Grateful Dead

..and so ends a great winter. We are at flood stage and water is just now beginning to creep into the basement (largely cement). With perhaps a three to four foot base in the high country and 50 degrees, we got three inches of rain today and another inch in store before 8 am. Water is just beginning to enter the basement. It's officially a flash flood.

It's going to be a long night.. not that this is terribly unusual.. but always unnerving. Protect vehicle's, the big TV, computer eqpt and the sound system.

So what are the best GD flood songs? The Mighty Flood>Black Snake from 4/18/70 comes to mind.

And so the fun begins and the transition from winter to spring sports. I say who needs sleep anyway...

I do love rain and flood songs and train and railroad songs. It's baked into my being. Perhaps that will drive the pick of the day as much or more than the calendar. But I'm not picky.. so long as it;s good and hopefully GD or at the very least the JGB.

I wish we could have some of your rain, we have only had a little over 3 inches, we are supposed to have at least 18 inches a year, we are in a terrible drought. I'm afraid the fire danger this year will be extremely high.

Its not by, or covered by The Dead, but "Tupelo" by John Lee Hooker is an amazing flood song. "When The Levee Breaks" by Memphis Minnie-and Led Zeppelin - is also a corker.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=evjMjpd4PNM. Jim, here's a flood song for ya. I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn play twice, 1979 S.F. Blues Festival and acoustically for a Wavy Gravy benefit called Cowboys for Indians.

Sending some rain your way.

I only saw the GD twice after 1991, I was simply too busy in that period of my life.. the last show I saw was the rain show. I think 80s fan and a couple others here might have attended too. 6/30/95 Three Rivers Stadium Pittsburgh. Their seventh to the last.

To open the second set:

Set 2:
Rain
Box Of Rain
Samba In The Rain
Looks Like Rain
Terrapin Station
Rhythm Devils

It was fun, not their best. Little did I know Jerry would be dead in less than two months. I wish I had seen more shows but I am content with the ones I did get to see.

Have a great week all.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf8D64ByoVo

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TRt4hQs3nH0

EDIT: I was at that 95 Rain fest, truly one for the ages..

https://vimeo.com/170063784

Couldn't think of anything clever for my subject line.

6/30/95 might have to dust that off.
I remember in around '97ish my roomate telling me about that show and since I hadn't followed what the Dead were up to throughout most of the '90s, I was pretty interested in hearing their version of Rain as well as the "new songs" that he mentioned.

He talked about how they played Corrina at every show he saw, and I asked, what's that?
He put one on.
I was not overly impressed at what I was hearing.
I didn't dig into collecting 90s dead for quite awhile after that.

Funny.

Dead Air played a sweet upgrade to 9/11 & 9/12/73 last night.
It was kicking my ass.

And.. I stumbled on this today which is a really decent interview piece with Garcia & Weir if you haven't heard it:
https://archive.org/details/gd1981-00-00.interview.90795.flac16

So whose got a pick or are we gonna listen to the Rain show in honor of Jim?

Jim I hope the basement flooding doesn't get worse.

Monday... I'm def dragging my feet.

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1995/06/30
EDIT. They played a Take Me To The River that show. Even more appropriate considering Jim's current situation.
There are some really good Corrina's out there.

...It is then. At, but haven’t heard since...
then perhaps I’ll get to that 10/18/72 GOGD rated so highly.

Far out, I'll cue it up after this obligatory journey through 3/1/69 which is soooooo good.

And I will not compare the two.

OB - Prepare yourself to have your mind blown!! (I can't recall the quality of Pre-China Cat tunes, but man everything from China Cat on rules).

EDIT - I believe this is the first '95 POTD. I know we've talked about '95 but no "official" picks until today.

What a show! I put this one on my Mt Rushmore of Grateful Dead shows. But what are the other shows that go there ?

BTK - The other 3 are Epic too! ;)

Jerry really nails it when he said if you put Aoxomoxoa & Live Dead together it gives you a vision of what we were doing at the time.

I add to that, if you put Aoxomoxoa 50th, plus Fillmore West '69 box, Live Dead & 2/11/69 FE together you get a view of what the band was really up to in early '69.

What a cool time for the band.

They'd passed through the late '68 turmoil in the band and Weir & Pigpen had managed to hang on and the band was going furthur.

Great Stuff!

he was on duty, all the time.
he had the ability to look behind the mirror.
Great personality, sharp minded, he could analyse what's behind the scene.

There is a quote on the Archive from Dick Latvala, "The best and the most exciting Grateful Dead show ever is without a doubt 2/28/69 Fillmore West". I dig this whole run myself, and 3/1/69 is my favorite, but I believe that all 4 of these shows could be placed on the Mt. Rushmore of greatest Dead shows ever. You would have to carve two more heads for 5/2/70 and 2/14/68.

There'd be lotsa heads on that rushmore!
Get it?!?!

Lotsa.. dead heads.

This West LA from 6/30/95 is peppy!
Recordings leave a bit to be desired.
I went with - https://archive.org/details/gd1995-06-30.schoeps.clemens.89393.flac1648

Crested and beginning to drop. I should have given a full discloser, that Pitt show has some Jerry issues.. still, my last show. Since I have already absorbed what I can from that one.. I might follow BTK's lead and check out 3/1/69. Hope that doesn't offend anyone. I have to agree, if there is a run of shows that has more ferocity and focus than that run, I like to meet it and hang out with it for a while.

Cheers all.. the river is dropping and my pumps did their job. One one minor fiasco, but I did not take a big hit and this one is beginning to be in the rear view mirror.

Man.. I want to get vaccinated.. that would be grand. Setting the dials for 3/1/69 and cracking open a well earned beverage.

....it was motherfucking gold.

Good news.

I don’t have a flood song for you, but how about
River Deep, Mountain High by Burdon/Animals.

I saw a Take Me To The River in Memphis ‘95.

Good joke Vguy.

“It’s gold Jerry, it’s gold.”

....but the Drumz -> Space rarely disappoints.

Totally agree.

Drums/Space in the latter years was usually quite good, and with a nice trippy light show.
And if you pee’d during the pre-Drums Vince song you got to then sit through all of D/S.

I know it is not the pick of the day, or Grateful Dead but Wow!!! Haven't listened in a while... To quote Weird Science.... "Crazy.... Insane!!!" What a great Knockin on Heaven's Door and Stir it Up..... Volume 7 CD release... if that mean's anything.. Bob t

....my first underboob. Thanks Kelly.
And Boingo. Grate flick.
You had me at Wierd Science Bob t

It's to bad Bolo didn't find himself at the corner of Sutter & Vaness., but there certainly is some gold left at Post & Stiener.

....Daltrey that is.
Ha! Missed the day change by 3 Seconds

Looking at Road Trips 4.2 which includes all of April 1, 1988, and part of March 31, 1988. I think this is a solid release.

Ler us know.

On the jingle-bell rainbow.

Wonder if proud walkers are where white walkers came from?

That George, he's a hoot. I think he dug Robert.
Did those two ever meet... hmmm.

April Fools & Jerry Band sounds fun!

PS - Dug that 6/30/95 show, one of the better shows of that year I would say.
Band sounding like they were enjoying themselves, and the crowd definitely sounded that way.
Far out.

Good choices Bob and DVikes. I haven't listened to either in years. When I see Mission in the Rain or To Lay Me Down on a setlist, my ears perk up.

I like the artwork on Road Trips 4.2 and there's some interesting songs on those CDs. Ballad of a Thin Man, To Lay Me Down, a good Scarlet Fire, Estimated Eyes.. China Rider, Other One Wharf Rat.. and for good measure it's got a Cumberland.

Happy to see some palate cleansing Garcia Band too!

6/30/95: even better than I remember. I remember on the drive home we thought it had been worth the ten hour R/T drive time, and all enjoyed it, especially because of all the Rain. It was one of those you had to be there. Remember thinking “what are they doing up there” as they seemed to be waiting around with Robbie Taylor on the 2-way radio etc. I still think that between the radar weather station they had at those big outdoor shows, and they had someone out front of the stadium, and the band was waiting for the signal that the front had arrived, like they synchronized with the weather, because you couldn’t have choreographed that better if you were Bob Fosse!
It was a fun show especially due to the adversity, which the band rose above.
Unfortunately the recordings do seem to suck, but no so bad I didn’t enjoy the listen.
So onto 88 today...

....solid release. Except for the Watchtower on 3.31. It's pretty bad. Skip button territory.

6/30/95

Standing On the Moon

is great

What VGUY said.
Your not Bob, Bob...

Have always loved this release and it reminds me of my youth. Ballad of a Thin Man never gets old and I wish they played it more than this show and the other gem from Hampton on 3/27/88.
I know this is a Healy recording but I don't think they ever revealed the source. Was this a Dat cassette? Sound quality is really good and would love to have some other 88 releases to compare it. Not sure when we will get another 1988 release. I liked this year, not as good as 1989, but there were some great shows. The four Alpine shows were a blast, of course I was a 17 year old hoping the train would keep rolling. It sure did for a while!

Bring on the next box release!

I know zero about this show...sound board on archive... Opens with a Sugaree.... that's about all I can say. Bob t

Definitely going to check this one out today. Thanks Bob t.

Thanks for shining a light on this DV. Been a long while. Great playing and a solid balanced recording by Healy (head and shoulders above most of his work in Spring '87). Really enjoying this listen (quite the raging Other One). Saw the shows in Hampton just prior (as did several others here.) After first night hanging with a dozen folks in motel room and Katie(?- name a little fuzzy 30+ years later) asks the room "What song would you like them to break out tomorrow night?" My choice was To Lay Me Down. Opening notes that night and I'm like OMG and I remember glancing down the row and there's Katie looking right back at me with this big smile on her face. Earlier in the set they played that first Thin Man and that was a crackling Holy Crap moment in itself. Such a powerful run of shows and other than a couple of shows in Pittsburgh my only shows in the East. Glad I got to experience Spaceship Hampton in person - thank you Grateful Dead ticket mail order!
12/28/78 is terra incognita for me also.
I've got a pick for tomorrow if I can beat you early risers!

12/28/78:
Some times under a rock there’s only worms,...other times there’s gold!
BobT heading into the unknown jungle without bug spray or a flash light!
That’s the spirit!
ONWARD!

4,2: nice release. Some of these RT are pretty sweet. Remember this and the 82 release really surprised me when I got them. Yaasssss a Thin Man AND a Lay Me Down, AAAAND...it’s got a Cumberland!! good times!
BLUECROW bringing back wistful memories, especially about “spaceship Hampton”....siiiiiigggghhhh! I loved that place, the place itself and all the awesome shows I was fortunate to see there,....sighhhh...
Remember being a little disappointed with the year 87. Like they were back and all, but something was missing? Those Hampton 88 shows were like a drink of fresh water, just what the doctor ordered! The boys were back...

EDIT: yeah, BC, put your order in early! That way maybe it will get delivered on time ; )

Right on. Love that 3/27/88 Hampton show and sounds like it was a blast. More 88 please.

Bluecrow, give us the pick today and we will get it going tomorrow.

Stay well. Sun is out here in MN and mid forties, yeehaw!

Ditto what everyone is saying. Thanks guys for keeping this rolling. I don't make each and every show, but I try....

I am declaring to day international fun day. Hoping others feel the same.

Thanks for the green light guys. How about 3-17-93 Landover for tomorrow (3/4)? If this has come up before I missed it (my apologies.) There's a nice Miller board - https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1993/03/17?source=99608. FYI - the encore is sandwiched between set I and set II. Spoiler alert - going to mention a few of the tunes below.

Got to thinking about this show last few days. Wasn't at this show but I was surprised to find out my youngest brother was when he joined me out west August '93. I remember Gans playing Set II material on GD Hour shortly after the show and it completely floored me. Garcia plays Handsome Cabin Boy (no lyrics) out of Space (a complete OMG / I can't even...) and then after the Other One its the 3rd ever Days Between. This was my first exposure to Days Between and remember feeling like a portal had opened into another world of myth and dream, just full on spooky and haunting. And its the same to this day. A Hunter/Garcia masterpiece.

I'm not sure my brother even had a beer for this show as he was in midst of exams or some such for law school. He said the energy surge that swept through the crowd (and his body) with the opening notes of the Lucy in the Sky encore was unlike anything he had ever felt.

"Solid" show front to end. No Cumberland, alas, but its got a Desolation Row. Also, an early Lazy River Road, another of the latter songs I really dug. Plus there's a Dark Star :)

Enjoy. Onward.

12/28/78: never would of gone there otherwise, so, glad I did. Nothing mind blowing but another solid Dead show!
And another notch on the proverbial bedpost....
Was Phil Singing backups on Truckin’?

3/17/93 works for me, mañana!

This is a really good show, thanks for the pick Bob t. What did you think?

78, what a year for the Dead. Most really love, including Dave, the first half of 78. Most likely because they feel it maintains the 77 vibe. I have really never felt that based on the releases to date. Great shows, but it really doesn't stack up to 77.
For me, late August through the end of 78 is the best part of the year. The energy just feels so different after they returned from Egypt. And the release of Shakedown Street!
This show is a monster, I will definitely listen to it again soon. The Shakedown is fantastic and the late 78 Estimated Prophets were really groovy, into a short really fast Eyes. And we get a Truckin (Sounds like Phil Oroborous) and Wharf Rat. I will have to check out the previous night as well soon.

Okay, Bluecrow, on to a 93 show for tomorrow. Looking forward to checking that one out.

Thanks all, this has been a great experience.

....I will not look at the setlist.
12.28.78 has a really good Shakedown and Estimated. Love me a ❤ Of Me as well.
Edit. Whelp. I glanced over bluecrows critique. Lazy River Road you say?

I look to 2021 as a year of growth. When the E72 box was released.. I listened to each show in sequence, what a blast that was.. virgin listen after blow my mind virgin listen. It was so much fun and I had never done something like this before. From there I kept the torch alive and went in sequence show by show through mid year '78 at which time I got burned out on the whole ordeal. But that journey lasted years and was to me rewarding.

With the Doc Project and the 50th aniv of the '71 shows combined with newly restored Capitol run I am hell bent on listening to '71 in sequence. No reason, just because I think it will be fun, so far so good. I will keep the pace here too, as best I can.

Peace all.

50th anniversary’s on the days and corresponding dates.
Safari so good. Thoughts on 3/3/71 Fillmore West. Five of the new songs get their west coast debut. March 1971 was when I turned 17. I can’t say enough about how great an era for the Grateful Dead it was. Jerry played several different guitars that year. Also a few personal changes in the band formation.
Somehow the fresh vibe of that exciting year comes through in the recordings.
I need to read Docs work about 1971.

Gonna Wave To The Curious People's in the Pick Of The Day Forum :)

Good stuff you all!

'88 Hampton sounds dope, and calling TLMD.. nice work BlueCrow.
The 3 nights I spent at Hampton were awesome, have loved that place ever since.
Energy Vortex!

12/28/78 was fun and I agree with DeadVikes observation about the band after Egypt.
I love set 2 of 12/30/78 at the Pauley.. that show rocks!
And then we all know what happens the next night, wow.

And then there's 1971, in which young Strider began to really cut his teeth on this here band.
Another big Wow.
Jim let us know how that '71 journey goes, that's dead-i-cation.
With a thirty year archive of music and the constant upgrades and releases, I have a hard time making it through a whole tour, let alone a whole year.
But we'll see.. maybe someday or maybe not.

However, today... it's 3/17/93
Which I'm glad this came up as I noticed a Soundcheck I didn't have.
Cha-Ching!

Alright, time for some good trouble :)

EDIT: 4 of the newer tunes and a cover bust out. Don't tell me this band ain't got no heart in the '90s ;)

As has been mentioned Drums > Space really was going some far out places in the final years.

Mickey's trance influences begin to appear and really help with the time traveling.

When Jerry comes in on this Space on 3/17/93 the dynamics of the recording are just about exactly perfect.

I keep thinking it's coming from somewhere else.. but it's right here in my head.

Nice Pick BlueCrow, This is a real cool show, digging it.

Playing In The Band > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Handsome Cabin Boy Jam > The Other One > Days Between

Pretty dope. :)

...on this forum.

Kudos to the faithful for keepin' this train on the tracks! Y'all are good people.

Looks like Cousins is first with the box set reveal. Sweet!