What's Inside:
7 Previously Unreleased Complete Shows On 20 Discs
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/09/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/10/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/17/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/18/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/19/72
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/29/73
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/30/73
Sourced from tapes recorded by Rex Jackson, Owsley "Bear" Stanley, and Kidd Candelario
Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman
Restoration and Speed Correction by Plangent Processes
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 13,000
Steamboats and BBQ, ice cream cones and Mardi Gras - are you ready to laissez les bons temps rouler with the "gateway" to the Grateful Dead? Meet us, won't you, in St. Louis for seven complete and previously unreleased Dead concerts that capture the heart of the band's affinity for the River City.
LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73 is a 20CD set featuring five shows from the Fox Theatre - December 9 and 10, 1971; October 17-19, 1972; and two from the Kiel Auditorium - October 29 and 30, 1973.
The seven shows in the collection span slightly less than two years, but they represent some of the best shows the Grateful Dead played during some of its peak tours. The music tells the story of a band evolving, changing from one sound to another seamlessly, precipitated – in large part – by significant personnel changes in the Dead’s lineup.
The two 1971 shows feature the original Grateful Dead lineup plus newcomer Keith Godchaux on piano. This version of the band would hold together for the next six months as the Dead embarked upon its Europe ’72 tour. By the time the Dead returned to the Fox Theatre less than a year later, they were without Pigpen, who’d played his final show with the Dead at the Hollywood Bowl on June 17, 1972. A year after the exceptional Fox 1972 shows, the Dead came back to St. Louis, but played the much larger Kiel Auditorium, touring behind the release of WAKE OF THE FLOOD, which came out just two weeks before.
All told, the band played 60 different songs during these shows highlighted by blazing romps through “Beat It On Down The Line” and “One More Saturday Night” and wistful takes on “Row Jimmy” and “Brokedown Palace” (whose lyrics give the collection its name). Meanwhile, the copious jamming ebbed and flowed like the mighty Mississippi River on multiple voyages through “The Other One” and “Dark Star.” Naturally, the band paid tribute to one of its favorite rock and rollers and one of St. Louis’ biggest stars by playing Chuck Berry songs at every show in the collection, including Pigpen galloping through “Run Rudolph Run.”
Each show has been restored and speed corrected using Plangent Processes with mastering by Jeffrey Norman. The collection comes in a slipcase with artwork by Liane Plant and features an 84-page hardbound book as well as other Dead surprises. To set the stage for the music, the liner notes provide several essays about the shows, including one by Sam Cutler, the band’s tour manager during that era, and another by Grateful Dead scholar Nicholas G. Meriwether, among others.
Due October 1st, LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73, is limited to 13,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from Dead.net.
On a lighter note
I waded into the 10-17-72 show from this box last night, played the first set. At first, I thought the tempos a bit restrained, and I could imagine Jer warning the band that it was the first of a three-night stand: don't blow your wad tonight... etc.
The first hole in my theory was the second song, Jer's 15-minute Bird Song. Later songs seemed to confirm that they were pacing themselves while playing superb versions of everything.
Then, Playing in the Band, nearly 25 minutes of heavy-duty cosmic jamming. Just wow! And a raucous Casey Jones to end the set. Looks like some rockin' tonight for set two...
And, yes, I've looked ahead at the set lists to come. Almost scary! Dollar for dollar, this is the best box since PNW. And I do groove heavily to June '76 -- an oddly liquid, almost slow-motion jamming approach with a lot of touch and feel to the 'regular' songs.
Onward, all.
Crap
Sorry PF. Agree, thieves are the scum of the earth. Every time I get robbed (which fortunately is not often) I feel violated and pissed off.
The pox on all thieves.
Hope you are staying dry.. wicked weather in the PNW this month.
Back to your regularly scheduled extended length Bird Songs and Playing in the Bands.
Very rainy here, yes
Better than drought
But some poor souls have been swept away by the wake of the floods
Listened to Live Dead's Dark Star on the way to work today. What a masterpiece.
I'll show you snow and rain. Lots and lots of rain.
Re: Live Dead Dark Star on Way to Work
HendrixFreak wants to know if you crashed and if so are you ok? My response I think on the St. Louis thread was I Dark Star and Drive. It's a good thing the police don't have an instant test for this, we'd all be in trouble.
I worked in Seattle one year a couple decades ago.. (loved it by the way). Me and the person I worked most closely with pondered how many people crashed/were injured each year driving and were distracted by Mount Rainier? You can see it everywhere and it is an awesome sight. We guessed it must take a person each year give or take.
Back to your regularly scheduled St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don't Have No Mercy
I didn't crash
but I did float 3 feet above the roadway.
walking down the hallway to my room humming Dark Star themes got me a look or two
All bets are off when ...
I turn off the paved roads and hit the backcountry dirt two-tracks. Then there' s nothinig more satisfying than sparking up a doobie, cracking a Hamms beer and cranking some Pigpen. The deep ruts and sand etc prevent one from traveling over 20-30 mph or catastrophe could strike (i.e., spilling your beer). 7-8 hrs on pavement, 2-3 hrs on dirt and ... magically, a doob and 2-3 beers later ... I'm in hog heaven as the high desert opens around me. Works every time.
Burke Shelley R.I.P.
Burke Shelley, lead singer and bassist of heavy rock band Budgie sadly died yesterday - only 71. Budgie were a Welsh band, one of the great rocking bands of the mid 70's - 4 or 5 powerful albums and great live. Their best known track was "Breadfan" later covered by Metallica.
Rainier & Rainbows
I've been in Seattle for 25 years, shit, half my life (grew up in Silver Spring). It is a KILLER town, and when "The Mountain" is out, there may not be any other city in N America that is as beautiful. Of course, 6 months out of the year the mtn is NOT out, and it's raining, dark, cold and miserable. That's what football season and legal cannabis is for I suppose. Anyway, probably the biggest distraction I hear about are the rainbows, cracks me up, there is always a story about some dummy looking at a rainbow and busting up their car, they are plentiful and rich here for sure. Rainier would likely take second place
Re: ItBurnsy
You aren't the one that keeps stealing ProudFoot's Catalytic Converters, are you?
Dutch Prius revenge
Last night in Rotterdam some guy tried to steal the catalytic converter from under a Prius. He jacked the car up, crawled underneath, started removing the cc then it seems he accidentally kicked the jack with the inevitable result that the car descended and crushed the guy. When the owner went to his car in the morning he was surprised to see a pair of lifeless legs sticking out from under his car. Incontrovertible proof that crime doesn't pay. He won't try that again.
I decided to stop calling the bathroom....
...."John" and renamed it the "Jim".
I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
crime and changing times
It's probably safer to commit most crimes online now than it is in the physical world. You would have to be tech savvy, I suppose - which rather rules me out. Apart from as a potential victim, of course. But the days of the great British tea leaf could be numbered.
Hamms beer
I thought hamms beer was no more since the 70s. My grandfather drank hamms beer when i was a kid.
Looking back....
....a Hamms beer was the first beer I ever drank. It has a bear mascot, correct? Was 13 I think. Instant hangover.
Pretty sure I puked.
Edit. I spun Another Perfect Day by Motorhead at work today. New coworker is a big fan. So there.
"from the land of sky blue waters (waters)"
"Hamms the beer refreshing
Hamms the beer refreshing
Hamms"
I can still see some bearded dude and his bear pal in my mind's eye, traipsing through the woods. (not that there's anything wrong with that)
Advertising sticks to your brain like barnacles to a ship
Damn right they "still" make Hamms...
I am a beer connisseur and I favor European lagers, the ones originally made when they were still using trebuchets to hurtle cattle over castle walls. (For historical/hysterical accuracy, see Monty Python...)
For the record, Hamms is the cleanest, clearest inexpensive pilsner made in the U.S. And it is famously inexpensive (a case in Alaska in 1990 was ~$6, today, in Denver, $12). And it is tasty, if properly chilled. In warm weather it is the the base beer for my supplies going into the backcountry. (All cans, no glass.) Add some stout for that "last beer" experience and voila!
Simonrob -- any photos of the wicked catalytic converter witch's legs?? I'd frame it!
And kudos to JimInMD for the shortest, most provocative post of the day.
Hey Vguy: I got up twice during the night to hit the "Jim"! Kept my eyes closed the whole time. Missed the bowl...
No photos...
Sadly there are no photos of the offending thieving bastard's legs sticking out from under the Prius. Probably something to do with either the strict European privacy laws or that tv and online news providers tend to avoid showing corpses, even if it is only from the knees down.
I noticed that on the inside cover of the very recent release by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen "Strange adventures on planet Earth" there is a picture of the band playing on stage in front of the Wall of Sound. Presumably they were supporting the Dead. The album is 2 CDs worth of live tracks from 1973, 1974 and 1975 and the sound quality is very good, better than most of the recent slew of releases from old FM radio broadcasts. I do enjoy listening to the old Commander. Sad that he is no longer with us.
The Case of the Missing Catalytic Converters
Jim/Proudfoot, what can I tell ya, got a kid in college and an expensive edible habit. My current hideout is the vault, catch me if you can
Budgie
loved these guys. Sorry to hear of the passing of Burke Shelley, he had a great rock voice and could really play and sing at the same time which is difficult to say the least. Loved "In for the Kill" and "Bandolero" these lp's are getting very difficult to find and very expensive to purchase. I think I will pull out In for the Kill and play side 2, Zoom Club was a tune that I heard while dosed and could not get enough of that sound. RIP
re: Hamms
Holy $hit, a CASE of Hamms is only 12 bucks? I'd buy that too if it were so!
I recall Hamms being one of my first adult beverages, way back when....it only took me like 1 beer to get a nice buzz going.
This stuff is all entertainment, thanks Peeps for brightening my day.
And it is agreed...crime doesn't pay.
Squish....just like grape. A Mister Miyagi classic.
Be Well People.
Sixtus
In for the kill
PT Barnum - I've just sent a pm your way re Budgie. They were a great and underrated band.
I'd rather be stolen from than be in the position of having to steal from others.
Has Covid-19 forced you....
....to wear glasses and a mask at the same time?
If so, you may be entitled to condensation.
Oh, Yeah...
... Budgie. Never would have pulled these guys out of my butt if asked, but checked my collection and have an album called "Never Turn Your Back On a Friend" ! Listened to "You're the Biggest Thing Since Powered Milk". I liked what I heard,,, will take this to work tonight.
Thanks group.
A genie granted me one wish....
....so I said "I just want to be happy."
Now I'm living in a cottage with 6 dwarves and working in a mine. (Making 5 dollars a day).
Crash course in brain surgery
Budgie did have a nice line in song titles too - see above. A song with a brute of a riff - they really summed up the feelings of a generation on that one.
Sorry to read about Ronnie Spector.
sound
I just want to reiterate how much I appreciate the recording efforts of the folks who recorded the Good Old Grateful Dead for their 30-year run. I got the Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at the Fox Theater Oakland for Christmas-- great songs, great jams from a great band. But after listening to live Grateful Dead recordings for so many years, the mixing of that album absolutely sucks. It is a muddled mess of sound with no separation of the instruments, other than Trucks' guitar.
This is a multi-track that they recorded specifically to release. Fifty years ago (plus), folks like Bear, Betty, Rex and Kid were doing 2-track recordings that achieve a better sound with clarity and instrument separation better than multi-tracks from 2016! So, tip of the cap to those live recording pioneers and what they were able to achieve. Compare the sound of this boxed set with that Oakland TTB release and there is simply no argument who recorded better.
That said, the TTB set is not unlistenable, but it is not as enjoyable as it could be and it is a little hard on the ears after awhile at moderate volume, due to the mess of a mix. Wish I could join those folks who are seeing TTB at Red Rocks. I am going to try to catch them in Chicagoland right before the Red Rocks shows. I kind of have to hit that show-- my two favorite still-working bands in Los Lobos and Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Amen, Estimated Eyes
We shall be forever Grateful to the work of the sound crew all those years ago. Grateful also to Jeff Norman, Dave Glasser, the good folks at Plangent, etc.
Wait a minute, estimated-eyes!
I'm going to put that TTB DVD back in the queue to see what you're saying, but on my first go 'round, frankly, I was transfixed by TTB's performance with no complaints on sound. Like you, Lobos and TTB are by far my two favorite currently working bands (toss in Hot Tuna for good luck). If the covid thing has calmed down, I'm going to try for a single GA tic this summer for one of the two nights at RR. (Sold my 2020 tics, thus it set me back and I missed TTB's 2021 RR shows. Hope springs eternal for 2022.)
One "insta-theory" here: the GD typically had 5-7 members. The TTB typically has ~12, so there's the sheer number of players to mix down. But I trust your ears dictated your perspective here. I'll try mine again.
As for spoiled, holy @#!$%&*, are we spoiled? I recently counted the number of officially released shows on my shelf for '71, '72, '73 and '74 and roughly half the shows they played in those key years are MINE! And yours. Ours. And the sonic high points are ridiculously good. I recall a few shows where it seemed like the singers were in the room and/or I had my ear to each guitarist's amps....
So, yeah!
Heard it from a reliable source
Word is Bolo bought us all tickets for TTB/Los Lobos at Red Rocks this summer including airfare, hotel and Orange Sunshine.
See you there. I'll be the tall guy in a tie dye climbing in the cliffs eluding the cops.
Anniversary show 1/13/80
42 years ago and one day, I saw the Dead play a benefit show at the Oakland Coliseum. Santana, John Cipollina, Joan Baez, The Jeffferson Starship, and the Beach Boys were also on the bill. The Dead played one long set, they played really good.
I wasnt on the bus yet in Jan 80
but I did have a 15 second dream the other night where I was standing on stage left and watching the GD play the "wind in the willows" segment of SB
TTB
Hendrixfreak,
Good assessment re: how many band members and instruments need to be mixed for a good Tedeschi Trucks Band recording. I also have cds only, not DVD, so perhaps the DVD is mixed differently? I just miss having the ability to pick out the bass or Susan's guitar. Instead, it is a cacophony of noise with a strong lead guitar out front. The music and jams are great, love that band, but they should think about their mixer. Overall, it is missing its low end.
With this boxed set, you can clearly pick out Bob's great guitar work around Jerry's leads (sometimes with Bobby on lead), Phil's bass is clear as a bell, and Keith's gentle keys. Great mixes that are soft on the ears even at high volume.
Hamms the beer refreshing...
Funny that the subject of Hamms came up...last summer a friend of mine from Minneapolis sent me a Hamms ball cap and a DVD of a bunch of Hamms commercials...funny stuff...
To be honest, estimated...
dWue hen I listen/watch a DVD of TTB I'm kinda slack jawed -- partly due to the hour, partly due to preparation, partly due to the performance -- so I'm probably not the best judge. It is possible that the DVD got mixed differently. I just recall total enthrallment... No matter. That's one band I gotta see more of live.
Oh, here's one for ya. Years ago, probably early on in that band's formation, they played at Colorado College in Colorado Springs in an auditorium that probably held way less than 1,000 people. Mostly college students in attendance, but the 3rd, 4th, 5th rows center were chock 'o block with older, hardcore ABB fans, including myself. As intimate as it gets for any major band, let along TTB. Prior to that, caught Derek at the Gothic in Denver, which holds 1,100 and spent the evening within feet of Derek, just mezmerized by his technique and soaring sound.
Rows 10-20 center at Red Rocks would be the way to go these days, although they do theaters, if I was flush enough to travel for a show.
Travelin' Covid Era Blues
Travelin
Airport staff with bare noses and loose chin diapers
Hotel clerk no mask
Dennys "OPEN TIL MIDNIGHT" closed at 11:20
Travelin for a good cause
But Id rather be at home
Gotta check out Robert Johnson again
Being a dedicated Hamm's head....
at nappyrags' mention of a Hamm's baseball cap (who'd a thunk it?), I went straight to the 'net and bought one. So happy! To be honest, I'd LOVE to see that DVD of Hamm's commercials.
My paddling buddy and I are Hamm's fanatics and, as stated earlier, we take it on our pack raft expeditions. (Pack rafts = see "Alpacka", they're one-man inflatable, backpack-able rafts ~6 lbs each and you can take up to Class III rapids, the gods willing.)
One time maybe 20 years ago we went to Pueblo, Colo. to ride the 18-mile river trail along the Arkansas. I knew that Eylers Bar on the west side, where I used to live -- one of those 'storefront' bars in the front of a brick bungalow -- had Hamm's ON TAP! So me and my buddy, dressed in spandex cycling shorts etc walk into this neighborhood working man's bar and man, those guys heads were swiveling around like on the Exorcist. But when we asked to go behind the bar and take photographs (my friend brought his SLR) of the Hamm's tap, they softened up. Maybe, just maybe, we were men, after all. Then the lady of the house comes out of the back kitchen where she'd been cooking for her family and served us all -- gratis -- some kind of delicious stew. When we left, it was hearty "see ya's" all around. Hamm's: bringing people together since ... whenever the f*** they started making it. Good gawd, one of life's great pleasures.
RGM DiP-19 Vinyl
Is finally in the house. Another Louis Let's Slow Your Roll Dejoy story. The USPS Priority Mail 3-Day (TM) turned into a 25 day where did it go mystery. RGM sure did their part. Apparently my package got lost in the USPS Denver Distribution Center early on and then somehow made it's way back to RGM weeks later. Oh well, just a late Christmas present. Those were always fun when Mom would find that missed package on the top shelf in her closet where we couldn't reach. Usually sometime in January. Love you Mom!
Warming up the Philips GA-212. Get ready for lots of flipping sides.
All this made me almost forget we have another vinyl Christmas present coming from the top closet shelf in April; DaP-1 Richmond '77. Oh boy!
Have a good weekend and cheers!
Hey 1stShow...
...even before 5/25/77 vinyl comes, 3/1/69 is to be released January 28. Mainly smallish record stores seem to have it for pre-order, but I saw it was on the Barnes and Noble site the other day. It's only 3 LPs, so a more modest 80 bucks. Sorry if I'm spending more of your money, but I wouldn't want any Deadhead to be without that That's It For The Other One. They sort of blow their wad with that as the opener, the Dark Star sequence is good, The Eleven in particular, but, for me, that show is all about that Cryptical Reprise, which is my all time favorite. Cannot wait for that vinyl to arrive. Hard to believe but 2/28/69 vinyl was released in 2019, so this one's been a long time coming. Maybe because 2/28 is still readily available? Enjoy that DiP 19, I haven't opened mine yet, and this weekend might offer a good opportunity. Supposedly a -20 wind chill going on outside today, so I'ma staying in!
3/1/69 and DP 19 vinyl. And Robert Johnson
Bad news in England, though. I ordered 3/1/69 from Amazon when it was announced, and was told it would be released 28th January. But I have since had an email from them saying it's unavailable, and they don't know if they will be having it in stock at all - so they've cancelled my order! Hopefully it's just a blip, and I keep checking to see if there is any update.
Dick's Picks 19 hasn't appeared on Amazon at all yet. They usually stock them - and that's where I have ordered them from in the past.
Proudfoot - I see you mentioned Robert Johnson. I played the first cd of the double Centennial Collection just this morning. I have had these recordings in numerous formats for years - but this one is far and away the best - incredible. It's on the Sony Music label. Definitley my favourite and most played blues recordings.
3/1/69 and Amazon
I haven't seen it listed on Amazon, and I've been checking on it, as I've not gotten any updates from Red Yeti Records since I placed the order that included a proviso that if they were unable to fill it due to stock, I'd be refunded. The Barnes and Noble listing was quite new, though it was a best selling vinyl for them, and they've been good for each rarish music item I've ordered from them. That's where I got 11/10/67 vinyl, and for I think $69.99 with a discount for signing up for the account, and this was after that release had been sold out here and on ebay for quite the markup. When I originally searched for it after I saw mentions in December here about the release, I thought it strange all the small record stores I found it listed on had the exact same website layout; I kinda chose theRed Yeti one randomly. I wish there was an easier way for dead net to simply sell it here and atbrecord stores at the same time. I'm still kinda salty over 2/28/69 being record store only, then months later, when orders were placed, then canceled by those record stores, and one was thankfully fulfilled, the literal next day dead net had it for sale (and still does, thanks to that fiasco). Then the 5/9/77 vinyl was a ham-handed RSD only release that was more like an ebay only release due to COVID (the one I got came from a record store in Iowa that had sold 47 copies of it on ebay before I ordered mine, yet no Boston area record stores had it in stock!). DaP 1 vinyl took longer than I expected to sell out here, but that's the better model, to me. Though why they took down the release page is mysterious to me. Hopefully you can secure a copy easily, Daverock; I know you've been anticipating this one as much as I have.
For DiP, luckily I got the Real Gone email in time. The other 3000 copies should hit record stores soon, and ebay prices should go down at that point.