Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,077 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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June 29, 2020 - 7:45am

#6661

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

Warming up the Chocolate Spot...

... sounds kinda dirty when you put it that way, Oro... :)

Rock on!

Peace
June 29, 2020 - 7:09am

#6662

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Otis

31, bring it!
Glad we got that Chocolate spot all warmed up for ya!
June 29, 2020 - 6:12am

#6663

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Oroborous, DeadVikes, etc.

Thanks, my man! I think it sounds pretty sweet - especially that Shrine 67 LP release, played LOUD!

Your Hershey story is great! Really wish I would have been around during those times! I would have partied right down in the mud with you!

Not the same, but my first Phish show was at Hershey in 96. We too found a spot directly in front of the soundboard, figuring that it had to sound good there. To this day, my friends and I refer to that area at shows as "The Chocolate Spot."

DeadVikes, everything's a-ok on this end. Thanks for the thoughts!

So, are we on for Dave's 31 today?

Peace
June 28, 2020 - 9:31pm

#6664

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Otis/Oroborous

Good to see you back in the loop. Hope all is well. New system is always exciting.
I am willing to give Dave's 31 another try. Haven't listened to it since last year.

Took out Good old Dave's 25, the BINGHAMTON NY 77 show. Some of these shows keep getting better with each listen.
Oroborous, you are a wild man. What a ride!

Be well folks. I have heard rumblings in other pages about big announcements coming. Don't know about that but we do know Dave's 35 will be announced in July. Maybe they will give Oroborous an 85 pick?
June 28, 2020 - 9:27pm

#6665

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

6.28.85 Hershey Park....

....another one of my first tapes. Bird Song-> Comes A Time -> Deal. A rare Garcia trifecta to end the first. Music Never Stopped-> Tom Thumbs to open the second. How do you guys keep bringing up my first loves? And why does this band keep following me?
Here's kind of a story. I tripped balls listening to this tape in 1989. That's all I got.
June 28, 2020 - 7:19pm

#6666

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

Hershey

You know it's on Dave's radar as he has played some of it on 30 Days in past years. Good show and one of my first tapes. Keep the stories coming! :-)
June 28, 2020 - 5:16pm

#6667

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

6/28/85

So after basically staying up for 2 days at SPAC, we finally pack it up and hit the road the next day. I believe it was a rainy, gloomy day most of the day. But that didn’t stop our idiot patrol from basically racIng at high speed through the fine but conservative state of Pennsytuckey, where they were one of the last to let go of the 55 mph laws, and back then there usually wasn’t much tolerance. So 2 cars of totally raging nutknicks, with probably enough cargo to keep us detained for decades, thought it’d be a good idea to race at speeds up to 90!, Idiots!.....yes, one car had a radar detector, but in those days smart cops would wait for some nut traveling high speed and click it on when they had ya dead nuts.
Luckily, all was well and it was one more “miracle” as we earnestly pursued our quest for “too much of everything is just enough”, aaaa, never considered back then maybe Bob was being sarcastic? Lol
So we roll on into Chocolate town late and all beat up. I’m guessing we grabbed some kind of drive through, but not sure and as we were hardcore vegetarian then, perhaps we thought we’d grab something there? It’s all such a blur, I do recall the lot we were in had no or little Shakedown action going on. That still wasn’t in full flight anyway, and don’t recall much there, so maybe we drank our supper? I know I scored some Carlsberg Elephant beer, and believe I may have finished it, though that is a tall order even under good conditions so perhaps not. I’m sure I put in dent in it at least! So, that and the last of one z of veggies, though the tricky part was it was mostly just powder and scraps and so no normal produce to properly gage etc, which would turn out to be a tactical error...
So it’s late, we’re tired, but tweaked, perhaps no dinner, and of course it’s horrible out. Dark, rainy, and cold is usually not how you want to do your Dead. Eventually we get in perfect time, slip right in front of the SB and try to make the best of the situation. Well I had a shirt, a black baseball jacket, and the electric Buffalo Hyde, but even still it was damp and cold at first. Eventually, when things started to take hold and we started boogieing, we began to warm up a bit.
Meanwhile, the set list is awesome, but the conditions, which necessitated all the stage and PA speakers being covered in plastic (there was no stage lid) thereby severely effecting the audio. It’s was such a weird show that way, loved the little “stadium” and the nice audiophile stereo set up, with surrounds, great set list, mostly good playing, yes JGs vocals are a little ruff in the first set, but you have to cut some slack as it was terrible, I mean depending on the wind/rain they were getting rained on playing electrical instruments! Weird indeed, but like so many times in adverse conditions our heroes seemed to rise to the challenge. Thus the playing was perhaps more relaxed, steady and together and not forced like the previous night. Really, besides JGs vocal issues in the first, its a top notch show!
The second set really starts to take it higher with stellar versions of Music Never Stopped, Terrapin, Miracle and one of the best Dews I’ve ever seen! I think I saw about 14 or 15 Dews and when I think about Dews I’ve seen, this one is the one I always think of first! Rocking Stones/NFA with a spirited Day Job. I liked Day Job, but by now it was getting a tad old, and was a disappointment for this show considering how high it was at that point. A She Belongs or Baby Blue would of been a perfect Cherry on top, but perhaps that’s being greedy?
Now since the weather was such a factor, we must discuss that and how it influenced this show. The second set starts out with their “signing in the rain” as Bob says, and it’s a good’n! Next they slowly slid into an unusual sounding Tom Thumbs which I had never heard yet, and wasn’t even sure at first what it was, but hey, it was Phil so that’s all I needed to know! Good but perhaps truncated Estimated, followed by an awesome Terrapin. So as the set started to progress, so did the weather until (I think?) around Estimated it really started to clear up and they started pulling the plastic tarps down. It was almost like you could immediately hear it get better after each one was removed. Eventually by about Terrapin, they tarps we’re gone, the moon and stars were out, and Healy started increasing the volume and tweaking the mix. I remember we were goading him to turn it up, and man eventually he sure did!
As the night wore on it began to warm up a bit too. But as you’ve heard this scenario, or been there yourself, many times I didn’t feel quite high enough so what the hell, one more time with the powder veggie crumbles just before drums......hee-hee....you know, “I’m not feeling it?” and then...Dooah!
So the problem with those baseball jackets is they don’t really breath and the electric Buffalo Hyde was thick plastic. We didn’t have all the nice technical outer gear we have now, or at least WE didn’t. I could barely afford the free plastic one from the old mans work.
Well a perfect storm mounted; little or no food, Elephants, veggies etc, no sleep, excess everything and underlying exhaustion, with me starting to overheat due to the above and dancing with that plastic shell on. Things were going unbelievable well, and partly influenced by the very recent passing of my Grandfather, during Dew, things peaked musically, the sound, the night, the stars, emotionally etc etc until I had one of the most powerful musical/emotional/psychedelic peak experiences of my life. Perhaps my all time GD moment, it was that powerful. But what goes up must come down and just like that the radiator blew and that last handful of shroom dust fully kicked in and somewhere in Throwing Stones, right during ashes, ashes all fall down, well.....I say i didn’t really fall down, it was more like an immediate realization that if I don’t sit down rapidly, I’m going down! LOL, so one way or another, depending on who you believe, I end up down in the soft, cool mud until near the end of the song, but I swear just as I tried to get up I knew it wasn’t going to happen, so right on que again I go back down. My friends to this day always bring up my perfectly coreographed “Dance moves” above all else that happened on this tour..35 years later and it’s still “ashes, ashes, Pedro falls down” !
That would of all been well and good except things were very strange and weren’t wearing off, and I was barely functioning. I never would of found the car etc If not for my homies. Honestly all I remember is them pulling into a Wendy’s or something, but I just sat in the car with my face literally stuck to the window and crackled! Zzzzttttt. I really thought I had finally fried some essential circuits and thought this time I really did it. At some point I snapped out enough to find some kids in another car staring at me with a look of concern if not fear. Luckily, the boys finished up and came out and got us outta there. Somewhere near the state line we finally grabbed a motel as we all had had more than enough rain and adversity. Plus the next day was off and the drive short. I remember they propped me up in bed and I just sat and crackled and worried. Eventually I slept and though I felt better the next day, I didn’t feel normal and don’t recall much except when we got to Merriweather and found a good spot just over the creek, right next to the path, in some trees, on the way to the big parking lots to the right of the venue. But now it was nice and I was feeling more normal so not so freaked out. I also remember going to a nearby sorta plaza with an upscale liquor store where I scored my first sixer of EKU 28 ever which was awesome!
So now we’ve moved beyond the insanity of TOGA, the adversity and majesty of Hershey, and ready for perhaps the best overall show of the tour on 6/30/85....

EDIT: Otis, congrats on the stereo. All that matters is if your happy with it. After all the specs and hyperbole etc, no matter how big, small, expensive etc, in the end, that’s all that counts!
June 28, 2020 - 4:14pm

#6668

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Bob T and Pick for Monday

Nice rec for the TDIGDH 6/28/76 show! I'd never heard that one before, and it is pretty sweet. The "Happiness is Drumming" is certainly a highlight!

I have been out of the loop for a bit - trying to deal with some personal stuff on my end, and I just kind of lost track of things around these parts. I hope to be able to participate more going forward.

To that end, how about a pick for tomorrow, Monday 6/29? I am thinking Dave's 31 - 12/3/79 Uptown. I feel like this pick got a short shrift on the DaP page, but I remember being very happy with it, though I haven't given it a proper listen since it first came out. What do you all think?

One positive thing that I have accomplished since I've been away has been the set up of my first component stereo system. I don't know if it compares to all of your "big boy" systems, but it certainly feels BIG in my little row home! Looking forward to playing it LOUD tomorrow when the wife goes to work.

Peace
June 28, 2020 - 11:41am

#6669

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Voodoo senile, slight return. 6/27/85, and why 85 Dead is like

Bode Miller...

First, GOGD, I did not mean to single you out, over generalizations, which become stereotypes, which become truth etc, really bum me out. So it was more of a trigger to that, not you personally. I know you were just repeating this line.
Actually, as I’ve dug in deeper, there are probably a significant number of shows where he often doesn’t sound so good, but to over generalize that “his voice was shot”, as in never more, to me, imho, that completely devalues and discounts all the amazing, great sounding stuff he was still able to do. 87,88,89,90,91anyone? Micro view versus macro perhaps?

SECOND: I must humbly recant my tale of dancin in the rain. As we were diligently experiencing TOGA last night. Too things became apparent. First, perhaps JG was a tad “caffeinated” at the start of both sets. Listening close on a real system, (not the big boy, but the living room system which ain’t no slouch!), he seems a tad to fast and/or their not fully entrained. One could argue not fully so until Women Are?...so probably something to do with him totally skipping the Key Rain Storm, and Jailhouse versus, of Bertha, lol.
Thus, while I wasn’t deceitful, I was not accurate. Sure enough, when Holmes and Watson ripped a spleef and fired up Bertha from SPAC 6/24/84, and bingo, ding, ding, ding, ding! Right venue, wrong year! 😂 Ooops, my apologies to the dear reader...but hey, it’s a fun interesting new tid bit, and it did rain, I think, lol.
While doing this research I was listening just on the iPad and interestingly he doesn’t sound as bad? Also, I’ve been going with the HS matrixes, especially shows where I want to hear those crowd big moments. Generally they’ve been pretty good, but researching, I used a CM transfer and man, definitely a big difference. Perhaps number one being the speed/time of the Miller seemed better and more natural?
Subjective I know, just that it’s interesting how every variable can effect perceptions.
6/27/85: so this beast is still as much of a rocket sled ride as I’ve thought, but it’s perhaps a tad more unpolished then I would of said in the past. But that’s being picky, and you know I prefer danger dead to safe, so as at this moment, Hell in a bucket is scorching, I stick by this show for that, the cool set list, and the fact that eventually, say around Women Are on out, that part of the show stands with its lofty summer 85 neighbors. Probably have to give 6/24& perhaps 6/25? a slight advantage overall, but man I haven’t been to many shows that had the vibe, fun, and overall madness of this puppy.

So why is 85 Dead like Bode Miller? He often was criticized for his erratic style, or lack thereof, his nonconformity, often disregard for the rules, including parting then basically going 80 MPH down an insane pitch, that was usually hosed down to make it more icy, and thus faster! So just like this era of Dead, sometimes he’d DQ, sometimes he’d slack off, sometimes it was ugly, but when he brought it, that mofo brought it!! and when he was able to be one with the force, it was fucking breathtaking! Scary, but breathtaking. No matter what, if he was racing there was an energy, an excitement, that larger than life vibe......that, to me, is 85 Dead.
FINALLY: Ladies and Germs, May I present the Electric Buffalo Hyde! as christened by my degenerate cohort due to my resemblance of the great beast of the prairies back in the day, and this baby used to be so bright people would ask if there were batteries. But Alas, like youth itself it’s faded dramatically, and is old and bartered. It definitely gave it’s all to R&R. So many Dead shows, festivals, camping, parties, you name it! Also, it will be a part of an unfortunate situation at the next night, where I lost my shit in Hershey! So until then....
June 28, 2020 - 11:14am

#6670

bob t

Joined:
November 21, 2007

only time played anniversary show 6/28/76 Chicago Auditorium

If you are too busy to listen to whole show, listen to Happiness is Drumming from set II, if you have never heard or listened to listen you will be pleasantly surprised!!! There is a Charlie Miller soundboard on Internet Archive!!!! bob t

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