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    marye
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    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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  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Ok, back to Europe

    Hit 5/7, 5/10, and 5/11 this WE. Of course I’ve forgotten the finer points and things I wanted to say, but I’ve not wanted to be overly analytical, or get distracted with notes, and instead, just get right, relax, and try to enjoy them. (Which has not been hard ; )
    5/7 is just too much! It’s not always the most precise or perfect of the tour, but that’s because it’s a freight train on steroids!
    I’ve always preferred full steam ahead Dead even when that leads to more worts, not that this one has many, perhaps just a few more noticeable than some of the more reserved, precise (hey, they were trying to make an album) shows.
    Actually, I think the album factor is one reason this tour is so good. They’re in a place where they’re ontop of their game and can let it rip, but keeping it just enough under raps to keep the consistency high for recording purposes.
    Win win, but 5/7 seems more about the live gig, the large miserable crowd that seems to really appreciate the effort etc, more than playing it straight for the tape machine?
    Choo Choo, all aboard! what a beast! Garcia starts out in 5th gear and doesn’t let up for almost 4 hours!
    Dark Star AND an Other One! Full on grease fest with six beauties, including a nice LL that fits the format better than going on too long, and a nice unusual Segway into GDTRFB. Clearly they were enjoying themselves in spite of the conditions? They joke about blowing the big ones, but not this time bubba!
    I’ve had this one so have heard it several times, but it was a real treat to sit outside in a warm but not super hot day and just groove on this one!
    Yesterday I hit 5/10 for the first time and unfortunately didn’t get quite the best listen, at least to the later parts.
    But I did enjoy it, even if it was perhaps a little more laid back than 5/7 etc. Hey they all can’t be rocket ships lol.
    The word that kept coming to me was Smooth…this show seemed smooth. They’re gelling as a unit so well by now, and the consistency is so good. Sure there’s a miscue or clam every once in awhile, (I dare you to find a show that there isn’t ; ) but the overall tightness, energy, musicianship is truly better or on par with any tour they ever did!
    Of course there’s the sweet He’s Gone they finally got right, and why it’s the one! Another Sing me as they’ve worked that one in the repertoire nicely. And if I remember correctly, this had another of those unusual Other Ones, kinda jazzy perhaps and similar to 4/16? Unfortunately this one’s a blur for various reasons including hitting 5/11 afterwards. I’ll definitely want to rehit this, 5/3, and the Wembleys after the tour…but for now I want to go in order…
    Ok, 5/11, this one for whatever reason has always been perhaps my favorite?
    Not saying it’s the best show of the tour, just for whatever reasons perhaps my favorite?
    Certainly the set list is part of it: Nice Playing if not huge opener, plenty o grease, including a cool and final Caution, with final WHO Do You Love tease, Nice Truckin ender to mix it up, and a very cool, perhaps unusual Dark Star!
    Maybe it’s just because I think this might have been the first ala cart show I bought when I hand to the head realized what I was missing not having these Dark Stars? (Now realizing same about the cool spacey TOO’s)
    Other One can get real repetitive but these ones are often very diverse and different! The weirder the better I say!
    Whatever the reasons, this show, even after taking the tour plunge, still resonates very strong for me? Hey, I even think the cover art might be my fav? Ok, maybe I’ll hit it again streaming while working, before moving onto 5/13 and 5/16, both I’ve never heard yet, so hoping I’ll get to spend some extra time with em during the week…
    ONWARD! Ok, who stole my Heineken Dark?

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    More shows

    That’s all I ment.
    Everyone’s made good points, and there’s no easy answer.
    I was going for a conversation starter more than just to editorialize.
    Like most things, no easy answers.
    It’s just now that I’m all addicted to this collecting nonsense, I need as many RJ shows as they’ll give us, and I’m afraid things are going to start slowing down, and eventually it won’t be worth it to them, and so many great shows will never get fixed up and released. And don’t you worry 1stshow ole buddy, there’s still plenty of RJ shows in the vault.
    As a rabid nut trying to tag as many of em as I can before I croak, I’m here to tell ya there’s plenty of gold left in them there hills! Yes many are cassette, but the gang has been getting better and better every year at fixing em up!
    And, there’s still lots of DATs and still a decent amount of killer multitracks, all just rotting in the vault!

    I totally get what yer saying, but think of it this way: suppose the summer 78 box was never released and only a couple others from that year. If they came out and said “this is your one chance to get the 20 best of 78”, including those shows in the July box, would you not find some way to get it? For sure, not everyone is going to want all of em, but I think you’d be able to scrape up at least 10k folks who would want at least one or 2?
    Really they should be digitizing them all, or at least the top 20 or 30 from each year that haven’t been released, and have a system where they announce a certain number, or block at a time, and do pre orders, to have inventory control.
    Some shows might sell big, some not so much. Perhaps have a rule that shows that don’t meet a certain threshold won’t get released?
    I guess the solution would involve somehow having a cost effective way to prep them, but pre order so you don’t always have to have such big sales numbers for every show? Perhaps DL like you say, but that hasn’t worked so well, so far anyway…
    Again, no easy answers, and I totally understand other pov. I just would hate to see so much good music not get the treatment it deserves. And yeah, the archive is awesome, but there’s nothing like getting a great show that’s been fully fixed/Normaned!

    Hey DV, where ya been hiding? Good to see ya, and sorry, I won’t mention you know who. It has got to be really tough being a fan. It’d be one thing if they just stunk, but they have potential, if only they could stop beating themselves.
    A well, it’s early still…

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Releases

    Would love to see more shows released. My preference is still CDs.
    It would be interesting to know what the terms of the contract are with Rhino? Are they able to release as much as they want or are there limits?
    Do they even have the ability to release more per year then they currently are? Is Jeffrey Norman able to mix and master much more than he is now. He might need help. Maybe you could assist OB?

    There are some shows they already mixed and mastered that could be released on CD. For example, the two shows from the first Road Trips that they released as digital downloads, 11/5 and 11/6 1979. Also, the shows from the download series.
    Would also be interested in more video. Why not release the shows from the MUATM. They did this with the 91 show in the Giants stadium box, but would love to see the others released at some point. The 91 Chicago show was really good.

    Okay, seems others are talking about 1988 for #48. We will see next month.

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Box discussion

    I'm a dinosaur as Oro describes it and know zero about streaming and how younger folks get their music, movies, and TV but I'm guessing the Dinos are the ones buying hard copy CDs. My question is, if the '80s and '90s scene was populated by more younger concertgoers in huge stadiums in numbers way beyond the earlier shows shouldn't there be a demand for those shows in a format they like? I'd bet lots of folks will buy a show they attended. Mickey's model may fit that some day. That said, I'm ignoring the fact that some earlier shows had attendance in the 100,000+ range (Englishtown?) but there were just a few of those. I know Dave said that the last increase to 25,000 copies per release would be the last increase and maybe that's the limit for profitability for hard copy. I'm guessing the download option would be more profitable regardless of sales numbers (if they could ever get the damn things to work!) as all you need is a bank of servers and a few tech savvy people to run it. Large box offerings could be done as a pick and choose your favorite with quantity discounts for more shows. I know I won't be buying twenty shows from individual years I don't like as much and there is likely some truth in the theory that a good portion of "the good stuff" has already been released. Seems like, as with many things, tech is going to have to save us in this dilemma. Affordability is key either way. I can't afford $500 boxes even if I like the offering. It's as simple as that. So Mickey, let's get digitizing! Us Dinos will just have to figure out how to download and stream.
    Cheers
    Oh, and the price of the downloads needs to come down. Currently makes no sense if the price is almost the same just without the shipping. No incentive to be green.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Y’all are missing the point…

    I’m not talking about preferences, if I was, I’d be down with Conekids idea.
    I’m talking about the reality of only a somewhat limited number of boxes getting released.
    Their not going to do this forever!!!
    For example, say they only releases 8 or 10 more years at one box a year.
    With 3 show mini boxes that’s only 30 more shows. Plus say 40 more Dave’s. (4x10).
    There’s still way more than 70 great shows in that vault…
    My plan,
    25 for primal 67-70
    15 for 71
    20 for 72
    20 for 73 (at least!
    ? 74 might just be mostly scraps
    20? for 76? Maybe
    77 is already over represented so he can spit the last few out on DaP
    20 for 78
    20 for 79 and 80
    20 for 81 & 82
    20 for 83 & 84
    20 for 85 & 86
    20 for 87 & 88
    20 for 89 including fall tour (alpine should be a stand alone
    90 not sure you’d need to do 20 as it’s already fairly represented?
    20 for 91 & 92
    20 for 93-95
    These plus DaP and special separates and one might say we’ve received most of the best!
    Take pre orders plus run an extra 10% so your not stuck with inventory but have a few for Johnny come latelies…
    You could still make them “limited”…
    Release 2 a year, everybody wins cept maybe the finicky heads who probably won’t buy much more anyway…

    Voila, all hardcore heads gets represented,

    And remember when Mickey made his bold pronouncement about making all shows available (about the same time he said Phil must have got the liver of a jerk) .
    But I’m sure things won’t change, sales eventually will make cost prohibitive and the vault will go to waste, but hey at least we will have most of 77…and four versions of October 74…
    Think about the cruel reality of only 3 to 5 shows a year for only 8 more years….the horror!
    Tic toc…

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Winterland 74 box

    Yes, next year hopefully - vinyl too. Bit of leisure wear to listen to it in. Nice.

    Mini boxes score where you might not want 17 shows or whatever. I wouldn't mind a few shows from Europe 1990, having attended the London ones - but I'm not sure I would want the whole lot !

  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Winterland Oct 74 Box, and we need more releases Dave/Rhino

    Hopefully it’s moving into production soon so that we get it for the 50th anniversary next year.
    With all the video included.

    I’ll take mini-Boxes.
    3-show mini-Boxes, released once every other month, and not during a month where a DaP is released. Thus, the DaP’s and mini-Boxes would give us a release 10 months out of the year. The other 2 months would be RSD and Black Friday RSD.
    Sounds like a grate plan to me.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Winterland

    Agree..

    Can anyone tell me why we did not get a Winterland '74 Box Set? The box design would, of course, been a mini Wall of Sound.

    Wars have been fought for less.

    Oh, the horror.

  • wilfredtjones
    Joined:
    Winterland Box(es)

    Would you like yours in a mini or mega? 1972, 1977, 1978 still ripe for the picking. Added together that equals mega I'd say. Taken alone some fine mini ones there. I think there's a New Year's 1971 available yet to add...

    P.S. Currently spinning the space jam from 10-18-1978

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Stuck in the mud…

    Made through 5/4 and sorta first run of 5/7 (on crappy device while working) But got bogged down this week with mucho fuckery and distractions so lost my pace and mojo, hoping I can catch up this WE…
    ONWARD!

    NO MORE MINI BOXES!
    Every piddly little release is one less possible future box! Like most things there’s only so many, nothing lasts as the pranksters say…
    We’re running outta time so we need huge boxes with the best remaining 20 shows from each year.
    Perhaps more from years they’ve been stingy or ignored.
    This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin around…
    Seriously, sales are flat, saturation for some has set in, old heads don’t want any newer stuff and/or are dying off etc, yeah, this could all go away sooner than later. We need to demand more output for the faithful, and stop worrying about the picky folks who only buy limited things. I totally understand not buying things you won’t use, but if we don’t support these releases, eventually, they’ll just stop!!
    They need to quit dicking around, otherwise,…..Smithers, release the hounds, it’s time to quit screwing around and storm the vault! Where the hell is Keithfan anyway? Thought he was getting close? Hear sound of foot tapping…AND,
    Hey Mickey, what happened to “everything’s going to get digitized and you’ll be able to order almost any show” (paraphrasing).

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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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7/13/76 very happy you were there. I know you said you also saw the Bob Fried Memorial Boogie the year before!!! The soundcheck from the night before is actually on Youtube.. Great seats, do you remember how challenging it was to get tickets for that run??? Thanks bob t

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The first place we went to, maybe Record Factory, was all sold out, so we went to this small place called Penninsula Box office, and they had three tickets, for the three of us . Two people came in right after us and bought the last two tickets. It was tight to get tickets, and we went as soon as they went on sale.

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Good Stuff, an upgrade of the 7/12/76 Orpheum Show showed up last week from Mr. Miller for those wanting more.
Tiny Theater Dead Shows, those were the good ole days!
BTK thanks for sharing. Tell us more.

The Reel flip during The Other One on 12/12/70 from the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds pretty much ensures we won't be seeing that show released any time soon. Rough!
It's funny to think that these recordings we all collect so obsessively were basically an after thought :)

Have a Grate Day!

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I remember that there were two Dead posters in the front window, Skull & Roses. and the one with Garcia in a leather coat, the Dead at the Fillmore 1966 . Blair Jackson did a big write up on the shows in BAM magazine in July or August of 76 ,I have it laying around here somewhere with all my Dead posters and collections. I thought it was a great show and I still think that as I listen back to the tape. Winterland held about 5000 some people, it was cavernous compared to this place. I saw the Jerry Garcia band play there once. But those Dead shows were special, and this 1976 box set is very special . 1975 & 1976 fantastic years!

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Nice! 1800 capacity Dead Show sounds so amazing, shit that's like a 1000 people smaller than the Fillmore East.

I'd like to check out that BAM article, I did a couple google searches but didn't find it. I wonder if it's in This Is All A Dream We Dreamed? Hmmm.

Well, I know what I'll be listening to today.

Thanks for the inside scoop!
Good Stuff.

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Capacity, 1,800 . I was last inside there over 49 years ago. Not sure if capacity has changed in the 21st century. Lesh is more. Got an empty cup. Phil it up.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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I don't think the capacity has changed.. they certainly didn't add on any rooms. I was last there sometime between 6 and 9 years ago. Classic venue.. hallowed walls.

I love small, quaint, intimate theatres. Yummy. Makes me want to travel back in time and set the dials to Europe, spring 1972 (and Port Chester 1970 and 1971).

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Hey man, PM me your email, I have something I think you will dig.

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In reply to by billy the kid

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Done!

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The photograph in the bulletin shows Jerry playing the Alembic experimental guitar or the “peanut”. One of two that were made. That does set the date of its first appearance two to three weeks before the March 71 date as stated in Blair Jackson’s book “Grateful Dead Gear” and a day later from what I thought was first time 2/19/71. Looking closer at the photograph, Billy’s drum placement would suggest after the 18th. Mickey was set up on the left of what was a small stage with Ned Lagin between him and Jerry. Would love to see the photographers proof sheet, or all the negatives. But it looks like five piece Grateful Dead.
I guess I should quote my old friend Pete Bogle , taper / archivist who coined the phrase “another picky Deadhead” when he introduced it as a bumper sticker in the 80s.
Ah yes, those foggy ruins of time.

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"The people up front are visibly bug eyed. They are looking flat". On to the second set... Great stuff.

It looks like Ned posted a broken link, or more accurately, the "......with" was mistakenly attached to link making it dead)

I think this is what he meant to post.. Wharf Rat w/ Pete from Rockpalast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20dic8S3cWI

Has anyone ever noticed that when Bolo disappears fire, brimstones and complete mayhem is unleashed upon the world?

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Good Eye mate!

I didn't catch the Peanut Guitar, it's hard to determine, but you've got a good eye for that instrument Strider.

We might need some Hair forensics for this photo. I see it floating around with some different dates attributed to it. But since that's the Peanut, that would definitely help narrow the date range of the photo, and yeah looks like 5 man Dead.

The shirt and boots Jerry is wearing are featured in the famous family dog photo from February 1970 by Altman. But, who's to say he didn't wear them for a while. I've got some shirts that are at least 10 years old, possibly older.

Cool photo for sure, Stephen Gilbert has some other cool photos on GDAO of the GD from October & November 1970, this one is dated from the November '70 Capitol Run on that site. But I think the real tell would be Phil's haircut.

Phil, when did you cut your hair in 1971, was it right before the Capitol Theater run in 1971?

Yeah, the Contact Sheet would be sweet. I second a look at that. But I think you're on to something Strider, I'm thinking 2/19 or after.

Fun stuff. Makes me want to hear some 1971 Capitol Theater, and I do believe that's the point :)

VGUY: GD Newsletter came today, check spam.

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Here’s an interesting article on that seldom played custom Alembic

https://relix.com/articles/detail/jerry-garcias-pretzel-guitar-resurfac…

EDIT: perhaps there were 2 different guitars as the one in the news letter showing the capital pic looks different then this “pretzel” guitar? Wouldn’t be that unusual for them to offer him different options since Alembic was in house etc...

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November 1970 he had a ponytail. February 1971 he had the haircut.
The internet has way more about the “peanut” guitar than ever before. I believe it’s not the same as the “pretzel” guitar. Peanuts , pretzels and beer. Port Chester is where 18-20 year olds would go to drink when it was still 21 in Connecticut. Lowered drinking age in Ct in 72.
Back to the mystery guitar. I definitely remember Jerry playing a much smaller body guitar most of the February 71 run. I called Alembic in Santa Rosa about five years ago and talked with Ron Wikershams daughter who told me they still had two peanut guitars that Garcia played. I asked her if they could remember if Garcia played them in February of 1971 and she said I should have a better idea as I was at the Capitol Theater five nights during that run. Rick Turner who built the peanut says it was pre-Alembic.
So maybe the Stephen Gilbert photograph shows a completely different guitar altogether. I do remember Jerry’s homemade Guatemalan fabric cowboy shirt, 1970.
Where’s Columbo when we need him.
By the way, the German film Wings of Desire staring Peter Falk is a beautiful film.
But I digress.

It's all about the Hair.

I love archival research and yeah the internet is the place for GD info!

It's too hard to see much detail from the Feb '71 pic we're looking at, so like Wikersham's daughter was saying, you should know if it was THE peanut or not ;)

It looks kinda like peanut to me, maybe we can tell when we hear the new tapes. Are you able to pick out the peanuts sound? I remember you mentioned it having a distinct sound. There's some cool pics of Jerry playing peanut at the Manhattan Center in April '71 for sure. So we might have to put our archivist ears on and play some back to back shows from the Cap & Manhattan center.

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is that we still have to wait another month to hear 2-18-71 in all it’s Plangentized glory (the samples don’t count).
Just announce it and put it in sale when it is ready to ship.

71 comparisons and investigative work - this is the group to do it.

Record Store Day this Saturday

https://recordstoreday.com/NewsItem/9003

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The famous Brotherhood of Eternal Love show? I think yes... Interesting...

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In reply to by JimInMD

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So the photo from this Rick Turner article on the peanut guitar looks like the cap theater one in the bulletin, only from a better angle.
Interesting history about its pre-Alembic origin.
Strider, you sir are blessed with a great memory! Thanks for sharing all this groovy stuff for us!

https://rickturnerblog.com/2017/12/05/garcias-turner-peanut-guitar/

EDIT: the Gibson headstock really gives it away!

EDIT: I meant the guitar was the same in both pics

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Right.. how can you remember all this detail? You don't see too many show reviews from me because most of the memories are inconveniently erased from my mind, or worse, all I can remember are broad details and when I even contemplate writing something there's just not enough to make a point. Perhaps I need to start taking some of that jellyfish memory pill crap or something.

Sometime I really think I am pre-Alzheimer's.

It's unbelievable you remember all this stuff so many years later... you put me to shame.

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Photo on the Rick Turner Blog definitely not from the same night as the photo in the GD Bulletin. RTBlog shirt is the blue denim, sawtooth pocket, pearl snap that Jerry is wearing for 8/14/71 BCT. No way is that the same shirt in the GD Bulletin photo, which even in b/w is clearly multicolored shirt. I think the Turner photo is from the Manhattan Center shows - Jerry Garcia site has photo with that same denim shirt for 4/5.

I love the Peanut Guitar - in part cause I hadn't even heard about it until the last year, the name strikes me as freaking funny, the back story is outrageously cool, and, lest i forget, it sounds great!

Strider - love the tracks you lay down for us to follow.

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Nice OB!

That adds some color to this picture.

Based on Turner’s blog post it sure sounds like there was only one Peanut.
Based on the Photo, photographer’s labeling and Phil’s haircut we can assume it’s from the Capitol Theater circa February 1971.
Based on the photo and Strider’s eyewitness account Garcia is playing the Peanut.

I wonder if LIA etc have already discussed this?
Looks like.. Yes. Deadessays has the Rick Turner Peanut listed as 1/21/71 - 4/29/71

Shoulda figured to start there ;)

Good Stuff.

PS - 4/5/71 is a Rocker, it’s been awhile since I’ve played this one. The Peanut sounds good!

Love the raunchy grunge tone of Jerry's guitar this show. I know they are very dissimilar, but I get the same vibe from the Dec'77 shows, the (sort of) return of the Wolf. Full of anger and disdainful sustain. Rock and Roll.

Sorry to go off on a tangent. As you were..

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Yeah Jim & GOGD - the Peanut sounds damn good.

pick of the day (some day) i think ; )

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Someday being today.. I just finished it. Been a while, doc would be proud. I know (knew) every note of this of this show, but it's been so long I picked up a whole lot of new stuff. Like.. why were the harmonies for Rider so off compared to a year into the future, clearly they worked on this. Was it Phil? ..but still a kickin' version, especially the transition, so young so fresh. As mentioned earlier the tone and raw power of the performance. A great little show.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Enjoyed 4/5/71 yesterday, it'd been a really long time.
Had to happen with all that Peanut talk.

Super fun listen. Think I need to hear the rest of the run.
Will throw that out there as a suggestion for pick of the day, pick one 4/4, 4/5, 4/6 and give it a spin.

It is like reconnecting with an old friend. Whose Yodeling in Me & Bobby McGee? I always thought it was Jerry, but now I think that's Marmaduke? Check out Bobby in China Cat, killing it! The Other One, completely slays. And the NFA > GDTRFB is like a part of my DNA, note for note, I must've heard it a million times on Skullfuck. Think I gotta go dust off 4/6 now.

Worth a revisit for sure, and it'll get you pumped for some '71 to come.

Alright, be well all and Happy Friday!

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Back cover photograph shows Jerry passing a J and is wearing the Guatemalan cowboy shirt. I saw Howard Wales and Jerry both early show and late show at the Academy of Music (January?) 1972. Talk about throwing the audience for a curveball. I enjoyed it.
As far as one or two peanut guitars , I’m only going on what Alembic founders, daughter said. No big deal.
Ability to have a sharp memory, a lifetime of working in the woods/mountains. Tons of fresh air, sleeping on the ground, avoiding white powders, pure water, simple food, meat in limited doses, backpacking, walking, climbing mountains, (still do) reading actual books not kindle, taking breaks from Ganga, going on 20 years since quitting all alcohol. (Not passing judgment, most of my friends drink) , traveling in Latin America, learning a second language (Spanish) by direct immersion talking with people, only using a translation dictionary, getting to know and making friends with people of different ethnic backgrounds, mixing it up , leaving comfort zones at times, waking up at or before dawn, (even as a teenager), as far as dates, I know my seasonal work history,(mostly trail work in Wilderness areas) Official book of the Deadheads was the first time I saw a list of Dead shows with dates, synced work, travel, Grateful Dead concerts, other bands, where I’ve lived, (almost 40 years in New Mexico) it all fits together like a puzzle.
My number of Dead shows are within 2-3 for exact count, 133 in 25 years to the best of my ability. Was I at Manhattan Center two or was it three nights in April 71, was I at Academy of Music three or four nights in March 72. I know I was at all four nights of November 1970 at the Capitol Theater. I’m certain I was at the Capitol Theater 2/18,19,20,21 and the final night, 2/24/71. By summer 1972 and beyond dates are very exact. I have most of my ticket stubs starting with December 1981.
The other way I keep my memory sharp. Have hardly watched television since leaving home in 1972.
Will have to listen to 4/5/71 today .A day late a dollar short. Oh well. As far as a venue, Manhattan Center had a twisted vibe, oversold and rundown, of course the music was at a high peak in the history of the band. Nevertheless “Aces back to back”.
Tractors you say, my uncle Harlan worked for John Deere in Des Moines.
Stairs you say, “Stairway to Heaven”!
Parking meters you say, “ watch your leaders and your parking meters”

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Now that's some merch I could get behind.
And the boots!

That'd be sweet :)

Nice Strider! Keep em coming my man.
Thankfully you kept that brain together so you could tell us fools some stories (I jest!) :)

BTW 4/5/71 wasn't the official pick yesterday, I just got a hankering, all that Peanut talk.
Sounds like Jim & I jumped on it. But recommend the rest of you do too. Make it official BlueCrow!

So Fire it up Folks, head to the Manhattan Center circa 1971, don't get crushed by the overcrowding and have a good time!

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I was just emailing Uncle Gary about one of these shows that he sent me (2/22). This pair of shows would make a great mini box. They're on the shorter side, so they can probably fit it all on four or five discs and they play extremely well.

The set lists are no joke (Bird Song, Dark Star, China Rider, Playing in the Band, Eyes of the World). At a minimum 2/22 could use an official rendering. Hook me up bartender, hook me up.

For all you folks going to the Manhattan Center show

Listen to how happy Pigpen is!
Especially during the end of Lovelight, man he sounds so stoked.

Thinking April '71 was the peak of Pig's career.

Good Stuff!

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Added to the general vibe that night. MC was a block or two away.( Correction, 8 blocks away 9/26) I just read my comment for 4/5/71 that I wrote 9 years and 6 months ago on Dead. Net. Listening to China/Rider just now I could hear the difference from the Capitol Theater. Manhattan Center was at least twice as big. (?) I did make it from the floor to the huge balcony for the second set where there was room enough to dance. It was supposed to be a “dance marathon “. The sound of the recording in that room has a different sound from the Fillmore East or the Capitol Theater. Perhaps somewhat like Winterland. Although Winterland was longer from the back to the stage. Now the Oakland Auditorium was awesome. Another decade, another era. I still have audience tapes I made there with my Sony D-5.
Another time marker I use is foreign travel. First time out of the States was to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in late April 1970 to film the Expo 67 dome. Was making a super 8 film on geodesic domes. Or my first time to Mexico to TJ and k-49 surfing with an old friend from the east. Or the first time to southern Mexico (Chiapas) and Guatemala in January 1988. Living in the highlands of Chiapas (& selva) five winters 1992-1996 while furloughed from seasonal Forest Service. It’s those kind of times that stand out in my memory just as amazing Grateful Dead concerts do. So it goes.

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of all the Dead eras and sound I've always had a special place in my heart for the Skull and Roses lp. and only yesterday, when GOGD commented on the 4/5 Not Fade Away > Going Down the Road, and I'm like oh yeah, those lp tracks are from this show(!), did it click that the Peanut is at the heart of that sound. The Peanut, a somewhat obscure Garcia guitar, unlike no other, that Jerry used for all of 3 months. I was listening to 4/5 today at work and Jerry's sound is so freaking early rock and roll bluesy clean and raw at the same time and I love it.

GOGD - The yodeler IS Marmaduke. After the song is finished Bob quickly says his name!!

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..and all of your creations.

Such a personal lyric.. when your children, they all start to resent you.

What mind would write this stuff.

Say what you want about 80's GD, but at the very least.. they were the worlds best Dylan Cover band for a short period of time.

Checking out 7/2/ 89.. part of the Shakedown Stream.. but I missed it and they took it away almost immediately.. now it's back.

To Lay Me Down kicking in now. Amazing stuff.

No doubt Jim. The Dylan slot. My god, some shows saw 3-4.

Recently, I have been really digging the different versions of Maggie's Farm. So many favorites. I can't pick one. Of course Desolation Row and Phil's take on Tom Thumbs Blues.
I remember being a big fan of Stuck Inside a Mobile.... During the late 80's Alpine days. Still love it.

Here is an option for tomorrow, 9/26/1980, The Warfield Theatre, second night. There is a good SBD Miller copy on Relisten/Archive.

I will be going through this entire run I hope this year. I have listened to a few and not all have SBDs and the sound quality definitely varies.

Everybody hang loose.

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9/26/80 you say?

I've been crammed into the crowded and way oversold Manhattan Center circa '71 for a few days now, and my minds been squished. It's been a fun trip.
I think I saw some of you there.

Great stories abound on the internet, a Dance Marathon on the East Coast in the Grand Ballroom of the opera house built by Oscar Hammerstein. An attempt to show all the seated venues of the area how to party. Capacity at around 2500 people, reports of 10,000 in attendance. Not much dancing reported. And the music created imho is quintessential spring '71 Dead. (Funny, not only do you have to quantify the year, but the time of year, as by the Fall they were yet another type of Dead, love it).

If you didn't get to it, I say give the other 2 nights a spin, 4/6/71 at the very least (the band take a rare dip into the back catalog and play the oldies!) and search out the many reviews & articles written about the shows. Or at least the reviews in Taper's Compendium. Worth the trip.

But Hark!?!? What's that I hear?

A call to change gears and dive into another legendary period of the Grateful Dead.
The hallowed Warfield Theater run of 1980.
I'm already at Birdsong.
These acoustic sets from the 1980s sure make for nice morning music. La Da Da Da...

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It would have been nice if the Dead had included, Rosemary, Mtns of the Moon , and Attics of My Life to their acoustic sets in 1980.

Absolutely!

I listened to 4-6-69 last night, it has a Baby Blue.
Now I’m wondering when the first Dylan cover was played. There’s some homework for today if any of you are bored.

I love the Dylan covers from the 80/90’s.

Well, I have to run to the beer store, which is by the record store, but 5-9-77 vinyl is out on October RSD. I’ll have to check today’s list of releases to see if I should buy some vinyl today.