Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,100 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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September 23, 2023 - 4:24am

#851

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Daverock

The September GD Bulletin came out yesterday in an email.
At the end there is a section Community Bits that briefly summarizes what it being discussed on these boards.

It says:

In the Pick of the Day, With Discussion thread, Daverock raises the interesting point that for Europe ’72, there weren’t so many Dead Heads in the audience — and that affected the band’s playing. Maybe for the better? What do you think?
September 23, 2023 - 3:22am

#852

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Icecrmcnkd

Sorry - I'm not sure what that means!
September 22, 2023 - 3:00pm

#853

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

GD Bulletin

Daverock gets the call out.
September 22, 2023 - 2:43am

#854

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Bickershaw and repetition

1stshow -no, I have never heard Hawkwind's set at Bickershaw. Curiously, I have never read anything about it either, not from the band or from people who were there. Simonrob was there - maybe he knows something.
1972 was the year it all came together for Hawkwind, culminating in the Space Ritual tour in December. In fact - a timely thought - the 11 cd special deluxe edition of Space Ritual is out next Friday. Probably not good value for money unless you are really into it - they basically played the same set on that tour wherever they played - this new set features three of them. I'll be getting it - but the original album may be better value overall.

Going back to The Dead's repetitive - or otherwise - song lists - they would have played to a different audience every night, for the most part, during E72, so maybe it mattered less than later on if they played the same songs a lot. Maybe that was the case for American gigs at first, too. It wasn't common practice in England in the 1970's to see the same band twice on the run, so I wouldn't think it was in America at first. As teenager, apart from anything else, I wouldn't have been able to afford it.
September 21, 2023 - 8:50pm

#855

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Repetitive, Sort of..

With the exception of Copenhagen and London, they hit these cities just once and my guess is most locals had not had any real exposure to the touring Grateful Dead. Copenhagen is the real outlier, two hits at the same venue and similar second set setlists.

I always assumed they wanted to make a presence in Europe and knowing people were not as exposed in the US, wanted to paint a strong picture for each city.

So 51 years later listening to the whole tour, there is lots of repetition. But if you were there then, it was all brand new. That's how I digested it. They wanted to hit Europe with a cohesive picture of what they were doing then not knowing when or if they would return.
September 21, 2023 - 3:23pm

#856

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

RE: repetition

Yeah they always went heavy on what was new. Guessing partly for their own sanity/interest, and partly for the crowds.
Not unlike Taylor Swift etc: make an album, go on the road to support it, rinse and repeat…of course like most things, they weren’t that formulaic, thank goodness lol. Plus, they were smart enough to figure out that it’s better to work stuff out on the road BEFORE you go into the studio to record it, especially when you do constantly tweak and re-invent them. So this tour was perhaps a bit of both lol.
Also, (think we’ve discussed before?) folks didn’t tour so much back then, probably not at all in 1972 Europe?
So they didn’t have to worry about that like they did later on.
Sometimes I think they, or someone, just really enjoyed certain songs, so played en more.
I’d say they played less repetitive in some ways as the years passed and they had more and more songs to choose from.
Ok, maybe not Bob, he seemed to need to play everything to death lol. Speaking of, why Me&My Uncle every night! I mean they just put it out on the last live album only a year before! With so much new stuff as the Dead, and from WM and AB, AND both Bob and Jers recent solo albums, why Bob, why LOL ; ) Perhaps trying to bring more American “culture”?
As far as reinterpreting songs, I think they always did that, though some more than others and with various results.
I guess that’s yet another thing dependent on the listeners taste and chever way yer pleasure tends…
But I’d bet the biggest factor on this tour was trying to get at least one good useable version of all the new material since they purposely chose this methodology to get the new songs out on a new album. That and mix in some familiar stuff as you never want to do all unknown songs. I could tell ya a story about doing that lol
September 21, 2023 - 2:35pm

#857

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Bickershaw again

Finishing up as I write.
Highlights: Dark Star, The Other One, Lovelight (Jerry!).
The line-up for this festival is astounding. Woodstock level of mud too.
DR, guessing you've heard Hawkwind's performance. Good?
Cheers
September 21, 2023 - 2:20pm

#858

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Repetition

Is that true, though, that there was more repetition of songs during the E72 tour than others in the late 60's and 70's?
I haven't checked it out, but listening to shows, I always get a sense that they had a core group of songs that they leaned on during specific tours. It was the same listening to the 1973 box that has just come out. There weren't any shows that were wildly different from any other - possibly 6/10/73. That has a different feel than the earlier ones.

That's not a criticism - the more they played specific songs - especially the ones incorporating jams, the better they got to know them and the more they were able to re-interpret them. Part of the ongoing mystery - especially from late 1971-1974. Maybe.
September 21, 2023 - 2:07pm

#859

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

5/13/72

The make up show.
Yeah 1stshow, there is definitely a looooot of repetition! Lol
But yeah, all good, perhaps getting a little burnout, though I haven’t had a lot of good, sit down sessions.
By necessity, some I’ve been just streaming on crappy work device, (or I’d be still doing this months from now and I’m getting itchy for some other Dead ) I’ve tried to hit those shows multiple times.
5/13 was one, and another first time show.
I thought it was a mostly well played show, especially considering it was another cold outdoor show.
Loved JG joking about a movie and playing drive ins lol
The PITB seemed a little different, and awesome! Oh, loved Pig making Europe sounding police sirens on the organ during the first spacey part of TOO, another beauty. Nice how their starting to work He’s Gone into the flow of the set.
Don’t have my info here, but believe this might be the first show without a Good Lovin, which no offense, but I am getting burnt on. Have really been enjoying the other stuff, especially Hurts Me Too and Mr Charlie! And I need to learn the rest of the words to ChinaTown Shuffle as I can’t get the chorus outta my head lol.
In fact slightly light on the grease, perhaps the chilly cold and being on the road, or maybe time limits? This show was a little shorter by E72 standards, more like a “normal” Dead show.
Wonder if that was due to having to get back on the road, the cold, or…?
Overall another great show, though if hard pressed I don’t think I’d include in top five or whatnot…
Kudos to them though in spite of being less than ideal circumstances and this far into the tour etc

Oh, I think the repetitiveness and lack of certain songs was totally by design.
Always good to have as many good versions of songs to attempt to choose from. Nothing worse than wanting a certain song badly but only having a so so version…
They had all those new songs they wanted to get out, or try to, so I can fully understand not doing too many other recently released songs.
Making the album was a big part of the tour and after hating their studio stuff versus the great live albums, they were trying to make an album, but live in front of grooving people. Same sorta MO they did with In The Dark. Kinda surprises me they didn’t use this approach more often since it obviously worked so well for them.
And perhaps unknown to some, but even though they played all tracks live, they did go back and clean up and/or sweeten some things in the studio afterwards, so really a sorta highbred album. Same with Skullfuck.
Ok, on to 5/16/72 and a world radio broadcast!
Onward!
September 21, 2023 - 11:03am

#860

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Bickershaw 5-7-72

Just started Bickershaw and it occurred to me that 12 shows into the tour there weren't all that many songs in the setlists from either Workingman's or American Beauty. A quick look to verify only found Sugar Mag and Truckin' from Beauty (whoops found a Brokedown too) and five out the eight from Workingman's with two of those played maybe once or twice in the tour. I knew going in to the full EU72 tour I was in for a lot of repetition in the setlists and having glanced at them beforehand saw the order of songs or placements were also similar, i.e. Casey Jones to end many a first set. So maybe knowing they were doing the album they did so many of the same ones to get a better shot at getting one that would be just exactly perfect for the album, more to choose from. Seems a bit opposite to their usual format of no format or you get what feels right that night. These shows are certainly not carbon copies by any means and I'm not complaining at all but just wanted to explore why they all sound a bit the same. Clearly some doing them all in a row impressions happening but not burnout at all. They are all just too good!
Cheers

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.