Grateful Dead - 1977-11-01 - Detroit, MI (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1977-11-01

Cobo Arena

Detroit, Michigan

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Might as Well

02. Jack Straw

03. Tennessee Jed

04. El Paso

05. Friend of the Devil

06. Looks Like Rain

07. Dire Wolf

08. Passenger

09. Peggy-O

10. The Music Never Stopped

2nd Set:

01. Terrapin Station >

02. Estimated Prophet >

03. The Other One >

04. Drums >

05. Wharf Rat >

06. Truckin' >

07. Around and Around

Encore:

01.   U.S. Blues

Grateful Dead - 1977-11-01 - Detroit, MI (SBD)

1977: We open November with a show from the band I saw live most often, from the very year I attended my first of 50 of their concerts. On September 3, 1977, me, my buddies and, along with 150,000 others, made the pilgrimage to Englishtown NJ, to see the Grateful Dead play the largest concert in the state's history. The day was hot - over 100 degrees - and the band was even hotter. Another performance that added to the legend of 1977. I would see 49 more after that, at least 1 show every year except 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1992, with the last show being June 18, 1995, just 2 month's before we lost Jerry Garcia. My long strange trip with the Dead was short compared to folks who saw hundreds of concerts, but it was memorable, as over a dozen shows that I attended were good enough to be officially released. It's been 31 years since we lost Jerry, and I still miss the magic. Speaking of magic, this soundboard from recording captures the Dead on November 1, 1977, 49 years ago today, in Detroit, just 2 months after Englistown. As the fall tour wound to a close in November, the band was still in peak form, as evidenced by the fact that the November 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th shows were all officially released. 

 

Grateful Dead - 1981-10-08 - Copenhagen, Denmark (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1981-10-08

Forum Theatre

Copenhagen, Denmark

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Feel Like A Stranger

02. They Love Each Other >

03. CC Rider

04. Cumberland Blues

05. Cassidy

06. Loser >

07. Mama Tried >

08. Mexicali Blues

09. Althea >

10. The Music Never Stopped

2nd Set

01. Scarlet Begonias >

02. Fire On The Mountain

03. Playin' In The Band >

04. Terrapin Station > 

05. Jam >

06. Drums >

07. Space >

08. Not Fade Away >

09. Black Peter >

10. Around And Around >

11. Johnny B. Goode

Encore:

01. US Blues

Grateful Dead - 1981-10-08 - Copenhagen, Denmark (SBD)

The Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. While Jerry Garcia did not show up for the ceremony, the rest of the band did, and brought a life size cardboard cut out of him! In the true spirit of the 1960s flower power era, the band attempted to be incredibly inclusive, listing 12 members as part of the band for induction. In addition to the then current line up of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Vince Welnick, Mickey Hary and Bill Kruetzmann, the Dead also included former keyboard players Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Brent Mydland, Keith Godchaux, and Tom Constanten, not to mention vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux. They even included lyricist Robert Hunter, who in collaboration with Garcia, had written some of the band's most famous tunes, including Uncle John's Band, US Blues, St Stephen, Eyes Of The World, Ripple, and Touch Of Grey, just to name a few. That said, I still think they missed 2 other members of the Dead family who should have been inducted. First is Bruce Hornsby, who played keyboards for them for almost 2 years alongside Welnick, about the same length of service as Constanten. Hornsby obviously was not offended, as he inducted the band. Second was John Perry Barlow, who worked with Weir in the same way Hunter partnered with Garcia. Weir/Barlow tunes, while not as numerous or famous as Garcia/Hunter compositions, included such staples of the Dead's live performances as Estimated Prophet, Cassidy, Looks Like Rain, Throwing Stones, and The Music Never Stopped, just to cite a few.

In any event, this soundboard recording captures the Dead during the fall 1981 tour of Europe, on October 8, 1981, 45 years ago, in Copenhagen. Generally, the band's playing is strong throughout the run, though some signs of the trouble that would plague the band in the mid 1980s are evident. Most noticeably, Jerry Garcia takes less of a leadership role in driving the band musically, hanging back at times and even having difficulty with some of the faster solos. Garcia's heroin use had begun to impact his personality and musical skills, and his band mates were growing weary of it. In fact, on the last night, in Barcelona, they presented Jerry with a letter, penned by Phil but signed by everyone in the band, expressing their dissatisfaction. The letter opened with “Dear Sir and Brother. You have been accused of certain high crimes and misdemeanors against the art of music. To wit: playing in your own band; never playing with any dynamics; never listening to what anyone else plays…” For band that tended to avoid any sort of confrontation, this was quite a large step, though it did not seem to have any lasting impact. 

Grateful Dead - 1981-09-30 - Edinburgh, Scotland (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1981-09-30

Playhouse Theatre

Edinburgh, Scotland

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Alabama Getaway >

02. Greatest Story Ever Told

03. They Love Each Other 

04. Little Red Rooster 

05. Candyman

06. Me And My Uncle >

07. Big River

08. Loser

09. New Minglewood Blues

10. Althea >

11. Let It Grow >

12. Don't Ease Me In

2nd Set:

01. tuning

02. Feel Like A Stranger

03. Ship Of Fools >

04. Samson And Delilah 

05. Never Trust A Woman

06. Estimated Prophet >

07. Eyes Of The World > Drums >

08. Space >

09. The Other One >

10. Stella Blue >

11. Good Lovin'

encore

xx. U.S. Blues (missing)

Grateful Dead - 1981-09-30 - Edinburgh, Scotland (SBD)

1981: After a short 5 show run in Europe in March 1981, done as favor to Pete Townshend of The Who, the Grateful Dead returned to Europe in fall of that year for 13 shows in 7 countries between September 30 and October 19. The set lists showcased songs from their latest album, Go To Heaven, including Althea, Alabama Get Away, Far From Me, Feel Like a Stranger, Lost Sailor and Saint Of Circumstance. Generally, the band's playing is strong throughout the run, though some signs of the trouble that would plague the band in the mid 1980s are evident. Most noticeably, Jerry Garcia takes less of a leadership role in driving the band musically, hanging back at times and even having difficulty with some of the faster solos. Garcia's heroin use had begun to impact his personality and musical skills, and his band mates were growing weary of it. In fact, on the last night, in Barcelona, they presented Jerry with a letter, penned by Phil, but signed by everyone in the band, expressing their dissatisfaction. The letter opened with “Dear Sir and Brother. You have been accused of certain high crimes and misdemeanors against the art of music. To wit: playing in your own band; never playing with any dynamics; never listening to what anyone else plays…” For band that tended to avoid any sort of confrontation, this was quite a large step, though it did not seem to have any lasting impact. In any event, today we go back to the opening night of that tour, with this soundboard recording from Scotland from September 30, 1981, 45 years ago today.

Grateful Dead - 1991-09-24 - Boston, MA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1991-09-24

Boston Garden

Boston, MA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. tuning

02. Let The Good Times Roll

03. Feel Like A Stranger

04. Althea

05. It’s All Over Now

06. High Time

07. Beat It On Down the Line

08. Big Railroad Blues

09. Desolation Row

10. New Speedway Boogie

2nd Set

01. China Cat Sunflower >

02. I Know You Rider

03. Women Are Smarter >

04. Ship of Fools >

05. Dark Star > 

06. Drums >

07. Space >

08. Foolish Heart >

09. I Need A Miracle >

10. Standing On The Moon >

11. Around And Around

Encore

01. The Weight

Grateful Dead - 1991-09-24 - Boston, MA (SBD) 

As mentioned in numerous posts here at So Many Roads, the Grateful Dead’s concerts from summer 1989 through fall 1991 were a highpoint in the band’s career. That period includes numerous shows that the Dead have officially released including

• a show from Philadelphia from July 7, 1989
• the Giant Stadium Shows from July 9 and 10, 1989
• The 2 night stand at RFK Stadium from July 12 and 13, 1989
• the famed Warlock shows in Hampton Virginia on October 8 and 9, 1989 
• the Meadowlands NJ concert on October 16, 1989
• the Landover, Maryland show on March 15, 1990 
• the Knickerbocker arena run from March 24 to 26, 1990; 
• 2 (yes 2) box sets from Spring 1990, featuring every show from that tour - the only other tour to be released in its entirety besides Europe 1972
• a show from from Mountain View CA from June 16, 1990
• a show from from Pittsburgh from July 8, 1990
• the Madison Square Garden concerts from September 14 to 20, 1990. 
• a show from Paris from October 27, 1990 
• a show from Washington DC from June, 14, 1991
• the Giants Stadium shows from June 16 and 17, 1991
• a show from Pine Knob from June 20, 1991 
• a show from Madison Square Garden from September 10, 1991, featuring Bradford Marsalis
• a show from Boston Garden on September 25 and 26, 1991

The Dead ended this wonderful 2 1/2 year in the fall of 1991 with 9 shows at Madison Square Garden, 6 at the Boston Garden and 5 in the San Francisco/Oakland area. This soundboard recording captures the Dead in September 24, 1991, 35 years ago today. Some folks say this show is even better than the next two nights,  which as mentioned above, were both officially released. By the way, maybe the Dead also sensed something was coming to an end at this concert as it was the last time the band ever played And We Bid You Goodnight.

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Grateful Dead - 1991-08-16 - Mountain View, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1991-08-16

Shorline Amphitheater

Mountain View, CA

Sounboard Recording

320 kbps 

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Jack Straw

02. Bertha

03. All Over Now

04. Ramble On Rose

05. Desolation Row

06. Dark Star >

07. Promised Land

2nd Set

01. Scarlet Begonias >

02. Victim or the Crime >

03. Fire on the Mountain >

04. Truckin' >

05. Drums

06. Space >

07. Playing in the Band (reprise) >

08. Standing on the Moon >

09. Good Lovin'

Encore:

01. U.S. Blues

Grateful Dead - 1991-08-16 - Mountain View, CA (SBD)

On September 3, 1977, me and my buddies, along with 150,000 others, made the pilgrimage to Englishtown NJ, to see the Grateful Dead play the largest concert in the state's history. The day was hot - over 100 degrees - and the band was even hotter., as evidenced by the fact the show was officailly released as Dick's Picks #15.  I would see 49 more after that, at least 1 show every year except 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1992, with the last show being June 18, 1995, just 2 month's before we lost Jerry Garcia. My long strange trip with the Dead was short compared to folks who saw hundreds of concerts, but it was memorable, as over a dozen shows that I attended were good enough to be officially released. It's been 31 years since we lost Jerry, and I still miss the magic. 

As mentioned in several posts here at So Many Roads, the period from 1989 to 1991 featured the band’s finest playing in the wake of Jerry’s recovery from a diabetic coma in late 1986. To underscore that point, here’s a list of just some of the shows from that period that the Dead have officially released:

• a show from Philadelphia from July 7, 1989
• the Giant Stadium Shows from July 9 and 10, 1989
• The 2 night stand at RFK Stadium from July 12 and 13, 1989
• the famed Warlock shows in Hampton Virginia on October 8 and 9, 1989 
• the Meadowlands NJ concert on October 16, 1989
• the Landover, Maryland show on March 15, 1990 
• the Knickerbocker arena run from March 24 to 26, 1990; 
• 2 (yes 2) box sets from Spring 1990, featuring every show from that tour - the only other tour to be released in its entirety besides Europe 1972
• a show from from Mountain View CA from June 16, 1990
• a show from from Pittsburgh from July 8, 1990
• the Madison Square Garden concerts from September 14 to 20, 1990. 
• a show from Paris from October 27, 1990 
• a show from Washington DC from June, 14, 1991
• Giants Stadium shows from June 16 and 17, 1991
• a show from Pine Knob from June 20, 1991 
• a show from Madison Square Garden from September 10, 1991, featuring Bradford Marsalis
• shows from Boston Garden on September 25 and 26, 1991

Today we bring you another gem from that period, a soundboard that captures the Dead on August 16, 1991, 35 years ago today, in Mountain View, CA.

 

Grateful Dead - 1984-07-22 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead  

1984-07-22 

County Fairgrounds

Ventura, CA  

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Dancing In The Street >

02. Bertha

03. My Brother Esau

04. Loser

05. Cassidy

06. Ramble On Rose

07. Hell In A Bucket >

08. Keep Your Day Job

2nd Set:

01. Samson And Delilah

02. Ship Of Fools

03. I Just Want To Make Love To You >

04. Man Smart (Woman Smarter)

05. Terrapin Station >

06. Drums >

07. Space >

08. Morning Dew >

09. Throwing Stones >

10. Not Fade Away

Encore:

01. In The Midnight Hour >

02. Brokedown Palace

Grateful Dead - 1984-07-22 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

GD 1984 - Back To Back - #2: As promised yesterday, here's the 2nd part of ur Back To Back set featuring the Grateful Dead in the Summer of 1984. This one is a soundboard recording from Ventura from July 22, 1984, 42 years ago today. Some more surprises in this show inckuding a Dancing In The Streets opener and a In The Midnight Hour encore.

Grateful Dead - 1984-07-21 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead  

1984-07-21 

County Fairgrounds

Ventura, CA  

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Shakedown St

02. Little Red Rooster

03. Althea

04. Me & My Uncle >

05. Mexicali Blues

06. China Cat >

07. I Know You Rider

08. Looks Like Rain

09. Might As Well

2nd Set:

01. Cold Rain & Snow

02. Far From Me

03. Truckin' >

04. Eyes Of The World >

05. Drums >

06. Space >

07. The Other One >

08. Stella Blue >

09. Around & Around

10. One More Saturday Night

Encore:

01. Touch of Grey

Grateful Dead - 1984-07-21 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

GD 1984 - Back To Back - #1: The year 1984 was a difficult time for the Grateful Dead as Jerry Garcia’s health was beginning to fail due to his addiction to heroin. Video of Jerry often shows him slumped over his guitar, his hair messy and unkempt. Yet amidst these issues, the band still found those moments of magic that set them apart from any other live act. For example, several years ago, we brought you the July 13 show from Berkeley, where a shooting star inspired a Dark Star encore, the only time that song was played between 1981 and 1989! This soundboard recording captures the band just a few days later, in Ventura on July 21, 1984, 42 years ago today, and some of the magic from Berkeley seems to have carried over!  The set list includes a surprising China Cat > I Know You Rider in the first set, while the 2nd set features Truckin' seguing into Eyes Of The World.  Download this one, then come back tomorrow for part 2 of this Back To Back set.

Grateful Dead - 1985-07-14 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead  

1985-07-14

County Fairgrounds  

Ventura, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Tuning

02. Hell In A Bucket

03. They Love Each Other

04. My Brother Esau

05. Althea

06. Cassidy

07. Big Railroad Blues >

08. Looks Like Rain >

09. Might As Well

2nd Set:

01. Tuning

02. China Cat Sunflower >

03. I Know You Rider >

04. Samson & Delilah

05. Ship Of Fools

06. Estimated Prophet >

07. Eyes Of The World >

08. Drums >

09. Space >

10. Truckin' >

11. Smokestack Lightnin' >

12. Black Peter >

13. Throwing Stones >

14. Not Fade Away

Encore:

01. Keep Your Day Job

Grateful Dead - 1985-07-14 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

GD 1985 - Back To Back - #2: As promised yesterday, here's the 2nd half of our Back To Back set featurinhg the Grtaeful Dead celebrating the band's 20th anniversary in 1985.  This one is a soundboard recording from Ventura from July 14, 1984, 41 years ago today.

Grateful Dead - 1985-07-13 - Ventura, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead  

1985-07-13

County Fairgrounds  

Ventura, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Tuning

02. One More Saturday Night >

03. Fire On The Mountain

04. Walkin' Blues

05. Dupree's Diamond Blues

06. Mama Tried >

07. Big River

08. Bird Song

09. The Music Never Stopped

2nd Set:

01. Touch of Grey >

02. Man Smart (Woman Smarter)

03. Terrapin Station >

04. Drums >

05. Space >

06. The Wheel >

07. The Other One >

08. Comes A Time

09. Around & Around >

10. Sugar Magnolia

Encore:

01. U.S. Blues

Grateful Dead - 1985-07-13 - Ventura, CA (SBD) 

GD 1985 - Back To Back - #1: In 1985, the Grateful Dead celebrated their 20th anniversary. Deadheads tend to passionately debate the quality of the music that year. Some feel that the band, inspired by their milestone anniversary, played their best shows of the 1980s. Others don't believe the music was much different from the prior years, and certainly not up to the standard of 1987 or 1989. I tend to lean in the direction that 1985 provided many inspired moments, especially during the Spring/Summer run, though it’s clear that by year's end, Jerry was mired deep in a cloud of drugs which would eventually contribute his near death coma in 1986. This soundboard recording from Ventura from July 13, 1985, 41 years ago today, showcases some of that inspiration, as the band opens the show with a surprising duo of One More Saturday Night that segues into Fire On The Mountain. Download this one, then come back tomorrow for the 2nd half of this Back To Back set. 

Grateful Dead - 1980-06-12 - Portland, OR (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1980-06-12

Memorial Coliseum

Portland, OR

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

Set 1:

01. Tuning

02. Alabama Getaway >

03. Promised Land

04. Peggy-O >

05. El Paso

06. Brown Eyed Women

07. Cassidy

08. Far From Me

09. Althea >

10. Lost Sailor >

11. Saint Of Circumstance >

12. Deal

Set 2:

01. Drums >

02. Scarlet Begonias >

03. Fire On The Mountain

04. Estimated Prophet >

05. Drums >

06. Space >

07. Not Fade Away >

08. Black Peter >

09. Around And Around >

10. Good Lovin'

Encore:

01. Johnny B. Goode

Grateful Dead - 1980-06-12 - Portland, OR (SBD)

On September 3, 1977, me and my buddies along with 150,000 others, made the pilgrimage to Englishtown NJ, to see the Grateful Dead play the largest concert in the state's history. The day was hot - over 100 degrees - and the band was even hotter., as evidenced by the fact the show was officailly released as Dick's Picks #15.  I would see 49 more after that, at least 1 show every year except 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1992, with the last show being June 18, 1995, just 2 month's before we lost Jerry Garcia. My long strange trip with the Dead was short compared to folks who saw hundreds of concerts, but it was memorable, as over a dozen shows that I attended were good enough to be officially released. It's been 31 years since we lost Jerry, and I still miss the magic. 

This soundboard recording captures the Dead on June 12, 1980, 46 years ago today, in Portland.  That year, the band celebrated their 15th anniversary, and the shows during the 2nd half of the year, in San Francisco, New Orleans and New York that included an acoustic set, get most of the attention. I went to the Halloween show at Radio City Music Hall, which easily makes my list of the top ten Dead shows I've attended.  It was also the first concert ever broadcast over closed circuit TV! That said, some pretty fine playing was going on early in 1980 as well, as evidenced by the fact that portions of the May 6, 7, 15 and 16 shows have all been officially released. The band was showcasing tunes such as Alabama Getaway, Lost Sailor, Saint Of Circumstance, Althea, Feel Like A Stranger, and Far From Me from their latest album, Go To Heaven. That disc was the first to feature new keyboard player Brent Mydland. Incredibly, the Dead would not release another studio album until 1987.

Grateful Dead - 1980-05-08 - Glen Falls, NY (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1980-05-08

Glens Falls Civic Center

Glens Falls, NY.

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Alabama Getaway >

02. Promised Land

03. Friend Of The Devil

04. Mama Tried >

05. Mexacali Blues

06. High Times

07. Lazy Lightning > Supplication

08. Ramble On Rose

09. Lost Sailor >

10. Saint Of Circumstance

2nd Set:

01. Uncle John's Band >

02. Estimated Prophet >

03. Eyes Of The World >

04. Drums/Space >

05. Truckin' >

06. Stella Blue >

07. Around & Around >

08. Johnny B. Goode

Encore:

01. U. S. Blues

Grateful Dead - 1980-05-08 - Glen Falls, NY (SBD)

The band celebrated their 15th anniversary in 1980, and the shows during the 2nd half of the year, in San Francisco, New Orleans and New York that included an acoustic set, get most of the attention. But some pretty fine playing was going on during May of that year as evidenced by the fact that portions of the May 6, 7, 15 and 16 shows have all been officially released. This soundboard recording captures the band durng that fine month, in Glen Falls on May 7, 1980, 46 years ago today.  The show features several tunes - Alabama Getaway, Lost Sailor, and Saint Of Circumstance - from the band's recently released labum Go To Heaven, the first with new keyboardist Brent Myland. That disc woul dbe the Dead's last studio album for 7 years, until the release of  In The Dark in 1987.

Grateful Dead - 1979-04-22 - San Jose, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1979-04-22

Spartan Stadium

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Jack Straw

02. Tennessee Jed

03. Mama Tried >

04. Mexicali Blues

05. Sugaree

06. New Minglewood Blues

07. Brown Eyed Women

08. Looks Like Rain

09. Stagger Lee

10. Passenger

11. Deal

2nd Set:

01. Tuning

02. I Need A Miracle >

03. Bertha >

04. Good Lovin'

05. Scarlet Begonias >

06. Fire On The Mountain

07. Estimated Prophet >

08. He's Gone >

09. Drums >

10. The Other One >

11. Wharf Rat >

12. Around & Around

Encore:

01. US Blues

02. Shakedown Street

Grateful Dead - 1979-04-22 - San Jose, CA (SBD) 

As mentioned in earlier posts this month, the Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. While Jerry Garcia did not show up for the ceremony, the rest of the band did, and brought a life size cardboard cut out of him! In the true spirit of the 1960s flower power era, the band attempted to be incredibly inclusive, listing 12 members as part of the band for induction. In addition to the then current line up of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Vince Welnick, Mickey Hary and Bill Kruetzmann, the Dead also included former keyboard players Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Brent Mydland, Keith Godchaux, and Tom Constanten, not to mention vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux. They even included lyricist Robert Hunter, who in collaboration with Garcia, had written some of the band's most famous tunes, including Uncle John's Band, US Blues, St Stephen, Eyes Of The World, Ripple, and Touch Of Grey, just to name a few. That said, I still think they missed 2 other members of the Dead family who should have been inducted. First is Bruce Hornsby, who played keyboards for them for almost 2 years alongside Welnick, about the same length of service as Constanten. Hornsby obviously was not offended, as he inducted the band. Second was John Perry Barlow, who worked with Weir in the same way Hunter partnered with Garcia. Weir/Barlow tunes, while not as numerous or famous as Garcia/Hunter compositions, included such staples of the Dead's live performances as Estimated Prophet, Cassidy, Looks Like Rain, Throwing Stones, and The Music Never Stopped, just to cite a few.

In any event, this soundboard recording captures theband on April 22, 1979, 47 years ago today, in San Jose. It was the first show for keyboardist Brent Mydland as a member of the Dead. He would become the Dead's longest tenured keyboard player, performing with the band for over 12 years, until his tragic death in July 1990 from a drug over dose at the age of 37.

Grateful Dead - 1991-03-31 - Greensboro, NC (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1991-03-31

Greensboro Coliseum

Greensboro, NC

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Tuning

02. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo ->

03. Wang Dang Doodle

04. Friend Of The Devil

05. Queen Jane Approximately

06. West L.A. Fadeaway

07. Cassidy >

08. Might As Well

2nd Set:

01. Samson And Delilah

02. Eyes Of The World >

03. Playing In The Band >

04. Drums >

05. Space >

06. The Wheel >

07. Around And Around >

08. Johnny B. Goode

Encore:

01. Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Grateful Dead - 1991-03-31 - Greensboro, NC (SBD)

1990s - #7: As long time readers of this blog know, I've spent numerous posts discussing the Dead's renaissance between 1989 and 1991. The number of official releases from that period is a testament to the caliber of the band's performances in that era, as they include:

• a show from Philadelphia from July 7, 1989
• the Giant Stadium Shows from July 9 and 10, 1989
• The 2 night stand at RFK Stadium from July 12 and 13, 1989
• the famed Warlock shows in Hampton Virginia on October 8 and 9, 1989 
• the Meadowlands NJ concert on October 16, 1989
• the Landover, Maryland show on March 15, 1990 
• the Knickerbocker arena run from March 24 to 26, 1990; 
• 2 (yes 2) box sets from Spring 1990, featuring every show from that tour - the only other tour to be released in its entirety besides Europe 1972
• a show from from Mountain View CA from June 16, 1990
• a show from from Pittsburgh from July 8, 1990
• the Madison Square Garden concerts from September 14 to 20, 1990. 
• a show from Paris from October 27, 1990 
• a show from Washington DC from June, 14, 1991
• the Giants Stadium shows from June 16 and 17, 1991
• a show from Pine Knob from June 20, 1991 
• a show from Madison Square Garden from September 10, 1991, featuring Bradford Marsalis
• a show from Boston Garden on September 25, 1991

Without a doubt, those 3 years marked the last great period of the Dead's incredible career.  This soundboard recording captures the Dead during that run, in Greensboro, on March 31, 1991, 35 years ago today.

Grateful Dead - 1987-03-22 - Hampton, VA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1987-03-22

Hampton Coliseum

Hampton, VA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. Hell In A Bucket >

02. Sugaree

03. It's All Over Now >

04. West LA FAdeaway

05. El Paso

06. When Push Comes To Shove

07. Cassidy >

08. Deal

2nd Set:

01. Tuning

02. Sugar Magnolia >

03. Scarlet Begonias >

04. Fire On The Mountain

05. Estimated Prophet >

06. Drums >

07. Space >

08. The Wheel >

09. Black Peter >

10. Sunshine Daydream

Encore:

01. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Grateful Dead - 1987-03-22 - Hampton, VA (SBD)

1980s - #4: As long time readers of this blog know, I’ve written extensively about how in 1987 Jerry Garcia returned to the stage from a diabetic coma that almost cost him his life. That year was also a time when the Dead achieved a new level of popularity, as the MTV generation, captivated by the innovative video for Touch Of Grey, climbed on the bus. In addition, the summer of 1987 featured 6 historic shows where the Dead served as Dylan’s back-up band. Moreover, on September 18, 1987 at Madison Square Garden, I attended my favorite Grateful Dead concert, a show which has also been recognized as one of the best of the 1980s. The mood at all of the 1987 concerts was incredibly festive, as Dead Heads rejoiced that the band’s spiritual leader was still “truckin’ on”. This soundboard recording captures The Dead on March 12, 1987, 39 years ago today, in Hampton, VA, during the triumphant Spring tour that marked Jerry’s return.

Grateful Dead - 1967-03-18 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead
1967-03-18
Winterland Arena
San Francisco, CA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Me And My Uncle
02. Next Time You See Me
03. He Was A Friend Of Mine
04. Smokestack Lightnin'
05. Morning Dew
06. It Hurts Me Too
07. Beat It On Down The Line
08. Dancin' In The Streets

2nd Set:
01. Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion
02. Cream Puff War
03. The Same Thing
04. Cold Rain And Snow
05. Viola Lee Blues
06. Death Don't Have No Mercy

Grateful Dead - 1967-03-18 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

1960s - #5: On March 17, 1967, the Grateful Dead released their self titled debut album, one of a host of incredible first albums from that legendary year. The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Janis Joplin, and the Jefferson Airplane (with Grace Slick) also released their debut discs that year. Even then, however, the Dead were far more about what transpired on stage than in the studio. The day after their album hit record stores, March 18, 1967, 59 years ago this very day, the Dead found themselves at Winterland in their home town of San Francisco. Per the Day Of The Dead website, this soundboard recording, is a "quintessential, elemental piece of raw, primal Dead that just cannot be missed."  The show also features one of the only two available live recording of the tune Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion.  Download this one, then while you listen, read more about it here.

Grateful Dead - 1970-03-01 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1970-03-01

Family Dog At The Great Highway

San Francisco, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set:

01. New Speedway Boogie jam > soundcheck

02. Casey Jones

03. Big Boy Pete

04. Morning Dew

05. Hard To Handle

06. Me & My Uncle

07. Cryptical Envelopment >

08. Drums >

09. The Other One >

10. Cryptical Envelopment >

11. Black Peter

12. Beat It On Down The Line

2nd Set:

01. Dire Wolf

02. Good Lovin' >

03. Drums >

04. Good Lovin'

05. Cumberland Blues

06. King Bee

07. China Cat Sunflower >

08. I Know You Rider

09. Uncle John's Band

10. Dancing In The Streets

11. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Grateful Dead - 1970-03-01 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

1970s - #1: For the Grateful Dead, 1970 was a year of transition. After the psychedelic intensity of 1969's live shows, captured in the album Live Dead, the band stunned fans and critics alike when they released Workingman's Dead in June 1970, followed by American Beauty in November. These were laid back, Americana-styled albums, featuring carefully crafted tunes, tight harmonies, and folk and country rhythms. In fact, legend has it that Jerry Garcia had made an arrangement that in return for his playing pedal steel guitar on Teach Your Children, CSNY would teach the members of the Grateful Dead how to sing harmony for those albums. The 2 discs would feature what would become some of the and's best known tunes - Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Casey Jones, and Truckin, just to name a few. The band's live concerts also evolved during this period. Songs such Dark Star, St. Stephen, The Eleven, Caution (Do Not On The Tracks) and Cryptical Envelopment which had been at the center of 1969s psychedelic jams played a less prominent role in the band's set lists. In their place, the band built jams around tunes such as Truckin, Not Fade Away and Going Down The Road. This soundboard from San Francisco captures the band during this transition phase on March 1, 1970, 56 years ago today.

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-12 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1989-02-12

Great Western Forum

Inglewood, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:

1st Set

01. Cold Rain & Snow > Hell In a Bucket

02. Row Jimmy

03. Beat It On Down the Line >

04. Promised Land

05. West LA Fadeaway

06. How Long Blues *

07. Gimme Some Lovin' *

2nd Set

08. Iko Iko

09. The Monkey & The Engineer **

10. Alabama Getaway **

11. Dire Wolf **

CD 2:

2nd Set (continued)

12. Cassidy **

13. Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again ** >

14. Drums > Space

15. The Other One >

16. Stella Blue >

17. Foolish Heart

Encore:

18. Not Fade Away **

19. Knockin' On Heaven's Door **

*with Spencer Davis

**with Bob Dylan (guitar & vocals on Memphis Blues & Heaven's Door; guitar only on the others)

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-12 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Dead 1989 - Back To Back - #3: As promised, here's the 3rd and final show in our Back to Back set featuring the Grateful Dead in Inglewood in February 1989,  This one is soundboard recording from February 12, 1989, 37 years ago today, which captures Bob Dylan sitting in with the Dead for the 2nd set, not to mention Spencer Davis joining the band for the 1st set!

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-11 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead
1989-02-11
Great Western Forum
Inglewood, CA
Soundboard Recording
256 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
02. New Minglewood Blues 
03. Candyman
04. Big River
05. Built to Last
06. Queen Jane Approximately
07. We Can Run
08. Bird Song

2nd Set:
01. China Cat Sunflower >
02. I Know You Rider >
03. Woman Are Smarter
04. Standing on the Moon
05. Estimated Prophet >
06. I Will Take You Home >
07. Drums >
08. Space >
09. Eyes of the World >
10. I Need a Miracle>
11. Black Peter >
12. Turn on Your Lovelight

Encore:
01. Box of Rain

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-11 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Dead 1989 - Back To Back - #2: As promised yesterday, here's part 2 of our Back To back set featuring the Grateful Dead in Inglewood in February 1989. This one is a soundboard recording from February 11, 1989, 37 years ago today. Download this one, then come back tomorrow and the next day for parts 2 and 3 of this Back to Back set.

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-10 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead
1989-02-10
Great Western Forum
Inglewood, California
Soundboard recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Feel Like A Stranger >
02. Franklin's Tower
03. Walkin' Blues
04. To Lay Me Down
05. When I Paint My Masterpiece
06. Friend Of The Devil
07. Let It Grow

2nd Set:
01. Just a Little Light
02. Truckin' >
03. Crazy Fingers >
04. Playin In The Band >
05. Drums >
06. Space >
07. The Wheel >
08. Gimme Some Lovin' >
09. Wharf Rat >
10. Sugar Magnolia

Encore:
01. Its All Over Now, Baby Blue

Grateful Dead - 1989-02-10 - Inglewood, CA (SBD)

Dead 1989 - Back To Back - #1: The Grateful Dead's Fall 1989 tour gets a host of attention and rightly so as the band was in peak form.  For example, on October 8 & 9, the band plays 2 shows in Hampton, VA billed as “Formerly The Warlocks”. For thOse shows, The Dead reached back into their song catalog and played some tunes that hadn't been in the set list for nearly 2 decades, including Attics of My Life, We Bid You Goodnight and Death Don’t Have No Mercy. Both shows have been officially released. A week after the Hampton shows, the Dead played another masterpiece for Bob Weir’s 42nd birthday, on October 16, 1989 (I was there), another show which has been officially released as an album entitled, Nightfall of Diamonds.  The October 26 show has also been officially released, as part of the 30 Trips Around The Sun box set. Given how strong the Fall tour eas, folks sometimes forget that the band played well throughout 1989, with shows from April and July also being selected for official release.  Moreover, the year started out with 6 excellent shows in their home state of California, 3 in San Francisco on February 5, 6 and 7 followed by 3 in Inglewood on February 10, 11 and 12.  This soundboard recording captures night 1 in Inglewood, on February 10, 1989, 37 years ago today.  Download this one, then come back tomorrow and the next day for parts 2 and 3 of this Back to Back set.

Grateful Dead - 1971-01-24 - Seattle, WA (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1971-01-24

Seattle Center Arena

Seattle, WA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Truckin'

02. China Cat Sunflower >

03. I Know You Rider

04. It Hurts Me Too

05. Cumberland Blues

06. Casey Jones

07. Sugar Magnolia

08. Hard To Handle

09. Turn On Your Lovelight >

10. Not Fade Away >

11. Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >

12. Turn On Your Lovelight >

13. Drums >

14. Good Lovin'

15. Uncle John's Band

Grateful Dead - 1971-01-24 - Seattle, WA (SBD)

1970s - #3: For the Grateful Dead, the period from 1970 to 1971 was a year of transition. After the psychedelic intensity of 1969's live shows, captured in the album Live Dead, the band stunned fans and critics alike when they released Workingman's Dead in June 1970, followed by American Beauty in November. Those were laid back, Americana-styled albums, featuring carefully crafted tunes, tight harmonies, and folk and country rhythms. The 2 discs would feature what would become some of the band's best known tunes - Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Casey Jones, and Truckin, just to name a few. The band's live concerts also evolved during this period. Songs such Dark Star, St. Stephen, The Eleven, Caution (Do Not On The Tracks) and Cryptical Envelopment which had been at the center of 1969s psychedelic jams played a less prominent role in the band's set lists. In their place, the band built jams around tunes such as Truckin, Not Fade Away and Going Down The Road.  As the band entred 1971, more change was on the horizon. Mickey Hart would leave the group in February 1971 (to return in 1974) while Pigpen's role diminished due to health issues and  an inability to truly grasp the new material. By October 1971, the band would add Keith Godchaux on keyboards to help deal with Pigpen's changing role. This soundboard recording from January 24, 1971, 55 years ago today, therefore captures the Dead right in between those 2 periods of change. Somehow, through it all, the Dead continued to shine on stage - you can read a more detailed description of the show here.