Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,101 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 7, 2024 - 5:09pm

#421

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

#422

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

#423

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

#424

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

#425

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

#426

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

#427

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

#428

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

#429

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…
March 5, 2024 - 6:58am

#430

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

4-8-89

(Miller SBD) 2nd set starts with Box of Rain?
Angry Brent gets a 9 min. Blow Away.
Solid show. I think I remember Bobby giving an interview saying 1989 was some of their best later stuff.
Cheers

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.

The beauty of brevity

Speaking of shows that bloom in the presence of shorter songs ( although 4/21/71 may not actually be that particularly), Daves 21 - 4/2/73 is a good listen. Beautiful playing, but for the most part within the confines of more structured songs.

6/10/73-Dave's 21

Love Dave's 21. One of may favorites. Sound quality is A++.

6/10/73- I think may third time through this show and it is so good. Probably my favorite at this point from the box, but I need to listen to the other shows some more. That Eyes is wild. Some really interesting work in the last part of the song. Of course the third set is really fun.

Hope that tracking for #50 hits soon.

Dave's 15

4/22/78
Today's the anniversary of this show.
Peace

Spring 79

5 3 79 thru 7 1 79

Dedicated to GODV!

Tour starts out decent, but nothing special.
Every night seems to gel until late first set on 5/7.
From then on things take off, especially with the second set Shakedown opener.
The next 2 nights, 5/8 and 5/9 are the shin dizzle!
Both shows are ripping good! Only Auds, but not bad. Don’t let that keep you from enjoying these hot shows!
Bill Ricka I heard before and didn’t need to rehash.
The twelfth is good, and Maine perhaps better to close the tour.

6/28 had Aud first, SB second, but not the best show, a bit mellow compared to the previous fireworks. Similar on the 30, but ending on a better note, and a nice HS matrix on 7/1. Probably the best recording of the bunch, but again, the 8 and 9 are must hear shows if you dig 79!

5/6/84 thru 6/14/84 up next
Onward!

Dave's 15

Did the first set again this morning.
Love it! Seems like a show where the 1st set might be as good or better than the 2nd. Nothing wrong with that though.
Have not met a '78 show I didn't like.
Cheers

79-OB

Did you say 79 OB? I think I have poked around a bit during that time period and noticed a lack of SBs. Reminds me a lot of 1980, where the SBs are lacking. Hey anyway, I will check out some of the audience recordings OB. Nice job and bring on a 79 Box before we all get too damn old.

No shipping notice yet over here for #50.

4/22/78

They played part of the second set last night on TIGDH. I forgot how smoking the Eyes of the World was. Creative jam and Jerry was on fire.

Similar yet different, Dave's Picks 7 and 15 can cure what ails you (ales you?)

I enjoyed 6/10/73 too. It's interesting listening to Betts and Garcia play off each other. A once in lifetime occurance I guess, so glad someone hit record.

What's up next?

Picks

You call it Jim.

Greek 84?

I was thinking of the 7/13 show for the Scarlet/touch/fire because the arrangement derivation reminds me of the Frost Shows in DaP 49. I might do 7/15 for the PITB / UJB. Sometimes in this era the ferocity of Jerry's Playing is contagious. It's also got a late era non-disco Dancin' in Streets and Do It In The Road, a nice prelude to what we would see develop in 1985.

One last later era show and perhaps next time I'll go way back.

7/13/84

I am in. I have never heard this show. Thanks Jim.

Cool

I've only listened to 7/13 from this run, at least that I can remember. I enjoyed it. I'm going to dig in on the other two but 7/13 gets the most love.

Bueno

6/10/73, I too hit the last two discs and fully dug.
It’s a shame DB wasn’t more comfortable with the boys and/or had more chance to jam. All discussed in one of those ABB books out sorta recently.

7/13/84 is a good 84 outing. Can’t believe it’s not been released being a Pinkus first show, and…
Gonna wait till summer for that as I’m back in research mode, chipping away at the mother load!
ONWARD!

Hit the 8&9 DV, you’ll thank me!

W a y back b o n a n a z a

Hey Jim, think I might go 6 6 69 thru 7 7
prolly starting next w e e k after my current 84 s w i n g
Perhaps yee all might want a play along?
Get the deer fired up!

7-13-84

Good stuff.
Had it on cassette years ago.

7/13/84

Maybe they are saving it for a Greek Theatre Box set. Fun show, they played alot of my favorite songs.

7/13/84

I had this on a tape back in the day too. It was one of those shows where I was never quite sure if it was a very high energy show - or if my recording had been done at the wrong speed.

7/13/84

Great show Jim. Good first set, recording is good. Yes, love that Scarlet, Touch, Fire,Man Smart. Good Miracle Stella Blue, Sugar Mag finish and then wait, what, a Dark Star encore. Billy must have loved this one.

Think I might check out 7/6/84 from Alpine next.

The 15th

July 15th Was not too shabby either.

Apparently Hundred_Year_Hall is a reserved word. The Hey Now police striketh me down for mentioning it in this post, well.. because I listened to it today and it kicked ass and thus inspired me. I'm pretty sure there's no copyright infringement for using those words in a posting, no harm done whatsoever. What a waste to build and install such an obtuse infrastructure. What do the head cheese at Rhino do, smoke tons of crack before the board meeting and dream this shit up? Goodness.

Hit the show mentioned above today (on it's birthday!), I could not resist. That Other One is Other Worldly and the transition out of Love_Light is so, so, so good.

Hundred

Year

Hall

Hey Now

Applied randomly

I got the treatment a few days ago

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

This well known and deservedly classic Dead show crackles with an energy and intensity that even the Dead themselves could only rarely conjure. I must admit, this is my all-time favorite Dead show. It isn’t flawless, but it’s very powerful and has killer versions of El Paso, The Rub, Cumberland Blues, Morning Dew, Hard To Handle (best ever!), and The Other One. Throw in the big closing jam with TC and voila---magic!!! Without doubt, this is my “desert island” show………………..

You all know what I'm talkin' about..........

Doc
Music comes from an icicle as it melts, to live again as spring water......

4/28/71

Favorite Dead show Doc, I am in.

Favorite show of all time, interesting question.

Doc

Doc, thanks to you I have that show. It is absolutely top tier stuff! Time for a listen.

Set The Dial To

4/28/71

That Other_ One is Other Worldly and always takes me back to the first spin of S&_Roses. Among the first records I purchased from my limited revenue stream at the time cutting lawns in the neighborhood.

If I feel in need of an after burner, I'll be sliding in 4/5/71. It's nice to finish this with that closing twofer from this show. Puts me in a good working man's mood to get stuff done. It might even inspire me to cut my own grass.

Edit: The things you have to do to get pass the HeyCow elitists. They did not like the way I discussed cutting my neighbors lawns.

Desert Island

Don't tell anyone, but I am smuggling a few extra shows into my desert island travel bag. Picking one is simply impossible.

Favorite Shows

Very hard to pick one Jim.

Here are my five in no particular order:

12/31/76
2/18/71
5/26/72
11/6/77
11/5/79

Is that five already? Shoot, didn't even make it to 1980.
Edit. And I didn't include any shows from 73-74. Okay, this is tough.
Too many to list.

Five desert island shows

Since Jim has degreed that we can take more, here we go............

2/28/69
5/15/70
4/28/71
12/14/71
5/26/72

Of course there's so many others, but there's only so much room in my life raft.......

Doc
No Hey Now LOL

4/30/81 Greensboro

Pulling out the cassette for this special show. The future Mrs. Big and I were front row center for this one. Camped out for those tix. Classic Spring '81. Fueled by the red dragon, we then took on Hampton and Philly.
Exactly two years later we tied the knot. 41 years later we are celebrating with Taco Tuesday and a good night's sleep!

Congrats Big B

That's a good run!
They Love Each Other.
Cheers

Hunter S Thompson gem

"Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio."

Thanks!

Original Oro,
I needed that!

Congrats to the Bigs
The family that burritos together…

Almost forgot

My last trip 5 6 84 thru 6 14 84
HN edited. all mostly good, usual 84 opsies etc, mostly good boards,
None of the Hults stood out, liked the weirdness last night.
Cal X a little better, probably. Red Rocks was definitely my best overall, especially enjoyed the second night. Last is fun but more sloppy…

Been hitting 77: 4 25 30 and now 5 1 prepping for 50 next.
Maybe 69 next?

How’s Jonathan?

Did we lose ya in the frozen Midwest lol?

And now DV I know you don’t like Auds, but you’ll like those 79s!
Onward!

Congrats!

On the anniversary Big B!
Peace

Bigbrownie/OB

Pretty sweet BB, front row center in April 81 and with the future Misses. Prime time Dead in my opinion.

OB, I don't mind an audience recording if it sounds good, just can't take the ones that sound terrible. Spent the first part of my Dead journey listening to a lot of bad tapes, which I am sure you can relate to. Anyway, yes, I am dipping my toes in those May 79 shows per your recommendation. Thanks Man.

I hear ya brother!

Just every now and then from time to time…
Some shows are just so good it’s worth it, unless some Jack ass is screaming dumb shit right next to the mics all night lol

Right On...

DEADVIKES...I went to that well once too often, the not well audiencetape adventure...yes, those days have pasted

Really?

I mean I’m not arguing, I totally get it, but hasn’t there ever been a show so ridiculously good that you forget about the tape?
That you’d regret not hearing?
Of course, like I said, unless Estimated Prophet yells dumbness next to the mic all night lol Maybe not, there IS a Lot of shows out there!

And that’s so so quality, personally I like a perfectly done aud almost as much, well, I’d take a very well (professionally) done matrix over all, multi track of course ; )

No AUDs for me

Unless it’s the audio track of video.
I’ve recorded video at several shows. They’re on utoob at DeadFloyd69.

Otherwise, with around 4TB of SBDs on HDs, most of which I haven’t listened to yet, there is no reason for me to listen to an AUD recording of GD.

Floyd is a different story because AUDs are mostly what exist.

The Pink Floyd Sound

A bit off piste perhaps, but mention of them reminds me of the great documentary I watched last weekend called "Have You Got It Yet" about....Syd Barrett.

yes...

...those GD aud tape listening days have pasted, however, in the treasure chest can still be found the well-worn AUD cassette tapes with accompanying memories of
hershey 6/28/85
rochester 11/7-8/85 [weir and his opening the show by mentioning Rajneesh Bhagwan]
rochester 7/2/87
pittsburgh 7/6/87 [welcome our friends the Neville brothers]

and these only see the light of day every 7-8 yrs, & only if, lol, the JONESIN' is OOC,
which media one prefers to listen to makes no difference as long as
you all keep on rockin'

Fascinating

What we like and why we like it.
Used to love how five dudes who all just experienced the same show, sometimes together most of the night, could then have five different opinions in the car afterward lol
Keep ‘em coming boys!
I’m rollin on 77 currently.

I heard from a friend here that today is Harpur College Day

I can only assume it is true. Finished work a little early today, setting the controls for 5/2/1970. A few drops of tincture under the tongue. Hopping on the John Deere. I expect my afternoon will begin by cutting my grass and end destination unknown.

My only wish is that the Hey_Blow nazi's let this post go through unchanged.
5/1 vs. 5/2. I'm in the 5/2 camp but if you toss in both shows plus the New_Riders from 5/1.. well, lets just throw in 5/6 for a threefor. Trust me, it's going to be alright.

A tip of the glass to what's going on in the world today. I cannot help think of these shows juxtaposed over what's going on in college campuses right now. I refer to my previous statement, chill out a little people, everything's going to be ok. Sit back, listen, enjoy and be.

I love all you guys and girls, the world would be much worse off without us in it.

4-30-81

Hey now, gr8 show here, opening Jack Straw high energy and off we go, first set has a Peggy-O and a Loser and ends with a China>Rider. Second set is again where it's at with a monster of a Shakedown estimated>eyes>Drums>Space>Truckin>Black Peter with a Casey Jones encore. check it out

Harpur College

Harpur was a recording I listened to over and over in the summer of 1972. That's when I realized this was a really different band, and got on the bus, attending the San Jose 1972 show and two of the Berkeley Community Theater shows, one of was the Dark Star>Morning Dew show, which sealed my fate forever.

Watch out for HNPD

MIT 5/6/70

Got severely HN'ed this morning, and they didn't even read me my rights..........

Doc
Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.......

May

We made it to May, which means Oberon time here in MN. Finally some warmer weather.

Hope we hear some announcements soon, MUATM and how about the 2024 box set? Man, mum's the word.

Hope all is well out there. Tomorrow I need to finish the Dave's #50 release, which is fantastic to my ears.

5-11-91

Getting in the anniversary listen.

DV, enjoy the Oberon. Too bad it takes so long to get to you.

May you live all the days of your life.....

For all those with an anniversary mentality, think May 11 1969............

Maybe there's a better copy in those banana boxes............

............along with a new and improved Crockett 69 and a complete Chico 68.........

Rock on rockers!!

Doc
May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live.....

Conekid

Love that 5/11/91 show Conekid. And yes, the Oberon is back!

Will throw out 5/25/72 to hit up this week. Need to bust out a few more E72 shows this month.