Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,102 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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October 3, 2023 - 6:01am

#841

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

E72

Nice work OB and Firstshow. What a feat! I am sure you both will need a break. It is quite the box. Not sure if they will ever put another box like this with a full tour.

Go Twins. They are due. They have lost 18 straight playoff games.
October 2, 2023 - 1:20pm

#842

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

The Short Ones

5-16-72 Lille: Lively, despite sound issues early on. Again every song played well. Energetic, these guys are durable! Classic Truckin' with Jerry going off on it. The TOO seems advanced for '72, short but completely fully developed. Some of this tour's TOOs rival Dark Stars in this regard. Best yet TOO? It's a contender. Hurts Me Too was stellar.

5-16-72 Luxembourg: Were those first two a sound check? The treatment of Big River I could see as a regular thing but sadly no. Almost starts like the '77 intros to Jack-a-Roe, and Bob gets an interesting part not seen later. Radio broadcast maybe quickened the pace on many 1st set songs? The TOO not nearly up to the level of the other Other Ones. A short and sweet show as I'm finishing the usual NFA> GDTRFB> NFA ending now. How many kinds of radio bandwidths did Europe have back then?

A shout out to Bluecrow who clued us in on some easy to get to petroglyphs in the front yard of his San Juan River, Utah cave up in the hills. A friend of the devil is a friend of mine. Fantastic stuff and an inspiring place for sure. I'm rejuvenated and ready to cruise through the rest of EU72.
Cheers
October 2, 2023 - 11:35am

#843

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Good times/Bad Times

Good, because I finished the quest on Saturday with a sit down listen to 5/26/72.
Bad, because everything lately is a blur, so the multiple times I hit 5/24 and 5/25 are now also a blur, so I’ll try to remember some of the standouts?
5/24: variety pack = Cold Rain and Snow, Dire Wolf, Only Black Peter, You Win Again, Rocking Pneumonia, and Lovelight. Most were good with Win Again and Hurts Me Too making the album cut!
The second set sequence they do step it up, and I liked the shorter LL, sadly, Pigs last…
I hadn’t heard this show before so I did hit it multiple times, though didn’t get a great listen in…
Generally, by now, they’ve totally melded and though perhaps early on in this show you might catch a slightly passed the peak vibe, but not sure hearing it alone, out of sequence and/or casually listening you’d notice. Still mostly full on magnificent.
Part of my problem deciphering is how much these shows do sound alike, sure their all different and have unique nuances, but after so many in a row, they all sorta roll into one…
5/25/72: this one seemed like it took a bit to build up from good to RJ…, but certainly did!
Of course the second set sequence was superb, and benefited from the tour unique UJB> Warf Rat> DS> Mags variety mix. Other Variety pack songs= Another awkward Promised Land, a sweet Brokedown, the aforementioned UJB and Rat, with unfortunately the last Sitting on top (another farewell to that 60s pyscho style/energy), and a sweet Sing Me Back Home! The Dark Star of course was RJ (have you ever heard a 72 DS that wasn’t lol), and a nice slightly different GDTRFB/One Mo Saturday finale. Sadly Pigs last Good Lovin, perhaps a bit abbreviated due to fatigue, and an unusual only four songs on the night…
5/26/72: some call this the greatest Dead show ever, not sure I’d say that, but it is a beast!
Only did one listen on this one as I’ve had it, gave it a sit down, and honestly, I’m just burned out. Both in general, which unfortunately didn’t help my tour burnout. But I’ve enjoyed every note, and this one didn’t disappoint either!
Not so much variety, and sadly, only 3 helpings of grease, perhaps due to some being repeated at least a couple times here at the end: Promised Land, Dire Wolf, nice Cumberland, Sugaree returns after more regular play early on, same with Loser, and of course THE Dew! Another sweet Sing Me, and another OMG second set sequence that is definitely RJ! It’s all most too much, when some shows, they basically play another small set AFTER these big powerful sequences, but here they do it again, though why they had to repeat Me&My Uncle yet again I’m not sure? They just did it a year before on Skullfuck so why use up so many slots on this tour that might have made room for another, possibly THE version of something different to make it to vinyl?
Anywho, A great show and proper fitting ending to one of the all time greatest tours! They Hit most of the usual suspects of the tour, and even managed to nail some album worthy versions, including that magnificent Dew!
Oh, and how could I not mention the consistently hot PITBs, everyone RJ fo sho…

Well, this was bittersweet. I’m glad I finally went for it even if the timing was poor and I didn’t feel I went as deep as I usually do when hitting a tour. But I did hit every show in order, including a few I hadn’t gotten to yet, though I did miss some of 4/7 and 4/8 which I’m going to do this week, perhaps with a couple other partial rehashes, though I really need to hear some other Dead for a much needed cleanse…
I’ll, prolly think of more insights, but for now I’ll just comment on something I kept thinking of that DR said awhile back about post Pig Dead. After hitting all those amazing but long 73 box shows, then hitting all these amazing but long 72s,
Pigs departure really did affect the flow and energy of those long shows. As awesome as those 73 shows are, they can sometimes be a bit monotonous, so they definitely miss not having those little Pig interludes to break things up, keep things moving, add more variety, and give an occasional energy boost. It also made me think a lot about what if Pig hadn’t checked out? By this point in their trajectory perhaps the overly long repetitive nature of LL and Good Lovin, and the old, overripe straight blues numbers, maybe needed to take a break, but think of all the sweet alternatives they were coming up with that just shown so brightly on this tour: Hurts Me Too, Mr Charlie, China Town, 2 Souls, and some old chestnuts like Lied Cheated and Big Boss Man. And who can forget the few but enjoyable Cautions, a tour highlight for me personally.
You have to wonder what if…what if he was healthy and kept writing and growing as a writer etc?
I think he would have had to have grown as a byproduct of just being in the band and how they kept changing etc.
He may have transitioned from being the main focus, but there probably would have been some monumental new stuff that might even have been better, but alas we’ll never know…
Well, hopefully we didn’t lose ole 1stshow in some unknown rural border jail lol, and he’ll fill us in on his travails.
Until next time, keep it forward, never straight…and get yo self a shotgun and a pocketful of shells ; )
September 28, 2023 - 12:23pm

#844

Elbow49

Joined:
October 26, 2012

Without A Net Coming To Vinyl

I heard on the YouTube broadcast from the In Groove in Phoenix, AZ that Without A Net is coming to vinyl November 17, 2023 as a Brick n Mortar release.
September 28, 2023 - 11:02am

#845

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Hot Opener

stMade it to the halfway point, but they started playing 10/18/74 on SiriusXM, so I hit pause. They were out of the gate with a bang. High energy opener with some Healy vocal distortion on Hey Pockey Way. Nice high energy Jack Straw too. I never made it to the Kaiser.. caught news years at the Auditorium, never the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

Man, Jerry's tone on that October 74 run, just love it.

I'll hit the second set later this afternoon.
September 28, 2023 - 7:31am

#846

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

11/7/1987

Enjoyed the revisit of 9/18/1987 at MSG Jim. If you ever watch any shows from 1987 you can see Jerry trying to find his form. Looking back I still can't believe how much they toured right after his coma.

Looking at 11/7/1987 Oakland for today if there is any interest out there.

Still think we will get a 91 show released soon. Although the talk is 1988 is coming soon.
September 24, 2023 - 2:22pm

#847

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Goodbye to the 60's

In some ways the E72 seems like the last tour that nodded back to the 60's. The Caution jam seems to conjure up the old psychedelic vibe the most. Both Dark Star and The Other One sounded very different from how they had sounded in 1969. An incredible transformation for both songs.
Although they brought back songs from Aoxomoxoa after 1974, they too had lost the psych vibe by then. As had everything else, come to that.
September 24, 2023 - 2:12pm

#848

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Back at ya BC (DM)

Yes that 5-11 show is my new favorite. That just exactly perfect pace and performances on the 1st set matched with the killer 2nd set does it all. Everyone in fine voice and harmonies as well. I knew it was going to be good when the first song was Playin' and the first song of the second set was Dew. This show alone could have filled the EU72 album all by itself and wouldn't have shorted us one bit.
Cheers
September 24, 2023 - 11:16am

#849

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

5-11-72 Rotterdam

I can lose my mind, so to speak, in any show from E72, and a whole lot of shows outside that tour over the many years, but that Rotterdam Dark Star > Sugar Mag > Caution > Trucking > Uncle John's will always be one my favorite passages from any show, any era.

1stShow - check your DMs
September 24, 2023 - 9:08am

#850

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

5/16, 18, and 23

NIIIIICCCCCEEEE! Glad to hear you liked 5/11 1stshow. Yeah not exactly sure why that one always resonates so well for me. I hate “favorites” (like the Jim philosophy: last one heard is the favorite etc) and this tour has so many RJs is damn near impossible for me, but this one always just pops into my head when I think of E72!
I’m sure the set list is part of it as you mention in why you liked 5/10 etc, and yes, that Dark Star is mos def RJ!

Though I really dug the 5/18 DS too, hell, who am I kidding, all these DS are top shelf!
I’ve had this show and have definitely spent time with the DS, but it was nice to dig deeper into the rest!
Actually got to give this one a good sit down listen on the big boy stereo, always a plus ; )
Not sure what it was about Germany, but they seemed to step it up each night.
We get another DS but pared nicely here with a decent Dew. Sing Me as part of double encore was nice.
Another nice but rare You Win Again, shame they didn’t keep on with that one? oh, a Sitting On Top!
That was a nice fun addition if not mind blowing.
A reminder of another thing I’ve noticed on the tour: it’s most definitely not the 60s Dead anymore, but they still have those flashback moments, they can still totally get that vibe and energy, and at times, if it wasn’t for the completely different sound they’ve cultivated, you might think it’s the 60s. (Besides the DS/TOO weirdness!)
But it’s not, so they throw down more stellar versions of the new stuff and a perhaps light, but satisfying side o grease.

Ah snap, I skipped 5/16 lol. Well, at this point they are all starting to roll into one, but that becomes helpful when you do hear a particular hot version of something as it seems to stand out enough to distinguish itself from the mob…
Don’t recall much of that on 5/16, just yet another solid well played beauty. First time for this one so I gave it multiple whirls streaming at work. Certainly they were trying to reign it in a bit and keep it tight being on world radio broadcast, though as the tour rolls on nearer the conclusion, I have noticed a loosening up occasionally and perhaps slightly more imperfections, but that’s really taking a hard micro look as even with occasional blemishes these shows are all so good. Of course they had to get at least a little weirdness out there with another trippy TOO. Wonder what that would have been like: to randomly turn on your radio to THAT! Lol.
Interestingly, no Good Lovin again, probably due to time restraints, or the fear of Pig getting to spicy on the radio lol.

Continuing in a haze now with 5/23. I’ve had a copy of this, but it’s missing some tracks and seemed to have songs mixed in from other shows or some weirdness, so I stopped near end of first set and started over streaming. Interesting show as they continue to mix it up and add some new/old stuff in for variety. I didn’t get the best listen in, but it seemed a tiny bit subdued? I don’t know, can’t come up with right word, so I’ll,project. They seem like their relaxing just a bit like they know they’ve got some good stuff in the can so can mix it up and let go a bit? Or not,…? definitely need to hit this again later, but honestly getting burnt not so much on this Dead as not hearing any other eras. Too each their own but I can’t just listen to one kind of Dead exclusively, but that’s just me. But whatever, another great DS/Dew, perhaps a slightly more polished Dew? Oh oh oh, Mr Kotter, can’t forget the best Comes a Time so far, another fun Sittin On Top!,
They mix it up with a fun Rockin Pneumonia (dedicated to my cousin Eecktar who’s currently laid up in a Hawaiian hospital with pneumonia and Covid as he’s been their working on some recording studio).
As I say, not the best listen but all good, another enjoyable show!
Ok, on to 5/24. This has been an elusive one. I remember being a POTD but only could find aud copy so skipped it, actually a couple times, but today we’re soldiering on and gonna finish it. Since I’ve heard so much about this one I’ll probably give it multiple whirls and check it out on Spotify at work (for better audio) for a couple days before I move on to the big 5/25 beast. So that’s where I’ll be for a bit, until next time,
ONWARD!

EDIT: Ha who says there’s no Dead heads in this tour! Ya can hear one singing and humming along at points on this 5/24 aud lol so there was at least one, and Murphy’s law he’s standing right near the mics lol

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