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    A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

     

    With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

     

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

     

    *2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Holy Scalpers, Batman!

    I was skulking around the T-Master site for possible Pearl Jam tix for an upcoming show (and long after they went on general sale), and some of the prices are pure science fiction, especially for where the seats are! I know everything has gone way up, and Springsteen has been getting flack for his pricing through T-Master that is supposed to muscle out the scalpers, but what’s the difference to the fan that just wants to see a band. You pay some dude in the alley, or you pay T-Master, they are both ripping you off. Not going Karl Marx here, just an observation that major sports and concerts are becoming the domain of the truly wealthy now. As a youngen, like virtually everyone here on this site, I saw so many concerts and sporting events for pocket money. How teens or young peeps afford to see their Lady Gaga or The Weeknd shows baffles me.

    VGuy, New Mexico sounds special. I love art, and when I hear Taos or NM, I automatically think of their renowned art community, and of Georgia O’Keeffe, whose not a personal favourite, but she was a pretty interesting character, and free spirit when that still meant something. Enjoy, and everyone enjoy the weekend.

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    I know this is wrong, but

    I'm already thinking of next year's anniversary-type release(s)(?)...

    I had the good fortune to catch my first show, 19 Sept 1972, after endless listening to WD, AB and Skullf**k, but it was summer '73 that we really piled on. In May it was the ABB at MSG. In June the ABB and GD at RFK (caught 6-9, had to miss 6-10 because ... I was 15!), then on to Watkins Glen for two big daze, Roosevelt Stadium with GD and The Band for two big nights, then Nassau Coliseum in September (DaP 38). May not sound like much, but it did the job.

    I read that long ago, they had mixed and selected tracks from the GD and ABB covering RFK and Watkins, but the weasels got in the way of the music release. I'd hope for a WotF 50th with the Watkins Glen soundcheck, AND a summer '73 box. Sure would be great if they managed a package with ABB and The Band.

    It's only August 2022 and I don't want time to fly -- EXCEPT with vault releases.... (and this year's box ain't even out yet.

    Shout-out to Nappyrags bein' back in action. And Vguy in Taos -- can they handle the Fist-Bumper-in-Chief??

  • carlo13
    Joined:
    Eric burdon and the animals

    I saw Eric burdon, Ronnie Earl, and other blues bands play Bowditch field in Framingham, MA. In 2003. Mohegan sun promoted it. Erics' voice sounded just as bad ass as it sounded in the 60s, and 70s. He was real cool, talking to the audience after the show. I wonder if sixtus was there, too.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Nappy back on the prowl....

    ....good to hear from you man.
    I'm currently in Taos visiting more family. Taos is a home away from home. Visited here every other year when growing up. My moms family is pretty much grandfathered in here.
    Magical place with a vibe that is hard to explain. But northern New Mexico is like that. At least to me.

  • billy the kiddd
    Joined:
    John Fahey/ Nappy

    I saw John Fahey play in 1985 at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, a super small place on San Pablo Ave, He put on a fantastic show, after the show we walked up the street to Everette & Jones BBQ for some fantastic bbq at 2am, fun times! Nappy, glad your feeling better, that sounds like an interesting show about Son House

  • nappyrags
    Joined:
    Re: Son House...

    Hi everybody...I'm starting to feel normal again so I thought I'd post on Son House...I have previously mentioned the documentary "Two Trains Running"...it's about two different groups of college kids, one from Cambridge the other from the Bay area who went looking for Son House & Skip James in 1964...this coincided with the Freedom Riders who went into the deep South to help register Southern Blacks to vote...the guys from the Bay area included John Fahey & Henry Vestine (the original Canned Heat guitarist, the Sunflower)...after numerous false leads the Cambridge guys found Skip James in the hospital...after he recovered they had him brought up north to attend the Newport Folk Festival...if I remember right Son House was finally found living in upstate New York and hadn't touched his guitar in decades...Alan Wilson (future Canned Heat member) was enlisted to reteach Son House his songs...a great documentary...I watched it on Amazon Prime...I think it was $3.99 to watch, well worth it...

  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Keith

    At the time of the DaP43 reveal, which was virtually simultaneous with the MSG box set announcement, I mentioned that I would be willing to pay the same price for DaP43 as the box set. That was before I ever heard it. Now, I would be willing to pay double. So no, it’s not wrong to listen to it every day. I do.

    Fortunately, my CDs download to a hard drive in my car. As it turns out DaP43 and the DaP5 are adjacent, so I can easily toggle between the two releases. I consider those two DaP releases to be in the same league as FW69 and E72. Sure, a lot of the other stuff is great and I listen to it quite often. But, they are vastly superior to everything else.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Anthem Bonus

    Keithfan - looking at the recording details of Anthem, it looks as though they recorded the studio parts of the album between September and December 1967. Of the live concerts used, two look as though the were from 1967 too, at The Shrine in November although most of the live music seems to have come form 2/14/68.
    Which could explain why they felt it was appropriate to include a 67 show as a bonus.
    But they do seem a bit random, these bonus discs. The 1966 shows with the First album and those two 1971 shows with the 1970 studio albums don't seem to have much to do with main releases to me - although they are all worth having in their own right.

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Another 50 Year Band

    Now I know why I bought the old album Renaissance Scheherazade last month. I remembered I had a tape of it which has long been recorded over so I gave it a try. It was new in '75 when I recorded it from a roommate's album and discovering progressive rock. Annie Haslam! The woman has the voice of an angel and a FIVE octave range. This one was recorded at Apple studios and at what I would expect was a considerable expense having the London Symphony Orchestra doing the orchestrated cuts. Only a couple of the songs had much airplay but are memorable none the less. A masterwork of prog-rock, a sort of It's A Beautiful Day or Moody Blues with a lady singer sound. Dated now but an enjoyable mellow buzz in a busy world. But I digress.
    Now back to your regularly scheduled Cumberland.
    Cheers

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Jim & Tom

    JIm (MMJ) and Tom from Rage Against, torn the living shit out of the ballad of tom joad at the Springsteen tribute!!

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A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

 

With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

 

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

 

*2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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11 years 8 months

In reply to by Oroborous

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the elation for this and for hints at what else remains in the vault.

Just what the doc ordered!

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10 years 3 months
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fans got their wish.
2 Dark Stars and plenty-o-pig.
Sounds good to me!
Cheers

Edit: Non-subscribers (Daverock?) better jump on this fast. Certainly one that will sell out in a day.
1300 Owsley reels in the vault did it say? A HUGE virtually untapped source.

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14 years 1 month
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I like Owsley's technique. That'll do, Pig.

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3 years 1 month
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just what I wanted. 2 shows from1969,. Thanks Dave, keep them comming.

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10 years 1 month
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Dave - You had us at Pig. A real nice release, and Owsley sound, too! (Blushing)

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10 years 4 months
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It took 8 years, but I finally guessed the right shows. Nevermind that I included the Boston Tea Party trio.

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10 years 9 months
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I'll take this one, thank you very much!!

Oro, you either get primal or you get Pig. I'm very pleased with this one. Did not see that coming.

Woo-hoo!

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In reply to by That Mike

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Sweet release for DaP43!

"With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43."

just want to highlight ". . . some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including . . ."

pray tell what other mysteries are there in the banana boxes?? to be continued.

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13 years 5 months

In reply to by bluecrow

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I think Dave was worried about a riot.. we forced his hand on this one.

I'm looking much more forward to this than the box set. No offense meant.. but this looks sweet to me.

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Beyond stoked about this DaP. There doesn't seem to be a track listing yet, but given the description (not one but TWO 20-minute-plus Dark Stars, AND plenty of Pig?) this promises to be epic. Audio quality is likely to be outstanding, given that it was recorded by Bear and evidently stored in a banana box for 50+ years.

Wonder what else is in those banana boxes? Guys, if you find any blue tablets, you should probably forward them to me for safe disposal.

The MSG box? Not sure I need 17 discs worth of '80s, so I'll probably just go for the breakout set from 3/9/81. I have to admit, this release makes me a little sad, because it makes me think that now it's going to be years, maybe longer, before they do the Berkeley Greek 1980s box some of us have been longing for. Can't see 'em doing two venue-centric '80s boxes in close succession.

And just btw: don't get Covid, if you can help it. Went on a business trip (got to go to NOLA, at least), came home and got sick. Despite being vaxed and boosted, it was sucky week. Not the end of the world, but pretty sucky. I mention this in the hope that it'll encourage others to be vaxed and be careful: that fucking virus is still out there. Be well.

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13 years
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Its so good to be wrong!!!!!! I thought for sure Dave would venture into the 80's the 60's are not the 80's. By the way I'm digging the gray hoodie, very understated.

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4 years 8 months
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I had jumped off of the subscription bandwagon almost as soon as I got on, after the disappointing DaP31. This year I reluctantly hopped on again because I liked the Baltimore show and absolutely salivated over the Winterland ‘74 with bonus disk. I was resigned to getting a throwaway ‘80s show this time around. Nope. I am virtually in tears as I type this, and best of all I have no worries of this one selling out because it’s already been ordered. It’s a beautiful day.

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I haven't browsed Deadbase yet to see if these shows are listed or the setlists, which I imagine are similar to others from the era. I also wonder if having been stored in sealed boxes all these years if they are uncirculated? That's always a nice surprise.

I'm a lifetime subscriber since the beginning. Glad to see Dave mixing it up.

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13 years 5 months

In reply to by SPACEBROTHER

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The sound on the archive is good.. assuming Latvala took a little peeksy into the banana boxes and shared. I'd still like to take partial credit for guessing Dave's 43 would be sourced using returned reels from the late 60's. I think I posted something to that effect a week or two ago.

Very glad to see these shows come to light. They seem to be very special, at least to these ears.

Enjoy people.. This one goes out to Hendrix Freak.. if there's a more enthusiastic 60's and fall 1972 person out there.. I'd like to buy her/him a drink and shake their hand.

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Jim!!

That would be me. Strong coffee will do, looking forward to the handshake...........

Did anybody think my obsession was limited to 1971?!! OMFW!!!

The dice of Zeus always fall luckily.

Rock on,

Doc
Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust......

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11/2 does not circulate, no set list
12/26 Circulates, Zephyr opened-acoustic set without Bill

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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not in Deadbase but SBD source of 11/2/69 is on relisten

not that i've heard it. includes a "classic suite" DS > SS > 11 > DDHNM

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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Strong Coffee I've got! Doc you are equally enthusiastic of the old stuff. Check your PM.

As for 11/2, it looks like a copy of this was seeded to the Archive back in 2004 and a more complete version appeared in 2009.. so someone had them. I'm going to head to the attic right now and see what's in all the banana boxes stashed in the corner.

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Who is the 4 fingered gal on the cover? Interesting that they did not go for a female skeleton.

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10 years 8 months
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This is great news Dave,its going to be well worth the wait, none of us are getting any younger,I'm looking forward to having this in my grubby little mitts in August.

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10 years 11 months
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I'm a big fan of DaP 6 12/20/69 and 2/2/70 with 12/21/69 bonus disc with its two Dark Stars, DaP 30 1/2-3/70 with its great setlists capped off by that massive Dark Star> St Stephen> The Eleven> Lovelight, and DaP 10 12/12/69 and bonus from 12/11/69 scratches a similar itch, but I gravitate to the bonus disc for the whole Dark Star> St Stephen> The Eleven> Cumberland Blues, That's It For The Other One> Cosmic Charlie, because that's just fantastic. And now we add these two shows to that collection. Nonplussed on the box, but I reckon I'll likely get it sometime prior to release. The setlists are quite good, and only one Little Red Rooster.

Just listened to the Little Sadie and High Time in the Listening Party on my tablet speakers, and quite liked it. Jerry is in fine fettle.

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Sounds like an oxymoron to me, but who cares!! It’s primal 1969, JUST before 1970, which we ALL(well, almost all) have been clamoring for!! I simply CANNOT WAIT to unwrap this and push play!!

Thanks Dave, Music is the Best!!

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I will take a GD sbd from the '60s ANY day of the week, and the Dallas show has long been one of my favorites. I'm VERY glad that it's being released and that 11-2 show is no slouch although I've never heard it complete and never in this kind of sound quality either. I'm very happy these shows were chosen, can't wait to get my hands (and ears) on them. Thanks once again to Dave, Dick, Bear and the whole GD family.

Jeffrey Norman works for the GD and also the OSF, which has been digitizing Bear's 1300 reels. OSF is about two-thirds done with digitizing so possibly ~400 reels to go. Probably that's what Norman was doing.

Meanwhile, only weeks to go until two unique '69 shows are in our hands.

I'll have to quiet down for a while about NINETY SIXTY-EIGHT, just because Dave gave us a nice dose of late '69.

Heh heh heh... we don't need any contests here, this whole crowd is foaming at the mouth for this release. Jim, you sure know how to get folks riled up. (What the hell are "banana boxes"?)

In fact, the good doctor and I had often discussed how early, short shows shouldn't stop Dave from putting two together to meet the DaP three-disc rule. Here we are.

A good shout out to all who made the past couple months on this forum worthwhile with good discussions of literatue and music. I only have about 7-8 books to read and tall stack of CDs to listen to, as a result.

And thanks to Dave L. for an inspired choice. (I'm getting the 3-9-81 show and leaving the box alone, but sure wish I can get my hands on 3-10-81 at some point...)

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7 years 7 months
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Its about time, one worth opening.

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11 years 8 months

In reply to by TJPD2

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ask any supermarket for them, very sturdy, heavy duty cardboard, great for storage. Not entirely closed, usually an opening at top and bottom. Check recent shipments for tarantula hitchhikers. Shucks, no release listening party for the 60s bunch at Jim's bear battered beer caches?

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7 years 11 months
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Oh myyyyy! I don't post very often here, but I've been watching the discussion/speculation on DP 43 for months. I figured DP43 would be 1980s for sure (hello, box set) and in that regards I was hoping for a 1985 release. I didn't dare hope for '68-'69. I'm glad to be wrong!

I've never heard either of these shows - super excited for this release. I keep various Fall '69 rips in my car - 10/25, Dick's Picks 16, the DaP 6 Bonus Disc - so it's going to be nice to change things up. This time I even went and bought an extra copy so that I can wow somebody who will only realize what they've missed out on when they are sitting in my passenger seat. That's ~$40 well-spent. @Dave thanks buddy, this kinda drop is what keeps me subscribing year after year.

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In reply to by Obeah

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totally awesome

Daves in a (banana) box

loooooove it

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15 years 1 month
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Didn't know about the Dallas show. Double 1969 goodness - how sweet it is!

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14 years 1 month
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What I have:
Cold Rain
Midnight Hour
Seasons (this song is unknown to me, a first)
Mama Tried
Next Time You See Me
Good Lovin'
Big Boss Man
Casey Jones
Dancin'
Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don't

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14 years 1 month
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I have this one archived in my cassette collection. Saw many shows at this venue. Great acoustics.

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10 years 11 months
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Just looked up the setlists for these and saw Dave for once way undersold the length of the two Dark Stars, one 30, the other 24! Nice. But how about I've Been All Around This World? Always loved it from hearing the Garcia Grisman version, so stoked to see it's on here wih Little Sadie. Such a treat to hear Jerry sing these in such a strong voice. Now to avoid listening to the whole shows for three more weeks...

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12 years 1 month
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I know it makes me not a ‘head’
But no

Pig’s “white boy blues” makes wants me want to barf every time.
Hahaha i hear him open his mouth and it’s like I want to jump off a cliff

I hear somebody brag about a “half hour Lovelight” ?
Thanks, I know exactly what show to skip. 

Seriously no

ughhhh

We can all jam and no despite I hate it I’m not selling to at cost hahahah

There are people out there.

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17 years 2 months
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...deadhead but certainly a fool of high caliber. I agree with the Lovelights...sometimes, but damn take that tone and put it in the garbage where it belongs. The provenance alone of these tapes is enough to get my brain drooling and my ears lubed up.

Looks like they've reconnected the modem at the asylum. Nurse Ratchet must be on her first vacation in a few decades. 😬

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13 years 2 months
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For those of you wondering why artist Matt J. Adams included her, have a look at the cover of "Live/Dead".

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8 years 7 months
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…Oh Boy! 2 (two) “Primo” Primal Dead performances in one release (Pick)
“There’s Nothen left to do but Smile Smile Smile!” I’m as happy as a Pig in Mud! Lol ! 🤠
Have a grateful day my brothers and sisters.
there’s not a better feeling than having grateful fans dig’n The continuing Amazing Artworks involved year after year! Love it!
Take care folks , have a grateful day!
🙏❤️💀🌹

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