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

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January 19, 2024 - 8:00am

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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.

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March 19, 2024 - 9:15am

#301

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Not an expert like some, but…

Not an expert like some, but never got to see that unusual logo on the head?
Tried briefly to find it: a t F e n d e r etc but could not.
So between that, the pickup layout and not seeing a F marking anywhere wonder if it’s a custom?
March 19, 2024 - 9:05am

#302

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

F this

Had more to say but I’d rather just go out in the garage and smash my head in with a hammer, it’d be more fun!
March 19, 2024 - 8:59am

#303

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Continued

Nit picking aside, what a wonderful surprise and a well needed breath of fresh air! Can’t wait to w a T c h him grow!
About the guitar. IS that really a fender? I know his other green axe is a 62 reissue, but that headstock, pickup layout, and not seeing any Fender markings made me wonder if it’s some kind of custom?
March 19, 2024 - 8:56am

#304

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

FU Hey Now!

And apologize, no that’s BS after what, six MONTHS now you still can’t fix this nonsense! WTF!
March 19, 2024 - 8:47am

#305

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Phil Bday run

Ha, I was wondering if any DH watched the run?
Totally worth 89 denaros for five shows, just wish it was on Nugs since not having an app makes Fans a hassle for us.

First show was a little unnerving as Phil looked outta sorts and more importantly his playing was way off. Sure there were some good moments, but I haven’t heard that many clunkers since primal dead lol.
I think the “fall” wasn’t a big thing, just a klutzy moment as happens with age. I think he was tired, and the Q, and he especially were just rusty, as the next night was much better. Noticed similar last time I saw the Q play: rusty at first, then like riding a bike it gelled, but perhaps not like the early daze?
But music truly does heal because I swear he seemed to get stronger every night. Every night both his playing and presence seemed to get stronger and he seemed ten years younger by the end!
First night 3/4 you had to wonder if this could be it, by the last 3/16 you were thinking “hey, 85 maybe?”
Great cast throughout, really enjoyed 3/13 as I’d not seen that lineup, but of course the big story was Daniel Donato! We got the “Arlo” vibe too, and man that kid can play!! Funny you guys liked his tone as that’s the one thing I told TOO: “man I’d love to hear this kid on some real gear” guess I’ll always compare to that fat Garcia sound that NOBODY can fully get! Also, kinda on the fence about the vocals, but thoughts were “he’s still young, that’ll develop” Not bad, just??, he can’t perhaps get the same level of emotional expression in his singing as he can with his guitar…if that makes sense? But I’m sure that’ll improve with age!
March 19, 2024 - 7:39am

#306

jjc

Joined:
July 21, 2021

Phil Cap Donato

Daniel has a band called daniel donato's cosmic country. They open for greensky bluegrass often and are pretty good. However with phil and friends he really got it done a real jammer and not a solo pop artist type he knows how the pieces fit clearly. The 15th at the cap was a great show and Phil just continues to go to the office and churn it out baby, RESPECT!
March 19, 2024 - 5:59am

#307

dmcvt

Joined:
April 4, 2013

Donato

JIm, he was playing a telecaster, a blue one. Not sure how he was hooked up, his back story is on his website, grew up Nashville, busked on the street as a young teen, came into the country band scene and was turned onto GD by a high school teacher. He sure can play, though we debated on his vocals post show. Grahame had his standard Les Paul, they played same guitars for the entire 3/15 concert, no swap outs. The Capitol was quite the scene for someone who has not been to a large venue event in years... and its not that large. The wait line to get in part of the show, people cruising by looking for extra tickets, then a frisk and metal detectors of course at the doors.
March 19, 2024 - 4:44am

#308

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

3/18/67

Count me in too - that would make a great release. I can remember having a really hissy tape of this back in the day.
March 18, 2024 - 8:40pm

#309

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

3/18/67

It's been probably 15 years since I listened to this. I love the comments on setlists dot nt

In my opinion this is the show that the Grateful Dead became a real band. It all started clicking.
-Kdead 03/11/2021

This is the band as a hot teenage girl that you know will become a supermodel in a couple years.
-Chucky Bberry (06/01/2016)

They are playing RFK 7/13/89 tonight on SiriusXM. I know the 80's are not everyone's cup of tea, but what an under-rated release. This is about the time they really tightened up and got it together post coma. They were a tour de force that year and what a great late era show.
March 18, 2024 - 6:12pm

#310

billy the kiddd

Joined:
November 8, 2021

3/18/67. Official release please

One of the few versions of Golden Road. Great Show.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

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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.

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

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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