Dave's Picks Volume 29: Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77

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January 23, 2019 - 9:54am

1,510 replies

clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018

An institution in American rock music, the Grateful Dead continue to surprise the ears with new arrangements and altered styles. If their playing continues with the force that was heard in San Bernardino, the spirit of the Dead will live on. - Sun Telegram

We are more than pleased to kick off this year's Dave's Picks series with the much requested and quite spirited complete performance from Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77. The Swing ’77 show was a unique beast, unlike any others from this era: as the band’s first concert of the year, it bridged the gap between the new and re-emerging sound of the returning 1976 Grateful Dead and the precision excellence of the spring ’77 Dead. Debuting two of their most intricately crafted songs of the 1970s, “Terrapin Station” (to open, no less!) and “Estimated Prophet,” the Dead demonstrated right from the start of this new touring year that they were not going to be a nostalgia act; they were going to be as adventurous and ambitious as they were at any time in their career.

Join the adventure as they soar through tried and true ("Playing In The Band," "Tennessee Jed"), well-loved covers ("Mama Tried," "Samson and Delilah," "Dancing In the Street"), and epic new jams.

Rounded out with three songs from Santa Barbara, CA 2/27/77, this one was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

Dave's Picks Volume 29 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

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April 17, 2019 - 4:23pm

#21

stoltzfus

Joined:
January 13, 2010

6/20/83

bobby at the end of Sugar Magnolia

yeah a yeah a yeah!
yeah a yeah a yeah!
yeah a yeah a yeah!

why oh why can't 6/18/83 and 6/20/83 have pristine soundboards to give the full Norman to...
April 17, 2019 - 2:28pm

#22

hartwerger

Joined:
June 25, 2007

MDJIM--6/20/83 Merriweather

Loved your post on the 6/20/83 show since I too was there and it was quite memorable. Only one correction. There was an encore: Its All Over Now Baby Blue. Jerry's voice may not have been up to par in '83, but it was still a mighty fine rendition of Baby Blue.

As you said, that Merriweather show may not be one of the best show of all times, but it was incredibly magical to most who attended it. Just read the reviews on the Archive (or even here on Dead.net). Unlike you Jim, I was on the lawn and had to brave the monsoon. I made a brief venture to the Pavilion during the second set, but things were a little too weird there so I wondered around and eventually back out into the torrent of rain. I guess I'll share a quick personal story about that show. During the peak of Music Never Stopped, a casual acquaintance of mine came running toward me in her yellow dress with a handful of mud. She plastered that mud on the back of my white shirt. I don't think we had Garcia handprints just yet back then, but her slap on my back formed a perfect handprint, only with a middle finger unlike Garcia. She disappeared and I didn't see her again that night. I knew from friends that she went back to New York, and I ventured off to Colorado later that summer. What was so odd was that mud handprint stayed on my shirt in perfect form. For most of that three hour show I was standing in the most relentless deluge of rain and that handprint never washed off the shirt. Days after the show, the shirt dried and so did the mud, but that muddy handprint never flaked off and never lost it's shape or character. At the time, it was a memento of a magical evening so I left the handprint there for as long as it was last. Six months later I returned to Baltimore and saw my acquaintance friend at a party. We talked of how much fun we had at that Merriweather show and how special it was when we briefly saw each other. She still had the yellow dress and I still had the white shirt with her handprint. Perhaps it was a simple twist of fate, but I felt a spark. Five years later we married. Through the years the shirt, and the dress, have disappeared, but my wife and I are still together and have been married for 30 years (holy sh%#$!--30 years, really?) I'm fortunate that we're still together, but perhaps more fortunate that she likes to listen to the Dead as much as I do (which is a friggin' lot!!). Anyway, for me, that Merriweather show was a memorable evening indeed.
April 17, 2019 - 1:50pm

#23

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Warfield Box

I share in the hopes for this box. We know one thing for sure. The tapes used to produce the Warfield acoustic release have not been recorded over, the expanded Dead set they released in the 2000s and the expanded Dead Ahead bonus material all have not been recorded over.
Maybe Dave will give us some hints tomorrow.
April 17, 2019 - 1:27pm

#24

RV3

Joined:
November 28, 2011

"Maybe Soon" on Warfield '80 Box - just guessing

I am only hoping on suspicions also for a Warfield '80 Box Set. Someone had originally mentioned it on the RSD release thread that it might be a prelude to a Warfield Box Set...who knows? Also previous RSD releases were part of larger Box Sets, 4/25/77 comes to mind. It was a RSD release, and part of the 30 Trips Box Set. Also, 3/29/90 Wake Up To Find Out was a RSD release, and then a part of Spring 1990(TOO). I believe there are a few other RSD releases that were part of Box Sets, etc ? Certainly seems like it could be the lead in to that type of box, BUT It may not be for a couple of reasons: 1) Dave has stated that the 1980 Warfield/RCMH tapes were taped over after Reckoning/Dead Set. 2) They do very few if any releases from the 1980s, I wouldn't expect them to a total 1980 Box - but I'm hoping like others! Where is that Bowlo fella with hints?!?
April 17, 2019 - 1:12pm

#25

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Warfield Box

My unsubstantiated suspicions were also that this acoustic Warfield release was a prelude to a Box of electric sets.

Also,
I noticed that 5-15-70 Road Trips rerelease is available for preorder on Amazon.
April 17, 2019 - 11:41am

#26

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

RV3-Warfield Box Set

Okay RV3, do you have information that we will be getting a Warfield 1980 Box Set this year? Don't get me too excited as I am still at work!

Let us know. Thanks 😊
April 17, 2019 - 8:52am

#27

Sixtus_

Joined:
November 8, 2014

re: 4/16/78 & E'72

Ok KeithFan, you know you can't mention 4/16/78 without Sixtus chiming in. I mean, this is an all-time favorite of mine and I've had the tape forever. They need to release this one and I thought i saw it on the list of recovered boards?

I completely concur with this being a standout from the early part of the year, overall. It has my all-time favorite Peggy'O that made it onto personal compilations in the past simply due to Jerry's solo in there....he takes things around the block several times and the naughty dirty guitar sounds emotionally exceptional. And of course the Scarlet > Fire to END the first set is pretty unique and rare especially that ">", wherein they do some very cool stuff and Donna's timely input during that ">" peak actually helps things out IMHO. But I truly love that Estimated > Eyes; the Estimated has some very slinky, prodding, mysterious vibes to it before it drops into Eyes of the World. And, although this is a faster version, Eyes cannot be underestimated - Keith belts out expressive supporting chords as the frenzy hits, and even note the very end....where they once again COME BACK to the Eyes theme as it seems to be fizzling...and it comes back WITH A FURY before settling into drums. And then I always loved that Iko coming out of drums, it was such an early take, followed by a fully rockin Sugar Mag.

People should give this one a listen for sure.

As for E'72, I need to get back on track, but I have always wondered: WHAT HAPPENED TO BIRD SONG????
We don't ever see it sitting on the wire during this tour - and that's a shame in consideration of the epicness it projected shortly thereafter.

Sixtus

P.S. also enjoyed the various stories and musings from the gang; as others note it sort of puts one into the shoes of another for some fun and unique perspectives.

And my heart goes out to Notre Dame; very sad but glad to see it still stands in defiance and will shine once again.

P.P.S. Thanks to peeps here, I was able to grab a copy of the RSD Warfield on CD via Amazon for exactly.....zero dollars. Such is the benefit of buying so much stuff off Amazon that I had enough "points" to cover this CD. I like the cost when it's zero.
April 17, 2019 - 7:46am

#28

Dennis

Joined:
November 1, 2012

K-Fan, K-Man...

…. or J Pan Fan.

Seems only a couple of your avatar photos feature a "red" square on the cup. I downloaded and blew up,,, still can not tell what the red square says?
April 17, 2019 - 7:46am

#29

RV3

Joined:
November 28, 2011

RSD - WARFIELD 1980

Yea, this is a nice 2-show acoustic sampler....but I'm surprised they haven't announced the WARFIELD '80 box Set for this year, maybe soon ; )
April 17, 2019 - 7:05am

#30

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Coasting to a Start

I've returned to E72, April 17 show. This is the one you can see about an hour's worth on YouTube. I like the first-ever He's Gone. My first listen to this song was when Rockin the Rhein came out. That one, this one, and the one from hundred-year Hall on April 26th are the only ones that don't have the middle 8 / going where the Winds Don't Change verse. I like these the best. I also like the fast tempo. For the versions that do have the middle 8, the last show at the lyceum is pretty cool because of Bobby's tremolo effect on his guitar. I think this is another case of me getting used to the first version I hear of a song, and it sticking. The Berkeley show from Dave's Picks 20 whatever also has a really great he's gone. Pardon the spelling and case fluctuation, I'm in the car Google a voicing it. Anyway, April 17th, Tivoli x2 - another outstanding show. Those Lucky Bastards got two Great Dark Stars. These are some of my favorite Cautions ever. With Keith onboarding, they were much more streamlined and accessible. They only played it five or six times on this tour. I'll tell you what would have been cool on the pigpen front, is if they played a few less good Lovins, and threw in some smokestack lightning and Midnight Hour. The smokestack from Dave's Picks 22 shows just how potent that song had become, just a couple of months before the Europe tour. And the Midnight Hour from ladies and gentlemen might be the best ever. And of course the more wistful side of me laments that they did not have the new bird song arrangement together in time for this tour. And heck, why not a Saint Stephen or two. I also really did are you lonely for me baby from Dick's Picks 30. They could have fine tune to that one into something special. If Jimbo ever gets that way back machine fixed, we're visiting Sam Cutler and putting some ideas into his head. Because I saw a long strange trip, and those boys respected him. I'm sure if he said to practice a couple of those Tunes I mentioned, they probably would have played all of them except Saint Stephen :-D. Alligator is also suspiciously missing after April of 71. They had pared it down to 4 1/2 minutes at the last performance of it at the Fillmore East, so why not just keep it in the repertoire. I mean really, is any song shout it out from the crowd more than alligator? Paint It Black you devils!

I found a 5-hour YouTube mix of all Grateful Dead jams from 1969 to I think 1983. Great stuff. Always interesting to hear what somebody's going to put in the mix like that.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

An institution in American rock music, the Grateful Dead continue to surprise the ears with new arrangements and altered styles. If their playing continues with the force that was heard in San Bernardino, the spirit of the Dead will live on. - Sun Telegram

We are more than pleased to kick off this year's Dave's Picks series with the much requested and quite spirited complete performance from Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77. The Swing ’77 show was a unique beast, unlike any others from this era: as the band’s first concert of the year, it bridged the gap between the new and re-emerging sound of the returning 1976 Grateful Dead and the precision excellence of the spring ’77 Dead. Debuting two of their most intricately crafted songs of the 1970s, “Terrapin Station” (to open, no less!) and “Estimated Prophet,” the Dead demonstrated right from the start of this new touring year that they were not going to be a nostalgia act; they were going to be as adventurous and ambitious as they were at any time in their career.

Join the adventure as they soar through tried and true ("Playing In The Band," "Tennessee Jed"), well-loved covers ("Mama Tried," "Samson and Delilah," "Dancing In the Street"), and epic new jams.

Rounded out with three songs from Santa Barbara, CA 2/27/77, this one was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman.

Dave's Picks Volume 29 is limited to 20,000 individually-numbered copies*.

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

80s Fan

Nice mix dude. Your Estimated Eyes from DP 18 is the first I ever heard. And the Estimated is my favorite of all time. Also dig the Paris China Cat. Garcia absolutely shreds the solo. I hope you included Bill Graham's introduction to Help on the Way :D I know you did - that one and Veneta are my two favorites band intros. I look forward to checking out Row Jimmy & He's Gone (Dicks Picks 28) - no recall.

P.S. - come to think of it, I heard estimated prophet long before Dick's Picks 18, on a sweltering hot night at JFK Stadium in July of 89. Standing on the moon, Crimson white and indigo. Oh Captain My Captain...

Dick's 28

KeithFan - Dick's 28 is one of the best...this one release manages to contain my all time favorite versions of not only Row Jimmy and He's Gone, but also 1/2 Step. Maybe it caught me just the right way when I first heard it years ago, but either way it's fully imprinted on me....

Dr. Sardonicus

One of my ALL TIME go to albums

Hello again to all of my old friends. This is my first post on the new site. OMG! I took forever to get through the gate keepers. Hope next time is easier.

Rock on

Spring 1990 Superlatives

As referenced along the way, I successfully put my ears to the complete Spring 1990 more or less spot-on with their show dates, save for one or two. I think many agree that it’s a great excuse to listen to a show on its anniversary date, for some reason this gives it more purpose and gravitas. And it made for a fun couple of weeks. I could only imagine doing it in person, city to city…

Anyway, I took notes as I went and pulled together a list of superlatives for this tour (why not?); all are totally subjective of course but it was fun nonetheless. And I purposefully left out 3/29 because otherwise it would probably sit at the top of a lot of these categories, for me anyway. When absolutely necessary it’s referenced but otherwise let’s just all agree that one is top shelf as-is.

Rockin’ Opener: This was a 3-way tie of course; but definitive energy and jamminess is going on in these. And check out that Stranger, I get why they included the one on Without A Net, but this one must have been a close contender:
Jack Straw (3/15/90, MD);
Shakedown Street (4/3/90, ATL);
Feel Like A Stranger (4/2/90, ATL)

Favorite First Set: 4/2/90, Atlanta; Stranger > Half-Step > The Weight to start; there’s a good Brent tune in there and a Queen Jane (I always loved Queen Jane for some reason), an upbeat and rare (on this tour) Brown Eyed Women, and a KILLER Let it Grown to close out. Again this one gives the version on Without a Net a run for its money from where I sit. But that opening triple whammy followed by continued upbeat songs with a killer closer does it for me.

Favorite Second Set: 3/28/90, Nassau Coliseum; This one is my favorite specifically due to its uniqueness in the top half: Foolish Heart > Looks Like Rain > Cumberland Blues > The Weight > Hey Pocky Way > Drums….and then it rounds out with all-time favorites: The Other One > Wharf Rat > Good Lovin’ (I really gravitate toward these during this era, especially the energy and vocals during the coda at the end of the song) and Revolution to encore it out. How COOL is that top half? Just fun stuff, great playing, good surprises, odd placements, it hits many check-boxes.

Favorite Song Sequence: 3/19/90, Hartford: Top of the second set, Box of Rain, Foolish Heart > Playin in the Band > Eyes of the World > drums. I always liked giving Phil an opening slot and Box of Rain is a great song; but my favorite moments of this one come first in the Foolish Heart – Jerry does his thing on that one, especially during the jam toward the end…his little ‘Garciaphrases’ and flourishes that only he can do…he does this several times during the end-jam and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time. Then in to a good Playin’ and then a really cool Eyes – fast paced, but with a pretty interesting jam at the end. I’ve actually had this show for years and was so psyched to get it officially released.

Favorite ‘Moment’: This one is literally a ‘moment’. Following Women are Smarter on 3/16 (Landover, MD) Jerry decides to continue playing, and off they go on a semi-Women Are Smarter jam with heavy doses of calypso peppered on top. At one point late in the sequence, Jerry VERY CLEARLY goes into Eyes of the World territory, even to the point of playing about a bar and a half of the lead, and you can just hear the crowd SWELL for that instant along with the musical quote as if in anticipation of plopping Eyes right there….but of course this never happens, and the crowd swell just as quickly dispels, and the jam then eventually peters out into drums. It’s a cool moment.

Best Segue: 4/2/90, Atlanta: Mississippi Half-Step > The Weight. This is referenced earlier, but it is noteworthy in its fluidness and how no one misses a beat. The only potential detractor is that they never actually sing the ‘Across the Rio Grande-EE-OOO’ part, but even so the outro in Half Step is still sweet as pie. Not only was the transition flawless, the actual placement of The Weight right there up front was pretty awesome.

Honorable Mention: Just A Little Light, 4/1/90, Atlanta. I give this one an Honorable Mention, cause it's just really, really good. This song sort of evolves a bit over this tour - they only play it 3 times I think - but by the final time it's played, Jerry is just spot-on with his wah-wah support, and Brent's vocal's are gritty and true, and they even take it out for a little walk toward the end, in a cool, spacey-jammy moment. I only wish they had expended on this one more - stretch it out in that same vein - it might have been cool. Perhaps there are other such versions, I can't say for sure....

Favorite Show Overall: Undecided. I know, I know – sad. But I can’t really say 3/29, cause that’s just not playing fair. I will say that I loved the Omni run at the end, there was a lot of good stuff those last three shows. And the opening shows were super strong as well, in retrospect. One of the other inspiring and seductive enjoyments is hearing all (well, most) of the songs from Without a Net in their proper setting. Context matters, and the fun in this listening activity cannot be understated.

In closing, this really is a great tour. Not overwhelming if you keep up with it, and each listen is different and unique due to the change-a-roo of the setlists on a nightly basis. They don’t over play any songs, and they keep others sporadic enough so as to ensure their momentum when they hit. And, we have access to all of them, officially released.

Now to see if I can pull this off for Europe ’72. That’s a much bigger commitment; shows are longer, and there are more of them…..ut oh. But what damn fun.

Sixtus

Sixtus and 1990

Just a Little Light! Wish they had more time to develop that one :-(

….. to give me just a little sweetness, just a little light.... wah, wah, wah

Dicks 28

The funny thing 80s fan is that I know this release pretty well, but I must fall asleep at the wheel for he's gone and row Jimmy. I will pay attention next time. Greatest Story is tits up. Can I say that here?

Dave's 5/1990 Box Sets

I have an extra copy of this gem if anyone is interested in a trade for some other goodies, send me a PM.

Absolutely love these box sets, brings back so many great memories. Agree with all your points Sixtus. These boxes are always in my regular rotation. Love Queen Jane!

*RE/ Daves Pick #5- DeadVikes

...I’ve been looking for quit some time for Daves Pick #5...maybe we could buy/sell/trade together.
I would be gratefully appreciated. 🙏❤️😎
I have sold a lot of my collection to members on this Dead forum, with no problems at all. I won’t list names but i don’t mine if any of them confirm themselves...have a grateful day. Hope to hear from you soon. 🙏🤠

* ‘Daves Picks’...

...for some reason today, I was in the mood for some more 80’s, maybe because I enjoyed The Road Trip series 4-4. Spectrum,PA. 4/5-6/82 yesterday. So I’m listening to Daves Pick #27 Boise, ID. 9/2/83 at the BSU Pavilion, Boise State Univeristy. Not the best of the year but I must admit it’s growing on me after repeated listening, one day it just click for me and I pretty much enjoy Jeffery Norman Mix from the Vaults master cassettes of this show that ‘gratefully’ were in A+ condition/Primo😉... Rock on 🙏❤️😎

Deadvikes

You haven't got a spare copy of the first 1990 box set knocking about by any chance ?

Daverock

Sorry, I do not. Just the one, and it is showing some wear. Definitely been used and used.

Lovemygirl

Check your pm.

Dylan Bootlegs

Just acquired these digitally....all of them except maybe for the last 2? Let me know my friends if any of you would like some love....happy to provide....send me a pm!

KCJ

Some Swing Auditorium History

December 13, 1969 Grateful Dead/Country Joe and The Fish/Flying Burrito Brothers

The Grateful Dead began a fruitful history with the Swing Auditorium on this day. It being the Dead and all, there's a tape and even some quite amazing photos on the Archive. --- Tickets were $4.00 for this show. The Zeppelin / Jethro Tull show at the Swing was also $4.00

How much is Bobby charging now a days?

$4.00 Ticket to the Swing

To be fair.. that same $4.00 ticket would be worth $16.88 today, accounting for inflation.

Ok.. I concede your point. :D

On the flip side, albums (sorry CD's, sorry Streams.. sorry flacs) are significantly cheaper, adjusted for inflation, then they were in 1977 (which was more or less a peak in album prices, adjusted for inflation, see link below).

http://theunderstatement.com/post/3377858909/album-prices

One man gathers what another man spills....

Edit: I would have killed to be there... I would have paid at least $6, perhaps $7, maybe $8.

Swing history

Whilst rummaging down the rabbit hole that is Wikipedia I discovered that on September the 11th 1981 a light aircraft crashed into the venue damaging it iraparably, at the same time the dead were playing down the road at the Greek . 😾🙀😾🙀

*RE/ 1990’s

...spinning September 10th 1991, Madison square garden, NY. with guest performer - Branford Marsalis ! Excellent Mix!!! And Daverock , this is a jazzy concert from start to finish from the band, truly remarkable! The band seems to mend all of their past eras into one beautiful concert, primo😉
🙏❤️😎
Hears are some reviews,

http://gratefuldeadoftheday.com/09-10-1991

http://www.gratefulseconds.com/2017/07/september-10-1991-with-branford-…

hbob1995 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

Hey man, glad to see you back on this site, I know, those hoops and hollers they make us jump thru to get on are sometimes ridiculous. I also concur your comment ie 12 Dreams, an excellent lp showing the original line up in their best form. I asked Randy about this album long ago, as it was also one of mine (and just about everyone's) favorite back in the day. Being the humble person he was, he said that it was a good time unfortunately, the band had split up by the time the lp had been released, so they just did not get to bask in the revelry of this great music. His worst memory of that time is that they were kept out of the line up for Woodstock. He and Cass so wanted to go but their manager at the time had them scheduled for studio time and did not think it was such a big deal. Boy, was he wrong. They were working on the songs from 12 Dreams when Woodstock went down and can you imagine what would have happened if they had been there? Would have been included in the film and on the lp? They would have been huge and that lp would have went triple platinum for sure. But it was not to be. Talk about a missed opportunity. Can you imagine seeing Randy and Jimi playing together again? That too could have happened as they knew each other very well from back in the day when Randy was the "other" guitar player in Jimi James and the Blue Flames. Now that would have been one hell of a jam.
Daverock, shoot me a pm and your email address, I will hook you up with some killer Randy.

re: 90's

.....LOVE the 9/10/91 show - talk about a full stage how cow.

On my ride in today I pulled out 6/17/91....a personal favorite that blasts out of the gate with that EPIC 16 min+ Eyes of the World...full on Bruce and Jerry dueling...utter sweetness. Then of course they tease the hell out of Dark Star the rest of this show but never actually play it.
Feel the 90's love my friends. FEEL IT!!!

Happy Friday in Deadland
SIxtus

*RE: 90’s/ SIxtus

“Re: 90'S
.....LOVE the 9/10/91 show - talk about a full stage how cow.

4/2/1973 Dave's 21

Popped this one this morning and for me still one of my favorites. Not sure what it is about 73, but I go back to this year a lot.
Probably one of my favorite China-Riders to date and we get a Box of Rain! Jerry is so on throughout entire show. Awesome Eyes and than the two song encore!

Spirit

sent you a couple of emails, let me know if you got them, more if you want it, just got to figure out how to put it all in an email.

*RE/ Daves Picks...

...I also concur Daves Pick #21 is great. Made up for 20th Pick from the 80’s...lol , I love it all..

Anniversary Blues

Buenos Dias Rockeros!

Got them anniversary blues? So much great dead, so little time!
I, like perhaps many of you, often don’t have enough time for proper Dead listening.....blasphemous I know!
So I’ve been using the five year method for a few years now and it seems to help.
I simply follow the below criteria, or not, because some times you just feel like a nut 😉

Generally, for any given calendar day, I take the years in corresponding five year increments; so this year it’s 69, 74, 79, 84, 89, and 94 prioritized accordingly...
1) Officially released shows I was at (especially if one of the above years)
2) Shows I was at from the corresponding years; so again this year its 9’s and 4’s.
3) Official releases from the corresponding years that I was not at.
4) Shows I was at, but not from the corresponding years
5) Offically released shows, but not from the corresponding years
6) any dam thing I want if I have a certain itch to scratch...
This has saved much time (and headaches 😀) figuring out what to listen too, and made anniversary listening much more manageable...perhaps this might help you too?

What ever works, PLAY DEAD!
& Be well folks!

PS, I’m really glad I’m just a dog and not a robot. I was worried there for a minute.

Spirit - PotatoLand

Just digging in....that PotatoLand Theme's some funky shit.....

Thanks Sam!

Back from the time coast

I played Dr Sardonicus as well last night. I had forgotten what a great album this is-everything about it works, but the incredible guitar sound and playing stand out. Strange how this album, and band, come to that, tend to get overlooked in retrospectives of psychedelic albums and bands of yore.

Yes, it would have been quite something if Spirit had played Woodstock, and Randy California had jammed with Hendrix. Watching the film, you can see Jimi willing Larry Lee to step up and spar with him, but sadly Larry really isn't fit for purpose-although the Hendrix set is still the highlight of the festival for me. Sparks could really have flown had Randy been up there.

Thanks for the offer, Sam-pm to follow.

Dick's Pick #17

Just received this the other day. Really like this show 9/25/91. Listening right now to the bonus song 23 minute version of Eyes of the world from 3/31/91.

Thanks for TOO's

Almost listened to all of them. I'm putting the whole shows on for these, so it's taking time.

E72 Anniversary Starts Sunday

Sunday April 7 - anniversary of the first show of the tour. Time to bust out the Europe '72 Steamer Trunk. One of my favorite Greatest Stories - cool clear water well you can't ever tell - 2x. Go Donna.

4/5/91 & ......

A fantastic anniversary show. Today's, from 1991. Love the Bruce. Holy cow hold on tight from the opening Shakedown:

https://archive.org/details/gd1991-04-05.132572.sbd.healy.latvala.wise…

....Including Dick's Picks 17, that one's a doozy and an all-time favorite great call. I still think that the entire Garden 91 run should be released in a wonderful Bruce-infused box.

And Keithfan, as for the Europe 72 trunk, I gave that a once-over last night and also came to the same conclusion that this starts on Sunday. Looks like there's going to be some Greatest Story blasted at 10 a.m. to get things rolling along with the percolating smells of coffee and bacon ummhmmmmm.

Sixtus

anniversary show for tonights listening pleasure...

4-5-71 Manhattan Center~New York
...only thru The Rub at this point. Just warming up. Fun show.
:O)

And oh boy...that Samson->Eyes from Greensboro '91 is super sweet.

DaP 28 replacement disk #3

It might be old news but DAP 28 disk#3 replacement is new run with no skips on let it grow or anywhere else. It's good to be heard! Let's rock!!

Echo...Echo

Is there an echo in here?

Echos

Yes.. good call.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmlZLnkF0aU

Re: Greensboro 91

Please release this as Dave's 34, with 3/31-4/1/91 spread across 4 discs. That or gives us a Greensboro box of every Greensboro Coliseum show from 1981-1991. Think it's 7 shows.

Speaking of Echoes, this is a great way to experience it and 2001's final scene.

https://youtu.be/rn7MmS3vazU

Thanks MDJIM

That vid. Brings back 1979 when I first heard that tune and was transformed and grew my hair long like gilmour. Funny the things you do when young.

Hairstyles....

....I rocked a mullet when I was fifteen. Turned it into a rat tail a year later. Lol.

Re: Hairstyles

Ha..

Now that I am old and in the grey... the closest I can now get to looking like Gilmour (or Jerry) would necessitate diverting the hair coming out of my nose, eyebrows and ears to my chin and head. On the bright side.. I am convinced there is enough there to pull it off. ..and I can sport a black t-shirt like the best of em.

Senator.. how many times have we told you to put the kibosh on mullet speak during re-election years. Before you know it.. a picture is gonna surface and then what?

so...

35 years ago tonight me and a bud were sitting in the nosebleeds at the Thomas Mack Arena UNLV watching Kareem break the NBA scoring record...the following night we were at The Aladdin Theatre for our 3rd visit to Vegas to see the Boys play...such times such fun...

Bruce Box....

....good luck with that. I'm all in, however....

72-74 China-Rider

Surely the golden age for this jam. It had been around in the preceding years-it crops up during the February run at the Fillmore East 1970-Dicks Picks 4. But it never really grew wings until Keith joined, and its apex for me arrived in 1974. I've just listened to the first set of 3/23/74-great version on there-as ever the linking jam makes it.
In fact, if I was to demonstrate to someone who didn't know about the band, why I liked them-one of these China-Rider jams would serve as a great indicator. The psychedelic song-jazz inspired link-traditional American folk/blues song-pure gold.

Get yer hair cut!

My biggest blip with haircuts was a long one. Between the ages of about 30 and 55, I had short back and sides to fit in with the work a day world. I am back to normal now.

The Echoes

Jimbo, that's so weird - I juuuusst "discovered" that Echoes video a couple of weekends ago. I was blown away that such good quality pre-Dark Side footage existed. I don't even recall how I came across it. That song is special for me. In college I knew from Dark Side of the Moon forward, and side 1 of Meddle (what a great start to a record - One of These Days, Pillow Of Winds, Fearless).

I rarely listen to Echoes, to preserve the magic. I remember first hearing it. I was always an experimenter with pot or whatever else in high school, whenever I could get my hands on stuff (which was rare). In my second year of college, I met some really cool guys, two of whom were the first to move out of the dorms and into a rental house off-campus. They had parties a couple of times a week there. After a few weeks I was invited "upstairs" for the first time, and there was pot. It became a regular thing, and we had a huge posse of like-minded individuals. And of course there was music. The Doors had made a huge comeback in the 90s, and Jane's Addiction was breaking out. Jane Says was one of the stoner songs we played a lot, but very early on, they put on Echoes. Of course I dug it immediately, but my one buddy kept telling me to wait for the good part....wait for the good part....and then Gilmour's guitar crescendo came on and I was blissed out by it. The rest of the year we would come back to that house from parties, go up and smoke, and put on "The Echoes". Those times were too short, but I'll never forget them. Thanks for the reminiscence.

daverock - couldn't agree more about China / Rider, although there are a couple of great (but short) renditions on Three From the Vault and Ladies / Gentlemen. I think it did better on one drummer. Phil plays some nice sustained bass notes at the beginning on those two. But they're way too short. Even '72 is beginning to feel too short (5-7 minute range). They were breaking 8 minutes consistently by '73 (China Cat only of course).

I reached for the original May 1977 Box Set this morning. There's a really exciting Scarlet Begonias on 5/13. It's too bad this one was only 7 minutes, because the drums and jamming is very rockish, especially leading up to the wind in the willows verse.

“Sunshine Daydream” 😉

...The sun is shining brightly today, love it! 😎
...August 27th 1972...first pick of the day...🙏
Have s grateful weekend everyone!

30th anniversary

Of my first show!
4-6-89

Set 1
https://youtu.be/qhz8YfKE6O0

Set2
https://youtu.be/X7PZHKN51YI

Think I’ll watch it tonight.

Spirit

I know a few Spirit songs from FM radio in the 80’s but never owned any tapes/albums. Also didn’t know the back story.
So, I watched this last night and my eyes were opened. Bizzaro Hendrix.
That would have been awesome to see them on the stage together. Mirror image guitar playing.
Thanks for the Spirit/Randy talk that got me looking.

https://youtu.be/E_jYkwWjgh8

Re: 72-74 China Riders

I tend to agree, Daverock.. If I had someone's attention who had an open mind and wanted an intro to the GD, I might put on something from 72 and then a 73 or 74. You almost can't go wrong with any from this period, and we benefit from many multi-tracks to pull from. Wowwow stuff.

That being said.. I've never met a ChinaRider I didn't like. I like the progression, the changes in arrangement and of course the improvisation and musical discussions back and forth.

Some of the early versions are so creative, historic perhaps. The genesis from which all others came from. I have really been getting into the 74 ones lately, especially those present on the PNW Box, 5/17 PNE and 5/19 Portland being the strongest. The crescendo in the transition is a powerhouse. I think 80sfan was the first to comment on how good these versions were, he was spot on. 2/24/74 is also excellent as is the one from Dicks Picks 12.

But the return on 12/29/77 is amazing too, the transition smooth as silk. By 1980 they had tightened things up considerably and the long, stretched out jam between had been simplified, it was back to the basics.. but it was tight. I might be in the minority, but I really like some of the midi versions in the 89/90 with Copps Coliseum being one of the better versions and the one used in Without a Net is excellent.

All in all, we might have our favorite periods and favorite versions but the fact that this duo changed and evolved so much speaks to why it is so good. The performances of this pair of songs were never meant to be static, it was highly improvisational and the arrangement was clearly written and intended to change and evolve over time. It couldn't have worked any other way and that, to me, is what makes it special. When you hear those opening notes of Chinacat, you never knew what they were going to get into. So Grateful Dead and that's what made it great. I believe these two songs to be as important as Dark Star, The Other One and Playing in the Band.

Cone Kid.. Happy Anniversary.

China/Rider conversions

Before I had cassettes, or when I had hissy cassettes, I would use China/Rider from Europe 72 to try to convert people.
Years later I would use China/Rider from 3-15-90 and all the way through Drums to convert people.

Both methods worked for several people.

Thanks Jimbo.
Low 60’s, partly sunny, heading outside to roast some beans.

Roasting

I am doing a double batch today myself.. I have been having very good success lately. Now.. what to listen to?? I might just have to spin Portland 74.. high energy, jazzy, psychedelic rock and roll.

Ultimate Deadness-Jim

Yes, I also would place China Cat-Rider in the same class as The Other One, Dark Star and Playing in the Band as the ultimate vehicles-the place where Bill Grahams statement that -"They are not the best at what they do. They are the only ones that do what they do" can best be evidenced.
Quote may not be exactly accurate- the gist of it is.

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