Dave's Picks Vol. 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85)

Back to product page

Post reply Log in to post comments

January 19, 2024 - 8:00am

1,211 replies

Dead Admin

Joined:
April 28, 2021

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.

Comments

sort by

Recent

Recent Oldest A to Z Z to A

Reset

February 8, 2024 - 10:56am

#791

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Bluesman

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.
February 8, 2024 - 8:58am

#792

Jambry

Joined:
February 8, 2024

First time disappointed…

First time disappointed. Weak sounding sonically. Can't really get into it.
February 8, 2024 - 8:37am

#793

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Good Context HF

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
February 8, 2024 - 8:02am

#794

hendrixfreak

Joined:
February 26, 2014

Honestly, maybe I stand corrected...

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.
February 8, 2024 - 7:17am

#795

dmcvt

Joined:
April 4, 2013

Angry Jack, hitch hiking to music

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...
February 8, 2024 - 6:07am

#796

uncle_tripel

Joined:
October 2, 2023

classic blues...

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
February 7, 2024 - 8:25pm

#797

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

I have a grand-daughter....

....who loves Alice In Chains.
She rocks.
February 7, 2024 - 8:07pm

#798

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Decided to...

have virgin listen of 49 on road trip later this month

I feel like Newman with his jambalaya
February 7, 2024 - 8:05pm

#799

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

And now....

A song JGB should have covered

Rock and Roll with Me - David Bowie
February 7, 2024 - 6:37pm

#800

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

BOC....

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

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

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.

NEW...

...daP 50 release less than 2 weeks away
...Knopfler release good to hear
...FEAT release OKAY

I laughed out loud at the…

I laughed out loud at the Lenny Hart comment. That's f***ing funny.

Come on 50!

Molly Tuttle

Not sure where else to put this, but should I check out Molly and her band at a small club that holds under 700? I love me some bluegrass.

4-12

1983

4 12 83

What a night! Ya had to be there!
First row, Phil’s new bass, new PA, lights etc, and my first time tripping at a show!

Rasta5: for sure

Molly is the real deal, you will enjoy. If you can, go early, get down front.

Molly on the Moon

Check out Molly Tuttle doing Standing on the Moon, then check out her version of White Rabbit. Both on Yew No Where Tubes. Should make the decision about whether or not to go see her pretty easy.

She's a Rainbow

Also see Molly's version of this Stones song at Ossipee. Their Satanic Majesties music takes me way back to the late 60s, today drencher, it's been JJ Cale's Naturally.

There's no brainers....

....then there's Molly.
You know what you need to do.
Edit.
VGK playoff spot clinched. Now it's just seeding.

Las Vegas was fantastic

I would have looked you up Vguy, but there is no way my beloved would go for connecting with a person I know only online.

LV: there is only one.

I can vouch for Vguy

He's almost as weird as me. We met up at the Rocks two years ago. I witnessed the man high-fiving every single person in his row en route to burning one with me.

Maybe proudfoot's wife would love to meet us both! Under, er, concert conditions...

Yeeeehhhhiiiiii!!!!!!!!!

Hey now!

You be careful there, HF.

yes, concert conditions only

;)))

We are indeed an odd lot on this odd little place of a website

One more LV thing is the show Awakening at the Wynn

Top notch production with a w t f plotline

Born and raised in Vegas....

....moved to Elko (still Nevada), met my wife and drug her back to the heat.
Seen this city morph into pro sports and expansion up into the hills. Traffic is getting exhausting, but first world problems.
Knopflers new record is A+.
Vinyl arrived today.
Even the wife likes it. Bonus points.
That's twice you've come to Vegas Stoltzfus and didn't give me a heads up.
I'm harmless. Unless....
Yeah. I remember your Gov’t name lol.

12/1/66

Find it on that too b thing

Labeled as the 4th but it is the 1st

A treasure

Take my word for it Vguy

It is much better this way

Simply weird to see the changes there

Our first visit was 1990

Hello

Is there anybody in there

Just n o d if you can hear me

Is there anyone home?

3 18 67

Perfect accompaniment for this mornings walk

49

I put 49 back in again before I put the actual discs away, this was a really solid release. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
The sound, setlists, playing, four discs! And it's an interesting period I think, not alot of exposure. I hope the next one is as much fun...

49

Mas Fina!

Thanks

Is not enough mister d l

Hopefully

You

W

E
R
E

N
O
T

J
U
S
T

B
L
O
W
I
N
G

S
M
O
K
E

About

More eighty five goodness
Mucho Garcias!

04-14

'72
E72 The Complete Recordings, By far my all time favorite release ever.

where...

...there is SMOKE there is Fire, HIGH anticipation for a summer '85 BOX in 2025,
cause, ya know, conception began this month, and
currently weeding out shows for an 8 show box [6/14 thru 9/15]

it's all a dream we dreamed, one afternoon long ago

85 box

I, Too, thought an 85 box set could be in the cards. The main reason being ( we're so jazzed to release more of this great year) part of #49 liner notes. Maybe i'm reading to much into it, who knows.

Like every year, i'm totaly stoked to hear the news regardless of era!!!

Proudfoot's got the idea

They've got a few choice '67 Grease shows in stock. Let's have 'em!

The focus on this special release (in my head) is Pigpen as leader of the GD, so drop the remaining '66/'67 Grease shows on us. Follow that with the remaining Six-Headed '68 Beast shows, including the latest discoveries.

THEN we can settle down to the rest of the Vault. If you question this selection, just think about it. Who the hell cares anymore about '66/'67 Grease? Only the dodderheads who gather here...

Dodderheads

Count me in.

66-68

I'm all for a 66-67-68 box, but more for the lightning than the grease.

Yes no

Yes I’m down with primal faster than ole pig with a seventeen year old, but, like they say on the mountain: if yer gonna go, go big! 66-70!

4/15/70

My favorite show in thirty trips. They apparently used patches from 4 different sources to pull the show together.

4/15/70

4 sources? Masterful editing job, can't tell. Now my question on this show is: is there a third drummer on that funky Drums and Soul Sacrificish Jam before The Other One? Also, I believe this is one of the shows with the Miles Davis Quintet that featured Tony Williams and John McLaughlin. My God, what an unbelievable weekend that must have been.

Edited to add: no McLaughlin or Williams, but Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Airto Moreira, and Steve Grossman on sax. And it was 4 nights, but April 9-12. Alas. Still they were fresh off that buzzing experience confronting another form of experimental music from a master. And that is one of the better shows in that massive box. '67, '69, '74, and '77 are my other favorites. Not big on the '72 or '73 shows.

4.15.70....

....admittingly it's been a while. Brb.

4/25/77

From the big box. I played that one yesterday, and it is indeed excellent. The Scarlett-Fire, and..especially the spiralling jam from Wharf Rat back into Playing are the highlights.

4/15/70 may be next - although I was so impressed with the 77 show I dibbed into 5/5/77 afterwards. Great Sugaree in the second song first set slot.

4/15/70 W i n t e r l a n d

Alvarhanso - as you noted in your edit (which I didn't catch at first) the 4 shows where Miles Davis Quintet opened for the GD are 4/9 - 4/12 at Fillmore West. 4/15 is first show after that run. If anyone is interested in how the MDQ sounded in that run, the second night, 4/10 was released as Black Beauty: Miles Davis at the Fillmore West, first as a double LP in 1973 (import in US) which seemingly treated the set as one long improv (no proper song titles) and then a CD in 1997 that had actual song titles (I bought the CD a few years ago but can't remember if I knew it was one of "those" shows at the time).

more Miles at the Fillmore

Miles Bootleg Series Vol. 3, from the June shows at Fillmore East, also includes three bonus cuts from the April 11 Fillmore West show.

The Dave's 50 is available…

The Dave's 50 is available for pre-order in the store!

If anyone isn't subscribed...

It's under the Dave's Picks tab

Joey

Nice work Joey.

Now, where is that box?

50

Is available for preorder!!!! The cover art has a New York feel to it.

50 tracklist

Tracklist
CD 1
Palladium, New York City, NY (5/3/77)
1.PROMISED LAND
2.BERTHA
3.ME AND MY UNCLE
4.PEGGY-O
5.JACK STRAW
6.ROW JIMMY
7.LAZY LIGHTNING>
8.SUPPLICATION
9.DEAL
10.GOOD LOVIN'
11.SHIP OF FOOLS
12.THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED

CD 2
1.MIGHT AS WELL
2.ESTIMATED PROPHET
3.SUGAREE
4.SAMSON AND DELILAH
5.FRIEND OF THE DEVIL

Palladium, New York City, NY (5/4/77)
6.MISSISSIPPI HALF-STEP UPTOWN TOODELOO>
7.BIG RIVER
8.THEY LOVE EACH OTHER
9.IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES

CD 3
Palladium, New York City, NY (5/3/77)
1.EYES OF THE WORLD>
2.SPACE>
3.WHARF RAT>
4.DRUMS>
5.NOT FADE AWAY>
6.AROUND AND AROUND
7.UNCLE JOHN'S BAND

Palladium, New York City, NY (5/4/77)
8.DANCING IN THE STREET

50

I think they took it down...

Alvar got the tracklist for proof. lol

#50

I saw it Joey.

Another stealth roll out.

Ari Eyes

Anyone catch Ari referencing deadheads and Eyes of the World this evening?

#50

Now you see me, now you don't.
I agree with Philly Deadhead.
That is a very New York looking cover.
Peace

DMCVT

Yeah, I laughed at his use of "wake up" (I was just resting my eyes, I was not asleep) "to find out"....
He's not just leaving it to the late night comedians to point out the absurdity of it all. Sketch artist even caught him, lol.
Cheers

love...

the STEALIE hood badge on the TAXI...
and how about that FOR HIGHER taxi roof sign "TRIPS"
very COOL graphics on daP vol #50

JRAD and Jazz is Dead, summer in Burl

Local thrill seekers have advised me the early bird advance tix go on sale today for JRAD show on Jerry's birthday, and in early June, current Jazz is Dead iteration featuring Steve Kimock helps kick off Burlington Jazz Fest with a show at Nectars... hmmm seem to recall some other band playing at Nectars back in the day....

product sku

081227817442

Product Magento URL

https://store.dead.net/en/grateful-dead/special-collections/daves-picks/daves-picks-vol.-49-frost-amphitheatre-stanford-university-palo-alto-ca-42785-and-42885/081227817442.html