Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,102 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

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

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March 8, 2024 - 4:32am

#421

uncle_tripel

Joined:
October 2, 2023

5-6-89

thnx for the reminder, it did get alot of airtime back in the mid-90's {it hits many of fav tunes + black muddy river}, THNX again, just pulled the DL>CD's out of the treasure chest, and it's gonna be tomorrow's LISTENING Party!
everyone enjoy your WEEKEND!
PEACE ALL!
uncle_tripel
March 7, 2024 - 5:09pm

#422

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

4-6-89

Yes, my first, and the best concert I had seen in my life up to that point. I was sold, where’s the bus, I’m getting on.

And the laid back atmosphere of Ann Arbor. The cops didn’t even come into the parking lot. I was amazed at what I saw going down on Shakedown Street.

So glad I went. My life changed for the better.
March 7, 2024 - 3:10pm

#423

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Speaking of Transitions

Maybe not 74 China Rider good, but the one from 4/8/89 ain’t no slouch 😀
March 7, 2024 - 2:11pm

#424

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Spring 89

Though I did not relisten to a few shows previously heard, I did rehash several, and some shows multiple times. I started at 2/5 and went in order, finishing with the excellent 5/27 show.

Overall this is a very good, consistent period, though still not as fully gelled as the awesome summer and fall periods. I think this can be attributed to it being yet another transitional period. With the newer songs from the previous year still percolating , as well as several new tunes getting hashed out, (interesting during any era) combined with tech changes and evolving personal roles, it is an interesting period.
One that I hadn’t previously really looked at, and now glad I finally did!

I think generally, the earlier shows of the year are perhaps more consistent than is historically sometimes the case,( but historically similar) in perhaps being a teeny bit subdued, comparatively.
Their all good, enjoyable shows, didn’t hear a dude in the bunch, but hey, they can’t all be top shelf. So I found a nice progression through the spring that really started to gel and peak during the spring tour proper. I hopefully, Iprovide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

3/28/89: vguy suggested this on POTD awhile back and I liked it as much now as I did then. In fact, it’s in my top picks. A fine show but perhaps just a pace or two off the leaders?
So much of this can be subjective, and though I try to critically listen to all the shows, over time etc, it’s really hard to pick a “best” etc.
So I try to do the leg work for folks who may have a cursory interest about a tour, but not the time or sanity to waste going through the whole thing lol.
So hopefully, I provide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

I was at the Pittsburgh shows and we felt they continued the promising progression since the big 86 collapse, but though we liked the shows, I recall thinking good but…
years later, with the DL release, I was grateful to get an attended show, but still had some dissonance, perhaps another right city street, but wrong house?
This time around I was really scratching my pointy head at first, but long short, feel the first show kind lacks, except for the fun post drums sequence etc.
The next night however, I felt was a tad above the tour status quo and in the running for a top pick? (But still think perhaps they missed the mark slightly, maybe it was about the tapes? But again, this can all be so subjective).
More importantly, this show or perhaps end of first night can really be seen as point of demarcation from earlier, to the hieght of this period!

4/5&6/89: I think 4/5 is most definitely a tour tops and recommended.
4/6, Conekids first show I believe, is good, but another perhaps just below that top dog line? Another good tour status quo show on the sixth, but not quite the lightning of the fifth?

4/8/89: though we were at this one also, and really enjoyed it, my memory was of a good but ?…And I had a tape of the first and a couple songs from the second, but hadn’t heard the whole show until a few years ago. It perked my interest but I didn’t get back to it until now, and wow, really glad I did! Have a story for this one but I’ll do that later…yeah it’s in my top picks and maybe not THE show but there’s just something about this show, the vibe? The flow, The set list (mostly), and like the whole tour Brent is strong, and because if it’s uniqueness I think this might be my favorite Blow Away of the tour? Vocal harmonies too which were generally really strong over this period!
Well, you can check it out if you please.
I highly recommend a listen and it’s on my top list.

4/9/89: another great show. Fun stuff and more consistent tour status quo, but as throughout the tour you get the occasional vocal flub or miscue, especially with some of the new material. I found this show another, good, but just a step off the pace…

4/11, 12, 13/89: more overall more of the same, in a good way, though the second night seemed a bit of a creeper and the first night (a fine previous DV pick) seemed the strongest of the three, and yet another close but….

4/15/89: same here as several. Good but…not…quite…? I really liked this show and it’s on my second string list.

4/16&17/89 were good, but perhaps on the tour downside or just past the peak section of this period? Very subtle and the kind of thing I think you can only really get if you do whole tours.

IRVINE: more of the same but perhaps a bit looser and thus a bit less tight?
Again, subtle feels and paying attention to misses etc. Perhaps just a touch of California laid back no worries sun fun, as they do sound like their having fun, actually that’s a prevalent vibe through: they were having fun again, getting new momentum etc.
Perhaps a lab opportunity too as they continue to prominently roll out the new stuff for good or sometimes for ill, and definitely here for the Cali crowd.

FROST: boy Frost shows sure seem to both inspire but with some of that laissez-faire Cali home vibe. And these are no different. They open with a good Jack and proceed with a fun set list, though Just a Little Light is still a work in progress. Solid second set which I had a tape of, with cool PITB and yet another cool drums into space, that was stepped up all tour and with the midi addition has become more “other” less trad drums, which I’ve always really dug!
But finally hearing 5/7 I’d have to say I liked that one more, though there were some obvious whoopsies lol. Bird Song was sweet and has been throughout the tour.
One of the spring highlights for me, but I’m sure not others lol is the midi space fest as they really go to town having a ball with the new toys! Really, the whole sequence from He’s Gone through Black Pete is some of the best stuff I heard so far this year!
Another good show, on my second string list just because of the slop factor, comparatively speaking…

Which brings us to show completely off my radar 5/27/89
This was perhaps the biggest surprise of this trip.
And unlike many of these larger multi group bene shows that sometimes get played safe etc, this one has great energy and illustrates how things have progressed nicely over the course of the year during this interesting transitional period, just before and leading up to what I and some consider one of the best stretches in their thirty year history: summer 89 through summer 90!

So, top picks in no real order (whichever I listened to last was best ala Jim ; )
4/8, 4/5, 4/3, 3/28 and 5/27, with second string 4/9, 4/11, 4/15 and 5/7…
That may be a lot, but that’s because if how overall comparative this stretch is, thus not only one or two that really jump out.
I think if you have any infinity for this era you’ll at least enjoy any of these picks, find them a good jumping off point, and hey, sometimes you might even get shown the light ; )

Well, it was fun, but glad it’s over as to really dig in you have to keep at it and by the end I was doing like a weeks of two a days, and 3 DHBs at the end. Actually, more DHBs as I’m rehashing some of my top picks in playoff round lol. Hey, sorry, getting hockey fever lol.
ONWARD!

Prolly cleanse this WE with more 74, then perhaps a week of 69, maybe a bunch of April 69, then a little more May 79 and/or pickup 84 again…
March 7, 2024 - 2:37am

#425

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

China-Rider

If I was to give someone a very brief indication of why I liked The Dead, to someone who had never heard them, I would chose a version of China-Rider. For me, one from between 1972-1974. As the first one I heard was on the old "Europe 72" album, that would be a likely contender.
March 6, 2024 - 7:18pm

#426

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Transitions

Like that exact moment they drifted from China Cat into I Know You Rider

Regardless of the year, words cannot describe.

(did the really make it through HeyNow?)
March 6, 2024 - 8:44am

#427

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Speaking of 89

Been marching through spring 89 (everything I’ve not heard up to 5/27/89)
Just a few shows left then I’ll report back…
March 5, 2024 - 4:18pm

#428

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Speaking of 89

For those who torrent, summer 89 and fall 89 are at etree as single torrents.
Summer 91 was there too.
Was there last weekend and grabbed them in case they are upgraded from what I already have.
March 5, 2024 - 8:24am

#429

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

Box o Rain

Encore got tucked after Set 1 to save space if you were burning to disc, like you would sometimes see in the cassette days. That can fool ya. DaP 49 did it for the 2nd Frost show. The most recent Miller transfer of the Healy/Pierson Ultramatrix has it in correct order. Haven't quite got there yet. Just hit drums and need to break for another task.
March 5, 2024 - 7:15am

#430

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

The Other One

Says thanks for the well wishes.
She’s fine, perhaps hurt her pride most, just a little sore is all.
Think Jim got beat up worse by the Hey Know Police! ; )
Sounds like the bastards turned it up to 11.

Box O Rain was the encore fyi…

I’ll try more later, when I’m done shoveling for the fourth time in 3 days…

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.

1.3 Rollin

Yo BC!

Just getting into 2/89 DV. Solid, enjoyable, maybe not RJ though..

Early 79 highlights:
All pretty good, unfortunately many Auds only, but some of those were perhaps better than an SB, and some of the SBs aren’t so hot..
Started out on fire but you can hear slight cracks entering the vibe by the end of some of these shows. Burnout and tension perhaps?
Really liked the MSG shows especially the eighth. Of course the 10th.
I can see why Dave Likes the 15, but not sure I found it best of tour.
But man that sequence from playing onward, phew, hell the whole second is great! Next 2 almost as good, then of course the unusual 20, and 21.
A brief speed bump perhaps but they solider on nicely.
By 2/3 their nicely back in step and Dane, still think if there’s tapes it would fit nicely with the rest of the Danes: Great Dane Box! Sorta status quo for the next few, nice Kansas shows, then a good, but not RJ big finale n the 17.
Good show, but enough moments of mishap that I felt it wasn’t RJ.
Too bad there’s no tapes as I could see a few releases here.
Something from MSG, the 10 with DS filler from the 20th, the 15 off of Dave’s list, Dane, somewhere, and BTK 2/17 - 422 idea!

Ok, I’ll get 2 more 89 this week, unless I get 49…

2/4/79

friends had a ticket for me but I chose poorly and didn't make the drive from MN. could've heard a Godchaux era Shakedown and an early Iko. no boards of this but there is of set one night before in Indy with that mid set China > Rider. And don't miss that indy Scarlet > Fire! damn i wish Betty was running reels for these. listening to two four set two now. been awhile since i heard indy so its on the list. that Scarlet guitar break is fire

Wish Betty Was Running Reels

The understatement of the year.

I think much of the late generation shows suffer in comparison to the shows that were properly recorded. True, vocals and harmonies has declined but the band played on.

They are playing 7 7 78 today on Sirius XM as I write this. Boy that Peggy-O was something. What a great run to see as your first show(s)

I let a tiny fart out in the Dave's Picks 49 thread. Music posts don't seem to go through but the test one I made later did. Unfortunately I used up all my patience trying to get the good one through.

that July 78 box

is so very freaking fantastic. a couple weeks ago i revisited omaha 7-5 a k a the waterfall show and it was mind blown - what a screamer

seven seven seven eight

one of my first boots was the superb front of board Wagner audience for that first Red Rocks show Set I and Set II through Scarlet transition. pretty much every song in that first set along with that Cold Rain BIODTL and Scarlet is a favorite version. burned in my brain. its all exactly perfect.

BLUECROW

didn't make the drive. I can empathize with you! as I DID THE SAME THING for englishtown (only 35 mile drive);
my fatal error, major gaffe, momentary lapse of reason, bonehead move, dumbest thing to do; AND yes that decision all these years later still makes me want to laugh out loud & cry all at the same time, so everyone please KICK ME AGAIN!!!

peace all!
uncle_tripel

6/23/74

Needed a change of pace after listening to the fantastic 4/27/85.

6/23/74, Dave's #34. Love this one. Hope you can join me.

Oh and bring on that 2024 box announcement from .......74

Ain't Nothin' Shakin'

So I might just as well since I'm waiting on 49. I think I'll start with the bonus disc.
Cheers

6/23/74

Deadvikes - I'd willingly join you, but I played the 1st cd of 5/17/74 this morning, so I'm a bit out of synch. Incredible time for the Dead - amen to a 1974 box.

Ha!

I was thinking February 74 after first amazing listen to 49!
But 6/23 will work. Then, intermission, then 49 again, then perhaps Greensboro 89 where I left off, then later next week digest February 74 for a few days?

6/23/74 Miami

DeadVikes good call. Have to say i probably listen to the bonus disc to this and the 6/16 &18 Roadtrips a lot... Hope you guys are all doing well!!

"wait a minute..." <- in my best pigpen voice

so Deadvikes I just pulled out my copy of 6/23/74 at your suggestion. I have criminally underplayed this one. I call myself a '74 fan too so idk what my trip has been but anyway I grab the liner notes and unfold that thing and read the story of the photos and then I see the credit... to Forensicdoceleven ?!?! ?!

edit: I know this has surely been discussed already. I seem to have poor luck using the search function on this site, but let me see if I can find old posts, i don't mean to hijack this thread. I just felt a strong need to say "wait a minute!"

#34

Holy shit Bob t! Good to hear from you. It has been a long time. Hope all is well.

Obeah, yes, the Doc was involved with getting Dave the photos, I will let him give you the story. I have no idea how to search comments on this site either. I listened to this a lot when it first came out but haven't listened to it in a while.

I was able to get a full uninterrupted listen in today. My god, so good. One of those shows, where nothing is rushed. Sound quality might be the best 74 material I have heard with the exception of the Grateful Dead MST.
One of my favorite versions of To Lay Me Down. Jerry's guitar work is so moving. Great WRS. Love the Jam out of Seastones and then you get the rest of the second set! What is not to like. That Dark Star Jam, Spanish Jam into a phenomenal US Blues, that takes it's time. UJB, OMSN, Casey Jones to close it out. What a great show!

Dig those PNE shows Daverock and the February shows OB.
Would love some more.

5-22-74

Only made it through the bonus disc as I had anticipated. Life got in the way yesterday. The Playin' went some interesting places I didn't expect. Seems the TOOs and Playin' were the interchangeable space jams in the middle from 72-74. Superb smooth China > Rider. Is there a less than great 1974 show?

IIRC Doc had issues getting his photos back. A trouper to give that gift to us all. Thanks Doc!

Cheers

DHB today!

3/30/89
3/31/89
3/30/94: wow! Neat show! Sometimes…

3/28/89 best of year so far…

Friday: much of 6/23/74
1.3 back there somewhere?

And 49 sprinkled throughout!

Feb 74 on deck…
ONWARD!

3/28/89

Will put this on tomorrow OB. It looks like it is a Pearson Healy Miller. I was at the shows at the Mecca in WI and the old Met Center in Bloomington MN in April of that year. My senior year in HS. What a year! Oh shit that means 35th HS reunion this year.

Music is moonlight in the gloomy night of life......

Been in the hospital for a week with pneumonia, wife with metastatic cancer, life, it seems, has dealt us a harsh hand...............

In regard to Miami. Yes, I supplied the photos, the story is from the deep Dead past, now merely a footnote on a footnote and not so important. I had a chance to make a very minor contribution to the community, so I took it and dealt with the fallout. Bad feelings yes, long since discharged, let's focus on the music.........

It was, after all, the kind of magic that only the Dead could conjure. Very fine and very interersting, consumate quirky gooey good old Grateful Dead. Apart from Providence (my second show), my favorite 1974 outing...........

Rock on,

Doc

Best wishes

For Doc & the Mrs.
You're the best.

Doc sorry to hear the news

Doc, I'm sorry to hear your news,I hope things will get better for you and your wife.

Doc

So sorry you and your wife are going through this hard time.

Doc

Sorry to hear that no good news. Best wishes and best of luck to you and your wife.

thanks Doc

Well let me just take this opportunity to say 'thanks for the photos', and meantime, I'm so sorry to hear that your health is going through a rough spot, and your wife's situation sounds even more serious. Much sympathy.

Doc

Doc, sorry to hear about the health issues with you and your wife.
I hope it gets better for the two of you.

Sorry Doc

Best wishes to you and the Mrs.
Cancer sucks.

SUPER4DTOTO

Sorry to hear that no good news. Best wishes and best of luck to you and your wife.

The Good Doctor

Sending best wishes your way Doc. There's not much we can do or say but we are thinking of you both in the best of all possible ways.

best wishes and hopes

Thinking of you and yours, Doc. Heartfelt wishes that your connection to the medical community results in the best possible care in Jville. Though we have never met, special discovering you were an unknown neighbor eons ago here in the land of big green, that we happened to be at Lewiston and maybe Boston shows. Thanks for your devotion and contributions to these boards.

So sorry to hear this

Doc, six years ago my wife was diagnosed with cancer and I rode in a similar horribly difficult sidecar.

Hope for some gentle days ahead for you and yours, and sending healing vibes your way.

"that path is for your steps alone"

Doc

been sidelined a bit too and just read about this, so sorry to hear of you and your wife's medical woes. Hopefully the VA can help with this and that the bill won't be out of this world. I hope for the very best for both of you. Keep on Keeping on my Florida bro. Get well soon.

Aaaa FFS!

So sorry to hear bout you and the misses Doc.
Effin cancer cancer cancer, Marsha Marsha Marsha, man it seems to be all we hear these daze. In stead of pissing billions away on space pipe dreams, and tax breaks for uber corporations, how bout we cure cancer and clean up our home we’ve turned into a cesspool!

Be well, and may the music heal!
Our thoughts are with you!

Onward Dr. and Mrs. Doc

Even though most of us have never met "ForensicDocEleven" in person, your good spirit shines through on these pages year in and year out. Words fail me, but, right now, I'm adding whatever energy I can in hopes you and Mrs. Doc get through this smooth and soon. Onward brother.

3/28/89

Good show OB. Thank you for the recommendation. Great mix. LTGTR, Franklins, Stranger! Nice start. Stagger Lee. Memphis Blues. Really good flow to the first set.
Good second set Playing, Foolish Heart. Always enjoy a Box of Rain encore.

Decided to revisit Ladies and Gentlemen this afternoon. Wow! Bob Matthews and Betty did a great job with these recordings. Is it too late to go back and give us all these Fillmore East shows in a box?

DV

Vguy recommended 3/28 as a POTD awhile ago.
I rehit it for enjoyment and comparison etc

Hit the first six of 84 since, with some 6/24/85 and some of February 74 too.

Thinking 2/27/69 for Doc! Big medicine!

Going to continue with 84 and 89, perhaps try another 94.
I’ll let you know if anything moves me…

Go Niners!

Big Medicine

I'm down for some 2 27 69 Big Medicine.

I haven't gotten to 3 28 89 yet but I did hit Miami 74. That Cumberland snuck up on me, great picking and then there are the other highlights that shined just as bright this week and I remembered. The recording might have shot up a notch too.

Big Medicine, which reminds me I go under the knife for my shoulder Friday. My ills do not compare but I will take the Big Medicine offer from the kind people here. Believe it if you need it, right.

Sports Fans

Okay OB. If I only had those 69 shows.

Anyway, decided to go with 6/14/76 from the Beacon Theatre. The June 76 Box still shines.

Enjoy your Superbowl Sunday out there.

Hope your surgery goes well Jim.

Thanks DV

I have to hit those 76 shows again.

Funny.. those post haitus releases shook me out of my 68 through 74 comfort zone, there was a period when I just couldn't get enough 80's (and 90's, toss in some 79 for good measure). High octane GD. I hit the Giants box pretty hard but spent some time in 85 (of course), Spring 90 and several shows in 89. I just couldn't get enough.

But hitting Dave's 49 through several listens was a nice aperitif and More 74 broke the spell. They played the WRS>Row Jimmy from DaP 13 on my drive home last night. Icing on the cake.

Grateful Dead, good for what ails (ales) you.

Thanks so much for keeping the spirit going. I'm mostly keeping up.

DaP 13 1974

What's the story with Jerry's F... SUNY t-shirt from the photo in the liner notes? I remember seeing it before but couldn't seem to bring up a story. GD played there going back to 1970? Sounds like some discontent there.
Cheers

SUNY

Ha, as a proud alumnus of the “fine” institution lol, seems like something a student would come up with? Perhaps it’s as simple as JG thought it was funny, or a student offered it up as a joke? But now of course you went and did it lol, so now we have another mystery for Inspector Lose O!
Damn you fist show! ; )
DV, anything, just ask…
JIM, hope that doc isn’t stingy with the propofol, hear that shommer shit is very
Owey. We will of course be thinking good thoughts, any last, er a, I mean any requests for while your elsewhere? ; )

2-11-86

For tomorrow?
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Actually on a Fat Tuesday in '86.
For my friend "Swamp" who would always skip class for a week to go back home to N.O. for Mardi Gras.
Cheers
Edit: Is there an official release of this?

Positive Vibes

On your surgery Jim.
Hope all goes well brother!

2/11/86

I'm still off work on disability from Legionnaire's Disease, so I'll do 2/11/86 tomorrow.
Don't think there's been an official release, but there's a cassette soundboard patch on the archive.
Uploaded by Jonathan Auizen.

Good luck Jimbo

Hoping for a successful surgery and quick recovery.

2/11/86

Rollin!

Went with the HS matrix?

If ya dig 86 I highly recommend 3/24/86…

Excellent (in the Mr. Burns voice)

What a pleasant surprise! Lively show with a killer start, great set list, and in an unusual order. Was Jerry in one of his "clean" phases? Can't get more authentic on the Iko-Iko than with the Nevilles! And the drums segments (plural) were a treat. It's clear the band was having a great time. What a difference that can make.
Cheers

2/11/86

That was a good show.
Wild transition into Truckin.

The Nevilles

Added so much to the second set. Those extra guitar riffs during the second NFA > Hey Bo Diddley > GDTRFB really complemented the boys' playing so well. Let the good times roll!
Cheers

RE 2/11/86

Fun enjoyable show!
HS matrix was good.
I’d call it good, but not RJ: fun, good energy, but a tad sloppy in spots.
JG struggles occasionally I.e., Might as Well. But that isn’t a problem for me…
Think this was first year doing the MG drum thing?
If yer into that, I know I liked the tape I had from 89 of it…
Nice to do something completely different.

2/15/73

Dane County Coliseum
I'm rolling this one today if anyone else wants to?
This was one of the first tapes I acquired back when I first started going to shows on a regular basis.
There's a good matrix on the archive.
Peace

Rolling in 84 TN

But that show MUST be released!
Finished hitting all of 73 last year and I think the first six shows of the year would make a killer box, better than HCS!
Or,
A Great Dane Box, all the remaining Dane shows including the 2 73 reels…
Enjoy, that is a awesome show, RJ for sure!

EDIT: it’s on Dave’s list too, so…

2/15/73 Dane County

Happy anniversary Dark Star blip....... Also anyone see Two Towers Documentary on Fall 73 Tours??