Grateful Dead

Definitely want to learn more about their recording process for RCMH OB. I will also see what I can find online.

I will check out 5/6/78 later today. The second option on Relisten appears to be the one to go with. Charlie Miller wasn't too keen on the first option.

Today

Yesterday:
DHB,
3/29/68, fully dug. Great set list. The real one, not the one in Db 10 lol.
9/16/87. Very nice surprise! Cool/Fun 1,2 opener! Jer sounds like he wants to keep going, but noooooo, we need more tortured cat sounds instead lol.
Nice set lists, Jers feelin it. Don’t recall hearing the medley tunes before? Probably have and forgot?
Never the less, fun and Brentski does a nice job.
Great energy and you can almost hear Jerry smiling.
Good call, nice variety…
3/29/69: starts out ruff, Jer sounds terrible early, but as is usually the way, they settle into it.
Usual suspects song wise, nothing spectacular one way or the other, just another Grateful Dead day at the psychedelic office, 69 style.

Wanted to hit 5/13/78, another show between, looks like only second set board? So going with 5/6/78 which so far is a hot show, recording not a Betty, but not bad. Went with the costman…

EDIT: good news bad news. I found my Modern Recording and Music Vol 6 #5 from February 1981.
You can google the mag name and date and shows possibly some on black market, but not sure you can see past issues anywhere? Bad news as this is the one DV! All about the Frankenstein PA, recording set up etc, for Radio City 1980 shows! Not sure it will give you the answer you seek, but fascinating read, total geek stuff, not “so Jerry, what kind of toothpaste do you use” BS.
I’ll try and read it and report back. If you really want I can try to scan it for you…

I enjoyed this show. Recording is really good. You get good crowd noise, which I like. Nice Touch of Gray, Scarlet to start. Always enjoy a Dire Wolf, Brother Esau, really strong Let it Grow. Never been a huge fan of the Devil with a Blue Dress, Good Golly Miss Molly, luckily it didn't stay around too long. He's Gone delivers. Highlight of the second set for me was the Truckin, Wharf Rat. Good NFA with a GDTRFB reprise, really interesting. Definitely worth a listen and the 87 MSG run is a good run.

Woke up to 9 more inches of snow here in MN on April Fool's Day.

Not very good.
What a waste of good Fall ‘80 reels.

Jim, too funny! Yes, where is that Brent release. Just think if they recorded over the E72 reels? Where would we be.

Interesting stuff OB, would love to learn more from that article. Maybe Cutler, Pearson, etc. made two track down mixes?

Nice start, then…oh Bob lol

7/16/72: yep, ruff tape, good show. Glad I checked it.
3/29/68: another beauty. Nice recording, always dig a Sitting on Top, Death Don’t, and the usual suspects!
I bet there’s more of these old shows they could use. What gives Dave, WE WANT OUR PRIMAL BOX 66-70!

Haven’t made it to 3/29/69 yet…

HOWDY JIMBO, good to see ya!

DBL EDIT: I think they have cassettes of some of those shows.
Pearson et el were part of the ultrasound crew and involved in the early R&D years with John Meyer. They cobbled together a bunch of stuff over the years, including a hybrid super system for the fall 80 shows. I have an old article some where (I think from modern recording magazine back then?) (shit, I should dig that out ) discussing the crazy stuff they were doing. Most folks don’t understand: technologically, the wall was child’s play compared to the Meyers ultrasound systems of the eighties onward. They started developing stuff way back in the early/mid seventies and we’re working behind the scenes for many years. They often would test new things they were working on in conjunction with the existing stuff. Literal work in progress! No different then pre and early wall shows etc.
They cobbled a set up together for certain test shows when able I,e., I believe 12/31/78 is an example.
The fall 80 shows were another big test run.
Anyway, it was many years of R&D before the fully formed Ultrasound sweetness most folks took for granted from like 1983 onward, but these guys pioneered so many changes and inventions over the course of decades that most folks don’t realize. Howard Danchik is another ultrasound unsung hero. Had the pleasure to talk to Howard and he was kind of enough to discuss some stuff at the one show I worked 7/1/92, while we were under the stage turning amps on.
I’m sure these guys wore many hats during such an important gig!
What a crew!

Will try and fit that in today while I work.

ha.. just noticing the good doctor was up and posting at 4:06 am yesterday steering us towards more primal dead. In this world of trouble, we need more primal dead and I thank him for that.

As to the myriad of sound engineers working with the 1980 multi-tracks.. yes, I was aware but am still not sure what all that means. It looks like Betty and Dan worked the mix and the rest were involved in the recording. Certainly they had a sound truck out back for the whole run. My guess is all that work went into making those multi-tracks that were carefully erased to make room for the new Brent album that should be coming out any day now, I've been waiting a long for this.. it's going to be great.

I suspect there is more than what Lemieux will tip his hat towards, but it is probably true that complete shows from this run might be just beyond our grasp unless recorded on cassettes. Just a guess though, we can always hold hope.

How does that song go..... in this world of trouble, we've got love one another. Keep up the hope fellow heads.

Okay, looks like we need a pick. How does 9/16/87 from the Madison Square Garden sound ? The 18th was the 30 Trips show.

Unrelated, I was watching Dead Ahead a few nights ago and kept it on and watched the credits. First, they filmed both 10/30 and 10/31 nights. Would love to see the two full shows.

Second, as I was watching the credits, it listed recorded by Bob Matthews, John Cutler, Wizard and Don Pearson. Those are some very interesting names for the time period as I did not know Cutler or Pearson had any affiliation with the band in 1980. I also didn't know Wizard or Bob Matthews were still working with the band on recordings at this point. Seemed to indicate this was a professional recording with a professional crew?

Anyway, I know Dave bursted my bubble a couple of years ago, stated there will never be a multi track release of the Warfield/RCMH. However, I wonder if there are recordings somewhere from Pearson, Wizard? Wouldn't that be something?

Wake up rockers!!!!

Picks Of The Day:
Carousel Ballroom March 29 1968
Ice Palace, Las Vegas March 29 1969

So soon, another Daily Double? Thanks Doc, I’ll take Primal Dead for $1000……

When you go into the realm of a double role, you have to take it to another level to make it believable. With these two shows, the Dead clearly take it to that other level…..

March 29, 1968: There’s a nice Miller remaster out there, is it a soundboard, or stage mics? Either way, quite listenable. Kick it off with some major grease. Death Don’t second song in. Stand-alone Dark Star. Greasy gooey jammy grand finale. Can we hope that there’s a “new and improved “ copy in those banana boxes?

March 29, 1969: The band scorches Sin City with a wonderful psychedelic masterpiece. Grease and big jamming, what could go wrong?!! We had tapes of part of this way back in the day, and it was cherished. Now, worthy of official release, is it in those banana boxes too? Only time can tell…………..

I have doubted myself on several Daily Double answers……

Rock on!!

Doc
I have so many personalities, I live more than a double life………….

The first set started out good, but yes, there appears to be weirdness going on with the recording. Peggy O and Queen Janes were good and I thought the Bird Song was great.
What happened in the second set? That Crazy Fingers seemed to be a struggle and don't know what happened to Jerry or the recording? But, there was a something going on.
They sure bounced back at Alpine a couple days later.