Grateful Dead - Today in History

[HDGSN]

DEAD FREAKS UNITE: Who are you? Where are you? How are you?

Post here and let's keep ourselves informed.

Tomorrow is April 5th.  There are 7 live recordings available from that day in history.  My favorite is definitely the Cryptical Reprise from 1969, but the Shakedown from 1991 is on fire!  However (!), the Big Railroad Blues and (supposedly) the NFA>GDTRFB from the 1971 show are the versions on Skull & Roses.  Nevertheless and fortunately for us all, most of the April 5th shows are Charlie Miller shows.

Avalon Ballroom - 4/5/69 - https://archive.org/details/gd69-04-05.sbd.miller.18701.sbesok.shnf/gd69-04-05d2t03.shn

Manhattan Center - 4/5/71 - https://archive.org/details/gd1971-04-05.sbd.fixed.miller.110185.flac16

NBC Studios - 4/5/80 - https://archive.org/details/gd1980-04-05.aud.wise.minches.119040.flac16

Spectrum - 4/5/82 - https://archive.org/details/gd1982-04-05.nak700.wagner.miller.90496.sbeok.flac16

Hartford Civic Center - 4/5/88 - https://archive.org/details/gd1988-04-05.sbd.miller.91234.sbeok.flac16

Crisler Arena - 4/5/89 - https://archive.org/details/gd89-04-05.sbd-matrix.unknown.5491.sbefail.shnf

Omni - 4/5/91 - https://archive.org/details/gd91-04-05.sbd.gardner.4162.sbeok.shnf

[Pharmacovigilant]

Thanks for sharing and for caring.  

I’m now listening to the Spectrum show from ‘82 as I’m still from the Philly area.  In fact, my first ever show was at the Spectrum on my 21st birthday! - September 11, 1990.  As you probably know, I share the same birthday as Mickey Hart, by the way.

So fitting - that show also opened with, of course, Jack Straw, followed by a blistering rendition of Bertha.  Simply Unforgettable!  Still have the ticket stub, got it laminated.  Met so many lovely people and made so many friends that day and night.  It’s what the experience is all about.

We can share the women we can share the wine...

Thank you again for posting.  It speaks to my soul.

[cfc1016]

Aw man you’re killin me. 

A few years ago i endeavored, and didn’t follow through on, an ambitious project. I was going to burn a dead show for each day of the year, from that date in history. Never followed through. I think i got tired lf burning cds after about 2 weeks worth, lol. 

I’m trying to find where i started writing it down. I once started making a list of my favorite versions of my favorite songs, to try and make my personal perfect amalgamated dead show. Damn I wish i could find the dates for the jack straw and fadeaway. 

I’m still searching for my ever elusive favorite wharfrat. They simultaneously played the instrumental break along with the ‘I’ll get up and fly away’ instead of singing/playing them in successive bars. It’s the ONLY show where i ever heard them do that; it’s PERFECT; and I haven’t been able to find it ever since. Npt even my hardcore walking dead encyclopedia friends know which one it was. I’m starting to wonder if I, uhhhh... have a foggy memory from that time...

[HDGSN]

Headyversion.com is great for finding that elusive ___________ song as it is where people vote for their favorite versions of each song. 

The Relisten app contains all of the archive.org shows available for streaming and has an “On this day in history” sorting feature. 

[cfc1016]

1 hour ago, HDGSN said:

Headyversion.com is great for finding that elusive ___________ song as it is where people vote for their favorite versions of each song. 

The Relisten app contains all of the archive.org shows available for streaming and has an “On this day in history” sorting feature. 

Oh i tried headyversion. It still eludes me. 

[cigaraholic]

The best New Years Eve’s I’ve ever had with my cloths on!

[Grateful13]

Hey now, great thread!  I actually caught DSO doing the 4-5-71 show a few years ago in Charlotte. All of the April 71 shows through the legendary Fillmore run are great. 

[anjimj]

Deadhead here for over 25 years. Loved the 77 run buffalo boston and 5-8-77 Barton Hall..Have most of those 77 shows on CD. been lucky enough to catch them at  Fenway and the Garden last couple of years.  Great thread. 

[HDGSN]

I got into the Dead in high school with American Beauty, Workingman’s Dead, and Into the Dark studio stuff. I progressed into Pigpen era psychedelic powerhouse Dead and then moved into post-coma peak Brent years like 7-4-89 and the March 90 shows. Then, I heard 5-9-77 and it was a gamechanger. I now listen almost exclusively to pre-Brent era, lots of 70-74 and 77, 78. For full shows, I think the best Dead shows can be found in May 77, December 78, May 72, October 74, June 70, and Summer 73.

My three desert island shows would be 5-9-77, 8-6-71, and 9-28-75.

[SigmundChurchill]

I got into them in 1985 (a little late to the game), but my desert island show was Oct 9 1989.  “Formerly The Warlocks”, at Hampton Coliseum.  After years of people shouting out “Dark Star”, they finally broke it out, and when the first note was played, the whole place erupted.

There is a lot I dont remember from those days, but I will remember that one the rest of my life.

[Bords]

Thanks for sharing and for caring.  
I’m now listening to the Spectrum show from ‘82 as I’m still from the Philly area.  In fact, my first ever show was at the Spectrum on my 21st birthday! - September 11, 1990.  As you probably know, I share the same birthday as Mickey Hart, by the way.
So fitting - that show also opened with, of course, Jack Straw, followed by a blistering rendition of Bertha.  Simply Unforgettable!  Still have the ticket stub, got it laminated.  Met so many lovely people and made so many friends that day and night.  It’s what the experience is all about.
We can share the women we can share the wine...
Thank you again for posting.  It speaks to my soul.

I think I was at the spectrum show in 1990. Was that when they played scarlet begonias? I was rollin tough (college daze) but have some good memories of that show.

Best dead show for me was RFK around 1993, Traffic opening. Eyes of the world as the skies opened up and poured rain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dshapiro]

Long time roadie for Ratdog, Dead and Co, Further passed away today. RIP Chris Charucki. 

[JohnS]

How uncanny! I was just chatting about Sam Cutler, The Grateful Dead's Tour Manager and famous for the Rolling Stones' US 1969 Tour, with a friend, about a month ago. ABC (Australia) caught up with Sam in Australia this year. Check it out...

 

[Pharmacovigilant]

8 hours ago, Bords said:

I think I was at the spectrum show in 1990. Was that when they played scarlet begonias?

I don’t recall a Scarlet Begonias. Would have recalled that as a highlight of the show how it happened. Not to say it wasn’t played one of the other nights during their run in Philly that Fall.

[HDGSN]

The Grateful Dead had a number of shows on April 24th over the years, including shows in 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1988.  But, the April 24th show that really stood out was April 24, 1978 at Horton Field House in Illinois.  A rip-roaring gem of a 1978 show just before the Keith and Donna tension ripped through beyond repair and before the cocaine and heroin became too much.  This show has several Top-5-Ever songs (Me and My Uncle with Stayin' Alive teases and The Music Never Stopped), but the Fire on the Mountain may be the best Fire on the Mountain EVER.  The Scarlet>Fire from May 8, 1977 is better from start to finish and has a higher quality recording, but the Fire on the Mountain from April 24, 1978 has oopmh that just may outdo the Fire from May 8, 1977.

https://archive.org/details/gd1978-04-24.sbd.miller.32899.flac16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRiCsw6qXNc

 

[Habana Mike]

Right now I'n on Grateful Dead Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 1978-07-07

https://archive.org/details/gd78-07-07.sbd.jerugim.293.sbeok.shnf/gd78-07-07d2t04-fixed.shn

Was great to grow up there, then.....

Last experience was DSO at Buckhead Theater couple weeks ago, JGB Meriweather '89 reprise....

Great thread!

[HDGSN]

41 years ago today the Dead put on one of the best shows of all time - on paper it is hard to get a better late 70s Dead show.

April 27, 1977

Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY

The first set somehow did not burn the building down with both Half Step and Sugaree in there - the big barn burnin’ 1977 songs - and Minglewood, Loser and The Music Never Stopped to close it out. Think of all the Deadheads recuperating and taking a second to sit down, grab a drink, light one, and lower the pulse while shaking their heads in disbelief at what they just saw only for the Dead to come out and whack them in the second set with Estimated, Scarlet>Fire to open and Samson, Terrapin, and Dew to close it out.  Add to that, the show was bookended with the Chuck Berry songs.

I’ll try to post some links tonight.  Interesting fact - this was the only Dew that was widely known of in 1977 before the Betty Boards got released because of the FM broadcast of the show.

[Hammer Smokin']

Absolutely love that show. The Music Never Stopped to close the first set is huge, as is the Sugaree.

The 2nd set was just madness. The Bobby voice is so powerful on the Prophet and Jerry's final solo on the Dew is one of the best ever.

Truly an amazing show.

Would like to catch a show at the renovated Capital Theatre these days. Phil seems to play there quite a bit.

[Habana Mike]

Great stuff here.

https://archive.org/details/AllGratefulDeadGuestSit-ins66To95/GD73-07-28d4t02NFA.mp3

Every musician that sat in on a Dead show from '66 to '95

[Habana Mike]

7 hours ago, HDGSN said:

41 years ago today the Dead put on one of the best shows of all time - on paper it is hard to get a better late 70s Dead show.

April 27, 1977

Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY

The first set somehow did not burn the building down with both Half Step and Sugaree in there - the big barn burnin’ 1977 songs - and Minglewood, Loser and The Music Never Stopped to close it out. Think of all the Deadheads recuperating and taking a second to sit down, grab a drink, light one, and lower the pulse while shaking their heads in disbelief at what they just saw only for the Dead to come out and whack them in the second set with Estimated, Scarlet>Fire to open and Samson, Terrapin, and Dew to close it out.  Add to that, the show was bookended with the Chuck Berry songs.

I’ll try to post some links tonight.  Interesting fact - this was the only Dew that was widely known of in 1977 before the Betty Boards got released because of the FM broadcast of the show.

Great version of Dew a month later at Cornell - fantastic setlist and sound!

https://archive.org/details/gd1977-05-08.mtx.seamons.97274.sbeok.flac16

[HDGSN]

Another epic show date in history...the Grateful Dead may have played shows in 1972, 1977, and 1982, among others, on this date, but the April 29, 1971 show at Fillmore East in New York, New York had a substantial impact on the commercially released Grateful Dead out there touching lives and picking up followers...  Where to even begin?  Well, the Alligator -> Jam (with St. Stephen Tease) -> Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad -> Cold Rain and Snow should be on your list of what you play for those just getting into the Grateful Dead about what the Dead could really do!  This is one of those monster concerts in terms of song numbers that they played in the early 70s.  Let's start with the initial impact - in October 1971 the Grateful Dead released the self-titled album better known as "Skull and Roses" or "Skull Fuck" featuring the image of  "Bertha" from Omar's Rubaiyat that happens to be my avatar - on this album there was this night's version of Me and My Uncle, one of the very best versions of this song ever.  Then, in October 2000, Ladies and Gentlemen... the Grateful Dead is released, which features the following songs from this night:  Truckin' - Bertha - Ripple - Sing Me Back Home - Hard to Handle - Morning Dew - New Minglewood Blues - Alligator>Drums>GDTRFB>Cold Rain & Snow - In the Midnight Hour - and, And We Bid You Goodnight.  To top this show off, the band played one of the Jerry Garcia Band staples later in the decade - I Second That Emotion - with a tremendous solo by Jerry propped up by Phil dropping bombs.

YouTube of the Alligator>Drums>Jam>GDTRFB>CR&S Epitome of Grateful Dead

Best Quality Version of Most of the Show

https://archive.org/details/gd71-04-29.weinberg.warner.26568.sbeok.flacf

Setlist:

Set 1

Truckin'
Bertha
It Hurts Me Too
Cumberland Blues ->
Me And My Uncle
Bird Song
Playing In The Band
Loser
Dark Hollow
Hard To Handle
Ripple
Me And Bobby McGee
Casey Jones Six Days On The Road ->
Runnin' Back To You
I Don't Know You
Sailin'
Henry
Dirty Business
Superman
Lodi
Glendale Train
Fair Chance To Know
The Weight
Portland Woman
Last Lonely Eagle
Louisiana Lady
Honky Tonk Women

Set 2

Morning Dew
New Minglewood Blues
Sugar Magnolia
Black Peter
Beat It On Down The Line
I Second That Emotion
Alligator ->
Drums ->
Jam ->
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad ->
Cold Rain And Snow
China Cat Sunflower ->
I Know You Rider
Greatest Story Ever Told ->
Johnny B. Goode

Encore
Uncle John's Band
In The Midnight Hour ->
And We Bid You Good Night

[HDGSN]

Happy 41st birthday to a great May ‘77 show! May 7, 1977 - Boston Garden. For me, it falls behind May 9th, May 4th, and May 8th, in that order, but how crazy is it that the Grateful Dead had 4 arguably Top 10 ever shows in just a 5-day span. It really shows how well they were clicking on their entire catalog at that time.  To me, this is the greatest or 2nd greatest Half Step.

Happy Birthday to Billy as well!

 

[dominattorney]

Nice thread.  I'm assuming ya'll know about Today in Grateful Dead History on the Sirius XM station, and I'm just beating a dead horse.  If not, love that show. 

[HDGSN]

On 5/7/2018 at 4:55 PM, dominattorney said:

Nice thread.  I'm assuming ya'll know about Today in Grateful Dead History on the Sirius XM station, and I'm just beating a dead horse.  If not, love that show. 

Great show - I use the Relisten app and browse through the shows that pop up.

[HDGSN]

It is 5/8.  It goes without further comment that the Grateful Dead had a historic show 41 years ago today.  Barton Hall, Cornell University.  A show probably any fan of the Dead has heard some portion of.

 

Cheers!