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    What a setlist!... Made me jealous of those who saw this era live. Great sound… like ‘77 was yesterday. @derekb192 on 10/1/77, YouTube

    Wow! Just as when you think eyes is gonna go to drums out of the bliss comes dancing! One of my all time fave moments! Not just classic 77 but classic ever dead! - @emrysdavies1215 on 10/1/77, YouTube

    ...this show was off the hook from the very get go. The Casey Jones is the best I've heard... beginning a jam that goes through each member going off on an instrumental solo. The end has them jamming so hard you can no longer hear them singing through it. Now you know you're in trouble (The Good Kind) when a show starts like that... Weirtheir on 10/2/77, Dead.net

    Holy hell, the 10/2/77 Betty Board sounds incredible... I just wanted to pay homage to this unreleased gem, which features the lovely, tight playing you'd expect of a 77 show with some of the highest audio quality I've ever heard ... What a treat. u/monsteroftheweek13 on 10/2/77, Reddit

    I told my mother I was going into Portland with friends. I never told her where I went... @jamesmoore3694 on 10/1/77, YouTube

    We know where you've been and we're taking you back with the twice as nice DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 45: PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR - 10/1/77 & 10/2/77. Back-to-back complete previously unreleased shows on 4CDs? You betcha! Why? Because we couldn't pick one over the other of these two nights that have been described as "fire," "mind-frying," and "crispy" (bit of a theme here) too many times to count. Witness it for yourself when you dig into the inventive medleys and pristine sound, not to mention the first "Dupree's Diamond Blues" since '69 and the first live "Casey Jones" since '74.

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, this release was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson (with a boost from Bob Menke, more about that in David's video) 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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  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Oroboros

    Great story, well told!

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    The Tale of the Oroboros

    Or is that tail? Epic tale well told Oro-1.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Cheers
    DiP 18 is my favorite Dick's.

  • Oroboros
    Joined:
    45 years ago, Madison Wisconsin!! And the next morning......

    was my 'brush with greatness.' Apologies to you all who have heard this tale, but with this anniversary and the releases of shows from '77 and '78, I want to spin this old chestnut again (hopefully some haven't heard this).

    But first grab a cup of coffee (or your preferred beverage) and get comfy, because this will take a while. Brevity is not my long-suit, so bear with me on this, but the background/back story is info it help it all make sense. Back in 1977, myself and my girlfriend (now wife) and two buddies decided to road trip from Nebraska to a New Year’s Eve Dead show run at the Winterland in San Francisco.

    I toted along with me a clay sculpture that I had made the prior year. It was a one and ½ foot (in circumference) dragon that was biting or consuming it’s own tail. It was fired and had ‘scraffitto’ (my own designs) carved into it’s ‘hide’ and then stained. It was the biggest piece of clay sculpture I have ever made. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to give it to the band on New Years Eve show.

    So away we go on the trip and get there and secure tickets for the shows on that Winterland run. The shows were unbefuckinliveable and that old Winterland was such a great venue. We were all sitting on the sidewalk on Dec 31st waiting for the doors to open early. We heard Bill Graham was going to let us all in early and we were going to play ‘freak’ volleyball until Graham played us movies from his collection (16 MM of Ray Bradbury’s Illustrated Man and the original Beatle’s Magical Mystery Tour) before the start of the show tonight.

    I thought that I better try to unload ‘Oroboros’ now (it was heavy and how was I going to talk that past the gate?) so I spied a door that said Backstage. No answer. The line of people on the sidewalk started getting up and moving to the door. Banged even harder thinking “I got to get this dragon in there so I can go in and play before the show tonight, this thing is heavy”, and as I pound harder the door yanks open so hard it draws me into the doorway, where a gigantic black man in a red Winderland shirt stopped me from being pulled inside with his had on my chest. “What do you want?” he bellowed. Startled, I said “I want to give this to the band” and held out the dragon in both hands. The giant took it in his immense hand and immediately the dragon shrunk to the size of a keychain. And he asked “Wow, what is it, I’d like one” and I explained “it’s an Oroboros, and that is the only one there is”. He grinned and said “Cool, who do you want me to give it to?” and I stated “Garcia, give it to Jerry Garcia.” And the door closed quickly, like in Dorothy’s first attempt to get into the Emerald city in Wizard of Oz.

    So, I happily hurry into the show and needless to say it was a singular experience: with those movies starting in the afternoon, the celebratory/raucous/colorful crowd, and the Grateful Dead 'playing in' the year of 1978. As each of us entered we were handed a piece of paper that had the message "Good things come to those who wait, surprise at midnight" with the stealie logo on it. Once inside I was stopped by ‘Rainbow’ Rose who had an eyedropper of liquid party favor in her hand. She said “ just one dollar per drop, on your tongue or for the adventurous, a drop in your eye.” Wow, this was going to be some night! One on the tongue, please!

    When you entered Winterland, you could go into the 'big hall' surrounded on all sides by an elevated balcony (complete with theater seats). You could also go into a bar, which was playing black and white videos (on an old fashioned 'big screen') of past performances of Hendrix, Airplane, etc from Graham's Winterland archives. Very entertaining, hey, the New Riders are starting to play, I got to get in there, the sound is loud and they are rocking the house.

    Anticipation is high and the Dead came out for the first set. Our party favors are now starting to engage...things began to sparkle and the old Winterland venue takes notice, and her walls start to sweat and then to sway with the strains of familiar music and the Dead coaxes this old hall to join us in our dance.

    Bill Graham got into the act dressed as Uncle Sam and he rode his motorcycle down a cable suspended high above us from the back of the Winterland auditorium to the stage. As the Dead improvised/noddled into the New Year Uncle "bill" Sam slowly moved above us illuminated by a spotlight. The hilarious part was as Uncle BoBo (as Bobby called Graham) was on this motorcycle, and as he approached the stage, the combined weight was too much and he sagged below the lip of the stage. So as the stagehands ran out and to drag ‘Uncle Sam’ onto the stage, Jerry and the band were all laughing as they saw his hilarious arrival to the stage. Then they burst into Sugar Magnolia, along with confetti explosions, as balloons dropped from the ceiling of the Winterland for our NYE celebration. Also on stage flanking the Dead were a gal and guy dressed in diapers as the new year's babies, dancing their asses off.

    And as I squinted at the band, I noticed in between Billy and Mickey’s drum set, sitting on a monitor with a white candle by it was the Oroboros ! ON STAGE with the Dead. Then I watched as Jerry walked over to it and he lit his cigarette off that candle. And when the stage lights went down between songs, the Oroboros was illuminated by the candlelight. I was 'on top of the world' (dead reference intended). If you google the song 'Fire on the Mountain' from the NYE show in 1977 on Youtube and at the conclusion of the song (7:20 or so), the camera focuses on the Oroboros by the candle (as we hear Bobby waxing about 'technical difficulties'). It is an old black and white movie/video, but I did show that to my three sons to prove the old man's story was true. But the boys still rolled their collective eyes at me, but I am used to that.

    We walked out into the cool San Francisco early morning and drove through the fog back to Nebraska. Now fast forward to Madison, Wisconsin 2-3-78 and I made the road trip to catch the show. It was a killer night and the Dead were in fine form (second half was in DP 18). The 'Cold Rain and Snow' was thunderous and Phil's bass boomed out to shake that snow off the roof of the venue.

    The next morning before I left the hotel, I got a wild hair and called the front desk “Could I have Jerry Garcia’s room please” and the phone rang and Jerry answered! I said “Hey, I’m that guy that brought that dragon to the New Year’s show” and Garcia said “Meet you in the coffee shop in 20 minutes”. I couldn’t believe it what was happening but stumbled into the Madison Hotel coffee shop at the appointed time and looked around and saw Jerry Garcia seated at a table with a ravishingly beautiful raven-haired Gypsy woman.

    I walked over an introduced myself and ‘shook the hand, that shook the hand of PT Barnum and Charlie Chan’. Jerry beamed that smile and gestured for me to sit down. “Man, how did you fire that dragon, so that it didn’t explode in the kiln ?” Jerry asked me. I told him that I had cut it in half lengthwise with a guitar string (that a friend had given me) and then put it back together. We locked eyes and he exploded with laughter and I followed with “Ironic, huh?” And he said “No, not at all, that makes perfect sense.” And we laughed some more. Then the Gypsy Beauty said “where are you from” and I replied Nebraska. And she stared at Jerry and stated “He came all the way up here from Nebraska to see the band”. Jerry shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows and said “we didn’t ask him to come” and looked at me and we both howled with laugher. No deadhead was she!

    We talked more about art and the dragon, I didn’t know at that time of Garcia’s interest and practice in art. He was completely engaged in the topic of art, but quick witted with ‘turn on a dime’ twists, turns, and little quips. (Sound familiar to a band we know/love) Garcia was so focused on listening, not acting like he was the center of it all. He was locked in on taking time with me and talking about our shared interests, along with side commentaries on a variety of topics. The Gypsy woman asked “You went out to San Francisco and then traveled here?” and I stated yes and turned to Jerry and asked why don’t you come back to Lincoln? He said “you mean to Perishing Auditorium?” and I corrected him “no it is Pershing Auditorium, after the General” and he quickly retorted “no man, it was Perishing, really.” And we erupted in laughter again. There were some drunk frat boys yelling ‘boogie” at the top of their lungs at that ’73 Lincoln show, but the music was still topnotch! Anyway, I asked Garcia “could you bring your Circus back to Nebraska?” and Jerry grinned his Cheshire cat grin and said “who knows”.

    I saw it was time for me to leave them to eat as their breakfast arrived and excused myself and took off. Jerry brought the Dead back to Nebraska, that summer on 7-5-78. I taped them on my Nak 550 (my best aud tape of all) and then I had to follow them to their (and my) first Red Rocks shows.

    So that is my story of that time in space (or space in time). Garcia was totally a gracious, engaging, and kind man to this DeadHead who approached him for a moment in time. So to make a long story short (which I am constitutionally incapable) Jerry was focused on what he could learn, not what he could teach, on humor/laughter and valuing another person and really listening to their experience. He was so inquisitive, asking questions and then sharing his own thoughts. I have often thought about that lesson he taught me that cold Wisconsin morning. And for the rest of my life.

    Apologies for the thread hijack, so everyone can return to your regularly scheduled programming.

    Teachers open the door, but we must enter by ourselves

  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Insomnia

    Is the worst. I’ve had it for years.

    Melatonin will help you temporally but it wears off after a short period of time as your body acclimates to it. Chamomile tea is mildly effective. Of course the best remedy is a couple of shots of bourbon.

    I’ll reuse an old joke and tell you to put on some Dead and Company. You’ll be asleep instantly.

    In all honesty it sounds like you might have something else going on there with your legs. Probably worth going to get checked out by a doctor.

    Good luck.

  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Proudfoot Counting Sheep

    Proudfoot - Everyone has a remedy for insomnia, here is mine, and you’re right, insomnia sucks. There is some science to the “478” Rule, which works for folks with insomnia, or anxiety. Breathe in deeply through the nose for 4 seconds, and hold it for 7 seconds, then exhale deeply through your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat. Studies have shown lower blood pressure and reduces heart rate, leading to greater relaxation. I’ve tried it myself, with success. Good luck.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    Insomnia bites

    Hard.

    Lie down CANT SLEEP TWITCHY LEGS CANT BREATHE
    Get up sit there DROWSY AF think I will lie down
    Repeat

    Ever since fookin' Covid

  • rasta5ziggy
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    Joined:
    Random Stuff

    Loving #45. Starting 2nd set, 1st show now. Great music. I was a 1-3 show/year person beginning in the early 70's, and I got to wondering if I ever caught a '77 show. My only one was in Bloomington, IN on the IU campus on 10/30. I always wondered why they never returned to do another show there.
    Also, I read a lot of chatter here about an Ark box. Curious if anyone here ever attended a show at the Ark, or is this just an urban legend of a great venue. Lots of places I would have loved to have seen a show but never got the opportunity (Labor Temple, Electric Circus, Thelma, to name just a few).
    I've never heard a bad Passenger, either live or on CD.....really allows Jerry to make that guitar scream.
    I love all the DaPicks, because I prefer full shows. That was my issue with Dick's Picks is that you rarely, if ever, got a full show. And I loved the Road Trips series, even though I got in on that party too late and only have 2 (Big Rock Pow Wow and Valentine's Day), and those are full shows.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Norman is a genius....

    ....as is Betty. As is the best band in the land. Hit the spot. Can't go wrong with Drumz -> The Wheel imo.
    Onto some Doors. People ARE Strange indeed. Especially these daze lol.
    10.1 this weekend.

  • carlo13
    Joined:
    Holy mackerel

    That DITS jam is sweet as honey. Eyes too. A spliff is needed for that dancing jam.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    #4773....

    ....gonna start with 10.2.
    Checked out the following show in Phoenix off and on at work earlier. Good shit.
    Edit....check out Donna on Duprees 💎 Blues. Very nice.

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3 years 7 months

What a setlist!... Made me jealous of those who saw this era live. Great sound… like ‘77 was yesterday. @derekb192 on 10/1/77, YouTube

Wow! Just as when you think eyes is gonna go to drums out of the bliss comes dancing! One of my all time fave moments! Not just classic 77 but classic ever dead! - @emrysdavies1215 on 10/1/77, YouTube

...this show was off the hook from the very get go. The Casey Jones is the best I've heard... beginning a jam that goes through each member going off on an instrumental solo. The end has them jamming so hard you can no longer hear them singing through it. Now you know you're in trouble (The Good Kind) when a show starts like that... Weirtheir on 10/2/77, Dead.net

Holy hell, the 10/2/77 Betty Board sounds incredible... I just wanted to pay homage to this unreleased gem, which features the lovely, tight playing you'd expect of a 77 show with some of the highest audio quality I've ever heard ... What a treat. u/monsteroftheweek13 on 10/2/77, Reddit

I told my mother I was going into Portland with friends. I never told her where I went... @jamesmoore3694 on 10/1/77, YouTube

We know where you've been and we're taking you back with the twice as nice DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 45: PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PORTLAND, OR - 10/1/77 & 10/2/77. Back-to-back complete previously unreleased shows on 4CDs? You betcha! Why? Because we couldn't pick one over the other of these two nights that have been described as "fire," "mind-frying," and "crispy" (bit of a theme here) too many times to count. Witness it for yourself when you dig into the inventive medleys and pristine sound, not to mention the first "Dupree's Diamond Blues" since '69 and the first live "Casey Jones" since '74.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, this release was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson (with a boost from Bob Menke, more about that in David's video) 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.

Was reading about that -108 wind chill at Mount Washington before I went to bed. I was watching the temps drop here in Boston to -8 about 12:15 (wind chill got to -35), and while my wife and I watched a Death in Paradise, I put a room temp water bottle on our balcony, and by the end of the episode it wasn't frozen solid, but pretty darn close. And exposing my freshly shorn head in that -8 for 45 seconds was sufficient for me to say I have felt that low a temp. Luckily, it's now a balmy 11 outside, and tomorrow will get up to 48. But I have no reason to leave the apartment today as my Tar Heels look to go into Durham and destroy the demonic Blue Devils that dwell there. Like Hunter S. Thompson and the 1972 Super Bowl, I need to prepare. Well, not exactly like the good Doctor, but definitely got to get the mind, body, and soul right for this collision. At least Bill Walton knows of what I babble.

My DaP 45 did finally move on from Label Creation Limbo, but now has sat in Riverside, CA without change for 3 days, though I am promised USPS delivery on Sunday, not sure how that works. But fingers crossed.

After that 9/9/72 Other One, I went back to DaP 24 8/25/72 and DiP 36 9/21/72 filler from 9/3/72, and they were playing some magnificent beasts in that few weeks. I'm gonna be greedy and hope that some of the filler from 9/19 is that show's Other One. And looks like DiP 23 9/17/72 with its He's Gone> 39 min Other One> Sing Me Back Home, which I completely forgot about, will be rocking while I watch the game. Stay warm and well lubricated, people!

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That wind chill temp is said to frostbite bare skin in one minute.
They don't go out of the weather station when it's like this.

BC, so close for Mr. 1978 getting 7878. The random current of the universe.

Speaking of random current, do any of you audiophiles use power line conditioners? Heard they protect well but can dull the dynamics of the sound. And Oro(2) I have that electrician scheduled. Good call amigo.

Cheers

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10 years 3 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Those parents who found a used condom in their bed must have been relieved to know that their kids are practising safe sex. Assuming they were over the age of consent, of course.

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12 years 1 month
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Finally all is melted and the UPS was able to bring to PO for delivery.

Busy creating a musical birthday present so ripping it in will happen later.

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2/14/68, 2/13 & 14/70, 2/27 & 28/69, 2/17/79, and so many other killer February shows I didn't mention. February, the greatest Grateful Dead month of all time, it certainly would get consideration as that.

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14 years 1 month
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Regarding a good night's sleep, someone mentioned indica. There's also two cannabis strains called CBD and CBN. Both are available in many cannabis friendly states as gummies, drops and mints, and are excellent for getting to sleep naturally.

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Someone commented that Mickey was dominant in the mix, and I agree. This is not Betty's best mix. The jams are where the blend works best with Mickey so loud. There are some real exciting highlights in both nights. The two audience songs on disc one don't bother me at all, that's how they were able to give us the whole show. I like hearing a little aud recording just to get a sense of the room ambience.

Not only did they “deliver” it asap Friday, they put it in our box directly. No slip/standing in line with 30 folks in a 10’ by 20’ lobby!! Proper! Works out as the other one is working this WE! So thrusters to max! Woof!

So got a good big boy chair AM listen to 10/1 today. Bout what I expected, both pro/con.
As per usual, after a few songs they get things dialed in quite nicely as the tech/restoration magicians have done a fine job yet again.
It seems they keep getting better as they go, which is nice! Especially feel like the 77s have improved with the sometimes pile driving drums/bass droning. Much smoother these daze imho.
The show/release…will comment generally after second show mañana, but specifically:

Like most 77s consistency is king. Although I’ve never heard a “perfect” show (which I think is a good thing), many 77s are damn near, as least as far as quality and consistency, though one might argue about content depending how your pleasure tends. But even if perhaps your pleasure does lie elsewhere, you have to agree the content is pretty dern good even if not top shelf?
The difference being perhaps the difference between driving the speed limit at 75, when your used to 55, and driving 90 in the flow of western “rush” hour traffic, compared to 55.
That’s how often 77 feels to me. A nice luxurious comfortable enjoyable ride with some definite excitement, but perhaps lacking the element of danger and the rush that goes with it…like their too pro lol.
The former is how 10/1/77 felt to me. Nice, smooth, very enjoyable, but not too many YEAH! moments.
But that’s just based on what scratches my itch and not a negative.
Fairly consistent first set, perhaps taking a bit to move through the gears which is not unusual for first sets.
Dug Mexicali, and Dire Wolf though not a ripper? Nice Cassidy, tame Deal, sweet Passenger that does rip, oh, really dug the vocals on this release, great harmonies for the most part, and kudos to DG throughout. This had a nice but different sound field, with the vocals floating nicely above and a bit behind the stereo plane but a bit behind or under the instruments instead the often out front or above/louder then the instruments. Given the two, I prefer this method even if occasionally they were perhaps lacking briefly at times? Unfortunate factor in SBs (not to be confused with Beatty board utilizing her own mix) being sometimes in your face vocals…but I digress.
Overall another solid job by our guru Beatty!! and Mr Norman, et el…
It is sometimes hard to believe how good these old shows can sound, even with, or in the face of worts, splices, and patches. Amazing!
Status quo Jed and decent if not ripping Wood, relaxed little Peggy O, just for Jim who sounds like he could use it!
But the highlight has to be the ripping TMNS! That did get a hell yeah outta me.
Status quo openers, though presented in a solid one two punch. Sweet Roses, fully dug Estimated, followed by nice Eyes. I prefer early or sorta later Eyes, but this one built up nice and of course the big hell yeah moment for moi came during a great Dancing. JG getting some cool growling noises especially right before he goes full on envelope disco dirty, boo ya.
Didn’t hear the chatter before drums as I wasn’t fully there for a couple moments lol, and made a quick bong/bathroom loop during NFA (which seemed usual status quo version) in the background. Rode the end of that nicely into a smooth Black Pete including the fun RF radio interference, probably from production or security radio transmission in the venue, but back then always a possible Trucker rolling by? Don’t think Bob had gone wireless yet, which in early days was common path for RF goofiness, but here would guess instrument/electronics interference over mic bleed, but with E lick Tricia tee anything’s possible! Laughing thinking about Spinal Tap scene ; )
Big Rocking R&R which I love mid seventies ones best, don’t recall if this was has my favorite DG scream, (stoner ahem)(the A&A ones) to bring it all home.
Sometimes a nice luxury ride on the couch can be better than shroomin on the Wild Mouse Minnie coaster ; )
Looks like nice balanced set list between shows with only one repeat.
Look forward to part deux mañana!

EDIT: Ooopps, almost forgot.
No such thing as bad weather, only bad gear ; )

Alvarhanso: enjoyed the HST 72 bowl stick. You go boy!

1stshow: been meaning to follow up. Hope it helps your situation.
Agree about being young then versus now…

Midnight calls: BITD that was a good thing, “ hey, whutz up, where we going tonight”…nowadays, never a good thing.
Dbl Edit, Doah, sorry, good to hear from my bizarro Jerry good twin, and never tire of the stories!
Good ones need reliving!

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12 years 11 months
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Dead
2/14/69
2/18/71
2/23/73
2/24/74
2/1/78

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12 years 1 month

In reply to by Vguy72

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I'm trying to put 831 songs on a usb drive (about 6 gig).

Must be a USB 0 drive,,, I could type the songs on it faster.

This will probably take till May to copy over!!!

....I guess I'm good to go!
November Dead though. Whatcha all talking about? By the time the Fall Tour came around, they were already honed in and focused from Spring/Summer. Time to blow some minds.
I miss them. Fun times.
Type away mister. You got this. 831 is extremely specific. Love it.

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10 years 6 months
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My Dave’s 45 landed yesterday. Below is the address for my take on John Vogl’s cover art (along with all the other Dave's and Bonus covers – the list is getting long, so you'll need to scroll down for a while🤪). This time I did a cover for each night. The artwork dead,net’s been including on the “product pages” lately has been pretty good, so only had to do some p-shopping for the dates and a little color tweaking. “Orange” you glad?

3Ws dot dropbox dot com/sh/qx5j9ydoc7bzm8z/AAD8yK_vCv_kQ-oLkLJQVCEla?dl=0 . . . PM me if you have any trouble with the "address".

This is a nice one. Let ‘er rip! Onward.

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11 years 7 months
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Knowing you're limited to space on the physical media, it'd be really nice for Dead.net to provide digital copies for subscribers. Having the encore at the end of disc 3 is not cool and it's a pain to reorder the files when updating digital libraries. This would have helped on other setlist trainwrecks like Vol 6 too.

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4 years 1 month
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Kinda surprised nobody has mentioned that the 10/2 show is presented (slightly) out of order, with the Johnny B Good encore programmed at the end of disc 3, as if it were played early in the second set. Or maybe this has been discussed, and I just didn't see it? I assume this was done in order to squeeze the whole show onto two discs, and I'm totally fine with it, just thought it deserved a mention. Especially given that some people made a Big Deal out of the re-ordering of some tracks in the St Louis box.

Also, I was kind of surprised to realize there's a Funiculi Funicula that wasn't listed in the song titles. One of the better versions out there, I'd say.

Anyway, I've really enjoyed my first listen to this set. The mix is a bit unusual, for a Betty Board. Betty tends to favor a rather Phil-forward mix most of the time, and both the bass and bass drums are less prominent than usual here. Wonder why that happened? But the trade off is that you get plenty of Bob's guitar and Keith is generally pretty well audible. Performances are good to great in that typically '77 way. The drummers really seem to have an agenda here: listen to how hard they drive that Eyes. Garcia's playing great, everybody's in good voice (even if Jerry seems a little reticent at times), what's not to like?

I suppose we could make the argument that this isn't an "essential" release, because "essential" is going to mean different things to different people. There's so much '77 out there already. But personally, I'm looking at it like I spent $25, delivery included, for 4 discs and two full gigs of some very very good Dead that I think I will probably return to many many times. So I'm pretty happy. And AFAIC they should issue every last show that's in existence, until they run out. Or I die.

Also happy to see DaP 23 being reissued on vinyl. By coincidence I had just listened to it the other day, and I would definitely encourage anybody who doesn't already have it to grab that vinyl fast. Hope we see some of the early DaPs that I missed out on get similar reissues. Come on, Dave, how about putting #5 out for those of us who snoozed the first time around?

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17 years 6 months
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Jerry's soloing over The Music Never Stopped already makes the subscription worth the price of admission. Upon multiple listens these two shows are growing on me.

Delving into 3/10/81 and this show sort of has a similar type of energy. It just grows on me after multiple times through. You can find great moments in just about every show.

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Having given both shows a listen, I thought 10/1 was a good show, and 10/2 was even better to my tastes. It also seemed like the mix was better on 10/2, it seemed like the drums weren't quite so high in the mix and it just seemed a little more balanced. Disc 4 was a smoker from start to finish, the Scarlett-Fire was great, silky-smooth transition and a nice mellow tempo with a blazing Fire. The whole disc had a really nice flow from start to finish. Seems like the subscription year is off to a good start to me. Good stuff.

Last Few Besides DaP 45 -
Thee Sacred Souls - Thee Sacred Souls
Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
The Temptations - With a Lot O' Soul
The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go
Sugarman 3 - What the World Needs Now
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Going to A Go-Go

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17 years 5 months

In reply to by SPACEBROTHER

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Blah, blah, blah, more of the same etc, good but not top shelf. Similar nice big sound field, vocals again good, but back in the mix. Felt this one was more drums/bass centric than 10/1, but still more even/smooth then some in the past…
Noticed more misses, especially beginnings, but nothing major, overall solid enjoyable show etc.
Fun Casey J, but not mind blowing, tame Jack with slippery intro, Great Sunrise! DG is on and sounds generally great on these sets and she does a real nice job here with Jerry laying some sweet gi tar down. Fun Dupree’s, a little different but sounded like they rehearsed it especially the vocals! Decent LIG, but not top shelf.
Overall good second set, but like the previous, just didn’t give me many hell yeahs…
So overall more good, if not top shelf GD.
So I’m sure, and glad for it, that many are, and will continue to dig this release, but these will probably be a couple and done for moi. I usually try to give them at least a few spins just to get the perspective and outta respect for all the love and work that went into them etc. But that’s ok.
I mean where can you see a top tier band live in concert for $25 bucks, or in this case 12 fiddy a show!
That’s the way I look at these: my modern equivalent of seeing a new dead show. So even if I only do a one and done, their a bargain at 25 denaros, and I ALWAYS enjoy them and are thankful for them al…BUT!….

Just making conversation, certainly not trying to be negative, but, would you rather have these or more like these every year instead of say:
Some killer 68
Avalon or Ark 69
9/19/70
4/8/71, 4/17, all of 4/28, 11/7, 12/5, or 12/15/71
More 72 Dark Star
Both Dane 73s, 2/22/73, summer 73, 12/18/73
7/25/74
4/11 or 16/78,
1/10 and 1/20/79, 2/17/79, 11/29/79, or 11/30&12/1/79
All kinds of 1980, including 11/29
Tons of 81-83, Frosts, Greeks, Venturas, Veneta 82
7/13/84 and others
summer 85
3/19, 24, 31/86
Roanoke 87
Fall 89 multitracks!
More great 90
Fall 91 including 10/31/91

Just to name a few offa the top of my bald pointy little head! There’s more!

If DaP IS on a twenty year schedule, though it could all shrivel up sooner, that means being in the 12th year, after this year, there could be theoretically only 72 or so shows left! (4 DaP per year, plus average of only 5 shows per box, times 8 years)

Point being before time runs out, isn’t it time to get some top shelf shows and more variety from other years, rather than perhaps over-saturating 2 or 3 years? Just a thought, not saying these shows are not worthy, just at some point you’d think they’d want to cover just a little more ground? Hope that makes sense and certainly hope it doesn’t offend anyone.
Just trying to hopefully stimulate conversation 😀

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17 years 5 months

In reply to by Oroborous

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....I said it before. And I'll say it again.
Drumz -> The Wheel.
Couldn't you try just a little bit harder?
Couldn't you try just a little bit more?
Just a little bit further than you've gone before?
Damn.

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7 years 9 months
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Has anyone else not received their #45?
After the disaster that was the Lyceum release, I am worried it has become a regular thing.

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There is a lot of good Jethro Tull, but I find that I come back to the albums Stand Up and Aqualung the most often. The version of Stand Up that I have has Living In The Past and a couple of other bonus tracks, but Bouree and Fat Man always did it for me and A New Day Yesterday and Back to the Family smoke as well. Aqualung has the title track and Cross-Eyed Mary that both got plenty of radio play, but I like Mother Goose, Hymn 43, My God and Wondring Aloud even more, and I don't think there is really a weak song on the album.

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My copy of #45 has been delivered via Royal Mail this morning. So far there has been no demand for any extra payment although I’ll wait and see since I had the last box set for a couple of weeks before the demand arrived.
My thoughts go out to the people in and around Gaziantep and Aleppo, both of which I’ve visited, in the aftermath of the earthquake.

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10 years 3 months

In reply to by Colin Gould

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That's exciting news, that a Dave's 45 has been sighted in England. Maybe I'll stay in today after all.

Stand Up and Aqualung are my favourite albums by Jethro Tull, too. "We Used To Know" off "Stand Up" is a track I have always liked. I read somewhere once that Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane" bears a passing resemblance. Their first album "This Was" is also okay - more blues based with Mick Abrahams on guitar.

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I never got past Thick as a Brick which I liked a lot back then. I've never been a big fan of flutes but neither was I a fan of the saxophone until I listened to a lot of Coltrane. It's what's on the end of it that matters 😀.

Anyone in the UK interested in making a reasonable offer for my E72 trunk? I could use raising a little cash but I'm not thinking stupid money.

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Still waiting. Shows sound amazing from what you all have been saying. Last update I had was that it left Ohio on 1/31 which is about 500 miles away from where I live in NY state. Not sure if I should be worried yet. Fingers crossed I guess

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Music Never Stopped, great.

Loved the Fire.

The drums in Wheel remind me of cartoon/movie "indian" drums (heep big drums),,, reminded me of Medicine Man from the Residents Commerical album.

Great recording, much better than the one I had in stock.

I like the "mix", though the drums are right there, Jerry is very clear. I for one like different mixes, you get to hear different instuments better. This certainly (from quick pass) seem to be drum centric.

Also a deal you couldn't bitch about,,,, two complete shows, four disc for the standard price!!! That's a-ok in my book.

Good job on this one.

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5 years 3 months

In reply to by Colin Gould

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DP45 arrived in this part of Wiltshire, UK, today - via Evri this time. No demand for additional payment (yet?!).

Never had Evri deliver a GD package before, but it was less than two weeks after despatch notification on this occasion - a significant improvement over the 6.5 weeks of DP44 (that was Royal Mail, the usual handover recipient from UPS).

Once Evri got hold of it, they fired off regular e-mails on its progress, with helpful one-hour delivery window, so I reckon I'm favouring Evri over Royal Mail at this stage for the UK internal leg of the transatlantic journey.

Evri's notifications stated sender as 'Asendia US' - this meant nothing to me, and Evri's tracking reference was of course different to UPS's, but since I wasn't expecting any other packages, I deduced it must be DP45.

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10 years 3 months

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It doesn't seem much of a rock n' roll instrument, a flute. For proof, you've only got to listen to The Troggs "Wild Thing". The solo apparently played on an ocarina. Several of the more spacey bands used them to good effect, though, not least Hawkwind, Gong and Ozric Tentacles. I once read that the main difference between Ozric Tentacles and Jethro Tull was that in the Ozrics, everybody got to stand on one leg. They sound nothing like Jethro Tull incidentally.
Mention must also be made of the album "Flute and Nut" by Harold McNair. Never heard the record, but I always liked that title.
I don't know whats happened to my chuffing Dave's Picks. Probably arrive tomorrow.

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Mine arrived today in Reading via Royal Mail. Record time!!!

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Nothing in Nottingham yet. Hopefully tomorrow!

On another note - anyone in the U.K. been successful in ordering DaP 23 vinyl? A friend has tried for a few days without success.

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Did it really happen?

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9 years 1 month

In reply to by frankparry

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Early comments on that page were that people could only order it if it was quantity 2.

Well, that’s new, just got this message:
“Cannot contact reCAPTCHA. Check your connection and try again.“

Ok, trying again.

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17 years 6 months
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I'm digging this set immensely and the artwork is really outstanding. There's a lot I'll revisit there. I'm still geeked 6/23/90 made it as a pick. That West Coast pre-summer run was solid. Cal Expo and Carson are all great.

....made all three '89 shows though. And Carson.
The Hari Krishna's were nice. Rice bowls for free. Although I did throw some dollars in the elephant bucket.

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10 years 4 months
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Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
Like the FBI
And the CIA
And the BBC
B.B. King
And Doris Day
Matt Busby,
Dig it
Dig it
Dig it
Dig it
Dig it

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15 years 2 months
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For those of you into vinyl: You might be interested in a 55th anniversary release of ‘Indian War Whoop’ by The Holy Modal Rounders. This is a 2 LP release limited to 1500 copies. The second disc appears to be the ‘Live in 1965’ album for the first time on vinyl. It’s out in early March on Don Giovanni Records.
I won’t be breaking my No Vinyl pledge, but then I already have the original vinyl release.

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4 years 8 months

In reply to by Nick1234

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Nick... I was asleep at the switch and have many times regretted not owning the trunk ... I'm not in the UK but in CA ... I haven't priced the set or done any shopping, but could be interested........tcc

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1 year 10 months
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Really digging this release.
Then again, 77 is my GD sweet spot.
Great energy for both shows.
Crisp, warm sound all around, especially on my 12 speaker Kardon Harmon rolling soundbox.
10/2 has always been a fave, but 10/1 is a new experience.
Don't even mind the song and a half audience band-aid.
The imperfections make it just exactly perfect.
Now, if Dave would only pony up an official 4/23/77, I'd be most content.

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FYI: Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It vinyl audiophile edition is on sale over at Bezos' store. Not that things are selling out immediately around here but I missed out on the first vinyl release years back so it would be a nice addition.

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16 years 3 months

In reply to by topchinacat

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I'm not sure about posting the trunk to CA, very expensive and would it get there? I've had quite a number of parcels to the US go missing.

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4 years 8 months

In reply to by Nick1234

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Roger that ...I just cancelled a trip to the UK this summer, so that was one potential option ... I'll keep my eyes open over here and wish you all the best in your effort .....thanks again ..... tcc

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10/2/77 is a nice show with a catchy opener....but let's be honest, 1977 is kinda played out if the TPTB are listening. I mean by October 1977 the setlist were very similar by every 4th show. It's nice to have the CJ opener, but it's just enough already with years: 1972, 1974, and of course 1977. Most of 1977 has been released at this point anyway, at least the A+ shows. My guess is this is why Dave Picks #45 has not sold out, and it's for sale about 3 weeks or more now.

It's time to have a series that focuses on 1979-1991 only IMHO!!!!!

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