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I like the big box.. but comparing it to FW69 or E72 is like comparing apple juice to hard cider. There is good stuff to be found in the big box. Continuing with your thread earlier today, I think at this point we know pretty much what's left in the vault to be released. I think their strategy is to wow us when necessary and at other times keep their power dry so they can live and fight for another day. So a mix with some greatness sprinkled in. Interesting.. they played 2/26/77, Swing Auditorium Santa Barbara today on Sirius today. Always the pleaser and a grade A show. There are so many A++ shows we now know exist in the vault. I think we know they are going to highlight them yet mix them in gingerly over time mixed with other, lesser known shows. I think that's how it's going to be. The Boxzilla model until they run out of releasable tapes in ~20 years? Frankly.. I'm ok with that, there is plenty of stellar stuff now left in the vault. My personal favorite release ever is the steamer trunk, but I still revisit the big box on occasion with enthusiasm. There is prime stuff in there. As for Cape Cod, it was a good show for '79.. but perhaps not the best of the year.

Was pleasantly surprised by the Phish show the other night, this Runaway Antelope (with a stop from Makisupa Policeman) was vintage Phish, and mashed up 3 of their oldest songs, Runaway Jim, Run Like an Antelope, and Makisupa Policeman in an unplanned event. The looks on their faces as they go through it is priceless. I thought it was pre-planned from my spot on the lawn, but clearly they surprised themselves. It wasn't the best I've seen them, but it was very, very good. Hope those that watched the webcast here enjoyed it, sounds like Vguy did, and someone else who caught the bulk of the best stuff. First set was good, nothing outstanding. Second set was outstanding, and the encore was a good indicator they had fun. It was a bummer that they ended at 10:45 and clearly had another 15 minutes, but it was a great time with some old friends and some family having their first shows, including my buddy's 9 year old and his father in his 60s. Both had the time of their lives. Nearly 35 years ago, the people of Boise left feeling the same way. Music is a magical thing, and a really good band can make your problems dissolve away for 2-4 hours at a time, and also unite you with like minded people (who can still reasonably agree to disagree about nearly everything). The torch was lit long ago, but it still burns in towns across America and the world where these musical caravans trek seasonally. The music and spirit of the Dead live on. Speaking of which, it is now 26 days from September 7, and that means a treasure chest is being filled and readied for delivery soon. Wondrous surprises await! PS: Dave's Picks 6 has 2 excellent Dark Stars that are fantastic post-show traveling material. Also, We Bid You Goodnight takes on a very ominous feel in a driving thunderstorm with 60+ mph wind gusts.

I was enjoying your post until I got to this part: you wrote "to say this music is unworthy of release is wrong. the whole idea of Dave's Picks is to take whats left from the vault and put out the whole shows in the best quality possible and people that subscribe should understand this" According to Dave, Dave's Picks is for the best in quality shows from an audio and performance stand point. Many do not feel this standard was met, nor did they for DaP 20. Boise doesn't pass the litmus test from either angle from way more people than usual for a release. DaP 8 didn't have a backlash like this. THAT'S a great show that sounds great. Boise is worthy of release for a DL series or standalone, but certainly not a DaP release, based on Dave and Rhino's mission statement of audio quality and performance quality FIRST. So why did they do it? I think Dave and Rhino know that they wouldn't sell as many units as a standalone show outside the Dave's Picks series (or they felt they could possibly lose money). By releasing it as a 3rd quarter Dave's Picks, they satisfy a contingency of subscribers who have been complaining over the lack of early 80s. And there is little to no risk for Rhino to put it out there as a 3rd quarter Dave's Picks, since the subscriptions are already paid for. The risk element will change if they go with 80s/90s for DaP 28/29 and the shows aren't DaP 8 quality grand slams. But as is, I think it's relatively low risk, even with the large number of complaints about audio and performance issues. If DaP 28 is 80s/90s and the announcement for 2019 subscriptions features 80s/90s, I imagine a drop off in subscriptions would result. But I don't think that will happen, they're not there yet. I believe Dave and Rhino know they were in a tough spot with the early 80s. They could potentially lose the support of some subscribers by continuing to ignore this period, or they could roll the dice with a show that isn't up to the standard of audio and performance quality that Dave's Picks has been so far, and reach for a happy medium. I think that's what they did and that's what they achieved (not because they didn't want to release a grand slam from 1983, but because, as we've been hearing over and over, there simply aren't good tapes available from this period). This show is a win for them in the short term. If they return to "business as usual" with the 60s and 70s, they will keep their 18K subscribers, and probably continue to increase the yearly subscription numbers. If they go 80s / 90s for 28 & 29, subscription sales will probably drop off, as the comments here clearly demonstrate there are large numbers of people who do not think this show passes the litmus test for audio and performance quality (I believe the releases will still sell out, just not as quickly, as most of the 18K goes to subscribers). While it's great that a lot of people liked this release, it's irrelevant in the face of the negative feedback. ENOUGH people wrote in to say it doesn't pass the litmus test. "Enough" does not have to be a majority, merely a quorum. How do we know this? Because the dissenters for this release are out in record numbers (as well as for DaP 20, after which it took two years for another 80s show to be released). And people do have a right to say this show is unworthy of release for a Dave's Picks. There's no getting around the mission statement Dave and Rhino made and often repeat, indicating the best audio and performance quality shows would be the Dave's Picks standard. They came up short here, and the people have spoken. There are clearly other shows that could have been released in its stead, just maybe not from '83. One of the RFK shows from '89 would have met the Dave's standard, but it's a multi-track, they sound tight, and there is greater profit to be made putting that one out as an individual release. That being said, I think I would have done the same thing Rhino did here, given the point in the road they find themselves (they can't ignore the early 80s forever without losing some subscribers). The real problem here is that they also said they would represent all eras, but they (apparentky) do not truly have the tapes to do so. My points are simply: 1) yes people DO have a right to say Boise '83 is unworthy of release as a Dave's Picks, because the mission statement was not met. Sure, one could try to argue that sound and performance quality are subjective, but too many people already agree this show came up short, so the polls are in and the numbers are significant. Further, there is NO Caveat Emptor on Dave's Picks. Dave has been saying since day one (and repeating often) that only the best sounding shows are slated for this series. If they start to put the Caveat Emptor you quoted from Dick's Picks on the Dave's Picks CDs and subscription advertisements, THEN we can expect something like Boise. You seemed a little bothered that people dinged this release for audio issues, but words were spoken, deals were made, and now there's a letdown. There ARE better sounding shows available, just maybe not from '83. It is you who should understand this point, not the other way around, where you imply that subscribers should have an awareness that sub-STANDARD audio is part of the deal. No. Standard is the operative word here, this release is unusually poor, and the complaints are coming in droves. 2) releasing something from this year was still the right choice for Rhino. As I said, the game for them is to continue to grow the subscriber base, and while DaP 27 is an encroachment on the mission statement, there are a significant number of subscribers who wanted it, and Rhino has now satisfied that contingency (for the time being). Strategy: give them their fill now, while there is still plenty of top shelf 70s on tap and arriving on doorsteps within a month's time. 3) point number 2 is only a good move for them if they get back to the 60s and 70s for DaP 28 and 29. There are still plenty of shows left to do so. Continuing with the 80s and 90s would be a mistake, if the goal is to keep their 18K and growing subscribers. 4) I think the real story here, is that the reality is just like Dave has been telling us for a long time now. There aren't too many shows from this. To choose from. I'm not expecting any Grand Slams from 1983 anytime soon. Dave clearly has some familiarity with this show, and I think he probably felt it was the best available. As a collective unit we asked for it and we got it.

....with a Makisupa thrown in just to keep it interesting. Rewatching it now. Kush.And why does one ponder on Rhinos and Dave's decisions? I will keep subscribing until the end. Stop worrying about what other people think. That's a problem with society today. Whether it be music or anything else. Grow a pair and either crank it or shelve it and stop worrying about everyone else. My son is hooked on reaction videos. Trying to break that chain. To let some random soul decide or sway what you think of something is dangerous. Think for yourself. That's a concept that is disappearing in this day and age. I've seen the future, and it's leaning towards one not being a one, but sliding into a hivemind. There was a Black Mirror episode that nailed it. If your not a five star, your trash. Wait for it.

Right on VGuy. It is what it is.. and it's good.

Why on earth would people on a Grateful Dead site not talk about what we think influences the releases that are coming our way? And the whole message board concept is about the exchange of ideas pertaining to each release (in other words, "reacting" to one another). Are you saying that's taboo? "Grow a pair and either crank it or shelve it and stop worrying about everyone else"? What does that even mean? At face value, your words that appear are basically: "listen to it or don't listen to it but don't talk about it, and if you do talk about it, you're not a man and you need to grow a pair". And here you are reacting to what other people have written. Grow a pair I guess.

....and that's on me. My main point still stands however. The younger generation depends too much on what others think. People that they have never met or shook their hand. Look them in the eyes and such. It used to be easier. I guess I'm becoming the old guy who tells kids to get off my WiFi after all.

I think the point is release decisions are not made by what is posted on these boards. At least I have not see any correlation over the years. What we write here simply does not influence what Dave & Company decides to release. If sales decline.. or subscriptions don't meet expectations then... but I do see both VGuys and Kayak Guys points. A little sprinkle of the 80's (3 of 27) will not sink the soufflé. I did not take offense by the language used.. seemed pretty benign to me. Also, hopefully I won't have to re-listen to the seaside chat, but Dave is quoted as saying something similar to this is one of the best shows of the era, or any era for that matter.. somewhere in that video. Not that I agree with that - seems like hyperbole, but those are Dave's words. Nonetheless, it's out there. Not my favorite, but worth the $25 I paid. I still think DaP 13, 2/24/74 might just be my favorite Dave's Picks. I paid $25 for that one too. I'd call that a bargain. Not every release will be from the 70's.. people still complain about DaP 4, William and Mary 76. I still like that one.. funky, but not everyone's cup of tea. Got mine for $25. A bargain.

B-. But that's on my scale. Results may vary. Peace.

"The future is not what it used to be - and what's more, it never was." Can't remember who said that. Anybody know?

Do you know if the new release of ABB, Fillmore East 1970 sounds much different from the original version that came out about 20 years ago?

i never mentioned the latest Dave's or the past releases.the unworthy comment was for the entire Brent and Vince eras which many seem to think is unworthy of release because the SBDs are not as good as the Betty reels. my point is about future options for Dave and to release a show as a Dave's Pick means not getting the Plangent processing for the reels. this fact alone changes the mission as the Betty's were not part of the vault when Dave's series began. maybe Dave needs to set up a new Betty board exclusive series that comes out 2 or 3 times a year and gives them the ability to Plangent them before Normanization. there is no other outlet for release of the non reel SBDs for Rhino, no download series, no download strategy, and Dave's Picks is the place for releases that aren't up to commercial release standards. maybe they do need a new Caveat Emptor warning to remind people that its not only the returned Betty's that are potential choices before people subscribe.

Mission statement? It's a Dead show, my only mission was to have a good time. 27 not your cup of tea, wait for 28. Like Jim said cost me 25 bucks. I know I've shoved more than 25 bucks up my nose and bet you a dollar a doughnut EVERYONE on this site has pissed 25 bucks away on something worse than this. Maybe it was that large popcorn and soda while at the movies (I always bring my own food and drink :-)).

I went on a Dark Star binge the other night and listened to all of the 1971s. It had been a while since I listened to 10/24. Great overall show. Somehow, it doesn't sound like any of the material on Dave's Picks 22 and 26. Highly recommend. Jimbo's right, the picks don't come from suggestions posted here.... they come directly from me to Dave. This show came as a little bit of a surprise to me, but I immediately figured out what happened. What I said was, release that show from September '83 with Wang Dang Doodle and Help Slip Franklin. I meant the September 11th show, but there you have it, miscommunications will get you every time. Still a great show, so the good news is it's going to be back-to-back September 83 shows for Dave's Picks 27 and 28. I am also buying the annual subscription no matter what. I made the mistake in the early years of not subscribing. Dave has done an outstanding job in my humble opinion. I think if this selection process was left to a non dead head, we might really have something to complain about. Dave is one of us, and he always puts a hundred percent into the job. Long live the supreme leader.

Agreed. BTW - I read somewhere Dave is pulling in 500k a year in this job, but he does have to pay for his own announcement videos, where he spares no expense!

I’m with Vguy, Jim, Dennis et el, for a lousy $25 even the “worst” picks are still great to have imho.I can certainly respect folks right to dissect and formulate your own opinion, after all, it is supposed to be a free and democratic society... and yes we all have these high expectation levels, and yes that often means being a little disappointed. But for some of us that lasts like five minutes, and is more than made up for once we stop being hung up and dig each release for what it is.....another GOGD concert, brought to us all lovingly by team Dave et el. “Something new is waiting to be born” I think we’re just saying that SOME of us don’t take it that seriously, and SOME of us remeber the bad old days when all we had was cassettes, and eventually, the occasional release, which you analyzers even sometimes pick on those also.... The bottom line, which like Keithfan and myself learned the hard way, is to get the subscription, period. You really can’t lose that way because if you really don’t like a particular release you can easily sell it. Perhaps more importantly, there will always be some releases that some of us are not going to like, it’s just the way it is. But if you really think about it honestly, how many releases can anyone who is not a causal fan truly complain about? Sure some are “better” than others, but hey, that’s how life works.... Need a little yin with that yang folks. This is just entertainment, not the cure for cancer. So relax, “light up a smoke and honey have yourself a ball” Think of it like Ralphie in the Xmas story movie, when the old man hides the redriderbbgunwithecompassinthestockandthisthingythattelsstime, and the father asks did you get everything you wanted? It was still a good Xmas, even though he didn’t get that Cryptical>TOO>53 min DS>TOO>Dew with the Cosmic Charlie encore! Sorry, I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s all about perspective. If you always have these super high expectations, chances are good your going to be disappointed. If your always Grateful that your getting new GOGD, no matter what era, chances are your going to get way more entertainment value, joy, etc then most things that cost $25!

pls check PM re 11/19/72

love that statement

check out 10/11/83's Wang Dang Doodle it does _not_ sink the show, however it does add to the strangeness of the long, strange trip

Sent you a reply

I think it is fair to say that opinions are like a-holes, we all have one and often times others think they stink. Mine is even cracked and is showing signs of leakage! That being said, I like this show & release quite a bit. Maybe I am not as hard to please as others? Maybe I am tone deaf? Maybe I am just ignorant and uncouth? Regardless of reasoning, I know what I enjoy and I do enjoy this one. As someone did point out, sometimes it takes me a song or two to get in tune with the sound of a show, but once I get used to it I usually can get by any anomalies. I always laugh when folks point out "vocal flubs". Isn't that a hallmark of this band of merry pranksters? If you know of a show with zero vocal flubs, please let me know which one it is. Off the top of my head I cannot name one! Lol. Yes, I have heard better shows then this but I have heard worse also. The Dead, even on a mediocre night, are better then most of what is out there. Yes, a song or two here sounds a bit up tempo, but I can forgive them that. It is hard for most folks on this board to point fingers at these guys for partaking in the goodies that were around them at all times. I know for myself, even after 23 years of being clean & sober, could not have achieved that goal if I had been on the bus with the band at any time. I probably would have beat Jerry into the ground. So sit back and enjoy this one. Just another Dead show in a line of shows that we are so lucky to have. If you are not digging it, pass yours on. I am sure it will be easy to find someone who will enjoy it immensely. Why piss on anyone else' parade? If you don't like it, you certainly are allowed to express that opinion, but please, do not get abusive or derogatory. State you view and let it go. Hopefully you will enjoy DaP27 more. Rock on

My last line should have read DaP28 and not DaP27 Rock on

Out of the 27 shows released so far, 23 have met my expectations. In other words, I enjoy them all. Pretty damn good success rate. If you want to get picky, DaP4 was less than stellar to my ears while DaP23 was surprisingly good. Neither one was that far off to get worked up about. Of the other 4, they essentially cancel each other out. DaP5 and DaP26 well exceeded my expectations and find play far more frequently. DaP20 and DaP27 just don't cut it for me. Regardless, with those kind of numbers, you are virtually guaranteed to get something you like and are foolish not to subscribe.

Preach on, KG! The most beautiful HD I've ever assembled is going out tomorrow. Made possible by the kind generosity of my friends here. GarciaLive 10 is fantastic! 5/20/1990. Wow!!

a show like 10/11/83 a tasty show, indeed

I dunno, I like this release OK. Early-80s Dead is very hit-or-miss, and this hits more than it misses. It's SQ is acceptable for an official release and it has moments. The GDTRFB is especially fiery and the Slipknot! grooves nicely. I have yet to hear an It's All Over Now, Baby Blue that isn't worth listening to. I probably won't listen to it very much, but it fills in the early/mid 80s hole, so it's nice to have. I know I'll listen to it more than DaP4 (9/24/76), DaP7 (4/24/78), and DaP20 (12/9/81). It's probably on par with DaP22 (12/7/71), and definitely in the lowest quartile of DaPs. I hope Dave closes out the 2018 subscription with a bang. There's nothing wrong with 11/6/77, 12/17/71, and 9/2/83, but I don't feel that it has been up to the standards of previous years. DaP27 is acceptable, but not a top show. Yes, the Half-Step and Truckin' on 11/6/77 are other-worldly, and The Other Ones from '71 are always worth listening, but if you remove those moments, there's not a lot left. It's especially disappointing when 2017 gave us 4/2/73 and 1/22/78, which are all-timers. 8/25/72, which unfortunately is not 8/24/72, is still better than anything we have received from 2018. I think we're going 1969 with DaP28...we're due.

I've come to the conclusion we're all Deadwired different. I like this show, but I understand why the people who don't like it don't like it. I enjoy all the parts that you mentioned Mr Jack Straw, but I don't think it holds a candle to 12/7/71. That show is certainly not at the top of my 1971 list, and I understand why people don't like that show. Side by side though, it's better in my mind on all measurable aspects. I think we're all just Deadwired different.

I don’t know what it is, but I’m really diggin’ on this release. I wasn’t expecting to, but I took a bite and I’m on the hook. It’s uneven at times, sure, but it gets so funky (particularly in the second set) and it rips. I’ve probably listened through the show 4 or 5 times now and I keep enjoying it. I really, really like that GDTRFB and the eyes>jam>drums>space>stones sequence leading into the GDTRFB. The first set isn’t so bad either. This show has got me spinning through several of those September Mountain West shows. That’s some good stuff there; how oblivious I’ve been… I can’t say that this release will go down as an all time favorite for me, but it’s certainly opened some doors. Thanks Dave! It’s weird, but I think DaP 20 (12/9/81) is a better show but I never really got into it, though, I’m enjoying 9/2/83 a whole lot more. Go figure? Thanks to several prior posters for sharing their thoughts and experiences on this show. Would love to hear from others that were there at these and other shows in the tour. Really helps someone like me who was so far removed from the day to get a feel for the scene and experience. A fart in the wind, of course, but something… Dreading, I do enjoy your posts so I don’t want you to think I’m calling you out, but I think you’re reasoning might be flawed the you state, “…too many people already agree this show came up short, so the polls are in and the numbers are significant…” I’m not a statistician by any measure, but to infer that what you have read constitutes a significant sampling of the population is likely an over-statement. I haven’t gone through to tabulate the total number of responses on this thread (nor have I read any other GD threads—barely keep up with this one), but if I’m being generous, there have maybe been 100 profiles that have voiced an un-approving opinion here. For the sake of making the numbers easy, let’s round up to 180. So that would put the total sample size at 1% of the population (based on a population size of 18,000, which is the total number of discus issued, though, the total number of people who have heard this release would likely be greater). What you have likely read on this thread is the vocal majority which is not necessarily the same as a true sampling of the population. To paraphrase VGuy’s point, to infer too much from a vocal majority and not a true sample of the population is to have “hivemind” and deriving one’s own opinion from small segment (albeit a more-or-less informed sampling of the population) can in some ways be misguided. I know you have first-hand knowledge of retail, price points, shelf-life, etc. for these GD releases, and I believe you when you’ve previously stated that 80s sell for less and take longer to sell (this agrees with my anecdotal inference from Ebay as well). So I definitely respect your informed opinion on this and other shows. In my opinion DaP 27 is what it is: sometimes uneven with hot moments. How it reaches and impacts individuals in the population is something that’s less tangible and I haven’t seen anything from this thread that convinces me of what the true population response is like. I tend to think most people are somewhat ho-hum about it and it neither get’s them too excited or too disappointed. I’m glad I had the opportunity to get a copy and will gratefully file it along with many others in the series to listen to when the time is right. One last thought: I missed the original offering on the 30 Trips box, but managed to snag a copy of the factory extras. Should land in a couple days. Thanks to the good folks on the message boards for the heads-up on those—they didn’t last long. This site is full of kind folks and it’s greatly appreciated.

*

Coincidentally my Anthem and Daves 27 arrived within a day of one another. Anthem, is, and has always been, transcendental. The 67 live show is, in my humble opinion,a great addition to the canon.Daves? Well 27 has a pretty cover, indeed one of the best of the series. But musically? To me, again, my opinion as a gnarly old timer, who did see both Pig and Keith shows, is that its not the same band not withstanding the continuity of its membership. Spanish jam is counting votes, inferring and extrapolating statistics for the defence, my opinion is that its a shoddy piece of work, musically and soundwise it hardly passes muster. Glad it scratches the itch for those who caught the band in the 80s, but its not for me. Now bring on the Pacific North West!

Reading all the various reviews of DAP 27, and thinking of my own feelings about it, I am beginning to think that enjoyment of it depends to a large extent as to whether you actually saw them at that time. If you did, especially if you followed them round on tour, then this release may be emblematic of that time, and a signifier of the ritual of a Dead gig. In which case, individual performances of individual songs may be less important than if you weren't there at the time If you are listening to the release purely as a recording, without reference to the experience of seeing them at the time, then you are surely coming at it from a different angle, as you are listening to the performances without referencing the event in which they were performed at. This argument could be levelled at any era of their music of course. But it feels less necessary to have seen them, say, between 1967-1974, to enjoy the releases, than it does form 1979 onwards. Just a thought, and of course there are always exceptions!

What Dave said.

Yeah I posted that question a couple weeks ago. I think Dave might be right, but can only know for sure by someone who was there seeing shows in the 80s. This was the question I posted and didn't get any response (safe to assume the answer is no?): Is there anyone who has never seen the Dead in the 80s or 90s who loves this show? I think seeing the 80s lineup makes this tape more accessible. Grateful Dead Europe '72 and One From the Vault is a pristine representation of the band, so I think it's an easier listen than something like Boise. But like one poster said, the people at the show that night had a much different experience. Unfortunately I don't recall who I was referring to in the last sentence, it was something someone posted.

PHISH, THURSDAY 08/14/1997DARIEN LAKE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Darien Center, NY Soundcheck: Buffalo Bill, The Old Home Place, Funky Bitch, Crosseyed and Painless SET 1: Ya Mar, Funky Bitch > Fluffhead, Limb By Limb, Free, Cars Trucks Buses, Tela > Train Song > Billy Breathes, Run Like an Antelope SET 2: Chalk Dust Torture, Love Me, Sparkle > Harry Hood -> Jam > Colonel Forbin's Ascent -> Merry Pranksters Jam[1] -> Camel Walk, Taste ENCORE: Bouncing Around the Room, Rocky Top [1] Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The second set featured a remarkable jam after Harry Hood ended and before Forbin’s began, as well as an appearance by Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The Merry Pranksters Jam contained a Somewhere Over the Rainbow tease from Trey, an If I Only Had a Brain tease, a Spam Song quote, and a Frankenstein jam.

If you missed it, Ebay has an over abundance of these; copies have been selling for as low as $34, and dealers still have a lot of stock. I doubt 28 will sell out on this site within an hour, and I don't believe production numbers will go up anytime soon either.

....steelbook edition available at Best Buy.

It is time for the quarterly airing of the grievances. More predictable than most Dead shows. After a shipping snafu, my copy of Dave's 27 arrived yesterday. I had a good listening session to the second set on the home system last night. I like this release. Count me among those who would like to see more later era releases. I think it's important to document the band's work throughout their career. I fell in love with the Grateful Dead as a young person in the early nineties, listening to very crappy, high generation casette copies of shows - that I felt fortunate to have been given at the time. This release sounds 10 times better than any of my old tapes did. A few years ago I listened to a lot of early 80s shows via archive and etree. This release sounds pretty darn good - given that it is from that era where sound quality of recordings isn't great. I think they did a nice job, given that their source is a 35 year old cassette. This is a fun show to my ears. I really enjoyed the slipknot, Franklins, Eyes and the pre drums Jam. Very fun. I'm grateful for this trip into Fall of 83.

:O

:O

Well alright, just got DP 27. Wang-Dang Doodle. Just like an old wet noodle. But somehow it's all good. Brent's toy piano, Jerry's trying but not tie-dying. Bobby's being Weir. Mickey and Bill mix is muddled, and of course Phil is virtually non-existent. Oh well. What can I say. I'll be back fo mo!

I agree! Never heard one I didn't like! The one on this release is particularly strong! Today in GD History - The 1st Baby Blue played since 74: 8/14/81 Welcome back, Baby Blue! This is an AUD that sounds pretty good, especially as the 1st set goes on. The 2nd set sounds great to these ears - a little boomy, but it's a strong AUD. The whole show is hot! https://archive.org/details/gd81-08-14.nak700.gardner.8213.sbeok.shnf/g… Peace

If anyone missed out on this release and hasn't nabbed one yet, I've got my unopened copy (#9992) sitting on the shelf looking for some love. Since it won't be getting any here in Skullville, I'd rather find this sad puppy a good home than have it stare at me all rejected and forlorn. Shoot me a PM and I'll gladly send it your way. Meanwhile, I'm spinning 9/18/74 while I work from home. Sweet, jazzy goodness...

....a game where Germans throw bread at each other?Gluten Tag.

The number 27 is a special number to me.1.) it is my birthday 2.) Several special Grateful Dead shows were on October 27th: a.) 10/27/71 - Syracuse, NY (not yet released) b.) 10/27/73 - Indianapolis, IN (not yet released) c.) 10/27/79 - Cape Cod, MA (30 Trips Around The Sun box 2015) d.) 10/27/90 - Paris, France (30 Trips Around The Sun box 2015) e.) any and all other GD & individual bandmembers and legacy band shows, along with any other GD shows that were on 10/27. However, Dick's Picks 27 (12/16/92 Oakland) is a letdown. After a few initial plays, I sort of put this one on the shelf and haven't played it too often. I think the last time I played this show was 12/16/15. It's good but "I just don't get it." A very good recording. This Dave's 27 is a fun show in my opinion, but it's not quite up to the highest GD standards. I enjoy it, it is "cool."

I agree with what Daverock said too. I saw around 200 shows between '82-'90. However, being from that era, I got hooked by listening to tapes from the 70's, they are what convinced me to go to Baltimore CC in 82 (special place in my heart for them). In fact, the show that "made" me a deadhead (if that is possible) was Dane County 73. The Dark Star>Eyes>China Doll specifically. That being said, I find it really hard to believe that so many people approach THIS band from an either/or...binary point of view. They are just too complex for that. For some reason, LSD/speed trumps cocaine/heroine and Cowboy Bob trumps Blues Bob. For some reason, setlists were predictable in the '80's but not so in the 70's. Are you kidding me? News Flash,they were predictable when albums were released, NO MATTER the era. 60's/70's = young/energetic, tight, harmonic, experimental 80's = loose, uneven, often bi-polar, refined, even romantic, experienced, crafty, clever. Take your pick-that is one of their most alluring qualities.

It's been quite a while since I left a comment here. I read some, but not all, of the comments below regarding this particular release. As someone who saw the Dead quite a lot throughout this period, I had quite a few different reactions while listening. I saw my first show in '79 and the fall '83 tour was the first tour I did in its entirety (definitely wasn't the last). I, like many Heads, mourn not having seen the band from the beginning, but particularly '71-'78 which are my faves. Just missed it by a few months! Alas... But thanks to the steady flow of releases, I get to be transported back to my fave era (and hoping for more vid releases from the 70's as that is a whole different level of immersion). That said, I loved seeing the Dead in the early to mid 80's. There was no question that band, and most obviously Jerry, were going through changes and not all of them good. Yet every year, every tour, has its own sound, its own reflection of what the band was exploring, both internally and externally. Despite having seen so many shows from the early-to-mid 80's, it is still sometimes difficult to listen to shows from this era as my ears have been given so much wonder and near-perfection from earlier recordings. Someone below mentioned that, perhaps, it requires having seen the Dead during this period to allow the full context. I know when I start to feel hyper-critical of a show like this, if I close my eyes and remember what it was like to actually "be there," I start to relive the excitement of seeing the Grateful Dead and Jerry and following whatever adventure they were doling out on any particular evening. Particularly now that we can no longer do that. When I allow myself to "live in the moment," I am able to take something valuable away from reliving/listening to shows from this period. Which isn't to say I don't still cringe from time-to-time. But I did that, too, back then. When I take in the whole of Grateful Dead, the Brent years were never my personal fave. His influence on the band took them in a very different direction. But it was a direction they chose to go and it allowed them to explore new territory they clearly felt compelled to uncover. And, at times, it was truly glorious. Lord knows I danced myself stupid during this era and Brent did help create moments of sheer bliss that I will forever be thankful for. And for anyone who paid attention, Brent inspired Jerry. This particular show is not, in my opinion, one of the best of this period. But it is very representative of this period. There are certainly others shows I would go to first. But like all things Grateful Dead, that's both personal and subjective. This era requires more work from me to fully let go and abandon myself to the music; there's a lot that works toward pulling me out. Like this version of Help On The Way. One of my fave songs, but this version struggles and I struggle to remain connected to it. But hell, that can certainly be said of particular shows and tunes from any era. Part of the joy of Grateful Dead is that they were so vulnerable onstage. One cannot separate their personal struggles from the music they made. It's a large part of what allowed them to be so captivating and moving. And it was a 30-year journey that, like life, has many different tones and shades, some darker, some lighter, some more refined, some more confused and uncertain. Some more joyous, some more painful. But all Grateful Dead. Favorite shows or least favorite shows, favorite eras or least favorite eras, I'm thankful for every damn piece of it. So long as you keep the music coming, I will celebrate it in all its perfection and imperfection.

Nice post, Hal. That's the spirit.. great read, I felt like I was there! (perhaps I was for a few at least).

....What do you call a hippie's wife? . . . Mississippi.

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