Today's Music

I realized that I have not posted a link to the Archive's treasures lately, so decided today that I must share what I'm listening to because it's really put a spring in my step...

This is from the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, February 9. 1973. In the 1980s, the boys would play some monster shows outside at the Frost, but this is inside Maples Pavillion. This was their first show of the year and a little warmup before heading out to tour the midwest.

I'm up to Truckin' now and have not heard anything not worth my time yet. Pop it on if you'd like!

I Had to Share This Show With You

December 11, 1979 was a little bit chilly in Kansas City, Missouri, with a low temperature of 28 degrees, but the folks who made it into Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium that night were in for a hot night.

This is the Grateful Dead show I have on today and it's a real doozy.

Below is a link to a matrix recording, which splices together an audience tape along with the soundboard. On a decent sound system, it allows you to feel the audience around you wihtout sacrificing your jones for that crispy soundboard detail.

Enjoy!

Today's Listening...A Little Jaunt Down to Monterey

I've gotten a little good feedback from a friend on the streaming shows, so I'll throw up another...the one I've started listening to myself, today (albeit an audience tape, while you lucky ducks have a soundboard here.)

It's from a nifty little two-day run on 5/9 and 5/10/87 at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.

This is the second night and the highlight of the show has to be the blazing Desolation in the first set.

Enjoy!

This is Why We Love 1977

Wow, what a gem of a show I dusted off this morning...from October 2, 1977 at the Paramount Theater in Portland, OR.

The recording is a much-prized Betty Board. It's notable for having the first Dupree's Diamond Blues since 1969 and the first Casey Jones since 1974. The latter is one of the best versions I've ever heard...they actually take a little time to play with it, not just getting through quickly.

Check out at least these two tracks, should you choose to deprive yourself the pleasure of the rest of this show.

Some Tunage Before I Turn In

Here's the show I was listening to on the way home this evening. I had not heard it in a few years, but immediately remembered why October 29, 1977 at the Evans Fieldhouse at DeKalb's Northern Illinois University is one of my all-time faves.

1977 is a top year for some people...the band's sound was just in a really nice groove and it was one of the last years before bad habits started to take their toll on certain band members with Hispanic surnames.

While I'm not in full agreement with all folks on 77, this show really shines in my book. The scorching Mighty Swell surprises as an opener, but the real highlight for me is the Estimated->Eyes in the second set. If you listen to nothing else, check those out and let the music wrap around your head.