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    Anyone who has ever seen the Dead can testify that one of its shows will add quite a bit of color to the environment here at Stanford. Anyone who has not seen one of these spectacles should have the opportunity to do so. The Grateful Dead are an important part of the Bay Area's cultural history. Those of us who saw them last week can testify that the Dead are alive and well. The Concert Network would be hard-pressed to find an act which would bring Frost Amphitheatre to life as the Dead would. - The Stanford Daily

    As you know by now, we'd certainly have voted aye on this motion, so much so, that we've loaded up DAVE'S PICKS 49 with not one, but two complete Grateful Dead shows from the Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 4/27/85 and 4/28/85. The first shows from '85 in the series, these back-to-back hometown performances couldn't be more different while delivering the same level of passion and precision, five hours of it, in fact.

    In 1985, the band were celebrating "20 Years So Far," a feat that found them on these particular nights confident with invention in terms of both setlists and playing. There are old songs renewed, rare covers revived, undeniably nuanced Jerry moments, and a few surprises from Brent Mydland too. While it's impossible to select highlights, we can say with certainty that the overall clarity of these shows is unparalleled, courtesy of Dan Healy's recordings.

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 49: FROST AMPHITHEATRE, STANFORD U, PALO ALTO, CA 4/27/85 & 4/28/85 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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  • dissident1980
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    I was skeptical ...

    I was skeptical about a 1985 release to lead off Dave's Picks this year, BUT, these are two very hot and very fun shows! Nice picks Dave :-) [Now, onward to September 1970! ... hee hee hee]

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    I suffer from premature congratulations

    Just finished the first show on #49 and have to add that Bobby finished off the show with Around & Around into One More Sat Nite and man, the band is ferocious! Those songs, except on E72, sometimes leave me cold, on this one my freakin' pants caught fire and... I ain't lyin!

    Props to Billy, Phil and Brent and Mickey is playing with a remark-worthy precision that lays the sneakers-in-the-dryer effect to rest.

    Dave L., you have chosen wisely. Hats off! And flaming pants off too!

  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Angry Jack Kerouac

    A great road story, Jack, well told! They sure were different times.
    “Roads were made for journeys, not destinations”
    Confucius

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    Strangely, I may be on topic here...

    Enjoying the first #49 show. Yes, early first set sounds driven by the pre-show blast of marching powder but they settle down and my comment is:

    Jerry may be in rugged shape, off-stage, but he sure seems to be the one driving the segues from song to song, where segues occur. He leads into GDTRFB, Truckin', Other One into Peter. I find Jer in exemplary form for most of the first show and on all "his" songs, in fact, like days of yore, the band is running after him at full tilt.

    Ya know, I don't mind an "energetic" '85 show with the serendipity of setlist and the robust even raw treatment of the music. This is Rock and Roll, after all. I keep comin' back to Jer and his performance here.

    So, a wide variety of shows sometimes leans on so-so performances, but in this case, the selection provides a reconsideration of long-held biases.

    In other words, this sucker rocks with the fat man in the lead. God bless and RIP Jer.

  • estimated-eyes
    Joined:
    So Far

    Reaffirming here how much I love this release now that I have fully digested it a couple of times. Listening to it on the home stereo over the weekend took me back to my dorm room in 1989 watching the video So Far. I have heard plenty of 1985 shows, but the way this one is mixed and remastered, the sound/feel of the band is exactly like they sounded when they recorded that video. Not surprising as they recorded So Far shortly after, but man... this is a time machine release. Brent's keys during Bird Song took me to that place, in particular. Thank you, Dave!

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Kingfish - Big Iron

    Nice call, I have a Kingfish show from 76 NYC. Very nice recording.

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Big Iron

    Said this one before.
    Kingfish did killer versions.
    Can't go wrong with Marty Robbins.
    Cheers

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    off topic, of course

    I’m sure we all have thoughts about songs the Dead could have played. I’m not talking about big hit covers, like knocking out a Stairway to Heaven. No, odd songs you really never saw coming.
    I mentioned several times about how they should have done Ghost Riders in the Sky as a Bob song.
    And Jerry really blew it when he didn’t do On Broadway, while he was on Broadway. Just to hear Jerry belt out –

    But they're dead wrong, I know they are
    'Cause I can play this here guitar
    And I won't quit til I'm a star on Broadway
    The house would have went nuts!

    Well I’m laying in bed last night waiting for edibles to take me to sleep-world and this one crossed my mind. This may actually be an early version of Fire on the Mountain. I always thought Fire on the Mountain was about being in the band. Some of the phases remind me of Hunter.

    The song – Six Man Band by the Association.

    Well, I'm a day at a time
    I'm a day at a time
    Well, I'm a seeker and knower
    In a six man mind
    'Cause I'm a travelin' man
    Yes, I'm a travelin' man
    Well, I'm a comer and a goer
    In a six man band
    Well, I'm a California man, my instrument in hand
    I'm electrified
    On a fast flyin' trip, dirty laundry in my grip
    Mostly drip-dry
    We got the seventeen jewels that dictate the rules
    And the time to fly, as we're passing by
    We just got the time to say hello, and then a fast good-bye
    I'm a travelin' man
    Yes, I'm a travelin' man
    Well, I'm a comer and a goer
    In a six man band

    Use of the word “grip” in the second verse, an old term, reminds me of the 20’s. Would a kid today know what a grip is? Does the youth have a sense of jewels in a watch?
    But then throw in a huge jam after “fast goodbye”, coming out with Jerry growling out “I’m a Travlin’ Man”

    Just a thought, ok maybe drug induced, but….

    Anyone else have a song the Dead should have done?

  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    Angry Jack Straw in Vermont?

    Your story, great stuff. Minor point, even adjusting for 1985, everyone outside of Burlington being farmers?? Hmmm... guess you did not get around outside Burl much. If you had said mid 60s, maybe, that's about when the back to the land movement, hippies, communes etc started the meaningful shift that turned Vermont from republican farmers to crafty democrats. The interstate highway system that made this happen began construction the early 60s. I get it about the difficulty is driving east west, drove out to Watkins Glen in 1973 from Maine. When I moved here in 1980 after visiting friends for years, lived on a farm in the mountains near Killington, old timers told stories about rural electrification still, which came in after WWII. Just sayin.... (and wowee zowee, first post in more than a month with no hay now or crapcha)

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    C'mon Louis!

    Ten days of it will be here today. You're killing me Smalls!
    Nothing innovative about lousy service Mr. Dejoy.
    Cheers
    Must be something with W. Colorado as my buddy in Crested Butte doesn't have his yet either.

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Anyone who has ever seen the Dead can testify that one of its shows will add quite a bit of color to the environment here at Stanford. Anyone who has not seen one of these spectacles should have the opportunity to do so. The Grateful Dead are an important part of the Bay Area's cultural history. Those of us who saw them last week can testify that the Dead are alive and well. The Concert Network would be hard-pressed to find an act which would bring Frost Amphitheatre to life as the Dead would. - The Stanford Daily

As you know by now, we'd certainly have voted aye on this motion, so much so, that we've loaded up DAVE'S PICKS 49 with not one, but two complete Grateful Dead shows from the Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 4/27/85 and 4/28/85. The first shows from '85 in the series, these back-to-back hometown performances couldn't be more different while delivering the same level of passion and precision, five hours of it, in fact.

In 1985, the band were celebrating "20 Years So Far," a feat that found them on these particular nights confident with invention in terms of both setlists and playing. There are old songs renewed, rare covers revived, undeniably nuanced Jerry moments, and a few surprises from Brent Mydland too. While it's impossible to select highlights, we can say with certainty that the overall clarity of these shows is unparalleled, courtesy of Dan Healy's recordings.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 49: FROST AMPHITHEATRE, STANFORD U, PALO ALTO, CA 4/27/85 & 4/28/85 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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Dixon wrote every song he is known for. As for stolen songs the reverse is actually the case. Most 60’s 70’s and 80’s rock bands did at least 1 of his songs and frequently didn’t give credit. The worst were of course Zep and of course Chess Records . He finally got his rights back before he died and set up Blues Heaven Foundation

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I would have to go back to some of the blues biographies in my collection to confirm, but it was pretty well established that Willie Dixon would get new, young players in Chicago Chess sessions and proceed to take writing credits for the songs artists brought in. He knew the real money was in the songwriting credits. This is why he was so prolific. He wasn't the only one doing that in the music industry of the 1950s, but it is pretty well known.

My intention was not to demean VT in any way. I love Vermont and get back there quite often. I actually spent quite a bit of time outside of Burlington. My point was simply to illustrate the volume of traffic. When you’re hitchhiking on the New York State Thruway you have access to about 100 cars a minute. When you’re hitchhiking on the back roads of Vermont, you’re lucky to get one car every couple of minutes, often interspersed with farm equipment. That’s all.

My apologies for any misunderstanding.

Thanks for the warm welcome back. I spent several weeks down in Margaritaville. So away from net for the most part and phones. Holding close to my 5 oclock somewhere attitude; as well as, 420 somewhere attitude. Had some friends come down to visit at various times. Mostly welcomed the year blotto. Gulf Coast is lots of fun off season.

And yeah, i needed a break from hey now. Think it actually raised my blood pressure. But yeah, feels good to be home again and home here again.

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In reply to by estimated-eyes

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There's a documentary on and with Buddy Guy, in which he states that Willie Dixon routinely amended other peoples songs, changed a word here and there, and then claimed authorship. In the same film Muddy Waters agrees that such behaviour was common practice around the blues scene in the 1950's. And he should know - "Rollin' and Tumblin" is often credited to him - yet it was first recorded by Hambone Willie Newbern in 1929.

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Thanks HF and others. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and I should check my sources better. That GD cover of Same Thing from 1967 is sure rough and ready.

Edit: I was unaware that they did that song way back in the primal era. I do remember an interview with Bob about working with Willie. I liked the song Eternity in the later era. Was that Rat Dog or GD?

Cheers

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In reply to by 1stshow70878

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First hand evidence suggests you were actually right. I do like that version of "Same Thing" from 1966 that is either on "Vintage" or Historic" Dead.

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Play at the S.F. Blues festival, he put on a great show. "I'm Ready and Hoochie Choochie Man" two great songs Willie Dixon wrote done by Muddy Waters.

....my last fives have been blocked.
Lets see....
Taylor Swift - Red
Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds
Pink Floyd - Meddle
GOGD - The Second Frost Show
Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny And Mutation
Hey now!! He likes it! Hey Mikey!!

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D>Beautiful S>Wheel!
Truckin'>Other One transition!
Black Peter!

Just for starters.

Team Dead firing on all cylinders!

The recording, the recording!!!

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Shared love for the transition out of Space into Wheel. Very fluid.
Also nice to see BÖC in the comments. My first concert was them with Aldo Nova opening, 1982. I was 15.

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In reply to by ronmarley1

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....Imaginos.
I have it on CD. Worth a little bit apparently.
Then again, peeps are selling Dead tapes on Instagram.
Not. For. Sale.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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A song JGB should have covered

Rock and Roll with Me - David Bowie

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In reply to by proudfoot

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have virgin listen of 49 on road trip later this month

I feel like Newman with his jambalaya

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songwriters, and well, those musicians, guitarists, vocalists and arrangers from the 1930's thru the 1960's, man, oh man they greased the skids for the future of rock n roll! thanks everyone for talkin' about the artists willie dixon and chester burnett, gonna have to cue -up some of those classics!

Rhythm and Blues had a child, and it's name was Rock n Roll!

peace all!
uncle_tripel

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It's all good, just wanted to comment about changing cultural demographics and highway system as relating to hitchhiking. Transition to Vermont from Maine in late 1980, soon after the Lewiston Dead show, had a car then, but did hitch hike late 60s and through the mid 1970s up and down the east coast from Virginia to Maine. Some great rides, some sketchy. Hitch hiked around Maine locally from Portland to Augusta and along the coast in the 70s, easy with significant population. Long a music lover, saw an incredible range of music in Maine in the 70s, after moving to Vermont, Burlington was big beacon, the only urban city in the state, though Rutland, Montpelier, Brattleboro came close. We went up to Burl for much music, mostly at Hunts but did see Miles at The Flynn in 1986. What continues to impress me is the amazing amount of hyperlocal high level performance thats out there, I had written more detail but got the hey now, so...

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I base my (possibly half-assed) view of Willie Dixon on the turns of phrase in "his" songs. That and I guess I just flat-out revere the man. The turns of phrase in the tight glove of chord progressions and turnarounds sure seems to me like a unique signature belonging to the man.

But others here say otherwise. I therefore propose that all differences of opinion get a fair hearing, a little mutual head-nodding, and then progress to the bar after the pause that refreshes in the parking lot.

1stShow, I will henceforth listen first, do a cannonball into the pool second.

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Mine was a generalization based on comments read elsewhere and was wrong. I think the key is that this was a common practice in the era and I sure can't judge the man. His writing stands up to the scrutiny and is a brilliant style all its own. Jump on in, the water's fine!
I do like Eternity, which is likely not everyone's favorite 90s GD cover but I never really cared for The Same Thing for some reason. Spoonful is a classic no doubt.
Cheers

HF - absolutely. None of us were there at the time, and it's curious why we believe what we do. Apart from the Buddy Guy documentary, I read a great biography of Howlin' Wolf last year by James Segrest and Mark Hoffman. "Moanin' at Midnight" it's called. The references to Willie Dixon suggest he was quite astute in his business dealings and approach. Drummer Francis Clay says that Willie was basically a lyricist and the music was constructed by the bands who made the records.
"Spoonful" is a case in point. Is he credited with that one? It was based on a Charley Patton song, and the incredible power of the original Howlin Wolf record is down to Wolf and his amazing band. Jimmy Rodgers also states that Willie took ownership of many songs that were actually band compositions.
But this is only what I have read - and those people mentioned above may be wrong. But the more you read, the more a picture builds that all wasn't quite what we have been led to believe.

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Hello all - today the 3-cd set Sing out landed at my door. Disc 3 - the Garcia/Weir (with Kahn and the drummers) set is soo sweet.. The sound is wonderful - Owsleys last GD recording.. Get this while you can.. BW Danehead

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I love that album. Been a LONG time. I had this on LP - which I think was made in Germany - but at the end of college I bunged a lot of my stuff into the garage at my parents' home and left it there for a few years. When I went back to retrieve my stuff, a fair amount of it had been 'thinned out' by my brother's friends.

All the Hendrix and Zeppelin was gone; most of the Marley, Tosh, Bunny Wailer... and ofc the Pink Floyd. They left Dark Side of the Moon, but I'm guessing that's bc nearly everyone had a copy. Same with the Marley "Legend" album. However, they didn't realize the value of the SST collection, so I still have all of my Black Flag vinyl xD

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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I was thinking about GD covers, when I thought 2 Pink Floyd covers would have been good for GD.

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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Wish You Were Here. Great encore song for after a very strong show, and capping off what those off the bus for that date missed.

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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Saw a killer WsP show in 2000, where they did Wish You Were here as a 2nd encore, really a great bonding experience for the hippies. Had VW Vans, quite a few, from states out West like Colorado and California.

I spent a ton of time at Hunts in college. I loved that place.

I had more to post about it, but the censors are back. Wtf.

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So the censors are back? Booo.

edit: yes, they are most certainly back. In trying to type this, I found that the word k.e.y.w.o.r.d is blocked. So is the name of a famous venue, W.interland <- well, I guess that's a way to get around it

What I really wanted to post about was Wish You Were Here, but this is just... it's dispiriting.

....was wrong.
That being said, 2.11.69 vinyl is up on pre-order.
Triple gatefold. Three records. $125. Gonna pass unfortunately.

True, I haven't been able to get anything by for months with that word in it, especially when I use to talk about the 2024 box set.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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Phil and Friends covered it a handful of times. I saw them play it at Red Rocks in '99. Very beautiful and moving. An otherworldly, instrumental, Stella Blue proceeded it. Kimock and Haynes on guitars.

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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2 copy and paste the hey now comment but would not let me post it. It is on their site?

hmmmm

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In reply to by Vguy72

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Experience Vinyl seem to have the best price. They say very limited.

I couldn't pass up :-) I'm still passing on the Barbie box that is out, 10 years out maybe very desirable to Barbie Heads.

You (and a few others others) are always on the top of your game.

Is Barbie Heads, like Dead Heads, or is it Barbie Heads, like will learn on the Pickers show, the head of something is almost always the most valuable part of a collectible?

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9 years 1 month

In reply to by Gary Farseer

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Furthur 4-3-11 set 2

Iko Iko
The Last Time
Wharf Rat
Born Cross-Eyed
Dark Star
Time
Breathe (Reprise)
Dear Prudence
The Eleven
Terrapin Station

Phil doing Water’s bass part on Time was awesome.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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With Vince in the band, should have done The Tubes “White Punks On Dope”

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This is my seventh attempt to post. I keep being told the recraptcha answer was wrong but I’m not getting another set of pictures.
I hope other European customers are getting theirs.

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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I threw Barbie heads together on my own :-)

For people that collect everything Barbie.

In any event, if you missed. VMP is offering a "box" of Barbie. Two lp's in pink, a driver license for Barbie (that's actually a cardboard single), a picture of Ken and a pink pocketbook, that I assume holds the albums.

Only reason I thought about getting was Barbie-Heads. 10 years from now might be worth a few bucks. I'll go out on a limb here, maybe BH's don't watch LP releases and you could have one of the few for sale someday.

I bet they get a good buck for a beach house!

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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U s & T h e m. W o u l d h a v e m a d e a g o o d E n c o r e a l s o, o r u s e b e f o r e o r a f t e r D / S. A g a i n, j u s t s h o w i n g t h e b i g p i c t u r e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n s o c i e t y a t l a r g e a n d t h o s e t h a t d r o p o u t, o r p u l l b a c k f r o m b e i n g s o i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e m.

S t i l l m o r e.

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Still no 49. Monique at Deadnet no help at all. UPS supposedly gave it off to Mail Innovations (what a bs name) in Denver (?) but no tracking for that handoff or a USPS tracking number. USPS won't help without a tracking number, which I have always gotten after the handoff. How much is that better shipping option for next year's subscription? Likely worth it!
Cheers

I’ve had the same thing happen a few times: makes it to Denver in good time, then no one scans at the handoff to usps and then it seems to disappear?
Fortunately, it has always eventually showed up, but at least a week or so after it should/could have arrived, bastids!
Just what us old timers need, more unnecessary stress!

I still cannot understand why we can’t choose our shipping method, so what if it costs more!

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Songs the Dead coulda done? Woody Guthrie all the way. Pretty Boy Floyd, I Ain't Got No Home. And then More Woody.

Finally a double Bob/Jerry encore played as a reminder of our shared humanity, relevant to today's times: What's So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding. (Followed by crowd call and response like knockin hopefully?), then a 2nd encore, "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos). We exit the venue with tears in our eyes, as Jerry's last chords continue to play in our heads.

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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If the Dead had covered a Pink Floyd song, I would have preferred something a bit more open ended, with less vocals. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun by the 1969 version of the band for example.
And how about Careful With That Axe Eugene in 1974 ? Donna could have done the scream...

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Well, I could imagine a cover version of "White Bird" by: It's A Beautiful Day.
But on the other hand, this song is in it's original version a 100 %er.
Nevertheless I wonder what the Dead would've made out of it.
Cheers
G

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Just finished my first listen to 49. Love the mix, Thanks Dan Healy! Thanks to all who worked on this release. I can hear all the instruments so clearly.

I was thinking when I listen to 1974 period, its like listening to jazz, very intellectual and improvisational. When I listen to this 1985, it's more powerful and yet still improvisational, but more edgy.

I like all periods, to be clear. This release is easily one of my favorite Dave's. I will listen to it often.

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