Grateful Dead

I listened to 1988-10-15. Once Friday, Second Saturday. Two different sources although both said the Ultramatrix board, the first was much muddier than the second. Best highlight was the deep garbled voices toward the end of drums. Really bizarre, and reminds me of garbled voices during latter Star Wars during broken transmissions, and reminds me of the fellas ties to Lucas, the lightgiver.

I was very disappointed in both versions as the show is missing a whole lot of data/music. What I mean by this is, I am wondering if there is fallout from the phil zone? I am positing that as the Phil Zone expanded, Healy lost control of the overall sound. If memory serves at some point it seems I remember maybe Phil using 18" woofers onstage. For sure he was using 15's (plus 12's and 10's). Now I loved my bit of time I spent in the Phil zone, but generally when I got up close, it was Jerry side. As Phil blasts his horn, this means Healy had to bring Phil down in the overall P.A. mix. In my humble opinion, I believe this led to the bad tape sound, lots of data/music missing. When I focus my ears, I can tell that much of the overall lower sound waves are missing or nonexistent. Even worse, the frequencies that are there are very muddled and indiscernible.

Now as a way to test my theory, I listened to 1988-03-27, Hampton. Another group of shows I saw in 1988. I did see 8 Dead shows there and fully know the quality of the sound that can be obtained within the mothership. (Also saw the shows that make up "Hampton Comes Alive..") When I listened to March 27, the sound is very good. However, although not as bad a St.Pete, there is again a large amount of data/music missing as well. The imaging is excellent but that is because the imaging comes from the higher frequencies. Bass frequencies are much more omni- directional, whereas high frequencies are unidirectional. (Want to press on these concepts furthur, later on. I want to go back to some discussions back in October regarding HDCD.) If my hypothesis is correct, then the tape anomalies concerning extremely muddled low frequencies will test out thru other 1988 shows. Had not heard or noticed this until this past weekend. So for St. Pete, it not only causes Phil to be muddled (deep booming bass with no clarity to individual notes played), it also means some muddleness from other players/instruments. I believe this may be the reason why 1988 recordings may all need matrix recording.

Just one man's opinion, would like to know what others thought.

Both Hampton and St. Pete were excellent shows when you factor other aspects than just the quality of the reproduced sound on tape. One reason I love the later shows is because the P.A. quality produces a much more full bodied, across frequencies, sound than do earlier performances. Early performances are fire from perfomance, latter shows have more depth and clarity in the frequency spectrum, hence DaP#40.

Ok enough for now.

G

I was there.. It was so hot at the start of the show... Close to 100... Really enjoyed the long scarlet>fire popping up in the 4th slot.... Drove straight to Louisville after the show... why oh why.

Knew we were getting close. Still love the Raven show. I am a huge '82 fan.

This was the same time as my first drop, April 1982, what a life changing event, as I know 4/19 was for you.

First 2 drops were Orange Sunshine and Purple Haze. Not too bad for first 2. Man, there is a lot to write about with those 2.

Thanks Jim for being such a solid rock of posting here, and again, Congrats.

G

I can't say no to that. A pivotal moment in the life of Jim.

The drive home (including the arduous task of finding the car) was perhaps scarier than that moment when they derailed into discord and mayhem shortly after drums. The driver, the older brother of the friend I went with, was totally straight and a taper. The two of us had never seen the dead before and we both indulged - two each. Making it through space intact was the first challenge.. then we had to live through it again on the drive home. I was given very strict instructions which I followed as if my life depended on it, "He cannot know." So we hop in the car, he takes out his newly recorded master and fast forwards to that very moment it all began.

"Quoth the Raven Nevermore. ....It was a dark and stormy night.... Wasn't it?" and the laughing and the sounds of nitrous.

Listening to this again for the first time in a while, that laugh at the beginning of space that sounds remarkably like the laugh repeated over and over again on a loop cycle during the excellent Space from Dave's Picks 40, Deer Creek 6/18/90. It's the same laugh whether recreated or brought back to life from this recording? Not sure.

Looking back on this 40 years later, I have to think maybe Larry wasn't as straight as he was purported to be. How could he not have known we were holding on for dear life on that fateful drive home? Perhaps he fast forwarded to that space because he knew and approved? A test? Questions that will likely remain unanswered.

If you haven't heard this check it out, there's a brand spanking new Miller on the archive that reeks of an upgrade. On a similar note, Lemieux has been playing stuff from this tour this year. I recall him referring to it as "a most excellent tour", perhaps foreshadowing things to come?

To me, the sound is better than some of the 82 that's found it's way to CD.. When the sweet chords of the Wheel finally broke through the madness that came before it.. I realized things were going to be ok after all. And they were. But the half hour before that and the half hour drive home took some time to make sense out of. Thankfully the Wheel and Stella Blue were there to provide support and ground us after our travels.

I'd like to think we both passed the test. ahh.. well, onward.

Edit: Two additional comments.. the discord probably started with Feel Like a Stranger, also that Brokedown Palace was sweet. 81 and 82 have some really nice versions of these songs, Jerry's voice was in good shape during this period. a real highlight.

I can't honestly say I remember the Pigpen version - despite having the cd of 4/18/70. But that John Lee Hooker record is unforgettable. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds cut a thunderous record based on this theme, and with that title, in the mid 80's.

In honor of Jim’s 40th anniversary.
If you’ve never had the pleasure, grad some nitrous and check it out ; )

Sitting courtside under one of the baskets at Warriors/Nuggets game tonight

Yes, I am up for the 7/4/90 Kansas show. Looks like there is a 2021 Miller out there. Thanks for the picks.

Songs from this show make regular appearances on Sat Radio.

What's not to like? There's a little hiss on the recording, but it's old and quite rare. A little nugget from history delivered to our mailbox or doorstep.

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 documents the most destructive flood in US history affecting 630,000 people. Nice of Pigpen via Johnny Lee Hooker to give it modern day meaning.

Nice lil change up. And yasss it was due for a spin.
Bob getting all Agro with Bear, and “someone go knock on the door and get Pigpen”
Marmaduke and/or Nelson with sweet harmonies. Pig should have played solo more often…

Ok, anyone up for extra credit, how bout we heat it up with 7/4/90?
I’ve never heard this one and am more intrigued by summer 90 after the Dave’s release last year.

Tomorrow I’d like to request a special pick which I’ll reveal later, if that’s ok?