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Welcome to the weekly newsletter that brings you the most interesting and significant facts from Grateful Dead History, along with reviews of the music for the week ahead! The idea is to give all you Heads a "Heads up" on the interesting and cool stuff the Grateful Dead were up to on this week in history! So tell me what you think!

I hope you all had an awesome holiday. I managed to see fireworks and I still have all my fingers. Here's the highlights for Issue 24, for the week of July 8th, 2024 so check it out:

July 8th

7/8/78 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO - Officially released on July 1978: The Complete Recordings. Other than Winterland 12/31/78, this is probably the most widely circulated show from '78 - and for good reason: it's outstanding. I fell in love with this one in 1992, when my best friend from college and fellow Deadhead Bill Kurzenerger had a bootleg CD of this show. He had just purchased it, and he busted out during a radio show that we co-hosted on WSLN (Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH). I can clearly remember smoking a joint outside the studio with Bill before our time slot as he was excitedly telling me about this incredible 3 CD bootleg that he had just scored at a head shop on High Street in Columbus. We made a deal with the local Domino's Pizza shop that if we ate pizza and talked about how good it was on air, they would deliver a free large pepperoni to the studio. So the stage was set, we had our pizza and raved about how good it was as we cued up disc 1 which had "Estimated" and then faded to disc 2 which had "Other One > Eyes > Drums > Space > Wharf Rat > Franklin's Tower > Sugar Magnolia. Yea, easily the best hour + we ever produced lol. I couldn't believe the sound quality of those CDs. And I couldn't believe that "Estimated Profit". I sat there in the studio listening through some pretty decent speakers (can't remember what they were but they sounded great) thinking WTF just happened?! At one point it sounds like Jerry is literally crying with that freaking envelope filter effects pedal. I've never heard anything like it. Needless to say, I can see why it's a Jam Anthem version. But that whole segment through Sugar Magnolia is outstanding. Well, let me be clear: this entire show is flat out epic. I mean, don't skip a minute of it, and holy shit if I had a time machine this would be top 10 for me. Side trip: my buddy Bill recently interviewed Jorma Kaukonen for Psychedelic Scene in 2022. Check it out here: https://psychedelicscene.com/2022/01/29/interview-jorma-kakounen/. Jorma is selling his iconic Fur Peace Ranch, located in Pomeroy, OH (all good things must come to an end I guess) and this is the final year of concerts apparently. I've known about FPR for decades and sad to say I've never been so I think I have to check out the Peter Rowan show before they close forever. Infor here: https://furpeaceranch.com/.
7/8/87 Civic Center, Roanoke, VA - The 3d of a 3 show run at the Civic Center and this one is a hot one. A high-energy show with a lot of highlights including the opening "Bucket > Suagaree". Other 1st set highlights are "Big RxR Blues" and "Let It Grow" to close the set. 2nd set highlights are pretty much the entire set. The "Scarlet > Fire" is magical with an unusually aggressive transition. Be sure to listen to the whole show.
7/8/90 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA - Officially released on View From The Vault, Volume One. You'll find plenty to like on this one. It doesn't stand out as the strongest show of July, 1990 but it's full of great moments. 1st set highlights include "Jack-A-Roe", " Minglewood', and "Tom Thumb's Blues" and "Let It Grow". 2nd set highlights are "Samson > Eyes > Estimated > Terrapin > Jam" and "Throwing Stones > Lovelight".

July 9th

7/9/89 Giant's Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ - Officially released on Giant's Stadium, 1987, 1989, 1991. This entire show is excellent, and will provide you with hours peak Grateful Dead listening pleasure. It's a time period when the Dead were coming to grips with their commercial success of being a "popular" stadium touring band while also giving the older fans a taste of their legacy. 1st set highlights are "Shakedown Street", "Jack Straw" and "Bird Song". 2nd set highlights include "China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Truckin' > Drums", and "GDTRFB > Throwing Stones > NFA".

July 10th

7/10/81 St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN - An excellent, classic '81 show that's kind of hidden in pain sight. The band is full of energy and playing well together on this one. I know you'll like it. 1st set highlights are "Jack Straw" opener, "Sugaree", "Brown Eyed Women > CC Rider", "Ramble On Rose", "Let It Grow > Don't Ease". The second set opens with a lively "Samson". Other highlights are "Estimated > Eyes" and all the post-D/S songs: " Uncle John's Band > Playing > China Doll > Uncle John's Band > Playing > Around & Arond > Good Lovin'. The "Casey Jones" encore is fun.
7/10/89 Giant's Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ - Officially released on Giant's Stadium, 1987, 1989, 1991. Another epic show from the Vault. How lucky are we?! This show, much like the previous one is an intense show. that is in the list of show which firmly established the band's "late-stage" prowess. 1989 was a banner year for the band, both commercially and artistically and if you have any doubts, just listen to the music play. 1st set highlights are the super funky "Stranger > Franklin's" opener, "Walkin' Blues", "Jack-A-Roe". Second set highlights are "Playing > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > Iko > Watchtower > Morning Dew (Jam Anthem version) > Sugar Magnolia" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" encore. The Neville Brothers join for the second half of the set ("Iko through the end).
7/10/90 Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC - A standout, high-energy performance that won't disappoint you. 1st set highlights are "Loser", and an incredible "Bird Song > Promised Land". Second set highlights are "Playing > Uncle John's Band > Playing Jam".

July 11th

7/11/81 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI - An excellent performance, much like the night before in St. Paul. The band is locked in with each other. 1st set highlights include "Tennessee Jed", and "China Cat > I Know You Rider" to close the set. Boy, do I wish I had seen that!! Second set highlights are "He's Gone > Truckin'" and the whole post-D/S segment "Other One > Stella Blue > Miracel > GDTRFB > One More Saturday Night". Not to mention a sweet "Brokedown Palace" encore.

July 12th

7/12/69 New York State Pavilion, Flushing Meadow, Queens, NY - An interesting single set of music. SHNID 4645 is the only circulating source that I know of that has the complete set. That recording is hard to listen to, however. This would be the final performance of "Mountains Of The Moon", but I can't tell if it's a good version or not. I like SHNID 136644 for the best part of the tape: "Dark Star (fades in during the middle of the song) > Other One > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Lovelight". "The Eleven > Lovelight" is the highlight of it for me. "The Eleven" is a completely epic version and wait until you hear the antics on "Lovelight". It's probably one of the funniest, wildest versions ever. Pigpen encourages Mickey to step up to the microphone, and screams for a while and talks about "your brown cow" and "let's go get stoned!" Then they encourage him to sing, which he kind of does. After that they converse with a woman in the crowd, and Bobby tells Pigpen to "ask her something dirty". Fun stuff.
7/12/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - The first of a highly anticipated 6-show run at the Orpheum Theatre. These are the first shows after the band's year-and-a-half hiatus. For this show, the band is in fine form. They sound laid back but also confident having just performed a bunch of shows on the east cost and Midwest. Some people don't like shows from this time period because they're slower tempo but they feel mellow to me. You could draw some comparisons to the current Dead & Company tempo, I suppose. Still good, and not sloppy, but for the most part they just don't have that edgy energy that I normally attribute to a great performance. It just depends on what I'm in the mood for I guess. First set highlights are "Music Never Stopped', "Tennessee Jed", "Candyman", "Lazy Lightning > Supplication". Second set highlights are "Help > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower" and "Dancin' > Wharf Rat"
7/12/87 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ - This is two sets of Grateful Dead and a third set with Bob Dylan. The fist set is all high energy, enthusiastic playing. Highlights are "Bucket > West L.A. Fadeaway", "Loser", "Ramble On Rose", "Masterpiece", "Promised Land > Bertha". The second set isn't as impressive but still has some nice song selections. "Morning Dew" opener is nice. But the rest of the set gives us shorter versions of the songs and it just feels a little rushed to me. The third set with Dylan is good but not overly impressive. I think this was a "you had to be there" kind of moment. I think it's difficult to be a good backing band for Dylan. He has so many different arrangements for his songs and the Dead don't mold well into that role (just my opinion). Highlights of the third set, to me are "Memphis Blues", "Ballad Of A Thin Man" and "Watchtower" (Jam Anthem version).
7/12/89 RFK Stadium, Washington, DC - Partially officially released on Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington D.C., July 12 & 13, 1989. A nice show that features some excellent moments (and a couple of stumbles too, but nobody's no matter). I'll have to say that the official release sounds far better than anything that circulates so if you have this one, you'll probably want to go that route. First set highlights are "Half Step", "Tom Thumb's" and "Promised Land". Second set highlights are "Sugaree", "Women Are Smarter", "Eyes", "Dear Mr. Fantasy".
7/12/90 RFK Stadium, Washington, DC - Partially officially released on View From The Vault, Volume 2. A nice show with lots of great moments and a good supply of energy. First set highlights include “Let The Good Times Roll”, “Bertha”, “Queen Jane”, Stagger Lee”, “Cassidy” and “Tennessee Jed”. The second set opens with a funny “take a step back” by Phil with added demonic effects provided by Healy. The entire set is a highlight and is just be copying the set list so check out the whole thing!

July 13th

7/13/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - The second of a 6 show run. This one is better than 7/12 in my opinion. It’s not as “lazy” feeling I guess. First set highlights are “Peggy-O”, “Crazy Fingers > Let It Grow > Might As Well”. The whole second set is excellent, especially “Music Never Stopped”, “Roses”, and “St. Stephen” through “Sunshine Daydream”. The “Dancin’ encore is fun and is the only time they ever played it as an encore.
7/13/84 Greek Theatre, UC, Berkeley, CA - This infamous show is one you don’t want to skip! Looking at the set list, I’m sure you can figure it out. So if you’ve never heard it, take it for a spin. First set highlights are “Bertha > Greatest Story” and “Might As Well” but the best parts of this show occur in the second set. Highlights are “Scarlet > Touch > Fire”, “Wheel” out of “Space” and of course the “Dark Star” encore. This was the second of only 2 times they ever encored with it. It was also the first time it was played in 169 shows (12/31/81). Needless to say the crowd went nuts. To make it even more magical, there was a lunar eclipse and a shooting star during the show. It had to have been incredible.
7/13/85 Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA - a nice show with some unique song selections and great energy. First set highlights are “Saturday Night > Fire”, “Dupree’s”, and “Bird Song > Music”. Second set highlights are “Terrapin”, “Whee > Cryptical > Other One > Cones A Time > Around > Sugar Magnilia”
7/13/89 RFK Stadium, Washington, DC - Officially released on Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington D.C., July 12 & 13, 1989. An excellent show with many great moments. First set highlights are “Bucket”, “Cold Rain And Snow”, and “Let It Grow”. Second set highlights are “He’s Gone > Looks Like Rain > Terrapin”, and “Other One > Wharf Rat”.

July 14th

7/14/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - This show features a unique set list with songs in the first set that are normally played in the second set and vice versa. First set highlights are “Scarlet”, and “Playing > Drums > Wheel > Jam (spacey) > Playing. Second set highlights are “Let It Grow > Eyes > Wharf Rat > Other One > Music.

BTW, If you're not yet familiar with Jam Anthem versions of songs you can read all about it in Deadology II by Howard Weiner. Check it out here along with all his other great books.

And that's all for now! Of course, if you want to follow along in your very own copy of my book On This Day In Grateful Dead History: A Daily Listening Journal I still have some copies available here. Once they're sold out, I will have to decide whether or not I'm going to have more made. The costs of printing and shipping have gone way up in the last few years since I had them printed so I'm not sure if it's worth it or not. So get one now while you can! https://www.gratefuldeadbook.com/tigdh

Peace out my good people. Until Next week!

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