• 1,815 replies
    heatherlew
    Default Avatar
    Joined:

    "The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

    And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

    Dave's Picks Volume 27 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • SAMTHARDMAN
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Ramble on Sam (I mean Rose)
    The Grateful Dead and friends are the epitome of the gift that keeps on giving. The full shows complimenting the 50th anniversary releases of the Grateful Dead album and Anthem were from 66' and 67' respectively, so thinking a 68' show will compliment the 50th anniversary release of Aoxomoxoa. Would love to see 69' Arc or Boston Tea released. Are either stand of shows in the vault? If so, depending on if and how many, would probably be a box release? Wonder if the 69' Mcfarlin show is in the vault? That would make a doozy of a show to compliment workingman or American Beauty! The Betty Boards have rendered a treasure trove of goodies. A good number of the reportedly, 50 shows returned, have been released. We still await the 71' capitol run. (A box for 2019!!!!) and 4/5-4/8 71'. (Awesome future Dave's!). There is 5/26/73 Kezar and 2/26/77 swing. Either or both could be future Dave's or maybe even mass production stand alone's (such as 8/27/72) Speaking of stand alone's, is 6/10/73 RFK in the vault? The 76' Boston and Beacon shows have returned. Could be a future box release? Of course, I am assuming all of Betty's returned reels are in "acceptable' release condition. Also, what still remains from the 69' and 70' returned stash? If I had one show to ever see the light of day, it would be 9/20/70. Based on my research, most of the September 70' Filmore run is not in the vault (as apparently much else from the second half of 70'), but 9/20/70 never seems to say missing reels (like the previous nights Filmore shows) Probably wishful thinking, but I can dream. Love to hear from people more knowledgable on the topic than me on my thoughts. Sam T
  • MDJim
    Joined:
    DP 28
    I gave up guessing a long time ago.. Mr. Jack Straw lays out a straightforward and pragmatic assessment. I can't help but agree. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Fall of 72. Spring of 91 has been overlooked too. Some of the shows are quite good and they seemed to be decently recorded for the most part. Old Jer's voice is perhaps the weakest link in some of the strong shows from that period. I'm sure we will get some gems mixed in with the last release of this season and the four to some in 2019. Wow.. it's almost 2020, where does the time go.
  • Mr. Jack Straw
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    DP 28
    The timeline for any pick is 1968-1991. Given that the last pick was from the 1980s, we can assume it won't be from that decade. In fact, I'd bet that we can exclude 1979 and pre-Bruce 1990, as they've never done two Brent picks in a row since DP5 and DP6. We've already had a 1971, 1973, 1974, and a 1977 this year. This leaves: 1968-1970, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1990-1991. 1978 is probable the most well-mined year, with very few of the Top Shows from that era left to be released. 1972 has plenty of top shows left, but it was only one year ago that we got a 1972. But they've been known to go back to 1972 pretty quickly (see DaP 11 and then DaP 14 shortly after). 7/18, 7/26, 8/21, 8/24, 10/18, and 10/28, 11/19, 12/31 are all worthy,. We're really overdue for a 1969, I'm just not sure if the impeding Aoxomoxoa reissue takes something off the table. 2/15, 4/5, 4/21-23, 11/2 and 11/7 have to come out eventually. There's nothing in the Vault after June 1970, but there's plenty of good stuff from January/Feb left. I think they'll probably do some the June Fillmore shows eventually too. 1976 is the safe choice, especially with the returned Betty boards. I think the Boston shows will eventually be a box. 6/29/76 does have to come out eventually, and I don't think any of the surrounding shows are box worthy, so this would be a prime choice. 7/18/76 is another option.
  • Kayak Guy
    Joined:
    Daves
    hopefully the 3 April 69 Ark shows will be a Plangent processed box, throw in the NYE 69 run at the Boston Tea Party, same building different name, they are too good for a Dave's Pick. i'd like to say public THANKS to Mike Wren and the server teams (Tol) at etree that seems to be offline after 20 years. the database seems to no longer be usable in a "cloud" based infrastructure and after about a month of attempts at upgrading it is now offline. after the original tape tracking site went online about 1997 called Phishhook, Etree became the go to place for archivist and tapers to standardize what circulates on the internet today and was a key requirement of new additions to Archive.org. many trading sites and later BT sites used etree as the central repository of the documentation to verify if that CM fileset you downloaded is the same as CM seeded. without etree to gather and document the filesets, there would be no Archive.org LMA. for a nice history of Etree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etree
  • ty627
    Joined:
    This year’s Picks
    How does everyone feel about this year’s picks? I am happy. I probably will only go back to the 71 show regularly. I did like the Boise show but don’t think I will listen to it very often. I don’t think I have listened to the 77 show other than the half step and jack straw since my first listen. Will I subscribe again? You bet! 100 dollars for 4 shows is an incredable deal. Can’t wait to hear what everybody thinks 28 will be. Still sticking with the Ark last night of the run.
  • rrussell8
    Joined:
    Power-Aid 6/8/69
    Owsley distributed a powerful concoction, resulting in Garcia sitting out the second set, with Elvin Bishop and Wayne Ceballos standing in. Garcia returns for The Other One suite. source: On This Date in Deadhead History on The WELL.
  • ds smith
    Joined:
    How about 87-91?
    Give us a prime Brent or Hornsby/Vince show! Where is Roanoke 87? Any non released 88-90 Brent shows would be welcomed!
  • ty627
    Joined:
    #28 thoughts
    I kind of settled on 1976 as well only because of what has recently been released. I also think 1991 will see the light of day at some point. I listened to the Soldier Field show from 91 during my walk last night and it is a good one. I have been really happy with all three picks this year and feel like I am playing with house money at this point. I feel so fortunate to be able to get a new show every 3 months and already told my wife that I will be subscribing again. She was cool about it she knows how happy it makes me. Anyways my guess for 28 - 4-23-69 the Ark Boston Mass. it would make a great box for sure but I am guessing they come out one at a time. Something from 69 would really make this a banner year for the Dave’s Picks series. Just my opinion.
  • ty627
    Joined:
    #28 thoughts
    I kind of settled on 1976 as well only because of what has recently been released. I also think 1991 will see the light of day at some point. I listened to the Soldier Field show from 91 during my walk last night and it is a good one. I have been really happy with all three picks this year and feel like I am playing with house money at this point. I feel so fortunate to be able to get a new show every 3 months and already told my wife that I will be subscribing again. She was cool about it she knows how happy it makes me. Anyways my guess for 28 - 4-23-69 the Ark Boston Mass. it would make a great box for sure but I am guessing they come out one at a time. Something from 69 would really make this a banner year for the Dave’s Picks series. Just my opinion.
  • MDJim
    Joined:
    Re: Dave's Picks 28
    This one's wide open. ..but I enjoy the enthusiasm and speculation. So the drum roll of 28 begins. I won't even try to guess and I don't think Dave is talking.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 8 months

"The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

Dave's Picks Volume 27 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

user picture

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

I disagree, it's a full 10 out of 10. They're priming DaP 27 for national release. I'm changing my avatar to it right now. You're a cute little guy, keep up the spirit!
user picture

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

You seem locked into that avatar picture somehow.
user picture

Member for

8 years 8 months
Permalink

Pass me some of that psychedelic licorice. I’ll take the purple. I’ll even take 2, they seem a little small.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....Bobbys voice was a couple of octaves off for the first two lines. I almost pushed the stop button right then and there, but I trudged on. Much to my delight.
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

Just received Vol. 14 It's numbered, but the front of the cover is a little sunk in; it looks like the seam is cut too wide, so when the cover closes there's a gap. These may be factory 2nds, sets with cosmetic issues.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....this, my friends, ranks right up there with Nessie, alien abductions and Bigfoot. Hmmmm. I was abducted once. At Monterey '88. Then the goonie birds wore off. The real test begins now. The wife and son went to get a new treadmill. They'll be gone an hour or so. The volume on my Onkyo goes to 70. Boise is poised at 53 (get it?). I finally get to crank this shit legit like. Wish me luck!!
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....our wedding song. I'm biased so this would be an unfair review. I love them all. Next!
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

.... suddenly, Bobby's singing in a barn. A little more echo than the first three songs. We all know it sometimes takes that many to get the sound just exactly perfect. Jerry's throwing coke infused licks. It is what it is. You can't un-coke it. It's not Norman's fault.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

yeah I was also wondering why we needed constant reminders that phish psucks........sry to those who find listening value?????
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....OK. I'll admit. The harmonies are off, but the music is still breakneck speed. I think Bobby's more off than Jerry. Jerry even throws some growls. Brent is in your face. But I love Brent, so there's that. The train comparison shows up during Garcia's solo. Chugging along. Watch your speed....
user picture

Member for

13 years 7 months
Permalink

I'm loving this Boise pick and all the debate about it. For me, it is easily tied with Augusta 10/12/84 (30 trips) for my favorite release from 80-85. I think the instrumental mix is almost perfect (except the keyboards might be a teeny bit high). Finally, an 80-85 release where Weir's guitar is right up front in our face where it belongs! Such a treat to hear Weir's early 80's guitar like this. IMO, this is the best sounding recording yet from 80-85 (not counting Dead Set/Reckoning and Go To Nassau). Well, we are all listening on different equipment and are looking for different things, right? Musically, I think it is as fascinating as 10/12/84. Better or worse? I'll need many more listenings of each to decide.
user picture

Member for

14 years 9 months
Permalink

Thank you. Pulling out 21 tonight. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. No problem. But very weird.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....way too fast. 4/10. Not a very solid version. Oh well. Time to sell it.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....Phil!!! Back on track. Rocking with their rocks out. Nowhere else will you hear "stay right here in Boise" so it's a keeper.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....I've already sung my praises on this version, so I won't bore you.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....not bad. But there are tons better. More vox drops. Stay at the mic Bobby Rockstar! The coda is very nice though. Usually is. Here it comes again. I will admit, it's nice to let off the pedal. I'm a huge fan of the thunder effects Healy gave this song later on in the 80's.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....watch each release you play, and play it slow. Just wait until that Deal goes down. Who knows? On 2.24.21, you might just want to bust Boise out. Yeah, there's some dust, but at least the musics clean. 4:50 mark. The boyz huddle up and get their shit together. You know, the Dead were known to play some rock n roll at times.
user picture

Member for

9 years 3 months
Permalink

I don't think the recording does the performance justice. The limitations of the mix make it impossible to accurately gauge how good they may have sounded that night. I get the impression Betty did a whole lot more mixing in real time than Dan Healy. Forget the cassette tape source, the show can hardly be mixed worse. The vocals on on a few of the July 1978 shows are not nearly as smooth as May 1977, and that's the same band, same songs, a year apart, recorded by the same person on presumably the same equipment. Sure, the band was a much less consistent band in '78, but the July shows are good performances. Yet to my ears, the background vocal mix on some of that box set is lacking, compared to May '77. My point is that I believe some mixing factor accounts for what I hear as inferior vocals in some sections of July '78, as compared to May '77. Even a non Betty from '77 like 4/29 makes the band sound much worse than they were really playing. We don't know what kind of audio enhancement effects Betty may have used on her mixes to provide us with the final products we have today (except the reverb, and look how different a perspective that gives us on the band). Add the same principal 10 fold to Boise '83, and what's the point of discussing how good or bad the show is? There's no way to tell as far as I'm concerned. For whatever reason, Dan Healy's mix here is so bad it does the band an injustice. Apply a mild harmonization effect to the vocals at the mixing board and maybe there wouldn't be so much distance between each vocalist. Anyway, I'm not saying a better mix would turn this show into a replica of Go To Nassau, but it would improve the performance immensely. For what we do have, I felt like many people posted. The music is so inconsistent as to be a distraction. Parts sounded really strong, but quickly turned me off a moment later. I don't think Brent's voice will ever grow on me. It just sounds so ragged and tired and overbearing.
user picture

Member for

11 years 5 months
Permalink

I've played it, not the best not the worse...It'll sit on the shelf with all the others and I doubt I'll pull it down and play it again for quite awhile...one thing it did do though was have me pull out the Santa Fe Downs Matrix shows and give them a spin...fun to hear those again...my '83 collection is a bit sparse after my first external HD crash from some time back...now I do back ups of back up etc...ya pays your money and take your chances after all...
user picture

Member for

6 years 5 months
Permalink

Back to my point about people hearing things differently...
user picture

Member for

6 years 11 months
Permalink

First I got to ask. Is it love Jerry like you love Jerry? Or is it love Jerry like: "What a long strange trip it's been." Love, Jerry I kind of noticed the same thing you mentioned about July 1978. Not quite as smoother than smooth as May 1977. I would love to get Betty sat down for an interview. Anyway I think your point is well stated and very accurate. For the people who are loving this release, I'm sure it would rank even higher with better mixing. I teach chorus, and it's very difficult to mic up the kids for the spring and winter concerts. For people who don't like this release, a great mix may have made all the difference. But oh well what can you do it is what it is. As far as the series goes, I think this is definitely subpar, but it's the only way they ever would have moved 18000 units of a show that sounds this way. Also agree with your Brent comment. It seems in the Grateful Dead circles he has a love it or hate it voice. I love it when it's real low in the mix. Or not at all. Eagles fill the sky, blecchhh. I cannot So what will they pull out for the fourth quarter? Can't be 1971, unlikely to be 72 73 or 74, impossible to be 75, also unlikely to be 77, although I would love to hear that swing Auditorium show from February. I can't see it being 1978 either, but maybe. I think some kind of 69/70 mix like Vol 6 maybe. I'd be great with that. 1976 is due. I would be surprised if Dave reaches into the 80s or 90s twice in a row.
user picture

Member for

15 years 9 months
Permalink

don't make me laugh, move along now
user picture

Member for

15 years 9 months
Permalink

for name-calling, why? I think an intelligent conversation is better than whom ever calling whoever uninformed or someone else calling them illogical. There are just a few unkind folks on this site. I don't care much for this release, but if you do, far out. The band didn't go to Idaho, or Montana often (once each?) but both of those shows are now released by Dave, maybe he's just trying to get unheard or not often heard releases out there for the faithful. Can't really blame them for not going to these places again, beautiful scenery, but not a very hospitable atmosphere for hippies.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

Hey, it’s 8/4, so why not 8/4/76? Someone mentioned Dekalb, there’s a Betty Board of 10/29/77 in the vault- that would definitely be a treat. Lots of talk of 79, which would be nice, but why not another 80s/90s? Su91, anyone? Mmm. Sp/Su 93? Yes, please. Although maybe these contradict the seeming mission, in ways actually that 9/2/83 did not, in releasing more relatively unknown and less heard of dates. Who knows?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 8 months
Permalink

I like this Bobby, Brent and drummers jam out of Eyes! Good stuff. Also, if you like this little jam check out the Bobby, Bruce and drummers jam from Dicks #17 aka Boston Clam Jam!!
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

What he said! You got it “just exactly perfect” Enough already. STFU and just sell the dam thing....don’t worry, we’ll be back to 99% 70s soon enough!
user picture

Member for

14 years 5 months
Permalink

(such as Chicago, the Bay Area, or NYC) more people would be more open to this release. Boise is indeed one of the strangest of places to have a GD show. "well it's 8:00 in Boise Idaho"
user picture

Member for

14 years 5 months
Permalink

thanks for the laughs Phish: I do appreciate them, but rarely listen to them. the thing that drives me crazy about them is the cutesy stuff they do. but they can jam when they want to.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

80s Dead just isn't my thing...to each their own. My DP 27 has been sitting unopened as I pondered what to do. For those who want but missed out, I just want to cover cost plus shipping, no EBay style gouging involved, maybe some interesting 70-73 trade? PM interest...
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

Jerry's soloing on this version is phenomenal. His tone and harmonics jumps right out of the mix. Awesome.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 1 month
Permalink

Got a last minute present to go to his show last night in Toronto. Only know some of the Talking Heads stuff from way back. Was blown away by the show - top notch production, uniqueness and grooves. Had a bunch of the age 50+ crowd on their feet and dancing from 3 minutes in. Highly recommended if the tour hasn’t passed by your city already. Will definitely be checking out his solo catalogue in between Dead releases. Maybe he appeals more to the Phish crowd than Dead, but the guy is quite an artist.
user picture

Member for

14 years 5 months
Permalink

he was in town re his and Fatboy Slim's musical "Here Lies Love".she went with a friend. on the way out, he was standing right there, so she said "hi", he greeted politely back, and she went on her way. he has been part of my musical landscape since I heard/saw Talking Heads on SNL in 79. love deez: More Songs About Buildings and Food (not about Fucking, though...tip of the hat to the poster who shared Big Black with us ;)) Fear of Music Remain in Light attended a concert of him solo in 1992 during the LA RK riots. "Burning Down the House" took on a whole new relevance
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

....came through Vegas recently. I didn't even know.
user picture

Member for

8 years 8 months
Permalink

For those who think the sound sucks, what type of speakers did you hear it through?Obviously, computer speaks are the wrong tool for this job. For those who think the sound is great/good/acceptable, what type of speakers did you hear it through? I suspect that SpaceBro has a Wall Of Sound replica in his house. Combine that with his unbridled enthusiasm (Seinfeld reference) for the era, and he’s in pure ecstasy. I’m using Bose 301 speakers that are about 5.5 feet in the air on stands (helps to fill the room), an Onkyo subwoofer, Onkyo receiver, Onkyo 6-disc changer. I do have to turn the volume up past the ‘normal’ point for DaPs. Most DaPs are pretty consistent in the sound level on my system, ‘40’ on the Onkyo display. For DaP 27 CD1 starts at 44 but I just had to turn it down to 42 during Deal. These numbers are a little arbitrary and are influenced by how much I want my neighbors to hear the GOGD. Just turned it up a tad to 43 for H/S/F. It’s Saturday afternoon, not like it’s In The Midnight Hour. I can clearly hear all the instruments on Slipknot!, with Jerry right up front.
user picture

Member for

6 years 7 months
Permalink

I'm listening on earbuds that I have suspended from the ceiling about 6 feet above the floor. The sound doesn't bother me at all.
product sku
081227931599