Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,064 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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January 19, 2021 - 12:12pm

#4751

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Football....

....i had a 4 team $20 parlay bet going into the Saints/Bucs game. Brady cost me $240. Even when he's out of my division, he still haunts me.
January 19, 2021 - 11:23am

#4752

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

DV: 89 vs 90

I think it’s that searchin’ for the sound, trying to reach the summit, the whole forward progress, coming together, versus spring 90 is like they reached the top of that path, like sitting on top the summit and smoking a fatty, 420 @ 14K as we say out here! 89 was the climb, but spring 90 was the summit, if that makes sense?
Spring 90 is almost like too pristine, too clean? Don’t get me wrong, imho it ranks with most of the biggins, but there’s something about 89?
January 19, 2021 - 11:06am

#4753

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Yaaassss, yassss, yaasss,

I do like me sum 89...AND Cal Expo! Only made the June 90 run, and did Merch there on 96 Furthur tour, but it left a smoking crater on my mind. Some might call it a dump, but the layout was awesome for sound and good sight lines. Laid back vibe and a great lawn too, especially with GA so folks could go where they want. And yes, the beer was a amazing surprise; Anchor on tap and not east coast stadium mob priced. I had truly, finally, made it too the promised land! If only I had made it to the Frost and Greek : ( Shorline was nice, but I really dug the X! Maybe it was the x lol.
Irvine would of been a nice place to see um, but unfortunately I only did Furthur fest there...
So haven’t hit this yet but sounds like that’s what’s up next!

Rock Thing, welcome aboard, so glad ya made it...as your senator from the great deadnet state of altered consciousness, I can assure you there are very few rules to guide. Generally no politics or any of that kinda heavy shit, and be polite, don’t be a douche! Remember, we all have our opinions, which is nice, but we’re all confused, which is nice, and we’re all wrong on some plain or another, which is nice!
That’s about it, so Rock On Rock Thing!
Oh, I’m with you about sources. I’ll take a really good Aud over many SBs, and I really like a good matrix, but I mean really good, like some of the video mixes I believe have actual, ambient mics used with appropriate time alignment etc.
I get why the majority like SBs, and the historic technical reasons why they became en Vogue. But the tech changed so much and with the eventual gray area removed by the tapers section etc, there are some really amazing sounding Auds.
I’ll concede that it has to be done just right, but if so I really dig a great matrix; you get the (usually) clean direct feed of the instruments etc, plus the more natural room ambience. Of course like a SB, the mix is crucial, and unfortunately in the case of the “cassette years,” is often mixed so prominently for the house. But when 2 great sources are blended just so it is really amazing how good they can sound.
The ultimate imho is when the “Dead” did it purposefully like on many of the official releases, like some of the video mixes...EDIT: I believe that 3/15/90 show is a good example that has some really nice “liveness” ambience...
I like Dave’s Pick 8 and 36, but 8 seems a tad too dry and 36 at times is perhaps to much, but hey, that’s just me.

Ok, onward....8/5/89 woo, woo!
GO BILLS!
KCJ, where you be? I’d trash talk with ya but I don’t think we’re gonna do it, but hey, as Boomer would say
“That’s why they play the game”
January 19, 2021 - 10:28am

#4754

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

1989

Yes, so many great shows in 89 and Cal Expo is no slouch. Lately, I have been thinking 89 might edge out 1990? It is close anyway. Really high level stuff with Jerry fully engaged. Things changed after Brent died, but there was still some great music. Fall 1990 still doesn't grab me. Not like 1991, where they seem to get the Mojo going again.

Stay well out there people.
January 19, 2021 - 9:07am

#4755

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Sweet Run

This one's for our 89 loving Oroborous. (knowing that most in this group seem to be 80's fans)
January 19, 2021 - 7:31am

#4756

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Cal Expo '89....

....was present and camped at all three. Awesome venue. The only time I caught them there. Very beer friendly.
January 19, 2021 - 5:05am

#4757

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Rockthing

Right on, Bring it..

I think you are doing this exactly right. Great show, VGuy, good choice. And an excellent show to have attended. Did you catch the entire run?

It's keeping us honest.
January 19, 2021 - 4:38am

#4758

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Infrared Roses

Rockthing-your post reminded me of the cd compilation called "Infrared Roses" that came out in the 90s. An album exclusively made up of drum and space segments, each track given the added status of being named individually. I was lucky enough to experience one of them-the so called "Silver Apples of the Moon" which I think came from London 11/1/90. One of the highlights of the show.

When drums and space come out of Dark Star- I tend to think of them as being extensions of Star, rather than as separate entities.
January 19, 2021 - 1:26am

#4759

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

gd1989-08-05 impressions Second Set

Am I doin' this right? Sorry if I'm kinda goin' overboard. That's my thing.

Continuing to listen to the Schoeps MK2 source.

Hey Pocky Way: This song did not get performed enough. Just some light fun with a little cheesy keyboard sound.

Playin': Nice and spacey jam. Sparse. Chill. Percussion taking the back seat in the mix. Jerry really challenging the others to find the trail he's blazing. Catch me if you can! Whoa, what's he hintin' at? No way! So THIS is the standalone I Know You Rider. More like a Playin' Rider. THAT really came outa nowhere. People musta been goin' nuts. Can't really hear too much reaction from the crowd, even though this is an audience pull. Up up tempo. Really flying. Headlight ¡GONG! on a northbound train. Nice. :)

Terrapin: Are you serious? Third song into the second set is Terrapin?! Pretty solid.

Drums/Space: At some point I really began to dislike the generic titles for drums and space. It's canon. I know. Can't fight city hall. Never gonna change four decades of precedent, but when I track my old tapes for my own personal use, I include drums and space in the song either before or after them. I like to think of them as a drum solo and free form jam into or out of a composition. I realize they rarely have much of anything to do with the tunes around them, but some of the early stuff would go out so far you had no idea what song they were playing, I kinda like to stay in that frame of mind. So, to me, this is the drum solo for Terrapin. ^^; Is there a cut, or was that just the world's shortest "drums"? Some wacky MIDI stuff to start off space. Everyone playing everyone else's instruments, virtually.

Gotta run. Catch up with the rest of the second half later.

EDIT:

Sorry, Terrapin wasn't the third song. Maybe Pocky Way felt like such a throw away that subconsciously I didn't even count it. At any rate, seemed to arrive at Terrapin awfully quickly. Time flies when you're having fun? :)
January 19, 2021 - 12:49am

#4760

rockthing

Joined:
August 2, 2020

gd1989-08-05 impressions First Set

Hey now. Is it ok if a newcomer jumps in on this? Never need an excuse to cue up a show I've never heard. Wish I had time to do it more often. Easily lead into rabbit holes, so hafta stick with my old favorites when things are busy. Nice to have someone to share the impressions with. I apologize in advance. I am notorious among all my correspondents for writing the sequel to Ulysses in every email.

I don't have any hard and fast policies, but generally I prefer to find a good audience pull over soundboards. There are plenty of boards I love, though, so as I say it's not a rule. Being a minor taping enthusiast informs that tendency, but often I actually like having the crowd in the mix. Sometimes the audience can be as entertaining as the band, like the dudes calling out for Casey Jones during Seastones. Hilarious. Idle chatter drives me up a wall, though.

Introductions out of the way, please allow me to share my experience listening to this Cal Expo gig.

First impressions:
Wow. Bobby's vocals are really loud. This is something I often find distracting about boards. The vocal balance is way too high in the mix compared with the instruments. It's inevitable, I guess. Usually the instruments don't need to be amplified as much as the vocals. I gather that we're supposed to be listening to the same releases, but I decided to see what the other sources sounded like.

I switched from the Miller SBD to Mattes Schoeps CMC 44 pull. I've heard some Mattes tapes I like. The Schoeps are top of the line mics and can't be faulted technically, but I often find Schoeps pulls to favor the lower frequencies in a way that seems to muffle the overall experience. In this case my first thought was, where's the band? Had to really crank it to even notice OMSN had started.

Next it was a switch to the Casey Coniff Sennheiser 441 pull. Starts off promising. Instruments loud and clear, but then I WENT UP TO THE MOUNTAIN, wow, the vocals were blasting into the audience, too. Yes, you can hear Dan Healy, I presume, immediately pull the volume back, but Bobby's vocals are really dominating the mix.

The Schoeps MK2 pull seems to offer a frequency balance I like best of these sources. The vocals are still really high, but they would be since everyone's taping the same show. Let it be said, however, that the focus and clarity of both this and the Coniff audience pulls are right up there with soundboards. No need to search for the show in the recording.

Cold Rain and Snow: Poor old Jer. Love that old silvery elf voice of his and I know it won't be there in '89, but he sounds kinda tired to me at the beginning. Kick drums kinda have that slappy festival sound quality. Phil's bass sounds great. Low end is powerful, but well-defined, and his upper register runs are right there too, but not harsh. Big smile for that little hiccup/accent around 4 and a half minutes in. Love this tune. This probably won't rocket to the top of my list of favorites.

We Can Run: As much as I love Brent's keyboard work with the Dead, I rarely get into his songwriting.

Stagger Lee: Nothing in particular to say about this.

Stuck Inside of Mobile: Nothing to write home about. Everyone seems to be getting a little more warmed up. The buildups for the choruses each seem to grow in intensity.

Row Jimmy: Whoa! WTH was that atonal weirdness. That was brilliant, whatever it was. lol. Sounds like someone accidentally dropped something on The Beam. Unfortunately no one had the presence of mind or inclination to try to incorporate it into the song, or improvise off of it. It just happens and sounds like a mistake. Jimmy plods along as usual. Gonna get there? I don't know.

Let It Grow: Oh, some of those crazy Healy vocal/etc. effects. I usually liked it when he added stuff like that, but I guess others didn't. As is often the case with this tune in the second half of the 80s and onward, we get our first taste of the band firing on all cylinders for one quick hot lap before the set break. This one doesn't get too far out during the first jam, though, before Bobby brings it back and seems to miss his own cue. lol. Nice fills from Jer and Brent in the outro. Could've stood a bit more of that, tbh.

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.....