I just like writing "the fabled January 1979 Tour" since the first shows I attended were on that tour.
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You two were the worst in those days. I was there for music, peace, and love, in that order. Not a bunch of rowdies yelling out the words to "Tons of Steel" in my ear. And they weren't even playing "Tons of Steel!"
Fascinating. I have absolutely no problem with this, but at the same time, I’m not big on celebrity endorsed products in general. Shirts, guitars, ties, rugs, wines, cannabis, etc. That’s fine if fans want to buy stuff endorsed by their heroes, or, uh family of their heroes, but it’s not for me. Go organic and buy from your farmer’s market. I’m with Uncle Neil on this.
I know, I know, I just did not fit in. I couldn't do any of the scene the right way. My college friend that got me into the Dead knew how to do it. He had the old Subaru wagon that was about to fall apart. He was from a weird part of NH. He had long hair. He was adept at dealing weed. I drove to shows in a brand new Ford Escort. I didn't have long hair. I looked like a square. I could have totally made the scene at MTV Spring Break '87 featuring Huey Lewis & The News.
As obvious as it seems, we east coasters do not tolerate good when grate is possible. We accept grate but typically demand great. In any case, this show has one of the finer moments of the '70s during the transition from Miracle to Shakedown. I actually like Miracle quite a bit but most of y'all seem to hate Bobby tunes, so sod off. This transition will grow hair where you want it and remove it from where y'don't. Earth--> Purgatory--> Cosmos is my succinct conception. The odd thing is that Keith is all over this, but he and Donna got sacked less than a month later. Maybe he'd already been told, so he had nothing to lose.
Making my way thru one of the recent Dave's Picks - Chicago 12/3/79. Man, that Althea kicks ass. Really good show.
I (almost) had to take back a like, as I've come to appreciate even the 71 mix of What's Become of the Baby, but the original is much better. There was a thread by @JRM that's now been closed, and I would have sworn a more recent one also. My top 5 is: Workingman's Dead (favorite studio album by anyone ever) Aoxomoxoa Anthem American Beauty Blues for Allah I love the studio albums, obviously live is better, but the albums are another way to experience the songs, etc.
Yes, a good, but not great show. It has its moments. It’s not the one to take off the shelf when you want high energy though. It’s very chilled out.
Those would be my top 5 as well, although I'm not sure quite what order I'd put them, other than that American Beauty would be in the top slot and Blues for Allah would be no further down than 3. Maybe I should make a logic problem out of ranking the albums: Built to Last is two spots down from Terrapin Station, Mars Hotel is above Shakedown Street but below the self-titled debut, etc. Go to Heaven is higher than both Shakedown Street and Terrapin. (Spoiler: Built to Last is at the bottom).
Drinking scotch and listening to Sunshine Daydream 8/27/72. Hardly digging deep regarding this one. So far still one of my fav shows NP: Bird Song
I think I have eleven jagermeisters since the discs starting spinning. There’s an alligator running round my door gotta go
So - on a different note - Playing In The Band. . . I’d always considered the “Ace” studio version to be the definitive prototype. But lately i’ve been revisiting Skull & Roses - what a great album - and in particular the 3 “debuted” originals - Playing, Bertha and Wharf Rat. This version is really amazing and the definitive early version of what would become the platform for extended explorations. The crisp rhythm guitars - including panned overdubs - have just a touch of fine-grained distortion and lay down that great chunky easy-rolling rhythm. With Merl Saunders adding some great after-the-fact color, this version offers a wonderful basic framework - the basic song structure but pre-“stepping out“. I’ve streamed the SBD from Relisten and it’s clear that the overdubs really sharpened and crystallized the performance. Anyone aware of any details of the overdub sessions? This version just blows me away!
9/17/72 Baltimore aka Dick's Picks 23. Been a while since I listened to this one. I was just about to start dipping into the '74 shows from the Pacific Northwest box for a second listen (except for Portland, which I listened to a ton before the official release), but for some reason I called a last minute audible and went with this instead.
Jerry's Alligator goes for $420,000 at auction... https://jambands.com/news/2019/12/13/jerry-garcias-alligator-guitar-sells-for-420000/
