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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
    Joined:
    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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3 years 6 months

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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Had to look that up.
The spoken part between:
Redemption funds,
Stocks and bonds.
Scruggs, the master of the three finger rolling style. Changed everything.
Cheers

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17 years 5 months

In reply to by 1stshow70878

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For a real good time!
Hopefully we won’t have to wait another 10 YEARS for some 85 love!

Well 49 old friend, it’s been a gas but I guess it’s happy trails for awhile.
Tanks for the memories

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In reply to by uncle_tripel

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Yes, good to see at least this one sell out. Such a great release. Just revisited this last week. Shows the depth of the vault if you like most eras, which I do.

Can't believe the others are still available. Might have to revisit #46 tomorrow.

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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Smoking 🚬

How about a big announcement tomorrow?

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1 year 1 month
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...hmm, how's about wave that flag day june 14th, great day for smokin' OUT a new box...read the signs, connect the lines, pay your fines, read the rhyme

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1 year 1 month
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...how that 49 resurfaced...

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I am just wondering, since all of the early brent shows have the keyboards way too loud, is this the same? I can't listen to any of them, I have to go to audience recordings. Can't hear Weir enough, which is not the Dead as far as I am concerned. After Betty left, the soundboards are useless unless it was mult-tracked...and most are not. I was at these shows and they were very good!

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