Grateful Dead

05/04/77

It's been a long time since I wrote something here. The other day it occurred to me that I had to say something. Nothing new. Just wondering what happens to this release that It didn't sold out yet.

Nice to be here again.
Peace.

Generally speaking, I prefer uptempo songs to ballads. The emotional affect of a song I have heard many times seems to diminish over the years. Whereas, a Chuck Berry rocker for example, never grows old. Similarly, I always enjoy Me and My Uncle - it was great, as pointed out below, when it popped up during The Other One in 1971. I much prefer "Friend Of The Devil" on the album, and when it was played at a similar pace, to how it became translated in later years as a ballad. Maybe I have got less emotional as I have got older.

Some songs seemed to work better live than on live recordings. As I have said before, I only saw The Dead 5 times. I have never been keen on "Row Jimmy" but in both 1981 and 1990 it worked really well live - in real time. But I'm still not keen when it pops up on a live show I am listening to at home.

The ultimate bummers for me are the extended Lovelights and Good Lovin's from about mid 1969 - 1971, and these are the only songs in live shows that I skip.

Luis - maybe they will start selling a Daves 45 at a reduced price!

Good morning rockers, welcome to today!!

Love Black Peter. Maybe it's the name thing, as it was written for me.....
Have always struggled with Brokedown Palace, have never really understood why...........
I need to work on Attics Of My Life. Maybe it's the tempo.............

Rock on,

Doc
I don't know if music can change the world overnight but I know that music can help someone make it through a difficult night......

Two songs I like that don’t seem to get a lot of love on this board are Alabama Getaway, and Wang Dang Doodle. I’m sure there are others. The proverbial red-headed stepchild of the Dead canon?

Good music is what I like.

Dennis - I know you said you were going easy on the purchases lately, but I just wanted you to see a new Miles offering at Third Man Records you may or may not like. See Third Man Records Dot Com Slash Vault.

That Mike: I love Alabama Getaway. The Dead didn't always nail it, but I think it's a great, punchy song. I wish someone had covered it on Day of the Dead, preferably the Drive by Truckers, but it wasn't to be.

I am a vault member so I will be getting that Miles LP. I just got vault 55 in this weekend. Jack White - the 20th anniversary of Elephant. Nice boxing on that set. I really don't know shit about Jack, but I think he's worth having in the collection (he gets a lot of great talk from folks I know)

That Miles box looks very nice, 3 LP's (one side etched!), a 45 AND a BUMPER STICKER!!! Say no more!

FYI - Odetta and the Blues came in from VMP (Vinyl Me Please) AND Jerry Garcia's Compliaments.

This will be a busy month for incoming things,,,, Record Store Day is the 22nd also. I want 5/7/77 show from Boston, the JGB - How Sweet It Is and Miles' On the Corner. Will also look for a leftover of 5/9/77.

....thats a good one. And yes. I'm the camp regarding Jack White being a phenomenal guitar player. I think the White Stripes sudden break up caught everyone off guard, especially due to how popular they were at the time.
20 year anniversary. Damn....
The Flaming Lips Yoshimi is also celebrating its 20th. Pre-ordered the 5 lp pink vinyl edition off their website.
Staying true to my limit of two vinyl purchases a month.
Golden Showers vs The Squids toknight.

Lebowski - I love Alabama Getaway, too, and what a great idea having Hood & Cooley working their magic on that tune. Big fan of the DBTs, they would certainly do Justice to this Dead “deep cut”.

Dennis - Good stuff on Miles, and you won’t go wrong with Jack White, either. Third Man Records have put together a pretty nice package, like you said. Any Miles is good, but his electric period with the stellar players this guy had in his band was a whole other galaxy.

My Odetta anecdote - You mentioned Odetta. She was scheduled to play in town a number of years ago at a great little club, and my wife & I were going…going…yea, we can get tix at the door…still going…until we bailed, basically because we were “work tired”, which is a pretty lame excuse unless you are in a high energy job. Anyway, she and her booming voice passed a short time after, and this turned out to be her final show (Hand slap to forehead).
Gretzky was right - you miss 100% of the shows you don’t go to.

Mike - I love the new logo. Remember, we are counting on you against the Bruins. I watched the Sabres last night against the Rangers. Too bad they didn't call up Levi a bit sooner. He's the hot goalie right now. A bit late to make a difference this year it seems.

Oilers and Avs. Watch out. Especially the Oilers.

Songs I never liked:

Truckin
Casey Jones
Miracle
C.C. Rider

Before everyone gets all over me, the post Truckin jams from 72-74 are some of the best music the band every played, IMHO. Just never got into the song as a stand alone.

Outgrown:

Sugaree
Tennessee Jed
Row Jimmy
Stella Blue
Let it Grow

I'll take a Garcia ballad any day, except for Stella Blue. I've just grown tired of it. China Doll, Comes a Time, Black Peter, etc. I'll take them all.

That being said, I'll steal a line I heard years ago and still find quite funny.

"Jerry, don't whip out your Peter. Just Dew us."

Saw that collection,,,,, unsure of Lips,,,, thought it be good to have in collection,,,, I could say money, ok, I will. Not sure what's coming in the dead world, record store day is going to be pricy. Went looking for a copy of 5/9/77 Boston, ha. Ebay has one for over 300, found one down-under for 225. I was like fuck it, all typed in found that was in Australian dollars, was 350 in Merican money. Sorry, but not now. I would like to get though. I think maybe the whole May 77 will be done in vinyl and I'd like to have the complete set.

Jack - I was watching the Leaf/Florida game last night, but I heard the kid the Sabres had in net was killing it. The teams are bringing out their NCAA players for the tail end of the season, and we had our kid, Matthew Knies (another Arizona kid) playing, and I have to say, there is some pretty good skating and puck handling skill there. So many great players coming out of NCAA into the NHL now, and they rarely disappoint.
I still think the Oilers are not going far - Connor and company can put them in, but their problem is keeping them out. Really weak goaltending, and I cannot think of a time a team with so-so goaltending ever won the Cup.

Sorry for the hockey blurb, all. Back to best loved/least loved Dead tunes.

Also, someone on the site mentioned the idea of having some kind of Robert Hunter box (A Box Of Rain Box, perhaps?) - what a great idea. I know his music was an acquired taste, but worthy of some recognition. His “Box Of Rain Live” is on my desert island disc list.

I'm not sure how accurate this is but I seen on google that DP #46 will be 9/9/72 Hollywood Palladium. Bonus disc from 9/3/72 Boulder and 9/19/72 Jersey City. Again, not sure if this is legit.

That info is accurate and was announced in an email blast from dead net on Dec. 14, 2022, likely to spur sales of the subscription. The bonus disc will be the Boulder and Jersey City partials that would not have gotten out because of technical problems or missing reels, etc.
Cheers
Edit: That 9-3-72 Boulder, CO Folsom Field show is famous for the huge quantity of baggies of weed that were passed out to the crowd thanks to Gregor and his friends. (not done by the band or stage crew but they may have helped get Gregor's stuff into the stadium?) See partial story under this show date comments in the show archive tab on this site. Also famous for rain.

....subbed since year one. No tears here!
Time for some steal your face off. BRB.

Dave Rock - Why not? It would be great for many people!

Listening to 20 de septiembre de 1970.

Luis - absolutely- the more inclusive the better. Maybe they will include some Dave's 45 in with 46 to help shift a few copies!

That September 1970 show is great. I would guess that if they released a few Fall 1970 shows they would sell like hot cakes. But you never know...

I ain't never cried in my life. Even when I was born - I just looked round the room and flipped them the bird.

Ja, gerne.

If the T Maple Leafs changed their name to the Sweet Leafs, that would be cool.

It might even win them the Stanley Cup.

The Toronto Sweet Leaf Hockey Club

No Stanley Cup since 1967?

Wow...

But having grown up a Cubs fan, 56 years is "just about halfway".

It took 108 years for a World Series win for that bunch.

That’d avatar wouldmake a nice shirt Mikey!

One way or another looks like it’s gonna be a hell of a series.
After last year, and last night, phew, if they do end up playing each other…gulp.
Phuching Bolts always make me scared. No matter what they seem, as soon as their in the dance, watch out!
Hopefully, this will be the year that all changes.

Love Alabama Getaway, always! It’s their Chuck Berry song.

Love Wang Dang, one of the “Bob” songs I’m not sick of lol
Me & My Uncle, great song, played way too much. In fact Bob always played his shit too much.
Not Fade Away has gotten burnt, usually…
Way to Go Home has gotten slightly better, but…
Jerry, sometimes I get burnt on Tennessee Jed, Row Jimmy is totally situational. Usually like later ones better, usually…but sometimes…
There’s a few songs…, but surprisingly not many, and all are situationally influenced.
A credit to Mr Hunter and company that after all these decades so many songs are still so relevant etc.

And a big howdy do to Luis and Jonathan, always good to have some new blood in the mix!

Hey Oro - As a Leaf fan for 60+ years, I’ve come to manage my expectations. Never take stairs two at a time, if you know what I mean. The fun starts next week. Get your bets in boys. The REAL season is about to start.

Wang Dang Doodle, indeed! I must be alone in my dislike for “Me And My Uncle”? I think it just always sounds The Same. Same tempo, same rhythm, same inflection in Bobby’s voice.

Sweet Leafs? I like it, Proudfoot! Now THAT would make a nice T-shirt!

Is my favorite of all the cowboy songs that I don’t like.

I watched the Avs/Oilers game last night. Man, those two teams are good. In all likelihood, they should meet up to see who moves on to the Stanley Cup finals. It’s a shame that one of them will have to lose.

Mike - your boy Woll looked pretty good in net.

The playoffs haven’t even started yet and I’m already sick of all the Bruins fans yapping away on sports talk radio. You know your assignment, Mike. Good luck and don’t let us all down.

My apologies to Canadaland, but I’ll be pulling for the Islanders tonight against the Canadiens. I need the Penguins out.

Ok Jack, there is two of us. Maybe it is just overexposure to the song. I think I read in the Dead Encyclopedia that Uncle was the most played song by the Dead, but maybe Doc or BTK can verify that. Not an awful song, just “Meh”.

As for Woll, he is a good one. The Bruins, I totally get what you mean, but no denying they are killing it. But as I told Oro, I try to manage my expectations with the Leafs, easier that way when they fold like a hardware store tent on Everest. Tampa first. Agree on the Pens, but 17 straight years in the playoffs is quite a record. Sorry Sid.

....the Presidents Cup winner doesn't have a very good track record in the playoffs.
Just sayin'.
Looking like it's going to be Vegas / Winnipeg in the first round. I'll take that. Mark Stone is skating with the team again.
Good lord. My Avs loving cousin just won't shut up. If I give you his cell phone #, will you text him and tell him to slow his roll? Thanks.

Cowboy Bob over horrid slide playin blues bob any day...phhttt...

867-5309

Repeat for the next 3 hours

Who is giving out my girlfriend Jannie's number?
My buddy "Tommie" got pranked on that one years ago.
Cheers
Great one hit wonder!

We all had our favorites and ones that may be "bathroom songs":

Jerry's punching the clock:
Suagree
Ramble On Rose
Tennessee Jed
They Love Each Other
Push Comes To Shove

Jerry's Top Shelf 1st set songs:
High Time
To Lay Me Down
Bird Song
Row Jimmy
Peggy-O
Must've Been The Roses
So Many Roads

Bob punching the 1st Set clock:
CC Rider
Walking Blues
Minglewood
Easy Answers
Picasso Moon

Bob's Top Shelf 1st Set:
Jack Straw
Cassidy
Let It Grow
Lazy Lightning -> Supplication
Music Never Stopped

Best 2nd set goes into ->
China Cat -> I Know You Rider
Help On The Way -> Slipknot! -> Franklin's Tower
Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain
Estimated -> Eyes, Terrapin, Uncle John's Band or even Franklin's Tower
He's Gone -> The Other One

Strongest 2nd Set material:
The Other One
Morning Dew
Playing In The Band
Comes A Time
Eyes Of The World
China Doll
The Wheel
Estimated Prophet
Feel Like A Stranger
Crazy Fingers
Uncle John's Band
Stella Blue with lengthy outro (a la Colgate U '77 or Atlanta '94)
Days Between

Bathroom Break 2nd Set:
Women R Smarter
I Need A Miracle
Samson & Delilah
Ship Of Fools
Black Peter
Wharf Rat
Throwing Stones
Around & Around

Best Encores:
Brokedown Palace
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Black Muddy River
Knocking On Heaven's Door
Shakedown Street (09.04.79)
Satisfaction

Shall we beat the traffic?:
US Blues
Johnny B. Goode
All Brent and Vince tunes

CMD - interesting list. Dark Star wasn't on it, though. I wondered which category you would put that in. One of it's own, maybe.

I haven't got vast experience, but encores generally seemed a bit throwaway to me with The Dead. The show had already ended by then. Some bands save their presumed"classic" for the encore - Black Sabbath would play "Paranoid" as an encore for instance. But The Dead weren't really like that.

Mornin', rockers!!

OK, let's play "Poke The Bear".

When I was going to shows, the one thing I absolutely hated, was "drums & space". Complete waste of time. The band could have played 2 or 3 more "songs" instead. Now, in the digital age, thankfully I can bypass all that nonsense......

I also struggled with the later Dylan covers, which, as a major Bob fan, pained me. My complaint was, musically they were boring. LOL you didn't see the Dead doing Visions of Johanna, Groom's Still Waiting At the Altar, or Foot Of Pride. Now THAT would have been interesting...............

Me and My Uncle was definitely the most played song by the Dead. Which, LOL, I never had a problem with.........

The more the marbles wastes, the more the statue grows..............

Rock on!

Doc
Listening to 4/3/70---you should too!!!

Doc - Thanks for setting the facts straight on Me & My Uncle. I knew you’d know!

CMD - I agree with DaveRock > impressive list, and interesting how you categorized them. The “beat the traffic” one was LOL!

Dave Rock, correct Dark Star in a class by itself. My older brothers first couple of shows
had no encores, but by the time I started seeing shows it was obligatory. Glen Falls, NY
in Septmeber of '79 appears to be the last show w/o an encore. Regardless the message
was "go home - you've had enough for one night".

..............but I find it so weird when people do two or three................

If I recall correctly, there was no encore at the March 31 1986 Providence show. I think it had to do with an incident with a fan throwing something on stage, or some similar nonsense, causing the band to close out quickly and skip the encore.

Doc
I always give the encore over to chaos...............

....because it's mass produced.

A photon checks into a hotel, where a bellhop asks where its suitcase is. The photon replies, “I didn’t bring any luggage. I’m traveling light.”

Q: How many general-relativity theoretists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate space.

A neutron walks into a bar and asks, “How much for a whiskey?” The bartender smiles and says, “For you, no charge.”

A beginner’s guide to physics
Relativity: When the family gets together
Black holes: What you get in black socks
Critical mass: A big group of film reviewers
Hyperspace: Where you park at the superstore

I can't tell a joke to save my life. But I did want to be a theoretical physicist when i was a kid. Sagan and Feynman are my heroes!! Well, along with Stephan Jay Gould.............

Times up,

Doc
A string theorist gets caught cheating on his wife and says, "Wait, I can explain everything."

.... "im traveling light" Lol.
Nerd. (That's a compliment btw. nerds are the best. Shit. We all nerd out regarding the GOGD and music in general ffs).
My wife calls me a nerd all the time.
"Honey. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Nope". To The moon!!
GD songs I like and don't like....
I like Cumberland. Like, a lot. It's literally crack. It's the song that perked my ears back in '86. E72 version. Will never get old. Perfect. Song.
Don't like. Ehhh. Latter day Phil tunes. Bobbys Little Red Rooster slide attempts. 20 minute Pigpen Lovelights. I get it. You're a horny dude.

Here's some more:

The dinosaur wondered why the asteroid kept looking larger. Then it hit him.

Why did the nebula call in sick? It had gas.

Q: Why don’t aliens visit our Solar System?
A: They read the reviews – just one star.

There is no use arguing with black holes. They’re just too dense.

It’s said that in space, no one can hear you laugh. That explains the silence.....

Maybe I should get back to work. That's not a joke. I think..................

Doc
I’m reading a book about anti-gravity....it’s impossible to put down!

....love em.
One star reviews also apply to the Dallas Cowboys. Oof!

Don't want any of the physicists in attendance to take offense, so I will joke about my own specialty:

I'm really excited about the new autopsy club I just joined.
Tuesday is Open Mike night.

Two medical students are about to witness an autopsy for the first time...
One asks the other, "What do you think it'll be like?"
The other student shrugs and says, "Remains to be seen".

What do you call the game Operation without the batteries?
Autopsy

What did the lead coroner do when he and the other coroners were asked to perform an autopsy?
He cracked open a cold one with the boys.

A man was found dead in his apartment. His friends claimed he died because he bet that he could eat $500
The autopsy concludes that, indeed, he put his money where his mouth was.......

I found out I'm a necrophiliac.
How, you ask? I walked into an autopsy. It was stiff.

Doc
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate......

I feel I must pipe up and say that when I saw them on11/1/90 drums-space was the most impressive thing they played all night. Incredible hearing it at that volume coming out of speakers placed all round the stadium-or so it seemed. Not so much heard as felt. Maybe one where you had to be there - and in the zone - to get off on it to it's fullest extent. I doubt I would get anything like as much from it now, should I listen to a recording, sitting here quietly with a cup of tea. You can't bottle lightning.

....is a keeper. Garcia flubbed it more often than not.
Believe It Or Not.
It was always Drumz to me. Still have all my tapes. Always Drumz.
The Other One usually fires up my Spider-Sense.
"Ooooh. Nice."
Re Drumz -> Space, I remember the '88 Long Beach Arena shows. They had speakers surrounding the arena. Dolby 5.1 before it was 5.1.
There was a saw sawing down the top of the venue. Yay acid.
They knew exactly what they were doing.

Love em

Church of Jerry G of Latter Day Space

Not usually a member.

Latter day Spaces could really irritate me with 15+ minutes of twilybopfah bhffffuj.

They were probably trying to tell us something...

Like "Scram! We don't want to tour anymore!"

Later I call up archive. What show shows up first in the cue?

4/3/70

1983

....Brokedown Palace, Baby Blue, Mighty Quinn and One More Saturday Night.

Thanks Doc! I badly needed to smile smile smile!

A gritty win. Fortunate, but gritty. Yeah, it was kicked in. Woll is playing very well. I’m getting a head-start on playoff hockey.

During the game, the announcers made it a point to mention that seven Rangers played every game this season. Seven. Those clowns in the NBA should be ashamed of themselves. All of them.

Favorite encore - And We Bid You Goodnight

Dylan Song I wish they played - Blind Willie McTell

I also would not have been upset if they chose Acadian Driftwood over The Weight.

I missed the game, because I had a CT Scan scheduled, in the always “coveted” 9:45 pm slot, which with driving time into the city and hospital wait time, no game for me. Could have been worse - as I get regular CT & MRIs, I’ve had them all hours, literally. Oh well. Raring to get the playoffs started!!

It would have been interesting to see the Dead dive into the Band’s catalogue. The Shape I’m In, Stage Fright, and Jerry taking a turn at It Makes No Difference. I think you are on to something, Jack.

Doc - Hilarious stuff!

Acadian Driftwood, if they could remember all the lyrics would have been great. One of my favorite Band tunes.

Good call on Blind Willie as well. Jerry could have sung the shit out of that. I also would have loved Dylan's Highway 61 as a set one closer. Could have blazed on that one. (And they needed more set closers.)

And Doc, Groom's still Waiting would have been a great Dylan cover, too. Love that tune.