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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February 22, 2023 - 3:51am

#1301

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

5/19/74 (Part II)

Wrote these notes on Monday morning while drinking my coffee and getting ready to do some work from home. After a while I was mostly distracted by the show.

I'll get to that Feb. 22 '69 show if I can, but I don't have that one handy. Hafta stream it.

The ETree identifier of this source is 115876, btw. I don't have the box set, so these are my first impressions.

It Must Have Been The Roses: Ok. /Now/ I'm awake. Possible tape change? There is suddenly a big improvement in sound quality for this hauntingly sensitive rendition. Jerry's voice is now clear above the guitars. Everything, save Phil, is suddenly much clearer and the sound field feels wider. Up to this point the tape had sounded like the tape the biker is listening to at the beginning of the Dead Movie. Nice harmony work during the refrain, blended well in the house mix.

Loose Lucy: Gettin' in the funk. Jerry's just perfectly behind the beat to make it nice and nasty. If the syncopation isn't just right, this tune can completely lose all form really quickly. Loose Lucy must be a pretty new song at this point. I have no idea when this tune debuted. They didn't do this in concert much, as far as I know. I was lucky enough to see'em do it once, but the performance I saw was almost unrecognizable. Something was wrong with the timing, so it sounded all backwards. I was embarrassed to not even recognize it until Jerry started singing. This is a nice treat.

I Know You Rider? Something seems to be wrong here. The info text says Money Money should be next followed by China/Rider, but we're just dropped into IKYR. Looks like some minor surgery might be needed on the meta data.

Money Money: Ok. Someone's just mislabelled these files. Man, this has always been one of my least favourite songs in the Dead's catalogue. I rarely skip songs on albums, but being the album closer on Mars Hotel makes it easy. I don't think I've ever heard a live version of it, so this is kind of a treat, in its own sort of way. Having not heard it in such a long time, I guess it's not such a bad song. The negativity of the lyric just sems to strike such a contrast to most of the other stuff in the repertoire. John Lennon, for example, has a lot of negativity in his lyrics, but when I listen to him, I expect that.

China Rider: Yeah. They're keepin' that funky groove going that was working so well during Loose Lucy. The transition jam seems to go almost immediately to an I Know You Rider feel. The guitar tone is very unusual here. It almost sounds like Bobby's Gibson 335 tone. He's playing lots of double-stops, where he plays two notes at a time even while soloing… wait… maybe that /was/ Bobby!? Some very cool interplay between Bobby and Phil before a guitar sound that is unmistakably Jerry joins in just ahead of the trademark unison bit before I Know You Rider. What is now clearly Jerry's tone keeps it going after the unison part, and now there's a Feelin' Groovy jam. I can almost see the smiling faces and twirling homemade sun dresses with flowers in the hair right now. Big, big ovation from the crowd as they settle into the Rider vamp before going into the first verse. They know what they've just heard. That was sweet, breezy, and smooth as can be. I'm guessing Jerry had some sort of equipment or other issue causing him to stop playing for a bit at the beginning of the transition. Oh, yeah, Jer, dig into that "On a north bound train" line. This and the out-of-place IKYR are going to get merged into one track when I get a chance.

Set II:
Promised Land: Yeah. Everybody's definitely up off their blankets now.

Bertha: Got a little "Yee Haw" from someone nearby for "All night pouring, but not a drop on me." It's quite amazing how inobtrusive the audience is, considering this was recorded with a handheld mic by someone just hanging out in crowd.

Greatest Story: Nice wah wah Jerry licks. Jerry's wah is so bubbly and has a rich swell, like the sound of a wave on the ocean. Using the rocking motion of the foot pedal definitely puts the player physically off balance, so I can understand why he seemed to abandon it later in favor of the Mutron "auto-wah" tone filter. Sounds so good here, though. Jerry's volume sounds cranked, though, totally drowning everything out. I ain't complaining. Oh, yeah. A little jam in GSET? They seem to have gone into something altogether different. I'm not sure if this is a set piece, but it feels unfamiliar to me. I know that I've heard occasional jams in Greatest Story, but they seem rare. This is definitely no longer the Greatest Story chord progression, but I don't know what it is, and then Wamp, Wamp-Wamp, right back into it. Now I'm gonna hafta start checking out Spring 1974 Greatest Stories. That was hot and adventurous, like maybe something went wrong and they fought through it… but maybe there was just a jam in this song back then.

Ship of Fools: Giving the manic dancers their first break of the second set. The taper is stopping the tape between songs, though, so who knows how long they spent tuning in between. Very nice harmony work from Bobby and Donna.

Weather Report: Seems a bit tentative in the earlier segments, but the Let It Grow jam is developing interestingly. The whole band just seems sort of in a gentle mood this night. Everything is soft and malleable, and most of all, creative, when they go off into improvised sections. The straight tunes are tight and, well, straightforward, but I'm hearing all sorts of novel ideas coming through during the instrumental segments. There seems to be a completely different confidence at work during this jazzy work out. You can hear Billy getting back to his swing roots and playing off Keith. This is fantastic. Such subtle interplay. Normally when I hear the full suite performed I wonder why they didn't continue to use the first parts, but in this case I didn't feel that way.

Peggy-O: Jerry's picking is quite aggressive, and his tone is very chimey, even behind his vocal. Relaxed tempo, even by Peggy-O standards. In this recording it sounds almost like Billy and Jerry doing a duet, but Keith adds some accents here and there.

??: What is this? A playful little jam and some quiet noodling where the audience's shouts and requests become more prominent. Bobby announces technical difficulties.

Truckin': Nice buildup, but not the major bomb drop I'm used to, and from there things start to get really weird. It's not spacy weird, just, "Whoa, what the heck is this?" weird. Some of the early 70s Truckin's could get totally abstract, so this is just the way they rolled back then. Great stuff. Gettin' that funky groove goin' from the first set again, even as the changes take on some jazzy influences. Bobby is very clear in the mix, and my oh, my it's gettin' Weir'ed. Jerry busts in with a burst of guitar feedback which seems to shock everyone for a moment, but they're still groovin'. This is the gold I look for in any show. It's funny because Mind Left Body actually sounds a lot like Loose Lucy. Billy and Phil getting' into a little funky-drummer exchange. Finally Phil breaks through in the mix with some space for him to hit that Bootsy one. In the info text "Jam" and "Mind Left Body Jam" had been listed separately, but they're actually all included in the Truckin' track, which is my preference. Cousinit made a real mess of this file set, but I can fix it. Rarely are there such glaring mistakes on the Archive, but this one has definitely been put together somewhat carelessly.

NFA: This interesting because I've been listening to a lot of Alligator era NFA's or Bean era NFA's, and that gives a nice context to compare to this Wolf tone… of course, there is a LOT of recording tech affecting the sound here, but even though there's a nice honk, everything seems so nice and round and gently muted. Hey. What's this breakdown in NFA. Pretty sure I've never heard that before… and GTRFB. THAT, was an interesting transition.

GTRFB: Nothing to worry about here. The old standby. Billy's hi-hat figure during the breakdown is, again, getting really funky with a swinging 16th note feel, or something. Very cool.

US Blues: Mars Hotel weighted setlist. What month did that come out? Good, tight version.

Johnny B. Goode: Full colosseum clap along for a high energy reading that does justice to the Check Berry original. Sometimes this can get a bit too languid. This one is rockin' hard.

On repeated listen, I've messed with the EQ some. First of all I bumped up the EQ preamp level, I dunno, about 10db, I guess. I then added a further 12db of 64Hz, and 125Hz on the 10 band EQ to bring Phil nicely into the mix, but also lowered almost everything else about 6db on frequencies that had been flat to make the bass frequency differential greater. The bass still isn't terribly defined, but it at least brings Phil into play. He was completely inaudible without EQ. Got just a touch more vocal by giving the 1KHz and 2KHz about 1db. The tape has a sort of nostalgic cheap car speaker sound, so I actually wanna preserve a bit of that… not that I could really get rid of it. There's quite a nice venue ambiance, especially when there is more space in the arrangements, like during the Mind Left Body Jam.

The vocal drop-outs others have mentioned were not audible to the audience.
February 22, 2023 - 3:28am

#1302

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

2/22/69

That is a great show. According to the cd notes it was recorded, along with shows in late January and the Feb-March shows, for possible inclusion on Live Dead. It probably won't happen - the song lists are obviously very similar, but it would make a great box set to release all the shows recorded.
The shows from 1967-1971 inclusive are the main ones for me in 30 Trips.
February 22, 2023 - 1:16am

#1303

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

You can't blame gravity for falling in love…..

Mornin’, rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Dream Bowl February 22, 1969

Relatively speaking, the yang to the yin of February 21, 1969. True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist…..

I have the space, you have the time, let’s revisit. Officially released in October 2015 as part of Thirty Trips Around The Sun, one almost never hears about this show, possibly because it gets overshadowed by the blazing white hot glare of the Fillmore West Shows of February 27th to March 2nd. This is very much “of a kind” with those shows, featuring the typically sweet Mountains Of The Moon (always loved that song!), a long exploratory Dark Star, a fierce, crunchy Other One, a deathly Death Don’t, a fine Eleven, and a greasy Lovelight that clocks in at a mere 21+ minutes.

Great music, great sound quality, I suggest you find the time…..

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once…..

Rock on,

Doc
There comes a time when the mind takes a higher plane of knowledge but can never prove how it got there…..
February 20, 2023 - 3:08pm

#1304

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Heads in Mississippi

That's good to read - they opened with Mississippi Half Step - Franklins Tower the first time I saw them 3/24/81. A great start to the show for sure.
February 20, 2023 - 1:11pm

#1305

PT Barnum

Joined:
December 2, 2009

5-19-74

In my experience, any show that starts off with Mississippi half-step uptown toodleloo is usually a great one and 5-19-74 is no exception. That pacific northwest box grows on ya, for sure.
February 20, 2023 - 12:53pm

#1306

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

5/19/74

I haven't played it this year yet, but it has become one of my most played shows from this year - mainly because I bought it on vinyl. But it is really good, too. To me, it's better than its song list suggests - the songs leading up to the Truckin' jam are well played and forward moving, and that final jam is superb. It has been castigated in some quarters for the vocal drop outs. A price worth paying, in my opinion. All three 1974 shows in the box it was culled from are top notch.
February 20, 2023 - 12:24pm

#1307

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Dave's 13 and 42

Hey Bluecrow, #13 is definitely in my top five. Love this show. Listen to it quite a bit. #42 hasn't resonated with me as much as #13, don't know why. How do you all feel?

I will throw out Dave's Picks #7, 4/24/78, for our old buddy That's Otis. I believe you are fan of this era. Hope all is well out there for you and the rest of the crew!
February 19, 2023 - 2:34am

#1308

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

5/19/74

I've got a beta-max transfer of 2/24/74... which stayed in heavy rotation for a long time when it first hit my library, but low and behold Portland 74 has collecting proverbial dust in the old hard disk, too. Time for something brand new (to me).

A Pat Lee master cassette passed down the generations.

It's a little hissy, and I'm not getting much Phil at the start, but Jerry and Bob's gutiars are crystal clear. Jerry's voice coming in a close second in the mix with some occasional Keith flourishes wafting to the fore. Billy's cymbals sound crisp, if somewhat thin. Getting a nice Jamaican dub sound when he switches to the highhat. Kick is in there, clear, but with with a soft tone, and none of the hyper-compressed abrasive contemporary festival sound. Donna's harmonies are on, and blended well with Jerry and Bob for the Across the Rio Grande-oh finale of Halfstep. Jerry plays an aggressive outro solo.

Mexicali: The mix and tape quality remain consistent. It's mostly a guitar oriented sound, but Bobby's voice is clear, if slightly too far back. Even in '74 they could do this one in their sleep. Have you ever heard a real train wreck during Mexicali? I can't recall one. A fan let's out a hoarse, "Whao!" apparently feeling the southwest polka vibes.

Big Railroad Blues. Love me some BRB. There are short pauses in the tape where Pat Lee is clearly well aware of the need to conserve footage. Could do with A LOT more Phil in the mix. Might fiddle with the EQ in a bit.

Black Throated Wind: Awkward song that I sometimes really like, and other times can do without.

Scarlet: Crowd gives Donna a big cheer as the song reaches it's finale. Of course they egged Bobby on with some of his crazy antics, too, but it's nice to hear that early 70s audiences appreciated her contributions.

Beat It On Down The Line: Always love this one. Nice double vocal from Bobby and Donna. Some unfortunate microphone feedback during Jerry's solo. Phil's backing vocals are there. The bass frequencies either never made it onto the cassette, or have evaporated through the generations of open reels and cassettes.

Tennessee Jed: Nice bounce to this laid-back rendition. Another one of my favorite tunes, as I've mentioned before. Another nice, appreciative response from the audience who are almost completely unnoticeable for the majority of the time.

Bobby McGee. I picture the audience mostly having a lie-down on the lawn during this first set. Just a nice day in the park with some live music in the background.

Ok, well, that's as far as I'll get in this sitting, but really looking forward to that big Truckin' jam at the end of the show. Now spoilers! 😉 Just kidding.
February 19, 2023 - 12:14am

#1309

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Woodstock

>DAVEROCK>

"It's about 37 minutes long, but it seems more like an hour when you watch it."

HAHAHA

I'll be on the lookout for that CCR set. John Fogerty strikes me a somewhat difficult man. Brilliant songwriter and producer, though. Never get tired of Cosmo's Factory, in particular. Gotta get reacquainted with the first album. I recall it being more psychedelic.

Got a trove of stuff to listen to after yesterday's catch up. Thanks!
Not sure where I'll start, but probably with something that already has ID tags. lol.
February 18, 2023 - 1:04pm

#1310

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Woodstock

There was a good cd of CCR's set that came out a couple of years ago. Apart from Hendrix, possibly my favourite set of the whole festival. "Lovelight" was included on a dvd as an extra, on one of the celebratory reissues of the festival. I don't think I'm being controversial when I say that it wasn't there finest hour. It's about 37 minutes long, but it seems more like an hour when you watch it.
The Dark Star, I've just remembered, was included in the 6 cd 40th anniversary release of Woodstock, too. That's okay. But it's not a show I would suggest as a contender for an official release.

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