Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,098 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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June 29, 2020 - 7:53am

#6681

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Dave's 31

Dave's 31 it is!

Thanks Otis.
June 29, 2020 - 7:45am

#6682

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

Warming up the Chocolate Spot...

... sounds kinda dirty when you put it that way, Oro... :)

Rock on!

Peace
June 29, 2020 - 7:09am

#6683

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Otis

31, bring it!
Glad we got that Chocolate spot all warmed up for ya!
June 29, 2020 - 6:12am

#6684

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Oroborous, DeadVikes, etc.

Thanks, my man! I think it sounds pretty sweet - especially that Shrine 67 LP release, played LOUD!

Your Hershey story is great! Really wish I would have been around during those times! I would have partied right down in the mud with you!

Not the same, but my first Phish show was at Hershey in 96. We too found a spot directly in front of the soundboard, figuring that it had to sound good there. To this day, my friends and I refer to that area at shows as "The Chocolate Spot."

DeadVikes, everything's a-ok on this end. Thanks for the thoughts!

So, are we on for Dave's 31 today?

Peace
June 28, 2020 - 9:31pm

#6685

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Otis/Oroborous

Good to see you back in the loop. Hope all is well. New system is always exciting.
I am willing to give Dave's 31 another try. Haven't listened to it since last year.

Took out Good old Dave's 25, the BINGHAMTON NY 77 show. Some of these shows keep getting better with each listen.
Oroborous, you are a wild man. What a ride!

Be well folks. I have heard rumblings in other pages about big announcements coming. Don't know about that but we do know Dave's 35 will be announced in July. Maybe they will give Oroborous an 85 pick?
June 28, 2020 - 9:27pm

#6686

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

6.28.85 Hershey Park....

....another one of my first tapes. Bird Song-> Comes A Time -> Deal. A rare Garcia trifecta to end the first. Music Never Stopped-> Tom Thumbs to open the second. How do you guys keep bringing up my first loves? And why does this band keep following me?
Here's kind of a story. I tripped balls listening to this tape in 1989. That's all I got.
June 28, 2020 - 7:19pm

#6687

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

Hershey

You know it's on Dave's radar as he has played some of it on 30 Days in past years. Good show and one of my first tapes. Keep the stories coming! :-)
June 28, 2020 - 5:16pm

#6688

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

6/28/85

So after basically staying up for 2 days at SPAC, we finally pack it up and hit the road the next day. I believe it was a rainy, gloomy day most of the day. But that didn’t stop our idiot patrol from basically racIng at high speed through the fine but conservative state of Pennsytuckey, where they were one of the last to let go of the 55 mph laws, and back then there usually wasn’t much tolerance. So 2 cars of totally raging nutknicks, with probably enough cargo to keep us detained for decades, thought it’d be a good idea to race at speeds up to 90!, Idiots!.....yes, one car had a radar detector, but in those days smart cops would wait for some nut traveling high speed and click it on when they had ya dead nuts.
Luckily, all was well and it was one more “miracle” as we earnestly pursued our quest for “too much of everything is just enough”, aaaa, never considered back then maybe Bob was being sarcastic? Lol
So we roll on into Chocolate town late and all beat up. I’m guessing we grabbed some kind of drive through, but not sure and as we were hardcore vegetarian then, perhaps we thought we’d grab something there? It’s all such a blur, I do recall the lot we were in had no or little Shakedown action going on. That still wasn’t in full flight anyway, and don’t recall much there, so maybe we drank our supper? I know I scored some Carlsberg Elephant beer, and believe I may have finished it, though that is a tall order even under good conditions so perhaps not. I’m sure I put in dent in it at least! So, that and the last of one z of veggies, though the tricky part was it was mostly just powder and scraps and so no normal produce to properly gage etc, which would turn out to be a tactical error...
So it’s late, we’re tired, but tweaked, perhaps no dinner, and of course it’s horrible out. Dark, rainy, and cold is usually not how you want to do your Dead. Eventually we get in perfect time, slip right in front of the SB and try to make the best of the situation. Well I had a shirt, a black baseball jacket, and the electric Buffalo Hyde, but even still it was damp and cold at first. Eventually, when things started to take hold and we started boogieing, we began to warm up a bit.
Meanwhile, the set list is awesome, but the conditions, which necessitated all the stage and PA speakers being covered in plastic (there was no stage lid) thereby severely effecting the audio. It’s was such a weird show that way, loved the little “stadium” and the nice audiophile stereo set up, with surrounds, great set list, mostly good playing, yes JGs vocals are a little ruff in the first set, but you have to cut some slack as it was terrible, I mean depending on the wind/rain they were getting rained on playing electrical instruments! Weird indeed, but like so many times in adverse conditions our heroes seemed to rise to the challenge. Thus the playing was perhaps more relaxed, steady and together and not forced like the previous night. Really, besides JGs vocal issues in the first, its a top notch show!
The second set really starts to take it higher with stellar versions of Music Never Stopped, Terrapin, Miracle and one of the best Dews I’ve ever seen! I think I saw about 14 or 15 Dews and when I think about Dews I’ve seen, this one is the one I always think of first! Rocking Stones/NFA with a spirited Day Job. I liked Day Job, but by now it was getting a tad old, and was a disappointment for this show considering how high it was at that point. A She Belongs or Baby Blue would of been a perfect Cherry on top, but perhaps that’s being greedy?
Now since the weather was such a factor, we must discuss that and how it influenced this show. The second set starts out with their “signing in the rain” as Bob says, and it’s a good’n! Next they slowly slid into an unusual sounding Tom Thumbs which I had never heard yet, and wasn’t even sure at first what it was, but hey, it was Phil so that’s all I needed to know! Good but perhaps truncated Estimated, followed by an awesome Terrapin. So as the set started to progress, so did the weather until (I think?) around Estimated it really started to clear up and they started pulling the plastic tarps down. It was almost like you could immediately hear it get better after each one was removed. Eventually by about Terrapin, they tarps we’re gone, the moon and stars were out, and Healy started increasing the volume and tweaking the mix. I remember we were goading him to turn it up, and man eventually he sure did!
As the night wore on it began to warm up a bit too. But as you’ve heard this scenario, or been there yourself, many times I didn’t feel quite high enough so what the hell, one more time with the powder veggie crumbles just before drums......hee-hee....you know, “I’m not feeling it?” and then...Dooah!
So the problem with those baseball jackets is they don’t really breath and the electric Buffalo Hyde was thick plastic. We didn’t have all the nice technical outer gear we have now, or at least WE didn’t. I could barely afford the free plastic one from the old mans work.
Well a perfect storm mounted; little or no food, Elephants, veggies etc, no sleep, excess everything and underlying exhaustion, with me starting to overheat due to the above and dancing with that plastic shell on. Things were going unbelievable well, and partly influenced by the very recent passing of my Grandfather, during Dew, things peaked musically, the sound, the night, the stars, emotionally etc etc until I had one of the most powerful musical/emotional/psychedelic peak experiences of my life. Perhaps my all time GD moment, it was that powerful. But what goes up must come down and just like that the radiator blew and that last handful of shroom dust fully kicked in and somewhere in Throwing Stones, right during ashes, ashes all fall down, well.....I say i didn’t really fall down, it was more like an immediate realization that if I don’t sit down rapidly, I’m going down! LOL, so one way or another, depending on who you believe, I end up down in the soft, cool mud until near the end of the song, but I swear just as I tried to get up I knew it wasn’t going to happen, so right on que again I go back down. My friends to this day always bring up my perfectly coreographed “Dance moves” above all else that happened on this tour..35 years later and it’s still “ashes, ashes, Pedro falls down” !
That would of all been well and good except things were very strange and weren’t wearing off, and I was barely functioning. I never would of found the car etc If not for my homies. Honestly all I remember is them pulling into a Wendy’s or something, but I just sat in the car with my face literally stuck to the window and crackled! Zzzzttttt. I really thought I had finally fried some essential circuits and thought this time I really did it. At some point I snapped out enough to find some kids in another car staring at me with a look of concern if not fear. Luckily, the boys finished up and came out and got us outta there. Somewhere near the state line we finally grabbed a motel as we all had had more than enough rain and adversity. Plus the next day was off and the drive short. I remember they propped me up in bed and I just sat and crackled and worried. Eventually I slept and though I felt better the next day, I didn’t feel normal and don’t recall much except when we got to Merriweather and found a good spot just over the creek, right next to the path, in some trees, on the way to the big parking lots to the right of the venue. But now it was nice and I was feeling more normal so not so freaked out. I also remember going to a nearby sorta plaza with an upscale liquor store where I scored my first sixer of EKU 28 ever which was awesome!
So now we’ve moved beyond the insanity of TOGA, the adversity and majesty of Hershey, and ready for perhaps the best overall show of the tour on 6/30/85....

EDIT: Otis, congrats on the stereo. All that matters is if your happy with it. After all the specs and hyperbole etc, no matter how big, small, expensive etc, in the end, that’s all that counts!
June 28, 2020 - 4:14pm

#6689

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Bob T and Pick for Monday

Nice rec for the TDIGDH 6/28/76 show! I'd never heard that one before, and it is pretty sweet. The "Happiness is Drumming" is certainly a highlight!

I have been out of the loop for a bit - trying to deal with some personal stuff on my end, and I just kind of lost track of things around these parts. I hope to be able to participate more going forward.

To that end, how about a pick for tomorrow, Monday 6/29? I am thinking Dave's 31 - 12/3/79 Uptown. I feel like this pick got a short shrift on the DaP page, but I remember being very happy with it, though I haven't given it a proper listen since it first came out. What do you all think?

One positive thing that I have accomplished since I've been away has been the set up of my first component stereo system. I don't know if it compares to all of your "big boy" systems, but it certainly feels BIG in my little row home! Looking forward to playing it LOUD tomorrow when the wife goes to work.

Peace
June 28, 2020 - 11:41am

#6690

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Voodoo senile, slight return. 6/27/85, and why 85 Dead is like

Bode Miller...

First, GOGD, I did not mean to single you out, over generalizations, which become stereotypes, which become truth etc, really bum me out. So it was more of a trigger to that, not you personally. I know you were just repeating this line.
Actually, as I’ve dug in deeper, there are probably a significant number of shows where he often doesn’t sound so good, but to over generalize that “his voice was shot”, as in never more, to me, imho, that completely devalues and discounts all the amazing, great sounding stuff he was still able to do. 87,88,89,90,91anyone? Micro view versus macro perhaps?

SECOND: I must humbly recant my tale of dancin in the rain. As we were diligently experiencing TOGA last night. Too things became apparent. First, perhaps JG was a tad “caffeinated” at the start of both sets. Listening close on a real system, (not the big boy, but the living room system which ain’t no slouch!), he seems a tad to fast and/or their not fully entrained. One could argue not fully so until Women Are?...so probably something to do with him totally skipping the Key Rain Storm, and Jailhouse versus, of Bertha, lol.
Thus, while I wasn’t deceitful, I was not accurate. Sure enough, when Holmes and Watson ripped a spleef and fired up Bertha from SPAC 6/24/84, and bingo, ding, ding, ding, ding! Right venue, wrong year! 😂 Ooops, my apologies to the dear reader...but hey, it’s a fun interesting new tid bit, and it did rain, I think, lol.
While doing this research I was listening just on the iPad and interestingly he doesn’t sound as bad? Also, I’ve been going with the HS matrixes, especially shows where I want to hear those crowd big moments. Generally they’ve been pretty good, but researching, I used a CM transfer and man, definitely a big difference. Perhaps number one being the speed/time of the Miller seemed better and more natural?
Subjective I know, just that it’s interesting how every variable can effect perceptions.
6/27/85: so this beast is still as much of a rocket sled ride as I’ve thought, but it’s perhaps a tad more unpolished then I would of said in the past. But that’s being picky, and you know I prefer danger dead to safe, so as at this moment, Hell in a bucket is scorching, I stick by this show for that, the cool set list, and the fact that eventually, say around Women Are on out, that part of the show stands with its lofty summer 85 neighbors. Probably have to give 6/24& perhaps 6/25? a slight advantage overall, but man I haven’t been to many shows that had the vibe, fun, and overall madness of this puppy.

So why is 85 Dead like Bode Miller? He often was criticized for his erratic style, or lack thereof, his nonconformity, often disregard for the rules, including parting then basically going 80 MPH down an insane pitch, that was usually hosed down to make it more icy, and thus faster! So just like this era of Dead, sometimes he’d DQ, sometimes he’d slack off, sometimes it was ugly, but when he brought it, that mofo brought it!! and when he was able to be one with the force, it was fucking breathtaking! Scary, but breathtaking. No matter what, if he was racing there was an energy, an excitement, that larger than life vibe......that, to me, is 85 Dead.
FINALLY: Ladies and Germs, May I present the Electric Buffalo Hyde! as christened by my degenerate cohort due to my resemblance of the great beast of the prairies back in the day, and this baby used to be so bright people would ask if there were batteries. But Alas, like youth itself it’s faded dramatically, and is old and bartered. It definitely gave it’s all to R&R. So many Dead shows, festivals, camping, parties, you name it! Also, it will be a part of an unfortunate situation at the next night, where I lost my shit in Hershey! So until then....

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

Bills/Vikings

The Vikes have been winning ugly this year OB, so winning in Buffalo will be a tall order. Should be a good game. Enjoy it.

Congrats DV

A win is a win!
Still not sure what the hell happened, but the Bills did everything they could to lose and the VIKS did what they had to do to win. On top of everything else I have going on, the Bills lately ain’t helping my mental health.
No tunes aren’t helping either!
Did get 11/9/73 in and some southing Jazz, but I’m way behind : (
Man I love fall 73!
I hate having to choose, but IF I was forced, I’d probably claim fall 73 as my top dog? Woof!

Bills/Vikings

What a game OB, probably one of the best games I have seen in years and what a crazy finish. A huge win for the Vikes on the road.

It definitely could have gone another way.

The Bills still have a great team, hang in there.

Winterland 73

Just finished 11/11/73 today. Hard to pick favorites with this three show run, but man, the 11th is really enjoyable.

The WRS, Half Step, Big River into Dark Star into Eyes, is pretty hard to beat. Love it!

Thanks for pointing us in this direction Jim.

Winterland 73

Grate Box.

Goes to show, a 3-show + bonus disc Box can sell.
Boxes that size could be part of the 2-Boxes-per-year plan I’ve been calling for.

WL 73

Still hating myself for not buying this one!
Back then I wasn’t collecting things, in fact, I was one of those “I have too much already etc.
That plus my cousins used to do business with GDP so they’d often get free stuff that I had access to.
So I thought WTH do I need to buy that for, idiot!
FW was off my radar, E72 I couldn’t afford at the time, but WL 73…IDIOT, especially it was not expensive!
Oh well, if your going to be dumb, then you better be tough (or rich).

Anywho, did get 11/10 on in the background while I joust at greedy immoral insurance companies.
Hoping to give 11/11 a good go mañana.
Fall 73 baby! Boo-yah

Yeah Conekid, that’s what I’ve been saying, put out a big dog, perhaps at lower numbers, and also a small boxes too annually! Think there should be 5 Dave’s a year also, I mean their market will be dwindling rapidly, what the hell are they waiting for!

Tungsten, X-rays, and Coolidge.......

Mornin’, rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day Trifecta:

November 15, 1969 Crockett, California. A beefy show, with a good dose of grease, but currently sonically lacking. We need an upgrade! Is there a “new & improved” copy in those banana boxes? Let’s pray to the gods of reel-to-reels. And for all you Lovelight haters, lol this one clocks in at almost 43 minutes!

November 15, 1971 Austin, Texas. An oh-so-cool show that was officially released back in 2010. Fine Truckin’ opener, sweet first set Star, fierce NFA transition jam. Just plain yummy and certainly worthy of a revisit……………

November 15, 1972 Oklahoma City. Typically fine late 1972 show. Bird Song, Box Of Rain, Cumberland, China/Rider to close the first set (love that position!), jammy Playing, fine NFA suite. Music to our ears!!!

Three tapestries, tattered at the edges and come unwoven to reveal a single mutual thread……

Rock on!!!

Doc
The out-of-tuneness of the triad is part of its beauty…………

thanks again Doc, Ark is calling

As I have been scoping out various unreleased and off the beaten path primal to cowboy transition shows 68/69 (like Bellarmine 12.7.68), here Doc goes with a fall 72 gem just before Dave's 11 and the sweet Hofheinz duo. Keeper show, mandated by discovery there's an extended 31 plus minute PITB. How many more calls for the Ark shows do we need, maybe 2023 is the year. And add the Cl-, the show at Cl-Ark just before that, apparently the origination on 4/20 of 420 tradition.

11-14-73

in the 30 trips box, second set is so fine. the other one 3 times.

The hidden harmony is better than the obvious........

Mornin', fellow rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Albuquerque, November 17, 1971

Obviously, needs no explanation. And by the way, dedicated to Strider Brown.......

Was once the Holy Grail of 1971 Grateful Dead recordings. What's next? Soundboard of December 5 1971? 46??? Say a prayer.................

If you haven't heard this, where you been living? In a cave? Come on out, listen and step into the light.....

It is obvious that we can no more explain a passion to a person who has never experienced it than we can explain light to the blind............

Rock on!!!

Doc
Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious........

11/17 Box

In hindsight, they should have put out an 11/17 mini-boxset. 11/17 from 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Or, they could have gone big and released them all.

11/17/68- Eagle's Auditorium - Seattle, WA
11/17/71- Albuquerque Civic Auditorium - Albuquerque, NM
11/17/72- Century II Convention Hall - Wichita, KS
11/17/73- Pauley Pavilion, UCLA - Los Angeles, CA
11/17/78- Uptown Theater - Chicago, IL
11/17/78- Loyola College - Chicago, IL
11/17/85- Long Beach Arena - Long Beach, CA

Either way, it would have been a winner.

Fall 73

I always thought they should have put a big Fall 73 box out, especially those unique last ten shows!
Fudge, I’m so far behind, on everything, guess I’m going to have to make a date night with 11/17 lol.
Still have that magnificent 11/11 to get too, let alone the others here I’ve missed.
And the way life’s been lately, going to need a big dose of 12/6, (for medicinal purposes only of course!)

11/17

They played the killer portion of 11/17/72 yesterday on Today in GD History. Those two shows seem to go together pretty well. Just saying.

I'm always behind OB.. but believe it or not.. my backlog of crap I have not been able to do is little by little getting done. I need to get my skis ready for the season but my time is starting to free up. Holy cow.. the options.

In fact.. my morning chores are complete, I am caught up with work and it's Friday. I think it's time to take a little tincture and super charge the beginning of the weekend.

ketchup

on the drive back to Smokey the Bear land several days ago got a good night driving listen into Disc 3 of !1/9/73 and full show of 11/11/73. All great fall '73 of course, but man o man that Dark Star > Mind Left Body > Eyes of the World > China Doll is without question one of my favorite sequences of dead music (of course I do have more than a few favorite "children"). Love it love it love it.

Also listened again to the new Dave's from Autzen and just want to say that LLR > Crazy Fingers was magical.

Not traveling with the 11/17's from Albaturkey and Pauley so they'll have to wait. That '78 Rambler Room craziness took place less than 10 miles from the family home - so close. No good soundboards of the first 2 nights, including 11/17, of the Uptown Theatre run taking place at that time, but a sweet SBD of night 3 - 11/18/78. Awesome show - release worthy for me - that I pointed to awhile ago as a POTD. encourage folks to check it out or revisit if they did listen to it back then (why it's a TDIGDH).

Enjoy the weekend. Onward!!

Yeah BC

I’ve been holding off on 11/11, hoping today might be the day!
After a week of no tunes, got a good night in.

Started with that awesome 12/6/73 disc, but I put the China-Rider after the DS/Eyes, while slamming a Fremont Dark Star Stout to get things going and back toward some balance of sanity. This darkness got to give…

Then ABB Ludlows Garage, then a big session with much of 11/17/73. Yep, forgot just how gooey that jammy Samich is! Crikey mate!
I only hit HCSS, Race is On, and BEW off disc one, but did pretty much the rest, though things were getting a little foggy by the end. But when I came back to I had some beer left so fired up the Dark Star>drums>space>Wheel from 10/26/89. Though I was out again during Wheel only to be jarred awake by NFA.
Still can’t believe I had tix and didn’t go : (
Anywho, good session, hopefully more today,
ONWARD!

2/19/71

Popped in 2/19/71, Three from the Vault, this morning. Sometimes you just need a heavy dose of Pigpen. Multi Track delight.

3 From The Vault

Didn't even know I had this gem.
First Bird Song, first Deal.
Cheers
Edit: Found it next to a mislabeled aud. CD copy of Cincinnati Gardens 12-4-73. Said Dec. 3,1975 but the 5 was blurry. This on one CD? 12 song 1st set, only 4 song 2nd set according to DeadbaseX. Next in the queue.

2/19/71

Definitely my favorite of the run and one of the best of the year!
Love that Smokestack O Snow-lightning!

Getting prepped for 11/11/73

GO VIKS!
I can say that again now that the embarrassment has subsided lol

12/4/73

a chunk of the show was released as the bonus disc for Winterland '73 box set - yes there was even a "bonus disc" for that awesome box! Short show because band arrived late from Boston. Ages since I've listened to the disc but did snag it for this session for that reason and might throw it in on the way home.

2/19/71 is always on the menu!

but right now took my own advice and am listening to 11/18/78 Uptown (got snowed out of work today). just now listening to the awesome meltdown at the tail end of Other One - swear to goodness that at one point Jerry is playing the repeated "riff" from the original Twilight Zone.

2/19/71

Yes, this run is so great and we are lucky they recorded it in Multi Track.

Dark Hallow, what a great Easy Wind. Why did this song not make it to Europe?

And of course the first Bird Song!

The Vikes are off to a good start OB, that's all you can say right now. It is a long season. The Bills still look good.

Stay warm out there, at least we aren't in Buffalo. Hope they can dig out soon.

Feb '71

I recently revisited the released versions of these shows (I wouldn't be surprised if I posted accordingly). I can't believe how good they sound. I realize the band didn't use these shows for Skull and Roses, probably because Mickey had more or less just left and there were so many new songs they were still breaking in.. but wow this is a great run of shows.

Oh, and you are right DV, Blair did survive just barely into the Dave's Picks series. Sort of about the time the Road Trips ended. Missed it by that much.

Edit: Sometimes when I am out and about and the pick of the day is something I have not converted digitally yet.. I go rogue and do a string of released shows. Last month I had such a moment and hit the whole run. I do love how this forum has shed light on some under the radar and not yet released shows, but like a warm cup of good hot chocolate on a cold winters night.. some of these already released classics are food for the soul and joy for the mind. Sometimes it feels like we wallow in an abundance of riches, and I'm not complaining.

When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you......

Hey there fellow rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Cal Expo, November 21, 1969

Back in the day we had only a partial copy of this. It wasn’t February 28, but due to the relative scarcity of 1969 soundboards at the time, we did savor it. It had much to recommend it. Later, complete recordings surfaced. It’s fairly “standard” repertoire, and yes there’s no Dark Star or Other One, but it’s still definitely worth a listen.

Oh by the way, did I mention there’s some decent greasy goodness as well?

The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness……..

Rock on!!!

Doc
It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure……

BlueCrow 12-4-73

Thanks BC for identifying my mystery disc.
It is the bonus disc from the Winterland '73 box.
Couldn't figure out the chopped up set list to find it in my Deadbase X.
I mistook it for the bonus disc for RT 4 No 3 Denver '73.
It got shuffled around when I moved my collection to a new CD storage rack earlier this year. Relabeled and correctly shelved now. Oddly no scorch marks on it like Vguy's and Jim's adventures.
Cheers

Edit: That research showed the RT '73 bonus disc has a 43:33 Dark Star. Wowzer!

1st Show

looking forward to rediscovering that 12/4/73 disc!

saw your post under Rosemont 3/11/93 jam of the week and Ken Nordine. Did you know he was part of "Oregon Trail Mix" a fundraising sketch for the local public radio station that was broadcast at the 8/21/93 show at Autzen. Healy played it over the PA before Set II(?) or maybe before Set I. It was a definite WTF am I hearing at the time. See my comment on that thread if interested in hearing it.

Ken at NYE?

Was he also at a New Years broadcast?
That sonorous baritone!
Cheers

why yes!

yes he was!

12/31/90

also 12/31/91

not one but 2 - see gdh 368

I had that on tape

Well one of them. Just gave all my 85 GD Hour tapes to a novice Deadhead to listen to on his commute. Good indoctrination as David Gans has all eras and digital masters straight from the vault. That way we won't bias the guy right off the bat, lol. GD Hour on radio is what brought me back on the bus in the early 90's. Thanks other David!
Cheers

gd hour 368

The GDHour was like a gold mine for many of us back in the day. I can still picture myself listening in amazement to the 10/19/73 Dark Star sequence released years later as DP 19 (show 245 as it turns out from end of may 1993). 368 was "rebroadcast" on this site week of 4/15/20 and can still be found and streamed here. it includes a backstage conversation with Garcia, Nordine, and Jack Ellis from 12/31/91. Not sure if I ever heard it, and for all purposes at this point it would be new to me even if I did hear it back in the day.

edit - it's a great little convo!

6/12/80

Here is a change of pace for you all, 6/12/80, Portland Oregon. I am diving in.

Post Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.
We had two yesterday, busy day, so no Dead yesterday.

I would recommend 6/12/80, great show and a good recording.

What is on tap for today?

6/12/80 (next maybe 9/27/76?)

I'll be sure to check it out. i knew this show was associated with an ash plume from Mt St Helens that reached Portland, legend had the eruption occuring during Fire. I always thought it was from the big one but turns out a secondary eruption ~3 weeks later.
Yesterday's 30 days was a Might As Well > Samson from Oro's home country (Rochester War Memorial 9/27/76). Kept streaming on relisten from that point on and found it highly entertaining. Recommend no peeking at the set list. Not sure if this was ever a POTD but new to me (so it seemed). A case where I didn't realize '76 was just what the doctor ordered until I listened.

Partial Listens

6-12-80 from a Tapers, Jam of Week, or GD Hour not too long ago?
I remember the reference to the eruption during Scarlet>Fire. A hot one, lol!
Agree with BC that 9-27-76 needs investigating after hearing the Samson.
Love Jerry's noodling on that one. 30 days has me engaged more than usual.
Cheers

9/27/76

Hey 9/27/76 sounds good to me Bluecrow, thanks.

People always say, 'Why don't you play more sets in Texas?'

Hey rockers!!!!

Pick Of The Day: San Antonio November 26 1972

This is dedicated to Phil Carson, where ever/however/whoever he may be…….

The Dead close out their November 1972 tour in typically fine form, although one rarely hears about this specific show. Oldies, rockers, cowboy songs, Europe 72 material, all presented very nicely indeed. Due to “sonic issues” this is a challenging listen, but worth the deep dive. Ear candy, for sure…………

Clearly, the highlight is the Dark Star. I’m no Dark Star expert (KeithFan, we need ya!!) but this one is real nice. Its starts out somewhat gently, true exploratory mode, perhaps even subtle. After the first verse we get treated to some thunderous Leshiana, followed by a well formed “Feelin’ Groovy jam” before the band diverts into deep space before it all dissolves into Me & Bobby McGee. Very good copies of this sequence do circulate and are certainly worth a listen!!!

People (me included!!) have been clamoring for a Texas 72 box set for quite some time. Can the vault tapes be brought up to official release quality? Therein lies the challenge for the esteemed Mr Norman. A mini-box of Austin-Dallas-San Antonio would be oh-so-cool. Part of first Houston was officially released already (hell ya, check that out too!). I’m guessing they’ll hold back the sublime second Houston for a single release----maybe 46????

The definition of insanity in Texas is so insane that it's impossible to be insane in Texas…….

Rock on!!!

Doc
One thing about Texas people, they're very passionate about their Rock N' Roll, and I love it…….
P.S. We were at the 76 Rochester show and had a blast. Especially the second set......

Speaking of Texas

Doc and others, what do you know about the mini TX tour of:
2-20-70 Panther Hall, Ft. Worth
2-21-70 Civic Center Arena, San Antonio
2-22-70 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
2-23-70 The Auditorium, Austin
Got nuthin' in the Deadbase
Thanks and cheers
P.S.There's a frequent poster here who knows Mr. Carson well, but there's no telling where he might be. Check remote wilderness areas and unmapped dirt roads. You may find him on his tailgate serenading antelope.

And a belated gobble gobble to all 🦃

Not sure if I’ll get any Dead in (I know, I know, but ya don’t have to throw shit)
But I’ve noted 6/12/80, 9/27/76, and 11/26/72 into the record.
Which reminds me I need to document the last couple weeks…
The 72 I might try to get a taste of, I bet the 80 is good, and that Crotchfester show might be argued one of the years best! It’s surprising how under the radar this show is?
I have older friends like BOO469 who say that was the best show they ever saw! Front row of course!
You Definitely want to check that one out and yeah, don’t peak! Well, peaking is good, no looking lol

6/12/80 is the only show between 6/7 and 6/21 I haven’t checked out, but will try since I’ve liked these shows!
It’s definitely a nice tour, need to hit the first 4 some time too.

Phil Carson? Does Phil Carson even KNOW Phil Carson?
But hey, what would be the answer to the answer man?

GO VIKS! Hellava game! 2 roller coaster affairs, Daaa Bills and Daaa VIKS! Proper!
Now if only I could source my 10 case years supply of Anchor Xmass beer, down to my last 12er from last year : (

You've got to bumble forward into the unknown.....

I was hoping to hold off on commenting about this show until February 23, 2023, but lol, somebody has apparently forced my hand.......

There is a pretty good circulating soundboard copy of most of the February 23, 1970 Austin show. Lineage is SBD>MR>C>DAT>CDR, Vernon remaster through the Music Never Stopped Project back in 2002. The first electric set and the acoustic set are very decent quality, second electric set has a bit of distortion.

Here's what's there:

Electric Set 1: //I Know You Rider>High Time-Dire Wolf false start (PA adjustments) > Dire Wolf

Acoustic Set: Yellow Dog Story-Monkey And The Engineer-Little Sadie-Me And My Uncle (some distortion on vocals)-Black Peter-Seasons Of My Heart>Uncle John's Band

Electric Set 2: Not Fade Away > Good Lovin' tease>Mason's // Children

Anbody who needs/wants, you know where to find me.

I have never seen or even heard rumor of circulating recordings of any kind of the other Februay 1970 Texas shows, and I've been looking for over 40 years now. It's my understanding that Bear travelled/recorded up through the NOLA shows in early February 1970, so maybe all those are in those banana boxes.

One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.

Doc
Exploring the unknown requires tolerating uncertainty.......

NEWS FLASH!!!

Talk about synchronicity..............

Charlie Miller just put out a complete remaster of the November 26, 1972 show. Anybody who needs/wants, drop me a PM......

LOL fair warning, it's VERY bassy................

Doc
We do not create our destiny; we participate in its unfolding. Synchronicity works as a catalyst toward the working out of that destiny........

If you want longevity, just keep people guessing a little bit...

Hey rockers!!!

This just in from my spies at TPTB:

New for 2023 will be a megabox. TEXAS. It'll be big, just like the state.........

Texas February 1970 (banana box breakout)
Texas November 1971 (minus 11/15)
Texas November 1972 (minus 11/18)

Preoders accepteed through next April 1. It might just sell out, call now!!!

A friend should be a master at guessing and keeping still: you must not want to see everything........

Rock on,

Doc
I like keeping people guessing. I like to have fun with them wondering if I'm sane or not.......
P.S. I will go shut up now. Unless Phil Carson calls.............

Bear

Theoretically he could have been spinning tape until 7/15/70 when he was fully incarcerated. His bail was revoked on 2/22 after the Nola bust, but he somehow yet again got out until 7/15 when he was remanded and started his sentence with his return being the August 72 BCT shows…
I guess only Dave knows for sure and he ain’t talkin!

EDIT: enjoyed 11/26/72, though the hiss was tough at times. Status quo fall 72 with another awesome Dark Star!

9/27/76

Enjoyed this show Bluecrow. Recording is really good. A few patches here and there, but nothing major. Great second set sequence. I have always been a fan of extended Franklin's.
And you were at this show Doc. Must have been a blast!

76, such an interesting return and so many great shows. I always wondered what they were up after their last show at the Shrine on October 15. They return of course to the Cow Palace on 12/31 and deliver an unbelievable show, still one of my favorite releases.

Those were some great games on Thanksgiving OB, go Bills. They are looking good.

Hope your Father is doing better Jim.

9/27/76

glad you enjoyed that DV! I love those Phil heavy Help intros from this era. On that first exploratory listen I was blown away by the move from Slipknot into the Other One > Wharf Rat. One of those classic '76 twistin and turnin segue fests. Great show all around. Keith is really digging in from the get-go. Doc and Boo seal of approval. Just now cuing up Set II from the that last Shrine show of the year 10/15. Hadn't realized this show has the post '74 return of He's Gone, and then it didn't show up again until late May '77.

That mini Texas tour February 1970?? Had never noticed that in the old Deadbase. That a partial SBD from Austin circulates gives hope that the rest may surface.

Speaking of Texas, still need to check out 11/26/72.

6/12/80

Managed to sneak in about 3/4s of yet another solid show from a good tour yesterday!
Think I’ve checked out all, including Nitecats fine Boulder Auds, except the first four shows, and they’ve all been at least good, not a dud in the bunch!

1/10/79

Snowy day here in MN.

How about a Dr. Bob Wagner/Miller 1/10/79 Nassau Coliseum?

1/10/79

Not sure if I’ll get to it, but I’ve heard it and it’s a beauty!
Wish they had tapes as this plus highlights from my first on 1/20 would have made a great second of the year Dave’s.
My understanding is no tapes?
Oh well, maybe someday…

Oroboros, Bluecrow

Thanks Oroboros for the kind words about my Boulder 80 recordings. Bluecrow, I was at the show in Portland 6/12/80, and after the show, the ash storm from Mt St Helens was so intense the whole city got dusted, including their rose celebration decorations. In our hotel room, TV news reported that everyone should stay indoors, and that the airport was grounded and the state bridge was closed. We had air tickets to fly to Seattle the next day for the next show. We hung out in the greyhound bus station, and at about 3 in the am they decided to send a bus to Seattle, and we took it. Driving on the freeway was like driving through a serious blizzard. You couldn't see very far in front of you. The driver took it real slow. We arrived in Seattle at something like 6 in the am.

31 Days of Dead

I think it was Nitecat that asked for any info about 31 Days of Dead 2022. In any case, I just got an email from Ed Martin, and looks like he's gonna do it again this year:

Hello my friends!!! It's that time of the year again. I’m very excited to bring you another installment of the 31 Days of Dead. Most of you know the drill, but for those who don't here is some background...

Similar to what dead.net does in November, I pick a live track (or tracks) for download each day in December and do a quick write-up. Unlike the “Official 30 Days of Dead,” there is no contest here. Instead, the prize is the music and the winner is the listener.

I started these annual projects in 2010. I had no idea where this would go, nor did I care. I did it for no reason other than my own personal enjoyment - I still do. To my surprise, what started as daily email blasts to a small group of friends has grown to an Instagram account that has over 35k followers. I am grateful to every single one of you for the love you have shown. Follow me on Instagram at @31daysofdead

Mañana

Any interest in either of the Nov/Dec '79 Stanley theatre Shows in Pitt? 11/30 and/or 12/1. A great little Vaudeville theatre with impeccable sound.

I always liked these shows when compared to some of their peers.

79

Jim, absolutely!

I will get started with 11/30 tomorrow.

Check out that 1/10/79 when you get a chance. The audience recordings bring back a lot of memories for me in the eighties. I sometimes forget how these sound due to all the officially released material I normally listen to. Anyway, enough babbling, it is a fun ride.