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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February 22, 2023 - 7:47pm

#1281

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

5/19/74 > 2/22/69

>daverock>

The vocal dropouts are not evident in the audience tape, so that must have happened on the way to the board tape.

That said, the recording is slightly overpowered by Jerry and Bob's guitars from the taper's vantage point, but a little time with a simple Equalizer was enough to bring more Phil and better presence to the vocals. I do recall a few lyric flubs with the new material, but in the overall mix it didn't really jump out at me. Probably much more obvious in the official release/soundboard recording.

2/22/69>
Oh, my. I can see this is gonna send me on a primal quest. I have all these fall '69 and fall '68 shows that I've never listened to, but I don't have much from the spring of those years. I love this gentle psychedelia. It's really these delicate type of sounds that really trigger the senses. I'm only up to Dark Star at this point, but what a beautiful way to start a show.... oops, "The transitive diamonds?" Haha. I'd probably have trouble remembering my name if I were there, so whatever.

It's such a shame that we're restricted to streaming this show. Imho, if the official release isn't so significantly better sounding than one of these circulating boards that it isn't a no-brainer to buy it, then what's with the classism, eh? I know the boys need a retirement plan... but... --mini rant off--
February 22, 2023 - 10:30am

#1282

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

5/19/74

Rockthing - good notes on this show - cheers! I'm going through it very slowly, but it's the L.P. I am listening to. Although it has the famous vocal drop outs, the sound and balance of the instruments sounds fine throughout to me. I have just played the side with Loose Lucy and Money Money on. A short side. The lyrics are a bit naff on both of them - but I like the music, and they were both played so rarely that when they do crop up, it's a welcome surprise to me.
I presume the version you have listened to has the earlier vocal dropouts too.
February 22, 2023 - 3:51am

#1283

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

5/19/74 (Part II)

Wrote these notes on Monday morning while drinking my coffee and getting ready to do some work from home. After a while I was mostly distracted by the show.

I'll get to that Feb. 22 '69 show if I can, but I don't have that one handy. Hafta stream it.

The ETree identifier of this source is 115876, btw. I don't have the box set, so these are my first impressions.

It Must Have Been The Roses: Ok. /Now/ I'm awake. Possible tape change? There is suddenly a big improvement in sound quality for this hauntingly sensitive rendition. Jerry's voice is now clear above the guitars. Everything, save Phil, is suddenly much clearer and the sound field feels wider. Up to this point the tape had sounded like the tape the biker is listening to at the beginning of the Dead Movie. Nice harmony work during the refrain, blended well in the house mix.

Loose Lucy: Gettin' in the funk. Jerry's just perfectly behind the beat to make it nice and nasty. If the syncopation isn't just right, this tune can completely lose all form really quickly. Loose Lucy must be a pretty new song at this point. I have no idea when this tune debuted. They didn't do this in concert much, as far as I know. I was lucky enough to see'em do it once, but the performance I saw was almost unrecognizable. Something was wrong with the timing, so it sounded all backwards. I was embarrassed to not even recognize it until Jerry started singing. This is a nice treat.

I Know You Rider? Something seems to be wrong here. The info text says Money Money should be next followed by China/Rider, but we're just dropped into IKYR. Looks like some minor surgery might be needed on the meta data.

Money Money: Ok. Someone's just mislabelled these files. Man, this has always been one of my least favourite songs in the Dead's catalogue. I rarely skip songs on albums, but being the album closer on Mars Hotel makes it easy. I don't think I've ever heard a live version of it, so this is kind of a treat, in its own sort of way. Having not heard it in such a long time, I guess it's not such a bad song. The negativity of the lyric just sems to strike such a contrast to most of the other stuff in the repertoire. John Lennon, for example, has a lot of negativity in his lyrics, but when I listen to him, I expect that.

China Rider: Yeah. They're keepin' that funky groove going that was working so well during Loose Lucy. The transition jam seems to go almost immediately to an I Know You Rider feel. The guitar tone is very unusual here. It almost sounds like Bobby's Gibson 335 tone. He's playing lots of double-stops, where he plays two notes at a time even while soloing… wait… maybe that /was/ Bobby!? Some very cool interplay between Bobby and Phil before a guitar sound that is unmistakably Jerry joins in just ahead of the trademark unison bit before I Know You Rider. What is now clearly Jerry's tone keeps it going after the unison part, and now there's a Feelin' Groovy jam. I can almost see the smiling faces and twirling homemade sun dresses with flowers in the hair right now. Big, big ovation from the crowd as they settle into the Rider vamp before going into the first verse. They know what they've just heard. That was sweet, breezy, and smooth as can be. I'm guessing Jerry had some sort of equipment or other issue causing him to stop playing for a bit at the beginning of the transition. Oh, yeah, Jer, dig into that "On a north bound train" line. This and the out-of-place IKYR are going to get merged into one track when I get a chance.

Set II:
Promised Land: Yeah. Everybody's definitely up off their blankets now.

Bertha: Got a little "Yee Haw" from someone nearby for "All night pouring, but not a drop on me." It's quite amazing how inobtrusive the audience is, considering this was recorded with a handheld mic by someone just hanging out in crowd.

Greatest Story: Nice wah wah Jerry licks. Jerry's wah is so bubbly and has a rich swell, like the sound of a wave on the ocean. Using the rocking motion of the foot pedal definitely puts the player physically off balance, so I can understand why he seemed to abandon it later in favor of the Mutron "auto-wah" tone filter. Sounds so good here, though. Jerry's volume sounds cranked, though, totally drowning everything out. I ain't complaining. Oh, yeah. A little jam in GSET? They seem to have gone into something altogether different. I'm not sure if this is a set piece, but it feels unfamiliar to me. I know that I've heard occasional jams in Greatest Story, but they seem rare. This is definitely no longer the Greatest Story chord progression, but I don't know what it is, and then Wamp, Wamp-Wamp, right back into it. Now I'm gonna hafta start checking out Spring 1974 Greatest Stories. That was hot and adventurous, like maybe something went wrong and they fought through it… but maybe there was just a jam in this song back then.

Ship of Fools: Giving the manic dancers their first break of the second set. The taper is stopping the tape between songs, though, so who knows how long they spent tuning in between. Very nice harmony work from Bobby and Donna.

Weather Report: Seems a bit tentative in the earlier segments, but the Let It Grow jam is developing interestingly. The whole band just seems sort of in a gentle mood this night. Everything is soft and malleable, and most of all, creative, when they go off into improvised sections. The straight tunes are tight and, well, straightforward, but I'm hearing all sorts of novel ideas coming through during the instrumental segments. There seems to be a completely different confidence at work during this jazzy work out. You can hear Billy getting back to his swing roots and playing off Keith. This is fantastic. Such subtle interplay. Normally when I hear the full suite performed I wonder why they didn't continue to use the first parts, but in this case I didn't feel that way.

Peggy-O: Jerry's picking is quite aggressive, and his tone is very chimey, even behind his vocal. Relaxed tempo, even by Peggy-O standards. In this recording it sounds almost like Billy and Jerry doing a duet, but Keith adds some accents here and there.

??: What is this? A playful little jam and some quiet noodling where the audience's shouts and requests become more prominent. Bobby announces technical difficulties.

Truckin': Nice buildup, but not the major bomb drop I'm used to, and from there things start to get really weird. It's not spacy weird, just, "Whoa, what the heck is this?" weird. Some of the early 70s Truckin's could get totally abstract, so this is just the way they rolled back then. Great stuff. Gettin' that funky groove goin' from the first set again, even as the changes take on some jazzy influences. Bobby is very clear in the mix, and my oh, my it's gettin' Weir'ed. Jerry busts in with a burst of guitar feedback which seems to shock everyone for a moment, but they're still groovin'. This is the gold I look for in any show. It's funny because Mind Left Body actually sounds a lot like Loose Lucy. Billy and Phil getting' into a little funky-drummer exchange. Finally Phil breaks through in the mix with some space for him to hit that Bootsy one. In the info text "Jam" and "Mind Left Body Jam" had been listed separately, but they're actually all included in the Truckin' track, which is my preference. Cousinit made a real mess of this file set, but I can fix it. Rarely are there such glaring mistakes on the Archive, but this one has definitely been put together somewhat carelessly.

NFA: This interesting because I've been listening to a lot of Alligator era NFA's or Bean era NFA's, and that gives a nice context to compare to this Wolf tone… of course, there is a LOT of recording tech affecting the sound here, but even though there's a nice honk, everything seems so nice and round and gently muted. Hey. What's this breakdown in NFA. Pretty sure I've never heard that before… and GTRFB. THAT, was an interesting transition.

GTRFB: Nothing to worry about here. The old standby. Billy's hi-hat figure during the breakdown is, again, getting really funky with a swinging 16th note feel, or something. Very cool.

US Blues: Mars Hotel weighted setlist. What month did that come out? Good, tight version.

Johnny B. Goode: Full colosseum clap along for a high energy reading that does justice to the Check Berry original. Sometimes this can get a bit too languid. This one is rockin' hard.

On repeated listen, I've messed with the EQ some. First of all I bumped up the EQ preamp level, I dunno, about 10db, I guess. I then added a further 12db of 64Hz, and 125Hz on the 10 band EQ to bring Phil nicely into the mix, but also lowered almost everything else about 6db on frequencies that had been flat to make the bass frequency differential greater. The bass still isn't terribly defined, but it at least brings Phil into play. He was completely inaudible without EQ. Got just a touch more vocal by giving the 1KHz and 2KHz about 1db. The tape has a sort of nostalgic cheap car speaker sound, so I actually wanna preserve a bit of that… not that I could really get rid of it. There's quite a nice venue ambiance, especially when there is more space in the arrangements, like during the Mind Left Body Jam.

The vocal drop-outs others have mentioned were not audible to the audience.
February 22, 2023 - 3:28am

#1284

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

2/22/69

That is a great show. According to the cd notes it was recorded, along with shows in late January and the Feb-March shows, for possible inclusion on Live Dead. It probably won't happen - the song lists are obviously very similar, but it would make a great box set to release all the shows recorded.
The shows from 1967-1971 inclusive are the main ones for me in 30 Trips.
February 22, 2023 - 1:16am

#1285

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

You can't blame gravity for falling in love…..

Mornin’, rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Dream Bowl February 22, 1969

Relatively speaking, the yang to the yin of February 21, 1969. True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist…..

I have the space, you have the time, let’s revisit. Officially released in October 2015 as part of Thirty Trips Around The Sun, one almost never hears about this show, possibly because it gets overshadowed by the blazing white hot glare of the Fillmore West Shows of February 27th to March 2nd. This is very much “of a kind” with those shows, featuring the typically sweet Mountains Of The Moon (always loved that song!), a long exploratory Dark Star, a fierce, crunchy Other One, a deathly Death Don’t, a fine Eleven, and a greasy Lovelight that clocks in at a mere 21+ minutes.

Great music, great sound quality, I suggest you find the time…..

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once…..

Rock on,

Doc
There comes a time when the mind takes a higher plane of knowledge but can never prove how it got there…..
February 20, 2023 - 3:08pm

#1286

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Heads in Mississippi

That's good to read - they opened with Mississippi Half Step - Franklins Tower the first time I saw them 3/24/81. A great start to the show for sure.
February 20, 2023 - 1:11pm

#1287

PT Barnum

Joined:
December 2, 2009

5-19-74

In my experience, any show that starts off with Mississippi half-step uptown toodleloo is usually a great one and 5-19-74 is no exception. That pacific northwest box grows on ya, for sure.
February 20, 2023 - 12:53pm

#1288

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

5/19/74

I haven't played it this year yet, but it has become one of my most played shows from this year - mainly because I bought it on vinyl. But it is really good, too. To me, it's better than its song list suggests - the songs leading up to the Truckin' jam are well played and forward moving, and that final jam is superb. It has been castigated in some quarters for the vocal drop outs. A price worth paying, in my opinion. All three 1974 shows in the box it was culled from are top notch.
February 20, 2023 - 12:24pm

#1289

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Dave's 13 and 42

Hey Bluecrow, #13 is definitely in my top five. Love this show. Listen to it quite a bit. #42 hasn't resonated with me as much as #13, don't know why. How do you all feel?

I will throw out Dave's Picks #7, 4/24/78, for our old buddy That's Otis. I believe you are fan of this era. Hope all is well out there for you and the rest of the crew!
February 19, 2023 - 2:34am

#1290

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

5/19/74

I've got a beta-max transfer of 2/24/74... which stayed in heavy rotation for a long time when it first hit my library, but low and behold Portland 74 has collecting proverbial dust in the old hard disk, too. Time for something brand new (to me).

A Pat Lee master cassette passed down the generations.

It's a little hissy, and I'm not getting much Phil at the start, but Jerry and Bob's gutiars are crystal clear. Jerry's voice coming in a close second in the mix with some occasional Keith flourishes wafting to the fore. Billy's cymbals sound crisp, if somewhat thin. Getting a nice Jamaican dub sound when he switches to the highhat. Kick is in there, clear, but with with a soft tone, and none of the hyper-compressed abrasive contemporary festival sound. Donna's harmonies are on, and blended well with Jerry and Bob for the Across the Rio Grande-oh finale of Halfstep. Jerry plays an aggressive outro solo.

Mexicali: The mix and tape quality remain consistent. It's mostly a guitar oriented sound, but Bobby's voice is clear, if slightly too far back. Even in '74 they could do this one in their sleep. Have you ever heard a real train wreck during Mexicali? I can't recall one. A fan let's out a hoarse, "Whao!" apparently feeling the southwest polka vibes.

Big Railroad Blues. Love me some BRB. There are short pauses in the tape where Pat Lee is clearly well aware of the need to conserve footage. Could do with A LOT more Phil in the mix. Might fiddle with the EQ in a bit.

Black Throated Wind: Awkward song that I sometimes really like, and other times can do without.

Scarlet: Crowd gives Donna a big cheer as the song reaches it's finale. Of course they egged Bobby on with some of his crazy antics, too, but it's nice to hear that early 70s audiences appreciated her contributions.

Beat It On Down The Line: Always love this one. Nice double vocal from Bobby and Donna. Some unfortunate microphone feedback during Jerry's solo. Phil's backing vocals are there. The bass frequencies either never made it onto the cassette, or have evaporated through the generations of open reels and cassettes.

Tennessee Jed: Nice bounce to this laid-back rendition. Another one of my favorite tunes, as I've mentioned before. Another nice, appreciative response from the audience who are almost completely unnoticeable for the majority of the time.

Bobby McGee. I picture the audience mostly having a lie-down on the lawn during this first set. Just a nice day in the park with some live music in the background.

Ok, well, that's as far as I'll get in this sitting, but really looking forward to that big Truckin' jam at the end of the show. Now spoilers! 😉 Just kidding.

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.

Files, Waterbury 72

Hey Jim,

That is quite the process and goal. You are my idol!

I also have used the DBPowerAmp to convert FLAC files to ALAC. Works really well, but I am still on 10.

I use the ALAC format with ITUNES and use Sonos at home.

I still use the physical copies in my wired system. Love the physical copies. Yes, old school.

Hey Waterbury 72 is a great show. Great two sets with good variety.

When you start a show with Big Railroad Blues, you know it is going to be good. Two many great songs to go through, but the Dark Star Drums Dark Star is funky and worth the time. Another enjoyable September 72 show. These guys are good.

We should be two weeks or so out from the 41 Seaside Chat. Baltimore.

Foobar

Foobar is good too.. in fact I find it easier to use.

Ok, sipping on some extra strong coffee, getting ready to spin some music and get some work done. I'm just barely behind but today should prove to be a good day.

By the Way

By the way, where is Oroborous and Bob t?

Hope all is well.

Who has a pick for tomorrow?

Lots of Activity on the Tunnel This Year

Hope there were no cave ins.. That GOGD could dig, it'd be a shame to lose two more.

There's chatter of 3/19/77 on the listening to the river box thread. An interesting setlist and a high quality show.

Agree with Sixtus this run would make a great box set.

7 must die!

That’s what the legend says, before the treasure can be extracted…

3/19/77

So are you thinking 3/19/77 Jim?

Good to hear from you Oroborous.

Re: The Curse of Vault Island

Ha.. well, all I can say is 3/19/77 is a Bobby Dazzler. A top pocket find.

It's not often I reach for 1977, but I am in the mood and this one just sort of lurks.. probably haven't listened to it in 8 or 9 years. So yes.. why not hit it?

Edit: 3/19 tomorrow. It's been fake crisis after manufactured crisis today, none of which were my doing. Plus we are in the midst of a mini snowstorm. I am putting down my work, shutting off the PC and picking a show with Cold Rain and Snow. I've spoken my peace and counted to three.. it's a Cold Rain and Snow opener and snowstorm night, probably the beginning of 2/21/71. Have a bottle of pinot opened and might just grab a cold beer and hit the tub, shut my eyes and feel the snow hit my face. Yes, even the best of us get two fisted on rare occasions and for me, tonight qualifies. I never in my wildest thoughts would have imagined that I would be the responsible one which should really scare us all.. if true, humanity might be doomed.

Holy cow.. hoping 2022 delivers, 2021 was a well-intentioned dud. Rant over, absorbing and emitting good vibes.

3/19/77

Okay, 3/19/77 it is.

Enjoy that weather out there Jim.

Colder than ever out here in MN.

3.19.77 is a winner, winner....

....chicken dinner.

3/19/77. I was there

Great show, the Dead played great at all 3 of these shows. My brother and I sat up in the balcony that night. These 3 shows would make a great box set, let's hope they don't chop them up.

Hey

Hey what ever happened to Billy the Kid?

Hey Deadvikes thanks for the shout out

I am here!! hope you all had a happy new year with your families!! All is well here in Rhode Island.... I've been on every so often mostly reading comments and then subconsciously playing shows like the 3/19/77 set II... Sorry i haven't been tossing out play of the day suggestions... been hiding out in June of 76 a lot lately. I know Jim threw out 6/29/76, I will never get tired out that show. I first got that tape back in 87.... i can listen to it every day and never get tired.... Have a good weekend all. Bob t

3/19/77

Who can name another show with a set II closing combo of Wharf Rat>Franklin's>Sugar Magnolia? No, it's not 10/15/76, that's Comes a Time>Franklin's>Sugar Magnolia. How many other Wharf Rat>Franklin's are there btw? Where's that DeadBase when I need it?!? :-P

3/19/77/Pick

What a show. Both sets are hot and unique. Love the first set Estimated, Terrapin, Playing, Samson, Playing! Wow. And as others have said the second set just as good. Why isn't this show released? I don't think they have the reels for this run. This run was also their first time back to Winterland since October 74.

Hey, good to hear from you Bob t. Hoping for a good 2022, we are all due.

Was thinking 7/2/89 Foxboro for today. First show of the famous July 89 Tour.

I Can, I Can,... Ooo Mr. Wilfred Pick Me!

Said in the Arnold Horshack Welcome Back Kotter voice. It's my first show! 7-8-78
Also the 1-10-78 has WRAT>FRAN part.
Bonus points?
Cheers

3/17/77

These reels exist somewhere... and I don't think it's the asshole with the trunks in the barn letting them rot, unless Rob Eaton was the source that originally circulated them. Whew.. nice show. Short but good second set, interesting set list, nice experimentation and willingness to take some risk.

We should thank Sixtus for mentioning this one.. hit the spot.

First show gets the prize. Nice WBK reference.

I forgot to thank dvikes for the Palace Theatre nod. Another great show with an interesting and varied setlist. That show also has these very interesting parts and a nice vibe, good swing.

7/2/89, this will be a virgin listen for me. It's got a To Lay Me Down, so I'm an enthusiastic all in. I doubt if I will finish it tonight, so into tomorrow.

Have a good rest of the weekend folks.. stay warm and to proudfoot (if he ever ventures to this thread) stay dry.

Ok. Since I am caught up..

(a rarity)

7/2/89

Another show of multiple in a row suggested here with these twisted, unique set lists. Opening with PITB>Crazy Fingers. Are you kidding me?

Not the smoker show of the tour, not legendary.. but really, if you had to plan out the entire tour in hindsight, is there a better way to start then this? Me thinks they knew what they were doing.

I listened to the Charlie Miller (no surprise there), but the Kevin Tobin is really excellent. I wonder which one is better?

I don't know.. I could comment forever.. but my comments are: Solid show, the Queen Jane, To Lay Me Down. Cassidy is priceless.
The second set was well played and tight, nothing legendary but solid nonetheless. My favorite was The Mighty Quinn, but I am biased.. I have a soft spot for that song.

Well played, well executed, great recording.

7/2/89

Hey, nice work Jim. I am a big fan of this show. I believe this was the Meet up at the Movies show in 2016?

I watched this show on the tube. That playing in the band opener, fantastic. Crazy Fingers, Wang Dang Doodle! Come on. Great first set. Start the second set with Friend of the Devil, alright, again can't remember too many second sets that opened that way. At the end of He's Gone Mickey and Billy are positioned to go into Drums and Bob leaves the stage and Jerry says not so fast, and then takes them into Eyes of the World! So great. You have to see it. Love those Quinn the Eskimo encores as well Jim.
So they have this show already produced for the MUATM, why not release it for sale. Blur Ray mix? Man, I would buy it.

This show, Deer Creek and the three Alpine shows, all with video would make a pretty damn good box.
The rest of the month has already been released.

JiminMD

Update your profile with your shows attended. I was wondering if you had caught the show on 9/15/82... :-)

Yes, bonus points for 1stshow7/08/78.... :-)

Re: Update Shows

Yea, I have to get around to that one of these days. It doesn't help that my wife threw out all my ticket stubs so that task is sort of a downer in that regard.

I only caught one show in 82, in Baltimore on the Spring tour (my first).

I didn't get the memo that you must see them multiple times in a tour until 1983. Silly me. 83 also marks the first time I traveled to see shows. It all started to sink in, technicolor. what fun

7/2/89

Haven’t been listening to any dead lately, but love this show so much I had to comment.
Agreed, not the best of the tour etc, but better then many, and overall a damn solid show, 89 style, with a great set list!
DV, concur, good one to view and they’ve already done some of the work, release it!

Go VIKS

your wife trashing tickets

Worse, or on par with my Mom taking my (now Vintage) Rock T's to Goodwill?... :-P

Bills

Go Bills! They finished strong OB.

Another bad year for the Vikes and heads are rolling.

Rock T's

I always wondered what happened to mine.

mmmMOM! Dammit, I bet your mom and my mom were in cahoots. bygones..

Edit: Makes my memory drift to the day my Mom found where I hid my stash. Just how did she figure this out? It's starting to make sense now. Our moms were all in on it, it was a giant conspiracy.. one day everything was fine, the next there wasn't a nook or cranny in the entire house safe enough to hide a little bag of buds. I wonder who's mom was first to put all this together?

The flush heard round the world.

Back to your regularly scheduled Day Job encore (the best I could muster under the circumstances).

Edit: What's on tap for this week? What eras are we going to dance around (and in)?

Picks

Hey Jim, I am open. Let us know.

Just getting back

Been working outside today.. I hit Jerry Live 17, then 16 as I had not listened to them yet. Man.. there's a good bit of empty space on those CDs. Killer Filler is not on their menu, but enjoyable nonetheless. Nice mixup, 76 then 91. That Lucky Old Sun.. gets me every time.

So a pick for tomorrow you say. We have been on such a roll lately I fear I can't outdo what's just been done. I really am in the mood for something I think we hit ready in the two years we have been doing this, 12/31/76 or something from the June 76 box. I have no idea why... 76 is my muse at the moment. That opiated transect groove perhaps.

76!

Jim, 76 is always welcome. Live at the Cow Palace is a multi track gem. Too many great things to say about this show and release, so anytime.

Or the June box works as well. One of the Beacon shows?

You name it.

Let's keep it rolling.

Edit: Thinking of 76. Do they have the reels in the house for 8/4? That would be a great release at some point.

8/4/76

I think HendrixFreak was at this one. I'd have to think if they don't have the reels someone does... which means they will wind up in the vault eventually. They do exist.

76 is not always in my bag, but when it is I go on and on until it isn't. There is an infectious groove here, something between 74 and 77. 12/31/76 might just be the very best of this transitive year.

So do 12/31 tomorrow? June will come again someday.

Your homework assignment

Compare and contrast 12-31-76 with 2-26-77.

They are kind of like a 76/77 hybrid, elements from each year.

In December is listened to 3-18,19,20-77 (not consecutively) and they seemed like the bridge from 76 to May 77.
So yes Dave, bring on the March 77 Winterland Box. Small and compact, yet big in stature, like the June 77 Winterland Box.

12/31/76

Live at the Cow Palace it is.

Yes, Conekid, the Swing show is really good. Let's get it in the rotation for tomorrow.

Oh and I would think we will get a new seaside chat soon.

Full disclosure

I’m not playing along, I listened to all 5 of those shows at some point in the last month or so.

The Winterland shows are not listed as being returned as reels, but they are listed as being returned on cassette.

19. 3/18/77 Winterland = 2
20. 3/19/77 Winterland = 3 *= +1 CASSETTE = TOTAL 4 CASSETTES FOR 3-19-77*
21. 3/20/77 Winterland = 3

That’s from the list of returned reels site. I’d post the connection to the location on the internets, but you know….

But you can search for it:
Jerry Garcia’s Middle Finger: The New Alphabet: ABCD

Yes, a seaside chat in the near future.

Full Disclosure

I had a shit show for a day, but fun was overshadowed by work (hoping it's temporary).

Feel free to proceed, 12/31/76 > 2/26/77 is an epic quest. Give me a bit to catch up.

Not poking fun or being sarcastic... but I am hoping Billy the Kiddd chimes in with commentary on being there. First or third person is ok with me. I love epic tales all things GD. What's not to love?

12/31/76. What a show!

But a show that I didn't go to. At the time, I was working as a sheetrock hanger, and I was so tired at the end of the day I went home and went to bed. I woke up later and listened to the show on the radio. Tickets were available the day of the show and I did think about going , but I was just to beat at the end of the day. My brother and all my friends went, they were talking to some older folks sitting behind them and the people said that their son was playing tonight, it was John Cipolllina's parents. Not only did the Dead play great that night, but Santana came on before the Dead and just played fantastic. I never cared for the Cow Palace, it was a big old place, I only went there once to see a Sharks game. My brother saw the Dead there in 1974. Of course the Beatles played there in 1965.. When the Who played there, Keith Moon passed out and couldn't play, so the Who got some kid out of the audience to play drums and finish the show. He certainly has a story to tell.

Soundhole Opened 12-31-76

A Marin county band that had Mario Cipollina in it that night. Parents came to see the other son. Had to look that one up. I was like, wait, John C. was there 12-31-78 wasn't he? Need to check them out now. I love bands with a horn section. Cool how these connections lead me to other music I'm unaware of.
Cheers
Great show! Love the slowed down post-hiatus era. Jerry was in his prime and the band was just exactly perfect.

12/31/76

Perfect, is right first show.

What strikes me about this show is not only how they performed that night but also the fact that the last time they played before this show was October 15 at the Shrine.
Nice first set, the grove is there and they close with that monster Playing. Jerry is definitely feeling it.
Second set is a monster. Start out with a fun Happy New Year Sugar Mag into a nice Eyes, they aren't rushing anything. Wharf Rat into a Bob Weir Good Loving. Yes, I do enjoy his versions, Samson, into a really well played Scarlet that you can kind of feel like it wants to go somewhere. One of my favorite versions of Around and Around, bring it down now! Next into a Help Slip drums that is rocking. Not Fade Away into a Morning Dew that is reminiscent of 5/26/72 or Winterland 74. A top 3 Morning Dew in my book. One more Saturday night then into a two song encore of UJB and We Bid you Goodnight! What a show! I think I only saw one two song encore in my short career in Alpine 89.
The recording is one of the best they have every released. The sound quality is A++. It is always special show for me to listen to.

Good idea Jim.

If you don't have this show, it is definitely worth pursuing and if you need a copy you know where to find me.

Okay, on to the Swing!

Still working on the first set..

.. but making progress. Took a break and did a little skiing with my son, he asks too many questions to listen and ski. Finally some decent conditions with a big snowstorm on the way. I love snow, it brings out the kid in me.. like that exact moment when you find out you get a snow day and don't have to go to work em I mean school.

I like the twofer idea and transition right into the Swing. These are two first rate shows, back to back. Both have unique setlists and expansive jams. Powerhouses of creative focus and energy, the recordings.. (in my best Mr. Burns accent) excellent.

Thanks for entertaining my indulgence.

12/31/76

Such a great show. I shared my experience of that night a few months ago, especially with regard to that monumental Dew - my favorite for many reasons.

Think it might be time for a little contest for some GD schwag since we're in a bit of a lull waiting for more music. Sometime next week, right here.

Bolo

Sweet Bolo, that sounds like fun. Count me in.

The Swing, such a great show. So interesting to hear the new songs develop over time. Terrapin and Estimated. They pick up steam as the year progresses. Recording is great.

OB, how about those Bills? What a blowout. Allen and Diggs looked really good.

How about a pick Bolo?

OK - 10/6/1977?

I know, incomplete and bastardized show. But that NFA>Black Peter>NFA - yowza! 24 minutes of Mr. Garcia demonstrating once again why he is the only guitarist I can listen to every day.

10/6/77

Which source would you go with? My recollection has a bunch of tunes from other shows inserted into some of the archive entries to emulate a complete 10/6/77. I'd like to get a handle of how that show went down if even from an entry with a bunch of patches. Another show I'd like to hear is 2/6/79 Tulsa.

10/6/77

10/6/77 it is.

Thank you Bolo.

Not sure on the source yet WTJ.

12/31/76

Getting a bit of a snowstorm here in the Mid-Altantic. Made for a great chance to get a great listen of the second set while shoveling and the obligatory hot tub encore. It's a pretty long show and a classic, one of my favorite New Years efforts. Jerry's voice on much of this show is both well recorded and in it's prime, especially for the Eyes and Morning Dew. I never tire of this one, working to catch up today so Swing then on to 10/6/77 and I will be sure to add in the killer filler from UCSB at end of Dave's Picks 29.

10.6.77....

....I was going to recommend the Omni 3.28.89 but this sound good. I've never heard it. Maybe Atlanta for tomorrow?

10/6/77

WTJ, I am listening to this show through the relisten app via Sonos. I have the third option on the list going which appears to be a straight SBD. Sounding good so far, but a long way to go.

The 89 Omni show sounds good for tomorrow.

My copy was good but chopped up

I need to pull down a more complete copy. I enjoyed what I heard. In addition to the NFA Black Peter sandwich, the Estimated was hot. My copy faded out just as Eyes started. I pulled this down before I documented what I had. Another reason to upgrade my digital universe with the best copy that circulates. Baby steps..

Great day of shoveling and listening to music

10/6/77

Took it out for a ride, another show I would not have listened to if it wasn't offered up here. Fun show, as stated we could use an upgraded recording at some point. The Eyes sounded good on the version I had going. The return of Dire Wolf, why did they drop this song for a while? FOD, Estimated, good stuff.
Yes, that NFA/Black Peter/NFA was part sweet and good UJB encore.
Hope you all make it through that strom out East.
Thanks for the pick Bolo.

On to the Omni and I see it is a Pearson Healy.

I see music as fluid architecture.........

Springer's Ballroom January 18 1970

Why? Why not?!!!

One of the first of the digital downloads. Worth revisiting. Everybody knows Portland, San Diego, and Corvallis. Give your ears a treat...........

Can't listen to the classics all the time, they'll get boring. Well, except for 4/28/71. And 9/20/70. And 5/26/72. And......well..........ah...........I'll shut up now and get down to the morgue. Some of us have to work, people are dying to see me........

Doc
Without such a Life, the Word as to the letter is dead.....

1/18/70 Springers

Yeah, 1/18/70 is a great show. They should just release whatever music they have of 1970 as one giant box set, that would be a knockout. If there was one year I could see all the Grateful Dead shows live, it would be 1970.

Speaking of 1970

We interrupt this thriving discussion to note that Soundings Mindful Media has uploaded a video of Dancing in the Street from Winterland in that year, and you might want to check it out. Now it is also true you can no longer put links in posts, and I am dancing in the street myself at the reduction in spam posts as a result. But hey, Deadheads are good at improvising, and you can probably figure out how to get to YouTube, and once you are there, you want to watch?v=9Rmzxzb4N_I Onward!

Marye, thanks alot.

Very cool video.