Chinaski, consider starting with something else, say “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider” or “Help/Slipknot/Franklin’s Tower”. I know I held off on going further when I began with the holy grail of “Dark Star” - all it took was Jerry just butchering his vocals and it was a hard pass after that.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Sunday, 21 May 2023 16:37 (one year ago) link
Am currently enjoying the Veneta, Oregon version. My 'in' has been how much it reminds me (so far, at least) of Crosby's *If Only I Could Remember Your Name*. Obviously Garcia is on that, but it has a similar humid languor.
― Stars of the Lidl (Chinaski), Sunday, 21 May 2023 17:11 (one year ago) link
i do love me a good help->slip->frank, it took me way too long to get around to that suite. '77 dead is a more... conventionally musical band and i have to be in the right mood for them, but the help->slip->frank opening the may 9, 1977 show (on "get shown the light") is something i'd recommend a lot.
my first attempt at the dead _was_ the live/dead dark star and honestly i _still_ find it disappointing, although intellectually i've come around to it. that was one of the reasons i made that '69 dark star mix, because the live/dead version never clicked with me. '72 dark star is much more my speed... i like to refer to '72 dead as "shitty miles davis" (because in musicological terms i do feel like miles' fusion bands were much more technically adept). "shitty miles davis" is a compliment though! there's something to these people whose main qualities are an unhealthy relationship with psychedelic drugs and a mania for playing together. i don't think any other band has accomplished what they accomplished.
i'll second the recommendation of the veneta dark star from 8/27/1972.
i also find that the dead have very much a sense of place to them. all music is like that to some extent, set and setting, but now that i live on the west coast i understand the dead in a very different way than i did before i moved out here.
― Kate (rushomancy), Sunday, 21 May 2023 19:02 (one year ago) link
love that 68 carousel set and wish I could find my copy
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Sunday, 21 May 2023 19:11 (one year ago) link
Listening to the 8/27/72 Dark Star on headphones at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix in blazing heat is one of my fondest musical moments.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Sunday, 21 May 2023 20:58 (one year ago) link
That 8/1/73 Dark Star J. Sam mentioned is really great.https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1973/08/01/dark-star?source=336581― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Sunday, May 21, 2023 11:57 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1973/08/01/dark-star?source=336581
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Sunday, May 21, 2023 11:57 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Haha I mention this "Dark Star" at every available opportunity; it really is *that* good.
Anyone who likes that one should also check out the version from 9/11/73, chronologically the next one they played: https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1973/09/11/dark-star?source=336434
It carries on the mellow space-fusion vibe of 8/1 but is a touch darker overall, with a monster fuzz bass solo from Phil in the back half. It's funkier too; the section starting around 8:40 on the recording I linked reminds me a bit of Can. The difference between Can and the Dead, though, is that Can would have explored that groove for like 10 minutes, while the Dead play around with it for about 90 seconds before moving onto another rhythmic idea. This is either a blessing or a curse depending on your POV. Sometimes the Dead's (and especially Phil's) aversion to ostinato makes for really exciting and unpredictable jams, but I feel like they missed opportunities sometimes by abandoning a cool idea too quickly.
― J. Sam, Monday, 22 May 2023 01:30 (one year ago) link
You're my new GD guru, lol. I've loved all the shows/versions you mentioned recently.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Monday, 22 May 2023 01:39 (one year ago) link
I def had to look up the definition of obstinato. On that topic I’ve long had a question that Ive told myself I’d ask him should I ever get the chance: Hey Phil, during the ‘91 fall MSG H>S>F, you pretty much played the same very basic repeating bass line for most of Franklin’s Tower. Very uncharacteristic. What the hell was up with that???
― tobo73, Monday, 22 May 2023 02:18 (one year ago) link
seconding the rockin' the rhein dark star mentioned above. it is immense, to say the least.
at the other end of the scale there's a nice tight dark star/st stephan from 28th april '71 with tom constanten sitting in i have a fondness for.
― no lime tangier, Monday, 22 May 2023 08:40 (one year ago) link
My 'in' has been how much it reminds me (so far, at least) of Crosby's *If Only I Could Remember Your Name*. Obviously Garcia is on that, but it has a similar humid languor.
well, then... no dark star, but something i've been meaning to check out for years now: https://albumsthatshouldexist.blogspot.com/2021/10/david-crosby-jerry-garcia-david-dorks.html
― no lime tangier, Monday, 22 May 2023 08:59 (one year ago) link
The Wall Song on that is p-retty sublime. There was enough recorded by the lineup to create a 2cd set which I had in file form at one point. One cd studio one set live from right around the same time. 15-12-70 is the date taht sticks in my mind anyway. So does the band's other name The Frozen Noses .
― Stevo, Monday, 22 May 2023 09:24 (one year ago) link
If you want a little more context and thoughts about "Dark Star" specifically, I've found this to be a fun little blog:
https://everydarkstar.blogspot.com/
They've been working through every one, the most recent entry was for the "Warlocks" show in October '89. I like how they summarize the themes and identify the timings.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 22 May 2023 15:19 (one year ago) link
You're my new GD guru, lol. I've loved all the shows/versions you mentioned recently.― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Sunday, May 21, 2023 9:39 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Sunday, May 21, 2023 9:39 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Haha, very glad to hear this. I could make recommendations all day but I'm trying not to overdo it...
So for now I'll just say: "He's Gone" 11/18/72https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1972/11/18/hes-gone?source=336148
Steal your face right off your head
― J. Sam, Monday, 22 May 2023 18:07 (one year ago) link
I love it when a crowd has clearly been *waiting* for “Dark Star”, and then those opening chords HIT and a cheer rings out
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 23 May 2023 18:22 (one year ago) link
Just found this, and Jerry looks happier than in any other film I've seen of him, by a fair margin. And he surprisingly (to me) holds his own:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhIVGQCeoaU
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 14:04 (one year ago) link
From ‘89
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaVO0N8ksGk
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 14:15 (one year ago) link
xp this is really cool footage -- I'm not surprised JG can sit in but it is relay something to hear him change up his style so much on a solo
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 14:17 (one year ago) link
There’s a similar clip of him playing with Ruben Blades’ band. Great stuff.
― tobo73, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 14:19 (one year ago) link
I love it when a crowd has clearly been *waiting* for “Dark Star”, and then those opening chords HIT and a cheer rings out― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, May 23, 2023 2:22 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, May 23, 2023 2:22 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
My favorite example of this is from 1/10/79, Nassau Coliseum. Only the second "Dark Star" in five years and the first on the east coast since 74. The ultra-clear AUD has the crowd losing their minds, and the "Dark Star" itself is fantastic. The drummers have a propulsive quasi-four-on-the-floor kick drum thing going on throughout, and Jerry is in 1979 "let's see how many notes I can play" mode:https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1979/01/10/dark-star?source=338094
― J. Sam, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 17:48 (one year ago) link
I'm all for 1973 recommendations, especially full shows.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 22:34 (one year ago) link
So for now I'll just say: "He's Gone" 11/18/72https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1972/11/18/hes-gone?source=336148Steal your face right off your head― J. Sam, Monday, May 22, 2023 2:07 PM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink
― J. Sam, Monday, May 22, 2023 2:07 PM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink
This is a really great version. Some of their best live backing vocals.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 22:40 (one year ago) link
digging this revive, I've listened to a bunch of these links today
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 22:41 (one year ago) link
April ‘72, a real voyage here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyBs48VjMho
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 22:58 (one year ago) link
see also:https://archive.org/details/gd1972-05-04.sbd.miller.77294.sbeok.flac16
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 23:03 (one year ago) link
Haven't gotten there yet as I'm listening to the entire show, but this is a really amazing China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider. Kreutzman just killing it.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 25 May 2023 23:43 (one year ago) link
xp That 4/8/72 "Dark Star" is unreal, best of the Europe tour.
PBKR, curious to know what you think of the horns in 9/11/73. They brought the sax and trumpet players from Doug Sahm's band on for a few songs on each of the September 1973 shows. It's been a while since I heard the whole show, but I remember liking them on "Let It Grow." Also one of the very few times they played "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away." Get it, Keith!
― J. Sam, Friday, 26 May 2023 00:51 (one year ago) link
have only heard that^ dark star as it appears on the glastonbury fayre triple lp, which annoyingly is almost ten minutes shorter than it is on its later release!
― no lime tangier, Friday, 26 May 2023 08:19 (one year ago) link
PBKR, curious to know what you think of the horns in 9/11/73. They brought the sax and trumpet players from Doug Sahm's band on for a few songs on each of the September 1973 shows.
I thought this show had a different vibe, but I have to admit I didn't notice horns (lol, me). I'm only part way through so I will focus more on it this weekend.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, 26 May 2023 11:19 (one year ago) link
so J Sam can you recommend some fave good-sounding archive.org shows from, say, each year of the 70s? I am looking for a nice Help/Slip/Franklin in particular but I love all yr recommendations so far
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 01:48 (one year ago) link
(tbh the question is for the thread in general, any good Dick's Picks etc recommendations that aren't stupidly overpriced are also welcome)
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 01:54 (one year ago) link
currently jamming the 10/19/73 Oklahoma "Eyes Of The World"
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 01:55 (one year ago) link
my current Help/Slip/Franklin favs are 5/9/77 and 6/9/77
― a (waterface), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 12:24 (one year ago) link
A lot of Deadheads say that 5/9/77 is better than the previous night (Barton Hall).
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 12:25 (one year ago) link
i've def spent more time with 5/9
― a (waterface), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 12:29 (one year ago) link
so J Sam can you recommend some fave good-sounding archive.org shows from, say, each year of the 70s? I am looking for a nice Help/Slip/Franklin in particular but I love all yr recommendations so far― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Monday, May 29, 2023 9:48 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Monday, May 29, 2023 9:48 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Oh hell yeah, will do this in a bit!
― J. Sam, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 13:37 (one year ago) link
Those collections have become pretty stupid expensive. These regular live releases seem to be not crazy expensive looking through eBay.
Hundred Year Hall (awesome The Other One)Two from the Vault (68 show, well recorded for time)One from the Vault (75)Ladies and Gentleman the Grateful Dead (72 tour)Fillmore West 1969
Dicks Picks vol 2 - single disc but good dark star
― The Artist formerly known as Earlnash, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 16:16 (one year ago) link
― tobo73, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 17:31 (one year ago) link
I haven’t found a H/S/F more to my liking than One From the Vault. It’s so tight and energetic, they seem to be audibly happy to be back from hiatus.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 21:18 (one year ago) link
A lot of Deadheads say that 5/9/77 is better than the previous night
oh man this rules, thanks all
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 22:30 (one year ago) link
excellent, I actually need to listen to that myself.
I love this one so much. The way the intro gives way to the song is A+ Dead.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 00:03 (one year ago) link
I remember walking into the GAMH for the first time for Wilco in ‘96 or 97, and being pretty amazed at what a cool room it is and of course how much that ‘75 show must have ruled (I assume PF have always been too big to have played there? Would have ruled obv). I remember reading somewhere that the GAMH show was mostly for industry types to hype a release?
― tobo73, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 02:20 (one year ago) link
Dick's Picks #4 is pretty good it comes from May 70 and has them stretching out a few numbers to 1/2 hour length.I think DP8 is also from May 70 which I think is a peak month for them that year. Not sure how great it is in comparison to 4 but should be worth hearing. I never got it but always meant to.
I do enjoy them in August 68 which is when Two From The Vault comes from and also the bonus tracks on the Golden Road version of Anthem of The Sun. I think its a peak for a certain sound they had. The band themselves were apparently far from happy with where they were at the time since they nearly fired Bob Weir and Pigpen right around then.
― Stevo, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 09:29 (one year ago) link
I’m a big fan of the H/S/F on Dick’s Picks 3 - Kreutzmann and Hart get that one into an extra grooving rendition.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 12:43 (one year ago) link
The first set on 3/24/73 (The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA) is really great, starting with The Race is On.
I've always liked Row Jimmy for a slow Dead song, but it's really been killing me lately. I find myself humming/singing the "ever since they tore the jukebox down" section all the freakin' time now, lol.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 1 June 2023 23:14 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JukZBGgv8I
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 8 June 2023 21:23 (eleven months ago) link
I probably have more tolerance for Playing in the Band than the average listener, but the middle jams of these Spring 1973 versions are really so much fun to get lost in.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 15 June 2023 23:30 (eleven months ago) link
Recommend divks picks 5, 1979, weird electric slow versions
― calstars, Thursday, 15 June 2023 23:44 (eleven months ago) link
put a random 76 show (LA 10/15/76) on and was pretty surprised at how great it went front to back - stellar closing run of He's Gone/Drums/Other One/Comes a Time/Franklin's/Sugar Magnolia. Crowd was going absolutely bonkers for the final two.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Wednesday, 19 July 2023 17:11 (ten months ago) link
It's hard to go wrong with any show in 73/74, but for more Dick's Picks check out 19 (10/19/73), 12 (6/26 & 6/28/74), and 31 (8/4 - 8/6/74)
Don't think I'd ever listened to DP31 (8/4 - 8/6/74) ... just 10 minutes into the opening Playing, absolutely sick. Feel like Keith's keys have way more reverb than usual, sounds great. We'll see if I make it through 4+ hrs.
Had started DP7 and had to turn it off because the drums seemed mixed waaaay more up front than I rememeber.
― ヽ(´ー`)┌ (CompuPost), Friday, 21 July 2023 20:45 (ten months ago) link
man those 76 show can be great. check 10-15 at the Shrine
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Friday, 21 July 2023 21:42 (ten months ago) link