tigerstrat wrote:I have a theory, which is mine. This theory, which belongs to me, is as follows... (throat clearing) This is how it goes... (clears throat) The next thing that I am about to say is my theory. (clears throat) Ready?Thats "Anne Elk"...A-N-N-E, not "an elk"
A place to talk about the music of the Grateful Dead
Last likes
-
By mkaufmanRe: Last night's show: the National Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Jerry Garcia Tue Sep 08, 2026 9:41 am -
By tdcrjeffRe: Last night's show: the National Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Jerry Garcia Tue Sep 08, 2026 7:35 am -
By TacosauceRe: Last night's show: the National Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Jerry Garcia Mon Sep 07, 2026 11:57 am -
By Jon S.Last night's show: the National Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Jerry Garcia Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:39 am -
By Darkstar860Re: Searching for a JBL K-120 Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:41 pm
[quote="Maybeck09"]The years before my first (80-83) were dark Jer. heroin years and his playing,personality,looks and voice were generally subpar, in my opinion.[/.quote]
I thought Jerry was less affected by the drugs in the early 80's (80-82) than the mid 80's (83-86). By the mid 80's Jerry was getting fatter and his voice was deteriorating so at least it looked like the drugs were taking their toll but maybe it was more of his diet, cigarettes and lack of exercise (which of course the drugs contributed to). Anyway, yes, the late 80's were great and Jerry was full of energy and new life. His voice was back too. Still, I think something was missing post-Coma.
My favorite playing of Jerry is around 81 or 82 but my favorite guitar TONE is 1984.
Jim
I thought Jerry was less affected by the drugs in the early 80's (80-82) than the mid 80's (83-86). By the mid 80's Jerry was getting fatter and his voice was deteriorating so at least it looked like the drugs were taking their toll but maybe it was more of his diet, cigarettes and lack of exercise (which of course the drugs contributed to). Anyway, yes, the late 80's were great and Jerry was full of energy and new life. His voice was back too. Still, I think something was missing post-Coma.
My favorite playing of Jerry is around 81 or 82 but my favorite guitar TONE is 1984.
Jim
The years before my first (80-83) were dark Jer. heroin years and his playing,personality,looks and voice were generally subpar, in my opinion.I would say the end of 83 to 86 with the exception of part of 85 Jerry was a fat slobering mess and the music suffered. The last really good show I saw was New Haven in the spring of 83. Anything after that while good was not just the same, the band may have been playing much better in 87,89, and 90 but the old man was never quite the same again and the big crowds and venues were not near as warm and fuzzy as the old ones.
First show = Niagara Falls Civic Center, Niagara Falls, NY - April 17, 1984
Favorite listening era(s) = 1973-74, 1980-82
So, I would subscribe to your theory... at least partially. That 80-82 was a couple years prior to my first show. I know it has been written how drug use negatively impacted performances during that period prior to the '86 coma, but gimme some Greek Fall '82 any day! I really dig the Fender Rhodes that B. was playing during that period, as well. There is a real distinctive tonal coloration to my ears, overall from these early 80's days.
Favorite listening era(s) = 1973-74, 1980-82
So, I would subscribe to your theory... at least partially. That 80-82 was a couple years prior to my first show. I know it has been written how drug use negatively impacted performances during that period prior to the '86 coma, but gimme some Greek Fall '82 any day! I really dig the Fender Rhodes that B. was playing during that period, as well. There is a real distinctive tonal coloration to my ears, overall from these early 80's days.
Oh yeah, there is some really fresh sounding stuff in '81 and '82. Doesn't sound "drugged out" or sloppy or sluggish or whatever. 1981 had some really smokin "on fire" shows. 12/3/81 comes to mind. For 1982, Greek '82, Frost '82, and how about some of those September '82 shows (9/15, 9/21, 9/24). Really good playing there (also really good Playin'). 1982 had the comeback of Crazy Fingers and some good versions.
Jim
Jim
The H years.
Maybe its a personal opinion. My first show I thought Bob was the fuckin star (so did he). Jer's playing was totally uninspiring and he stood in a dark corner all night. Crowd went wild with a slight nod or movement.
I did enjoy a couple of '84 shows that were good, but I really liked the power of '85. Saw Hampton in the Spring which was electric and my favorite concert of all time Red Rocks (9/7/85) in the summer. These were post Golden Gate park bust, Jerry in Red period. That was in January and he may not have been clean but he knew he was being watched and seemed a little more in the present. He also gained an extra 70 lbs or so. All of that led to the '86 coma, revival, clean up and '87 -90 band which was their last peak. Bobby had taken on a bigger roll with Jer out of it earlier. Brent was phenomenal. Phil was Phil, etc. They were a band with a future and the present was hoppin. Never seemed to recover once Brent went down.
Someone else mentioned 72 for a musician. Oh yeah, that's why I like 73- the tapes are so crisp and the band with one drummer is so clean and clear. Also with the early Wall the instruments and vocals are all separate and very clean an independent of one another. Great place to hear the parts.
By the way- great thread everybody. Few bands have such a long history to pull from. Great to hear everyone's thoughts.
Ramble now over.
Maybe its a personal opinion. My first show I thought Bob was the fuckin star (so did he). Jer's playing was totally uninspiring and he stood in a dark corner all night. Crowd went wild with a slight nod or movement.
I did enjoy a couple of '84 shows that were good, but I really liked the power of '85. Saw Hampton in the Spring which was electric and my favorite concert of all time Red Rocks (9/7/85) in the summer. These were post Golden Gate park bust, Jerry in Red period. That was in January and he may not have been clean but he knew he was being watched and seemed a little more in the present. He also gained an extra 70 lbs or so. All of that led to the '86 coma, revival, clean up and '87 -90 band which was their last peak. Bobby had taken on a bigger roll with Jer out of it earlier. Brent was phenomenal. Phil was Phil, etc. They were a band with a future and the present was hoppin. Never seemed to recover once Brent went down.
Someone else mentioned 72 for a musician. Oh yeah, that's why I like 73- the tapes are so crisp and the band with one drummer is so clean and clear. Also with the early Wall the instruments and vocals are all separate and very clean an independent of one another. Great place to hear the parts.
By the way- great thread everybody. Few bands have such a long history to pull from. Great to hear everyone's thoughts.
Ramble now over.
mijknahs wrote:Oh yeah, there is some really fresh sounding stuff in '81 and '82. Doesn't sound "drugged out" or sloppy or sluggish or whatever. 1981 had some really smokin "on fire" shows. 12/3/81 comes to mind. For 1982, Greek '82, Frost '82, and how about some of those September '82 shows (9/15, 9/21, 9/24). Really good playing there (also really good Playin'). 1982 had the comeback of Crazy Fingers and some good versions.
Jim
You know what... glad you said Frost because that was what I was thinking of... when I stated Greek! One of the first tapes a buddy turned me onto was Frost, October '82.... Bobby starts off.. "Well, my stuff all works but Jerry's stuff doesn't all work... so we're going to fix it..." Then they fly into Alabama Getaway opener and proceed through a typical, but smokin early 80's, First Set... yea, man... Hot stuff!
I think they were cookin' along pretty good until '83. There are some phenomenal shows from 80-82. Guess I'm just not a big '78-'79 fan.
Yeah, that first set of 10/9/82 is great! Love the BIODTL "just like a Swiss watch". What a great Big River. I don't really care for the second set as much. Those 2 shows (10/9 and 10/10) happen to be the best quality audience recordings on Archive.org (in my opinion).
Check out these INCREDIBLE versions:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
Jim
Check out these INCREDIBLE versions:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
Jim
mijknahs wrote:Yeah, that first set of 10/9/82 is great! Love the BIODTL "just like a Swiss watch". What a great Big River. I don't really care for the second set as much. Those 2 shows (10/9 and 10/10) happen to be the best quality audience recordings on Archive.org (in my opinion).Jim-
Check out these INCREDIBLE versions:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
Jim
I couldn't agree more about the those AUD recordings. ..and I am a fan of SDB's 9 times out of 10! But that recording did IT for me then and still does IT for me now. Weir seems to be really up in the mix in the opener had so much snap/punch (if Bobby can have that much presence) It was almost like a sign of what was to come for the rest of the night. OMG... you know how smell's can trigger flashbacks... when I clicked the first link that you provided, it was like I was 18 all over again. Good stuff, man! Thanks.
There are times listening to that recording that you think "how could this possibly be an audience recording?" but it is.
Jim
Jim
I don't think I really have a favorite era. Kinda like it's hard for me to decide on a favorite song or favorite version of a song. If I were to disect the things I like about them I could go on and on and cite eras where each aspect may have been most prevalent. Like '77 for raw energy and '72 - '74 for creatice collaboration etc. But to say what is my favorite may change from one day to the next.
"Sometimes we live no particular way but our own"
http://www.stellabluesband.net
Stella Blue's Band(Facebook)
Finders Keepers (Facebook)
http://www.archive.org/details/StellaBluesBand
I'm only 34, so I wasn't around when the gettin was good with the boys. Early 70's and early 80's is what i go for the most for the tone. The era we are in now in which we can easily stream a show from any date we want is fantastic. What do I feel like today? Nassau 5/6/81? Sure, why not. Maybe a little Pig later on? Brent tearing it after that? Hell yeah. It's all there and it's all good. And if you can't seem to wake up in the morning you just crank some Donna! 
"Mama said, don't go near that river."
jerrys.kids wrote:I'm only 34, so I wasn't around when the gettin was good with the boys. Early 70's and early 80's is what i go for the most for the tone. The era we are in now in which we can easily stream a show from any date we want is fantastic. What do I feel like today? Nassau 5/6/81? Sure, why not. Maybe a little Pig later on? Brent tearing it after that? Hell yeah. It's all there and it's all good. And if you can't seem to wake up in the morning you just crank some Donna!Totally agree. I have around 100 full shows in my pocket at all times, between GD, Phish, JGB, Fennario, DSO, Playin' Dead, etc, all in good quality MP3, plus dozens of studio albums and some pretty fun games. It's amazing.
brutusbuck45 wrote:Big props to Rango on his '82 Frosts. Post-Space is raging on 10/9 w/ the Truckin>O1>Dew, but the next night trumps imho. 10/10 II was one of the first 5 cassettes I owned iirc, definitely influencing me towards early 80's (that and 2/27/81 and 8/19/80mijknahs wrote:Yeah, that first set of 10/9/82 is great! Love the BIODTL "just like a Swiss watch". What a great Big River. I don't really care for the second set as much. Those 2 shows (10/9 and 10/10) happen to be the best quality audience recordings on Archive.org (in my opinion).Jim-
Check out these INCREDIBLE versions:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1982-1 ... eok.flac24
Jim
I couldn't agree more about the those AUD recordings. ..and I am a fan of SDB's 9 times out of 10! But that recording did IT for me then and still does IT for me now. Weir seems to be really up in the mix in the opener had so much snap/punch (if Bobby can have that much presence) It was almost like a sign of what was to come for the rest of the night. OMG... you know how smell's can trigger flashbacks... when I clicked the first link that you provided, it was like I was 18 all over again. Good stuff, man! Thanks.
"There, in huge black letters, was 'The Grateful Dead'. It just... cancelled my mind out."-Garcia
