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    Dave's Picks Vol. 52: The Downs at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM (9/11/83)

     

    I remember the venue almost like and old fort with roses everywhere. We came to the site and Wavy Gravy showed us where to camp. Ken Kesey was here as well as a couple other big figures of the counterculture. I think because of Mickey's 40th. During drums a double rainbow appeared. Every time it looked like rain the band would stop and then come back even stronger from their breaks. I saw more outdoor shows in 83 than all the years combined. I have goose bumps even typing this from the memories. - xxuncle johnxx, Dead.net

    One of the best memories I have were these 2 shows. During the break there was a lightning storm behind the stage, followed by a rainbow and then an awesome 2nd set. Morning Dew with a Cold Rain, Phil singing encore. Most of my tour buddies went home after Red Rocks and I tortured them with the Santa Fe tapes. Nothing beats the magic of a great GD outdoor show. "It all bleeds into one." - grateful hawaiian, Dead.net

    In between sets, I remember it rained... and early on in the second set, there was an amazing rainbow directly over the stage behind the band. I don't believe they saw it, but I'm sure they heard about it. "Let It Grow" was awesome! - Johnny_A, Dead.net

    The pot at the end of this rainbow is mighty fine, indeed. Our final Dave's Picks release for 2024 features the complete unreleased show from The Downs at Santa Fe, Sante Fe, NM, 9/11/83 (fun fact, it was Mickey's 40th birthday) with just a squidge of 9/10/83 to round things out. A true trader's treat, this one is solid all around from the lively first set featuring soon-to-be minted 80s classics like "Hell In A Bucket" and "West L.A. Fadeaway" to the return of "Help>Slip>Franklin's," the incredible 2nd set surprise of "Let It Grow," and adventurous takes on "He's Gone,""Wang Dang Doodle," and "Morning Dew." It's all well played, my friend, well played.

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 52: SANTA FE, NM 9/11/83 was recorded by Dan Healy and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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  • Vguy72
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    Ugh, math....

    ....that Without A Net vinyl looks good.
    Btw. Target is having a buy two get one free vinyl sale. And they have Without A Net. Warning. Their search engine is trash.

  • RyXs
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    Dead on Math

    Thank you Obeah for that deep inquisitive analysis! Very sound theories indeed.
    When I recall the last few SeaChats, Dave mentioned a new 'era' for #54, which could as well be an era within an era. He also mentioned it was a show they had pretty much already decided on as the first release of said era. So with that in mind, there are only so many possibilities. Now for 2025 I had felt 1976 was due up as it would only be the fourth Dave's Pick release from that year, now confirmed by starting off with that pick. Thank You Dave! Dancin' in the Street.
    I got a feeling that the 1983 release for #52 was bumped up in the rotation for one reason or another. I say that because I recall Dave saying that each of the four releases from 2024 would all cover different band member line~ups, which wasn't the case. DaP#49 & DaP#52 are the same musicians so to speak. That said, Dave has also made it clear in the past seachats that sometimes they improvise with the release plan, as things can change on a whim.
    Driveled answer quick conclusion is,.... I think we've got a 1969 Banana Box Pick for #54 or perhaps instead a September 1970 pick with the bonus disc. As for #55 I feel an autumn 1973 show is on the wind, I say that because all but one Dave's from 1973 are spring tour. So for the last release of the year #56, I predict the first Vince era pick, maybe a show with Bruce? Anyways, If the final 2025 pick ain't that, then perhaps it's a late era Brent pick. Maybe 1988, with some early "Built To Last" tunes scattered about?

  • Cousins Of The…
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    Vinyl Sale

    If you didn't already know, all vinyl on here is on sale, 25% off

    Last few:
    Caravan For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
    Raging Slab True Death EP
    Guty Cardenas Lirio Azul CD
    Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn
    GD 6-10-76
    GD 1977 King Biscuit broadcast

  • daverock
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    Dicks Picks 3 on vinyl

    This arrived today - I am waiting for the right moment to play it. I agree with Delhead - the older releases hold more fascination for me than most of what has come out in recent years. Vinyl re-issues are my favourite Dead releases these days. Especially ones released as Dicks Picks in the 90's, so there is an appreciable improvement in sound. Not that I have ever checked this out - but I assume its true.

  • delhead
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    My questionable box theory

    If you search "best Dead shows" (or something akin to that) on the interwebs you will generate numerous best of lists curated by all kinds of sources. I've browsed these lists occasionally, looking for a "universally" acclaimed show that hasn't been officially released. From my observations, no data to support it, it seems that most of the "best, most desired" shows have already been released. A few haven't due to no available, releasable recordings.

    So after the cream has been skimmed from the top, what Dave is dealing with is a great many good shows that are all very similar. Some transcendent moments, some not so good moments. Some good recordings, some not so good. I have seen messages on this board similar to "right street, wrong house". I think this contributes to having larger boxes, because it seems impossible to cherry pick shows anymore.

    For myself, I am in the "smaller" box camp. In my opinion the Winterland boxes were perfect, in size, number of shows and a little swag. I have been a Dave Picks subscriber since the beginning but I am hesitating on continuing this year. I'm sure the 1976 show is good. But I have found myself going back to older releases. The last one I recently listened to was Dicks 12. A fabulous release that I can listen to over and over. I'm not sure the last few Dave's Picks are close to that standard for me, where I would listen to them over and over. Like many others have mentioned, an Ark box would have me lining up to buy.

  • billy the kiddd
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    Release please

    10/31/70 , 10/31/69, & 2/17/79

  • daverock
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    Roads less travelled

    I would think next year would ( or should) focus on 1970 inclusive going backwards and 1990 inclusive going forwards.

  • Obeah
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    Primal ponderings for 2025

    Thinking ahead to what Dave might be eyeing for 2025, we know Vol 53 is 1976. Let's recap the last three years of Dave's. That's 12 volumes:

    3 x 1977 (41, 45, 50)
    2 x 1971 (48, 51)
    1 ea 1972 (46) and 1974 (42) - both w/ bonus discs
    4 x Brent (44, 47, 49, 52) - '90, '79, '85, and '83 respectively
    'Filler' show across two volumes -- 1970 Kiel Opera House complete show

    And let's mention the 2022-2024 box sets: 1978, 1973, and MSG '81-'83.

    The observant among you will note that I've left out one release: Vol 43, which contained two 1969 shows. That issue marks only the 2nd time the Dave's series has visited 1969. And as Dave observed in the liner notes for #43, it was the first time they'd picked a Pigpen-era show since Vol 30, which was released in Spring 2019... 13 releases prior.

    So if we just look at "what year hasn't Dave visited recently", and if we consider that Volume 54 is a bonus disc release, then 1973 stands out, as it's a great year with plenty of material still unreleased - and the last Dave's release from 1973 was Vol 38. But the HCS box is perhaps a strike against this particular year. And ofc, Dave keeps going back to the '71 well - and there's plenty there for a great release + a bonus disc. Same goes for Fall '72. And if any of those March '77 Winterland shows have flaws or a missing reel, it could be a prime candidate for this year's bonus disc, with a complete neighboring night as the main release (and history shows Dave favors '77.)

    Back to 1969: with Vol 43 being the last time Dave hit '69, it does seem like 2025 could be the year to revisit. I think one challenge is that the shows typically aren't the "right" length for the 3-CD format. The bonus disc format could work really well here, though - two '69 shows over 4 discs could fit. 1968 is the ultimate wild card - what's in the vault, and can it be made to sound good enough for prime time? Maybe a '69 show takes 2 CDs and then the third CD gets whatever exists from a '68 show? I suspect these considerations are one reason why the Dave's series hasn't released that much primal Grateful Dead - trying to balance the CD format with the quality of the show(s) and the recordings, as well as what may or may not be in the vault - well, it's probably more straightforward to just keep autopiloting the '77 stuff.

    HOWEVER -- if you start thinking about the Box for 2025, it's the 60th anniversary year. And no box sets have included any material from the 1960s since 30 Trips in 2015 - and before that, Fillmore West in 2005. A box with '68 AND '69 would be a fitting tribute. We're all agreed that we just want the music - it can be "Road Trips" style where complete shows aren't a prerequisite - and personally I think such a box would sell out faster than Here Comes Sunshine did. Add whatever is serviceable from September 1970 and people will cut off limbs to secure their copies. Dave, are ya listening, laddie?!? Will ye grant our fervent wishes? (And folks at Rhino, if a box like this were to happen, please bump the release count up to 12 or even 15K for the good of humanity - you KNOW this will sell out)

    Well as the kids say today, holy essaying. Sorry for the wall. I should go to bed...

  • Obeah
    Joined:
    mini boxes / '68

    When was the last mini box, anyway? RFK in 2017? That was a late release - November 10 - I wonder if perhaps they wanted to juice holiday sales. But anyway, it's been quite interesting reading folks' ideas. For example, I saw the March '77 three-night stand suggested... there's some of the best '77 material to still be quietly moldering in the vault. The idea of a Vince-era mini box also seems logical - if you're in for Shoreline August '91, you're probably down with all three days, not just the 16th and its first-set Dark Star. The Hornsby-less Feb '91 Oakland stand is another fertile field.

    And I'd second what JiminMD said, all of it. None of us are getting any younger. I have come around to viewing Dave's role (and Jeffrey Norman's) as one not just of opportunity and good fortune, but as one of blessed duty. For I, too, came to regard Grateful Dead music as church. How astonishing that Bear managed to record as much as he did. While we know the vault shelves for 1968 are akin to swiss cheese, that music is very special. I know many of us have filled our SSDs with whatever we need, but this music shouldn't be just for the acolytes: it needs to be heard widely, played loudly.

  • proudfoot
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    9 10 83

    Shoulda
    Beena
    Twofer

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Dave's Picks Vol. 52: The Downs at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM (9/11/83)

 

I remember the venue almost like and old fort with roses everywhere. We came to the site and Wavy Gravy showed us where to camp. Ken Kesey was here as well as a couple other big figures of the counterculture. I think because of Mickey's 40th. During drums a double rainbow appeared. Every time it looked like rain the band would stop and then come back even stronger from their breaks. I saw more outdoor shows in 83 than all the years combined. I have goose bumps even typing this from the memories. - xxuncle johnxx, Dead.net

One of the best memories I have were these 2 shows. During the break there was a lightning storm behind the stage, followed by a rainbow and then an awesome 2nd set. Morning Dew with a Cold Rain, Phil singing encore. Most of my tour buddies went home after Red Rocks and I tortured them with the Santa Fe tapes. Nothing beats the magic of a great GD outdoor show. "It all bleeds into one." - grateful hawaiian, Dead.net

In between sets, I remember it rained... and early on in the second set, there was an amazing rainbow directly over the stage behind the band. I don't believe they saw it, but I'm sure they heard about it. "Let It Grow" was awesome! - Johnny_A, Dead.net

The pot at the end of this rainbow is mighty fine, indeed. Our final Dave's Picks release for 2024 features the complete unreleased show from The Downs at Santa Fe, Sante Fe, NM, 9/11/83 (fun fact, it was Mickey's 40th birthday) with just a squidge of 9/10/83 to round things out. A true trader's treat, this one is solid all around from the lively first set featuring soon-to-be minted 80s classics like "Hell In A Bucket" and "West L.A. Fadeaway" to the return of "Help>Slip>Franklin's," the incredible 2nd set surprise of "Let It Grow," and adventurous takes on "He's Gone,""Wang Dang Doodle," and "Morning Dew." It's all well played, my friend, well played.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 52: SANTA FE, NM 9/11/83 was recorded by Dan Healy and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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In reply to by JoeyMC

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That's longer than most L.P.s ! If anyone asked me about a great Lovelight, I'd suggest they listen to Live Dead. All of it. One of the best live albums ever released, and one in which every track - including Lovelight - adds to the brilliance of the whole. I think that one clocks in at around the 15 minute mark.

Road Trips Vol4 no 1. features a generous helping of this track. The Big Rock Pow Wow from 4/23-24/69. The first disc ends with a 31 minute version and the second opens with a 27 minute version. What are you waiting for?

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Hey Joey,

In Dave's #52 seaside chat he mentions #53, which will be announced soon.
Per Dave, not a 100% verbatim quote, "#53 is a terrific show that has been on the radar for a long time. When we hit this era next this would be the show for that era. Actually it came down to two shows from that era...."

This would seem to indicate the usual suspects like 77 and 73 are out.

Just speculation at this point. Maybe this means 1980, 1968, not sure.

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??/??/74

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Forgot about the Priest references over the weekend. Unleashed in the East is still my favorite metal album. I listen to it every couple of years. The time frame for me and my priest was a crossover point in life. Hard rock and metal fading getting into the dead asd still love affair with prog rock. Rush, Yes, King Crimson, ELP, etc. Saw a bunch of prog shows. Metal show July 1981, Whitesnake (with Lord and Paice)>Iron Maiden (Killer's Tour)> Priest. All three great but Priest what an incredible voice back then. Was at the Fox Atlanta mid section 10 rows back. Bought tickets the day b4 as we came to atlanta not knowing they were going to be there. Saw them in 1984 in Hometown. Buddies went to see them a couple months back, said they were very good.

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Deadvikes,
I see what you mean, I think there has been a lot of '77 to start the year off in the past. Something completely different would be nice.

Dave, if you asking me, I what I'm waiting for, I was hoping the "Good News" shipping notification for our latest pick, 52.

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You were right on it. When I saw him Paul and Maiden, they were excellent. Had just stumbled onto them a few months b4 that fox show. May have to track down the first 2 albums. Maiden played home town in 1983. Dickenson was at a local attraction and a buddy who twerked there let me know. Dickinson about 5'8" and was kind of rude. Guess it matches his name.

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I have been hoping for this show to be released for years now! Super terrific and as always...go Brent!

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Listening to my fav band after casting my vote for Trump. This country is so effing effed without him. 78 sounds great. smoke another you dumb hippies.

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I’ve had a shipping notice! Of course it hasn’t actually moved yet but DHL have been told about it. The process begins.

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All 80s selection guess Dave is a bit of a prankster to those ripping on this selection.

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Dave says 53 sounds incredible, it's a great show/ terrific show... There were two we were looking at last time we hit this era?? The other that didn't make the cut this time we'll get too next time we hit this era...

March 73??

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I'm putting big money on next year's box being fall '72. (Say, $2?) Dave once said it "has to happen" at some point and it's been years since he said that. Not that his loose ruminations are any more reliable than mine. but that's the box I want, so why not predict it? Black magic has been known to work...

I'm thinking that with the DP series devoted to a full, main show, sometimes with filler, and the remaining late '67 and newly discovered '68 tapes unable or unlikely to fill a box (their sweet spot seems to be 15-20 discs) that maybe Rhino/GD will permit OSF to release something early and tasty. Or just do a "special release," (whatever that is) dammit!

I think the enormous volume of '77 and '78 releases is because TPTB cut a deal with the guys behind ABCD Productions that, in exchange for turning over the tapes, TPTB agreed to release a certain torrent of them. Absolutely unconfirmed, so you see I can play fast and loose with reality, which, to be honest, is what I do best.

Just wishing for wishes on sunny fall morning at the foot of the Rockies. Hope # 53 is tasty. Maybe '81? I have good audience cassette tapes from a late friend who taped the late December run (Oakland?) and 12-26-81 really stands out. (marye said she attended and concurred it's a hot one. Did Billy the Kidd?)

Just ruminating here. Put a dollop of Jameson in my coffee this morning. Obviously...

HF

P.S. I'm glad that the folks here are psyched for '80s tapes and that Dave has an enormous inventory of '80s tapes to release. Yet, like someone commented earlier, I too caught many shows in the '80s, or it seemed like a lot. But that experience is one thing, and listening to the tapes 40 some odd years later and buying the corresponding releases is a different matter. So at some point, they've gotta find a rationale for getting the '67-'69 stuff out. Blah blah blah!

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Yeah, I was there. It was cool to see Garcia sing Big Boss Man. Fun Times

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My reliable sources tell me that is going to be John Hammond from the Boarding House in 1973. I believe that it is coming out in November. I saw John Hammond play a couple of times, it sounds like a winner.

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November '72

Marye also liked 12/28/81

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11/23/73 County Coliseum - El Paso, TX would be cool!

Been a longtime fan of 12/26/81.

Out of drums, the boys dick around by mimicking drilling sounds from a dental office before going into a cool little jam and then an Eleven jam. Funny as hell. I used to play that for my kids on the way to daycare. They loved it.

I would be up for that one.

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The OSF site is showing a November release for the John Hammond set.
If I look at preordering from the site it calculates customs charges greater than the cost of the cd, so that’s not on. Amazon US are also showing it as available for preorder and the extra charges are considerably lower. Amazon UK isn’t showing the release yet, but they have had all the previous releases so I’ll wait to see if it appears. Should be good.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Good stuff today, except the other one :(

Would love some '81 New Years run.

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Just finished Bear: The Life and Times of Augustus Owsley Stanley III. Went to his wiki page and indeed the next journal release is 11/24 John Hammond.

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So excited to get the new Dave’s pic! This was one of my all time favorite shows!

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Is in. Starting with 10/2/76. Good for me.

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Where are you seeing this Gerhard?

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At store > music > New Releases.

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Gerhard, Thanks. My order is in first attempt with no problems.

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Got it, thanks. Strange they don't have it on the opening page.

10/2/76. Alright! Definitely not a normal era for Dave to start the year with. Great idea

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Thanks for the heads up.

Order in. My 10/2/76 leaves a lot to be desired, so the "official" release will be welcomed.

Seems the announcement is early this year? Is it?

CSN&Y set to arrive on Friday (Live at Fillmore East, 1969).

Enjoy

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Vote. But please not that terrible and dangerous clown.

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PLUS the last 1 set songs from 4/5 - 77, not on Daves 50.. Number 53 will be a great one..

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Anyone get a shipping email for this one yet?

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Gerhard - is that a vast proportion of society will vote for a nincompoop.

You step out for a quick little 3400 mile RT and all kinds of deals go down here lol.
RE 1stshow, TOO and I tag teaming it, time is exit to exit, not including time changes, so actual road time including all stops and hassles. Oh, and not quite exactly 1700…she ended up doing more driving this time as I couldn’t sleep, which sucks as I used to be able to sleep anywhere, even on the base of Arc De Triumph in mid day once lol. The key is to limit time not in motion. When velocitzed etc, time gets weird so it’s easy to blow a half hour, or hour at pit stops etc and not realize it. We approach those like an Indy pit crew: one to the restroom while the other does gas etc, try to keep pit stops under 10 minutes, optimally 5!
But hey, still not bad for a couple old farts. Horrible run coming back, many hassles and perhaps too much too fast with only 2 crazy daze in between.
26.25 hours coming back, 23-24 is average. Caught some of the 10/74 XM plays on way there.
But, Nice to to finally get last of the family loose ends tied up and nice to visit the tundra…sort of lol. Beautiful weather and leaves etc back there and Fun to be in the heart of the mafia especially with a home game win, Go Bills!
Always good to get home though!

53: Berry interesting, that rascally rascal Dave does it again lol
Makes sense in a way, not quite 77 or 78 but…
Haven’t heard this one, and still delinquent on this tour?…
Personally would have loved to see the awesome Rochester show, or something from summer Orpheum, but that’s just talkin out my ass..set list looks good and we were due for some 76! Speaking of, figured ole SeventySixtus would be doing Belushi cartwheels here lol Happy for ya Bra!
Yeah DV I still don’t think the Cobo Boxilla show has resonated with me either, but of course always loved DP 33!
I’ll always do sub, can’t beat it for the price and I enjoy them all, even a dog like 51 (sonically that is, the show (s) were ok). Nowadays, where else can you get that much for a lousy 25 bucks (per show). And if we don’t support it, it will ALL go away and we’ll get nada…AND, you can easily gift or sell one if it’s that big a deal…

Really looking forward to 52, and 53…

Not so much The gales of November. All politicians suck or the TPTB wouldn’t allow them to get elected. But unless I’m more senile then I think, we fought the revolutionary war to NOT have a Dictator/King and royal family etc, but for a free democracy…
And I don’t care who it is, even if it was Garcia, even if in all other ways they’ make a great candidate, anyone who worships and quotes Hitler and Hate ain’t never getting my “dumb ass hippie vote”…gotta light?
AIN’T NO TIME TO HATE!
But, fortunately for now at least it’s still a free country with free speech…
Ok, sorry…soap box back in closet…

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It's great to hear that the next Pick will be from 10/2/76. Fall of '76 is the most overlooked, underrated era. The band was at a peak during this time.

I have a decent quality AUD of this show, and I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be an audio quality upgrade for this one.

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"We stopped over in Santa Fe
That day on the pony, just about halfway
And you know it was the hottest part of the day"
-John Phillips

I believe this tune was the most played cover by the Grateful Dead in their concerts.

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."

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It's a single question--"Are you kind?"

Be kind, rewind . . .

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