were on that platform right in front of JG basically leaning on the stage monitors, and there’s a camera guy there, or was it the platform just left of the stage about ten rows back, up about 15’ in the air? Either way must of been so amazing!
The best shot I could find was just after the weird animated stuff in DS, the camera on the back higher platform does a sweep pan from back into towards the stage above the crowd, where you can pause and see that cameraman (with Grateful Dead on back of white tee shirt) and there’s folks on both sides of him. The cameraman on the back/higher platform has white pants but no shirt. So curious which “platform” you were on? What were ya wearing?
As I say, either way, must of been mind blowing, especially if electric! ⚡️And what, think you said you were just outta high school, can’t even imagine! I’ve always felt pretty lucky/fortunate with the shows I saw for my time, but man, you really seemed to be at many top historic shows! Totally giving me show envy LOL...
So thanks for the stories and please keep em coming!

9/2/Xx

Way to exercise some restraint, Oro. I, too, stopped before the third show as a sign of respect for Brewer. We need to talk him off that ledge... you don't HAVE to listen to three shows a day to hang and toss a few back with us.

Edit: But the term, Brewer Hat Trick stays.

Ahem!

Reverend Jim...(and yaassssss, it just now did make me think of ole Jim ignatowski...) Well Said Sir! Here, here!
BREWER, git yo hands otta yo pocket, git off dat ledge, and go down and see the Gypsy woman. For God sake man, get a grip!

that Alpine feel....

100%

thanks for posting this GOGD! saw this with 2 brothers. '87 was a sweet year. Crowd - WE WANT PHIL!! WE WANT PHIL!! Phil - Okay just this once. and we got a Tom Thumbs! listening to the ripping Let It Grow right now. this tape totally takes me back. like a dream we dreamed.....

Hold On To Your Hat

Bluecrow Stoked you're taking the ride.

I've been waiting for some better sources of these shows for 33 years now... so I was pumped when it popped up yesterday in the latest batch of Miller's.

Fingers x'd same taper got the 1st night too.

Get ready my friend, Set 2 knocked my socks off yesterday.
Took me back there to that dream we dreamed.
Wait till you hear the crowd roaring along.

Good stuff.
BTW - Thanks for the Forum Oldest / Recent refresh tip, that's been doing the trick and has kept me up to speed lately.
Enjoy!

6/27/87

I made this run as well and don't think I have listened since that night. I plan on getting to this tomorrow.. thanks GOGD.

GDTS delivered me and my gf at the time tickets within the first four rows for all three nights, one night (forget which one) we were second row center. What fun and my first trip to Alpine Valley.

Alpine 87

Maybe I’ll give those a listen as our “pick”...since I was at but have only heard a set or two from this run.
I’m intrigued because I don’t recall thinking these were all that, but in light of my recent comments about perspective and now versus then etc, most definitely need to check out.
Part of the problem is this run will always be overshadowed by events involving, getting lost, following locals going the wrong way, high rates of speed, open container, car trunk full of all sorts of “things”, minors sitting in back seat next to stacks of beer, close encounters with the law, the ole Cassidy rap, and tragedy narrowly averted at Alpine, again...
Oh, and it was Stench & Knuckles first road trip (the minors). All I can say is thank God I had my golf clubs or I might still be i prison....
So yeah, that trip is quite a blur....

9/2/68, 9/3/72 & Alpine '87

Wow!
Really glad I got around to 9/2/68 again. I think I say that every time I put that one on.
Great show, upbeat & sparkling Dark Star, Great Early St. Stephen (love the crowd response), Fantastic Eleven, and rough reel flip after 36 wonderful seconds of Death Don't. TIFTOO, Alligator > Caution > Feedback, it's all packed into this great Set at a Hippie Festival. Killer! I love this show, and need to try and remember that.

9/3/72 - Over 4 hour monster of a show following the GRATEFULest Dead show ever at Veneta. Wow! There's a lot here, wish the tapes all sounded as good as the DiP bonus material, containing the big Jam sequence of Set 2, but wait there's a Set 3! Really dig this PITB, China > Rider and the Jam sequence is a spaceship to destinations unknown. Rough reel flips in Bird Song & Truckin'. A lot of flashes of Veneta in the playing on this one, Transition to Rider is sweet.
Hear, Hear!!

1987 Alpine, glad you guys are digging in, really liking this new source recording. It's got the feels.
Give it a spin OB, sounds like you woulda been in Jail if it wouldn't of been the '80s, but all that's behind you now ;)
Send out those hopeful vibes for a new Night 1 to join it in our universe!

Well I wasn't able to do 9/3/77, wanted to take that '68 ride instead.

Maybe try and do that today.

Not quite the same without a Shakedown Stream, but Happy Friday You All!

6.27.87 Alpine....

....i don't think I've heard this show. That changes today. First set looks awesome on paper.
How about those Vegas Golden Knights!! (edit sarcasm).

Alpine

ha Jim - great seats. mine for the first two shows were terrible, way hard right, poor sound and sight lines and i just went to the lawn both nights. that second show was a rocker! been a long time since I listened. it was in the afternoon, sorta wished it was a night show at time probably cause not fully recovered from night 1. Mickey and Billy were in what I called the pots and pans drumz that day - really really loud and cacophonous even on the lawn. great crowd noise on this tape - yes you can them roar on the Terrapin. Trucking > Other One out of Space!! and man, hard to believe only 2 circulating sources for that first night which was a monster show. I mean how is that possible only 2 after all these years? Set II day 3 was sorta phoned in I thought, but take a listen to the Jack Straw that closes Set I - it kicks it! not sure if that set placement was unique but I think about the highest energy version I know of. Vguy - nice game 7. jealous (Hawks fan here.)

Alpine '87

Nice Memory BlueCrow & All!

I remember where I was at for Night 1, just turned 17 out on the lawn trying to keep it together and take it all in.
First time at Alpine and it was a heavy night.

But for Night 2, my mind seems to blesh my memory with '88.
I think we went in early and got seats (snuck down possibly), day time show, I'm pretty sure this is the day we screamed at Bob when he came on stage to check out his gear and he looked at us kinda like "take it easy there fellas". It was sunny whatever show we did that at.

Wish I woulda been disciplined and kept journals or something, but we were the other side of that coin and were getting as high as we could and were trying to keep our brains from spilling out. Fun to think about.

I listened to it again yesterday since I knew you all were checking it out and it's a fun show.
If I hadn't seen it, would I go back to this "tape" again and again?
Don't know, but since I did see it, I'm digging it.

What You All Hearing today?

Anybody know if there’s audio of Jerry introducing Jefferson Airplane at Monterey Pop?
It doesn’t seem to circulate on Video, but curious about audio.

9/3/72

I'm playing catch-up today and will try to do this whole show. Reading the Archive comments makes the mouth water. Another beautiful outdoor concert in Boulder just a week after Veneta. Just imagine how much fun the Dead and their entourage were having back then! I really wanted to do the audience tape of this show but I don't think I can make it - the sound quality is brutal. Guess I'll go with the messy patched sbd/aud.

9/3/72

Gollum: OMSN encore from the Audience tape is enough to give you an idea of how that sounds.
Stick with the SBD, it's rough enough ;)

Have fun!

OMSN

Yikes! thanks for the tip. queuing up the SBD-

Alpine 87

So far 26&27...wonder if I like the first night better?
Think I blew through these back last winter on the never ending job from hell?
Unfortunately both then and now they were more background listens, but I’ve totally enjoyed them. I still don’t like some of the same things, but as I commented on after running through my 93&94 shows, these things don’t interfere anymore, and the experiential variables for good or for ill are mostly forgotten, let alone influential...
Yes in the hermetic bubble provided by time, I can start to appreciate all these shows for each individually, or as a part of some temporal measure i.e., (tour, weekend etc) stripped of the dogma of my twenty something know it all self getting in the way!
As for tapes, I’ve been digging a lot of Audi’s lately. SBs just don’t natural too me, but a bad aud is usually worse than a bad board, if that makes sense?
Ok, on to the last night, hopefully just the endings dialed in?
Later perhaps, in honor of BobT and WTJones, been meaning to give the mighty 9/3/77 a spin, so perhaps we’ll get to that, though the misses wants somethin funky first to work by....she’s not really into the Soul Jazz which would be my pick, and alas we have no P-funk etc, or gulp, I’m not even sure we have any James Brown for Fugs sake! Slackers!
Perhaps a little Herbie Hancock Head Hunters, PROPER!

Alpine '87

Night 1 seems to be the hottest show of the run, too many mushrooms for this kid that night.

It's been awhile since I've listened to Night 3, but recall it being the weakest of the bunch.
My interest in the Jack Straw has been raised recently;)

But I think I'm gonna hold out on Night 1 & 3 for now with fingers x'd for a Mr. Miller Miracle this week, maybe tomorrow.
Gotta keep those dreams alive.

Checked out 9/3/77 yesterday, was kinda distracted, return of Truckin' is pretty special.

OB: What about some Curtis Mayfield?

Curtis Mayfield

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VOXmaSCt4ZE I believe Strider saw Curtis Mayfield play, with Freddie King on the same bill.

Curtis!

Good call! Have Super Fly so we’ll have to slip that into the mix. Currently clutching my seatbelt during 9/3/77..

EDIT: damn Strider saw everyone AND all the best Dead shows!
And yes, I am jealous! LOL 😉

Curtis Mayfield

Celebrity Theater, April 73. Freddie King opened. After a full day of hiking in the vast South Mountain Park south of Phoenix with a friend. Our minds tuned up. Very powerful double bill concert indeed.
Phoenix was way smaller back then. Just watched that Curtis vid kid. Gave me goosebumps.

“Saw a bird with a tear in his eye, Walkin to New Orleans my oh my”

Did someone mention the Fugs? Ed Sanders, et all.

What are we listening to today???

What's it gonna be..

Edit: I am going with the a ditty of a show from 68 to get started..
Digital Download #6 - Carousel Ballroom 03-17-1968

It's got a New Potato