Grateful Dead

Nice start, then…oh Bob lol

7/16/72: yep, ruff tape, good show. Glad I checked it.
3/29/68: another beauty. Nice recording, always dig a Sitting on Top, Death Don’t, and the usual suspects!
I bet there’s more of these old shows they could use. What gives Dave, WE WANT OUR PRIMAL BOX 66-70!

Haven’t made it to 3/29/69 yet…

HOWDY JIMBO, good to see ya!

DBL EDIT: I think they have cassettes of some of those shows.
Pearson et el were part of the ultrasound crew and involved in the early R&D years with John Meyer. They cobbled together a bunch of stuff over the years, including a hybrid super system for the fall 80 shows. I have an old article some where (I think from modern recording magazine back then?) (shit, I should dig that out ) discussing the crazy stuff they were doing. Most folks don’t understand: technologically, the wall was child’s play compared to the Meyers ultrasound systems of the eighties onward. They started developing stuff way back in the early/mid seventies and we’re working behind the scenes for many years. They often would test new things they were working on in conjunction with the existing stuff. Literal work in progress! No different then pre and early wall shows etc.
They cobbled a set up together for certain test shows when able I,e., I believe 12/31/78 is an example.
The fall 80 shows were another big test run.
Anyway, it was many years of R&D before the fully formed Ultrasound sweetness most folks took for granted from like 1983 onward, but these guys pioneered so many changes and inventions over the course of decades that most folks don’t realize. Howard Danchik is another ultrasound unsung hero. Had the pleasure to talk to Howard and he was kind of enough to discuss some stuff at the one show I worked 7/1/92, while we were under the stage turning amps on.
I’m sure these guys wore many hats during such an important gig!
What a crew!

Will try and fit that in today while I work.

ha.. just noticing the good doctor was up and posting at 4:06 am yesterday steering us towards more primal dead. In this world of trouble, we need more primal dead and I thank him for that.

As to the myriad of sound engineers working with the 1980 multi-tracks.. yes, I was aware but am still not sure what all that means. It looks like Betty and Dan worked the mix and the rest were involved in the recording. Certainly they had a sound truck out back for the whole run. My guess is all that work went into making those multi-tracks that were carefully erased to make room for the new Brent album that should be coming out any day now, I've been waiting a long for this.. it's going to be great.

I suspect there is more than what Lemieux will tip his hat towards, but it is probably true that complete shows from this run might be just beyond our grasp unless recorded on cassettes. Just a guess though, we can always hold hope.

How does that song go..... in this world of trouble, we've got love one another. Keep up the hope fellow heads.

Okay, looks like we need a pick. How does 9/16/87 from the Madison Square Garden sound ? The 18th was the 30 Trips show.

Unrelated, I was watching Dead Ahead a few nights ago and kept it on and watched the credits. First, they filmed both 10/30 and 10/31 nights. Would love to see the two full shows.

Second, as I was watching the credits, it listed recorded by Bob Matthews, John Cutler, Wizard and Don Pearson. Those are some very interesting names for the time period as I did not know Cutler or Pearson had any affiliation with the band in 1980. I also didn't know Wizard or Bob Matthews were still working with the band on recordings at this point. Seemed to indicate this was a professional recording with a professional crew?

Anyway, I know Dave bursted my bubble a couple of years ago, stated there will never be a multi track release of the Warfield/RCMH. However, I wonder if there are recordings somewhere from Pearson, Wizard? Wouldn't that be something?

Wake up rockers!!!!

Picks Of The Day:
Carousel Ballroom March 29 1968
Ice Palace, Las Vegas March 29 1969

So soon, another Daily Double? Thanks Doc, I’ll take Primal Dead for $1000……

When you go into the realm of a double role, you have to take it to another level to make it believable. With these two shows, the Dead clearly take it to that other level…..

March 29, 1968: There’s a nice Miller remaster out there, is it a soundboard, or stage mics? Either way, quite listenable. Kick it off with some major grease. Death Don’t second song in. Stand-alone Dark Star. Greasy gooey jammy grand finale. Can we hope that there’s a “new and improved “ copy in those banana boxes?

March 29, 1969: The band scorches Sin City with a wonderful psychedelic masterpiece. Grease and big jamming, what could go wrong?!! We had tapes of part of this way back in the day, and it was cherished. Now, worthy of official release, is it in those banana boxes too? Only time can tell…………..

I have doubted myself on several Daily Double answers……

Rock on!!

Doc
I have so many personalities, I live more than a double life………….

The first set started out good, but yes, there appears to be weirdness going on with the recording. Peggy O and Queen Janes were good and I thought the Bird Song was great.
What happened in the second set? That Crazy Fingers seemed to be a struggle and don't know what happened to Jerry or the recording? But, there was a something going on.
They sure bounced back at Alpine a couple days later.

Pretty damn funny that Dave had a slice of Deer Creek '89 up this morning. I haven't had a chance yet for that show but couldn't help but notice that set list from Crazy Fingers onward which is def my kind of sequence.

I was only suggesting the Jam of the Week for 7/16/72 because of the lack of a recent circulating copy and knowing the vault source would be cleaner. I actually had the one circulating source as a POTD over a year ago. I know it starts with that somewhat weird unbalanced audience, had to have been recorded near/in front of a stack, which I could dig but others not so much, before it off and on transitions to the sbd. A crazy thing about the audience source is that all instruments and vocals are pretty well represented. The show isn't quite 7/18 but its solid '72 and which means some really really good music.

Edit - And now going back to it, yeah I seem to remember that Playing absolutely rips, only 5 songs into the show. God I love it! Like I said way back when, there is something about this audience source that puts me right there! Wowza!! Maybe my favorite straight-into-the-heart-of-the-sun '72 Playings.

And I love love love the Cold Rain and Snow that is song 2 of that audience ; ) And the Black Throated Wind that follows.

Edit 2 - awesome closing jam of Not Fade Away >Going down the Road>Hey Bo Diddley with Dickey, Berry, and Jaimoe.

It’s like that bumper sticker: who are the Grateful Dead and why do they keep following me?

7/15/89: decent one/two opener, though it appears Bobs having tech issues. Blues, nice PEGGY O, but Jer?, something seems not…quite in snap..? Micro synapses not syncing? Not bad, but…Hard to describe, just Queen J for instance he’s just…not..quite…usually owns these songs? Maybe I’m reading into too much? Whatevs?
That’s how part of this show seemed: good show, but perhaps not quite summer 89 good?
BIRD SONG they do a great job of nice unhurried swelling as a band in sync, smooth, not forcing it.
Subtle but very nice.
JG comes out second with Foolish Heart but again, ok, but…maybe trying too hard, holding the stick too tight?
Same with Victim, ok but….
Then Crazy Fingers it’s like Jer steps it up and they start to really, then…ooopps, then yeah…but by Truckin it’s like they know they have to catch up and from Smokestack onward the show rocks! Cool Drumz/space with Close Encounters tease, sweet China Doll, definitely felt like Jer was trying to make up for things, and to prove it he throws in a sweet Stella after a smoking Watchtower in the middle! Big R&R mags closer, and JG throws down again with a Brokedown, though not flawless, it’s a nice finish. Interesting show. Not quite sure overall how I feel about it? I can see why it has maybe been passed over? Good but again, perhaps a step back from some of its lofty neighbors?
Of course still have Alpines and that cool Foxboro show, not to mention the Cali shows, and several fall tour nuggets, all just sitting there in multitrack glory…?

Ok BC, trying this 7/16/72 but so far the tape is so so aud…
Holy crap Weirs killing it on this Playing jam!

So, funny. While grooving on tunes today I per chance was perusing that After All Is Said And Done book, and don’t cha know there on page 173 in the minutes from band meeting on 7/11/84 are several very interesting things. Among other things, First, was how ole Betty was suing both GDP for $25,800, and Brent specifically for $45,000, not insignificant for the times.
Says GDP does not owe her, but does not mention about Brent. Guessing having to do with Brent’s solo album that they had been working on. Hell I probably knew what and have forgotten : (
Also, item 12 discusses approval for additional lighting/projector for “Friday 13 July—Dark Star, second set”
Berry interesting…
I need to check this book out more. It’s been sitting here in my Xmass book pile and ive picked at it but it appears there’s more here than I first thought? Same with that Dylan Modern Song. Just been occasional picking at it, but great book non the less. Little bit on Truckin’ too.
Onward!

Sure thing. And BTW, now Dave's reading your mind - final songs of 7/15/89 1st Set are on Tapers Section this week. Funny synchronicity how first Deer Creek show immediately before the last Alpine run. Passing of the beloved midwest summer venue torch.

JamoftheWeek is Dillon Stadium 7/16/72 starting with Trucking (no more spoilers). Mistakenly listed as Roosevelt Stadium, which is 7/18. Appears to be only one "circulating" copy/upload (sbd/aud composite from the comparative dark ages) of this great, relatively obscure, total big time show. First post E72 show on the East Coast, with members of the Allmans joining them for closing Set II jam (not on JOTW unfortunately.) Don't miss this one!

Good ideas OB, I don't think I have ever listened to this show.

Rob Eaton, there probably should be more written about him and all the work he has put in preserving hundreds of shows and his big role in helping get the Betty Boards back to the band or Grateful Dead Productions/Rhino. Well done Rob.

So while you fine boys and girls were (hopefully) getting yer 78 and 72 on, I was cheating on y’all.
On Friday, I hit 7/14/85, the other fine show from Ventura that year. Needed the Friday energy and had not heard that one though have ment to for a while. Interesting show. Not quite the rocket sled 85 can be. Just a nice solid evening of GOGD! Then I revisited the video from the Giants box on 6/17/91. Forgot how much I like this show! And that audio, oye!

Today I’m going to pick 7/15/89. The show between. The one show I’ve not heard from this tour, and never heard anyone mention it?

Yeah, it’s quite the tale about the tapes journey back home where they belong!
Here’s to Betty!!
🥂