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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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  • KRIYAS
    Joined:
    Grateful Dead 1983

    Yes this is good, have to get used to the sound as it's not too warm, but gets the job done as I like to explore the miracle of any of these shows being recorded and then provided to the keen fan that has chosen to pick this up. Dig the roadrunner art, the race is on. Love West La, althea always is very under rated?? Digging this during commute in my car so I'm taking it slow but dig dig dig it!!

    Last five heehehehe always Dead recently FOTD box 78 and Jerry versions which included Garcialive vol 18 just an amazing show. All the Garcia/Saunders stuff is Gold.
    Haven't done Jeff Buckley's Grace in a while but was able to enjoy all of that.
    New Willie Nelson Last Leaf mostly covers and mostly hits the note, especially with recent passing of KK.
    Squeezed in some Pixie's this week too, gigantic...
    and I like Ray Lamontagne and new album long way home got a listen this week.
    plus all sorts, some Beastie Boys the insidefromwayout
    Lost highway soundtrack to has some good stuff including lou reed, I like. And the newish David Gilmour is worth a try, he should play guitar...

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Spafford delivers....

    ....check them out if come near you.
    I shouldn't be this nervous about tomorrow, but here I am.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    "Tickets will be available at the gates"

    Gone are the days, y'all

  • billy the kiddd
    Joined:
    Anniversary show 11/3/84. B.C.T.

    40 years ago I was up in Berkeley at the B.C.T. having fun with the Good old Grateful Dead. Some interesting songs and a nice Cumberland.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Going to see Spafford tonight....

    ....anyone here ever seen them before?
    I've been liking their stuff for a couple of years.

  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    20892 landed

    Finally some free time for first listen to #52. Initial impression, not bad for a cassette source, then the music took over, Always about performance with archival stuff, audio quality second, though 51 suffered badly from saturation. I want to be able to listen at volume approaching 90-95 db once in a while, 51 disc one made that painful. This, hands down the best '83 release I have heard, not being much a fanboy of the second fifteen years. Ledded, leg pulling? Will review Jamie Howarth's Hoffman board posts and Norman's SOP, would they make CDs from multiple cassette tape runs. Norman seems to indicate they create a redbook (CD) master to the usual 192. Highest numbered release ever delivered here, there is a small amount of tape hiss if I listen on axis two feet away from the Klipsch Cornwall IIs, my main reference. Nominal for cassette recording, typically a bit muddy and lacking detail because of miniscule amount of iron oxide and slow speed, overall, audio restoration a home run in my book, excellent performance.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Obeah....

    ....🍻.
    And....it's just gets better.
    Checked it out again last night but on headphones. TPTB did my baby right.
    Thank you for including that Jam out of China Doll from the 10th. A+++

  • Obeah
    Joined:
    Vguy you were right (and set II is yet unheard!)

    Well, Set I from Dave's 52 is the best set of 1983 Grateful Dead I've heard to date.

    As I've said before, I've struggled to get onboard with '83. I've tried: I've owned Dick's Vol 6 since release, but along with Dave's 39 and the 30 Trips release, these shows mostly just gather dust on my shelf. However, I've got to give credit where credit is due: Vguy, you were right. I must say, that first set SMOKED from start to end. Even songs that don't normally move me strongly, like West LA or CC Rider, well, I was just captivated.

    And I haven't even put in discs 2 or 3 yet! All of the second set still awaits me! After reading what folks are saying about that set, it seems certain that soon I'll be saying that this is the best SHOW from '83 that I've ever heard. It's Saturday night and I'm about to resume listening, but before I go, I must observe: what a tremendous blessing it is to be a Grateful Dead fan.

  • claney
    Joined:
    Jonathan

    Thanks Jonathan.... DiP 20 is a top-tier release in my book.

    Oooo those are some fine '72 choices too...

  • jonathan918@GD
    Joined:
    Phil

    I visited the following on Phil's passing. Some from comments from posters here, others I simply know and love

    11/18/72 single disc release, Houston

    10/27/79 Cape Cod

    5/3/72 Olympia: The Other One (full jam-Truckin>Wharf Rat)

    9/24/72 Dark Star>China Cat>Rider (The golden child from Thirty Trips)

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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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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

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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?

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17 years 4 months

In reply to by RyXs

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....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.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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The best Deal going there is the Lyceum Box.
I scored that last year for that price.
A most excellent purchase.

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12 years

In reply to by Vguy72

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I checked and did not have this vinyl!?!

Got it from amazon 40 bucks with overnight shipping! Now that's a deal!

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12 years

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Good price, I paid full freight when it came out. I would have thought this would sell out quick, but a guess a 500 price tag made people say NO.

It's a nice box on the shelf, I want to end up with all E72 in vinyl, I think I have them all so far :-)

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E-Sharp.

Ha Ha,,,, just a note to remind/point out Friday is record store day. 5/577 coming out and Jerry on the Eel.

I'll be standing in line like an idiot :-)

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In reply to by Dennis

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Error!
There is no E sharp, it’s an F lol

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...actually more than once. Most recently he got me good with the seaside chat language that presaged #51. TBF I'm not alone in that: a number of us thought his comments inferred the imminent release of a Vince-era show, rather than the "Bar Band" of Spring '71 that rocked audiences in the wake of Mickey's departure.

And I make that observation as I thank you for the kind words @RYXS while also simultaneously noting that I should be honest and humble in acknowledging that I'm *usually wrong* in trying to guess where Dave's going next. Vol 51 is just the latest example; def didn't think he'd revisit '71 again so quickly after Vol 48. Maybe the box set is going to be one release from every 10 years - '65 through '95 inclusive. (I think there's still one '75 show yet to be released! Although it probably has guests...)

I think I sometimes make those long posts in an attempt to bring structure to 30 years of Grateful Dead music. I know it's a fool's errand... and heck, on that note, order is decidedly NOT what this band is about for chrissakes (silly Obeah!). But one thing I never tire of is seeing how passionate this community is about their favorite shows and the candidates we cite for next release. I often imagine Dave Lemieux quietly browsing through, probably not making notes - one can't lead by committee - but hopefully being amused.

Cheers, folks. Next up: 12/9/81.

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I believe there are no shows from 1965.. but maybe we will get "30 Trips" vol. 2..

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In reply to by Vguy72

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How’s bout a multi-era mega box, that can be purchased in custom modular segments, the draw being the more era segments you buy, the deeper the discounts!!!. So for our friendly contingent that would prefer less and/or only primal etc, they could do just that, but at a premium. Only want Brucey and Vince, cool, we got ya covered, at a premium.
And yes I think you’d have to do the premium cost to ensure the more pricey “complete” box would be fair/competitive.
That would give any DH, from any era, a chance to participate and enjoy chever way their pleasure tends, but not be unhappy being forced to go bigger than they’d like, AND!…would most likely get some fence sitting types to purchase at least something, versus all of nothing, if it’s one mega choice only?
Just a thought…

I’d do the era segments something like below based on what’s released, what potentially is available, and what’s underrepresented (imho) of course ; )
Counts could vary slightly to accommodate show lengths. (Hate to miss a really good one because disc count for era was 1 or 2 off…)

66-69: 25 discs (chopped up, incomplete..as long as it rocks! Nice time for a garage sale ; )
70-75: 20 discs. Still plenty gold in them hills
76-79: 15 discs. this era has been heavily mined…have to leave something for future too!
80-89: 25 discs. I’d say more but…
90-95: 15 discs

That’s 100 total, (hey it’s Sixty, will their even be another official one?)
so not that much bigger than Boxilla, and as I say, each module or segment could be purchased separately, so, everybody eats!
😀

If we only had access to your wife's credit card.

Still haven't gone down the vinyl train. Have way too many CDs and money invested at this point to even think about it.

I think you have it right on the money with how you laid it out there. It's both comprehensive - mightily appropriate for the 60th - and still flexible regarding how people who have collected a lot already could fill in the particular gaps or eras they seek ... without having to chance missing out on the whole thing due to an 'all or nothing - lump sum' barrier.

Anyways: Travel well, All (if you are doing so) and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Peace

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