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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ; )
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.
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.
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.
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?
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".
Well, I'm up in T.O. keepin' jive alive
Oro - Alive & Kickin’. The town is still standing, albeit a lot lighter on beer. Farmers are letting their daughters out again.
My Hells Angel anecdote - a couple of years ago, I was flying back from Vancouver, after visiting my eldest. I get up to go use the John at the back of the plane, as the one near me was Grand Central. The aisles in most commercial jets is about as wide as a galley kitchen in a downtown condo (“Excuse me” “Pardon me” “Coming through”). Two hobbits would be pressed to get by each other. As I’m heading to the John, an Angel steps out, headed up the aisle (no need to tell you the guy was a Coke Machine in a leather patched vest. When are they ever small and book wormish?). I think “How the Phuc am I getting around this guy?” Everyone has their dinner trays in the down position, so sneaking into a seat while he passes seems unlikely. Maybe time to practice the Crouching Tiger moves on the ceiling, put those karate lessons to use. Well, doesn’t this Angel move for…me!?!? He takes a look at the three people seated adjacent to where he was, who within a split second found themselves three in a seat, he steps in the space, and he lets me pass. I mumbled “thanks”, and sure, I was tempted to say “And next time, be quick about it!”, but I have this thing about loving life.
True story. I’m That Mike and I endorse this story.
Playing DaP 42 again just because. Something about when the Dead play a “home game” at Winterland (anything Bay Area), they really bring their A game. I never ever tire of hearing Jack Straw. Ever.
Shipping Anyone?
Anyone get a shipping notice for DP 43 yet?? Maybe they will hold off on the notifications until they actually do ship………
Dead - Angels?
I have just had a look online about Hells Angels, and apparently one of their nicknames was/ is "Red and White". This is supposedly because their insignia features red lettering on a white background. Reminded me of the opening line of "U.S.Blues".
Someone asked...
...Who else would have Gene Vincent on their last 5?
Besides Daverock, Jerry would:
"I liked the classics: Little Richard – not for the guitar but for the music – and I loved Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, and the guitar player in that band [Cliff Gallup]. That was a great, nasty little band."
If you wanna' hear what Jerry's talking about, look for Gene Vincent's Race With the Devil.
Fall '80
Interesting that you should mention that Spacebrother, because it seems that Warfield 2 cd acoustic release from 3 years ago was in fact mastered from 2 track Betty Boards that were "provided through the assistance of ABCD Enterprises." Couldn't say if the entirety of those fall runs exist as Betty 2-tracks.
From the list of returned tapes
1980 - 11 REELS
• 09-27-80 SF CA, 2 x 7” REELS Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-04-80 SF CA, 2 x 7” REELS Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-06-80 SF CA, 2 x 7” REELS Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-09-80 SF CA, 2 x 7” REELS Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-10-80 SF CA, 1 x 7” REEL Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-11-80 SF CA, 1 x 7” REEL Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
• 10-13-80 SF CA, 1 x 7” REEL Nagra 1/2trk 7.5ips Acoustic
Cassettes
82. 9/25/80 Warfield = 1
83. 10/9/80 Warfield = 3 [NOTE *LABELED AS 10-7-80*]
84. 10/13/80 Warfield = 3
85. 10/14/80 Warfield = 4
86. *10/31/80 Radio City = 3 *= - 3 CASSETTES MISSING*
re: Fall '80 - more background
Guess we're lucky they didn't tape over the Europe 72 tour...all these recordings lost for an album that never came out. 4 Boxes of tapes.
Just had to poke around:
"But there are four boxes of tapes that currently reside in the Grateful Dead vault, which attest to another side of his creative output. Labeled “Brent Solo Project,” they reflect an intensive undertaking at the Dead’s Front Street Studio in San Rafael, Calif., over a period from 1982 to 1983. Betty Cantor-Jackson, the group’s longtime recording engineer with whom Mydland was involved in a romantic relationship, produced the sessions.
...Cantor-Jackson recollects that Jerry Garcia appeared on one of the tracks. While the music that has surfaced thus far doesn’t bear this out, there are plenty more tapes currently sitting in the vault. She also says that longtime Jerry Garcia Band bassist John Kahn contributed to one song
...
Mydland soon lost enthusiasm and momentum. “We split up and the project kind of fell apart,” Cantor-Jackson recalls. “I had mixed it all, but Brent couldn’t locate some of the mixes. He tried to mix some, but they didn’t sound quite the same.”
Cliff Gallup
Yes, those recordings Gene Vincent cut with Cliff Gallup on guitar are acknowledged classics. Jeff Beck was another devotee - going so far as to cut a tribute album in 1993 called "Crazy Legs." He also plays brilliant versions of "Double Talkin' Baby" and "Cruisin'" on the tribute album to Les Paul - "Rock N' Roll Party". One of the best rock n' roll gigs I have ever seen on film.
But those original recordings - 35 in all - are great in their own right. The 1950's was a wonderful decade, generally, for American music.
Fun story
I was out recently seeing a local group as part of a downtown concert series. They weren't bad, very young dudes probably still in college.
I was wearing a Grateful Dead tie dye, and this guy sees me. Younger guy, turns out he's friends with the band. He's wearing a Nirvana T shirt without a trace of irony.
"Nice shirt man."
"Thanks, you too."
"My Dad is really big into The Dead."
(Of course it would be his Dad. I do some quick math . . .he's probably 21 or 22 . . . and I'm . . . definitely old enough to be his Dad.)
"In fact, my name is actually Casey Jones."
"NO SHIT!"
"Yup. And my sister's name is Cassidy."
That's it, thats the story. There's a student at the local community college named Casey Jones.
I was a little disappointed he didn't know the story of the real Casey Jones, and how the Dead tune ties in with that story. I directed him to Wikipedia.
Found A Treasure
In an antique (junque=high class junk)) store in a big pile of records.
Thanks to this thread (That Mike, Nitecat, and others?) I instantly recognized the
Emmy Lou - Blue Kentucky Girl album as one with the all-star band
you guys were talking about. Burton, Lee, Crowell, Skaggs, Ronnie Tutt,
Dolly, Ronstadt, T. Tucker, Don Everly, and more!
Like new condition for $10. and that's hard to beat.
No record store within 65 miles so I lucked out.
Can't thank you guys enough. Might have missed that one.
Owner had bought 1500 albums from a Dr. collector
from his collection of 10,000. Prices mostly $8-12.
Also got: Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories
Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord (Proudfoot recommended?)
The (Jazz) Crusaders - Street Life
Cheers
Edit: Got some listening to do but I'm starting with Joni Mitchell at Newport on the U-toob
More 80
8/30/80 and 10/14/80 are on Dave’s original wish/maybe list from back when I believe he started as full time archivist.
So good chance those might get out, which means there must be tapes…
He’s released 18 of the 45 on the list so far. 3/9/81 from MSG box will bring the total to 19 of 45.
THATMIKE: glad the women and children survived! Great story too!
Dang, Sold Out
Google > Pine Creek Lodge MT > Events > Scroll to 8/8. Man, when did these go on sale? I would have totally driven out there for this show...
Destination seen unclearly
Yo Gnarleywood,
Let’s get those DaP43’s moving.
TTB's I Am The Moon Episode III : The Fall just dropped....
....on u toob. Outstanding!!
Keep feeding me that awesomeness!!! I can take it.
Tix went on sale for that show two days ago I believe itsburnsy. Didn't take long.
Weir & Wolf Bros announced 2 shows in Vegas in late Oct. I will be in attendance at one for sure.
Fun fact for me. I haven't traveled out of state for a concert since Metallica in 2008. So there's that.
TTB has my current undivided attention....squirrel!
Avatar updated. Obviously.
TTB
They are the real deal.. a 12-piece band including a horn section that delivers a powerful sound. I wish I knew more of their material before I saw them, that's my learning curve with Phish too.
Tedeschi has enough talent to carry her own Band, the same for Trucks of course, so the two paired together is not that common. I will say of Trucks, I have not heard a better slide guitarist perform. He might very well be on par with the best on the planet, realizing this is all subjective.
Anyway.. I'm a fan.
Black Crowes
Just saw the "Shake Your Money Maker" performance in Santa Barbara. Highly recommended.
this band has no problem…
this band has no problem filling up the beacon for a reason. They bring it every time in NYC
Don't be a fool, Proudfoot
TTB is the hottest band on the planet, period. (And has been so for years.)
That is all.
Heaven help this fool
My beloved bought the tickets a few months back.
It sounds like she made a good move.
I will give my review after the show.
This better be good, TTB.
:)))
In the meantime...GIMME MY NEW DAVES!!!
Robert Hunters favorite lyric
"Let it be known there is a fountain, that was not made by the hands of men." I just read a great interview that Hunter had done, and he said that line in Ripple, was his favorite lyric that he had ever written.
Re: Hunter
It's my favorite lyric he wrote as well. Leaves a bit to the imagination. Classic.
Proudfoot.. hilarious.. thanks for making me laugh. Mrs. Proudfoot meets Mrs. MDJim - a event that would set the free world on edge.
Edit: Nevermind, scratch that, the world already has enough trouble. We don't need no more trouble. Trouble we don't need. As you were.
Let it be known..
Yes, exceptional. And along with "Box of Rain" and " Attics of My Life", my favourite version of "Ripple" may well be the one on "American Beauty".
Shipping notice
Haven’t had the shipping notice yet, looks like DP 43 won’t make the release date this time.
Wheels of Soul
My beloved and I drove from Michigan to Aurora (yes, I travel out of state for shows VGuy) and met my longtime friend from Madison (WI) and his beloved for the Aurora, Illinois stop of the Wheels of Soul tour. First off, RiverEdge Park in Aurora was a great little venue in a public park. If you live in Chicagoland and there is a show you want to see at that place, go.
Gabe Dixon opener was fine-- sounded a bit like Billy Joel though with a lack of guitar. Los Lobos played a great 45-60 minute set. They played some great jams and were straight up 'Pros Pros'. They knew their job and crushed the set with help from Susan on their closer. Tedeschi Trucks Band played a fantastic 2+ hour set that left jaws on the floor after some jams. Highlight-- the Pasaquan they are doing every night. Derek Trucks just blazed on that for a huge 20-minute jam, including Drums interlude. They played the full 'I Am the Moon' volume 1 in order and debuted a track off the 3rd they released that night. Other than Pasaquan, the Circles Around the Sun and La Di Da were the best live off the new albums.
Wife was very pleased with the show and I turned on my friend and his wife to TTB and Los Lobos. So many only know Los Lobos from La Bamba and don't realize they flat out jam in concert. They are an American treasure. TTB is only getting started. I say this every time I see TTB-- Trucks does something every song that leaves me in amazement.
What’s going on in Gnarleywood?
Supply chain issues?
Oh DaP43, wherefore art thou?
TTB
It is a great band. I was lucky enough to catch The Derek Trucks Band on many occasions in the 90s before he joined the ABB. The line-up then was Todd Smallie, Yonrico Scott and Bill McKay. They often shared bills with Gov't Mule when Allen Woody was still around. Often the two bands would play together and on one occasion in Cleveland at the Odeon in '99 they performed the ultimate 45 minute version of Afro Blue with the expanded ensemble of both bands.
TTB is great, but the DTB was awesome. That line-up and the occasional Otiel sit in was a power to be reckoned with. Derek seems to hold back his true potential with TTB and that would be my only criticism. Still awesome though.
Release Date
According to my subscription receipt, 7/29 is the release date.
Favorite version of Ripple
Daverock, my favorite version of Ripple is the one on American Beauty, hands down. It was super cool when they brought It back at the Warfield Theatre in1980, or any time that they played it, but the version on American Beauty takes the cake. For such a great song they didn't play it all that much. I saw Garcia play it with Grisman a few times.
ripple
the last one at the cap center in Landover Maryland. Was there, did it for a young man thru make a wish who was dying from cancer. The song was great is great the reason for this particular performance makes it even greater and the last time the Dead played it. It got loud in there that night.
Perfection....
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music?
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full, may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go, no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand, then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home
La da da da...