Dave's Picks Vol. 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85)

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January 19, 2024 - 8:00am

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Dead Admin

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Anyone who has ever seen the Dead can testify that one of its shows will add quite a bit of color to the environment here at Stanford. Anyone who has not seen one of these spectacles should have the opportunity to do so. The Grateful Dead are an important part of the Bay Area's cultural history. Those of us who saw them last week can testify that the Dead are alive and well. The Concert Network would be hard-pressed to find an act which would bring Frost Amphitheatre to life as the Dead would. - The Stanford Daily

As you know by now, we'd certainly have voted aye on this motion, so much so, that we've loaded up DAVE'S PICKS 49 with not one, but two complete Grateful Dead shows from the Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 4/27/85 and 4/28/85. The first shows from '85 in the series, these back-to-back hometown performances couldn't be more different while delivering the same level of passion and precision, five hours of it, in fact.

In 1985, the band were celebrating "20 Years So Far," a feat that found them on these particular nights confident with invention in terms of both setlists and playing. There are old songs renewed, rare covers revived, undeniably nuanced Jerry moments, and a few surprises from Brent Mydland too. While it's impossible to select highlights, we can say with certainty that the overall clarity of these shows is unparalleled, courtesy of Dan Healy's recordings.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 49: FROST AMPHITHEATRE, STANFORD U, PALO ALTO, CA 4/27/85 & 4/28/85 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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January 20, 2024 - 3:58pm

#1171

alvarhanso

Joined:
January 16, 2014

Also

Praises to Dave and co for those two Picks featuring two Dark Stars, DaP 6 12-2-70 and 12-20-69 and 43 11-269 and 12-26-69. Wonderful stuff. Digging on 11-2-69, great Dancing in the Street Jam (the Dancing earlier featured a Dark Star jam, so nice symmetry) then a glorious Soul Strut. Great St Stephen and Eleven and delicious melt into one of the best Death Don't Have No Mercys I know.

Also, also, the sound on DaP 42 and DaP 46 is louder and better than a lot of them have been lately. Don't know if that's better source tapes, but I've noticed they're conspicuously louder.
January 20, 2024 - 3:28pm

#1172

alvarhanso

Joined:
January 16, 2014

Found a tshirt on amazon

Said Officially licensed, from a company called Ripple Junction. Was 14.99, so I got it. Pic is the one in the avatar. Thought the image was from a Dave's Pick, and indeed it was, numero 6, to be precise. This is not noted anywhere. Always liked that year's art. Just thought I'd mention that.

The Listening Party sounds good. Only listened up to half of Esau, and didn't have good speakers to see if any bass on the PA mix. Also, that means I haven't heard Jerry's voice yet. Have heard some AUDs, and didn't like. His guitar work is great thus far. The PA mixes have strong vocals from Bob. Gonna have to re-check and pray no Red Rooster. Bob's caterwauling may be worse than Jerry's hoarseness.
January 20, 2024 - 1:33pm

#1173

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Really looking forward to 49

:)))
January 20, 2024 - 1:31pm

#1174

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Greek 81

I wasn't in attendance

Starting senior year of high school in LA

First show still 10 months away

9 12 is overall more "complete" to me. No gripes about 9 11, just....9 12 has so much great stuff.

Picky Deadheads, all
January 20, 2024 - 1:21pm

#1175

billy the kiddd

Joined:
November 8, 2021

9/11/81

Tastier
January 20, 2024 - 10:59am

#1176

Homer232

Joined:
August 2, 2013

A Very Fine Daytime Outing Indeed!

I was there at both shows too with my friend Kevin! But I agree with CeeDee, it's a shame that the Scarlet>Eyes>GDTRFB had to be split with a CD break. That sequence (for me) was the highlight of the WHOLE weekend!
Which by the way, were daytime (2pm) shows with full sun both days!
Also, seldom mentioned, but these were benefit shows that came about because of the 'deal' Garcia made with the court for 'punishment' for his Jan '85 drug bust in Golden Gate Park. If I recall correctly, Jerry's court appearance (sometime in Feb or March?) was packed with heads, several of them 'volunteering' to step in for Jerry and do 'his time' for him, instead of Jerry doing his own time. I think the judge was taken aback by that and let him off easy by requiring some benefit shows to help a San Francisco charity and a promise to seek rehab. Anyways, ... the 1st set Bertha, with Jerry's line of "Throw me in the jailhouse" got him smiling wide and the whole crowd whooping it up - 'cause we all knew what that meant LoL!
January 20, 2024 - 8:42am

#1177

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

9 12 81

Tasty
January 20, 2024 - 8:39am

#1178

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

.

.
January 20, 2024 - 1:27am

#1179

Obeah

Joined:
January 14, 2017

yes slow dog

I feel similarly. May '77 has its many virtues, but back in the day I really loved the '85 section of my collection, and I've been outspoken about hoping that Dave would shine a little light on this year. I'm really quite excited for this release.

And you mentioned early '79... I seem to recall Dick Latvala saying that the vault's holdings for '79-'82 were not in a good way... I wonder if this is why there is such a dearth for much of '79, and when Dave HAS dipped in, it's been two shows from one single week in December (w/ filler from a third night.)

Still, it's one of the treats of this series... having the archivist curating these releases... the surprise and near-constant delight of "what's next?" never gets old
January 19, 2024 - 8:57pm

#1180

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Aye ice cream kid

I agree

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

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Anyone who has ever seen the Dead can testify that one of its shows will add quite a bit of color to the environment here at Stanford. Anyone who has not seen one of these spectacles should have the opportunity to do so. The Grateful Dead are an important part of the Bay Area's cultural history. Those of us who saw them last week can testify that the Dead are alive and well. The Concert Network would be hard-pressed to find an act which would bring Frost Amphitheatre to life as the Dead would. - The Stanford Daily

As you know by now, we'd certainly have voted aye on this motion, so much so, that we've loaded up DAVE'S PICKS 49 with not one, but two complete Grateful Dead shows from the Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 4/27/85 and 4/28/85. The first shows from '85 in the series, these back-to-back hometown performances couldn't be more different while delivering the same level of passion and precision, five hours of it, in fact.

In 1985, the band were celebrating "20 Years So Far," a feat that found them on these particular nights confident with invention in terms of both setlists and playing. There are old songs renewed, rare covers revived, undeniably nuanced Jerry moments, and a few surprises from Brent Mydland too. While it's impossible to select highlights, we can say with certainty that the overall clarity of these shows is unparalleled, courtesy of Dan Healy's recordings.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 49: FROST AMPHITHEATRE, STANFORD U, PALO ALTO, CA 4/27/85 & 4/28/85 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

081227817442

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