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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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  • Mr. Ones
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    Dear Dave

    I have received your Pick numbered 43. Cool music BUT, you really have a lot of nerve squeezing the absolute MAXIMUM of Dead music possible onto 3 cds(just under 4 hours worth).
    As you may know, if us Dead Heads can’t listen EXACTLY the way we wish, and you know what way that is, then I’d rather have NOTHING!!
    I love the Dead sooooo much, that if I can’t listen to a whole show, complete and in order, and not have to get up off my a$$ to perhaps change a disc, then you can forget it, the deal is off!! How DARE you give me 2 shows for the price of 1, of this band I love sooooo much. I’d rather just have 1 90 minute show, spread over 3 discs, IN ORDER, so that my entitled, lazy a$$ does NOT have to move while I am listening.
    A rational person might think “oh my God”!! I’m getting 2 COMPLETE shows(minus 1 song) instead of 1, for the same price!! But no, we Dead Heads don’t want more music. We want LESS music, and only if it’s presented PERFECTLY. Perfect sound, NO PATCHES, no dropouts, in proper order, so that all I have to do is push 1, ONE button, and then I can laze back, stoned to the gills, and forget about life and how hard it is to be alive.
    We want LESS music, PERFECTLY prepared, the less music the better, so long as it’s PERFECT, at least to me. Because after all, you ARE doing this just for me, right?? Seeing as how I’m the MOST important person in the universe.
    To those who are Grateful to have the MAXIMUM amount of Dead music, no matter how poorly it’s presented, well, you happen to be so so wrong. And of course I am right!!
    It must be so sad to not be me.

    I have SPOKEN!! This is the truth, so sayeth the Lord.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Vinyl, cds and fragmented shows

    Conversely, I do enjoy listening to live Dead on vinyl. It seems to make me focus a bit more. I don't listen to whole shows in one go- in about an hour I will have some lunch, and maybe listen to 2 sides of an L.P. That will be it for me for music for a few hours - I'll go off an do something else, and tune back in a few hours time, but again just for 40 minutes or so.
    I don't listen to music during the core of the evening - but about 11.00pm...that's when cds come in handy. Sit back and let it all wash over me for a few hours.
    With fragmented shows, I don't mind so much as long as it is clearly labelled on the sleeve what music comes from what show. Some of the earlier ones didn't do this - so you have to get Deadbase down to work out where different songs come from. If you can be bothered. The Dicks Picks from late July early August 1974 comes to mind-but there are quite a few.
    And although Dave's Picks 43 works really well for me as a whole - I don't think it's necessary to fill every second of every cd with music. I have never liked fillers. Many of the greatest albums from the past clocked in at little more than half an hour. Quality-not quantity is the key, for me.

  • Sydney Prentice
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    Mixed up shows

    Yes it's a gripe of mine too,I did mention this several Dave's Picks ago, when I was reminded of the Road Trips series of fragmented shows.
    I am grateful to have the 2 shows on 3 discs,but it does annoy me at having to break off listening to a show to change discs.I do not have the means to re arrange the songs on a computer,& besides I enjoy the HDCD resolution.
    As much as I enjoy my vinyl in my opinion the Grateful Dead live recordings are more enjoyable to listen to via CD, as you are not changing record sides between certain flows of the music.

  • billy the kiddd
    Joined:
    Anniversary show 8/29/87. Electric on the Eel

    35 years ago, I was up on the Eel River to see Jerry Garcia put on a fantastic show, one set acoustic, two sets electric. What a fantastic spot, up in the Redwoods in the mountains right on the Eel River. It was definitely electric, what a swinging party.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    If they used a 4th disc then

    people would complain about that.

    Yeah running order aint perfect, but I'll take what I can get.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    TTB's I Am The Moon....

    ....twenty-four songs, and not a bad one to be found. Very impressive. I raise my glass to you.
    And J3ff. It's due to the 80 minute time limits on the CD format.
    Deadworld problems.

  • J3FF
    Joined:
    Dear Dave-

    So I've got Your Picks Vol. 43 in my hands and CD player. Cool music.... BUT...

    I ask you, sir--is this how YOU listen to these shows? The first 9 songs of 11/2/69, then the 5 songs from 12/26/69, then 4 songs from 11/2, then 11 songs from 12/26??

    If yes, then I don't feel you really appreciate the experience of live Dead--how each show is a unique event and piece of musical art, how each show has a rhythm and a story all its own. (This is WHY so many of us spend thousands of dollars buying these very shows on CD when we are content with just getting the best studio releases from other artists we love.)

    If this is NOT how you would listen to these shows, and you do enjoy and appreciate listening to a show as it was performed, then you are not really respecting the rest of us who want to listen to the shows in that way but don't have the privilege of access to GD's vaults.

    You make great choices of shows-- just let us listen to them as Jerry intended please. It's doable. Every single box set release does it.

    Thanks!

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    Y'all HAD to bring up the breathing walls...

    C'mon, after 50 years, I was just getting over the breathing walls and ya had to mention them... Dang it!

    As for Snoopy, a classic Rosie Magee pic of Pigpen shows his Snoopy pin on his greasy corduroy hat, plain as day. So maybe a piece of Pigpen's soul is heading to the moon on Artemis. (Though none of the reasons given for our return to the Moon make any sense to me. Except to stake our claim in the face of China's interest, which unfortunately smacks of militarism and control...)

    And as for TTB, I keep tellin' ya, that's the hottest band on the planet right now. If they've got Los Lobos in tow, that's THE package. At least according to me, and, as you well know, I've never been wrong before...

  • marye
    Joined:
    Layla Revisited
    yes, you do need to check that out. It's pretty incredible. (So were TTB with Los Lobos at the Greek the other week, with Jerry's Alligator guitar.)
  • Gratefulhan
    Joined:
    1STSHOW70878

    I did also see Bill Murray off to the side in that video footage too. I was just stuck on Clapton's reaction. Still it was defintiely cool to see Bill Murry enjoying things. I need to check out that TTB Layla Revisted album. I have been working on few projects that involve listening to a bunch of live shows so I have been occupied with that. When I get chance, I am going to give it a listen.

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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 7 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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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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I like Owsley's technique. That'll do, Pig.

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2 years 11 months
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just what I wanted. 2 shows from1969,. Thanks Dave, keep them comming.

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10 years
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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 2 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 8 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 4 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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12 years 10 months
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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 6 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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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 6 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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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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Its about time, one worth opening.

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11 years 7 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 9 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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14 years 11 months
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Didn't know about the Dallas show. Double 1969 goodness - how sweet it is!

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13 years 11 months
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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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I have this one archived in my cassette collection. Saw many shows at this venue. Great acoustics.

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10 years 9 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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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
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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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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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…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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