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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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  • daverock
    Joined:
    Sweet Gene Vincent

    Black gloves, white frost
    Black crepe, white lead,
    White sheet, black night,
    Jet black, dead white.

    And from a time when musicians were hipper..."This machine kills fascists".

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    RE: PT

    Not too long, maybe an hour, as I have both books. Luckily, Bear by Greenfield (great book btw) has an index so fairly easy to look up. Owsley and me did not, but it was fairly easy to find the few corroborating sections.
    Really, I spent more time just getting sucked into the book lol. That happened with big Steve’s book last week: went to look something up and ended up reading the whole book! That’s ok, I was due for another read.

    As far as Fall 80/Acoustic releases. Im 90 something percent sure I saw/heard Dave say that there are pieces of shows, but not whole shows. Thus he was able to release at least a couple of good sets. I guess only they know for sure what remains or is usable, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they trickle out something similar. That would of course be awesome as those that have been released are mighty fine sets!!
    Of course one can hope that there’s some other mystery box or someone has good 2 channel tapes unreturned, but unfortunately I’m not getting my hopes up for full show multitracks : (

    I’m not aware of any documentation of who recorded what etc, though that would make an awesome book to be sure!
    Say how bout a complete list of what’s in the vault and who recorded, that would be sweet!
    Hey Rhino, I’m available to do the documentation and I promise I won’t take any tapes ; )

    Ok, it’s been since Friday since we last heard from our good friend to the north?
    Not Dave, the other one lol.
    That’s when the Angels were starting to arrive…
    Hello, tap, tap, tap, hey Mike you out there?

  • PT Barnum
    Joined:
    stuff I can probably delete

    Hey now RDG ain't it nice that we have so much gr8 music at our fingertips that we can have files upon files of stuff we can delete later. Great stuff man. Thanks for the recommendations. Always like that 6-14 show Bruce, Jerry, Darkstar, what's not to love.
    Daverock, I just love the music you post on your last 5's good shit man as Chong would say. Who else would have Gene Vincent on their last 5, classic.
    Cousins, love me some Budgie, they had such a distinct sound.
    Oro, how long did it take you to research all that Bear stuff? Thanks, that's good to know. Is there a site or book or anything that tells who recorded the shows on specific dates? That would be nice to see too.
    Warfield 80, yes heard that Betty recorded over some for Brent's solo lp but I was really surprised when the Dead released those two discs of acoustic shows from the Warfield, the 9th and the 10th of October. Released last year or the year before. Those were great shows and 1980 was a great year for the band, I have most of those shows matrix and audience and they were in fine form. 1980 was the year I really got on the bus so any show from that year would be a welcome Dave's.
    Just like Dave's 6 and 10, 43 is gonna be a fun ride. 2, that's right, 2 Dark Stars. Far out man.

  • Thin
    Joined:
    Yup, they re-used the tapes.

    I remember reading in an interview or two that they recorded over a lot of the fall 1980 tapes and that's why most of the radio city shows are lost. And from a reliable source.. Dave or someone like that....

    Yes I know that sounds crazy, but recall that in the period of 1974 thru 1980 they had just gone through what we're only just beginning to go through now: RUNAWAY inflation. Here in July 2022 we are all freaking out about 9% inflation, however the 70's saw 7 solid years of runaway inflation. Spiked to 11% in 1974 and as got high as 14% (!!!!) in 1980!!! So the tapes they paid (using round numbers), say, $25 for in 1973 were suddenly about $50 by the time Fall 1980 rolled around. And I believe they had just done Dead Set and Reckoning as a way to satisfy their remaining album obligations to Arista/Clive Davis ("We used to pay for silver, now we play for Clive").

    So after recording all the Radio City/Warfield shows on scores of huge, super-expensive 24 track (or 32 track? can't remember) reels, and then mixing those two live albums onto 2 live double albums (unheard of at the time), and completing their recording contract, one could understand the mentality that they already released the best of those shows and now quit spending money due to the financial meltdown and hunker down.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Last 5, or 6....

    Elton John - Captain Fantastic
    Phish - 7.23.22. Bethel. Wow.
    Dethklok - The Dethalbum
    Stormtroopers Of Death - Speak English Or Die
    GD - Aoxomoxoa
    .
    .
    That SOD album would totally be canceled today.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Bear Research

    After consulting Bear by Robert Greenfield and Owsley and Me By Rhoney Gissen Stanley, we can hopefully put to rest some of what’s NOT in the banana box!

    After several various run ins with the law, he was finally arrested on drug charges on 12/21/67 in Orinda California.
    Out on Bail the next day. Appeals etc for almost 3 years.

    1/31/70 Nola bust. Out on bail 8 hours later.
    All charges eventually dropped due to intervention by WB record executive Joe Smith.
    BUT!
    Because he had been busted in NO 2 weeks after the time he was not supposed to be out of jurisdiction, his bail for the Orinda bust was revoked on 2/27/70.
    BUT!
    He gets out on bail again while awaiting appeal etc,
    BUT!
    He gets popped again with Beatty and Bob who were living with him at Oakland Hills on 7/15/70.
    Therefore his bail was revoked again on 7/21/70.
    His first gig back with the Dead after doing 2 of 3 years was on 8/21/72.

    I did not read anything that specifically stated when he was actually incarcerated, but one would assume he was taken into custody upon bail revocation on 7/21/70.

    So looking at DB 50, his last possible gig would have probably been 7/14 or maybe 7/16/70 at the Euphoria in San Rafael?
    Whenever exactly, NO BEAR TAPES after that, anywhere, until 1972!
    Perhaps we can put this one to bed…

    Hey THATSMIKE?
    Don’t think we’ve heard from him since the swarm started to arrive?
    Hope he wasn’t accosted by wild drug addled Angels?

    Fall 80 tapes: yep that’s my understanding, between what they cut up for the live albums, and many were reused as 2”? (big multitrack tape) is expensive and they probably figured they’d never use it for anything again, I mean they got 2 live albums outta them. So not enough for full shows etc. But hey, perhaps he’s just pranking us, and/or they’ll show up in some kind of weird box ; )

  • bluecrow
    Joined:
    warfield tapes

    i seem to remember reading that Betty taped over them when recording material for a possible solo Brent album. They were a couple at the time.

  • billy the kiddd
    Joined:
    Cousins/ Warfield 80

    Cousins, I have a hard time believing they would tape over those tapes, but several people on this forum have told that story and I believe someone had a quote of Dave talking about that very issue. I hope your intuition is right, I consider your opinions to be the gold standard. on this forum. It's lucky we were able to attend such special shows.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    5 Hits

    Tanz Der Lemminge Amon Duul 2
    1st Album Love
    Live in California 1966 13th Floor Elevators
    Road is Rocky cd 3 Gene Vincent
    Psycho Serenade Various - including the great anti drug song - "The Evil Dope" by Phil Phillips, and the once heard never forgotten "Chickie Run" by Homer Denison Jnr

    Last Dead were Winterland 10/22/67, included with the last version of "Anthem", and the original, 1969 mix of "Aoxomoxoa".
    Hopefully Daves 43 will signal a move back into the past, with more 60's releases-for this series a massively untapped resource.

  • DaveStrang
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    DaP43

    Like many others, I can't wait for this release...but how long will it be before another 68-70 is issued? We now know you have the tapes Dave L. & TPTB...don't make us start rumors of a 'Banana Box Conspiracy' lol.

    Last listens:

    1. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
    2. Joni Mitchell - Hissing Of Summer Lawns
    3. Joni Mitchell - Hejira
    4. Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
    5. Poco - Pickin' Up The Pieces
    6. Poco - 2nd S/T
    7. Poco - Deliverin'
    8. Trio Of Doom - S/T. John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius & Tony Williams...what couldn't they have done?

    Hope all are well.

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

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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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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 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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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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