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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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  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Other Jewel

    Daverock, of course I too went straight to the Red Rocks shows upon first listen before hearing the rest of the box. After getting to all of them I was calling 7-3-78 St. Paul the hidden gem. That must have been a peak period for them. The energy is there. Almost swaggering I'd say, like they need a pack of cigarettes rolled into the sleeve of their t-shirt.
    Cheers

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Me too

    I also played Omaha 7/5/77 after reading Oroboros's post. The first set, last night-excellent - Jerry's guitar sounds as cool and clear as the driven snow. Own up time....for the last couple of years, when I have played shows from this 78 box, I have played the first one 7/1, missed out the next two and gone on to the two Red Rocks shows. I have no idea what put me off Omaha in the past - makes me wonder what other unidentified jewels I have here.

    Exile - I was unfairly dismissive of Black and Blue, too. It's a very entertaining album - I didn't like funk or disco in the 70's, but that's no excuse now. I wasn't keen at all when it came out-Spring 1976, I believe. With Mick Taylor gone, "Fool To Cry" issued as a single and punk waiting in the wings, The Stones, along with most of the great bands from 1965-1975 suddenly seemed a bit passe. I bought the first Ramones album in Summer 1976-that was the sound of the times for me. 40 odd years later... Black and Blue is still on my playlist, and I no longer even have that Ramones album.
    I saw The Stones at Knebworth in 76 - and I have the programme here-nothing to do with music, but it's curious how The Stones and their fans were presented. In the article on The Stones, it states, "Young boys eagerly flocked the Mary Quant make up department in Harrods trendy Way-In shop on Saturday afternoon.The disco pumped out "Hey Negrita" as the boys applied eye liner and lipstick to gaunt virginal faces." I don't think so. I was 19 then, and the article seemed to show how out of touch The Stones had become at that time, with my generation.
    They also apparently had a food stand where you could buy a portion of chicken curry for 0.55p. This in the middle of the hottest heat wave for decades.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Omaha

    That Estimated > Eyes is outstanding. That Eyes of the World has always been a go to post hiatus Eyes.. it's outstanding. I've always been big on that box. 7/1 never circulated and is outstanding, the first Red Rocks shows did circulate and are well.. not to overuse the term but outstanding. A great moment in GD history perfectly preserved for us to enjoy. Aptly timed as we are entering a holiday weekend and the box centers around the Fourth of July.

    Outstanding

  • Charlie3
    Joined:
    Omaha

    Been looking at that July 1978 box when picking some dead to listen to lately, but keep getting sidetracked by a different choice, but Oroboros' post about the virtues of the July 5, 1978 Omaha show prompted me to give it a listen today. Currently on Wharf Rat. I always liked that show, and the recording is excellent. I imagine it was exponentially cooler to be there in person at the time. The artwork on that one is probably about my favorite from that box as well, and I liked all the art from that box, a lot.

  • Exile On Main St.
    Joined:
    Stones

    Hey guys, I lurk more than anything but I saw some Stones talk and I agree with Dave Rock. It's Only Rock 'n Roll is an underrated album. The thing with it in my opinion, is that the songs are either dynamite (like the opening song fictional drummer) or B side material. The other problem is a couple of the songs suffer from Led Zeppelin IV / Dark Side of the Moon syndrome, meaning they've been played on the radio so much that they've lost a little luster (title track and Ain't Too Proud to Beg). I think these songs are pretty high quality once you're sitting back giving them your full attention (In their order of appearance on the LP).

    If You Can't Rock Me
    Ain't Too Proud to Beg
    It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
    Till the Next Goodbye
    Time Waits for No One

    Dance Little Sister

    The first 5 songs are all of side one and are solid. It's Only Rock 'n Roll has "Start Me Up" hit quality. Time Waits For No One makes us realize that Mick Taylor should have had at least one or two tracks on every album to stretch out like he does on this one and Can't You Hear Me Knockin' from Sticky Fingers. Missed opportunity. The thing with these songs is you may think of hearing Dance Little Sister on the radio and thought, meh, average song. Until you really listen to everything going on with the guitars. Keith Richards bass chops on If You Can't Rock Me are cool. Till the Next Time is on par in my mind with Wild Horses and Angie, but again, missed opportunity in that Taylor could have been used to play an electric solo or something, similar to Wild Horses. The remaining songs on the record don't do it for me. Luxury is borderline, but leans too far into funk. Fingerprint File is way too far into funk and not that great a song for me. If You Really Want to Be My Friend and Short and Curlies should have been put in the can for later. Between Goats Head Soup and It's Only Rock 'n Roll, I think there's a great album in there.

    Black and Blue had some great songs with Hand of Fate and Crazy Mama. I think Hand of Fate was as good as 70s rockers got, with very few exceptions.

    Not much to say that hasn't been said about Dave's 43. I would never complain for this type of release.

  • PT Barnum
    Joined:
    reading these posts

    you guys are so cool. Love this forum

  • Charlie3
    Joined:
    Or...

    ...It's like buying a book from the bookstore and then realizing the pages are all put together out of order, and there are pages from another book mixed in. And when you go back and say, hey, bookseller, they put the pages of the book in the wrong order, and there are pages from another book mixed in. And he says, don't worry, you can rip them all out and put the book back together in whatever order you want.

  • Crow Told Me
    Joined:
    It’s Like When Someone Says ‘Plate of Shrimp’

    The other day I ordered a burger with fries. Instead, they brought me fries with a burger. So I complained. But dude, the burger guy said, you can eat them in whatever order you want. Mmfff, I said, eating my fries and burger.

    Received my shipping notice today for the TTB’s “I am the Moon” vinyl set. Because today is the release date. What a concept! You release the record on the release date! Genius! I just want to note that, when you bought the 4-lp set, they promised to provide a digital download of each separate album as each of the four parts of this project was released. And then they actually did! On the actual release dates! And the files actually worked! Amazing! And now they shipped vinyl on the release date. It’s so weird.

    A lot of people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch of unconnected incidents and things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice of coincidence that lays on top of everything. Like the other other day I’m eating a plate of shrimp and listening to Electric on the Eel for the first time in years. And so were you.

    Last five:

    JGB: Electric on the Eel (discs 1 and 6)
    Derek & the Dominos: Layla
    Bill Evans: The Hilversum Concert
    Christian McBride: At the Village Vanguard
    Stones: El Mocambo

  • Oroboros
    Joined:
    Greetings my brothers/others

    All is well in the middle of the country and I couldn't agree more with this esteemed group's statements on current and past musical topics.

    Phil and Friends has consistently displayed such exploratory and jamtasic shows which makes them a 'must see.' I recently attended another Wilco concert prior to that show and the inclusion of Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline in the friends in Chicago reflect excellent choices. Nels has sat in with P & F on multiple occasions and Wilco has covered the Dead on a variety of occasions including Bobby sitting in for Dark Star, Ripple, etc. I regretted that Phil got Covid and couldn't headline with String Cheese Incident's recent Red Rocks shows, but Billy Strings was a welcome replacement and we in the audience had a wonderful time. Still I long to see Phil play again and hope to have another chance soon. The SCI 'dead set' with Billy was a delight and I saw Billy rev up with the Cheese as they took on many of our favorite Dead tunes that evening. And I am quite relieved that Phil has fully recovered from the Covid and is back playing live.

    Besides attending the Wilco and SCI shows, I have also loved recent concerts with the Infamous Stringdusters, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, the Jayhawks, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain, Mollie Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and several years ago was quite taken by previously mentioned Larkin Poe (opened for Elvis Costello). Such terrific music touring again and I'm very grateful to be able to make the journey (pun intended).

    However, given this thread on DP 43, to get back on how this Dave's Pick is stellar and echo others sentiments how the primal Dead are such an unmitigated treat. This is a special release and deserving of frequent rotation.

    And should any of you be inspired by the break-neck speed and turn on a dime of the early Grateful Dead, please consider attending a Joe Russo's Almost Dead show. Yes, Oro (my brother from another mother) those two Vail JRAD shows, along with the JRAD show at Red Rocks were stellar. These guys have the stamina and pace of the early Grateful Dead but along with the Dead's entire song catalogue. Simply remarkable jamming, truly exploratory, and much more in the vein of P & F as opposed to the D & C. JRAD is energy personified and each band member is truly infused with amazing grasp of these wonderful songs along with a jazz mentality and interplay.

    To add to the dialogue regarding 'rain stories' from concerts (discussed earlier in this thread), I got one to share. I recall back in 1978 when the Grateful Dead played at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in July. The venue was about half full (4,000?) but everyone was chomping at the bit as we had not seen the Dead in Nebraska since early in the early 70's. I took my Nak 550 into the venue and there was no hassle getting in the deck in this time, but remember this was before the days of 'taper's sections.'

    Out in the hallway, the Hell's Angels wandered about sporting full colors and big grins. They may have been transporting 'party favors' and decided to take in a show, or perhaps road tripping with the band? Although I did not see them at the subsequent Red Rocks shows. Anyway, I headed down to the floor to set up my Nak in front of the sound board. When I was getting everything ready, I saw this guy with a great rig setting up. Luckily this kind stranger (I have since discovered he was famous taper Bob Wagner) let me patch out of the back of his Sony, which was terrific as he had a tall (8 ft?) stand to get will above the crowd noise. We were about 15 to 20 feet in FOB. So Garcia treats us to a blistering Sugaree opener, the kind that drove the crowd wild. His leads mounted into a wave that crests, recedes, regroups, and roars back with such power and delight that adds to the synergistic effect causing our frenzied response as his rolling/soaring guitar work lift and subside within the band.

    Then BIODTL, TLEO, and then Bob took the spotlight with a "Look's Like Rain." About half way through the son, I suddenly noticed something shimmering in the air between the band and me. I thought "what a fantastic light show! Or have I shifted into 5th gear just a little earlier than I scheduled?" I staggered towards that visual disturbance in front of me to investigate. The crowd was dancing madly in the middle of the floor as a waterfall played over them. The waterfall was about 25 feet in circumference. I put my hand into the water...hand out, no rain, hand in, pouring rain.. I jumped into the waterfall drenching us all in the middle of the Civic auditorium. Then stepped out and there was none. I shook my head and then dove back into the deluge and danced through LLR and next came Direworlf and a delightful All Over Now, with Keith and Donna simply killing it. Candyman, Lazy >Supplication and Bobby informed "we are going to take a short break" (ha, it was never a short break!)

    I staggered back to reload a new tape (remember cassettes?) and I looked for some validation of my experience. I asked my friends if I was not in fact 'soaking wet' as I patted my wet t-shirt? And they grinned knowingly and affirmed that , yes, in fact I was 'all wet."

    Then this unique show continued (nice indoor water feature, boys!) with a killer second set, complete with a transportive Estimated>Eyes>Wharf Rat>Truckin'>Iko Iko > Around and Around.

    As I left the auditorium I noticed the water standing on the ground outside, a summer storm? Hey was this just a case of a leaking roof? Or did the Dead actually conjure up the forces of nature as they were so prone to do?

    Next to travel to their/my maiden Red Rocks shows. Would Phil bombs create reverse gravity and make us float up into the air? What do they have up their collective sleeves for us next (ah-oooo, Werewolves of London, ah-ooo)?

    Those were the daze.....

    Zen saying "teachers open the door, you must enter by yourself."

  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Philco Are Only Rock & Roll (And We Like It)

    Jim - You bring up a good point that Phil is well into his 80s, yet is still bringing it with such new creations as Philco. I think he personifies that well worn axiom “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

    DaveRock - I personally always loved the subtle guitar work on “Fingerprint File” from IORR. Mick Taylor should never have left the Stones, they were a much better band with him (with due respect to Ronnie). Last week, I re-watched their “bootleg” release from the Marquee Club in 1971 - now THAT was THE best Stones lineup.

    Blues For Allah - what an excellent choice. Some really jazzy passages throughout that entire release.

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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.

Billy,

I have always been a huge proponent of getting this run out.

Must have been a blast, what a lucky guy you are. Do you remember how much your tickets were for those shows?

The history (from what I can recall) on what is in the vault goes back to after The So Many Roads box was released, the next box they wanted to put out was the Warfield/RCMH and per Blair Jackson, the Reels were not available. So they ended that idea. In 2020, Dave L confirmed in one of the Shakedown Streams, the multi track reels were reused for a Brent solo project in 83 (the horror!) and there would never be a multi track box set release of this run, they simply did not have the material.
So, I like the way you are thinking on backup cassettes? Hard to know, would be interesting to have someone confirm if they exist and then release the whole run. 70-80 CDs. I will start saving up now.

Shoot Billy, I had given up on this and now you are giving me some hope.

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

79. 0/00/80 Studio = 1
80. 1/24/80 Studio = 1
81. 2/00/80 Studio = 1
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*
87. 5/6/81 Nassau = 1

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Deadvikes I'll find out how much those tickets were, my brother just showed me his ticket stubs yestreday. I still have my ticket stubs around here somewhere. I think a Warfield box set is a real possibility by using cassettes, isn't that what they used for the MSG BOX,cassettes? Maybe they they can combine the multi track reels and cassettes and get a complete box set.

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I was at the Boston world of wheels, and had my picture taken with Roscoe p. Coltrane. How about that, you dipsticks.

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In reply to by carlo13

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....I was just discovering girls lol. How about them apples.
Almost time for puck drop. I'm geared up and ready to go!

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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I picked up an opened, but unplayed cow dvd set for $6. I love the part where Jerry says "...and he packs a .45." sweet.

Been on a kick to find the greatest version of The Eleven for a compilation of Phil's phinest work for a fellow bass-playing co-worker who's never checked out the Dead or Phil, so that led to DaP 10 Bonus Disc, and a ripping Eleven, and when that fi ished, next up on the USB was DaP 11. Long-ass Boston commute got me through it quickly and up to my belabored point: I hope the next Dave's, whatever year or era, has a Brokedown Palace. I think the unexpected drop into that out of a wild, wooly, and weird Other One makes it all the more poignant. It's a song that lives in your head for a while, and I find myself whistling it. May be time to dust off Workingman's and American Beauty. The High Time from Workingman's will definitely be on that mix for my buddy. And if any are wondering, 2/28/69 is surprisingly in the lead for The Eleven. Though I'm gonna use the St Stephen and Death Don't Have from DaP 43. That Jerry moan about 7 min into St Stephen as they launch into the jam is just awesome. I rewind it every time. The Eleven on that 11/2/69 show is good, but big flub on the drum break and Phil re-entry, one of my favorite parts of The Eleven so unacceptable for a mix cd.

I probably would be better off not asking, but for those that have it, how is the MSG box? I'm still on the fence on it, especially after packing everything up to move last weekend and slowly unpacking and finding ways to have the collection out, not fun. Don't need a box set that I won't really listen to, though I have enough that fit that category already, even when they contain great stuff like the box last year or PacNW73-74.

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It's time for an official release of these 2 incredible shows, put them both out for Dave's Pick #45. What a fantastic way to start out the new subscription year!

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In reply to by alvarhanso

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You can actually lay the MSG Box on top of the PNW Box and not take up too much more shelf space.
If you like the era, then I think that you will enjoy the Box.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Mix my eras?! Perish the thought!

But seriously, I did actually display the Dead collection by year/era, and have added a little extra space to be able to break up 1978-95 to two different shelves as opposed to the current single mashup. Listen to the River went to the 73-74 shelf, skipping the 72 shelf. 77 is overly packed. 65-70 could use some more stuff...

And was the MSG box really cassette sourced? For all the shows?

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In reply to by alvarhanso

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Yes, they are cassette masters. I have not listened to every show yet.. but I can give some cursory comments.

I decided to go backwards this time, starting with 83. I had this feeling 81 was going to be the best and I like to finish on a good note. I have finished a first listen to 83 and 82 and did take a sneak peek into 81.

81 (from my brief peek) seems to have both the stronger performances and better recordings. 82 in the middle and 83 does seem to lag behind but it still has it's moments. This is the first box where every show is a cassette master. They did a good job cleaning things up as best they can, but you can tell these are not Betty Boards or Multi-Tracks. To it's credit, the 81 show sounds really good (again, partial listen) and like cousins said on the MSG thread, Jerry is blazing hot. 82 is the mid range. 83 seems to have that 83 fuzz. The mix isn't spot on perfect and it has a bit of a kick drum fetish. The organ and Phil are not prominent in the mix either. Still, it sounds better than some of the 83's and Healy did not seem committed to funnel in crowd noise. There are some patches too.. a couple are hard to not notice.

I like it, but I am an equal era opportunity person.

They are certainly testing their model though. The Giants Box had both better performances (in my opinion) and they were multi-tracks. The 10k limited edition sold out very quickly, but lots of people in the New York area were there and surely gobbled up a lot of what was printed. This box is a few years earlier and taps out at 12,500 copies.
They seem to be more reliant on their tent pole construction, with 81 keep the canvas above our heads. It will surely sell out but again, in my humble opinion it's not as strong as the Giants Box, which spans the Brent years into Bruce and Vince.

There are some really strong moments, perhaps Cone Kid said it better using far few words. Not sure if I helped or hurt.. but that's my take so far.

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In reply to by alvarhanso

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Yes, cassettes, then Plangent Process.
3-9-81 sounds better than any copy I’ve previously had, and overall sound quality is good for the whole Box.
There are a few patches, but that is better than not including the song on the release.

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In reply to by alvarhanso

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You should post your list of best Elevens, I think I like 3/1/69 but i bet there are great ones off the beaten path.

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In reply to by JoeyMC

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It's almost too mind boggling to contemplate, which is the best version of "The Eleven". My favourite shows in which it featured were in the first half of 1969, if that's any help. I also like the wild ride of those 1968 versions , when it came out of China Cat. No other rock band on God's earth played like that.

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If you’re currently searching for the best version of The Eleven, then you’re probably not going to like this MSG release. This box set is inferior in a multitude of ways, not the least of which is the sound quality. I was on the fence because I was dubious of just that. I decided to make the purchase because I own very little from the 81, 82, 83 time period. Well, now I have more than enough. Oddly, my favorite part of the whole release is the lost verse from West LA Fadeaway. Try to live by the golden rule . . .

If you have to own everything that’s released, by all means go purchase it. If not, do yourself a favor and go listen to DaP43 again.

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I didn’t buy the MSG box, just the single show breakout, but I would have to say that if the audio on 3/9/81 is, as some have said, some of the best audio of any show in the box, well, it's good that I didn’t shell out for the whole thing.

It’s weird, isn’t it, that we have shows from the ‘60s, when everybody was tripping their balls off and working with equipment that Fred Flintstone would’ve snickered at, but the shows are in much better audio than any we’ve got from the early ‘80s.

But then again everybody’s definition of “good” audio is going to be different.

Me, I love listening to, say, stuff from the Wall of Sound period where you can hear each musician clearly, even though the vocals are often buried. Seems like Betty Cantor felt the same way, judging by her mixes.

The 3/9/81 show is disappointing to me because I can’t hear Weir’s guitar at all, and the mix is overly dominated by Jerry and Brent at the expense of everything else that’s happening. But the vocals are very prominent, and the band is playing with the energy and focus that NYC audiences always seemed to bring out of them, so most people will really like this I’m sure.

Hey, did anybody get tix for the final (supposedly) Dead & Co tour? I meant to try to get the last show in SF, but wound up having to work (wtf, still, at my age, I gotta work?) yesterday, and couldn’t be online. I’m afraid to even look to see what tickets are going for on the secondary market. Maybe this was just the Universe letting me know I don’t really need to be there.

Wanted to mention that I’ve been checking out some Zappa recently, and to thank everybody who posted recommendations some weeks ago after I brought him up.

Last five:
Zappa: Waka Jawaka
Michael Brecker Band: Live at Fabrik (“New” release of an excellent ‘80s show!)
Roy Hargrove: Earfood
Mingus Big Band: Blues and Politics
Ty Segall: Manipulator

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Deadvikes the price of the tickets for the 1980 Warfield shows were $12.50 for floor seats and $10.50 for balcony seats. The Warfield was a small theatre, it only held 2,300 people, there wasn't a bad seat in the house. There was a nice bar upstairs. 3 sets of great music from the best band in the world for $12.50, " last fair deal in the country". Let's hope we get that Warfield box one day.

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I concur, anything from 1980 is ok in my book. It's all good. Dead and Co. hard pass also, really, after what I saw with the wolf bros and Bob, sleep fest. Hopefully, Billy and Mickey can get a band together, Mickey Hart Band was a great band, rhythm devils also very good. Will be interesting what else they will come up with, I can see both of them dieing on stage. Box blues, I had a gut feeling that this was the case ie sound, thanks AJS and CTM for honest reviews. Not a snob, just want the entire experience. Jerry high in the mix is ok too if that's all ya got.

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6/23/90
Coming 10/18/22

Looks to be 6/23/90. It's got a Cumberland.

Artwork looks to be cartoon skeletons dancing in the forest. None bearded, four wearing wigs, four wearing hats to hide their baldness. One sleeping. That's all I have. Back to your regularly scheduled Stranger opener.

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17 years 3 months
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A couple of you beat me to the announcement but I am looking forward to DaP 44. I am not familiar with this show but I just checked out the setlist and it looks great. I am really loving the variety of releases. Between all 4 Dave's Picks and the MSG Box we are really being treated to some great shows spanning all eras. Once again, I tip my hat to Dave L and the crew. Absolutely wonderful!

Regarding Dead & Co- I have seen a lot of discussion about ticket prices. Sadly I think that is the norm. Same with Phish and other bands too. It just seems that to get seats close to the stage or with a good view it will simply cost a lot. I am going to go to Starlake and I bought lawn tickets. Thankfully they are still reasonably (for the times) priced. I passed on last years show at Starlake- I had several bad omens on the day of, and I ended up miracling my tickets. I lucked out because Nugs ended up broadcasting the audio from the show for free so I got to hear it all from home.

I am going this year as I am planning on getting together with a bunch of friends. Honestly I have felt that with each passing year, Dead & Co have lost momentum so to speak. I don't fault the boys for going out there and still playing music at all - it is more my sensibilities. However since they are coming to my town one last time I thought why not?
I may even trek down to VA to see an old buddy and catch the show down there.

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There is a heaping helping of great comments about this show right here on this site in the Archive, by folks who were there. It sounds like a can’t-miss show, and a great choice for release. Plus, it’s got a lovely long Crazy Fingers! Bliss.

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17 years 3 months

In reply to by That Mike

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....where can I find this news?

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by Vguy72

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October Bulletin

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Last time I saw them was Nov 2017, $99 GA floor.

An easy skip next summer.

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17 years 3 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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....ahhh. Thanks Conekid! 👍
My crew and I almost went to that show.
I can never have enough Cumberlands.

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Hope it has the missing 12-26-69 Cold Rain as filler at the end of CD2.

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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7 shows from 1972.

It’s in the Rhino Newsletter.

Cheaper than Lyceum ‘72 Vinyl.

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9 years

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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First show I saw in the Great Northwest. Little Feat opened both days. Awesome fun weekend back in the days where there were no real worries. Sigh. Just a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago. (And, yeah, Phil sang Box of Rain in the big ol' fat show the next day.)

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4 years 1 month

In reply to by bluecrow

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The "tether show"

I was up there Waaaaay too far up there. My buddies had to tie a string to my toe to keep me from floating away forever.

Know wut I mean?

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13 years 3 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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I might have deleted my rhino newsletter email. What is this? HF must be doing backflips in the backcountry with this news.... (or could he be turntable deprived, oh the horror)

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This one has been very high on my wish list. What a great addition to the Dave's Picks series. They just keep getting better. The May-June 90 West Coast run was a nice continuation of the epic Spring 90 tour. From Carson to Cal Expo, Shoreline and through these Eugene dates The Dead were killing it.

The MSG 81-83 box is quite awesome. Great release year all around!

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17 years 3 months
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Double posted so just a couple recent acquisitions.

Miles Davis Bootleg Series Vol. 7 - Scofield sounds great on this. Good stuff.

Pink Floyd Animals 2018 remix - Sounds good. Haven't had a chance to hear the surround mix version yet.

I have the new Garcia Live Halloween '92 set on order. Caught the Dead at Copps Coliseum, The Palace, Soldier Field, Deer Creek and the Compton Terrace shows that were a little over a month after this show. Most of the show's I caught in '92 were from really good to excellent for the era. After Jerry's second health scare in a half-dozen years it seemed he might have bounced back for a brief time.

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17 years 3 months

In reply to by SPACEBROTHER

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....T-Mobile is electric. Thompson with the shut out.
Didn't go to any Knights games last year because of vacations. Not spending a ton etc, etc. Not complaining at all, but.
It felt good to be home and people are awesome.

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In reply to by SPACEBROTHER

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Dave'll be along soon saying how great it is. That Animals 2018 remix is on my shopping list though. It's a long list...

With this new Dave's - it must have been round about this time that Brent popped his clogs. Maybe it will feature more of his songs than usual as a sort of tribute

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16 years 3 months
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Mornin', rockers..................

New DaP reminds me of that old Grateful dead saying, "One man gathers what another man spills".

All due respect, I spill this one...................

These days what's not worth saying gets set to music..................

Rock on,

Doc
Not only is your story worth telling, but it can be told in words so painstakingly eloquent that it becomes a song.....

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14 years 10 months
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Currently have a opy of the Hans matrix and it sounds good, lets see if they fix a couple of the dropouts and other digi skips apparently on the soundboard. Would I have picked this show? no. wonder if they will include Bill Grahams' speech at the end of the show.
The Fall 72 Yes "Close to the Edge" tour was one of their best. This set has been released on CD a few years ago and sold out instantly. Would love to have a copy, but the cost is prohibitive. This set does not include the show that I attended on 16 September 1972 at the old Curtis Hixon Hall in downtown Tampa, Fl. Torn down now, but fond memories from that historic venue.
The Eagles opened the show, they had just released their first lp and that's all they had to play, when they finished the album, the crowd said "More" and the Eagles treated us to about a half hour of bluegrass jams with a smokey mountain breakdown theme. It was a great opening and Rick Wakeman was seen on the side of the stage clapping and dancing around, he really like the show. Then, Yes came out.
At the time, Yes was one of my top 5 bands and this was the first time I had seen them live. Having just purchased the Close to the Edge lp and having loved the Fragile lp, we could not wait to get there. A swabby buddy and I boarded a Greyhound bus in Orlando that afternoon and after several stops, we arrived at the bus depot in Tampa. We immediately made a bee line to the arena, first time to Curtis Hixon and Tampa itself. We both had tickets and we entered the hall.
Lots of hippies with familiar music playing on the house cans, Dave Mason, Alone/Together. Being hippies we immediately broke out the stash and started rolling joints and passing them around. The crowd took notice and pretty soon everyone around us was rolling and passing, with some in the crowd yelling out, "hey, these guys are turning everyone one". Meet many a cool head that day. The lights went down and out they came. Jon dressed in a flowing multicolored frock, lose and clingy and pastel colors. Chris Squire had his boots on and looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Wakeman has on his golden cape and white boots and Alan White, who had just replaced Bill Buford, was on the kit. Off to stage left was Howe, long hair hanging covering his face with silver embellishes on his trippy outfit.
They opened with the Firebird Suite right into Siberian Khatru, got everyone rocking right off the bat. I've seen all good people was next and done to perfection into Mood for a day. The Clap followed with Howe showing off his guitar chops. Then it began, the opening notes of And You and I, into Heart of the Sunrise into Close to the Edge. Taken aback, the crown and us too were spellbound, then Wakeman starts dropping bombs, dropping them and sending them across the stage in and epic end of the world scenario that when it was over, and the last bomb had hit and exploded and blew up everyone, the crowd erupted into a standing ovation with Rick standing there with this "wow, I did that?" look, taking sheepish bows. After the ovation, they started the hit Roundabout, got us all up again sounding just like the lp into yours is no disgrace. We left, had to take that long bus ride home, which was fun tripping balls and looking out the windows at all the trails and colors. A night I will never forget.

thanks for sharing that cool concert tale from the old days. not a vinyl guy nowadays but with that story would like to hear shows from that tour. had several Yes LPs back late 70s and spun them a lot but at some point they fell off the edge of my music listening world.

no memory of Bill Graham be safe and be neat speech after end of 6/23. A special set of shows for sure. What a fun weekend it was with both the Feat and the Dead . In '94 punk ass jerks and slobs got the Dead banned at Autzen which was why they played Portland Meadows in '95.

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11 years 11 months

In reply to by Gratefulhan

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My buddy just got 4 tixs for Walnut Creek(?), an amphitheater in NC,,,, around the corner for him. Good seats, middle/middle, even with soundboard. 1300 bucks!!!! are you kidding me?!?!?! No way, no how. Like I tell kids at the store, "I got money to piss away and I will not waste it on that".

I was thinking about the 3 Boulder shows,,,, 500 bucks to STAND ON THE FIELD! What's that phase they use,,, oh, yeah, fuck you. A three night stand could be a 5,000 dollar weekend,,,, NO, NO, NO, NO!

Like sporting events, you want the high prices to stop, stop going!

My buddy says he just caught Govt Mule, they played over 2 hours,,,,, 45 bucks!

Also I always wonder how much of that 500 dollar ticket do the boys get. Why do I think the boys get a 100 and ticketmaster gets 400?

Trying to get tixs for Warren's Christmas Jam,,,, should know by days end.

Next Dave's should sound great,,, my in stock copy sounds very good.

Sorry about the ticket rant. (not really)

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For Mr. Barnum (who probably knows) and anyone else interested, there was a 2-cd set of one complete '72 show released at the same time as the cd box set. I don't see it on Amazon, could it be out of print already??
*Edit-Wrong, it was the complete setlist, 1 or more songs from various shows in the box. Memory Issues!!

Dave's #44 looks intriguing, I'm excited to see and hear the seaside chat on Tuesday.

I don't really chime in on sports, but for the record, I'm Orioles, Ravens, Capitals and Terrapins. Never too much to get excited about. Oh, and Liverpool Reds also.

Great story PT! Mention of the Eagles reminded me of a concert at Bowdoin College back in the day. Bob and I drove down to Brunswick, Maine to see Leslie West & Mountain on October 1, 1971... big fans of Cream, Felix Pappalardi had moved on to play bass with Leslie. Don't recall the exact location but it was not big arena. There was no opening band advertised but after we got there, it was announced that a brand new band would open, total unknowns, no music out yet, it was the Eagles opening for Mountain. Found the date on Mountain's tour history but nowhere in the Eagles archives. They had just decided their name reputedly after a mescaline session in the desert following their time with Linda Ronstadt. We were about 25-30 feet from the stage, recall we thought: these guys are pretty good. Then Mountain came on so freakin' loud, blew the lid off the place. This new at the time friend and I had just started running our college's 5 watt radio station and went on to many concerts, including Watkins Glen. Lost him to horrible ALS about fifteen years ago, RIP old bud.

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And to Dave N. who convinced me to go to my first concert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, at Ebbet's Field (small club downtown Denver). Had heard them on the radio as their first album had come out. Monumental show with all of the first and most of their upcoming Second Helping too, and a 25 minute Freebird to top things off. I'm sure I've told this story with Ronnie swilling Jack out of the bottle between songs and setting the wet bottle down on the baby grand every time.
Thanks Dave N., RIP. And cheers to all!
Saw the well established Eagles (original lineup) at Red Rocks the next year I think.

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My first concerts were in 1968

Cream
Grateful Dead
Credence Clearwater Revival
Steppin Wolf
Sly and the Famly Stone......Sly was so Wasted but was still GREAT

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Good to "hear your voice", Dennis!

Last year I put in my first straight-through listen to the two Spring '90 boxes, then started listening to Summer 1990 shows that were well-regarded. My notes for 6/23 say that I LOVED it, and enjoyed it even more than a good number of shows from the Spring boxes. For those who need more like DaP40, the 7/16 show is just as good as either from that set, in my opinion. I think folks are going to really enjoy this DaP! :)

Be kind, rewind . . .

vote with your wallet.

I will buy reasonably priced GD music. But will not drop big bux on D&C, esp. at the Gorge. My experience there in 2019 says "aw HELL no" to going back there. Getting in was horrific.

Besides, all due respect to Bobby and pals...D&C is not the GD

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