Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,102 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 8, 2024 - 4:32am

#421

uncle_tripel

Joined:
October 2, 2023

5-6-89

thnx for the reminder, it did get alot of airtime back in the mid-90's {it hits many of fav tunes + black muddy river}, THNX again, just pulled the DL>CD's out of the treasure chest, and it's gonna be tomorrow's LISTENING Party!
everyone enjoy your WEEKEND!
PEACE ALL!
uncle_tripel
March 7, 2024 - 5:09pm

#422

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

#423

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

#424

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

#425

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

#426

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

#427

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

#428

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

#429

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

#430

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…

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.

OB

You are correct sir! It is only money and it seems to fly out the door faster and faster as time goes by.
Good to hear you enjoyed TTB.
Yes and the new box for 2024, not sure anyone had this on their radar. I am excited, as this is a big box with 8 shows from a great time period. Plus they get the Plangent treatment.

Okay, since I still don't have my #51, how about 9/8/73 (Dave's #38).

10/17/72 by the way was great again. What a box!

DV and Oro

I think you befriended an AI bot.

Mighty nice of you.

But, other than Bender, we probably don’t need any bots around here.

Drown AI bots in the pond

>:(((

Dead is capitalized, derp

Best song? Best show, ya AI schmucklicker

Uh...if you are a real person iced then

Welcome

I just flashed on john belushi smashing that guitar...

Ooopppsss

…Idiot! I am lol

Shoot

Shoot, I was burning this bot some CDs.

You guys are very kind

You’ll be rewarded when the bots are our masters.

Obviously the bots can get around reCRAPTCHA, yet the humans have to keep taking the quiz.

Picks of the day

Road trip

So far
11/11/67
Disc 3 of 51 thru Wharf Rat

I Robot

Better to mistake a robot for a person than a person for a robot.

Bots

I'm not tech savvy. What does a bot get out of posting here unless we go to their website like a spammer is trying to get you to do? "I'm not a smart man but I know what love (of the Grateful Dead) is." Gump!
Cheers

More road trip pix

Rest of 51 disc 3
5 15 70 road trips disc one. The TIFTOO is H O T

9/8/73

This gem of a pick has been the soundtrack many a day on my walk the dogs/exercise routine. The mix on this is really raw and robust, in a good way!!

#38 is in my top 10 from Dave and Comapny, actually top 5!

Rock on, gang

9/8/73

Hey Johnathan,

I agree, this is a great show and I haven't listened to it much. Didn't even remember that we get a double encore with Stella Blue and OMSN. Solid show. Need to hit the bonus disc on Monday.

I think I only had one double encore, in Alpine in 89. Oh yes, and it was spectacular!

Double encores I attended

7 18 82
7 22 84

Maybe one other

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are Dead.....

Morning rockers!!! Happy Sunday!!!

Triple encore: Toronto June 21 1984, New Orleans-Big Boss Man-Iko Iko. Hey now!!!!! Big fun.............

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self......

Slightly big rainstorm heading my way................

Rock on,

Doc
There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.......

My Triple Encore

Terrapin>OMSN, Werewolves
Bet you can guess which show.
Just look at my name.
Cheers

Show with no encore because the show is so good

5 4 77

I just listened to the 5 4 77 bonus disc

A m a z i n g

Triple Encore

Now that is impressive!

Might have to que up 7/8/78 tomorrow Firstshow. You in?

I always loved the anticipation of the encore.

Kind Of...

Just did 7-8-78 on tape (my earliest copy of the show from 1996 taken from an Italian boot CD on Red Robin label that cost my buddy $70! The sound is raw and unfiltered SBD and amazing) on July 16 to keep the cassette deck lubed, so I will defer to the 7-7-78 show from the box which has one of BC's favorite 1st sets. I heard some of the 7-7 show from the parking lot as I had to work and got there late with no ticket and no plan. Long story short I got chased out by security and ended being needed as a spare driver when my posse came out after the show. But I did have a ticket for the next night. Nothin' like jumpin' in with both feet!
Cheers

TTB

We made it to the show at The Armory in Minneapolis on Friday night. Big thanks to all for the nudge in the right direction.

Went on StubHub on Thursday night and bought two tickets on the floor in row 20 for $125 for the two of us. No brainer at that point.

What a venue, so much fun. We had a blast. Maybe 8,000 people. Sound was great. Huge bars surround the full length of the venue. Really cool, no waiting. Band was outstanding. So great to see a band live again. The anticipation, the living in the moment and being around all kinds of different people.
Teschedi and Trucks definitely know how to deliver live. Would love to see them again and can't wait to get back to the Armory.

Armory/ multiple encores

Place looks cool DV. Bigger looking than you’d think?
From outside, reminds me of old Syracuse War Memorial Aud.
Glad you dug it! Sounds like first time back to live music? Nice!

Multiple/encores? Ok, I’ll play lol
4/12/83
6/21/84 (3)
6/24/84
6/27/85
7/1/85
6/28/86
6/29/86
6/22/87
6/25/88
4/3/89
7/17/89 DB says only 1?
6/6/92
7/1/92
7/9/95

Ahhh, Good ole summer tour!

Armory

Yes OB, the place is great and good size on the inside. First paid concert for me in a long time. Great to be back.

Nice list of multiple encores.
Deadbase is incorrect, 7/17/89 had a double encore, We bid you Goodnight and JBG. We were there.

The 1st Red Rocks Shows

Trying to compare the July 7th & 8th, 1978 shows is like trying to pick your favorite child (or grandchild for some of us). Both shows have that crazy energy and all out playing that often characterizes last shows of a tour. And that follow up Aug 30-31, 1978 (Hey Dave! Release the hounds!) was the just exactly perfect style having just come from the studio for Shakedown Street. Quite a different beast altogether but no less satisfying. Finishing up 7-7 this morning at Dead volume and loving it. That NFA with a Nobody's twist in the middle is the stuff!
Cheers

Red Rocks 78

Hard to beat these shows, Firstshow.

Such an interesting little tour and then to end up at Red Rocks. What a box. Looking forward to more 78 in September!

The Dead always made it a priority to play in MN for most of the late 70s to 1989- Then never again. And not in my second home state WI.

8/13/75

Purely by chance, I found myself listening to the Great American Music Hall show from 8/13/75 today- without realising it was it's anniversary. I'm not pulling your leg here. As everyone knows, it is a great and unique show. If I was compiling my best 10 or 15 shows, I would make room for this one. It's a level playing field of excellence from the opening HSF triumvirate through to U.S Blues.

I also love the closing "Blues For Allah" which is so off the wall it's in a category of it's own. Seems more weird in the way "What's Become Of The Baby" was than anything else in their repertoire. Shame they didn't do more with it in the later years. It would have been perfect for Egypt.

Daverock

If you don’t have it,
8-13-75 vinyl sounds pretty good and I don’t think it’s even 180 g.

Just occured to me that I have all 3 FTV’s on vinyl.
Nice!

OFTV

And the remastered version sounds spectacular as well.

I will have to get it going on Thursday.

Don't forget Milking the Turkey.

Cnkd

Yes, it was listening to 8/13/75 on vinyl yesterday - it does sound really good. I have Two From The Vaults on vinyl, but not Three - I've been on the verge of getting it for some time.

While we are on the subject, I wondered what the quality of the vinyl was like on your copy of Daves 2 ?On the first few sides, every now and again there is a loud crackle type noise on a song. It's over immediately, but then reappears a few songs later - and again disappears a soon as I've registered it. The last few sides are fine all the way through.

Daverock

I don’t recall any issues with my DaP2 vinyl.
Do you have a gel stylus cleaner?
I got the Hudson Hi-Fi one and it seems to do a good job at removing dust and debris.

stylus cleaner

Cnkd - I'm not so sure about that...it's only that album that suffers in this way. Both the vinyl versions of 8/13/75 and 5/25/72, played this morning, are completely free of surface noise. Maybe I should get a better record cleaner.

8/13/75-OFTV

The beginning of the release of the vault tapes! Yes!

I beat the hell out of this release when I first got it in 91. And listening to the remastered version in 2024 still makes me smile. I can't get over how good the audio is on this release. From the iconic intro into Help Slip Franklins to the Blues for Allah finale. Love the Eyes into King Solomon's Marbles.

These are the kind of releases that keep me wanted more.

Also hit 6/14/76 from the Beacon, probably my favorite show from that Box.
Might have to hit the capitol theatre show from 6/19 today as well.

Be well out there.

1 from the vault

That was amazing when it came out on CD.
Of course, I couldn’t afford the CD (had to use my money on beer and cigarettes), so had to make a cassette copy of a friend’s CD.
Now I have the original CD, the remastered CD, and the vinyl.

Four From The Vault

It’s overdue Dave.

8/13/75

The first time I heard it was when they broadcast an hour of it on the radio shortly after the date they played it. I recorded that on a cassette. I think it became the basis of quite a well known bootleg in England called "Make Believe Ballroom".
I didn't know about the remastered version that has been mentioned as having been released this year. I am very happy with the vinyl version...I'll give it some thought.

Remastered OFTV

Daverock, it was remastered in 2007 to HDCD specs and it is a huge upgrade. This was the same timeframe they discovered Three From the Vault was produced and ready for release in the 1990s but never released.

At the time in the 1990s they were trying to have multi track releases as a separate track from the two track Dick's releases.
Long live Don Pearson!

Might As Well

Might as well hit Three from the Vault, 2/19/71 tomorrow!

Love

Love TFTV. I am so happy they cleaned up and released most of that Capitol Theatre run.

I will gladly queue up that show tomorrow (today, oh the time). I have so much freaking yard work to do that will help pass the time and take me to another place altogether while the work does itself.

Thanks DVikes.

Hello, hello, hello

Is there anybody in there?

Just keeping the page active,
So nod if you can hear me.

Alive and Well

Still alive Conekid.

Do you have a pick for us?

Finished Three from the Vault III over the weekend. Love that Smokestack and Easy Wind. Never understood why that wasn't played more live and zero times during Europe 72.

The Dead always kept you guessing and that was part of the fun.

Those Port Chester shows are special! Let's get the rest of them out.
I mean they don't compare to the Scranton show, do they?

A pick…..

Watch this is you’ve never seen it.

youtu.be/JVoetvW7HuY

?si=bn

C0AfGEPktIeleX

You’ll have to piece it back together.

Just keeping this page going

The “what are you listening to right now” page is the current place to be.

Conekid

Appreciate it.

Yes, we need a pick of the day. Conekid, couldn't piece together your last one.

Maybe we need a Gene pick or a Vincent pick?

The new box hasn't sold out yet. With just 10,000 copies, I thought this would sell out in 30 days. I am looking forward to the end of September.

DV

The lynk was to Hard Working Americans 2016 at Lockin’.
Good stuff.
No pick for now, I’m going to bed.

Study the past, if you would divine the future......

Hey rockers!!

August 26, 1971, because why not? The bittersweet end of an era. Not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning......

In this bright future you can't forget your past...........

Rock on,

Doc
When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness......

8/26/71

8/26/71 it is.

Thanks Doc.

4/30/88

This one is for Doc. 4/30/88 from the Frost. Maybe we could get OB to check this one out?

4/30

Sorry for being the erratic participant. Lot's going on, the summer when I was never home, exception being today.

I did manage to get this one loaded just in time to do start what turned out to be a big yardwork day with perfect weather.

First Let the Good Times Roll. A great late-era collaboration, Jerry and Bob get extra points for effort > Feel Like a Stranger. A great song to hear when 'it's just starting to kick in.' Let it grow, strong effort. Second set, fun, a good balance of energy and relaxed vibe. Sound seems more dialed in. Jerry is outstanding in parts, at home with Tiger.

88 is one of those years. The Healy tapes vary a bit, probably the peak of the ultra-mix before the multi-tracks of 89 / 90 and Don Pearson's increasing influence thereafter. I'm not a huge fan of dan's experiments with audience mics, (sorry) but after the first song or two the audience portion seems to behave itself.

A good show for the era. I like the 88 Greeks too, sort of similar.

Thanks dvikes, a new one for me. A good Jerry centric show.

Not even wrong.............

Morning, rockers!!

Day off, tending to my wife after round one of new chemo, all I have to say is......

1988?????!!!!!!

1968? Sign me up! 1978? On rare special occasions. 1988? Sorry, way too far outta my comfort zone...........

However, if folks dig it, great!!! Whatever floats your boat, as long as it doesn't hurt too much, break too many local laws, or create extra work for your local medical examiner...............

Time for more coffee, and 8/29/69.................

Doc
In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.....