Grateful Dead Dave's Picks 2018 Subscription

In 1970 there are a handful of standalone versions, but its more common as the start of a jam (e.g NFA>Lovelight or NFA>St. Stephen, or at the end.) Unlike 9-10-74, at least a couple of the 'standalone' NFAs from 70 incorporate various other thematic jams like St. Stephen, China Cat, Darkness Darkness, Mountain Jam etc. (or at least elements of those.)

 

"Plodding"? It rips.

 

Relative to the Alexandra Palace version it very much plods.

 

You could then say that any Brown Eyed Women from the 70's plods compared to the ones from the mid-80's. :^) But in all seriousness I'm totally fine with all eras of all versions of songs. Part of what makes the band unique throughout the years and why we keep on keeping back for more.

 

The power of the NFA from 9/3/77 comes from the slow tempo.

Often in the best improvised music, power and energy come from slow or even non existent tempos. This long NFA is a case in point within very strong guidelines as it isn’t “out” improvisation in any sense of that descriptor. Slow, sludgy or “plodding” can often be a plus, not a minus.

 

In this particular case, I find it to be something of a minus. But my favorite Playin' improv of the E'72 tour is from 4/24 and it's taken at the slowest tempo of the tour and I've often described it as "plodding."

 

I'm currently of the mind that the Music Never Stopped from this release is the rare instance where Garcia is clearly ON, he sounds amazing, yet the end results fall "short" because the band fails to achieve the type of cohesion displayed on the GSTL release. The playing is spectacular, but... (In my best Get Smart voice) "Missed it, by THAT much"

 

"I mean, it was pretty good and all, but..."

A bit fastidious, eh?

 

Well, you’re basically comparing it to what is arguably the greatest Music Never Stopped of all time (Buffalo) so any version would therefore come up just a wee bit short. I love em both!

 

I'm not sure that I'd classify the Buffalo version as the greatest of all time, but certainly it deserves mention in that discussion. The point being made is that usually, when Jerry is on top of his game, the rest of the band is right there as a result. In his opinion, Jerry's on his game and the band doesn't quite match that. I'm not sure whether I agree or disagree, but no matter. I'd nominate the 9/3/77 version as the best of all time, but I also have a massive affection for the 9/28/75 version from the porch-crusher. Not terribly intense, but a really lovely and slinky line from Jer to round things out.

 

It would be fairer to compare this Music Never Stopped with the one from 1-22-78.

 

4/24/78 is the closest competition to 5/9/77 for Music Never Stopped that I've found.

 

If you love a ferocious NFA, I highly recommend you give this 15 minute version a listen, from 5/7/79, Lafayette College in Easton PA. (they sure seem to like that first week of May). Me and my buddy drove 90 mph to get there just in time, without a ticket and a sold out 2000 seat gymnasium. We decided to blow off studying for our final the next day and see our first post Keith & Donna show. it took all of 5 minutes to score tickets (it seems they were allowing people to leave the arena and get back in with a ticket stub, so, duh, folks were leaving with extra stubs and selling them). All this contributed to an overpacked 100+ degree madhouse inside, and, whoa! The boys did not disappoint. During space out wanders a familiar figure, an unannounced John Cippolina and, after Phil cranked it up to 11 (or maybe 12!), they launched into one of great NFA's, which I call Who Do You Not Fade Away, since it very much contains elements of a classic Quicksilver Who Do You Love jam ala Happy Trails. John just added so much to the performance that night--if you want to continue, he plays adds some amazing fills to Black Peter and Around & Around. It was one of those nights when the lights came up, you just felt stunned. I probably screwed up the final the next day, but it was well worth it!

 

Great story. Love Cippolina.

 

I feel the next Dave's release will be the Portland, May '74 show that was just featured on GD radio Marathon yesterday.

 

Possible! Safe to say that show will come out someday. Although I did notice a trend recently: they seem to start off every year with a show from 73, 74 or 77. Makes total sense as those are arguably their most popular years for hardcore fans...so if that logic holds true, 2018 may look something like this:

11-6-77 (already released)
11-17-71 (already announced)
(an 80’s show)
(a 69 / 70 show)

Then to start of 2019 something like 5-19-74 or 5-4-77. We’ll see!

 

Kind of kicking myself for not re upping for 2018.

 

Nice catch on the pattern. I think we will get two out of the following: 69, 70, 76, early 80s, 91.

I’m hopeful for some ‘73, but perhaps that will be the box!

 

Here’s the other random thought, neither of the 71 shows for Dave’s Picks 26 has a Dark Star. The last Dark Star in the series was all the way back on Dave’s 19! That is a big gap!

 

that was difficult to "like"
we are due for one from 73!

 

If Dave is looking for a great Dark Star with top-notch sound, he need look no further than 1973.

 

I'd love for Dave to go primal with a hot and acidic '67 or '68 show.

 

I'd take 8/21/68 in a heartbeat even with the cuts on the circulating versions.

Set 1

Cryptical Envelopment ->
Drums ->
The Other One ->
Cryptical Envelopment
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Alligator ->
Drums ->
Jam ->
Alligator ->
Feedback

Set 2

Dark Star ->
Saint Stephen ->
The Eleven ->
Death Don't Have No Mercy
Turn On Your Lovelight

Encore
In The Midnight Hour

 

When do we think a Box will be announced ?

 

Could be any time now...