I just listened to it (while working) and it definitely had its moments but it didn't send me. I don't know about best of the year... I always preferred the one from Foxboro but I never did a side-by-side comparison or anything. And of course, 9-18-90 is nothing to sneeze at, as I recall.
Um … was this one of the Shakedown Stream’s last year? If not, then I’m not sure I’ve even seen/heard it?! I’m not sure how I missed out on adding this to the collection
I can't always find a definitive release date, so when all I have is the month I just guess; DP18 is next week. I do post next week's show at the end of the thread guide each week.
I was at the other two you mention, so I have a psychological interest in you being right. To me 9-18-90 is a keyboard hellscape wasteland.....kind of good, though. Foxboro I will accept as a serious contender, and also the other one I was at that year, 3-29. Last time I heard all those Pittsburgh seemed like the best of them though. I'll listen to it again and see if I'm right.
Kind of boring show overall. On the other hand, I maybe have some kind of mental block about summer 1990, because I feel like all the shows I know from then have long stretches of mediocrity and people often disagree with me about that.
Summer '90 still has a lot to be said for it, but it wasn't nearly as good as the previous Spring and Fall tours, IMHO of course.
Interestingly, Eyes>Estimated had become the more common order by that point. After the return of the slow Eyes at Albany on 3/25/90 (a show where Estimated wasn't played), the flip started on 3/29/90, and from that show through '95 they played Eyes first 12 times, and Estimated first only 5 times (not counting a few shows where they played Eyes first but there were other songs before Estimated). The last time both were played in a row, however, on 2/26/95, went back to the old order.
My opinion doesn't mean much here but to my ears 3/29/90 is a favorite. I am more here to learn. I did just get Dave's vol 36 and it doesn't impress me much. (Hartford 87)
That is interesting, I hadn't realized that; I will have to admit that I'm pretty uneducated on the '92-'95 period. I do know that I much prefer the slower version of Eyes that returned in Spring 1990 to the faster '80s versions; this is a song that needed to take its time to unwind.
'90 through '91 was really when they played Eyes>Estimated the most. After that, it was still more common than the other order, but it was far more common than either at that point for both songs to appear separately. Also, I think Pittsburgh '90 was only the second time they appeared in that order (but first time both songs were played together since Nassau), so the pattern was only starting to emerge at the time of this show. Then they did it again a few days later in Foxboro, and so on.
I was at the Albany 3/25/90 show which marked the return of the slow Eyes, and was very excited. Glad they stuck with it from then on. That said, I was also at the last faster version, Harford 3/19/90, and it wasn't too shabby.
I didn’t realize that 11/4/77 was the first time they had played them in that order. I was very surprised that it happened only once more in 1979 and not again until 3/29/90. I wonder if there was something they discussed while prepping the setlist with Branford that resulted in them resurrecting Eyes>Estimated? Something happened for them to bring back an a rarely performed arrangement that they hadn’t touched in 11 years.
I always thought it had to do with them slowing it down, although that doesn't necessarily make sense
That's my guess too, since it started with the second version since they went back to the slower tempo. It does seem like it would be more awkward to transition to Estimated from a much faster tempo.
View From The Vault, Vol. 1: 8/7/90 Pittsburgh Just a couple of notes about this release, since I agree with pretty much everything that has been said regarding setlist, performance and sound; it’s ok, but isn’t anything approaching essential. The main show is more fun to watch than to just listen to...it’s always a treat to see that lineup on stage, especially the Jerry-Brent interaction. This is probably my favorite performance of Tom Thumb; I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a relaxed delivery from Phil on anything, he sounds really good. Eyes is excellent, as are Black Peter, Throwing Stones and Heaven’s Door. 7/6 is among my favorite Summer ‘90 shows, so the filler is a familiar and welcome addition. I love this version of Standing on the Moon, and there are few jams out of He’s Gone that top this one, IMO.
I will probably post this week's show on Thursday evening, as I won't be able to get to it on Friday.
Clickable thread guide List of releases By Release Date One from the Vault (1975-08-13 San Francisco, released 1991-04-15) Infrared Roses (1989-1990, released 1991-11-01) Two from the Vault (1968-08-24 San Francisco, released May 1992) Dick’s Picks 1 (1973-12-19 Tampa, released 1991-10-31) Dick’s Picks 2 (1971-10-31 Columbus, released March 1995) Grayfolded (1968-1993, released 1994 and 1995) Hundred Year Hall (1972-04-26, released 1995-09-26) Dick’s Picks 3 (1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines, released 1995-11-07) Dick’s Picks 4 (1970-02-13, 14 New York, released 1996-02-23) Dick’s Picks 5 (1979-12-26 Oakland, released 1996-05-30) Dozin' at the Knick (1990-03-24 Albany (mostly), released 1996-08-29) Dick's Picks 6 (1983-10-14 Hartford, released 1996-10-07) Dick's Picks 7 (1974-09-09, 10, 11 London, released 1997-03-04) Dick's Picks 8 (1970-05-02 Binghamton, released 1997-06-14) Fallout from the Phil Zone (Various, released 1997-06-17) Terrapin Station Limited Edition (1990-03-15 Landover, released 1997-09) Dick's Picks 9 (1990-09-16 New York, released 1997-10-19) Live at the Fillmore East 2-11-69 (1969-02-11 New York, released 1997-10-28) Dick's Picks 10 (1977-12-29 San Francisco, released 1998-02-26) Dick's Picks 11 (1972-09-27 Jersey City, released 1998-06-09) Dick's Picks 12 (1974-06-26 Providence, 1974-06-28 Boston, released 1998-10-15) Dick's Picks 13 (1981-05-06 Uniondale, released 1999-03-05) Dick's Picks 14 (1973-11-30 Boston, released 1999-06-18) Dick’s Picks 14 (1973-12-02 Boston, released 1999-06-18) Dick's Picks 15 (1977-09-03 Englishtown, released 1999-10-18) So Many Roads (Various, released 1999-11-07) Dick's Picks 16 (1969-11-08 San Francisco, released 2000-03) Dick's Picks 17 (1991-09-25 Boston, released 2000-04-28) View from the Vault 1 (1990-07-08 Pittsburgh, released 2000-06) By Concert Date Various (released 1994 and 1995 on Grayfolded) Various (released 1997-06-17 on Fallout from the Phil Zone) Various (released 1999-11-07 on So Many Roads) 1968-08-24 Los Angeles (released 1992-05 on Two from the Vault) 1969-02-11 New York (released 1997-10-28 on Live at the Fillmore East 2-11-69) 1969-11-08 San Francisco (released 2000-03 on Dick's Picks 16) 1970-02-13, 14 New York (released 1996-02-23 on Dick's Picks 4) 1970-05-02 Binghamton (released 1997-06-14 on Dick's Picks 8) 1971-10-31 Columbus (released 1995-03 on Dick's Picks 2) 1972-04-26 Frankfurt (released 1995-09-26 on Hundred Year Hall) 1972-09-27 Jersey City (released 1998-06-09 on Dick's Picks 11) 1973-11-30 Boston (released 1999-06-18 on Dick's Picks 14) 1973-12-02 Boston (released 1999-06-18 on Dick's Picks 14) 1973-12-19 Tampa (released 1993-10-31 on Dick's Picks 1) 1974-06-26 Providence (released 1998-10-15 on Dick's Picks 12) 1974-06-28 Boston (released 1998-10-15 on Dick's Picks 12) 1974-09-09, 10, 11 London (released 1997-03-04 on Dick's Picks 7) 1975-08-13 San Francisco (released 1991-04-15 on One from the Vault) 1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines (released 1995-11-07 on Dick's Picks 3) 1977-09-03 Englishtown (released 1999-10-18 on Dick's Picks 15) 1977-12-29 San Francisco (released 1998-02-26 on Dick's Picks 10) 1979-12-26 Oakland (released 1996-05-30 on Dick's Picks 5) 1981-05-06 Uniondale (released 1999-03-05 on Dick's Picks 13) 1983-10-14 Hartford (released 1996-10-07 on Dick's Picks 6) 1989, 1990 (released 1991-11-01 on Infrared Roses) 1990-03-15 Landover (released 1997-09 on Terrapin Station Limited Edition) 1990-03-24 Albany (mostly) (released 1996-08-29 on Dozin' at the Knick) 1990-07-08 Pittsburgh (released 2000-06 on View from the Vault 1) 1990-09-16 New York (released 1997-10-19 on Dick's Picks 9) 1991-09-25 Boston (released 2000-04-28 on Dick's Picks 17) This week: 1978-02-03 Madison, 1978-02-05 Cedar Falls (released 2000-06 on Dick's Picks 18) Next week: 1971-04-25...29 New York (released 2000-10-10 on Ladies and Gentlemen... The Grateful Dead)
Dick's Picks Volume 18 Recording date: February 3, 4, 5, 1978 Recording location: Dane County Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin (Feb 3); Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Feb 4); UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Feb 5) Release date: June, 2000 Recorded by: Betty Cantor-Jackson Disc 1 "Bertha" (2/5) (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter) – 6:42 "Good Lovin" (2/5) (Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick) – 6:14 "Cold Rain and Snow" (2/3) (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 6:17 "New Minglewood Blues" (2/5) (traditional, arranged by Bob Weir) – 5:42 "They Love Each Other" (2/3) (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:42 "It's All Over Now" (2/4) (Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack) – 7:40 "Dupree's Diamond Blues" (2/4) (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:37 "Looks Like Rain" (2/3) (Weir, Barlow) – 7:59 "Brown-Eyed Women" (2/3) (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:34 "Passenger" (2/5) (Phil Lesh, Peter Monk) – 5:41 "Deal" (2/5) (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:35 "The Music Never Stopped" (2/3) (Weir, Barlow) – 8:06 Disc 2 (February 3) "Estimated Prophet" > (Weir, Barlow) – 12:16 "Eyes of the World" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 14:38 "Playing in the Band" > (Weir, Mickey Hart, Hunter) – 24:35 "The Wheel" > (Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Hunter) – 5:44 "Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 9:02 "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) – 4:38 Disc 3 (February 5) "Samson and Delilah" (traditional, arranged by Weir) – 11:22 "Scarlet Begonias" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 12:46 "Fire on the Mountain" (Hart, Hunter) – 17:03 "Truckin'" > (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 9:17 "Drums" > (Hart, Kreutzmann) – 1:57 "The Other One" > (Weir, Kreutzmann) – 9:02 "Wharf Rat" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 8:58 "Around and Around" (Berry) – 8:35 Truckin’ includes a patch from January 31 from ~2:00 to ~3:40 The first foray into 1978, Dick’s Picks 18 is a curious release containing three packed discs pulled mostly from two early 1978 shows. The first disc is a frankenset - a mixture of songs from three nights (the middle of which isn’t even listed in the notes). From the opening Bertha the band is playing tightly, and Jerry quickly lets loose with a great solo. Unfortunately it’s also clear that something’s wrong with Jerry’s amp, as it’s very distorted (it’s not the recording which is a typically superb Betty Board). In places you can tell Jerry is playing to match this dirty tone, and it’s not a terrible distraction. The pseudo-set follows a typical pattern, alternating Jerry and Bob songs, with a Phil Passenger thrown in for good measure. Even though it’s from a year not known for subtlety, there is plenty here; while full of energy, songs like They Love Each Other are played exquisitely. As you’d expect in a curated set, there’s not a dud, but the final pairing of Deal and The Music Never Stopped (really two set-closers) is incredible. Disc 2 contains much of the Madison second set. The opening Estimated Prophet lets us know that something special is happening; it’s one of the all-time great versions. A nice jam at the end leads into a not-unexpected Eyes, a lovely version, taking its time and filled with Jerry-led jams. Playing in the Band is long and exploratory. Early on Jerry sits out and lets Keith and Bob interact with some nice lines from Phil. Jerry comes back in and it starts to head into new territory. The whole band is playing as a unit here; Keith is very active, and Bob’s chords are relentlessly inventive. Again Jerry sits out for an extended time (maybe they’re working on his equipment), and the rest of the band keeps things moving. When he comes back it sounds like we might go into The Wheel but instead we get a breakdown, initially without the drummers. They come back and there’s a distinct start to The Wheel. It’s a solid but not spectacular version, with a surprise, lengthy return to Playing at its conclusion. Johnny B. Goode has remarkable enthusiasm for an encore. The third disc is from the Milwaukee concert. It opens with an extraordinarily long version of Samson and Delilah, with several minutes before the first verse. Apparently there was an issue with Bob’s microphone so they kept playing until it was fixed; it makes for a uniquely entertaining version as we get some bonus solos. Next up is an extended and most enjoyable Scarlet>Fire. The transition jam is long and lively, and there’s some killer Jerry before the first verse is sung in Fire. It’s another very long version, and all over the place - quiet, loud, and everything in between, with lots of jams. It may not quite rank with the best ever versions of this hallowed pairing, but it’s a grand rendition nevertheless. Keith’s too loud and not playing anything of great interest to my ears in Truckin’; it’s a shame because Jerry is again playing a ton of inventive leads underneath the surface through the whole song. A short Drums leads into a concise The Other One, ending in a little drummer-free jam that gives way to Wharf Rat. Jerry’s singing is a bit strained here. An energetic Around and Around finishes things off. While it’s very good, to my ears the February 5th show isn’t at the same level as the February 3rd one. An interesting newspaper article reviewing the February 3 show is included in the liner notes, as is part of a fan letter to Jerry. Sound quality is excellent if you can enjoy Jerry’s tone. To me, this is to 1978 what Dick’s Picks 12 is to 1974 - a compilation of the high points of two great shows, and a superb introduction to the year. It’s probably my favorite release from the year, although the July 8 Red Rocks (July 1978: The Complete Recordings) and January 22 Eugene (Dave’s Picks 23) releases are also contenders. It’s a great entry to the world of 1978.
That is, it's from the Cedar Falls concert. Yes, in "Samson" you can hear them try to do the first "if I had my way" chorus but Bob's mic isn't working, so they have to keep cycling through the intro until it's fixed. The Deadbase review was from someone who was at the show and mentioned that Jerry was none too pleased with the situation.
