Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,084 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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January 19, 2021 - 12:12pm

#4771

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Football....

....i had a 4 team $20 parlay bet going into the Saints/Bucs game. Brady cost me $240. Even when he's out of my division, he still haunts me.
January 19, 2021 - 11:23am

#4772

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

DV: 89 vs 90

I think it’s that searchin’ for the sound, trying to reach the summit, the whole forward progress, coming together, versus spring 90 is like they reached the top of that path, like sitting on top the summit and smoking a fatty, 420 @ 14K as we say out here! 89 was the climb, but spring 90 was the summit, if that makes sense?
Spring 90 is almost like too pristine, too clean? Don’t get me wrong, imho it ranks with most of the biggins, but there’s something about 89?
January 19, 2021 - 11:06am

#4773

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Yaaassss, yassss, yaasss,

I do like me sum 89...AND Cal Expo! Only made the June 90 run, and did Merch there on 96 Furthur tour, but it left a smoking crater on my mind. Some might call it a dump, but the layout was awesome for sound and good sight lines. Laid back vibe and a great lawn too, especially with GA so folks could go where they want. And yes, the beer was a amazing surprise; Anchor on tap and not east coast stadium mob priced. I had truly, finally, made it too the promised land! If only I had made it to the Frost and Greek : ( Shorline was nice, but I really dug the X! Maybe it was the x lol.
Irvine would of been a nice place to see um, but unfortunately I only did Furthur fest there...
So haven’t hit this yet but sounds like that’s what’s up next!

Rock Thing, welcome aboard, so glad ya made it...as your senator from the great deadnet state of altered consciousness, I can assure you there are very few rules to guide. Generally no politics or any of that kinda heavy shit, and be polite, don’t be a douche! Remember, we all have our opinions, which is nice, but we’re all confused, which is nice, and we’re all wrong on some plain or another, which is nice!
That’s about it, so Rock On Rock Thing!
Oh, I’m with you about sources. I’ll take a really good Aud over many SBs, and I really like a good matrix, but I mean really good, like some of the video mixes I believe have actual, ambient mics used with appropriate time alignment etc.
I get why the majority like SBs, and the historic technical reasons why they became en Vogue. But the tech changed so much and with the eventual gray area removed by the tapers section etc, there are some really amazing sounding Auds.
I’ll concede that it has to be done just right, but if so I really dig a great matrix; you get the (usually) clean direct feed of the instruments etc, plus the more natural room ambience. Of course like a SB, the mix is crucial, and unfortunately in the case of the “cassette years,” is often mixed so prominently for the house. But when 2 great sources are blended just so it is really amazing how good they can sound.
The ultimate imho is when the “Dead” did it purposefully like on many of the official releases, like some of the video mixes...EDIT: I believe that 3/15/90 show is a good example that has some really nice “liveness” ambience...
I like Dave’s Pick 8 and 36, but 8 seems a tad too dry and 36 at times is perhaps to much, but hey, that’s just me.

Ok, onward....8/5/89 woo, woo!
GO BILLS!
KCJ, where you be? I’d trash talk with ya but I don’t think we’re gonna do it, but hey, as Boomer would say
“That’s why they play the game”
January 19, 2021 - 10:28am

#4774

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

1989

Yes, so many great shows in 89 and Cal Expo is no slouch. Lately, I have been thinking 89 might edge out 1990? It is close anyway. Really high level stuff with Jerry fully engaged. Things changed after Brent died, but there was still some great music. Fall 1990 still doesn't grab me. Not like 1991, where they seem to get the Mojo going again.

Stay well out there people.
January 19, 2021 - 9:07am

#4775

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Sweet Run

This one's for our 89 loving Oroborous. (knowing that most in this group seem to be 80's fans)
January 19, 2021 - 7:31am

#4776

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Cal Expo '89....

....was present and camped at all three. Awesome venue. The only time I caught them there. Very beer friendly.
January 19, 2021 - 5:05am

#4777

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Rockthing

Right on, Bring it..

I think you are doing this exactly right. Great show, VGuy, good choice. And an excellent show to have attended. Did you catch the entire run?

It's keeping us honest.
January 19, 2021 - 4:38am

#4778

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Infrared Roses

Rockthing-your post reminded me of the cd compilation called "Infrared Roses" that came out in the 90s. An album exclusively made up of drum and space segments, each track given the added status of being named individually. I was lucky enough to experience one of them-the so called "Silver Apples of the Moon" which I think came from London 11/1/90. One of the highlights of the show.

When drums and space come out of Dark Star- I tend to think of them as being extensions of Star, rather than as separate entities.
January 19, 2021 - 1:26am

#4779

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

gd1989-08-05 impressions Second Set

Am I doin' this right? Sorry if I'm kinda goin' overboard. That's my thing.

Continuing to listen to the Schoeps MK2 source.

Hey Pocky Way: This song did not get performed enough. Just some light fun with a little cheesy keyboard sound.

Playin': Nice and spacey jam. Sparse. Chill. Percussion taking the back seat in the mix. Jerry really challenging the others to find the trail he's blazing. Catch me if you can! Whoa, what's he hintin' at? No way! So THIS is the standalone I Know You Rider. More like a Playin' Rider. THAT really came outa nowhere. People musta been goin' nuts. Can't really hear too much reaction from the crowd, even though this is an audience pull. Up up tempo. Really flying. Headlight ¡GONG! on a northbound train. Nice. :)

Terrapin: Are you serious? Third song into the second set is Terrapin?! Pretty solid.

Drums/Space: At some point I really began to dislike the generic titles for drums and space. It's canon. I know. Can't fight city hall. Never gonna change four decades of precedent, but when I track my old tapes for my own personal use, I include drums and space in the song either before or after them. I like to think of them as a drum solo and free form jam into or out of a composition. I realize they rarely have much of anything to do with the tunes around them, but some of the early stuff would go out so far you had no idea what song they were playing, I kinda like to stay in that frame of mind. So, to me, this is the drum solo for Terrapin. ^^; Is there a cut, or was that just the world's shortest "drums"? Some wacky MIDI stuff to start off space. Everyone playing everyone else's instruments, virtually.

Gotta run. Catch up with the rest of the second half later.

EDIT:

Sorry, Terrapin wasn't the third song. Maybe Pocky Way felt like such a throw away that subconsciously I didn't even count it. At any rate, seemed to arrive at Terrapin awfully quickly. Time flies when you're having fun? :)
January 19, 2021 - 12:49am

#4780

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

gd1989-08-05 impressions First Set

Hey now. Is it ok if a newcomer jumps in on this? Never need an excuse to cue up a show I've never heard. Wish I had time to do it more often. Easily lead into rabbit holes, so hafta stick with my old favorites when things are busy. Nice to have someone to share the impressions with. I apologize in advance. I am notorious among all my correspondents for writing the sequel to Ulysses in every email.

I don't have any hard and fast policies, but generally I prefer to find a good audience pull over soundboards. There are plenty of boards I love, though, so as I say it's not a rule. Being a minor taping enthusiast informs that tendency, but often I actually like having the crowd in the mix. Sometimes the audience can be as entertaining as the band, like the dudes calling out for Casey Jones during Seastones. Hilarious. Idle chatter drives me up a wall, though.

Introductions out of the way, please allow me to share my experience listening to this Cal Expo gig.

First impressions:
Wow. Bobby's vocals are really loud. This is something I often find distracting about boards. The vocal balance is way too high in the mix compared with the instruments. It's inevitable, I guess. Usually the instruments don't need to be amplified as much as the vocals. I gather that we're supposed to be listening to the same releases, but I decided to see what the other sources sounded like.

I switched from the Miller SBD to Mattes Schoeps CMC 44 pull. I've heard some Mattes tapes I like. The Schoeps are top of the line mics and can't be faulted technically, but I often find Schoeps pulls to favor the lower frequencies in a way that seems to muffle the overall experience. In this case my first thought was, where's the band? Had to really crank it to even notice OMSN had started.

Next it was a switch to the Casey Coniff Sennheiser 441 pull. Starts off promising. Instruments loud and clear, but then I WENT UP TO THE MOUNTAIN, wow, the vocals were blasting into the audience, too. Yes, you can hear Dan Healy, I presume, immediately pull the volume back, but Bobby's vocals are really dominating the mix.

The Schoeps MK2 pull seems to offer a frequency balance I like best of these sources. The vocals are still really high, but they would be since everyone's taping the same show. Let it be said, however, that the focus and clarity of both this and the Coniff audience pulls are right up there with soundboards. No need to search for the show in the recording.

Cold Rain and Snow: Poor old Jer. Love that old silvery elf voice of his and I know it won't be there in '89, but he sounds kinda tired to me at the beginning. Kick drums kinda have that slappy festival sound quality. Phil's bass sounds great. Low end is powerful, but well-defined, and his upper register runs are right there too, but not harsh. Big smile for that little hiccup/accent around 4 and a half minutes in. Love this tune. This probably won't rocket to the top of my list of favorites.

We Can Run: As much as I love Brent's keyboard work with the Dead, I rarely get into his songwriting.

Stagger Lee: Nothing in particular to say about this.

Stuck Inside of Mobile: Nothing to write home about. Everyone seems to be getting a little more warmed up. The buildups for the choruses each seem to grow in intensity.

Row Jimmy: Whoa! WTH was that atonal weirdness. That was brilliant, whatever it was. lol. Sounds like someone accidentally dropped something on The Beam. Unfortunately no one had the presence of mind or inclination to try to incorporate it into the song, or improvise off of it. It just happens and sounds like a mistake. Jimmy plods along as usual. Gonna get there? I don't know.

Let It Grow: Oh, some of those crazy Healy vocal/etc. effects. I usually liked it when he added stuff like that, but I guess others didn't. As is often the case with this tune in the second half of the 80s and onward, we get our first taste of the band firing on all cylinders for one quick hot lap before the set break. This one doesn't get too far out during the first jam, though, before Bobby brings it back and seems to miss his own cue. lol. Nice fills from Jer and Brent in the outro. Could've stood a bit more of that, tbh.

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.

GOGD/whistful

I hear ya, It was the same for me only in like 77/78. If they would of played locally I could of been on the Big bus a year earlier...such is life.
(Big bus being after seeing live, versus little bus being stuck listening in my teenage room wishing I could see them live!)
EDIT: Ha, think of poor Dave having to go all the way to Harshford with his Ma! Whatever it takes eh!

6/20/74 Cool show!

Awesome “sequence”, interesting Slipknot; JG and Kieth are super tight, but Phil and Bob sit out. Not exactly the kind of song you fake lol.
Sound was all over the place; sometimes great, sometimes things were over saturated...

Ok, who’s up for some extra credit?
How bout 7/7/81? Never have heard the first set, but the second set was a tape fav BITD.

7/7/81

weird

I had the first set on tape, but not the second

5/3/86 plays currently

"justajustajustajusta..."

Bears choice

That bears choice 'Hard to handle' NEVER gets old.

Wha'd Ya Know

Low and behold, my Dave's Picks 36 arrived. Long wait.. I had faith it would plop down on my front porch..,, eventually. Thanks to MaryE for the hand delivery.. I saw the EBike pull away.. pig tails flowing under the swirled, dayglow helmet. She turned to look.. and then was gone. Again, many thanks from all of us for all you do.

#1 of 22,000. My lowest number yet. Now I can finally read the liner notes. Wow.. apparently Dave was at this show, far out.

Congrats Jim

Great news Jim! Finally. Did they throw in some socks for the wait?

#1/22,000, Ha!

6/20/74, good show. Agree OB, the recording is a bit uneven, some parts great, others not as good. Overall B on the sound quality. Seemed kind of a short show for 74. Good pick PF.

Your 81 show for tomorrow OB?
Couldn't make it a two fer today. Hard to keep up with the overachievers.

Okay, so we have a month to go until #38.

No Socks..

Just a coupon for a cup of free hot chocolate.

Edit: I like the socks idea.. colorful, plaid, rainbow or paisley.. I'm all in. Especially the electric kind that blend well with my Birkenstocks.

3/31/80 the other Capitol

The first Feel Like A Stranger 41 years ago today. So let me throw 3/31/80 into the ring for today’s pick.
My one time to the Capitol Theater was 1972(?) to see NRPS. Dr John opened the show. Quite the rowdy audience, ha ha.

Jim & Number 36

Glad to hear.

I like to think that TPTB will always make it right, in time.

At least you got a GREAT number!

.... and free socks? Must be those Balboa socks they always advertise on TV. For every pair you buy, you claim every sock that those socks touch and all the socks that those socks touch.

36, Good Number

Actually, it was 10,393 of 22,000.. which is fine with me.

36 arrival

a good day

if you haven't heard it yet, Desolation Row > Birdsong is really good.

It's gonna get stranger

Far out... dug dusting off 6/20/74.
Ship of Fools sounding so good, man I dig Jerry's voice in '74.
And that Truckin' > Eyes > Slipknot! > China Doll. That's the stuff.
A bit under the radar, especially with all it's towering neighbors.
Speaking of... popped on 6/22/74 Bonus after and that kinda further proves why this 6/20 show might go unnoticed.
Damn!

Alright, you know it's gonna get Stranger huh Strider?

I'm hip for the trip to 3/31/80.

Hot Dog Jim them's some Hot shows in Hartford, love that '87 vibe.

OB I wish I could help with the cartoon.. but you got me.
Not familiar with it, but if you find it, I wanna see it and hear all the deets.

That's all I got.
So let's get on with the show!

I check my memory, I check it quick, oh yes I will

6/16/74: out-of-this-world wood
6/18: solid wood
6/20: nice wood
6/22: good wood
6/23: major wood
6/26: awesome wood
6/28: magnificent wood
6/30: beautiful wood

Couldn't see the forest for the trees

That's a lot of wood.

Wood

Remember kids wood and catheters don't mix!

how bout.....

Woke up with some morning wood today.
Went to pee but the wood would not go away.
Went in the yard and water the plants this way.
When the water past, the wood it went away.

I know, sad humor,,,, if it were good, I'd be selling ice cream!

It’s better than wood...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7mNr5WMjA

Woody Harrelson....

....love that guy.

Great Recording

by Rob Eaton on this 3/31/80.

Sounds like this run was fun.

6/16/74 Playin'

one of the all-time greats

3.31.80 Capitol....

....first Stranger!!

Ha

Love the wood analogies. Doing some home carpentry, so timely humor.

I gotta bump up 6/18 a notch though. One of the all time great Eyes of the World>China Doll and the WRS/TOO/It's a sin something..

3/31/80

Decent show, good aud...another off the beaten path notch off the list.

Yeah both

So both of them there shows sound killer today.

Nice suggestions PF & Jim.
I'm in June '74 with the Wall of Sound and it's sunny outside.

And anytime you want to suggest a top 5 PITB, I'll take the bait.

Amazing how much presence Phil had in '74.

Edit: 6/16 & 6/18/74 that is.
(Oil that is! Black Gold, Texas T)

Stranger

One of the great late era songs. I don't think I am alone in saying this tune made sense or had a calming effect on that point in the show where the ceilings and walls become liquid and there is at least a little concern that they might turn to goo and begin dripping down the sides of the coliseum/shed/theatre/area/stadium or wherever the hell you were when the shit really started to hit the fan.

And I love that song for that effect. It's going to be alright, now let's get on with the show.

One more wood

Minglewood

Re: Dr. Proudfoot

Goodness.. as funny as I thought my last comment was, it will surely screw up my future run for Senate. In summary, Dr. Proudfoot, deadnet's most beloved scholar.

My edited post pontificated and expanded the meaning of the word Minglewood. Let's just let that post die a graceful death.

Night all.. this is a family channel after all???

Or is it?

Favorite Minglewods

4/29/71, 5/15/70, 12/30/79, I like a lot of the 1977 versions also.

I'm "goin' down" (wink wink nudge nudge)

to mingle my wood with....uh....

Family shmamily

We are all just twisted old men here

of our own device

I'm "goin' down" (wink wink nudge nudge)

to mingle my wood with....uh....

Family shmamily

We are all just twisted old men here

of our own device

You could almost think

that you're postin' double

Stranger

I always like Stranger for an opener.

Just for the line... you know it's gonna get stranger...

I always label this in my mind as an "Electric" song. Versus China Doll I classify as a "music box" song.

Minglewood

So many great minglewoods. 5/28/77 comes to mind as well as 10/3/87. But there are so many more. Always a rocker. And the version from Ladies and Gentlemen from April 71 lights it up.
Didn't this appear on Shakedown Street. All new minglewood blues.

right there

with Dr. ProudFoot - 6/16 Playing is one of the greatest. love it love it love it. another favorite from that year is the first October night at Winterland, 10/16.

yes like a moth to the psychedelic flame of '74. that Omni show on 6/20 was new to me too, despite looking at the set list for years in my raggedy ass deadbase. listened yesterday and thought whole show was excellent. yep a little short for the year, some tape wobble and speed issues maybe set II. no matter. Trucking and Eyes were the bomb. Something about the Slipknot jam reminded me of a Celtic fiddle tune, which was not something I've ever associated Slipknot before. The China Doll was gorgeous. hopefully any tape issues can be ironed out for a release.

onward

Minglewoods

4/29/71
5/15/70
my first show, first tune: Minglewood.

Just for the sake of arguement

Today marks anniversary of my first show. 4-1-80 - Capitol Theater - Passaic, NJ.

RAH!

Didn't know shit! It was all a blur. It was loud.

Knowing now what I know, I was very lucky to be at that venue, we had great seats on the floor in a small theater.

"A" is for...

Alaska
Alpine
Ark
Avalon

Dennis

Pretty sweet way to start in April of 1980.

41 years ago!

Now if they would just give us a nice 1980 box!

Happy Anniversary Dennis!

That’s one hell of a start!
That should of been our pick...

STRANGER: always loved a good Stranger opener, especially if plugged in ; )
Like a second set song to open.

Jim/Senate

So do you think your taking my seat or VGUYS?
I relish the battle ahead, and a new breed of politics. Let’s start with that time you skipped a show to study for a test
Rrrrraaaaabnnnnnnnntttttt, (buzzer sound like when your wrong on a game show! ; )

Family Shmamly

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Here’s some family entertainment for the kids
https://archive.org/details/gd85-04-07.sbd.sacks.3346.sbeok.shnf/gd85-0…

Dr PF?...

Nah, I picture him more like some weird lab rat assistant in a white coat who likes to test the potions, later, after hours, after everyone else has gone home ; )

6/16/74

Isn’t that my good twin Oroboros first show? Where is that ole rascally rascal? We haven’t heard from him in a couple years! If your out there, hope your doing well amigo!
Perhaps Dr Proudfoot can conjure up some potion and summon him?

Wish Realgone would re-drop this one, one of the few I don’t have. But I do have the Bonus disk thanks to an unbelievably kind person here!! Thanks again Bra! Still can’t believe how generous that was!

BOLO and the four As

Hhhmmmmm??? That would make a sweet box!
3 shows from each historic run....
Or is it another clue?
Or is it a fools errand?
Hmmmmmm???

"A"

Alfred College
Alligator Alley Gymnasium
Aladdin Theater
Academy of Music
Alfond Arena
Alleghany State College

I think Bolo has officially announced the Alphabet Box Series and the end date for vault material releases.

Each year for the 20 (no venues starting with X, Q, Z,...) or so years we will get a box of all releasable shows based on the first letter of the venue, after the alphabet is completely exhausted.. all the worthy shows will have been released, Dave will retire and that's it. This is great news, the "A" box released on October 31st is going to be spectacular.

The down side.. I am going to be old as dust by the time RFK '73 gets released. An alternate box concept is the Everything Box where every show in the vault would be remastered and released as a giant treasure chest. (#StormTheVault #FeeTheReels)

Edit: The final box would be a three show box for Zoo Amphitheatre, 1981, 1982 and 1985.

As for my run for Senate.. My only shot is a devastating scandal followed by resignation.. so long as you two stay away from under age girls while crossing state lines, your seats are safe.

give it a listen sometime.

Gong Bong, anyone?

some people...

Last summer, my son's Prius had its catalytic converter stolen.

three nights ago... my Prius' CC got stolen.

BASTARDS.

If I could get hold of 'em, I'd force feed the thieves brown acid and lock 'em in a room with a non-stop strobe light and nothing but Bobby Goldsboro's greatest hits on repeat.

Luckily, insurance covers all but $100 of the replacement.