A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation
With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.
Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.
*2 per order. Very limited quantity available.
43 in Plano also
No notice,, just in the box today. I think the number was 3786.
Rip will have to wait until tomorrow,,, heading to work.
The meth-heads await me.
oh,,, where is the little feat shit?
Oh and my 24 lp's???
Bastards!!!
Tease
#12158 landed!
Sounds fantastic!
Not the worst cover ever! I've seen worse!
Who cares about the cover!
Love the teeny-weeny note about 12/26 Cold Rain & Snow being snipped! Why? "It will appear on a future volume"!
That means another 1969 special down the line!
So this is why I subscribed
#725
After a few sub par years, Dave has redeemed himself.
Rare songs. Fantastic recording. Outstanding stuff. The acoustic songs from 12/26 are worth the price alone. For some reason that part of the show reminds me of the scene when the Blues Brothers played Bob’s Country Bunker and had to revert to some country and western songs to get the crowd onboard.
Enjoy.
Re: AJS
One of the main reasons I check in here is to hear words written like the words you just wrote. Gives me hope.
In the same breath.. PFox is my new buzz crush villain. try decaf, indica instead of sativa.. whatever it is you are doing try something that gives a more positive view. Always look on the bright side of life. whew whew.. whew whew whew ah whew.
Looking forward to getting #43 this week.
Go to Heaven
I listened to that lp today
I like a lot of it
Alabama G
Althea
FLAS
Antwerp's Placebo
DEMI
All good the whole thing
Still waiting ...
For shipping info.
Really do hope I will get this volume since being a subscriber ... but this is the first time I haven't recieved any shipping info before other people have already got their copy of the actual record ...
Micke Östlund
Växjö, Sweden
Not yet...
The order status for my orders does not show that #43 has shipped yet.
Certainly I have not received a shipping mail yet.
No Shipping Notice yet for UK
Usually get a shipping notice, but nothing so far. Looking at some of the other posts it seems as though they are receiving copies without notices also, so I'm hoping this will be the case with mine, but they don't make things easy !
It's even more annoying as this is a '69 release, and really looking forward to an upgrade to my SBDs.
Sent an email to CS for an update.
**** UPDATE ***** Received a Shipping Notice today, so that's a positive bit of news !
Wot’s Uh, The Deal??
Interesting conversations here lately. Based on some entries, I cautiously but hopefully opened my mailbox yesterday, and…nothing!!
I’m usually one of the last to receive, so not bothered at all. With so many people gushing about TTB, I loved Derek Trucks Band, but TTB for some reason, just doesn’t blow my skirt up.
Saw Phish last night, and tonight also. Just good to see/hear ANY live music.
Re:PFox. I don’t recall him EVER having a positive word to say about anything, just a troll, happy to keep trolling. His must be a sad, sorry existence.
Very excited to wait for my D43, see a second good show tonight, and keep on keeping on.
Music is the Best!!
So Vguy and Nappyrags walk into a bar......
Met both these fine gentlemen last night at the Rocks, with a monumental Los Lobos set that combined that band with Derek and Susan and various TTB members sitting in. The hybrid band really took it out there and, for my money, jammed as hard as any band since the good old GD of the '70s. Of possible interest here, during TTB's set Susan sang Angel from Montgomery and wove in a verse from Sugaree.
I lucked into 10th row center seats and Vguy texted me he's in row 22, seat 97, so before Los Lobos hits the stage I head up to find him. As I approach row 22 I see a guy making his way across row 22 fist bumping every single person in that row, including some who initially didn't look up, but this guy waits til they do, then fist bumps them and about 20 others. This guy makes it to the end of the row as I'm closing in and spryly moves on to the outer stairs as I yell "Vguy"! No reaction. I pursue. He's got the gray beard, the Make America Grateful Again t-shirt, etc. Well, it IS Vguy and we have a good chuckle on the stairs and fire up a fatty. Much yukking about just about everything.
Between Los Lobos and TTB I make my way up to row 28, seat 1, and have a good chat with our man Nappyrags and his buddy. When I told him about my encounter with serial fist-bumping Vguy, he broke into a big smile. I departed with, "Try to behave!" and got a baleful look. So I threw in, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" and the big smiles came out again.
And I met up with a half-dozen pals of old as well as a few Red Rocks friends who I see every year at shows up there, and innumerable hotties of every age, shape, size, color. Oh yeah. (I go for the music, but I return for the hotties....)
Yes to what someone posted earlier: that being out with folks at live music is just what the doctor ordered. We (my cousin and I) ate a mushroom, a gummy, had a little tequila and beer and a doobie and all was well.
When I got home, there were my two copies of DaP 43 in the mailbox, just waitin' for me.
Hendricks, Nap and Vguy....
I like when I read about board people hooking up. Connections made can last a lifetime. Glad all had fun, the Rocks are a special place.
On the rip front,,, went with two folders, one for each show in order. Shame about the Cold Rain that was trimmed for space (I assume). I think we'll see it come down the pike someday. I may fill in space with the board copy I have, will see how the two cuts blend.
Timely
Got my DaP 43 from the mailbox about 10 minutes before heading out on a road trip yesterday. No mailing notice received, just a welcome surprise in the mailbox. Listened to side 1 on the road, getting ready for a morning excursion where side 2 gets spun. Lovin' it. This is my Dead.
Right now, listening to 5/14/70 on youtube, with one of the hottest LoveLights I've heard. Jerry smokes on it right out of the gate.
Gotta do the full run of unreleased uploaded 1970 shows from the archive. Have gone at many of them already, but damn, what fire and energy they have.
That missing Cold Rain
In the seaside chat Dave said that it will be on a future DaP.
Once I get my DaP43 I will listen to all the CD’s to confirm that they are not defective, and will then import to computer and arrange the songs by show and order. When the missing Cold Rain arrives I will add that.
Hoping to find DaP43 in the mailbox tomorrow even though I’ve not received a shipping notice. Monday after release day has been pretty standard for me the last several DaP’s even though I would get a shipping notice about 10 days earlier.
Cold rain
It was included in the vinyl version of Dicks 8. For what it's worth. I'm not bothered these days if they miss a song out for whatever reason. It's not as though they will omit anything vital. We have all heard a vast quantity of Cold Rain and Snow's and if you haven't heard the one played at 5/2/70 you are missing...absolutely nothing.
I can't see much point in including an omitted song in a future release either. Probably stick out like a sore thumb. I suppose if you rip them you can make up a full show...but Like Charlie3.. I don't rip cds very often.
Tighten Up
Yes Dennis, I know I've heard one in a jam before. Maybe the Mammoth Garden show Denver April 1970? All we need now is those horns in the bridge.
Cheers
Hanging at a bar at the airport....
....checking out some local brews, fist bumping everyone I see.
Last night show was better than the first night for a few reasons imo.
#1. Met Hendrixfreak. Good to finally meet you man. Sorry Nappy, but after the end of that Los Lobos set, I was in a whole nother world. I was just soaking it in. I'm sure we'll meet again.
Which takes me to the #2 reason. The end of that Lobos set. Hendrixfreak nailed with with the hybrid band magic. Simply outstanding stuff.
#3 reason. Sugaree.
#4 reason. Got incredible seats. I can't remember the last time I waited in line 3 hours for good seats. But I told myself it would be worth it and I was right!! Met awesome people in line again and it carried into the show. Hello to Quentin, Alyssa, Sam, Mel, Nikki and Josh. Yall are cool.
In fact, everyone I met in Denver seems so nice and chill. Impressive.
Also impressive are the number of Subarus here. Literally every third car I saw lol.
Good times. Good vibes. Just what the doctor ordered. Smuggling back some rocky mountain edibles and prerolls. Shhhh. Don't tell mom.
Now, let's see if that Dave's is waiting for me at home. Time to......fly. 🤢
Red Rocks Reviews
Thanks Vguy and HF for your time and comments. We love you guys!
So many Subies because they get good mileage, reliable, and go in the snow.
Almost the Progressive's (read hippy) car of our era like the VW was BITD.
Same boxer four configuration only water cooled and not as polluting.
As to why we're chill? It's Colorado, why not be chill. We've got it pretty good.
Cheers
Row 22, Jimmy?
Realizing just now that the illustrious VGuy waltzed right past me last night in row 22 at Red Rocks!
I appreciated his "Make America Grateful Again" t-shirt at the time, he must not have seen my House of Guitars tee or I know he would have stopped for a fist bump!
Next I get to stroll down to the mailbox to pick up DP 43 (no shipping notice, but I got the heads up from my account with USPS- pro tip).
Let the good times roll! And now back to your regularly scheduled Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet...
DaP 43
So as I am wont to do, I separated the tracks into two distinct shows upon import to iTunes (69-11-02 DaP 43 Family Dog, San Francisco, CA, and 69-12-26 DaP 43 McFarlin Auditorium, SMU, Dallas, TX) and lo and behold each show is 1 hour and 58 minutes. Synchronocity indeed, as Hunter's old DNC website promulgated. Total surprises here, "What it is is that Bill, who's the drummer that sits over here, is somewhere over Omaha, right now, on a plane, somewhere. Or at least last we heard. Yeah, he's on his way here, though, and they assure us that he'll be here in manner of moments. So Bobby and I are gonna regale you with some old standards while we're waiting around."
A raise of the glass to Nichelle Nichols
Star Trek's Uhura
Saaaaalute!
RIP, NN
House Of Guitars tee....
....believe it or not jack baller, I do recall seeing you! Were you waiting in the upper north lot line by chance?
I get a lot of shout outs regarding my Make America Grateful Again tee. Not ashamed to say its my current go to concert apparel. Awesome conversation starter!!
Home safe to more monsoon weather. Flight was delayed an hour due to it. No Dave's but thats OK. Still riding high. Had a blast!
Random fist bump to the peeps in the room across the hallway at the Best Western playing some moe. this morning. That was cool.
I'm far for illustrious however. Just a music junkie who gets off on meeting awesome people. Which was pretty simple to do at those shows. Mission accomplished.
Derek Rocks #43
Death Don't Have No Mercy is the greatest achievement of the early, raw Dead. It fit the spooky blues element to a T, was a great showcase for early Jerry's electric blues soloing and fit the whole "dead" theme around the band at the time... fantastic version here.
Glad to hear so many enjoyed themselves recently at Red Rocks. Yes, it is an amazing place and the crowd always feels like family at any Dead-themed or similar vibed show. We always talk to strangers and have fantastic times and joints are shared far and wide.
I did not attend... Derek in the Allmans was more my speed, but he is an unbelievable talent and all respect to his current band.
\m/
Moar 43
I got a chance to listen to everything on disc 2 and 3 except Speedway Boogie and Love light at the end of 3 on my driving day trip today.
Whoa is about what I have to say, more jazzed about this than any release in the past several years. This instantly rose to my top tier. Gotta give it some more listenings first, but it smokes. It seems somewhat more coherent and well threaded than some of the other 1969 and 1970 DaP releases, though I love them all. Two late 60s Dark Stars also, what's not to like?
Taking the liberty of detailing some more thoughts on it here. Side one gave me the feel of a good solid 1970 set, with the electric and acoustic sets being so late in 1969, might as well have been early 1970. Was driving on a mountain road when listening, so couldn't take detailed notes, but loved the inclusion of Little Sadie, with Garcia's smokeless touch.
I also enjoy the stage banter from this period. Garcia just had a way with words and phrasing when he talked. He could read the phone book and somehow make it sound interesting and amusing.
Then things get cooking.
Disc 2 starts with a deep and mysterious Dark Star of the late 60s, including that jam about 2/3 of the way through that you sometimes hear (which some here can probably name, though I'm not that fully immersed). The second Dark Star, on disc 3, has the jam interlude also. It's one of those anthem-like melodies that Garcia pulls off from time to time, and made me think, man, this might be just the thing that accompanies you when you're on the way to that better place in the after life if there is such a thing. Just got the hair on my neck standing while I drove. Both Stars are superb IMO, but will take more listening for me to sort out.
St. Stephen on disc 2 seems a tad more subdued than usual, probably to ease back a bit in between the intense Dark Star and a rollicking Eleven. Still quite a good transition.
Death don't have no Mercy is probably the most searing version of that I've heard. Garcia inhabits the role of the lost soul left bereft by the demise of his family. Scary good.
Black Peter is a decent acoustic version. Uncle John's Band starts with some aimless strumming - feels like they hadn't yet settled on the opening riff we all know so well. But it's well played. My only minor complaint is that again Phil's voice here and in a few places on the high registers just seems a bit off to me. I am not a musician so don't know if it's slightly out of tune or that he just doesn't have a good singing voice. It's easy enough to overlook, though at times I've wished they just would have let Jerry and Bobby do the vocalizing and harmony. Still works ok for me though.
Disc 3 pops out with a solid Casey Jones. Hard to Handle is interesting -- mostly the 1971's where Garcia and Weir cut loose are definitely my favorites, and it seems like they were trying to get their legs in a lot of the 1969 and 1970 versions, with less guitar soloing. Jerry cuts loose on this one though, but not with the same approach as the 1971s. This is probably my favorite that I've heard outside the 1971s.
China Cat/Rider hit the spot as usual. High Time is normally one of my least favorite and to me boring early Dead tunes, but they did alright on this one, compared to many.
Me and My Uncle had that extra Texas edge as they played it in Dallas, and the Dark Star was another stellar effort, so to speak, from my point of view anyway.
Will finish disc 3 tomorrow, but I have to say this one has exceeded my expectations so far.
Well done, Dave and Dead net!
Star Trip, I mean, Trek
OG series
Wink of an Eye
Some psychedelic references
"My old buddy you're movin' much too slow"
:)))
I Order Them By Set Order Dennis
I have a ritual where I rip the CDs to 320 kbps mp3 and WAV, put each show into its own dated folder, store them on redundant USB drives, and then upload the mp3s to my phone, ordered by date.
For something like DaP 43, I usually alter the artwork, so every show has unique cover art when I scroll through the list. I made a whole new 11/2/77 Seneca show out of the bonus tracks from DaP 12 & DP 34. That left 4 missing songs, but there's a fine Betty Board to fill those gaps. There was some Dicks Picks looking artwork online for 11/2/77, so it worked out nicely.
This Dave's Picks 43 is just what the Doctor ordered. I've had these shows on SBD a while, but I rarely listen to them. There's a part of me that says "wait for the Full Norman", so these are pretty fresh. I couldn't be happier with this pair of shows. I was hoping for some late '69 and it came :D
Just finished a second run of 11/2/69. Great set list - very happy to get that Midnight Hour in there.
I thought The Eleven vocals were very solid. That has to be one of their most difficult to do well. I may listen to that one again and then queue up 12/26.
Happy Birthday Jerry
Will have to listen to 8/1/73 today. Pretty sure this was the last Dead show he played a Stratocaster.
Agree
This is one of the most refreshing Picks in a while. Also agree I can't look at the cover without going cross-eyed. I might need one of those "alternate" covers you speak of KeithFan.
Someone mentioned the onstage banter. It really is refreshing to hear the young Jerry and Bobby yucking it up. Happy Birthday Jerry. You were a long way from So Many Roads on DaP 43. Your soul is a flower in the Master's bouquet.
Big 8 0
For JG!
EDIT: Subbies, have 2, 4 over the years, poor man’s Audi lol.
Nice balance of features, good in snow and mountains without having to drive a huge gas hog.
Glad you guys had a great time and enjoyed the shows! It truly is a special place!
Would love to hear what Nappy has to say?
Heading into town to the PO this morning with nervous anticipation!
Have they l shipped already?…
Have they l shipped already? Mine looks like it was never shipped. I have a subscription and was really looking forward to listen to these shows.
IWT, Keithfan...
Aug. 1, 1973, fresh off three GD shows in the past five days -- Watkins Glen x 2, got home July 29, then went to July 30 & Aug 1 shows with The Band. On Aug. 1, the dense crowd up front parted (I'm a little audience left, but close) and a girl rode on a guy's shoulders to the lip of the stage and handed up a birthday cake for Jer to much applause from the crowd. I think a roadie handled the cake, cuz Jer was already strapped in (last time with Nash Strat, you say?).
Those two shows are a blur, perhaps understandably. Would LOVE to hear those released. They gotta release a Jer b-day show at some point before I shamble off this mortal coil, no?
Edit: I was two weeks shy of my 16th birthday at that show.... started young.
I've been seeing posts on…
I've been seeing posts on social media for days now from people who've received their copies but, so far, I've not gotten the "your order is on the way" email. Is this a widespread issue, or is it just me? I'm dying to hear these shows!
43
Having only digested discs 1 and 2, I have to chime in with a 'Holy...' add whatever expletive you normally use. This is one fantastic release. For the Family Dog show, there is so much unique here-- on disc 1, the Big Boss Man stands out with its guitar and vocal intro. But the Dark Star with its thematic jams, top notch Eleven and as someone noted, the Death Don't... is chilling, haunting, amazing. So damn good. Face-melting stuff. The acoustic set at SMU is stellar-- Little Sadie! Can't wait to listen to the electric set tonight.
Those TTB Red Rocks shows sound amazing and the setlists look great. Jealous you got a full on jam with Truck and Tedeschi joining Los Lobos. We got one song of Susan singing with Los Lobos, but a full on jam-- that is the goods.
No it is not just you. I…
No it is not just you. I checked order status of my subscription and mine han not shipped yet
I sent an email but got no reply
Happy Birthday Jerry
40 years ago today, I saw the fellas play the OK Zoo Amphitheatre. It was Jerry's 40th birthday, and of course we wished him well with a Happy Birthday To You. Twas a nice show on a great leg of a super summer tour. Folks were saying that the band partied hard the night before in Austin after the show that was immortalized in Thirty Trips.
Jerry looked a little pale and sweaty but rose to the occasion.
Deuce it is frustrating as…
Deuce it is frustrating as hell and you are not alone. I feel exactly the same. One would figure when you bought all three one would have come thru on release day. Horrible customer service and quite honestly do not need the downloads now I will wait to see if the big ticket ever shows but I will not wait for ever.
Estimated, people were recording Los-TTB jam
We were next to the soundboard and, just behind it, there were at least two stereo mic setups, so someone has that jam preserved. I wonder what it will sound like? I thought to go ask for a dub but also thought, no, this is a moment, I don't need a tape. The shrooms were coming on and I'd smoked part of a doob with Vguy so that maybe half-hour segment was truly delicious and powerful. Still, I would be curious... Seriously, I've seen TTB a fair amount since its inception and have seen Lobos since the mid-90s and that was one monster jam. If anyone finds the recording on one of those platforms, please tip us off.
FYI 43
Just to help ease the worries: there have been several instances of Dave’s Picks that have shown up with no shipping notice etc. Back a few years it seemed to be status quo, so most likely nothing to fret over.
Perhaps crank up the Tom Petty in the mean time as the waiting IS the hardest part!
PS, nothing in my PO Box either : (
Not shipped - no problem
The Lyceum box I ordered arrived today - but it's status on the board is that it hasn't shipped yet, and is still being processed. So it doesn't look as though they bother too much with those notices.
Incredible speed in which I received this box, I have to say. UPS couldn't actually hand it over to me, as they don't accept payment by card for VAT, but now I've done that on the phone, it should be here with me tomorrow.