Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,102 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 28, 2020 - 7:19pm

#6691

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

#6692

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

#6693

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

#6694

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....
June 28, 2020 - 11:14am

#6695

bob t

Joined:
November 21, 2007

only time played anniversary show 6/28/76 Chicago Auditorium

If you are too busy to listen to whole show, listen to Happiness is Drumming from set II, if you have never heard or listened to listen you will be pleasantly surprised!!! There is a Charlie Miller soundboard on Internet Archive!!!! bob t
June 27, 2020 - 4:07pm

#6696

The Good Ole G…

Joined:
December 29, 2015

Good Times Great Oldies

Sounds like the ole SPAC '85 show will get some play today.

Always a fun revisit. Vguy & Keithfan that was you guys?! That's funny.

I guess I always thought this was an indoor show because of the balcony stuff and didn't know about the rain storm.

Tell us more.

And just for the record if I happen to say Jerry's voice is shot, what I mean to say is I love Jerry's voice, even though it's a little shot here. ;)

I agree, it always sounds great to me.

Enjoy party people!
June 27, 2020 - 11:21am

#6697

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Not a drop

We were out on the lawn so actually there were many drops, I mean it was already raining hard, and right when he sang that line, biblical!, but it just added to the madness and was one of my favorite concert/rain moments ever! I believe that’s right when folks crashed security on those balcony ramp ways and turned it into a free for all? Yeah, that was the shit, such energy all around, but that rain just took it to another level. Luckily I had my electric buffalo Hyde on! .....it was a psychedelic neon yellow long rain coat with
BS CORP
WORK SAFELY (from pops work) printed on back, and a Dancin skeleton sticker underneath that I added. Still have it! I should take a pic and post...fond it moving last year.
June 27, 2020 - 10:48am

#6698

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Summer 85, and why I’m not prepared for class

Deadheadbrewer: yeah, I’m with you, I can’t keep up with these rascals! Pant-pant 😉
Haven’t done Riverbend, Nassau or Dane. Prolly give Nassau a spin this WE. Dane I’ve tried to stay away from cause ya gotta believe their going to give us that one someday! Bastards better! and I’d prefer it on virginal ears!
hey, by the way, how you guys coming on that tunnel under the vault?
So I listen to Riverbend 6/24/85 sort regularly so no biggie there except in the sense of comparing shows. Except It’s cool to go in order to see the subtle changes and how things progress. Like 6/25/85, definitely have felt a ascending arc since the first night in Alpine. Funny thing is I don’t think I’ve heard the second set of this one before? Had a tape of the first all along, but I think it was a tad too crisp so didn’t get as much love as the shows around it. Plus I think maybe I harbored some subliminal resentment for the show because of our decision to skip it to go to Toga early like we did in 84, which was awesome. Obviously if it made us skip a show that close to home, but Doooaahhh. So not sure how it’s the shows fault. LOL, but I think somehow I’ve had some weird thing about this show that has kept me away? Sorry, ramblings of a deranged lunatic!
Anywho, finally gave this bad boy a spin yesterday, though had to do it in 2 sessions as life just keeps buttin’ in like a 3 year old when mom and dad are trying to get down! Man what a show. The only really noticeable hiccup I recall was JG at the start of Jimmy, and Bob missed a vocal, really a great set, better than I remember, though I always liked it, just the tape was lesser then the others...
Second set was hot too, though perhaps they lost just a little near the end? Or maybe that was me as it was late, and by that time on a Friday this ole cowboy is usually not feeling much pain! I recall a couple little blemishes, but so what, you name any show, anyone, and I can find stuff wrong. And sorry, but I’m kinda over hearing about how terrible JGs voice is. Yes, sometimes it’s ruff, but sometimes I think the gravelly age worn voice ADDs to the affect of the songs, which is perhaps what he did best. And frankly, I’ll take the gravel voice singing in tune over a lot of that 1970 stuff we’re between the guitars and the vocals something is ALWAYS out of tune. That’s torturous for a musician.
Now I’m not trying to diss anyone’s favorite Dead etc, just stating an opinion that people perhaps overdo it with the voice comments. My favorite is when people say “I can’t listen to anything after 77”....ok, we’ll that’s cool as it’s your choice and all, but I’d say really you just have made up your mind you don’t want to like anything after that, and you probably haven’t heard enough and with the right kind of ears. Seriously, I challenge anyone to pick a “perfect” “best of “ show and if I have time I will find the cracks!
But that’s missing the point which is ITS ALL GOOD! and every era has something positive that the others don’t have. It’s all ways been yin yang folks, there is no such thing as a perfect show, except in our minds eye, which is quite A ok.
Ok, rant over, I’m obviously biased about my beloved 85!
Which brings us back to TOOOOOOOGGGGAAAAA!! Yo Butch, back in your seat, there’s 50 thousand people waiting for you to get back in your seat! Madness, the whole scene there was just surreal fucking madness, but in a good way.
I’m actually going to try and call my old house/band mates at the time as we all went. 2 I think went to blossom, and Pittsburgh. That one too, like WTF basically could of stopped by on the ride home from Merriweather, idiots! Lol, actually, I’m not sure I could have done another show. I may have caused permanent damage at Hershey, and thank god for that day off that I can’t recall much about, and I did take it a tad easier after, but not much. We ate so many veggies on that run that nobody would believe it. But I know what I came with and what was left after so.....looking back, it’s all kinda scary, we’re lucky we never had any real casualties of any sort. Few close calls, but nothing major, phewwww.
So going to call the lads, and fire up Toga tonight as We have to do a Zoom wedding this afternoon. We were supposed to be out at the Promised land for said wedding and a actual vacation, first since Seattle in ?? 2012!
Think Homer Simpson “oohhhh, Ssstttooooopid Covid”
Speaking of living via the net, was that not a fine show on Shakedown last night! Didn’t have the fire like the night before, but a fine well played outing, thanks so much to Dave and Co. for giving us this nice diversion. It’s getting to b3 a regular weekly thing, and gasp, the Mrs has actually been joining me and digging it! .....as long as I give her a good foot massage (usually during drums). She really digs the trippy graphics and colors which is even funnier as she’s never partaken except booze back in da day, it’s like giving a kid castor oil just getting her to have a beer, lol. So yeah, this Friday thing has been like the “ONE” in our music! Right on! and please keep em coming!
Ok, gotta try and call the guys and reminisce before the wedding. Then.....drum rolls please..........TOOooooGa!
June 27, 2020 - 10:20am

#6699

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Not a drop on me...

but there are black clouds building on the horizon here. Looks like a thunderous day on the river is in store for me. Got my waterproof device loaded with 6/27/85, thanks to the gentle steering of the GOGD.
June 27, 2020 - 9:47am

#6700

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

TOGA!

Ran into a rainstorm, indeed!

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.

Howdy Folks!

Hope everyone is having a enjoyable holidaze!

Not much Dead for me lately, but I usually take some time off this time of year.
Didn’t do the 78 as that’s one of the other three Dicks I don’t have yet so I’ve purposely never heard it as I’m saving my virgin listen for Realgone at least to reissue “official” version.
Down to 3: #13 I have copies, 10 I finally heard here on POTD recently, but the 78 I’m saving!

Hopefully I’ll start easing back in next couple days…

Watched Phil last night, sorta…dozed off and missed Cassidy and part of Eyes, and had net drops a lot, especially near the end so…hopefully tonight that will be better?
Maybe it was just me but I didn’t think they were on last night?
Not bad, certainly seeing Phil at this point is always cool and enjoyable, but I feel like it was not quite at the superb level of the Colorado shows I watched last year?
Phil still brings it, but I actually noticed some misses etc that you don’t usually hear with Phil.
Guessing their just a little rusty and he is getting up there so going off how my fingers are, imagine age might be finally factoring in? Hopefully tonight they’ll be more settled.
Again, we’ll worth the hassles to see the big guy again.
Remembering a sweet Mission encore and a Rock Steady, both firsts for me, so cool their still mixing things up!

Go VIKS, hopefully they can outlast/outrun the damn Cowgirls.
Philly who knows, they sure look good on paper…
Bills have a tough road ahead with Bungals and Patsies again, while the Chefs play no one, again…funny how the Chefs and Bucs get such easy schedules when they both were in the playoffs?

Doing HFs Pick

From over on the 44 thread. 11-5-77 DiP 34
Where everyone else is doing anniversaries 12-28-79, 80, etc.
of some memorable runs.
His point well taken that this is damn good.
And hopefully a telling warm-up for DaP45.
It is just exactly damn good. The Big River smokes!
Cheers
Is it my imagination or does '77 seem to get better the closer it gets to '78?

77-78

It often seems to me that 1977 shows from September onwards sound more like 1978 shows than they do 1977shows from earlier in the year. A bit more rocking - more rough and ready and less smooth. Jerry switched guitars in September 1977 to the Wolf, and that one seems to me to have a more overdriven sound than the guitar he used in 1976 and the first half of 1977. And this was the guitar he played on through 1978 too, I think.

Maybe it's a bit arbitrary, splitting the bands music up into years. I would have thought they carried on regardless of what month or year it was. Thinking of it personally, I can't imagine I will feel any different, or do anything differently next week, just because we will be in a different year to the one we are in this week.

Years and How They Sound

It's convenient to divide the GD by year for a couple of related reasons. They often took January and February off to write and record. While they were busy doing this, the alchemists and wizards were often testing out new equipment which was all rolled out and broken in on the Spring Tour each year.

So it's convenient to break things out by year, but that's not what drove change, it was the new toys and new music. Wolf. Late '77 was the return of the Wolf, and it sounded magnificent.

That's my take. We say years mainly because they retooled the first couple months most years, that is until the 80's and as they played larger arenas and demons settled in.. they practiced and recorded less and instrument changes were less frequent / less dramatic.

Man I really liked the Wolf.

Oh, and OB - Streaming last nights show as I write this, that is until I fall asleep (won't be long). Cumberland out of the gate was great.. I think the they could use a lead guitar with more thunder. They have two wide body clean guitars at work, they need to add a little Hendrix or wolf and turn it up. Twangy and clean tones, they need something that will part the red sea so they can get on with it. That's my take. Still enjoyable. Time will tell.

The great task in life is to find reality……

Mornin’, rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Hallandale, Florida December 29, 1968

Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable…….

High art? Low art? Grateful Dead art!!!

The Dead played numerous festivals in the late 60s, this being one of the earliest big East coast ones. Due to the constraints of time and circumstance, the Dead’s “festival sets” from this era sometimes have a shortened, condensed feel. The “all wheat, no chafe” approach, which usually worked well and was well received…………

Here, the band starts out greasy, then shifts into a big jam sequence that carries through to the end of the set. Things are truly focally shortened, but there’s some decent jamming to be had. Very good recordings of this set circulate, and while there are some edits and drop-outs, it is still worthy of your consideration…………..

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other……

Rock on!!!

Doc
Few people have the imagination for reality…….

Change in sound change in life

Change of personnel was also a factor in the change of the bands sound. Mickey joining in late 67 meant that the sound of 1968 started a few months early. And so on and so forth as people emerged, disappeared..and in Mickey's case came back again. I can't honestly remember now what they sound like, but I would think Keith's last few shows in early 1979 were more like 1978 shows than what are normally thought of as 1979 shows when Brent came on board.

It is a convenient device, though, splitting lives up into years. But it can be a bit artificial. People get born and die at different junctures - we meet and part at random times.

oroborous

check messages

dennis

12/28/22

Maybe just me but I dug the second night much more than the previous. Sweet Scarlet/King Solomon’s, one of my favorite tunes! All around good set list and they seemed more settled in. Dug Jason Crosby on keys as I’d never heard him before. Love Holly but it was a cool change up.

Sorry Dennis, another foot of snow and errands so just getting to the mine.

Personnel Changes

Yes.. absolutely. I guess this gets lumped into eras.

I have my favorites.. but the fact that for most of their 30 years they kept evolving, changing things up and experimenting is perhaps understated. They cannot be accused of being one hit wonders.

Same song - different style

Jim - very true . The last two shows I played -12/12/69 and 10/17/72 both feature China Cat/Rider, Cumberland Blues, Casey Jones, Uncle Johns and Black Peter. Two of my favourite years, and interesting to hear how different they could sound playing the same songs.

Re: Orob/Phil 12/28

Just got to this tonight but holy crap and very well stated..

the second night was the charm. That Dear Prudence was worth the price of admission alone, simply incredible. Wow. and the Morning Dew and UJB to cap things off. It had a couple bumps, but man that was a great show and parts of the second set were superb.

I think you can stream this through January 1st. Well worth it.

I'm going to dance in all the galaxies……

Hey rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Boston Tea Party, December 31, 1969

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was Boston in 1969. No, NOT the Ark, the Tea Party!!! Actually, the same space……..different time…….

The Tea Party actually existed before the Ark opened in January 1969. The April Ark Dead shows get all the love and respect---maybe deservedly so. But the Ark closed by the summer of 1969, and the Tea Party took over the site, which was across the street from Fenway Park. After going through several transitions, the site was demolished, making way for a House Of Blues.

The December 1969 Tea Party shows have a “Rodney Dangerfield feel”. They seem to get no respect and are rarely talked about. However, that being said, they are very very interesting shows, varied and well played, with plenty of oddball tunes and other tunes that were slowly working their way out of the repertoire.

The Dead often handed out “auditory treats” on New Year’s, and this is a good example, starting out high with an opening China/Rider and featuring Mason’s Children, Alligator, Caution, Big Boy Pete, a stand-alone Not Fade Away, Seasons, The Race Is On, Silver Threads, Slewfoot, and a closing Dancin’ In The Streets. Happy freaking New Year’s!!!!

Very good recordings of all three shows are out there and worthy of your consideration….

Hey, how about an Ark AND Tea Party box??!!

I always think of space-time as being the real substance of space, and the galaxies and the stars just like the foam on the ocean……

Rock on!

Doc
I am a being of Heaven and Earth, of thunder and lightning, of rain and wind, of the galaxies…..

Tea Party

Great shows.. I pulled them down from the Archive very early on for some reason and have had decent copies for years.. Nice pick.

Happy New Year all.

2023

Happy New Year all. Looking forward to 2023. Heading out with the family tonight for a little fun.

Box set predictions?
I think Dave will be headed back to the 70s. Hope we go back to a run theme versus a venue theme.

I know of only one duty, and that is to love…..

Good morning my friends!!

Happy New Year to all, make it a safe, happy, fruitful year. And don’t forget to love……..

I draw from the absurd three consequences: my revolt, my liberty, my passion…..

Well, been going at it for a year with POTD posts, doing my best to highlight lesser known Dead shows, 40+ posts with varying results and reception. As the man said, my job is to shed light, not to master. And as I myself sometime say, despite my best efforts I can’t give it away………..

I shall carry on, I shall continue with this absurd endeavor. Needless to say I have many ideas already brewing for the coming year. Can’t promise that I’ll always avoid the Classics, and yes I’ll probably relapse into occasional 1971 worship, but you my fans and occasional readers must take the bad with the good. I’ll try to go a little more primal this year, see you on the mountain, try not to slip and fall…………..

The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor…..

Rock on!!!!

Doc
Truth, like light, blinds. Falsehood, on the contrary, is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object….

We call first truths those we discover after all the others….

Hey rockers!!

Pick Of The Day: Winterland, January 2 1972

I’ve discussed and posted about this show several times in the past, and it’s worthy of a revisit.

Betwixt and between, caught between the splendor of December (1971) and the expansive creamy greatness of the AOM and E72 runs. On the calendar 1972, but to the ears more like 1971. There’s plenty to enjoy here, including good helpings of stoner Americana, Cowboy Bobby, and greasy Pigpen goodness, as well as the unique Good Lovin’/China Cat/Good Lovin’ sequence.

Leave Your Love At Home, supposedly played in the middle of the first set, isn’t on the circulating, very good quality recordings of this nice little show. Was it a “tuning ditty” or a fully formed song? Any earwitnesses out there?

It is normal to give away a little of one's life in order not to lose it all…..

Rock on!!!

Doc
We get into the habit of living before acquiring the habit of thinking. In that race which daily hastens us towards death, the body maintains its irreparable lead…….

2023

Happy new year all. Stay safe.
50 th anniversary : Wake OT Flood
Bear's Choice: May we expect a better tribute to Pigpen?
30th anniversary Dicks Picks 1-10000 copies of LP, please...
Dave picks 73 Madison?
big fun and pleasure to read all your comments.

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude....

Hey rockers!!!

Since I just mentioned this show, I should also point out the the folks of the GEMS network out of Arizona just put out a new remaster of the January 2, 1972 show. Many thanks! And check it out..............

When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in......

Rock on!

Doc
Gratitude is the sign of noble souls......

1/2/72

Pulled up this show yesterday Doc and the latest version I could find was from 2004. Recording was decent. What is the Gems network? Can you access their version through Relisten?

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible

DEADVIKES:

Check your pm,

Doc
Each time dawn appears, the mystery is there in its entirety.....

Not as fast as the amazing ForensicDoc,

. . . but the new 1/2/72 from GEMS FD11 was telling us about is finally up on the archive:
archive dot org/details/gd1972-01-02.161838.sbd.anon.gems.flac16

And best wishes and positive vibes to Damar Hamlin. You're gonna be okay.

1/2/72

Hey Doc, enjoyed the upgrade of this show. New Year's Eve 71, part 2. Fun show. The Jack Straw really shines for me, Big Railroad Blues. Very interesting Good Lovin, China Cat, Good Lovin sandwich. Standard finish for the time.

Okay, what's next?

If nothing surfaces, I think I might cue up 7/31/74, Dave's #2.

7/31/74

Dave's 2 is perfect for this afternoon. One of the posters here was at this one... trying to think of who it was...

12/29/68

Check.
Recordings a bit dirty but a nice lil block of 68.
1/2/72 I’ve heard so didn’t go there as I don’t have much time, and still going light on Dead.

7/31/74 sounds good but I’ll want to hit that at home so perhaps Tomorrow night…

NY resolution…
Focused a bunch on 82, some 92, and some but less than I thought on 72 this year, within minor focus on 67, 77, and 87 though fell short on those.
This year my main focus will be 73, 83, and a little 93 as that’s mostly unfamiliar, though what y’all have turned us onto has been surprisingly nice. Minor focus will be 68, 78, and 88…
With my focus, Docs primal tutorials, and the rest of cool picks y’all provide it should be another Grateful year, musically at least ; )
Hope to start cranking the machine again soon, but just ain’t there yet…
ONWARD!

6/4/78

Okay, I don't think we have ever hit this show, I hope, 6/4/78 from UC Santa Barbara. At least it will be the first time for me. There is a really good Betty board of this show.

Time to jump back in OB. I look forward to your 2023 journey through the years. Yes, 93, I haven't listened to much from that year.

In April, we will be entering our fourth year on this thread. It has been a fun ride. I will start writing down my picks this year, as relying on my memory doesn't always work anymore.

Oh and here is a question on 7/31/74, Dave's #2, is it me or does Jerry's guitar sound different on this release? It doesn't appear to be that full Jerry guitar sound.

6/4/78

We have not.
It’s on the list!
Hopefully I can hit that and 7/31/74 this WE.

EDIT: if you like at the pics of this show on the deadnet page for it you’ll see Bob playing a different guitar.
It’s a an Ibanez Musician series like the one I own, only his is light and has more knobs etc, while mine is darker sorta like Tiger. I had Alembic pickups/circuitry put in by Joe Zon back before he moved to LA and made it big.
So now I’m really interested in 6/4/78 to hear what it sounds like!

Sounds Great

I have it on good authority that GOGD is nearing the completion of the new tunnel under the vault. Certainly, with his help, we will get some more 1968 releases.

Thanks for the guidance and picks folks. 2023 is beginning to take form, here's hoping it's not quite the shit show as the last few years have been, GD releases aside of course.

Happy New Year.

Ahhhhh

So that’s where that rascally rascal GOGD has been hiding!
I knew he wouldn’t let us down!
ONWARD!

I get around to it eventually

Currently torrenting 1-2-72.
Will give it a listen this weekend.

Also getting a few Hunters Trix, including 12-1-79.

WE Update

6/4/78: ✔️Decent show, by Jed and Jack firing on all cylinders, but the recording was surprising/disappointing.
Disappointing since it’s a Beatty, which is surprising since it’s a Beatty…(though it’s a cassette?)
Seemed a little hot in spots with noticeable distortion, hopefully just the cassette?
There are so many truly remarkable Beatty’s from spring 78 that you’d think there has to be a good R2R copy somewhere? Seems like they were having fun at this big outdoor show!

7/31/74:✔️Once again with enthusiasm: “Holy cow that third disc is great”
Yeah, how many times do we say that LOL. Not that the rest of the show isn’t nice, just that third disc with that powerful Truckin followed by all that jammy goodness! Proper!
Another one (thanks to you know who) that I finally got a couple years ago that I’ve heard, but not become one with.
I do wonder though, what led him to go with this one for number 2 pick? Again, good show but if you think about what all from 74 hadn’t been released at the point, why this one? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad for any and all, but sometimes wonder about some of these picks?

12/31/86: Gary, I didn’t hit this as I’ve already done so when our ole buddy Otis suggested it for pick of the day awhile back. My note suggests I liked it, but wasn’t necessarily top shelf? But I wasn’t there so I’m sure it’s different for you!
Good show no matter how you label it…

Ok, don’t think I’ll be able to catch anything today, maybe a quick one tomorrow?
Still reeling from all the crazy games!

6/4/78

I enjoyed this show, but yes, there is some distortion in spots. Overall better than others in my opinion.

You never know what you might get with some of these recordings.

Where is Otis? It has been a while.

Good to hear the good news for Hamlin and Buffalo OB.

6/4/78

Re: Weir's guitar... Did he use that instrument in July, too? The tone sounded similar to my ears.

My early DaP's all suffer from disc rot, including #2.

-edit- re: Weir's guitar: from photos on this site, it looks as though he may have been...at least to my Eyes ;-)

Disc rot

Wilfred,
You mentioned that a few years ago. I forgot if you said whether or not you had stored them in the car.
I checked mine back then and didn’t find any rot.

12-1-79 mtx
That new HT sounds good.
You can find it on etree just below the new GEMS 1-2-72.

Stupid reCRAPTCHA

Thinks that a scooter (moped) is a motorcycle.

Oh yeah

They were in a hot car alright. Not anymore. Interestingly, all my discs were in a hot car but only DaP year 1 have suffered the harmful effects. :-/ Luckily, I had digital copies of everything before ripping became impossible

Disc rot?

I noticed to my horror that the 3rd cd of Dicks Picks 16 -11/8/69 wouldn't play over Christmas. When I looked at the cd, I noticed that it appears discoloured in part - it looks a bit like it has a light coffee stain over parts of it. I guess that is disc rot. I keep all the Dicks Picks in a closed cabinet, so it's not sunlight - and the others, touch wood, seem alright.
The Dave's Picks all seem okay when I play them.

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone…….

Mornin’, rockers!!!

Pick Of The Day: Golden Hall, San Diego January 10 1970

Here’s a nice little show one never hears about, a short sharp shot of Grateful Dead, a little something for everybody, with that fun, loose, early 1970 vibe. OK there’s no gargantuan jams, but if this was the only recording I had on my desert island it would help pass the time quite nicely until my rescue. Often overlooked, but worth a listen.

Recordings of this little gem have circulated since the dawn of time, maybe there’s a pristine, “new & improved” copy in those banana boxes……….

The biggest problem with every art is by the use of appearance to create a loftier reality….

Rock on!!

Doc
Death is a commingling of eternity with time; in the death of a good man, eternity is seen looking through time…..

Rotten discs

It might be caused by different things, my Daves Picks 1 thru 4 are rotten and don't play anymore. I think it might be to much moisture in the house. Its funny, because I have CDs that are way older and have been played many more times and they are just fine, it just seems to be those Dave's Picks..

Disc Rot-Continued

DAVEROCK, my Dave's Vol. 2 got disc rot, only on discs 2 & 3, but this was a couple of years ago. I asked to see if they would replace, even with burned copies, but I never heard back. Luckily, JIMINMD bailed me out on that one. I'm now concerned it will happen too all of my Dave's. Maybe the cheap products they use in Mexico, where the discs are produced?? This really sucks.

Dis Crot

Mr Ones - I wondered if it was the fact that Dave's Picks cds may be cheaply made that has caused some of them to curdle. I haven't heard people mention cds by other artists that have done this - but various people on here have mentioned it in connection with Dave's. Having said that...the one I noticed wouldn't play was a Dicks Picks. And not just any Dicks Picks - 11/8/69.
Billy - I hadn't thought of that, that it could be due to damp, or humidity...dryness whatever in my house. I have had 2 guitars in my house develop hairline cracks in the neck over the years. Both fenders - but according to the local guitar shop, this was just cosmetic, and nothing to worry about. I sold one, and the guy who bought it wasn't worried either. I'd be happier if it didn't happen, myself. I put that down to the atmosphere in the house. But back to cds...why only Dead cds? Back to the way they are made I guess.

Guitars and Cadillacs

DR, try lavender oil or natural something similar with NO ! petroleum distillates on your necks.

WTJ: good question, I’m not sure?
GD gear just says he experimented with various pick up placements etc for at least the first few years with his Ibanez custom Bob Weir model(s) (The one seen in 75 pics and used primarily on BFA)
He started playing those right after the WL 74 shows and messed with them quite a bit until he seemed to have things dialed in which was around the time he started playing the “Cowboy Fancy” version he mostly played until late 82 (I think) when he switched to Modulus.
I’ve seen pics of both he and Jer playing musician series but not sure exactly when? Most likely 77 and/or 78?
Maybe when JG switched to Travis Bean as he was looking for a possible production guitar that was easier to fix on the road? I know that was the primary reason he tried the Beans as the custom Irwin had to be sent back to Doug eveytime it needed something.
I believe I read BITD that Jer just tried one out a time or two, whereas Bob was working quite a bit for a few years with Hasselberger of Ibanez on different tweaks and models etc. ya know, has to be just exactly perfect ; )
I’ll have to check out some more dated 78 pics and see, but my best guess would be 78…

EDIT: WTJ, looks like theoretically he played the blond musician series from 5/5/78 until 8/31/78.
There are several of the same pics throughout with different dates, so can’t be positive of all shows, or all sets etc, but there are pics from Red Rocks with it by but by 9/2/78 at Giants he’s back to the BW model…

I found one from May 78 with Jerry playing one, but then I couldn’t find it again???

I Vote

I vote Rhino makes CD duplicates w/ no cover art, cd cases etc. for Dave's 1 - 4 for those that were affected and can at least loosely prove they have CDs that don't work. Or better yet.. send in your faulty discs plus return postage and get just the CD's back in the mail. It would cost them by my estimates about $50k to do this and would create a wealth of goodwill. Or how's this, replace just the CD's for $5 if you mail in your disc rot crapazoid originals.

I also vote Wilfred T gets the benevolent dead net poster of the year award. Never a negative, only positive vibes. I can't think of a more positive non grumpy way to let Rhino know their crappy first year CD's suck ass. In this world of trouble, we need more good and less not so good.

Democratic, right, who's with me? #storm the vault #free the reels #trade your defective discs for good ones.

More goodwill

Oro-thanks for that advice, I'll look into it. When I started reading your post, I thought you were going to suggest putting oil on my cds.

Jim I like the sound of that, replacing damaged cds at little cost. Good will goes such a long way. I have had a few people helping me out at home recently - one of whom couldn't do enough and charged as little as he could to still come away with profit. And another who completely ripped me off - took money and disappeared without doing anything. Both of them have left lingering after effects - one good, one bad.

Be well out there.

Been busy (as usual)

But I have a pick for tomorrow.. something off the beaten path (I think).

Sorry for being a slacker but I have honestly enjoyed the recent picks and pace.

Jim

Alright Jim, tomorrow sounds good. We will be looking forward to it.

Getting excited for #45. Let's hope we all get it around the release date.