Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,100 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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February 24, 2023 - 6:38pm

#1291

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

1970-02-23

You cats are already on to 1973. I'm still savoring the gentle respite in the oasis of Austin.

Death don't have no mercy, but there's always time for lunch.
Thanks for reminding me of LL. I need to see if I can get reinstated over there.

Grateful Dead Live at The Auditorium, Austin, Tejas on 1970-02-23
Harpur College was another of my heavy, heavy rotation tapes back in the day, along with the 2/18/71 Capitol Theater show I've already mentioned numerous times. Both were massive inspirations. For what seems in hindsight like a fairly significant period of time, if it wasn't one of those, it was Reckoning.

I Know You Rider: Lovin' the energy and grit of this Rider. It's almost angst.

High Time: This is a song! It's a pretty weird song, too, and after attempting it several times, myself, I must say it isn't surprising it wasn't played often. Damn, it's hard to sing. I submitted a completely deconstructed version of this for the February Dead Covers Project a few years back. I made a point of not revisiting to the original before recording, just going off memory and some notes left in an old binder of songs. I'm sure the ever-growing defenders of canon were thinking, "You ain't doin' it right if you ain't readin' it off a teleprompter." It was an "interpretation". Lol.

Dire Wolf: What a lyric. An electric version, no less. Pretty mellow electric set, almost acoustic.

Yellow Dog Joke… ah… well way to go for completely screwing up the joke, Bobby… actually, I'm not sure I've ever heard him make it all the way to the punch line. We should all heed Jerry's advice and "Don't encourage him." Everything was so light and positive in these days. Phil could be a bit surly, as we've already heard in this tape.

Monkey and the Engineer: This was a standard in my old folk-rock duo. My partner played it and I just followed along. I'd have to start from scratch to figure out how to play it again. Such good stories in these tunes.

Little Sadie: Nice. This wasn't on the Harpur College tape or Reckoning. Another dark story. I don't see how they could possibly be breaking strings playing such gentle music.

Me and My Uncle: I don't recall hearing an acoustic version. It's a great song and works in any format. At this point everyone hadn't already heard it a million times. Imagine that!

Black Peter: One of my favourite tunes ever. Doesn't get much darker than a song from the point of view of a death bed. Started doing this one myself occasionally a few years ago, but I always need a cheat sheet for the bridge. Nothing repeats. There are some interesting mnemonic connections between the chords and the words that help. Just have to sit down and do my homework. Ahh… yeah, Pig sittin' in nicely on the organ. This song needs a really delicate hand, but the organ adds a nice little gospel flavour. If only Pig coulda added just a touch more flair to his playing to fill in some lines before Jerry takes his solo. Pig's got the tone.

Seasons of the Heart: Never heard this before. Great pick! Thanks.

Uncle Johns: Have heard this one a few times. 😉

Not Fade Away: I'm gonna call the union! The Galactic Rock'n'Roll Union! That needs to be a band name, or a song, or something! Crazy to think this tune was in their set their entire career. Some good ol' primal energy here. Jerry's "wild" tone. He must've had the amplifier turned WAY up, cause it sounds like he's not in the mix at all. His guitar is just being picked up by a vocal mic, or something. Basically, no drums, either. I can't keep track of which guitars he was playing in the early years. He seemed to play whatever was available after giving up the Starfire. Sounds kind of like a Stratocaster, The Graham Nash Strat, perhaps? Alligator did not come on the scene until later, if I recall correctly. This tone has even more of a stereotypical Stratocaster sound than Alligator, which retained very little Fender electronics by the time it gets heard on Europe '72. Anyone? Oh, cool call and response with Pig. TC has already left at this point? I need to get my timelines straight. Bobby diggin' in with some soulfully aggressive singing, rather than simply aggressive.

Mason's Children: I can't recall ever hearing this, either. The name comes up often, but it's not on anything I've listened to regularly. Again, thanks for this pick! As you say, not exactly high-energy stuff, but some very rare pieces here. Always appreciate the chance to learn something new about this fascinating family.
February 24, 2023 - 8:28am

#1292

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

Chances are that the universe neither treasures nor regrets us

Rockers!

Lunch time. Death takes a breather. We're in the land of the living, gotta eat lunch.

The "new, fixed" 2/17/73 was up at Lossless Legs first thing this morning. So, it sometimes pays dividends to get up early............

So, one can get it there, or I can supply it to anybody who needs/wants..............

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own......

Rock on,

Doc
It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure......
February 24, 2023 - 6:09am

#1293

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

2/17/73

Hey Doc,

Where is the new Miller for this show? I see a 2020 transfer from Miller on the archive as of this morning, and this one has issues.
February 24, 2023 - 1:16am

#1294

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota......

Mornin', rockers!!!

For all you completists out there----as well as Row Jimmy fans----the talented Mr Miller just put out a "fixed" version of the fine St Paul show from February 17, 1973. Would make up part of a nice box set from early 1973----2/9, 15, 17, 19............

Ah well, one can dream..............

Rock on, happy Friday!

Doc
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before........
February 23, 2023 - 1:20am

#1295

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

Music is the best means we have of digesting time......

ROCKTHING.............

Check your PMs...........

Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend........

Rock on,

Doc
I frequently hear music in the very heart of noise.......
February 23, 2023 - 1:10am

#1296

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

I have just got a new theory of eternity…...

Hey rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Austin, Texas February 23, 1970

I reluctantly discussed this at the end of last year. Here I am again. It appears that I’m stuck in a time warp. The galactic rock and roll union. I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious…..

It appears that the currently circulated recording of this show is the only surviving audio document from the Dead’s four show excursion through Texas in February 1970. It’s tough coming right after the wonderful, brilliant Fillmore West/Fillmore East shows earlier that month, and perhaps it’s not unexpected that the intensity level might come down a bit. That being said, this is still interesting, enjoyable, and worthy…..

The band is in 1970 electric/acoustic/electric mode. The circulating recording appears to be missing part of the first electric set, coming in during Know You Rider. For fans of acoustic Dead, this set is nice---Monkey And The Engineer-Little Sadie-Me And My Uncle-Black Peter-Seasons Of My Heart-Uncle John's Band. The festivities are completed with a jammy NFA and Mason’s Children.

The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind. I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity……

Did Bear travel to Texas, and did he record? Banana boxes, reveal thy mysteries…..

Rock on,

Doc
Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods……
February 22, 2023 - 7:47pm

#1297

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

#1298

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

#1299

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

#1300

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.

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.

The past cannot be cured...........

Mornin', rockers!!!

Last 5:

2/13/70 early show
2/14/70 early show
Two short, sharp, savory shots of early 1970 Dead. Recommended................

PF Wish You were Here
For long lost friends who've shuffled off this astral plane...........

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen---Family Dog 1970, official OSF release. Ace recording, I've heard rockabilly is good for what ails ya!

Mingus Ah Um
Needs no explanation.............

Not a note of 71 going on two months now. Been jonesing, but Europe 72 helps ease the pain................

Rock on!!

Doc
Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart's desire............

Is there a pick for today?....

....if not, I nominate MSG 9.18.91.

Early bird

Gets the worm!
Was gonna say 4/6/78, but vguys already on it with 9/18/91.
Rollin!

EDIT: solid show, nice pick! Good Healy/Pearson matrix, though I’m at work so not full immersion…

9/18/91

Alright, let's do it.

9/18/91

Managed to get in the 1st set last night. Really nice. Some interesting and cool midi work by Jerry in there. And during Wang Dang Doodle, Hornsby is quoting Thelonious Monk! That's was pretty out there. I think the Monk tune was Bolivar Blues. Years ago I remember reading about an interview where Monk was asked about writing a song for Simon Bolivar, the Latin American hero. And he replied, no man, that's about the Bolivar Hotel in NYC. At some point I need to listen to a lot more from the Hornsby era.

Again just want to mention that Colgate 11/4/77 show. Its got that Jones Band Set II Phil is weirdly hammered intro. Set starts out with a great Samson that just on a dime segues into a kicking Cold Rain and Snow. Great show.

On way back home last night had the bonus disc spinning from Road Trips 3 No. 3, 5/15/70 Fillmore East. It is a jewel. I love the acoustic material from that release. What a great Cumberland on the bonus. And a few songs later it was Attics of My Life as the sun was setting. so sweet.

Have a great day folks.

Buenos Dias Rockeros!

So no pick?
How’s aboutta 4/6/78? Betty board from that fine spring tour?

BC, funny, I’ve been thinking about 11/4 for no real reason? Ive scrolled past on my music server several times recently and for whatever reason I see it and go, “hmmmm, been awhile”…so perhaps this WE when I’m home I’ll spin er up!
Did the Chrotchfester show a month or so back. Crazy how much more intense these later 77scare compared to the smooth perfection of May?

Bruce quoting: yeah if you really pay attention he’s always throwing little quotes in there. The best is when he and Jerry throw stuff back and forth like that. Think JG really dug having someone to do more of that.
Good sheet Mon!

4/6/78

Still working my way through 9/18/91, which is excellent by the way. I mean, the whole MSG run, is outstanding. So many good shows and the Brandford show.

4/6/78, Tampa, alright in the que. Good idea OB.

Yes, Bluecrow, I am a huge fan of RT3. 3, such a great release. I think I paid a pretty penny for this a couple years ago new with the bonus disc and it was worth every penny.

Stay well out there all.
Hope they consider a MUATM this year. It is time.

Bruce era

A Bruce Box needs to happen.
Some good stuff there, as evidenced by the 91 shows in the Giants Box.

Listened to 6-22-91 a few days ago. That’s a good one.
So is 10-31-91.
And there are many more.

Dave,
Give us a Bruce Box.
The 2 Box-per-year release model allows you to make even more $ for Rhino and keep everyone happy. And for those of us who will buy both Boxes, we get even more official releases per year than with the current model.

They've Been Light on the Bruce Years

I think for the most part, the Bruce era is well recorded too. At least give us a Dave's Pick with Ole Brucey.

Bruce Era

My personal favorite show with Bruce is 9/22/91. It’s just got everything going for it……

He Said "Brucey"

That is all

ahhh..

Another tidbit. I am reinvigorated and will use up another one of the three guesses.

Pick

A lot of talk on the LTTR thread recently about late 72 shows.

Made me want to revisit Dave's 11 from Wichita, 11/17/72. Who is up for it?

I'll Bite

I did 9/21/72 this morning. Why not continue..

Edit: Hit the spot. Did the bonus disc too. Added the second set of 5/2/72 for good measure. A DHB Hattrick?

DaP 11 v. DaP 34/35

I am currently working my way through the series. I started the excursion with Vol. 19. I might as well continue through and then start over maybe with some diversions along the way.

Lots of Talk About Collgate '77 on the 41 Thread

Since there's no pick today I am going to venture there.

11/17/72 Dave's #11

Well, I still really love this release. Shorter show for 72, but high energy and great recording. Monster first set, nice Sugaree, Bird Song, Box of Rain. Great second set Cumberland, El Paso-He's Gone, the Truckin into The Other One is a good example of the greatness of their improvisation. Great show and the bonus tracks from 11/15/72 are really good as well. Probably one of my favorite liner notes. Great story.
Jim, the Colgate 77 show is always worth a listen as well, I think Bluecrow had this going recently as well. I really like the show but the early Iko Ikos are not fully developed yet.

Where we headed next?

I keep running across shows that look interesting in my quest to answer the latest Bolo contest, but unfortunately haven't cracked it yet.

A desert is a place without expectation……

Hey, rockers!!!

Pick of the day: Star Theater March 8 1970

What to do with uninvited, unexpected guests? It can get problematic, whether it’s your house or your concert…………..

Interesting little show and a nice example of the early 1970 electric/acoustic/electric format. Bob Weir’s attempted humor. Interesting China/Rider/High Time trifecta. Bouncy Dire Wolf. Greasy Hard To Handle. Hunky dory so far…………..

As with many early 1970 acoustic sets, this one has a casual, warm feeling. Tasty Monkey & The Engineer, Been All Around This World, Me & My Uncle and Black Peter. Things start to go a little sideways at the end of Katie Mae, as a local high school student---part rock and roll cheerleader, part blues screamer---joins in the festivities as they evolve/devolve into a spontaneous and quirky blues jam. Sounds odd now but sounds like at the time the audience was digging it………

Cap it all off with a hot NFA/Lovelight with more screaming and an unknown harmonica player sittin’ in…………

The available recordings, while a bit rough, are actually pretty listenable. However, given how sonically spoiled we’ve become, I’m not sure it can be brought up to official release standards. Not even sure it should be an official release, admittedly it would be way down on my wish list.

By no means a classic, but I’m glad I have it………………

Doc
This is the sense of the desert hills, that there is room enough and time enough……

Re: 3/8

A new one for me, I'm in.

I think I might be going to Montana soon...

Any intertest in 5/14/74 Missoula? It's been forever since I listened to it.

3/8/70 Santa Monica Civic Cntr was an interesting little show.. clocking in at just over 91 minutes it's approachable.
A varied little show, it has a little dose of everything except the big wide-open jam. I guess it was Elvin Bishop that sat in for the last few songs?? They must have been sharing a ticket (Paul Butterfield Blues Band??). Anyway, a nice little ear opener.. it should go well with 5/14 which has quite the big wide-open Jam on one of the scarier, more dissonant Dark Stars of '74.

Onward.

5/14/74

Yes, in for more 74. Good idea Jim. Dave's #9.,...... This site needs some new release news soon.

Half n Half

Only made it halfway through but it was quite good. Set two queued up for tomorrow.

3/8/70

Theater in the Round sounded really good, at least as far as I got. Must admit I bailed as things went sideways out of Katie Mae. Wasn't in the mood for that. Will probably revisit sometime. Show seems really short to me and think there would have been more if not for that ego display. Side note - has anybody seen a photo of Pig singing and playing the guitar during those 1970 Katie Maes?

In that early acoustic/electric show space. After 5/15/70 (and the 5/14 filler) dusted off DiP 8 (5/2 Harper) earlier this week. Been a real long long time since I listened to that legend show. Simply amazing. Of course love the acoustic material. The Cryptical > Other one > cryptical was mind blown (once again). Nonpareil. A testament to Dick working to get some big shows like this and the Fillmore 2/13 out early in that series.

Dug deep into a drawer with some lost releases (at least for me). #1 - Fallout from the Phil Zone. That Disc 1 was an awesome sequence, both then and now. some has been released in fuller context many year later, but not all of it. #2 Rockin' the Rhein. Really good to have those stand alone releases from Europe 72 tour, with a mix that is true to Keith's playing as being an integral part of the sound.

Yep - definitely up for going to Montana soon.

And Senator Oro - "pot calling the cattle back" is top shelf humor for me.

Re: Ego Display

Well put. If I drank enough alcohol, I could sing like that too until the police arrived, put me in handcuffs and to the liking of all hauled me off to the county jail.

Well, set two awaits.

Well, it's been about 3 weeks...

No contest winner. Try again in a couple months or so.

I'm off to Moscow to have "tea" with Vlad.

After the buzzer

but I had some thoughts rattling around in my bluecrow brain : )

Now back to a rockin NFA> Going Down The Road > NFA on the Rhein

edit: waiting for a recaptcha that asks for tractors and one of the pics is a Ukraine farmer hauling a tank.

5/14/74 Dave's #9

Made it through this release today. For me, good, enjoyable show. Good first set, the PITB is great. Good US Blues. Nice combo of WRS into Dark Star that goes off the rails for a bit.

I love the February 74 shows and I am looking forward to #42. I have always felt they picked up steam in June through August and of course the October mega shows. Still want that Winterland 74 complete run box. Give it to us Dave.

Looking at 3/31/91 from Greensboro NC for tomorrow. Who is in?

Came across this one as I was looking through the Bruce era trying to figure out Miami Greyhound squid. No luck yet.

That underwear draw must be bursting at the seams Bolo.

Sorry Bolo

We tried.. your clues are friggin hard.. but we tried. I, for one, had not given up.

#FU Count Vlad

Finished Montana. A nice show and a good warmup for #42. The PITB came in focus for me. The DS still contains sharp shards of broken glass that pierces my ears. Sometimes when I listen to the Dead and it becomes too intense, I have to remind myself.. tension, release, repeat. There are some jazzy moments, but that DS has some unresolved demons.

My old buddy…

yer moving much too slow.

Yeeesshhkk, interweb was out at house I’m working at so no streaming all week. Now it’s back up but the new equipment I’ve installed has no analog inputs. Meant to bring a A/D converter with me, but once again we’re a day late and a dollar short! Doooaaahhh!
So I’ll hopefully get 3/8/70, 3/31/91, and gulp, the scary moons 74 show in this WE.
LOVE that Dark Star, as I believe HST once said “it never got weird enough”
Thanks again Otis!
Speaking of the good Doctor, check out the new docudrama Fear and Loathing in Aspen!

EDIT: hey Bolo, I still got a headache lol. So how bout giving us the answer after we all hurt ourselves trying to figure it out?

Contest answer

From my post on 2/19 -

here's the clue for Today: Miami greyhound squid

You may notice that the "T" in Today was unnecessarily capitalized. Hence, show date is 2/19.

The Dead played seven times on 2/19. But where and which year?

"Miami greyhound" was the nickname for Hall-of-Fame basketball player Rick Barry of the Golden State Warriors. The team played their games at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. But not on 2/19/91, because the Grateful Dead played there that night.

For extra credit, I was going to ask if anyone knew the historical significance of that show. That's where "squid" comes in. If you Google "Grateful Dead squid," a video pops up of a band called Squid playing "New Speedway Boogie." Rick Barry's jersey number was 24, and 2/19/91 was the 24th time the GD played that tune. It was also the first time they played it since 9/20/1970 - on hiatus for over 20 years!

Over and out.

Bolo, you sadistic bastard! ; )

do you know who your dealing with here?
This ain’t MIT, I think as a senator from the great DH state of altered consciousness I can speak for the majority here and perhaps respectfully remind you who your dealing with here. It seems perhaps you’ve mixed up your on line routing/addresses and sent us senile, nearly brain dead acid casualties, some firmly in the horrible grasp of our golden years, a mind puzzle perhaps meant for your extra intelligent intelligence cohorts?
No harm no foul, but I will be billing you for the extra analgesics required to dull the on going throbbing headache that many of us have endured due to your unfortunate mix up.
Hopefully your IT specialists can rectify this idiosyncrasy in a timely fashion, thus ensuring that the next contest will be just exactly perfect and thus more appropriate for the smoking crater of what’s left of our minds? Thank you!
Or? I Dunno, maybe it was the ibogaine?

holy guacamole

wow.

it's like i'm playing marbles, having already lost a few, and Bolo's out there way past tri-dimensional chess.

love it.

Re: Ouroborous

I have found that ether helps with the headaches..

Contest

Huh, can't believe I didn't get it. 🤔

There is nothing

more depraved than a man in the height of an ether binge!

Another idea?

Years ago I used to make sampler CDs of some of my favorite Dead tunes and leave them in random places around whatever town I happened to be in at the time. Included was an email address the recipient could respond to with comments about the music. Overwhelmingly, the most common feedback was something along the lines of, "Wow. I had no idea this is what the Grateful Dead sounded like."

So here's the challenge: compose your ultimate GD show for a target audience of non-deadheads. That means no scary Dark Stars that might fry a newbie's brain. Limit the time to what could fit on 3 CDs, so maximum of 4 hours, and roughly follow what the Dead might do regarding first and second sets, etc.

My first "CD" will start with the Intro/H/S/F from "One from The Vault" (8/13/75) and end with "The Music Never Stopped" from DP18 (2/3/78). I'll figure out the rest as inspiration moves me brightly.

Anyway, if you're game, share your "best in show" so we can have something else to contemplate besides our navels. When I finish mine, I'll put the tunes on thumb drives and scatter them around town in some mysterious fashion to mess with unsuspecting, uptight humans. Time to expand their horizons!

Have fun!

Great idea Bolo, here's my show

1st set: Easy Wind, High Time, Greatest Story Ever Told, King Bee, China Cat/ Sitting on top of the World, Promised Land, Next Time You See Me, Attics of My Life, The Music Never Stopped. 2nd set:: Cumberland Blues, Dire Wolf, Alligator> Truckin> Space> Death Don't Have No Mercy> Viola Lee Blues>Feedbck. encore. Casey Jones. & Broke down Palace

Re: I Found One Of Those CDs

And I replied to the email.

You might remember me; I was the one that asked why it didn't include any scary, the world is ending Dark Stars.

3/31/91

Another really good spring 91 show. This one is worth checking out if you have never heard it. Great first set and the second set Eyes-Playing is special.

3/31

Tomorrow's Pick of the Day?

RE: Another idea? On second thought...

I'm not sure it's possible in the time allotted. I'm well over 4 hours already and I haven't even decided which version of "Jack-A-Roe" to include yet.

So, screw the time limit. I'm probably going to end up closer to 6 hours. If nothing else, this exercise has clearly demonstrated to me that there are just too many great versions of too many great songs.

What a band!

I'll Bite

My one CD abbreviated version.

A Voice From On High - 5/15/70 Fillmore East
Cold Jordan - 5/15/70 Fillmore East
Cumberland Blues - 5/8/72 Empire Pool
Hard To Handle - 4/23/69
New Potatoe Caboose - Anthem of the Sun or 2/14/68
Eyes of the World - Bobby and Phil w/ Trey acoustic 3/3/18 Radio City Music Hall
Los Lobos Bertha (just because)
To Lay Me Down (studio)
Unbroken Chain (studio)
Help/Slip/Franklins from the Swing
Attics of my life, (tonight's version will do)

Tomorrow's choices will surely vary and contain a mind melting Dark Star

Edit: Oh hell.. toss in just about any 68 Viola Lee Blues as a litmus test. If they don't like it, we don't need em. :D
And I guess the Morning Dew from 2/27/77 to end the disc. You're right, six hours is not enough.

People come to music to seek oblivion......

Hey rockers!!

SET I: 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 II: 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>Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad>Not Fade Away

By the way, that would be April 28, 1971. Everything any sane person could need or want to know about the Grateful Dead, all in one show. Rock and roll, originals, covers, country western Bakersfield, greasy Pigpen, big jams. It's all right there............

Not too mellow, not too crazy. Well, maybe, lol, Hard To Handle gets a little crazy. Listen and prepare to be amazed.......

Rock on, rollers!!!

Doc
A good mind should tell the difference between noise and music........

It can't be too scary

I did a tape for my brother, over 30 years ago, which had The Other One, Dancing In The Street and Viola Lee Blues from 5/2/70 on. He had heard me playing the official releases over the years and thought they were...okay. But that selection really impressed him. He had no idea they could play like that.

Sometimes it's the easier listening stuff that is harder for non Deadheads to get into than the heavier stuff. You've got to point Percy at the people.

POT Day with discussion

5/14/74: always surprises me just how much I like this one! So much good sheet besides the awesome Dark Star! That whole disc three just kicks ass! When I think of DaPs, this one, Scooby House, and Skeletor Skater are the first ones that pop up in my minds eye.

3/8/70: liked the short show format. Agree with others: sound ok considering, ok show until the unfortunate take over. Especially during Katie Mae! Talk about rudes interuptus! Couidnt he let pig finish the song, yeesshhhkk!
Gotta love how JG always takes these situations and uses them as a way to support whatever was going on. Like when he plays on others songs, he’s as good or better supporting others as he is leading!
This is the kind nugget I’m looking for here on Pot Day, doesn’t have to be a great show, but the chances of just stumbling on this were low. So thanks to Doc for digging up this historical little nugget.

3/31/91: First set looks great on paper, but? Not a bad set, but seemed kinda average, comparatively.
The second set made up for it though. Like many of the Hornsby lineup tunes, the Samsons are like big fright trains that take a little time to get going outta the station, but when they do get up to speed, woo, woooo!
They mesh that into a nice eyes with a awesome dreamy sequence that eventually comes out the other side and back to earth with the Wheel, including a couple of obvious Dark Star teases, but alas that would have to wait for the following night at that excellent Greensboro show Conekid turned us into a while back.
Big Chuck B double scoop of R&R to bring her home, and sweet knockin to bring ‘em back to earth.
Perhaps a tad short, but an overall enjoyable show. Don’t think I’d call release worthy since there are so many other strong 91s, if only they give us a 91 box…

Ok, what next? I might hit 4/17/82 today!
Onward!

I’m glad Bolos not my boss!

Bolo the taskmaster lol. Boys tough!
I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do a live version, there’s just too much: too many must have songs, from different must have eras etc.,
BUT, I’ve already done a “album” version back a few years. I was asked to make a disc of the most known, perhaps main songs for someone who had causally seen the band and had some interest BITD. I was asked to keep it simple, no 36 minute songs etc lol. So I started thinking the same way Bolo presented this to us and realized if I tried to pick live stuff I’d die before I finished lol, so thought I’d use album versions, like I was teaching a GD 101 course.
My criteria was to use the most well known, most easily accessible, sometimes the hits, but not always, and at least one song from every studio album, with at least one song from the main band members, in chronological order.
Well it became quickly apparent that I couldn’t do that on only one disc, but did not want to go more than two. So it was a tough but fun process but here’s what I came up with. Like all final cuts I’m sure there’s room for “discussion” LOL

NOTE: I use “album” loosely since there are several must have tunes that were never recorded on studio albums, so versions were taken from Skull Fuck and E72, which, are arguably hybrids. I Mean you HAVE to have a Bertha for example..Also, I used Must of Been Roses from Compliments, technically a JG album, but much of it in actuality of course is a band album similar to ACE. This song is slightly not chronological too, in order to keep the normal Jer/Bob sequencing. Days Between is from the So Many Roads box, which at the time was the closet thing to a studio cut I had.
The Cryptical Suite was edited because of time constraints of the Redbook CD format, so I cut the last couple minutes and faded out using the trusty ML 9600 right after JG sings the last “has to die” part.

Pedro’s GD Chronological Album Retrospective
DISC 1: GD 101.1
1- The Golden Road (to unlimited devotion)
2- That’s it For the Other One p/o
3- Saint Stephen
4- Uncle John’s Band
5- Box of Rain (Phil)
6- Friend of the Devil
7- Sugar Magnolia
8- Operator (Pig)
9- Truckin’
10- Bertha
11- Playing in the Band
12- Brown Eyed Women
13- Jack Straw
14- Ramble on Rose
15- One More Saturday Night
16- Eyes of the World
17- Stella Blue

DISC 2: 101.2
1- U.S. Blues
2- Scarlet Begonias
3- Ship of Fools
4- The Music Never Stopped
5- Samson and Delilah
6- Must of Been the Roses
7- Estimated Prophet
8- Shakedown Street
9- Alabama Getaway
10- Althea
11- Hell In A Bucket
12- Touch of Gray
13- Just A Little Light (Brent)
14- Foolish Heart
15- Days Between

Ok, your probably like “where’s Terrapin, where’s Feel Like a Stranger” etc. Again, I was asked not to use jammy, obscure or other less accessible stuff. I’m sure there are a few I might of used instead, but I was thinking about what was most well know and easily accessible to newbie, ya know, ya learn to walk before you can run…
My intention was to follow up with a second term GD 201 course version which would have hit the next level of songs: Terrapin, Stranger, H/S/F, China/Rider, etc. That could theoretically be followed up by GD 301 getting into the extended TOO, DS, Playins etc…
I think this is a decent attempt at presenting the unpresentable to the often accessibly challenged ; )
Oh, the gal I made this for loved it, said it was great except a couple of the first weird tunes lol, but she said she liked them and had her interest piqued!