Grateful Dead

This is one of my most prized possessions. A childhood friend custom cut and painted me this Hammerhead skate deck last year to recognize my childhood love for skateboarding as well as the Grateful Dead.

I traded him a brand new deck from the 90s that I had still in the wrapper from a company he loves and 40 bucks. That’s about the same deal we would have made as kids.

I love the music from the Europe 72 tour and he’d did such a great job. I’m listening to the monstrous Other One from 4/11/72 and feeling groovy.

https://archive.org/details/gd1972-04-11.sbd.jackson.smith.94377.sbeok.flac16

So I use the attics app to listen to shows from the archive and at the top it lists the shows from today. I usually play a 70 or 71 in the background while I work and save the 73 for a walk or run.

Today after bong I was doing yard work and thinking intently while listening to 3/21/73 Utica show. After me and Bobby McGee, I noticed the intro to Weather Report and thought huh another Bobby song? Went to grab my phone to look and just as I did. DE DUH DE DUH…Darkstar? And then I looked at the list, sho enuff,

Weather Report Suite Prelude > Dark Star > Eyes of the World > Wharf Rat

https://archive.org/details/gd73-03-21.sbd.cotsman.5072.sbeok.shnf

Last night when I was trying to figure out what to listen to instead of Europe ‘72, I went to www.headyversion.com and looked up Playing in the Band. Number 1 came in as Veneta 72 and I am unduly and intimately familiar with that track. So on to number 2.

Hofheinz Pavilion, never heard of it but straight to Playin I went and by 8 minutes into this Goliath 25 minute long masterpiece I felt like I was witnessing the birth of the universe…(backyard, bong, results may vary, man) There were moments I thought I was listening to live Coltrane, this is all that jazz and more and it needs to be heard and then you need to go vote it up at Heady Version and let the Veneta Loyalists see the light that is Hofheinz!

https://archive.org/details/gd72-11-18.set2-sbd.cotsman.9002.sbeok.shnf

https://archive.org/details/gd72-08-27.sbd.orf.3328.sbeok.shnf

www.headyversion.com

Edit: PS The rest of the show is Fuego too!

Every year, for the past three years, after New Year’s Eve, I take Europe 72 out of my show rotation. It is my favorite tour of all, these days at least and I love listening to the shows on the days they happened. My favorites if I have to choose are Jahrhunderhalle 4/26, both Olympias 5/3 and 5/4 and Rotterdam 5/11. I was born in 72 and I am working towards spending my 60th birthday on a tour of Europe with my wife. Time allotted of course to see the places and listen to some of the shows on the days they happened, as close to the venues as I can.

https://archive.org/details/gd1972-04-26.sbd.vernon.9197.sbeok.shnf

https://archive.org/details/gd72-05-03.sbd.masse.142.sbeok.shnf

https://archive.org/details/gd1972-05-04.sbd.miller.77294.sbeok.flac16

https://archive.org/details/gd72-05-11.sbd.samaritano.9357.sbeok.shnf

Getting close to kick off on 4/7. I hope you join me this year!

I was sitting there after logging off work trying to figure out what to listen to. I skimmed 77, no to polished for today. Looked at 85, since the Dave’s release I been hanging in 85 trying to find some stuff but no thanks. What do I want to listen too?

I want to hear raw but starting to refine, I want force, I want to feel the train when Casey Jones is driving, I want Sittin on Top of the World and Pig pen and I want Not Fade Away and most importantly I want Pig Pen bolting out “NOT FADE AWAY” as Bobby”s echo. I want 1971.

12/10/1971 Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO.

https://archive.org/details/gd71-12-10.sbd.yerys.1311.sbeok.shnf

NOT FADE AWAY!!!

In honor of getting my email for Dave’s Picks 49 getting shipped I decided to check out a 1985 show today. Avoiding the Dave’s Picks show until it gets here. I don’t normally spend much time in the 80s these day but holy cow!

https://archive.org/details/gd85-03-24.sbd-set2.willy.11699.sbeok.shnf

I stumbled randomly into 03/24/85 at Springfield Civic Center. The playing amazing, the quality unreal. This particular recording is just the second set but it’s so good and clear it’s worth it.

Sampson, Cumberland, Women are Smarter, He’s gone > Spoonful all just shred and the rest is really good too. Check it out.

PS Dear Mr Fantasy and NFA are both so tight!

Did some work in the yard this morning and cleaned up just before the rain. Braved the inland desert rain for a trip to the back yard with my bong, now just watching the rain while listening to the bright vibes of the infamous Great American Music Hall show put on by the Grateful Dead on August 13, 1975. It’s like comfort food on a dreary day.

https://archive.org/details/gd75-08-13.fm.vernon.23661.sbeok.shnf

Focusing on the positive side of this and not the reasons you are not a fan of someone(s), what post Jerry Band is your favorite?

I’ll go first.

I have seen the Other Ones and the Dead. If you want to include Melvin with Jerry Band I have seen them too. But for whatever reason my favorite is 7 Walkers. I love every song on that album and I think it is designed to be played start to finish. Highly underrated. I love listening to their live shows on the archive, the way they take that slow rolling zydeco into New Speedway Boogie for example is just so simple and well executed, I can’t stop listening.

Here is a link to one of their shows on the archive. There are many more so check them out.

https://archive.org/details/7walkers2010-10-22.at2020.g-man.flac16/7Walkers2010-10-22d1t02.flac

Who is your fave? Hint: there are no wrong answers!

https://archive.org/details/gd1979-12-26.sonyECM250.walker-scotton.miller.89187.sbeok.flac16

AKA Dick’s Picks Vol 5. I really like the early Brent shows. By early I mean the 79 and 80 shows. It’s fun hearing him get settled in and start to explore. This one starts with an airy and comforting Cold Rain and Snow. Big River and Brown Eyed Women are great highlights from the first set followed by a scorching second set that I will let the music speak for. Enjoy!

Edit. Just relistened to Alabama Getaway and remembered that I wanted to mention that this is probably the best live version I have heard of the song. Normally all I hear is Jerry Grumbling and some odd mix of Brent and Phil.

https://archive.org/details/gd74-06-16.sbd.cribbs.26452.sbeok.shnf

Des Moines State Fairground. Solid show, think it was released at some point. May I call your attention to that Nobody’s Jam after Truckin, Playin and Roses.

I was exploring late 73 as last year ended and realized I have never spent much time in early 74. Honestly I have been in a Europe 72 lock for about a year so I’m glad to get out a bit to poke around. I hung out in 78 for a bit last month but needed to go back some and take it slowly so I landed in 74.

https://archive.org/details/gd1974-05-17.sbd.miller.89972.sbeok.flac16

5/17/74 PNE Coliseum. First off, great recording. Absolutely phenomenal job. I loved every moment of this show, including Money Money. The Highlights for me were Truckin > Nobody’s Fault but Mine > Eyes, Row Jimmy and PITB. This is one of my favorite shows I have heard in a while and I hope it brings you joy.

So there were 15 shows today in Grateful Dead history and I was at one of them. 12/28/90 was probably my favorite show i got to see and is a scorcher but that’s not why I am here.

Please check out, if you have not, or even if you have, 12/28/78 at Golden Hall. The show is really good, but Shakedown Street, Estimated > Eyes and Truckin > Wharf Rat all shred. Shortly before Keith and Donna left. Really good stuff. Enjoy and have a prosperous New Year!

The latest episode of the 99% Invisible podcast shares some interesting facts about cassette tapes, including dedicating a big chunk of attention towards taping & sharing Dead shows.

I’m sitting here listening to 3/9/81 and wondering what are your favorite Althea’s?

I saw 3/15/90 and 9/12/90 and like them both a lot, but I feel like there are some scorchers I’m missing from the 80s that weren’t on official releases. I have been going through heady version list as well but sometimes there are some overlooked gems! Thanks!

The original Turn On Your Lovelight

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off of Oteil's new Garcia/Hunter tribute project "Lovely View of Heaven"

absolutely beautiful album, the Mission in the Rain cover is also incredible.