Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,068 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

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

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June 29, 2020 - 7:53am

#6651

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Dave's 31

Dave's 31 it is!

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

#6652

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

Warming up the Chocolate Spot...

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

Rock on!

Peace
June 29, 2020 - 7:09am

#6653

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Otis

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

#6654

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Oroborous, DeadVikes, etc.

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

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

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

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

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

Peace
June 28, 2020 - 9:31pm

#6655

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Otis/Oroborous

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

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

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

#6656

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

6.28.85 Hershey Park....

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

#6657

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

#6658

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

#6659

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

#6660

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

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

Bode Miller...

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

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

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

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

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

OK, You Got Me

The reverent tones for 2-14-68 got me to go primal today.
And while not a primal guy (blasphemy again!) I finally got into it around Viola Lee Blues (disc 1 bonus material). The 2nd set does look killer. And you sure get your share of Dark Stars in this Road Trip. While most of the first disc was playing I was also reading about the history of S.F. back then and particularly the Carousel Ballroom (El Patio) and it's history before Bill Graham changed it to Fillmore West. Kinda helped flesh out the scene a lot more for me. 1968 must have been a tough time to be a hippy as a lot of stuff was going down. I think I had it easy by comparison in the mid-'70s.
Following this up with Ledded's desert island, and if I could only have one GD album, pick of Ladies and Gentlemen, The Grateful Dead from April 1971, going trans-continental to NYC. Onward!
Cheers

@ Oro RE 94

To be honest, the only one I can think off of the top is Richfield 3-21-94. I'll have to listen back to some others to see how they're holding up, but 10-5 is another I liked. 10-1 was an official pick.

Thanks Hoss!

A lil bit of something better than all of nothing…

I know 7/31 is decent, and 8/1 is good, cus I was there ; )

Anyone else? Bueller…?

Bueller Says, 3-6-94

Because you asked Oro:
Only listened to this once since seeing it (my final show).
Starts off good with a Help>Slip>Frank but has it's share of mediocre moments too. To my ear Jerry just wasn't at top form that night. After H>S>F an interesting combo of Spoonful>Jack A Roe, Masterpiece, B. E. Women, and a rousing Let it Grow to finish set one. Set two pre-jam had sound issues as I recall with only Easy Answers, Lazy River Road then the jam of Playin'>Eyes>Drums> Wheel>Last Time>Attics>Good Lovin' brought it home in good style and the Liberty encore was new to me. The whole thing seemed short and a little tired but the 2nd set jam was worth the price of admission for sure with that interesting combo. Last Time> Attics really was a surprise in there.
So there ya go amigo. Cheers
Going to Aspen Sunday for the free Los lobos concert? Can't beat the price!

Tanks Bueller!

It’s on my recon list!
Hey, it’s 94, so expectations are low, hopefully then I get surprised like 93.
But my quest is to hit as many as I can from all the years combined…

If it keeps on raining, the levees going to break!
But hey, better than fire!

Outta be fun boogieing in the rain to the Lobos!
Even if I could make it, not sure I could make it…canyon closed last I heard…

couple more 94

3/17
3/30

'94?

Seattle - 6/13 & 6/14
Eugene - 6-17 (and 6/18 & 6/19)

Honestly feel that the late years (93 - 95) Northwest Coast shows were not like most other shows of their era. At the 94 and 95 Seattle shows and all the Autzen shows from 90 to 94 but one. .6/13 and 6/14 (Seattle 94) very different in their song selection and both excellent in their way. Dew that closes 6/13 Set II was way awesome and excellent jammed out second set.. Jerry was into the cool temps of Memorial Stadium in Seattle and played 6/13 in a leather bomber jacket (photos out there.). 6/14 they dropped into That Would Be Something which I loved though didn't recognize and my thought was "Hunter wrote a lyric so simple that Jerry couldn't forget it!" Later discovering it was Paul and "Bowl of Cherries" (McCartney). What a treat! 6/17 Eugene (first of three show run at Autzen that year) was the only show I missed during my years in the NW, and missing it was much to my regret. Rained hard that night and the other 2 shows were daytime with lots of sun. Close friend from CA who made it got a "drop" maybe 2 in the eye - it had been awhile but he was well versed in navigating that space and once he settled in loved that show. No SBD for 6/17, unfortunately. Set II Rain opener in the pouring Oregon night rain, Eyes, and Wheel > Attics out of Space. 6/19 with the fat 2nd set because they knew they would never play Autzen again because scene in camping and town etc. was rife with clueless rude slobs. huge shift in that regard from '93. Had to play Portland Meadows, a racetrack, in '95.

Tanks!

Anyone else, keep ‘em coming…
After checking my Deadbase, looks like I hit Richfield and a couple that ole BC mentioned.
Hopefully I’ll get a winter hiatus and do more recon next year!

Hit the 88 shows from the Crap center this week, solid, mostly good, the 3rd and 5th I think I liked best.

EDIT: wasn’t feeling up for full on GD yesterday, so hit the psychedelic goodness from 6/27/15.
It’s a shame they didn’t rehearse more, especially this cool early stuff, but it’s still surprisingly good sans a few transitions etc.

6-27-15

Pre-Dead & Co., still the GD?
Cannot believe it has been that long since Fare Thee Well.
All the songs played were from 1970 or before! Almost fossilized.
I can see why they were a bit rusty.
Dust off those rusty strings just one more time.
Cheers

6/27/15

Yeah 1stshow, my understanding from my insider source was they didn’t practice as much as they were supposed to (imagine that lol) and especially all that old stuff, since those shows got added sorta last minute. Phil, and Bob somewhat in Furthur, were playing much of that, but not sure how up to speed the rest of the crew was?
But my goodness, what a set list!
I’d take this set list, rust and all over the stuff they did in Chicago!
One of the very few times What’s Become of they Baby was performed perhaps topping the list.
Wish they would have released a video of this one, though guessing it’s out there somewhere?

11/29/79-OB

Finally finished this one up today OB. Another fine 79. I thought the sound quality was good for what it is .
PT Barnum and the Shah of Iran!
Nice energy through out the first and second set. Enjoyed the Shakedown, High Time, Estimated. I thought the Eyes was a little off, seemed disjointed and too fast and not up to that spectacular version from 11/5. Good finish with BP, JBG and US Blues.
Would definitely listen again.
Love this period.

They're Listening In On Us

11-29-79 in this week's Taper's.
From Black Peter to U.S. Blues.
Oh, duh. The other 2nd set chunk was on last week's Jam-o-week.
Yeah, I keep forgetting how that works.
That Eyes was weirdly fast (but lengthy), like where's the next gig fast. And you'd think with all those verses of don't tell me this town don't have no heart they could have worked in some Huey Lewis, the heart of rock & roll is still beating, in
Cleveland, you known, rap like Pig man. Oh wait, Huey comes later. Never mind.
Cheers

What's Become Of The Baby

Maybe at top of my list of GD songs I never heard live. I think I knew Phil did it at least once. Didn't realize the FareTheeWell group performed it. I'll check 6/27 - sweet set list indeed.

What's Become of the Baby

I think I saw Further do this. I have to look.. it might have been at Radio City Music Hall the week after Bear died?? I might have seen Phil do Rosemary too with P&F, likely also in NY. Of all the spin off bands, I have always liked what Phil is doing the best. He had an interesting approach and brought in top shelf talent. Plus, I always had a good time and made plenty of phriends.

If I had an opportunity to see him tomorrow, I'd take it.

I don't recall either of these being exceptionally good, but they were exceptionally weird.. which counts for something, right? There was an Alice D. Millionaire mixed into one of these shows and a few other oddities. You gotta give Phil credit for embracing the weird and embracing those old primal songs. Bobby brought a few back also.

So

DV, yeah it’s not the Rectum (personally I dig 11/6) but how would you compare to 31 and 47?

6/27/15: yeah, that’s a set list! What’s become isn’t mind blowing performance wise, but talk about weird and a WTF, moment! I remember watching at my cousins and hearing it before they started it and thinking, na, no way, then Holy Crap! Lol
I remember being ecstatic at the P&Ph Denver Philmore in 99 I think, because of 2 things: one, the music was in good hands and going to live on, and two, those of us who unfortunately missed the early years were finally getting the goods! They were breaking out all the old chestnuts, not JUST Dark Star, SS etc, but New Potato, Born Cross Eyed, all the sweet early weird shit, frickin Daverock would have been outta his mind hearing all these old gems live! Lol
So yeah, the 6/27 show was perhaps a bit tepid and unpolished at times, but it was fun as hell and shows the potential of what might have been again, and was by far my favorite from the five shows. It also set the bar for D&C as now it was not only a possibility that they play these nuggets, it was now expected again! So thanks again Phil!
The weirder the better I always say…

11/29/79

OB-Would have to give the nod to the Kiel show, #47.
Of course 11/29/79 isn't a polished up version either. But I don't think this one will ever be released.

Looking for a good 1980 show for today. Hard to find good recordings for 1980.

1980

Have we listened to 8/26/80 Cleveland Public Hall here yet? They played the next night (Pine Knob) on Today in GD History a few days ago, but this one might be just a touch better. They both are nice mid to late 80's shows. (full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a good Comes a Time)

8/26/80

I don't think we ever listened to this one Jim. Cleveland.

Will get it going today.

Thanks!

8/26/80

Hmmmm?
Can’t recall and not home to check so…guess we’ll give it a whirl.

11/29/79: hmmmm again, you don’t think it passes muster?
Guess I’ll have to check it out again? Think I recall there were some “spots” but they all have em, and overall my recollection was that it was crackling with energy?

Cleveland 79&80

11/29/79: awright, just listened again and I’m not changing my mind lol
I can’t find anything wrong with it?
Bama is Hot, Promised land is good cept Bob has slight vocal miss early. Candyman is sweet, Mama/Mexi is good, TLEO is nice, Minglewood’s good, Bobs not too bad on slide, Easy To Love is nice, god Brent sounds higher range AND better than DG (it’s a shame how much his voice deteriorated, though it gained a new goodness, like JG imo), Hot Brown Eyed, Looks like was ok, but not great, Jers first solo is oook, and not much outro? Did like Brent’s attempt at storm sounds on the synth at beginning. Decent Dough Knees closer.
Second opening Shakedown starts oook, but builds up nicely, though not a rager. Hot Samson, followed by High Time. Ok but not great, nice Brent harmonies, but JG doesn’t solo much? Good Estimated into a good Eyes. Yeah it’s faster than those awesome 73s we’ve become a custom to recently, but I’ve heard way faster, so I didn’t find it too fast: it didn’t seem to mess up his vocal phrasing etc. Cool jam out into drums with a sorta pre drums space like they wanted to keep going…so then immediately into a decent Black Pete, ok A&A, and then a hot JBG closer. Good US Blues calling out the Shah lol. Yeah, I still like 11/6 tops, but this is at leases as good as 47 if not better, again, imho, no offense intended!
Since we could be running outta releases, I’m not sure I’d go with this for a single shot, but part of a good box with Pittsburg x2, Indianapolis, KC, something from those good Nassau shows, and a ? (not at home so no notes)…
Ok, 80 next…
8/26/80: a solid, well played show, nothing flashy, no big moments, only one lil muff in UJB.
Just stays quo 1980…
The set list is fun though, including the first Rooster since 64, 65? (I think?) and in the second set!
(Actually, second rerooster, first on 8/19 according to DB 10)
Comes a Time and Casey J we’re nice, if not highlight real worthy. That kinda sums this one up, good show, few flaws, good sets, hard to criticize anything, but…..? Perhaps lacking a little fire? Hmmmmm? Whatevs, good sheet!
ONWARD!

1979

Love your passion for the Cleveland show OB. It is good. The Eyes just didn't do it for me. Rest of the show is good. Might be nit-picking a bit, just my opinion.
If they gave me the keys to 1979, the second night at Cape Cod, the three nights at Nassau, Providence and the two nights at the Spectrum. 7 nights in late 79. How does that sound.

8/26/80

Fine show Jim. Really good audience recording. Brings me back to me roots with these recordings. I love the energy of this show. Nice Sugaree opener into El Paso. Dig the Althea. Shorter first set. Yes OB, interesting second set Rooster. Good UJB and Playing. Love that Comes a Time, Lost Sailor SOC, great Casey Jones and close it out with a rocking JBG.
Might have to continue on with some 1980, was also thinking about dipping into some E72 shows.
Edit-8/27/80 Pine Knob seems like a good possibility.

E72

I'm not expecting anyone to follow suit necessarily, but I happen to be half way through the first Wembley show, 4/7/72, at the moment. It's overshadowed by the following night...in fact it's overshadowed by virtually all the other shows on the tour. But it's well worth a listen if you fancy going for one of the less celebrated shows from this tour.

Daverock

I'll be headed down that EU72 tour rabbit hole starting in a couple of days.
Interested in what you hear on the the first one.
Cheers

Wembley 4/7/72

1stshow - thanks -I don't know whether it's because this is the first 72 show I have played for a month or so, but it sounds spectacular. The first date on the tour, and they maybe felt they couldn't afford to take things too easy. Every song hits the spot. This period is usually marked by the great jams, and the tracks that stand out here are Playing, China-Cat and The Truckin'- Other One jam - but it's not just the improvisations that shine. The whole band rocks much more convincingly with Keith in the ranks - checkout Beat It On Down The Line. Sugar Magnolia really comes into it's own here too, moving on from it's country feel of 12 months ago to pure rock n' roll. I was going to miss out the last few songs on this set - it all looks very, very familiar on paper. Don't be tempted - it's a great celebration after the intense jamming on The Other One. The crowd are asked to move back to their seat towards the end - so the joint was obviously rocking all right.
And to think this is one of the also rans of the tour-incredible!

White Rabbit

OK, here I go into the EU72 22 show breech.
Thanks again to a friend.
Excited to get started after DR's review.
Going in sequence seems to make the most sense.
May have to do some non-Dead palate cleansers in there too.
Cheers

You go boy!

Yeah 1stshow, I don’t care what anyone says that guys awright! ; )
Yep, I’d say do em in order and no other dead in between. I find that’s the best and most satisfying way to do a tour.
It’s cool to see the little nuisances and changes that happen along the way that might get missed with Just a cursory spin. Though sometimes ya might feel ya need a Dead change, I find that mucks up the above.
Don’t think I’ve done a tour this big, yet, but it’s a satisfying accomplishment upon completion!
So you go, we’re with ya and look forward to posts from the road ; )

8/29/80: after 8/27 yesterday, I figured I’d hit the next one as it fit into what I’m doing, and it fills in a hole that completes the 8/24 through 9/6 sequence…
Another, similar to the 2 proceeding: mostly good solid, few misses, though no real fireworks, just grinding it out on the road Dead. The next night (8/30) is on Dave’s list, and I found that one to be perhaps a slight step up, though it’s been awhile…9/2 is very good, though I’m biased, and then the next 2 from DL 7 (haven’t heard those in forever), capped off by the glorious 9/6 Lewiston show!
Onward!

Lewiston

Another synchronicity there, Oro. Was just over in Maine with old friends, one of whom I had not seen in many years, he was on stage security that night at the racetrack fairgrounds and helped us get down front for the zenith of my too small handful of Dead shows. He reminded me that Roy B was feeling no pain but still played Nancy like no one else ever could, Levon and the Cate Bros, what a show. End of summer, end of tour, just could not have been better. Many recordings but apparently no clear SBD, otherwise mandatory for release. That friend had been searching for the lyrics for Jaime Brockett's Legend of the Titanic, pleased to locate for him.

palate cleansers

I would have thought that was essential if your going through a box the size of E72. You don't want to put yourself off it. Obviously very different following a tour at home than it would have been in the flesh. But even if you had been following this tour in real time, as it happened, you would have heard other music in between shows. Unless you're a monk.

Jimmy Buffett

has passed. Used to see him regularly in Florida, every year for many years. A great excuse to get out there and have a little fun and get a great buzz. Been a while since I saw him, he got real busy there after a while and wasn't around the local bars that he used to frequent back in the day. Many a time down in the keys he would be there and he would discuss those "square groupers" that had been seen floating around back then. After one peeled off the outer layer that most were wrapped in what was inside was usually "gold". I remember a great show back in 1980, Jimmy opened for the Eagles and he had a broken leg. Of course he did "Margaritaville" and had changed some of the lyrics to include his mishap. Blew out my flip-flop, stepped on a pop top, broke my leg had to crawl on back home, man I'm in real pain, wish I had some cocaine, but that's been gone since early this morn. a gifted wordsmith for sure. RIP Jimmy, may those Jamaican winds blow you safely home.

Report from EU

I won't try to do reviews on every one but maybe in groups of a few at a time.
DR was spot on. 4-7-72 gave me a new perspective of that year. It was:
- Polished, energetic, and played with stamina.
- Darn near perfect, as if trying to impress.
- Had a religious experience moment for me in GDTRFB where I kept saying Jerry is a monster by '72, and how does he do that. Just keeps coming up with a new riff every few seconds. Unbelievable. Rivals anything I can think of from any era.
Cheers

RIP Jimmy, always liked him even if he didn't get played at my house as the wife didn't care for him.

Other Music DR…

…just not Dead. But hey, that’s just my methodology.
If I start listening to other Dead, I lose my hyper focus of the tour and all the little things, the nuances. I need to marinate in the shit lol
It’s like sometimes you switch to a different kind of beer midstream, one you know you really like, but because of the style of the one you were drinking is so different, the new one doesn't taste right. It’s your taster is off…
Best example is in 2021 when I did all of 1971 in order, listening to Phil figuring out his line in PITB. Every one was a bit different until he had what he wanted. If I was listening to other dead I might have missed that…
It’s hard to go a whole tour and not switch it up, but I think it’s the best way to do it!
Now a little Jazz or something else now and again,sure, but no other Dead!
But again, that’s just me…
I did hit the 4/7 stuff from Steeping out. The energy is like a fright train. You can tell they were itching to play!
But I think their holding the stick a little too tight because of that. I can hear JG saying something like “we have the whole Europe scene watching us so we can’t Fuck up…no pressure or anything lol”
So to me sometimes it’s a bit off the rails. But I like em when their going beyound the comfort zone, that’s why I like 85 so much. Sure occasionally there is an accident, but that’s ok when yer riding the edge!
The amazing part is, as good as this one is, it’s kinda just a warm up and indicator of what’s ahead!
Just amazing they could play that consistently at that level for 2 months straight AND get into all the shenanigans!

And yaassss, ole Jimmy Bufet, may the Caribbean winds blow him safely home to the big Cheese Burger in Paradise!
A son of a son of a son of a son of a son of a son of a sailor! Now you and Hunter behave now ; )
I

Everyone is right

There's clearly no right or wrong way in how we listen to all these shows. For me, with E72, I have started to think of them in terms of the few shows in one country, and listen to them before moving on towards something else. For example, the first three shows in England stand as a whole for me. So I listen to them one after the other - then take a break. Then go on to Denmark and do the same thing. The first three shows are so good I defy anyone to just listen to just one of them without listening to the next. But I don't want to over do it, so a break comes in handy - then the next one sounds fresh and will blow my socks off like the first one does.

Oro - I think you listen more deeply than I do!

Right o,

More than one way to skin a rabbit lol
My way is hard, but I find it worth it, though perhaps why I haven’t done this whole tour, YET.
In fact, I’m not sure I’ve even heard every show yet? All the Dark Stars to be sure, but not all The Other Ones.
Yuck, yuck, see what I did there ; )
I have this book staring at me I’ve not read yet as I’m probably saving it and the remaining shows for when/if I do take the Pepsi challenge…it’s called Europe 72 Revisited by Howard F Weiner. (Think I have one by him on Cornell too?)
But after just randomly glancing it mentions the first England shows we’re supposed to be 4 at the Rainbow, but the place went outta business right before the tour so ole Cutler had to punt and go with 2 biggins at Wembley. He then starts to mention how good 4/7 is and how he, like many, perhaps overlooked it due to the greatness of 4/8 etc…
Hmmmm, sounds familiar lol
ONWARD! You go 1stshow, man if I knew I had the time I’d be tempted…

I just hit 11/20/73: never heard more than the RT taste. Another looonnngggg but fine 73!
Think I’m down to just a handful of 73s I’ve not heard!
Hmmmm, what now?? The Other One is working this WE so I should probably pick something official top shelf and warm up the ole transistors : )

Great.. just great

So now I have to get another book before I delve into E72. Just great...

If you google Blogspot Europe 72, the first listing is a reprint of the old Europe 72 Notebook that has been floating around on archive dot org for a dozen years or so, except it is in the correct order and mildly edited. Most importantly, it looks like they added many pictures of each venue. It really gives you a better feel for what it must have been like to be there. ...and man, there are some historic venues on that tour. For me, it would be worth it the next time I am in Europe to visit one, three or all of the venues (assuming they all still exist), just for kicks and giggles.

The GD did all kinds of things wrong in their tenure, but this tour was not one of them.

mmm.... The Other One is working this WE, hitting something epic and it sounds like officially released? oh the pressure.. If you're going to warm up the tube amps.. goodness.. the DS>MD from DP19 (hey, it's 73), DP16, DP4, 2/14/68, Feb and March 69, 4x/5x 72 or go for one of the other multi-tracks, any of the From the Vault, the WD or AB 50th's. The picking is the easy part, keeping the plaster on the ceiling, not so much.

I'm also a big fan of 85 for the same reasons mentioned. Also, taking the risk of introducing all those new songs. It was like they were climbing out of a rut and freshening up the place with vibrant and loud electricity.

For the second time this year, JimInMD isn't working. I have no idea why... Why do you mock me so oh dead net website?

Sorry Dennis, er I mean Jim ; )

Maybe Dennis will let you borrow his wife’s CC lol
Or hey, since yer working too damn much, you should have some extra bread left over, even after the cost of your expanding empire ; ) Pretty soon they’ll be calling it Jimsville! Which is nice….

I went with the 12/26 goodness from DaP 43, and then the Stepping out segment from 4/8/72.
Chefs kiss fo sho!

Bob being his usual youthful self, ready to yell out in front of a crowd of young Christian types about last I saw Phil he was going to the dressing room with some chick lol. You can see why eventually they needed McNally…

Now time to hang it up, and see what tomorrow, oh, wait, that’s today? ,,,oh oh, where does the time go!
Gonna need another RJ caliber shooo…
ONWARD,

EDIT: wonder where 1stshow is, he should of left England by now…hopefully no situations at the border?

Here I Am

With news from the front lines.
Blaspheme warning: This may contain heresy.
OK, I get why the consensus is that 4-8 is better than 4-7 but....
I like 4-7-72 better. The 4-8 from Dark Star on is amazing and unique but it is more primal. And while I dig Phil's insistent bass groove in the Caution, I mean he's leading the band at that point, but the DS gets a little disjointed at times. And there are better versions of Pig's songs coming later in the tour as well even if that Mojo is darn good. Now Jerry on pedal steel is more my cup-o-tea and even Phil singing a duet with Bob on that LLRain can't spoil that (truth be told he does a good job of it). And of course the MLB jam is great and they had a few notes leaning that way in 4-7 but never got there. But.... I was floored by the 4-7 second set altogether. It just builds and builds and, as I previously said, the Sugar Mag>NFA>GDTRFB>NFA closing just hit me right. Jerry en fuego! And every first set song was done to perfection so it's close but 4-7 edges out 4-8 for me.
So onward to Newcastle! Storm the battlement! And thanks for the support. Cleansing with classical this AM.
Cheers

Bucking the trend

I also enjoyed listening to 4/7 more than 4/8 this time around. It seemed higher energy all round - a more exciting show. Not that there's anything wrong with 4/8 - very serene Dark Star, I thought. And again, I liked the rocking ending. Caution seemed like a nod back to the 60's to me - back to the acid tests, with a few tasty flourish's on organ, as John Peel might have said. Both Dark Star and The Other One sound very, very different at this stage from the 60's styles- but Caution seems to catch that old groove.

I've only played the first cd of the Newcastle show - but that opening "Greatest Story" must be one of the best versions ever.

Music is well said to be the speech of angels.........

Morning, rockers!!!

After I bought the E72 trunk I listened to nothing but Europe 72 for about six months. Total immersion therapy. May have warped me a bit, but did make the Europe 72 tour part of my "Grateful Dead DNA".............

4/7 is a super fine show, as is 4/8. I always had a fondness for Newcastle and Aarhus, lesser known but solid and with some sublime moments. Best show of the tour, May 3, just one man's opinion. Favorite show of the tour, May 26, historic, massive, bittersweet, the end of an era. December 71 great, AOM run greater, Europe 72 greatest.

The anniversary of a certain outdoor Maine show is coming up in a couple of days. Yes we were there and had a blast, one of the "most fun shows" we attended. Would make a fine official release some day.............

Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.......

Rock on,

Doc
Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end...............

1972 on record

5/26/72 is my favourite show from the tour. Has to be one of the best 5 shows ever played.

I play most shows from E72 every year, and have already played most of them this year earlier on. This time around, I was going through my records, having finally got a new stylus fitted - hence a revisit for 4/7 and 4/8. Listening to them logically leads on to the Newcastle show, which would make a great release for a RSD on vinyl in the near future.
I then have the Dark Star from Paris 5/3 and the great 4/5 show that followed. Then the final run at The Lyceum.

I really like listening to these shows on records ( why are records referred to as"vinyl", I wonder? We don't call cds "plastic"?) But you do have to do things like turn the record over half way through Dark Star - which might put some people off.

edit - whoops - it was the other way round - Dark Star being played 5/4, not the day before, with 3/5 being the one put out on vinyl in it's entirety.

E72

Go get them 1st Show. That is quite the project. 5/26, 5/4 and 4/26 have been personal favorites of mine, but that is always subject to change.

Love the 1980 download shows OB. Will have to check out 8/30. Would love to see them release them all on CD.
Yes, Lewiston, that would be a release. 1 1980 show released in 11 years of Dave's Picks. Not much love for this year. Not sure why.

Nothing but a Hound Dog

Vinyl Me Please is releasing a Hound Dog Taylor album "Natural Boogie". As part of the advertising they've put up (or someone has) a 73 video of him playing.

On the tube search for

Hound Dog Taylor - 15 minute LIVE Ann Arbor 1973 Video

Thought some would like this.

Beware of the Dog

Thanks for the tip, Dennis. That's a great album - I got a copy on cd second hand, in a cracked case about 20 years ago.
An inspirational figure, Hound Dog Taylor. Proof positive that you don't need a 1954 Gibson once played by Peter Green ( or some such) or a theoretical understanding of music to play the blues. Just a cheap Japanese guitar tuned to an open chord, a small valve amp, a brass slide and a don't stop for anybody kind of attitude. If I had a son or daughter, this is what I would tell them.

Magical music never leaves the memory......

Mornin', rockers!!!

It's National Lewiston Day!!! Celebrate!!!

Yes, I do remember..................

Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty.

Rock on!!

Doc
Music really is our daily medicine.......

A Holiday

Well, we knew this was coming. It's been so long since I listened to this show, it's all but forgotten.

I had this one digitally, but before I documented the source, so it's old... Time to refresh. Alaska 1980 is also undocumented in my files, which means this was some of the first stuff I pulled down when I first discovered the Archive and other sources.

I wish I was at this one. Hey.. it's another 1980 too. I pulled down the Charlie Miller SBD/Aud with the audience portion recorded by Jim Wise. I think this is the best source, is anyone else using a different source? Only a few songs from the soundboard seem to exist.

Lewiston Day

Would love to see this show as a Dave's, though not sure about that sbd? My last Dead show, was in process of leaving Maine for Vermont where everything changed for a long time. Lewiston and central Maine area was home for ten years from 1970. So many concerts there, between Portland and Bangor: Dylan, BB King, Muddy, Clapton, Mountain, Zappa, Gary Burton, Canned Heat, Nils Lofgren, Mose Allison, Jesse Colin Young, The Eagles, on and on. However this show 43 years ago today, was peak in so many ways.

Dave & the Dog

Like the old saying - a poor craftsman blames his tools

Not Me…

I blame management!

Ok, no time to chat, just quick mention that I may or may not be doing the Pepsi challenge…
I only hit partials of 4/7 & 4/8, but everything else through 4/21. Hoping I can get 4/24 in tonight.
Maybe try to remember what all I’ve experienced so far lol ok, gotta go,
Onward!

Hmmm, is that really Jim, or is that his bizzaro Jerry other via MDJim ???

Lewiston: no time now lol, but I did really dig it when we did it here before! That whole fall stretch is good.

Secret of poor guitar playing

Dennis - exactly. I've never needed a good guitar to make me sound bad. It's all in the fingers.

Pepsi Challenge, etc.

Yes it was me.. MDJim is my evil twin. JimInMD was in deadnet timeout for some reason and would not work. Initially I thought it was because let a curse word fly.. but I think my password got nuked for some reason and it took me a while to figure out what was going on.

Now that I have this new E72 book (thanks Oro), I will be following along after taking a few steps back. Hitting Lewiston today, what a Sugaree, and I still have half of 6/9 and all of 6/10/73 to squeeze in.

I tell ya, I really got engaged after looking at what all the venues looked like. I've always been a venue snob and have a soft spot for ornate, intimate theatres.. add in the Greek Theatre and Red Rocks for good measure.. come to think of it, Telluride was nice also.

Well.. back to cleaning my house of all things.. and finishing the first set from 9/6/80.

...and Ventura, Riverbend was nice, blossom except for the bottleneck getting into the shows.. Venues are fun (except the Crapitol Centre and those nazi cops on horseback that came with it. Was happy to see that one get imploded).