Sweet liberty! We're venturing into the depths of 80s Dead with the complete show from 4/20/84 at the Philadelphia Civic Center and we're placing bets you'll think this one is more than fine. A strong contender for our mega 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN boxed set, 4/20/84 missed the cut by virtue of its setlist being a wee bit too similar to the years before and after. As DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 35, it's found its time to shine. The first set delivers yin yang harmony between Jerry and Bobby songs, yielding driven and powerful takes on tracks like "Feel Like A Stranger," "Cold Rain And Snow," and "Brown-Eyed Women." The second set begs the question - will we ever stop peaking? - with a monumental "Scarlet>Fire," a ripping "Samson and Delilah," a "Space" that pulls shapes that know no names, and that "Morning Dew" - get.in.to.it! And because this one might have ended just a little too soon, we've packed disc 2 and 3 with knock-your-socks-off bonus material from most of the second set from the previous night, 4/19/84. Grab ahold while you can!
Limited to 22,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOL.35: PHILADELPHIA CIVIC CENTER, PHILADELPHIA 4/20/84 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and is guaranteed to sell out.
*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.
The Stones
In light of talk of something coming down from Dave's lab related to an AB50 Deluxe reissue, I note the Masters of Marketing, the Stones, have re-released Goat's Head Soup in enough versions for every family member: 2 CD Deluxe; 3 CD Deluxe & Blue Ray; 4 LP versions; 2 LP version; plus Japanese SHM-CD Deluxe versions.
What? No Goat's Head lunchboxes???
Goats Head
https://uproxx.com/music/the-rolling-stones-goats-head-soup-box-set-rev…
Nice read. I’m in, and will take the lunchbox also.
Long Strange Trip tv series
amazing footage, commentary, stories, soundtrack, etc.
film of Jerry, Bobby, and Phil rehearsing harmonies for Candyman
the trip to Europe for 5/24/70
a great story about Morning Dew from 5/26/72
6 episodes
highly, highly, highly recommended
Thermos
Yes, the savvy Stones included a Thermos with the lunchbox, to keep your drinks hot or cold. They even included a jingle:
I'm the burning bush, I'm the burning fire
I'm the bleeding volcano
I'm so hot for her, I'm so hot for her
I'm so hot for her and she's so cold
Peggy O/ 12/31/83. S.F. Civic
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PxhFGuHCteg. I had a lot of fun at these shows, I think 12/28 & 12/30 are release worthy for a Dave's Pick or part of a1983 box.
Goats Head Bummer
Thanks for posting this article. Every six months or so I check to see if there are any plans for the type of reissue of this album that Sticky Fingers and Exile received. Those two records had fantastic unreleaseded live tracks and studio outtakes.
What a disappointment to hear they're simply re-releasing The Brussels Affair as the companion piece. I already own the digital copy that was on the Rolling Stones website 8 years ago. It would be like reissuing American Beauty with the Download Series show from October '71. No sense in re-spending money on that - it's already been engineered and mastered professionally. Strike 1.
The author of the article is correct in saying that the two standout tracks from The Brussels affair are You Can't Always Get What You Want and Midnight Rambler. Probably the two best live versions of those songs. Beyond that, the album is a starfucker less than Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones (this was the movie from the Exile on Main St tour that was in movie theaters shortly after the Exile tour, and then shelved for 30 years; eventually it was released on Blu-ray and then later on CD). Brussels is a great live show, don't misunderstand me, but Ladies and Gentlemen is from a year earlier, has almost the exact same setlist, and is played a little bit tighter and sung a little bit better). The primary difference is more Goats Head songs that don't measure up to the songs they replace from the Exile concert (which itself is the best of four shows). Beyond Doo x5 (Heartbreaker) and Dancing with Mr. D, the live Goats Head tracks don't really do much for me. Did I mention they already released this almost 10 years ago? Strike 2.
The author of the article stated he could "imagine how much of a bummer Goats Head Soup must have felt in the moment. But for those of us who came along later, and without the generational baggage, Goats Head Soup has an incredible, melancholic beauty".
I was a year-and-a-half-old when this record came out, and I have to disagree with him on this point. It has three great songs on it and a whole lot of missed opportunities that separate it from the previous four albums. It was so close to greatness too (Can You Hear The Music, Hide Your Love, and 100 Years Ago almost caught it) - bloody shame. By and large it does not rock, it does not transition mood easily or frequently enough, and as the author also pointed out, there are too many guest musicians (it feels very un-Stonesy). If it rocked more they could have gotten away with it; but it is primarily a morose downer, as the author implied. If I wanted melancholy I would listen to The Cure. Strike 3.
Sad Hours/ Little Walter/ Dave Rock
. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5xj7gwFOvcM. Send this one out to Dave Rock , over in England. I also dedicate this to Charlie Musselwhite, Gary Smith, Mark Ford and Rick Estrin, the greatest blues harmonica players alive.
Blues with a feeling
Billly the Kid - excellent cut by Little Walter. I have never heard anyone who made a harmonica sound so expressive-wonderful tone. Having said that, apart from Charlie Musslewhite ( and even there, I am not familiar with his music) I have never even heard of the other harp players you refer to. Some checking out to do, I think.
Keith - I enjoyed reading your thoughts on Goats Head Soup. I was 16 when that came out, and as I had a ticket to see them the month it came out-September 1973 - I thought I'd buy it to get some idea of what they sounded like. It was the first Stones album I got - I just had a vague memory of their singles at this point. In comparison with contemporaneous offerings by David Bowie, Black Sabbath Hawkwind etc it sounded quite middle of the road. The only track that really rocked was Starfucker. I can remember the press making much of the fact that Mick Jagger was now 30, and whether he was now too pooped to pop ( seemingly unaware that many of the new glam breed were about the same age).
But live...they were amazing !-a fantastic night. Suddenly, Goats Head Soup shot up in my estimation and I began buying all their other albums. Today, I rank it with the 4 others from Beggars Banquet onwards-although most people rate it less highly than the 4 that came before it.
This new edition looks like the rip off of the year. As you say, Brussels Affair has already been released as a download. The price of it is ridiculous, too. It all meant so much to me at the time though, that I am still sort of tempted.
Morning Daverock
What I wouldn't give to have seen them with Mick Taylor! Yes they were outstanding onstage in those days, and to be honest, I never would have known it if I hadn't stumbled on the "Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones" movie concert a year or two before they released Brussels Affair.
I was watching VH-1 or AXS (one of those music TV stations), and wham, he'll right in the middle of the opener, Brown Sugar. The thing they caught me first was that Mick Jagger was actually singing, not huffing and puffing out the lyrics. Up until that time I had only heard live albums from the Ron Wood era: Love You Live, Still Life, and Flashpoint, all of which pretty much featured a band whizzing through songs, sloppy as can be. I assumed Mick Jagger was simply just a studio singer, and pretty much the same of Keith as a guitar player. I enjoyed the Hits From The Ron Wood years, but certainly not the live content.
I had been a fan of the Brian Jones and especially the Mick Taylor years for quite some time without ever hearing the band play live from '71 - '73. Then along came the movie concert from '72 on TV, and whoa - Mick was singing! Actually singing. Keith was at his legendary best, which I had also taken as myth, and Mick Taylor was everything and more on stage (he quietly sat back and played his ass off loudly, and with all the virtuoso we hear from him in the studio). Keith (by his own admission) once famously spent a couple of hours in the studio improvising a bridge or solo, or something, and was really just at his wits end trying to land the right notes. Taylor wasn't there, but he eventually showed up, listened for a couple of minutes, picked up his guitar and played exactly what Keith was struggling for. This was close to the end of Mick's tenure with the band; Keith turned to him and only half-jokingly said, "that's why I hate you man." Mick was light years ahead of the rest of the band musically.
The Goats Head box would be worth it for any casual to serious Stones fan who doesn't already own The Brussels Affair. My commentary on that show was strictly in comparison to the '72 Ladies and Gentlemen release. If I didn't already have Brussels, I would snatch up the box on release day. It would have been nice for them to have included the embryonic Waiting on a Friend. I was also hoping for the rumored extended version of Dancing with Mr D.
Morning Daverock
What I wouldn't give to have seen them with Mick Taylor! Yes they were outstanding onstage in those days, and to be honest, I never would have known it if I hadn't stumbled on the "Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones" movie concert a year or two before they released Brussels Affair.
I was watching VH-1 or AXS (one of those music TV stations), and wham, he'll right in the middle of the opener, Brown Sugar. The thing they caught me first was that Mick Jagger was actually singing, not huffing and puffing out the lyrics. Up until that time I had only heard live albums from the Ron Wood era: Love You Live, Still Life, and Flashpoint, all of which pretty much featured a band whizzing through songs, sloppy as can be. I assumed Mick Jagger was simply just a studio singer, and pretty much the same of Keith as a guitar player. I enjoyed the Hits From The Ron Wood years, but certainly not the live content.
I had been a fan of the Brian Jones and especially the Mick Taylor years for quite some time without ever hearing the band play live from '71 - '73. Then along came the movie concert from '72 on TV, and whoa - Mick was singing! Actually singing. Keith was at his legendary best, which I had also taken as myth, and Mick Taylor was everything and more on stage (he quietly sat back and played his ass off loudly, and with all the virtuoso we hear from him in the studio). Keith (by his own admission) once famously spent a couple of hours in the studio improvising a bridge or solo, or something, and was really just at his wits end trying to land the right notes. Taylor wasn't there, but he eventually showed up, listened for a couple of minutes, picked up his guitar and played exactly what Keith was struggling for. This was close to the end of Mick's tenure with the band; Keith turned to him and only half-jokingly said, "that's why I hate you man." Mick was light years ahead of the rest of the band musically.
The Goats Head box would be worth it for any casual to serious Stones fan who doesn't already own The Brussels Affair. My commentary on that show was strictly in comparison to the '72 Ladies and Gentlemen release. If I didn't already have Brussels, I would snatch up the box on release day. It would have been nice for them to have included the embryonic Waiting on a Friend. I was also hoping for the rumored extended version of Dancing with Mr D.
Something else I didn't know...
Keith - that Waiting For A Friend dates from 1973. Yes, that should have been included with the extras for sure.
Probably because I kept on seeing them - the last time was 2007, I think, I do like some of their live recordings from the 1990s up to about 2007. One thing I would highly recommend...to anyone reading this with soul...is the live versions of Gimme Shelter featuring Lisa Fischer. She truly soars through the heavens on this song. I last heard it on the blu ray Bridges to Beunos Ares, bought last week, ( which also features Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger duetting on Like A Rolling Stone - shambolic!), and it is truly amazing. Another great version is on the Totally Stripped box set- from Amsterdam 1995. The sound is incredible on this-Keith Richards sounds as though he is in the room with you - which might or might not be a good thing. One of the remarkable things about the Bridges to Beunos Ares blu ray is the massive crowd, which goes absolutely bananas from the first song.
Goats Head Stones
I love the Rolling Stones. I had my old man's eight tracks in the early seventies... I remember when Some Girls came out and we would continually be snatching the house copy of it back and forth from each other. I was 10.
Seen them live several times, most recently last summer at Mile High Stadium. I have never felt that the Stones were a great live band. They're all over the goddamn place... they never sound much like their records. Which is neither here nor there, depending on what you're looking for, but they went from the raw (Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!) to the aforementioned late 70's / early 80's affairs with sped up tempos, to the glossed over machine they became on Steel Wheels to date.
Point being, I didn't buy the Brussels Affair when it came out as I already have so many live Stones albums and rarely play them - except for Twenty Flight Rock and Going To A Go-Go off Still Life.
I bit on the iTunes version of this. The audio is cleaned up nicely, there are a number of unearthed gems and it is a great Mick Taylor live show. I've been playing it for two days now. I think it was like twenty bucks and change. For anyone on the fence, I say, go for it.
Rolling Stones. Voodoo Lounge tour
I've only seen the Rolling Stones play live one time, it was 1994 at the Voodoo Lounge tour. I really enjoyed the show. They opened the show with Not Fade Away. Apparently, they had a place there for famous people called the Voodoo Lounge, and I read that Garcia and Weir were both in there during the show. Anyways, I thought the Stones sounded great.
PSA. Data breach at WMA....
....i got a letter in the mail yesterday notifying me of a cybersecurity incident involving a number of e-commerce websites operated by Warner Music Group.
Quote...." On August 5, 2020, we learned that an unauthorized third party had compromised a number of US-based e-commerce websites WMG operates but that are hosted and supported by an external service provider. This allowed the unauthorized third-party to potentially acquire a copy of the personal information you entered into one or more of the affected website(s) between April 25, 2020 and August 5, 2020.
While we cannot definitely confirm that your personal information was affected, it is possible that it might have been as your transaction(s) occurred during the period of compromise. If it was, this might have exposed you to a risk of fraudulent transactions being carried out using your details."
Does say later that payments made through PayPal were not affected.
I use PayPal.
Anyone else get this letter??
Double post....
....because I keep getting a technical difficulties page when I've been submitting recent posts, so I page back, then submit again.
This also happening to anyone else?
Just occurred again as I tried to post this.
Dead.net is an example of this announcement.
Watch your back.
Pay Pal / double posts
I use Pay Pal, so that's a load off . I also had a double post last night, I thought it was the double. IPAs ,but I guess not.
Stones 3x / Fillmore West 1969 Complete Recordings
Steel Wheels, Bridges to Babylon, and Forty Licks tour. Actually going to see them is still a pretty awesome experience, at least it was on these three tours. But to hear a recording from these shows isn't really worth my while. I did read that the Stripped acoustic tour was good, but that's an apples and oranges thing. When you're in the stadium, the critical ear goes away. I've gone to Who shows that have been absolutely fantastic since Entwhistle died, but then you go back and listen to the live recording and the magic is gone the band is left raw and exposed. Heck I saw the last Help / Slip / Franklin's the Dead ever played with Jerry and it was fantastic at the Knick. Doesn't sound so good on archive.org, but that's the magic of being there sometimes.
I listen to a lot of Dark Stars, but I don't listen to a lot of 1969 Dark Stars. They always felt a bit formulaic in arrangement. Exceptions I've found: 2/11, 11/2, 11/7, 8/30, 10/25, 4/27, and 12/26.
For the Fillmore West Complete box, I never took the time to compare them very closely to see if 2/27 was that much better than the successive three nights. I know One Man wrote an essay on this box set that I read so long ago I don't recall if he compared them all. Going to try to listen to them all once every few days until I know them well enough to rate them comparatively.
If anyone has already undergone this experiment let me know. Would love to hear what you came up with.
Data Breach
Yup. got the letter. And during that time period, somebody helped themselves to my cc info and purchased a hair weave ($550) at a place called "She's Happy Hair" in Texas...plus a meal at Popeye's. No liability at my end and I got a new card, but sheeeesh! I had purchased WD 50 the week before.
Catching Up...
Was in the backcountry for four days, so I thought I'd see what I missed here. (Saw a black bear, bull moose and a pronghorn actually queried me in a plaintive voice, then listened to me playing Hank Williams songs on my guitar for ~20 minutes before trotting off...)
So, to sum the past four days on the forum:
Phil TOO intro riff = good, and missed in the Heinecken years.
Bobby's whispering intros in the '80 = ng (not good).
DaP 36 prediction for Pigpen show = effin' BRILLIANT.
Jerilyn RIP = indeed.
LATVALA!!
Goat's Head Soup lunchbox, thermos required = truly sacred stuff.
And finally, shout outs for 1983 shows = very misguided....
How am I doin'???
Charlie Musslewhite/ Takin Care of Business
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1J1OgF9ybhs. Charlie Musselewhite, living legend, he sounds better than ever. Charlie played on several gigs with the the Dead in 1969 & 1970. It's beer time here in the Bay Area, I'm drinking beer from Humble Sea brewery, out of Santa Cruz Ca. , absolutely fantastic beers. Top two box sets, Fillmore West, they need to release it again so everybody can have it, I have a copy, and Europe 72. Top two Dead songs Dire Wolf and Cumberland Blues.
Fillmore West 69
Yes, I'd buy it in a shot. I have all the shows, thanks to the kindness of a poster on here, and the vinyl issues of the first two shows. But I'd still get it. Played 2/27 over the weekend - that Dark Star - immaculate. I was quite disappointed that 3/1/69 wasn't released on RSD on vinyl.
I'm currently tempted by Dicks Picks 26 from April 69 on vinyl. I already have it on cd, it's expensive, the Dark Star is split in the middle over two sides, and their are two Lovelights. Minor details.
Keith...I couldn't do justice to your general invitation to compare 69 Dark Stars. They are among my favourites, though. Especially the ones with Jerry on SG. Just the interplay between him and Phil, and the ambient space provided by Tom Constanten, the two drummers and Bob Weir. It connects with the pleasure centres of my brain. Curiously, one I am not so keen on is 11/8. The peaks were hit in the first half of the year, to my way of hearing. We all hear the same music differently.
Data Breach Letter
I got the letter. Both credit cards I had on file with Grateful Dead Merchandise were hacked and had to be replaced. I purchased products in late June and fraudulent charges started coming in shortly afterwards. I am curious if anyone else has experienced this and what your feeling is about the Kroll security monitoring they are offering?
And thanks to you, Good Ole GD....
For suggesting that DaP 36 not only SHOULD but WILL BE a Pig-era show. The isolation is definitely affecting me:
First, I say, okay, let's not speculate. It will be what it will be.
Second, I say, hell, might as well make it fall '72.
Third, I say, if there's a box set this fall, make that fall '72. But not too many shows (i.e., affordable). Putting DaP 36 back into play.
Fourth time out, I say, let's not have a fall box, money's tight. Unless it's a Pig-era box, then bring it on!
Fifth, YOU say, make DaP 36 a Pig show, which is my mantra every single time. But I forgot my mantra, lost my mojo. Wait, feelin' it..........
MORE GREASE!!! Oh boy, feelin' better already! Pigpen is here to stay. Make it a spring '71 box! Oh yeah!
5/22/77
While I love Charlie Miller's version (like, sincerely love), an official Normanized release of the complete 5/22/77 would be a welcome addition to the collection before I croak.
Doesn't need to be Dave's 36.
Could easily be Dave's 37.
No disrespect to Dick, just think this one should be set loose in its entirety.
Yup, I'm shamelessly leveraging my imminent demise for personal gain.
Gotta work with what you've got to get what you want.
Motorcycles and parking meters prove I'm not a robot (yet).
5/22/77
If they can clean it up.. they should. The wow and flutter on the Eyes is proof enough.
..but it could be the master reels are damaged or were not restored properly 20+ years ago. Transparency in condition of the masters and what's in the vault for that matter is not one of their strengths.
Still.. these tapes are historical treasures and deserve to be preserved and released in the full glory.
Happy Birthday Pig Pen/ Hard to Handle
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2PdTeIx04pI. The Grateful Dead were at their peak when Pig Pen was in the band.
*RE/ pigpen birthday & ‘ Hard To Handle’
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8oKpRKVkP10&list=PL4-JEg4LBZwDBJjziRkz56m…
One of my My favorite ‘hard to handle’ 4/17/69
This my brother and sisters is a PRIMO Primal Dead Performance! Hands down an excellent show & recording by The Bear!!! This was released in the “Download Series” #12. If you haven’t listened to this show I highly recommend doing it asap & get ready for ride back to 1969 with the Grateful Dead for a “ real good time!”
“Happy.birthday Pigpen! RIP
Have a grateful day everyone!
🙏❤️🤠💀🌹
Uncut special edition
Uncut is a pretty good U.K. magazine and now has one of their periodic special editions for sale on the Grateful Dead. Disclaimer - I have no commercial interest in it!
https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/blogs/introducing-the-ultimate-music-g…
Flew to central Oregon Friday,
with smoke visible as far as I could see. Stayed til Monday morning, drove back to Seattle Monday pm.
Drove through thickass smoke and strong winds most of the way.
Seattle blanketed in smoke this am.
Truly unsettling.
Stones
I like Goat Heads Soup and the Stones discussion it has fostered here. I have seen the Stones several times-- Steel Wheels, Voodoo Lounge, Bridges to Babylon, No Security, Bigger Bang tours (might be one other, too...). I purchased some pretty nice bootleg cds back in the early 1990s-- a sweet Exile tour boot with a smoking Hell Hath No Fury 'Gimme Shelter' that will knock your socks off. That 1972 tour-- haven't heard a bad thing on it. I also had Brussels Affair and a show from Perth, Australia 1973. Man, I have to dust those off and get those into my Itunes-- it has been a long time since I heard those shows.
Anyway, Mick Taylor era RS is where it is at. Ladies and Gentlemen is a must-see video for any and all music fans who like this genre of rock and roll music. That is peak Stones. Keith, in your posts you left out a key component in their sound-- Bill Wyman. The guitar players get all the credit, but he killed it with a driving bass line propelling the songs. They haven't been the same since he left after Steel Wheels tour. I highly recommend listening to his Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings cds-- righteous stuff (and a catchy Lovelight to close out Double Bill disc 1).
There are a couple of other live Stones cds/dvds out there, too. They did a nice job putting out archival stuff a couple years ago-- I just watched the LA Forum 1975 show a couple weeks ago and that show smokes. There is a nice 1978 release from Texas that captures a hot Some Girls tour show. The 12/18/81 Hampton Coliseum dvd/cd release captures a really great show from arguably their last great tour. You even get to see Keith crack a stage crasher with his guitar!
The Grease is dead, long live the grease
Pigpen lives!
Yes, he made the GD the GD. First real singer and frontman in the band. And the only one to get a rave-up going through sheer personality and grease.
Rest easy, Ron. We're STILL rockin' to your grease 50 years later.
Frankperry
Frankperry, thanks for the Uncut link, got that on order now.
Real Gone has their blow out sale going on, several Dick's Picks and Road Trips are discounted. Some other cool stuff, too.
Thanks to a generous member, I have been enjoying the Fillmore West box shows recently also. That's some Alligator>Caution from 2/28!
HEADS UP!!!
I just got notice from Warner bros there was a data breach from April to August. Since The Dead/ Rhino. Personal info was accessed. Good news for paypal users they were not affected
all this grease talk...
has driven my memory banks to Zappa's Keep it Greasy. Ew.
Oh, Zappa: I love some his stuff, and detest some of it. I put Keep it Greasy in the detest pile.
Sorry for the share, but grease grease grease....
I _would_ love a Pigpen show for Dave's 36, in any case.
that craptcha nonsense didn't prevent a data breach, yo
@ VGUYv double posts
Haha. I was just explaining the Bizarre happenings that dead.net has done to people over the years to people to a friend. He's a youngster-31 and was trying to grasp how they could fu so much. I said just think of it as a hippie site and they are spaced like me lol
Dave's 36/ 10/31/69
10 31/69, San Jose St. killer show, 4 Pig Pen songs
@Billy the kid
We may have discussed this already but Charlie Musslewhite is easily one of my favorite white blues players. Along with Butterfield I could do a dessert island. May I suggest his 1st 2 Vanguard lps Stand Back & Stone Blues. His fairly recent albums such as juke joint show he hasn't lost a step. Continental Drifter from apprx 20 years ago has him mixing it up with Cuban musicians. I've know I've said this. Your musical tastes are damn good and we seem to travel similar paths if you, if my guess is right me a few years earlier
@ daverock
If you want to turn a newbe onto the Stones just play them Gimme Shelter from the Voodoo Lounge ? Dvd (sorry I forget the concet) you will have a convert. A year ago I had an open minded 20 year old Chinese youngster over the house ( I mention his ethnicity solely for the cultural differences ) I played the show and CRANKED it til the house shook. He was blown away. He's downloaded it to his computer and when he stops by after work it's show me something new/old
Chiming in
Today I received the Warner data breach letter. Had to get my main Wells Fargo VISA debit card replaced late July. I live in Denver, however someone managed to purchase some Papa John's pizza and plumbing supplies - ? - in Florida on my dime this summer.
I travel semi-regularly, and I never tell Wells where I'm going or when. They do have amazing anti-fraud controls in place I'll give them that. And they always cover the bogus charges.
Bill Wyman is the most underrated bass player ever, IMO. His lines are just fucking brilliant and carry so many Stones songs. Miss You, for one. I think because Bill was a statue on stage and not as cute as some of the boys he was overlooked as a musician. Bullshit - Charlie and Bill were one for the ages.
\m/
Snafu/ Charlie Musslewhite
He has always been one of my favorite harmonica players. I have his two Vanguard albums they are great. His two records on Arhoolie are fantastic, my favorite record is Louisiana Fog. He recently played a gig with Weir and earlier in the year with Lesh. A guy I was taking harmonica lessons from back in the 1980s , introduced me to him one night, and he was a really cool guy. I only saw Paul Butterfield play one time, but as far as the original Butterfield blues band, with Bloomfield, Bishop, Naftalin and co.., them and the Gratefu Dead were the two greatest bands to come out of the United States.