Grateful Dead

Lee 'Scratch' Perry

Model 500

5/07/72 Bickershaw Festival Wigan, England The one with the Dark Star and Other One. Yep, it's smokin' from the git-go! I'll see if I can suck it up and listen to the Boston, '77, show later - got the place to myself. '77 might just have to wait 'til tomorrow though. The eighth's a pretty good show, too, isn't it?

After several times listening at different sound levels my opinion has gone up slightly. I don't remember which Dark Star it is, St. Louis I think, that has a jaw dropping catapult into space courtesy of Jerry. I mean, they even pause in the song for a very slivery split second after this sonic boom. The other highlight for me is The Eleven. It is blistering. Conversely, the New Speedway Boogie seems like a tacked-on after-thought. I guess the purpose of this release is to fill in some not well-lit moment in Grateful Dead history. I accept that every output is not going to be scorching through and through.

Grooving to the DP6 bonus disc and really enjoying the early rendition of "Dire Wolf." Also, this rendition of "Mason's Children" is far superior to the previous night's that's featured on the main release. I can't recall exactly when 'Workingman's Dead' was released, but I like how the song still felt new at the time, how it had to build up steam before the band could really rip into it. Speaking of DP6 proper, I was a tad disappointed in the 12/20/69 performance of "Dark Star." It was sonically intriguing but felt less ambitious than other performances. Not to say it was "bad," per se, but the band seemed hesitant to really explore the perennial jam session. "St. Stephen" and "The Eleven" that followed, however, were lightning-hot, and that 35-plus min. "Turn on Your Lovelight" burned the house down. All-in-all, another great show to love and cherish! Also, as a side note, when I ripped the CDs to iTunes, I put the Fillmore show in the proper order. No need to interrupt the jams when you don't have to change CDs!

Well, sort of. Right now, the 2013 bonus disc. I truly do love this mix of Pigpen with the first glimmers of that explosion of incredible songwriting that starts around this time. May 77 box ordered. Ain't life grand?

Just finished the Fox Theater concert, and WOW, what a show!! "Turn on Your Lovelight" > "Not Fade Away" > "Turn on Your Lovelight" might be one of the best 'Dead jams I've heard in...well...EVER! The "Dark Star" > "St. Stephen" > "Mason's Children" jam set is also a booty-shaker; it was all I could do to keep from dancing out of my cubicle! And "And We Bid You Goodnight" was the utmost perfect way to end that show--bring it in slow and steady, rock 'em 'til their socks fall off, then lay them down gently to sleep. Quite possibly the best of Dave's Picks so far!

I'm maybe halfway through the show from July 7, '89, and it's a pretty solid piece. Started off slowly and a little shaky, but it's certainly picked up steam after the fantastic jam at the end of "Let It Grow." Sadly, I found this show's renditions of "Ramble on Rose" and "Box of Rain" rather weak an uninspired; totally digging the "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain" jam, though. Perhaps this is some of that '80s inconsistency that many have commented about in the past.

In honor of the forth-coming May '77 box, thought I'd try something a little different. Oh, my. I've been listening only to '69 & '72 and I'm finding this quite odd. But inna good way. Things have slowed down so much it's mind boggling!!! La esposa and I are going to a new restaurant, Mission Taqueria, featuring a menu loosely based on that of the culinary styles found in the Mission District, S.F. Promises to be riquisimo! Happy Cinco de mayo!

5/04/72 Olympia Theatre Paris, France Just finished a screaming Railroad Blues only to repair to The Stranger - this is fine, fine playing - you gotta love it when the guys answer Pig with their Whoa oh, whoa oh's! Think I'll throw Peggy Lee's "Black Coffee" into the grinder during intermission (5/04/53). Feliz pre-cinco de mayo!