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    clayv
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    Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, we have come upon the release of the DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 37, from the Fifteenth of April in the year Nineteen Seventy-Eight, at ye olde College Of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Cast your waistcoats and your bonnets aside, the Grateful Dead are on steady gallop from the opening high-kick of "Mississippi Half-Step" into a where are we going? where have we been? "Passenger," followed by full-on versions of "Friend Of The Devil," "El Paso," "Brown-Eyed Women," and a double-barreled "Let It Grow>Deal." Catch your breath and straighten out your tricorne because the 2nd set shows no bounds with delightful takes ("Bertha>Good Lovin'," "One More Saturday Night") and introspection ("Candyman," "Playing In The Band"). Then - great fifes and drums - it's 15 minutes of "Rhythm Devils," with band and crew gathered round to amplify the merriment before delivering a rare incantation of "Not Fade Away>Morning Dew" that sets the soul alight. Pure jollification!

    The town crier's addendum:

    Three bags full! Lest you feel 4/15/78 beginneth and endeth too quickly, we've selected highlights from Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/18/78 to satisfy your fancy.

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 37: WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA 4/15/78 was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman. It is guaranteed to sell out - often within hours.

    *2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    Stillwaters

    Some of my E72 favs. Ran out of time after 5/10, so skipped a few shows:

    Dark Stars excluded for the most part. They're too much of a "hear for yourself" experience.

    4/7
    * Greatest Story Ever Told (I love Donna's "cool clear water well you can't always tell" vocal. She really hits it.

    * The Other One, Pt 2 => Wharf Rat

    4/8
    * Bertha

    * Caution

    4/11
    * China / Rider

    * Truckin' / The Other One

    * Brokedown Palace

    4/14
    * Transition from Dark Star => Sugar Magnolia

    *Banter after Cumberland Blues

    4/16 (Donna Absent)
    * Black-Throated Wind

    * Playing in the Band

    * Not Fade Away, Pt 2

    4/17
    * Cold Rain & Snow

    * China / Rider

    4/21 (Beat Club Studio)
    * The Other One

    4/24
    * He's Gone

    * Dark Star, Part 2 => Wharf Rat => Sugar Magnolia ***** (BOAT)

    * Good Lovin' Parts 1 & 2 (jam excluded); Part 2 especially the beginning with Pigpen's foreshadowing remarks.

    4/26

    * Bertha

    * Good Lovin' (I chose this for the main song parts, before and after the jam; there is an incredibly smooth groove to the main guitar hook during the verses that is super jazzy - they hit it in a manner that resonates like a harmonic in my ears).

    * Truckin'

    * The Other One

    *Lovelight=> (+ transition into GDTRFB)

    4/29
    * Sugaree - Bobby is really playing some great fills here and Pigpen's organ great when he engages.

    * Loser

    Chinatown Shuffle - Keith actually has something that resembles a piano solo. Very cool.

    5/3
    * Me and My Uncle (approximately every 15th performance someone hollers "whoooo!!" after the hi-low Jack lyric; this is one of them)

    * China Cat Sunflower - original E72 version. Jerry solo perfection. Not crazy about the attached Rider on this one, due to the vocal overdubs they recorded right onto the master.

    * Tennessee Jed - also from the original E72, but if the supplemented vocals, it's not glaring at me. But I think it was chosen for the incredible instrumental arrangement that supports Jerry's guitar solo, then back into the chorus; they build up to a perfect crescendo here.

    5/4
    * Brown-Eyed Women

    * Big Railroad Blues

    * The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion) - 7

    5/7
    * Beat It On Down the Road

    * Lovelight =>

    * GDTRFB (I mentioned the transition into this one only one 4/26, but this is one great version beginning to end.

    5/10

    * Playing in the Band (clocks in at 12 and a half min once the before/after banter is taken into account, where most previous versions were in the 9 -10 zone; so extra jam time, and one of the best jams of the tour IMHO)

    * Wharf Rat (awesome beginning with nice loud Wharf chords from Jerry and drum rolls from Billy).

    5/16
    *Promised Land

    5/18
    * Jack Straw
    * Sugar Magnolia (they really hit a groove; 2nd best on the tour IMHO despite Bobby's vocal miss). Just listen to Billy's drum fill at the "Billy's drum fill part" - very unique and one of the best.

    5/23
    * Promised Land (I think only Veneta is better)

    * Hey Bo Diddly

    5/24
    * Cold Rain and Snow

    *LOVELIGHT - Pigpen's last and best in my opinion. By 1972 they had this streamlined down to about 12 to 15 minutes, and they jam like the Allmans. Unlike the other two Europe 72 performances, this one contains that classic quiet doot-doot-doo arrangement from Jerry, Bobby and Phil; it kicks in around 10:05 and goes on for a minute with Pigpen improvising the lyrics as he goes along. And then they pop back into "Without a warning" one last time.

    5/25
    *Brokedown Palace

    * The UJB medley

    * Ramble On Rose (dig the extended intro)

    5/26
    *Mr Charlie

    *Playing in the Band

    * He's Gone (the only time I've heard Bobby throwsome tremolo on, making it spacey and ethereal.

    * The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion). PigPen at his soulful best, really throughout most of the May versions.

    * There may be a good Morning Dew on this one.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    BEW

    Haven’t been back to check for sure yet, but I think their doing it on purpose. If you really listen to what Bobs trying to do with his right hand, that different staccato rhythm, it sounds like the drummers are trying to copy that but their not quite entrained? I forget the other one, but overall there’s not that much other obvious stuff here, hell I heard way more FUs on that 2/9/73 show. GD Warts, come with the territory folks!
    Oh, and the so called “flub” as JG starts to sing Half Step is more likely Healy not turning his mic up in time as I don’t think they had the trigger gates yet; those black rectangle pads on top of the Persian rugs right where they stand when they sing. It’s a switch/gate that activates the mic when you stand on it thus eliminating such errors. Before that the house mixer would have to “ride the mix”. and mute the mics during longer periods between vocals to eliminate unwanted bleed/noise from the super loud instruments.... Or possibly Beatty didn’t have him up yet on on the tape mix?
    On Passenger I’m pretty sure JG and others? are going into the Bridge after the instrumental, but Donna goes elsewhere. Luckily, tragedy is narrowly averted though!

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    VGUY

    Look on the bright side, now if your accused of a crime you can simply say you don’t work there anymore and get off! ; )

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    BEW drumming

    Same oddity can be heard on 4 11 78

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    America let me down today....

    ....sensing a theme.
    Playing The Doors currently. Peace. Frog. Wishful. Sinful.
    Re; Carlos13. No. But in Yellow Submarine, Ringo had a hole in his pocket.

  • carlo13
    Joined:
    Time

    Does anyone remember what book this sentence came from? "I've got to pick a pocket or two." I'm still loving Dap 37. Was BEW meant to be like it is or was it an intentional experiment. Either way It was unique.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Future Dave’s?

    Usually I wait to post this updated list of Dave’s, but since y’all guessing already, how bout some gas for the fire?
    And yassss, fourwindsblow, it has been a looonngg time for 69!

    BOXES: ya gotta think that chances are higher than not that they’ll go with more ABCD returns cause, ya know...
    So that being said, and since Dave’s been rooting around where he’s has, I’d think there could be be a spring 78, or “spring” 71, perhaps more summer 76, though probably too soon?,
    And as HF will tell ya “what about fall 72?,” and it is puzzling that he’s not gone anywhere near primal stuff since Fillmore (except the few 50th bonus tidbits)?
    I would hope that he stays away from 77 for a bit cause I know I’m not the only one feels that’s a tad over saturated comparatively. Think he’ll take a step back from 73/74, but ya never know, there is still a bunch of killer 73 not out. But since PNW is still not sold out?....
    Doubt we’ll see another 80s box for a while since he’s gone there a few times semi-recently, which bums me out since it’s no secret I’m jonesing for a fall 89, and “the complete Alpine 89 with video”. Although there is that tweet relating to fall 80 type box...
    I guess some kind of 90s is possible, but think it’s too soon after Giants, though it did sell well.
    In other words, who the fug knows LOL, but hey, it’s fun to try and guess eh?

    Here’s a Breakdown of Dave’s Picks
    (First Column) = Year:
    (2nd =)Total Releases from this year/
    (3rd = )How Many Releases since last pick from this year../
    (4th =)Release # of last pick from this year

    80: 1 / 30 / #8
    69: 2 / 28 / #10
    81: 1 / 18 / #20
    72: 3 / 14 / #24
    71: 3 / 12 / #26
    83: 1 / 11 / #27
    76: 3 / 10 / #28
    70: 2 / 8 / #30
    79: 1 / 7 / #31
    77: 5 / 5/ #33
    74: 5 / 4 / #34
    84: 1 / 3 / #35
    87: 1/ 2 / #36
    78: 4/ 1/ #37
    73: 5/ - / #38

    No Picks from:
    66-68, 75
    82, 85, 86,
    88-95

  • stillwaters
    Joined:
    DaveRock

    I am pleased to report that before I left for Europe '72 I listened to 3/36/72 (DaP 14), 3/28/72 (DP30), and parts of 3/21; 3/22; 3/23; 3/25, and 3/27 on a couple of bonus disc. Found 3/28 quite moving, not sure why.

    Thanks for the reminder!!!!!!!!!!!

  • billy the kid
    Joined:
    2/13/70 Dark Star

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpBR3VpAg3E

  • fourwindsblow
    Joined:
    @Vguy72 'Jamel'

    Hey there what's up vguy72.

    Can you see if Jamel would do a video on the US Blues from Duke '78?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eViobWoVLJo

    Thanks! fwb

    ps. He needs a bobble-head of himself with the headphones. haha

    pss. Dave I think the '69 Dark Star was a bit too much for him.

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Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, we have come upon the release of the DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 37, from the Fifteenth of April in the year Nineteen Seventy-Eight, at ye olde College Of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Cast your waistcoats and your bonnets aside, the Grateful Dead are on steady gallop from the opening high-kick of "Mississippi Half-Step" into a where are we going? where have we been? "Passenger," followed by full-on versions of "Friend Of The Devil," "El Paso," "Brown-Eyed Women," and a double-barreled "Let It Grow>Deal." Catch your breath and straighten out your tricorne because the 2nd set shows no bounds with delightful takes ("Bertha>Good Lovin'," "One More Saturday Night") and introspection ("Candyman," "Playing In The Band"). Then - great fifes and drums - it's 15 minutes of "Rhythm Devils," with band and crew gathered round to amplify the merriment before delivering a rare incantation of "Not Fade Away>Morning Dew" that sets the soul alight. Pure jollification!

The town crier's addendum:

Three bags full! Lest you feel 4/15/78 beginneth and endeth too quickly, we've selected highlights from Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/18/78 to satisfy your fancy.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 37: WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA 4/15/78 was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman. It is guaranteed to sell out - often within hours.

*2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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In reply to by KeithFan2112

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But arrived today. A bit surprising since the last two releases were weeks late.

Bird Song is the unquestioned highlight for me. Right up there with Vancouver.

Overall a solid show. It takes a while before the sound gets dialed in on Bertha. Disc 2 is superb. I’m usually a big fan of NFA>GDTRFB>NFA, but transitions on this one are long and drawn out. Not my favorite.

The cymbals seem too high in the mix on the bonus CD. I’m interested to hear what others think. Other than that a very cool HCS and Eyes.

Enjoy yours when it arrives.

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Mine's gonna be here tomorrow and I'm gonna get my kicks in before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.....

That's what I think after seeing the front and back cover of the main release and Bonus Disc. Somebody posted pics on the Steve Hoffman forum. Look at all of those great songs....Bonus Disc slip cover art is very cool.

Angry Jack Straw - very happy to hear about the Bird Song. Probably 2nd only to Dark Star in my list of favorite Dead Songs....

About three-quarters of the way to the bottom of the page:

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/grateful-dead-daves-picks-2021-s…

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50 years ago today……

April 28, 1971
Fillmore East, New York, New York

Set 1: Truckin'-Beat It On Down The Line-Loser-El Paso-The Rub-Bird Song-Playing In The Band-Cumberland Blues-Ripple-Me And Bobby McGee-I'm A King Bee-Bertha

Set 2: Morning Dew-Me And My Uncle-Deal-Hard To Handle-Cryptical Envelopment>drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat-Sugar Magnolia-Dark Star>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away

My fellow rockers, this is without doubt my all-time favorite Grateful Dead show. Clearly and forever my “desert island show”. Nothing else comes close. Which is not to say it’s perfect. That being said, this well known and deservedly classic Dead show crackles with an energy and intensity that even the Dead themselves could only rarely conjure.

The exquisite, beautiful El Paso. The raucous, raunchy, exceptionally executed Rub. Weir’s phenomenal playing on the superb Cumberland Blues. Ripple, oh Ripple! The rare King Bee and the rarer still Bertha set closer. The dense, moving, thunderous Dew to open the second set. The blistering white noise intensity of the hands-down best ever Hard To Handle. The skull album Other One----still my favorite after all these decades! The short, sweet Star, the flubbed St. Stephen, the crispy NFA that follows.

I first heard this show broadcast on a college radio station outside Boston in 1980. It rocked my world then, it continues to rock my world now………..

One of the top ten Dead shows of all time. The other nine, we’ll debate later……..

Clearly I’m biased, and unapologetically so!! Decide for yourself………….

Rock on,

Doc
Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth…..

I've always thought of these two shows as being the absolute peak of this version of the Dead. Among the best of the best for all eras, too.
Restricting myself to cds and vinyl nowadays, I listen to the shows from this run via the "Ladies and Gentlemen" compilation that came out 21 years ago. Its a great release, but apart from the longer jams, its not always clear which song comes from which show. Like those June and October 1974 shows, a bit of a victim of the prescribing policies of the times in which they were dispensed.

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Doc, always love your show reviews. This show you hooked me up with a few years ago and I'm forever GRATEFUL. Thank you Doc - rock on!

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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I received my shipping notice last night...clicked on the link and it said UPS has handed it off to USPS which of course said it hadn't been sent by UPS yet...oh well...hopefully by Monday at the latest...I have to drive into Flagstaff today so to enjoy the ride more I'm taking 4-23-77 with me...great sounding Miller Board of course...also my Mosaic Armstrong box should be here today or tomorrow...Weeee!!! I also ordered from Omnivore Records a "lost" recording by Hasaan Ibn Ali done in 1965 but never released until now...Killer Pianist who up until now I had only heard on "The Max Roach Trio" recording from '64...it was Roach who told Atlantic Boss Ahmet Ertegun he needed to record Ali on his own...well off to see the cardiac specialist for my annual tune up...Weird weather here...yesterday snow and chilly wonds...by Friday mid 70 temps...go figure...Happy Hump day to all and type to you later....

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19492/25000

I won't spoil the bonus disc surprise yet but you probably already figured out what is on it. Nice Latvala memory from Dave.

I can tell before even listening that this will be right up there as an instant favorite.

Like last year's Vol 34, this is classic. Topping off last year with '84 and '87 was the perfect mix for my taste of Dead. Curious if the first Vince era Dave's Pick will be in the cards this year? So much untapped territory. Whatever the choices I'm content to see the flow.

This past year has been pretty fucked so anything new is good.

or is it

wet package

you could make a male empowerment song out of that

wet ass package

nah, you'd probably be canceled

yours truly,

Grumpy Grumpkins

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Some 1973 Grateful Dead with full Jeffrey Norman sound check sounds perfect right now.

I've never heard this show and waiting for the CDs to check it out. Looking forward to it based on Dick & Dave's reviews.

Here's to smooth shipping :-)

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In reply to by estimating prof

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no shipping blues for any of us this time, please

well, the one dude got wet product

maybe mine will be chock full of fire ants

I haven't received a shipping notice yet, so that's another thing

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Deadbase 50 lists which songs from what days in the discography section.

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Haaaaa just kidding. But I do have a question someone may know the answer to.

Do all DaP 38 subscription deliveries come from USPS? Mine was scheduled to be delivered today and did not come in the regular postal mail. I'm wondering if it's possible it will come from UPS?

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Yes, I am fortunate too as my copy arrived today. I happen to be off of work so I am listening to it as I type this. So far it is really good, but that was what I expected. I will also follow suit and not reveal the contents of the bonus disc, but it looks stellar.

Someone has already shared Dick's thoughts on this show. I will add my own 2 cents: So I love all eras of the Grateful Dead. Certainly some are more desirable to listen to than others and that will differ from one person to another. Given that, to my ears and mind this band from the late 60s up to the "last" shows in 1974 was a juggernaut of musical awesomeness. I am not saying that there is not great stuff after that, but to the contrary there is much more. Yet the way they were playing at such consistently high level especially when I look at 1971 and onward, I don't think that effort and output has been matched. #38 is another show that illustrates that point, again at least to me.

I hope all of you get your copies soon. I am looking forward to listening to this all the way through and discussing this release in more detail with the crew.

Later!

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In reply to by nappyrags

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You had to mention lost recording of Hasaan Ibn Ali. Never heard of him, but you had me at "lost recording". Vinyl was sold out (available aftermarket on Amazon for 70 bucks),,,, I just bought the cd copy.

thanks

btw - my louis mosaic came in the other day (1034/2500),,,, incredible packaging. The 4 cd boxes came in a big square box the size of an LP. The amazing part was the box was wrapped tightly in bubble wrap that fit the box exactly! This thing couldn't move an inch and box could suffer maybe an inch of crushing and product would be unharmed! Oh, the Louis box is very nice. Since it's all recording sessions the sound is flawless.

Good luck at docs, I know you still have a heart!

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In reply to by KeithFan2112

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my guess is you got a notice from ups saying today, but they hadn't handed it over to usps yet. I got my ups/dead notice today. They say Monday,,, we'll see :-)

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qc9umsPjYg. 36 years ago today, we were at the Frost for another cool show. Hopefully, these shows and other Frost shows will be released as a box set one day. My brother met Bobby Peterson before the show over at St.Michaels Alley and they hung out and partied for several hours, then walked over to the Frost together. Peterson gave my brother a signed copy of his book, Far Away Radios, he wrote inside, "To Paul, no more hard time". My brother said he was a real cool person, a real.nice guy. 4/28/71, is a killer of a show, a real knockout! I believe that this whole April Fillmore run will be released in its entirety one day, also the Oct 74 Winterland run, will also see a complete release.

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...which is always a dangerous thing. After reading Dick's blog notes, I'm starting to think that they may be running out of "Prime" 68-74 shows, so perhaps they are saving them for the 2nd, "Bonus Disc" release. I have no insider knowledge of anything, just having read Dick's notes, if this(#38) is really THAT good, then they have obviously been saving it. Just a theory, or you can call it a "hunch".
You may now all begin to tell me why I am such a deluded idiot. But please don't forget...

Music Is The Best!!

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I think I need to accept it's not coming today. I realized after I posted earlier that I can register for an instant update. It says it was delivered to my post office yesterday at 10:24 am from a UPS facility 30 minutes away. So I guess my Post Office is slow to sort. I know those fockers have it. I'm developing a Breaking Bad scheme to acquire it. Send bail money.

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In reply to by KeithFan2112

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I believe I have Saul Goodman's numbe... just in case ; )

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Cool story kid. I got to meet him a couple times at the Kaiser Auditorium in Oakland in the mid 80s before he died. He was real interesting, we talked about Taos, where I had been living a few years.
4/28/71 is smoking hot.

Are you talking about the sticker or the 5 squares of paper?
Or am I the only one who got the paper?
Oops, said too much....

Mr. Ones, a lot of 73/74 has been released, so Dave has to hold on to what’s left to sprinkle around over time. Or just Box up like PNW. Which isn’t sold out yet. I can’t explain that one.
We definitely need 12-18,19-73 to get the Plangent and Norman treatments.

I started with the 9/7 filler and it sounds grate. About to move to the bonus disc after this 18 min Playing in the Band ends.....
:)

Good stuff!
Thanks Dave and Co.

Hope you all get yours soon.

Keithfan,
Get the UPS and USPS apps on your phone and you can track it.

Edit:
The problem with Dave not posting his seaside chat on the DaP38 page until the ala carte ordering opens is that we are now posting our DaP 38 comments on the DaP 37 page. And I will have listened to DaP 38 before seeing the seaside chat.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that my DaP 38 has arrived.
I don’t see why the DaP page can’t go online a week before the ala carte sales start. That would actually give people a heads up that it’s coming, and possibly avoid the usual complaints that it sold out before Joe Blow saw the email.
But hey, it’s not a problem if you subscribe.
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Finally got a shipping date of yesterday and estimated delivery of Monday. Was hoping this weekend...but oh well. Cant wait to see the candy coated surprise!

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7 years 7 months
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The first disk smokes, especially LIG. It's very structured like a studio album but in a good way. If that is the right word.

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My vote would be Keith Fan. But it could also be a team effort. Anyway how about the liner notes to E72. Haven't they already been written up? teehee. H.A.D. waiting for this release. TMI?

P.S. I'm not a robot.

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50 years ago today…………

April 29, 1971
Fillmore East, New York City, New York

Set 1: Truckin'-Bertha-It Hurts Me Too-Cumberland Blues>Me And My Uncle-Bird Song-Playing In The Band-Loser-Dark Hollow-Hard To Handle-Ripple-Me And Bobby McGee-Casey Jones

Set 2: Morning Dew-Minglewood Blues-Sugar Magnolia-Black Peter-Beat It On Down The Line-Second That Emotion-Alligator>drums>jam>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Cold Rain And Snow-China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-Greatest Story Ever Told-Johnny B. Goode

Encore: Uncle John's Band-Midnight Hour-And We Bid You Goodnight

Don’t get me wrong, this is a very fine show, with more than its fair share of oddities and rarities. I enjoy the quirky goodness of any show that has a Dark Hollow and a Ripple, the Black Peter is wonderful, the Dew is powerful, and who doesn’t love an Alligator? And I sure do savor the CR&S coming out of GDTRFB, and the three song encore was the only time that happened all year.

All that being said, almost without fail, this show was rated the best show of 1971 in Deadbase polls, which I never understood. Solid show—absolutely. Great last Fillmore East show by the Dead---you bet. Even so, maybe a teeny tiny microscopic step down from the previous night……………

Rock on!!!

Doc
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning……

I concur. if there is anyone 'round here who purports a vast knowledge of the Europe 72 jaunt, it's KeithFan. It's quite an endeavor, and I know a bit from experience, as I had done this for each of the Dark Stars several years back as I awaited Boxzilla. Likely many have seen this before, but in the spirit of being a team player, I offer an encore sharing of these efforts while we now await word from KF on his uptake for the balance of the tour:

Here goes....

4/8/1972 - Wembly Empire Pool, London - 32 mins; intense/fast paced first leg up til about 10 mins then returns to DS theme for 1st verse; spacey post-verse til ~17 min, then pace picks up for a few minutes, followed by a brief meltdown; additional spaciness around 24 mins followed by another full meltdown; interesting groove established around 28 min that has hints of Sugar Mag (into which it segues, flawlessly). No second verse.

4/14/1972 - Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, DK - 29 mins; loose first 10 mins not overly spacey; gets spacey around 11 mins; interesting groove establishes around 16 min to head into first verse w/interesting beat; heads off into intense nearly 7-minute jam inclusive of a very tight and fast Feelin Groovy jam; final 3 minutes are a meltdown. No second verse.

4/17/1972 - Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, DK - 31 mins; spacey opening to about 7:30 when first DS theme emerges leading to 1st verse at 9:45. Spacey post-2nd verse tries to take off but melts further around 19 min; returns to a partial groove around 24:30 and closes out with spaceyness in the last 2 mins. No second verse.

4/24/1972 - Rheinhalle, Dusseldorf, Germany - Split by Me & My Uncle; 26 mins 1st half, 14:30 second half. Spacey opening until about 8:45 where it coalesces and falls into first DS theme around 10:15 followed shortly by 1st verse with slow, sparse notes. Spacey feedback following verse until 15:45 and then picks up into an intense, fast paced jam for just under 2 minutes before it becomes dissonant again leading to major meltdown which eventually heads into Me & My Uncle with ease. Second half: spacey reintroduction persists until about 7 mins, where Keith leads-in with some piano phrasing and then the band follows into a tight fast paced jam where Jerry plays some lines back and forth as if in conversation with himself and then maintains an intense level effortlessly segueing into Wharf Rat. No second verse.

4/29/1972 - Musikhalle, Hamburg, Denmark - 30 mins; spacey opening for ~5 mins, then enters a groove and Phil hints at the Feeling Groovy jam until it finally is joined by Jerry a minute later until about 8:00, then the floor drops out into space. DS theme appears at 14 min which leads to first verse. Spacey post-verse noodling leads to major meltdown, settling in at 22 mins with a fat, fast-paced Keith-led groove. Final 4 mins are spacey & lead to major melt #2, dropping into Sugar Mag as DS finally melts away. No second verse.

5/4/1972 - Olympia Theatre, Paris - Split by drums; 19 mins 1st half; 17:34 2nd half. Spacey opening til about 6 mins when fast paced jam kicks in until 11:20, slowing down then resurrecting the DS theme into the first verse. 4 mins of space leads into drums. Second half post-drums is very spacey until 7 mins, then kicks into overdrive with a very high energy jam leading to a phenominal Feelin Groovy Jam for several minutes before settling into the second verse. DS dissipates into the Sugar Mag from E'72.

5/7/1972 - Bickershaw Festival, Wigan, UK - 19:49 mins; decent, coherent jamming for the first several minutes that congeals nicely around 8 minutes. Bottom falls out around 10 mins and leads to some light noodling, cymbal fills and space. DS theme emerges at 14:23 and heads into 1st verse. Space fills the air through the remainder of the song until it totally breaks down into drums. No second verse.

5/11/1972 - Rotterdam Civic Hall, Netherlands - Split by drums; 13:45 mins 1st half; 30:34 mins 2nd half; Opens with a light, airy jam that persists to congeal into a decent groove as it treads in and out of spacey phrasing. This settles into a mysterious sounding jam that grows with intensity without a return to the DS theme before dissolving into drums. Emerging from drums, Phil and Billy duel for 2 minutes before Jerry joins back in with some complimentary thoughts; the DS theme appears around 5 min followed by 1st verse. A few moments of spacey feedback give way to spacey noodling that devolves into a full blow chaotic meltdown, only to emerge around 19:30 into a very nice, fast paced groove that hints at Caution and PITB jams. This eventually dissolves and a light, sparse outro ends the song as it heads off into Sugar Mag. No second verse.

5/18/1972 - Kongressaal, Muenchen, Denmark - 28:20 mins; almost 2 mins of noodling before opening notes from Phil; a loose jam ensues around the DS theme for the next several minutes and then decays. At ~9 min an interesting jam emerges, which eventually settles back into the DS theme and 1st verse around 14:30. The remainder of this DS is borderline chaos as it treads in and out of varying degrees of a meltdown until it settles into Morning Dew. No second verse.

5/23/1972 - The Strand Lyceum, London - 30 mins; Spacey opening minutes lead to tight fast paced jam commencing around 3:30 for two minutes and then it settles into another spacey jam digressing to almost…nothing. Billy and Phil then have a small duel until ~13:30 when the rest of the band fills back into a delicate groove which grows to into a jam reminiscent of the post-Truckin' foray from E'72 until about 17 mins, when they drop into the DS theme and 1st verse. Ensuing is additional delicate spaciness that transgresses into a frenzied meltdown madness, and eventually settles into Morning Dew. No second verse.

5/25/1972 - The Strand Lyceum, London - 34 mins, out of Wharf Rat. Strong opening with a groove almost from the beginning, no noodling around here in the first 7 minutes. Then turns very spacey until 15 mins when DS theme appears, and heads off into 1st verse. Post-verse finds a Billy, Phil, and Keith duel for several minutes. At 21 mins, Phil institutes a mellow Feeling Groovy jam, soon joined by the rest of the band until ~25 mins. Final minutes are dominated by space and then a monumental meltdown before heading off into Sugar Mag. No second verse.
____________________________________________

Be Well People!
Sixtus

I know I am not up to the task.. it took me a couple months to get through my first listen all those years ago. I think I'd still be on it if I took notes, rewinding.. taking copious notes, editing down the notes, reslistening then tossing my notes and starting over..

I do like this writeup from the Internet Archive on the topic. There is a write-up for each show that is pretty close to my impression. I believe it was done before the box came out, so some of the recordings used were not nearly so stellar. Some good light GD listening.

https://archive.org/post/304297/europe-72-notebook

Funny.. I took a brief pause from my 71 stream of consciousness yesterday and picked up Lille France. What a great little show.. A+ in my book. Phil's comment is just about perfect, "it felt like he was playing in the midst of a French impressionist painting"

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Just got my shipping notice, hopefully everyone else who pre-ordered will get their tracking # before the end of today. Thank you also to Sixtus for that wonderful E72 Dark Star write up. I hope everyone here has a fantastic day :) much love ✌️

Sixtus - good post. I seem to have missed your posts on this year in the past - so apologies for that. You clearly have a lot to offer yourself in terms of write ups for 1972.

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Didn’t Deadhead brewer do a deep dive a couple years ago?
Or maybe I’m thinking of Sixtus?
I know DHB did listening with specially pared beers...

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I still have your original write up as a file on an older computer. I also think One Man did some extensive work/documentation on E72 and other tours.

But all of this is heady stuff to me, just hard to keep up with this old brain...and I think I remember DHB's beer documentary.

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...I also recall an awesome/unique posting from DHBrewer with said beer pairings for various shows on the E'72 tour, with (what I recall) were localized libations paired up with shows from the same city of beverage origin.

Two Grate Things That Go Grate Together.

...and thanks for the support on the DS breakdowns - that was actually a pretty fun and informative experience from my recollection. It certainly helped me hone in on a favorite of the tour (4/14).

Be Well Peeps!
Sixtus

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Yes, it was just last spring that I endeavored to go through my basically-untouched Europe '72 box, on the anniversary dates, with beer/wine from that city/region in hand. I offered my listening notes (didn't make tasting notes--that would have been good . . . ) to the world, and got a few takers. The offer still stands--PM me.

Fun project, but I would not do it again. If I did, I would stick to a small handful of the best first sets, then use my time and energy for all the second sets. As well-played as they were, the first sets got a bit tiring, and I found it almost a chore to sit through them. My favorite beer of the tour was probably Carlsberg Elephant.

Jim, please check PM.

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Why no comments on DaP38 yet?

A few things:
1) It's pretty cool not seeing the art until you actually open the package.
2) There's some "killer filler" in the main 3 discs as well as the bonus disc. About an hour and 52 minutes total from 9/7/73. Woohoo!
3) Bonus disc is crazy good - one of those discs with ALL killer stuff, long jams, no fluff. Rivals DaP2 for best bonus disc so far.
4) This show is Sofa King good.

CHEERS to Deadhead Brewer!

Oh and #548 was just plucked from my mailbox; I hit the Bonus Disc first and aside from the little extra surprise inside, the disc contents themselves are near other-worldy to which Thin has most recently alluded. Now I'm in the full show proper and getting my bearings but '73 as always is welcome music to these eager ears.

Sixtus

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Carlsburg Elephant... back in the malted days, a great favorite along with MacEwans Scottish ales and Spaten Oktoberfest. Dap 38 #737 hit the east coast of Vermont yesterday, perfect rainy day listening for today. A ton of music here, somewheres around five hours between the four discs. Have been diving deep into Eberhard Weber (Pendulum etc), time to rock out for a bit. Happy listening, some very fine stuff here.

Thin, you lucky bastard. I guess they are making it up to you.

I still don't have an E-mail. WTF. What kind of list did I get on?

Enjoy it fellas.

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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Mr.Postman came through today, hitting me up with#8699 in my mailbox! Haven't received a pick before the release date in quite some time. Almost thru with disc 1...top notch stuff here!

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I appreciate the faith you all have. I think Sixtus did as good a job as any with the Dark Stars. Thanks for reposting those.

I do think E72 needs to be properly documented in writing (well beyond internet blogging). There are several facets of the E72 tour I think DeadHeads would enjoy hearing more about. We definitely like to read about the music itself (not just the concert performance summary, but also commentary on the set lists they're doing, intruments they're playing, compare / contrast the evolution of the songs to previous years, etc). The challenge is writing about this sort of thing on a song-by-song / show-by-show basis AND keeping the reader interested. That's the key right there, so if you're bored with this post already, I'm clearly not the right man for the job :D

I once read a book on the Spring '77 tour and quickly grew bored, because it was a whole lot of "they drove here, played these highlights, and the show gets 4/5 or 5/5 stars. That grew old fast before I even got to May. But I don't think writing a detailed account of the music is an impossible feat with a band whose shows are as nuanced from night to night as the Dead, and whose fans keep coming back because of these nuances. There is fertile ground here. I believe the way to keep it interesting would be to stitch it together with first-hand accounts from the band and crew members themselves.

We want details and fun road stories. Give me Sam Cutler lol (this guy was great in A Long Strange Trip)- we want to know what drugs, what time they took them, and how they procured them. If I really had a budget I would go city city and take pictures of the venues. Maybe even bring some band members with me and dig up some concert attendees.

The icing on the cake would be a companion soundtrack. Read chapter One, then listen to tracks 1, 2 and 3, etc. Heck, you could even use extra interview footage in between tracks.

It's nice to dream.

@Vguy...probably not until tomorrow when it goes on sale...mine looks like it will arrive tomorrow finally...Dennis yup, the Doc said I have 20 maybe 25 years left...An embarassment of riches folks...#38 lands soon, I have my Armstrong box (!!!) and I have other goodies on the way...early 70's I had a two LP of Duke Ellington Live in Paris '63 that i played the crap out of....nothing like having a big band blasting out of your speakers...anyways, time marched on and I sorta forgot about it...a few weeks ago I stumbled across a track on you tube...whoa...some sniffing around on discogs.com and I found out that it had been released on CD and found a good used copy for $15! Hope you all have a great weekend y hasta

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No shipping notice yet here in Oregon, but who knows, people have received DaP with no notice, hope springs eternal as I check my mailbox each day.
Meanwhile, I have been exploring the wonderful July 78 box. I'm beginning to think that is my favorite small box. The band is so passionate in their singing and Jerry is ripping out tough riffs. A week ago was the two Red Rocks show, and last night I dug deep into the St Paul show, and part of the Arrowhead show. When I was seeing the band in '78, I was pretty disappointed in their lackluster performances, but heck this is a completely different band!

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First time I've had one arrive before release date. Very cool, maybe shipping issues are a thing of the past - lets hope.
Nice extra little nugget with the bonus disc was a pleasant surprise. Here's to all you beautiful heads getting yours also without any issues.

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Sometimes you get the elevator, sometimes you get the shaft.

Listening to DaP38, these songs sound very different - interesting different. More rambunctious if less refined vibe here than the recent ultra-smooth PacWest '73 box and the amazing November '73 shows. And the sound quality isn't as sweet. Kinda like RT "Fall '77" vs. May '77. But a great show and a great listen.

Oh, and the bonus disc Let It Grow is the FIRST EVER. Bobby: "We just spent a month in the studio and we're gonna try something we haven't done before". The Let It Grow jam starts high-voltage, then spins out into a jazzy jam that ebbs and flows into a beautiful Stella Blue. Wow.

I remember that post.. sounded like big fun to me. One year I will try and do it myself.

It's not the casual advocate/listener that decides to pair beers for the night with what's playing based on the venue and what might have been available to participants if you were there... What kind of a brain thinks up this shit?.. a: a brain that enjoys big fun, and for that you have my respect. Isn't that at least a part of what this is all about..

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