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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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We got tix for PJ at the Moda Center in Portland. Pricey tix. I guess the Jam isn't quite the advocate for the fans any more. Still looking forward to seeing them.

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Bonnie's starting a tour and coming to Portland. Only single tix left. I guess I found out way after the regular sale.

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In reply to by dmcvt

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There's a great salty video of Bonnie playing slide with John Lee Hooker on "I'm In The Mood".
I think I read somewhere that she was also influenced by Mississippi Fred McDowell.

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In reply to by daverock

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Trying to keep word count down Requires generalities lol, for which I apologize.
Just trying to make a point about how influential the Feat guys were, but obviously I was not specific or accurate enough, thanks for straightening that out!
I just recall hearing her interviewed once where she makes a general statement about some specific stuff they taught her, but your right, not the same thing as “they taught her how” …

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Spinning the vinyl edition now.

BTK’s leap year comment. My turntable has reverse, maybe I’ll spin 3-1-69 backwards for leap year.

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I know nothing about playing guitar, so maybe that’s why Bob doesn’t sound all that bad to me.
Don’t know if this is true, but previously saw a comment on the Hoffman forum that Lowell taught Bob to play slide.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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My Lowell teacheth Bobby slide comment got hey nowed.

I'm sort of glad, funny as it was, the comment was written in very poor taste.

The first time Hey Now actually worked. Perhaps they are working through the bugs.

(it was funny as hell)

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38 years ago yesterday, my brother and I were up at the Marin Civic Center to see Garcia & Kahn put on a knockout acoustic show. It has been officially released, and if you don't have it, get it. David Nelson & Tom Stern opened the show. After the show we went over to Berkeley to Everette & Jones BBQ. What a great time.

....found one of the first records I recall purchasing with my own money.
Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police.
I liked the cover and the name.
No skips.
Circa 1980. Checks out.
If they ever reunite, I will have five browsers open and hang out at the library down street. Just in case.
And if they play Canary In A Coalmine, look out!
My mom drove me to all the cool record stores.
Thanks mom!
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da.

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Anyone have any words on the new picture disc Experience is offering? 1980 Dead, Jerry picture on lp?

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Randomly put Blues for Allah on the turntable. Pretty sure it's the same copy I bought in the '70s,. Sounded great! Might even be my favorite studio album.

I'm going short here because everything I write that's over about 30 words gets Hey Nowed.

Suck it, Hey'ders!

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Got tix for Tedeschi Trucks Band in Portland.

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In reply to by nitecat

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....a Dark Side Of The Moon double LP on clear UV vinyl on April 5th. Only playable on side A.
Looks pretty and extremely tempting.
The 2023 remaster.
"Suck it hey'ders".
I liked that one.
No 1980 Dead on Experience's site that I can find Dennis.

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KPFA 94.1 FM Will hold their annnual Grateful Dead marathon today from 9am pst. to 12am pst. David Gans and Tim Lynch play live unreleased Grateful tapes, have in studio guests , for 15 hours, all for a great cause. Streaming on nugs.net, gdradio.net, kpfa.org, or listen on air at 94.1 fm.

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Broke out my steamer trunk and have been spinning 5/25/72. Managed to get two solid listens in and on my 3rd this morning, with some fine green and hot coffee!

Excellent show!!

Is this the sleeper show of the Lyceum run?

Is there such a thing as a sleeper show concerning Europe '72? lol!!

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In reply to by billy the kiddd

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....is the 40th anniversary of Spinal Tap. The mockumentary that goes to 11.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever".

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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....currently sitting on the dress level at The Smith Center watching Shen Yun with my son.
Chinese dance is mesmerizing.

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17 years 5 months
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Dodgy business. Shen Yun is not quite what it seems. It is banned in China and is a supporter of the orange one.

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Finally got my copy of Dave's 49. It is certainly better than I had expected. The only criticisms that I have are that for the first few songs of 4/28 the vocals are very low in the mix and Jerry sounds like he has been gargling with gravel. Fortunately later on the vocals are higher in the mix and Jerry's voice isn't as rough. These are two fine performances overall. A good start to this year's picks.

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A new Nick Gravenites album, Rogue Blues coming in April on MC Records. With Pete Sears. This is long overdue and eagerly awaited.

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In reply to by Dennis

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....makeup clown, but it was still a good show.
They admitted that they are not allowed to play in China.
Pete Sears you say?
Current listening? What's The Use into My Friend, My Friend. Phish. 12.29.23.
Yummy.
I've also been putting work into Hell Divers 2.
I've posted my penchant re; video games here before. If any of you play PS5, my username is mental_fulcrum. Hope to see you there!

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In reply to by simonrob

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Thanx for the tip on Nick’s new release I just preordered. Musslewhite Lester Chambers Jimmy Vivino Blumenfield and of course Thunder himself definitely looks like a keeper

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Somebody posted a pretty good clip of TTB playing "Mr Charlie" on the You Know Where Tube. It's hoot. Check out Derek's solo: that repeated figure and then the loooong bend to start the second chorus: oh hail yeah.

BTW I did get tix for Berkeley (June 1) and Red Rocks (July 26). See yas there.

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In reply to by simonrob

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That's quite some time getting #49 to NL?
Was it from your subscription or a la carte?
Anyway, glad you got it!
I was positively surprised of both shows, musically and quality of sound!
Cheers G.
.....
Waiting for the 'Biergarten Season' to start (only about four more weeks for reloading).
Wishing all of us a 'never ending summer'!

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It did take a long time to reach me, every step of the way. I think it crossed the pond in a rowboat. Once I had paid the Dutch customs it took another12 days before it got delivered. The whole world is going to shit.
I have a subscription.

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I've been editing some old footage of Jerry at Electric on the Eel for Dead Head TV, and it inspired me to dig out my JGB Eel River Cd box. I listened to 6/10/89 set one last night while cooking dinner, what a great recording and performance! Stay tuned, I'm releasing some JGB at the Eel soon on dreamswedreamed dot com.

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We just got Todd Rundgren tix for July at Revolution Hall in Portland. Psyched! Then the very next day kicks off the 3 day Riverfront Blues Festival. Woo Hoo!

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I think the bonus-disc with MH will be the "left-overs" from 6/22/74, that were not on the bonus-disc with vol. 34 (one of the great ones BTW..) BW from Copenhagen

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In reply to by Danehead

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....I finally got smart and took a PTO day. Afterwards, planning on heading the The Sphere and hope for a Phish ticket at a decent price. We shall see.

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Hi All - I haven't posted here forever, haven't been keeping up with the dialogue but on a few topics....
- DaP49. Dig it. Jerry's voice is toast but MAN they could play, and I love all the quirky song choices and bust-outs. Fun stuff.
- Bobby on slide: Ouch. How can a guy who's so inventive and melodic be so bad on slide, and never seem to improve, at all? Duane became a virtuoso on slide after like 9 months. After decades, Bobby still sounded like... that.
- I have been playing "Guess the Year" on podcasts. They put on a show for a minute, then ya gotta guess the year. Very fun and a cool way to apply all that useless info we have in our heads from years of listening.
- Going to Vegas' phere for Dead & Co. Can't wait.
- Looking forward to DaP50 5/3&4/77. Setlist on 5/43 looks unremarkable, but those shows can be sleepers...
- What will the box this year be?
- Oh yeah, I got fat drinking too much beer during COVID. Recently trying diet and exercise return to form and live up to my handle. Getting there.

Hope y'all are well and that Space and RV3 (80's fans) are digging DaP49

Vguy good luck with the Phish tickets. Then you can tell us all about the Sphere.

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In reply to by gr8fulgal77

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today, harder than ever to post. does it hit different days for different people?

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In reply to by nitecat

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Stoked for Electic on Eel. Still one of my weakest touchpoints.

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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....needs to change his username. Ba-dum-dum-tssss.
Re RSD, it seems that there is going to be a 40th Anniversary Zoetrope picture disc of Dio's Last In Line. I had no idea what a Zoetrope record was, so I youtoobed it.
It's going on my list.

George Bross of GDP merch, “Big Bross Man”.
I only met him a few times, but my cousins knew him well.
He seemed like all the crew folks: professional, good dude, unless you unintentionally mess up the merch semi at Shoreline on 96 Furthur fest tour and thus deservedly get summoned there for an “informative session lol. Actually, considering, he was pretty cool about it!

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