Garcia said “We were great for seconds on end.” I was lucky to see Jerry play for about 1,000,000 seconds exactly. Thanks for your 1,000,000 views here . Dave Davis wrote this blog for 500 posts and 5 years from 2015 to 2019. Contact me at twitter @gratefulseconds
"That's Outrageous", one scalper said, "The Dead is a Good Show, but they aren't as good as they used to be" according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 11/6/1977
It was a riot after all, three step-backs and a crazy Phil Solo>Eyes of the World>Samson & Delilah which graces your ear canals at the moment. Just a powerhouse of a show with a nice Other One>my first Black Peter towards the end. Dick liked it 34th best. Thanks again to Rick Sullivan for the seats When Black Peter came into view after The Other One, Rick and I turned to each other and said "Black Peter" in loud voices. Ah, remember when Black Peter was rare. Took me ten shows to catch it.
Rick SullivanThat sure was a really fun one! Still have pretty strong visual memories of our adventure to Rochester. Especially on those steps getting in without being thrown through the glass door panels! Remember when we walked out after the show, they were welding the doors back onto their frames!
Yes it's true. I was there It was my 75th show. Brent did get really messed up at the famous Brent meltdown show but big fucking deal.. We all have off nights and we all got too messed up at the wrong time but it still was a remarkable night with a very cool drum fueled keyboard thing in the middle that you hear now that lead into a crazed 3 minute solo Maybe You Know>Goin Down the Road>Dew (second and late Dew of 1986, by the way). I loved Berkeley shows. Where else are you going to see that at the high school auditorium five blocks from your house?
My 1986 Ticket with my 2016 Thumb
You never know what's going to happen at a Grateful Dead concert. And maybe you know someone who got too wasted that they slept through a show or forgot their tickets. I feel for Brent's pain, especially in hindsight when he died of an overdose four years later, but his condition lead to an unpredictable night at this REX benefit at 3,000 seat Berkeley Community Theater. No drums, no space.
Note that this was not the first time Brent played with the drummers in Berkeley; at the September 13, 1981 Greek show I saw the second set of jam of Lost Sailor>Saint>Terrapin>Good Times pre Drums..
RIP Brent. You were truly one of the boys. We all have been there. We all feel pain. But you rocked Brent and you rocked us. People remember the Maybe You Know but they forget the once-only cool jam with and without the drummers that preceeded it. Just listen and enjoy a unique moment in the Grateful Dead History.
Lesser known are the 7 versions performance acoustic by Jerry Garcia, the one solo version from April 10, 1982 at the Capitol Theatre and the 6 others he performed with John Kahn from April 21 through July 2, 1982. I regret I saw none of these either.
Jerry April 10, 1982 Solo Version of Sing Me Back Home
This song is just beautiful. I know some of you on archive.org were disappointed with my Merl post this week, because it was the "other Merl", so here's your chance to hear numerous versions of Merl Haggard's classic Sing Me Back Home.
This was played at alot of well known shows since as April 25, 26 and 27, 1971 at the Fillmore East, in Europe in 1971, nine times during May of the Europe '72 Tour, Kesey's Farm Field Trip and before 500,000 at Watkins Glen.
I recommend listening to all the jams into Sing Me Back Home, there are 8 versions preceeded by The Other One. Ironically, there are only one Dark Star>Sing Me Back Home from The Spectrum on March 24, 1973 (He's Gone>Jam>a 4 minute Dark Star>SMBH) , I would have thought there were more of those (oops, I must have forgot the El Paso from 8-27-72 Veneta). Links here
Here is the list of the popular venues in Grateful Dead history, the 20x20. For suspense, I have decided to list them backwards. Among my 80 shows, I saw shows in seven of these venues. Coming in 21st was the Providence Civic Center with 19 shows including the 1974 Dick's Picks and the 1978 30 Trips Around the Sun entries . Playing in the background is the end of the set 2 at the first show for the number one pick, guess where, but no cheating by looking at the end first. Work in progress
20 Shows Exactly
19.Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, Wisconsin
The Dead played 20 times here between 8-23-1980 and 7-19-89 (last show ever in Wisconsin).
There's a great The Music Never Stopped sandwich around a Sugaree from 8-7-1982 at the start of Dick's Picks 32.
The spaceship was the home to 1989 Warlock shows, both officially released in the Warlocks 6-CD set, as well as the partial LP release of the first show there on May 4, 1979, which I attended . The 1979 was Brent's third show and second show on the East Coast Tour. The Dead played multiple night runs here from 1984 to 1989. The last shows here were in March of 1992.
Harrier and I were almost arrested here on May 4, 1979
22 Shows
17. Berkeley Community Theater at Berkeley High School
There are 3,491 seats here and I used to walk to shows here that were not even sold out ($25 Rex benefit ticket prices vs the normal less than $10 paid during this era). I suspect that Berkeley High music student Phil Lesh played here often around 1959.
The band played here first in 1967 and had a famous four night run here in 1972 in the days before the Kesey's Farm show including 1.75 Betty Boards from the 24 and 25. There were 13 Rex benefit shows here between 1984 and 1986 of which I saw two, the One More Halloween Night Show here and the Brent breakdown show in 1986. No official Grateful Dead shows have been released from this venue. Please David.
24 Shows
15. (tie) The Omni in Atlanta, GA
The Dead rarely played the south, but played here and even the Fox. Check out the awesome soundcheck from this show, perhaps the great month in the history of the band. The Omni was more often the house of Dusty Rhodes v Ole Anderson or Ric Flair.
15. (tie) Boston Garden, Boston< MA
What can you say about the Gar-den. You have the 1973 and 1974 tour-de-force, the 1977 magic weekend show, the 1991 power run with the Dark Stars and the Help on the Way slipping into Fire on the Mountain and even the "last great show" 10-1-1994. I only saw May 7, 1977, the Saturday Night before Cornell as part of my senior year sneaking-out saturday night tour
25 Shows
14. Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA
I only saw one show in Sacramento, which was my first ever California show at the 3,867 seat Memorial Auditorium on June 28, 1979, but never saw any Expo shows in 1984, 1986 or 1989 through 1994. My favorite moment from Cal Expo can be heard in this post
29 Shows
12. (tie) The Capitol Center, Landover, MD
Of the 44 shows in Maryland, the vast majority were played here including very cool 1974 and 1976 (Dick's Picks 20) masterpieces all the way up to October 1994.
12. (tie) The Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA
My favorite venue, the Mecca. Only release is the 1968 30 Trips show. Perhaps a 3 disc x 9 show set
Mr Brother Esau Ralph and Jordan, Doctor of the Dead at the Greek 1983
30 Shows
11. The Avalon, San Francisco, CA
Burn Down the Fillmore, Gas the Avalon, What can I say?
39 Shows
10. Shoreline, Mountain View, CA
Never saw the band here, but interesting is the band played a high school dance here in 1967 and then followed with multi-night stands here, sometimes more than one a year from 1987 to the end in 1995. When my friend Evan took his Dad to one show here and put here in the first five rows in August 1991, the band rewarded him with this first set Dark Star.
42 Shows
8. (tie) Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
Deserves a full piece, never saw the Dead on the island
8. (tie) Fillmore East, New York, NY
46 Shows
7. The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
I was a baby during the heyday, but did see The Replacements here when it was called the Fillmore circa 1984.
52 Shows
6. Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Never saw the Dead here (only Dead & Co in 2015)
53 Shows
5. The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
Always something special here
58 Shows
4. Oakland Auditorium/Henry J Kaiser, Oakland, CA
Saw the first shows here in 1979.
59 Shows
2. (tie) Carousel Ballroom/Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA
2. (tie) Winterland, San Francisco, CA
I need 1,000,000 seconds to do justice to Winterland. Never was in California during its history
66 Shows
1. Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
This is the indoor venue, you might know the Golden State team that never loses in their now (blessed by the 66 shows of the Dead). There were also five shows outside, all special shows (6-8-74 Day on The Green , 10-9/10-76 with the Who, 7-24-87 with Dylan, and 5-27-89 In Concert Against Aids Benefit)
The shows here were
1979 Benefit, Last Keith and Donna Show)
1980 Benefit
1985-1989 Year End Shows
1990-1995 Mardi Gar and Year End Shows with the Last one Feb 26, 1995
The first song ever played here was Greatest Story Ever Told and the last songs were
I Need A Miracle>Days Between>Not Fade Away and Box of Rain which you can hear below
I love this song. Played on Heavy Turbulence and Fire Up. Never played live as far as I know except for
8/5/73 Boarding House, San Francisco, CA
II: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, That's All Right Mama, Expressway, Money Honey, Man-Child, After Midnight, How Sweet It Is (Bill Kreutzmann substitutes on drums; incomplete) Which is actually 12-5-1972 thanks to JGMF
Jan 17, 2010 ... Thank God whomever is taping changed batteries or whatever for what comes next, because it is a truly monumental "Man-Child," the Merl ...
Jun 21, 2010 ... ... from the period, such as "Save Mother Earth" and "Man-Child" achieved a real inner city vibe, whatever the socioeconomics of the players.
jgmf.blogspot.com
So 9-24-71, 1-15-72, 1-20-72, and 8-5-73 (which is 12-5-72) at least
Live versions I am getting will be available here today (just wait)
. Love yourself some Merl and Jerry today. While you listen to the 12 minute LP version, I recommend turning on the soundcloud below for the 32 minutes January 1972 live version:
I was toting my pack along the long dusty Winnemucka road
When along came a semi with a high canvas covered load
If your goin' to Winnemucka, Mack with me you can ride
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!"
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to,
Reno (#1 May 12, 1974 also 1970 and 1988)
Chicago (#2 1968 to 1995)
Fargo (maybe we can get a Dead tune in season 3)
Minnesota (#3 1971, July 1978 release!)
Buffalo (#4 Truckin Up 7-4-89 and 5-9-77, 3-31-73)
Toronto (#5 11-2-77 :)
Winslow
Sarasota (close to Saratoga?)
Whichta (#6 Wichita 11-17-72 )
Tulsa (#7, 2-6-79)
Ottowa (Furthur did in 2010)
Oklahoma (#8 11-15-72, 1973, Norman 1977, 1979, 2982)
Tampa (#9 Dick's Picks 1 among others)
Panama
Mattua
LaPaloma
Bangor (#10, believe it or not 4-22-71)
Baltimore (#11, 8 times 9-17-72, #1 for me)
Salvador
Amarillo
Tocapillo
Pocotello
Amperdllo
I'm a Killer
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to,
Boston (#12, 51 times, how about 12-2-73, 4-2-74, 5-7-77, 6-9-76,#2 for me)
Charleston (close by in Columbia)
Dayton (#13, 11-30-81)
Louisiana (#14, 9 shows include Acoustic 1980, 10-16-77)
Washington (#15, 17 times in DC, 30 in the state)
Houston (#16, 9 times 10-14-77, 11-18,19-72)
Kingston
Texarkana
Monterey (#17, 7 shows includeing Monterey Pop)
Fairaday
Santa Fe (#18, three shows 82 and 83)
Tollaperson
Glen Rock
Black Rock
Little Rock (never :)
Oskaloussa
Tennessee (#19 six shows including 6-19-70)
Tinnesay
Chickapee
Spirit Lake
Grand Lake
Devil's Lake
Crater Lake
For Pete's Sake
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to,
Louisville (#20 6 six shows starting in 1968, includes 6-18-74)
Nashville (#21, 3 shows, 2 in 1978)
Knoxville
Omerback
Shereville
Jacksonville (#22 4-6-78 and of course Last Train to Jacksonville
Waterville (Maine but no cigar)
Costa Rock
Richfield (#23, 13 times !!)
Springfield (#24, 10 shows, many of the greatest shows ever
Bakersfield (#25, 1-14-78 on the small cities of california tour, Bill Graham needed cash)
Shreveport
Hakensack
Cadallic
Fond do Lac
Davenport
Idaho (#26, Boise 9-2-83)
Jellico
Argentina
Diamondtina
Pasadena (#27, 4 shows 1969-1970 down the street from me, the doctor who delivered my 6 year was at one of these shows)
Catalina
See What I Mean
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to,
Pittsburgh (#28, 17 shows)
Parkersburg
Gravelburg
Colorado (#29 shows)
Ellisburg
Rexburg
Vicksburg
Eldorado
Larimore
Adimore
Habastock
Chadanocka
Shasta
Nebraska (#30 5 shows)
Alaska (#31 3 shows 1980)
Opalacka
Baraboo
Waterloo
Kalamazoo
Kansas City (#32 6 shows, try 7-1-78 from new release)
Souix City
Cedar City (#33 Cedar Falls 2-5-78, is that the double Samson?)
Dodge City
What a pity
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
Read more: Johnny Cash - I've Been Everywhere Lyrics | MetroLyrics
We love Grateful Dead cover songs. We love covers of Grateful Dead Songs. Link here to my dropbox for some great ones. You get to hear here a great Mash of Truckin>Stella Blue with the Pop O Pies and Willie Nelson doing the honors. Of course the Pop-o-Pies are funny, but Willie nails Stella Blue. Just wait a minute and it will appear here. Stay to the end. (try Stolen Roses too)
Of course, Blair did this on dead.net, and I love Blair. he used to trade in his New Wave releases for Japanese Vinyl of Beatles albums in 1981 at Rasputin's in Berkeley. :)
Never met Willie, but my wife's friend's wife's brother plays with Willie's son in Promise of the Real.
Do know the Pop o Pies as my friend Ben (who you can see playing with me in a bat mobile below at Sproul Plaza in Berkeley circa 1983 played in the Pop o Pies. Also Ben (with son glasses and Joe and Mark with Jerry at the Stone) but I never met Jerry.
Stay Tuned to the Dropbox Link for More Updates, Just ordered three CDs not available on digital
I know there are a zillion more, especially by Dead-centric acts but I'm mainly posting here by bands not known for their Deadness but acoustic Warren rocks always
10. The War on Drugs – “Touch of Grey”
02. Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends – “Sugaree”
03. Jim James & Friends – “Candyman”
04. Moses Sumney, Jenny Lewis & Friends – “Cassidy”
05. Bruce Hornsby and DeYarmond Edison – “Black Muddy River”
06. Ed Droste, Binki Shapiro & Friends – “Loser”
07. The National – “Peggy-O”
08. Kurt Vile and the Violators (featuring J Mascis) – “Box of Rain”
09. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends – “Rubin and Cherise”
10. Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten & Friends – “To Lay Me Down”
11. Courtney Barnett – “New Speedway Boogie”
12. Mumford & Sons – “Friend of the Devil”
13. Lucius – “Uncle John’s Band”
14. The Lone Bellow & Friends – “Me and My Uncle”
15. Lee Ranaldo, Lisa Hannigan & Friends – “Mountains of the Moon”
16. Anohni and yMusic – “Black Peter”
17. Bryce Dessner – “Garcia Counterpoint”
18. Daniel Rossen, Christopher Bear and The National (featuring Josh Kaufman, Conrad Doucette, So Percussion and Brooklyn Youth Chorus) – “Terrapin Station (Suite)”
19. Angel Olsen – “Attics of My Life”
20. Wilco with Bob Weir – “St. Stephen (live)”
Lightning (Vol. 2)
01. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “If I Had the World to Give”
02. Phosphorescent & Friends – “Standing on the Moon”
03. Charles Bradley and Menahan Street Band – “Cumberland Blues”
04. The Tallest Man on Earth & Friends – “Ship of Fools”
05. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends – “Bird Song ”
06. The National – “Morning Dew”
07. Marijuana Deathsquads – “Truckin'”
08. Cass McCombs, Joe Russo & Friends – “Dark Star”
09. Nightfall of Diamonds – “Nightfall of Diamonds”
10. Tim Hecker – “Transitive Refraction Axis for John Oswald”
11. Lucinda Williams & Friends – “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad”
12. Tunde Adebimpe, Lee Ranaldo & Friends – “Playing in the Band”
13. Local Natives – “Stella Blue”
14. Tal National – “Eyes of the World”
15. Bela Fleck ¬– “Help on the Way”
16. Orchestra Baobab – “Franklin’s Tower”
17. Luluc with Xylouris White – “Till the Morning Comes”
18. The Walkmen – “Ripple”
19. Richard Reed Parry with Caroline Shaw and Little Scream (featuring Garth Hudson) – “Brokedown Palace”
Sunshine (Vol. 3)
01. Real Estate – “Here Comes Sunshine”
02. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Shakedown Street”
03. Hiss Golden Messenger – “Brown-Eyed Women”
04. This Is the Kit – “Jack-A-Roe”
05. Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear – “High Time”
06. The Lone Bellow & Friends – “Dire Wolf”
07. Winston Marshall, Kodiak Blue and Shura – “Althea”
08. Orchestra Baobab – “Clementine Jam”
09. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – “China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider”
10. Bill Callahan – “Easy Wind”
11. Ira Kaplan & Friends – “Wharf Rat”
12. The Rileys – “Estimated Prophet”
13. Man Forever, So Percussion and Oneida – “Drums -> Space”
14. Fucked Up – “Cream Puff War”
15. The Flaming Lips – “Dark Star”
16. s t a r g a z e – “What’s Become of the Baby”
17. Vijay Iyer – “King Solomon’s Marbles”
18. Mina Tindle & Friends – “Rosemary”
19. Sam Amidon – “And We Bid You Goodnight”
20. The National with Bob Weir – “I Know You Rider (live)”
Looking at lists of the best shows of the year, there is usually a Dancin' In The Streets nearby. 1977 Cornell, 1979 Cape Cod, 1970 Harper College, 1978 Red Rocks, 1984 and 1985 at the Greek.
The week I first saw the Dead, they had discovered disco and they had applied it to the Marvin Gaye song penned in 1964 Dancin' In The Streets. In honor of Donna Jean's entry into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, I present you the Disco Dancing Dead that you hear now from Baltimore 1979, which was Brent's first version with the Grateful Dead during his fourth show.
Of course, Dancin' was never entirely disco, just an added element to the overall musical blend and eventually returned to its 1966 early Dead cover roots. For those keeping track 62 versions of the more traditional Dancin' In The Streets versions were played from 1966 to 1971, revived from 1984 to 1987, while the 60 disco versions were played from 1976 to 1979, with one out-of-the blue hybrid Bobby through as a curveball to the band in during a first set in July 1981 (more later). So it's was almost an even 50/50 split. My own experience was 5 of the disco versions including mfirst two shows in Boston in June1976, at the Springfield mescaline show in 1978 and Baltimore and Cape Cod in 1979. My eight shows in 1977 saw exactly zero of the 13 played by the band followed by two of the older version at the Greek in Berkeley to open shows in 1984 and 1985. I one I regret not seeing the most is the 10-10-76 (my wedding anniversary to Nancy in the future ) with neatly-tucked Wharf Rat in the middle to end the first set at the Day on The Greek with The Who. I have heard David Gans discuss this with Bobby or Phil once, but I regret being 17 in high school and missing it.
The New July 1978 Complete release is giving an official release to the known Red Rock July 7, 1978 Dancin and only available in audience St Paul 7-3-78 versions. There is something in the water usually as the band loves to release Dancin In The Streets shows as noted below.
Perhaps the most famous version is Cornell, which ends the first set and is the only song from that show officially released on the Beyond Description box as a bonus track. This version barely beats out the Harper College May 2, 1970 as the Deadbase favorite. Other "best-ever" thoughts are May 22, 1977 (Dick's Picks 3) and my own Cape Cod 10-27-1979 (30 Trips Official 1979 Selectin)
My Versions
Disco
06-09-76 Boston Dancing In The Streets>Wharf Rat>Around & Around to end set 2 (RoadTrip 4.5)
06-12-76 Boston Dancing In The Streets>Around & Around to end set two
05-11-78 Springfield Dancing In The Streets>Drums to open set two jam (Dick's 25)
05-05-79 Baltimore Dancing In The Streets to end set one GD Listening Guide Take
10-27-79 Baltimore Dancing In The Streets>Franklin's Tower to open set two (the first D>F!) 30 Trips 1979 release
Traditional
07-15-84 Berkeley Greek to open set one
06-14-85 Berkeley Greek to open set one
On a Tuesday night in Kansas City on July 7, 1981, according to a Jerry Garcia radio interview that month, Bobby started playing Dancin' out of the bluw after an opening Minglewood>Bertha while the band had no idea what he was playing. That was what I call the hybrid version since it sounds like the last disco version, but the phrasing uses the traditional arrangement.
10-01-76 Indianapolis Dancin'>Drums>Wheel>Ship of Fools>Dancin>GDTRFB>Sat
10-03-76 Detriot Playing>Drums>Wheel>Good Lovin>Jam>Comes A Time>Dancin>Not Fade Awy>Dancin>Around 30 Trips 1976 Pick
10-10-76 Oakland w/The Who Dancin>Wharf Rat>Dancin to end set one
10-14-76 LA Shrine Dancin>Wharf Rat>Dancin>Around to end set two
Dancin by Year according to Deadbase 11
1966 5
1967 3
1968 2
1969 10
1970 25
1971 1 (New Year's Breakout, retired until 1976)
1976 26 including each of the first 9 shows of the year
1977 13
1978 14
1979 7
1981 1
1984 6
1985 6
1986 3
1987 1
Some days are better than others and Phil Lesh's 76th birthday was one of the best of all.
There is a famous list below and we know it by heart. But then came Phil Lesh's 76th Birthday Present delivered by the great David Lemeuix
Whiskey River, Don't Run Dry
THREE NEW JULY 1978 BETTY BOARDS
The coolest chick ever at the Warfield 1980
What! How did this happen? I am so happy today, and as an added trip the first weekend from Red Rocks. Red Rocks July 1978 was so great that the Dead made the very next two shows at Red Rocks also at the end of August, and before the Giant's Stadium and Egypt shows.
Of the approximately 55, now 58, Betty Boards, I only saw two of these shows, the famous Boston Garden Show from May 7, 1977, the night before Cornell (of my friends, only Rick Sullivan was there in Ithaca). And Dick's Picks 34 from Rochester, the step back show.
In honor of Boston, you are hearing the Half Step>Big River that filled set one.
Until now, with five full show Betty Boards, The band has released very little from these shows.
According to deaddisc, here is what has been released.
2-18-71 Beautiful Jam on So Many Roads
2-19-71 Full Show as 3 From The Vault
4-5-71 Big railrioad Blues and Not Fade Away>GDTRFB on Skull & Roses
4-6-71 Playing In The Band, Oh Boy and I'm A Hog for You on Skull & Roses (last two on bonus)
5-4-72 Paris, full show in Europe 72 Complete
8-27-72 Kesey's Farm, full show
3-28-73 Springfield, WRS to the End is the Betty, released Dave's Picks 16 (was this from the Betty Returns?)
6-29-76 Chicago, The Wheel on So Many Roads
5-8-77 Cornell, Dancin in the Streets on Beyond Description
11-5-77 Rochester, Dick's Picks 34
Now we can five from July 1978 including three we did not know existed.
Thanks David
We almost got one more but that dang rain in Wisconsin
Rob Eaton, a professional sound engineer and veteran taper, also had an amazing Betty Board adventure. Rob was asked to help salvage a large number of Betty Boards that were damaged. He had the right tools to clean them up.
Rob Eaton: I think it was a high point for me as a collector and trader, in terms of excitement and enthusiasm….I was told that there were a bunch of tapes, previously missing, that were bought at the now infamous auction. Since Jerry had just passed away, someone was going to try to pull the collection out and see what was there. I was very skeptical.
The cache included things like Betty’s diary from Egypt ’78, a couple of scribbled songs signed by Robert Hunter, Pigpen’s liver-cleansing diet, and maybe his passport photo. But besides the trunk, there were several road cases that were described as “large studio-format open reels, in road cases marked ‘Grateful Dead.’”
That’s basically what I saw, three fairly large road cases, stenciled “Grateful Dead” on the side. Two were filled with taped, and the other was filled with cookbooks, I think, or something like that. So two were a find and the third was kind of a bust, but frankly, they were all in shambles. All of the foam from inside the cases had deteriorated into dirt, and there was mold and water damage; they had obviously been through a flood. Everything was basically heaped and thrown into the cases, nothing had been placed nicely, it was all tossed…I believe there had been some flooding and I think that the reason they were placed into storage was because they had been in Betty’s basement, which had flooded badly. So they went down and quickly tossed the stuff into boxes and cases and things like that, and put them into storage. And since they never came out of storage, they just sat there, basically rotting, for years. I’m not sure of the year of the flood, but it was a bad one, whenever it was, because there was plenty of filth and mud and dirt and little pebbles, all sorts of stuff.
Eaton’s adventure began when he got a call from a longtime friend and fellow taper on the east coast. He was in his hotel room in Los Angeles and had heard that there was a possibility that some of these tapes were in northern California, and he thought that it was really important that it be checked out. So he flew into San Francisco one evening in stormy weather.
In the middle of the night, we drove to this tiny, desolate cabin in the mountains, and in a thunderstorm walked through a muddy cow field to this little shack of a barn behind the cabin. We had a little lantern and he swung the door to this shack open, and there were the three road cases. I sat there in the pouring rain, with only a little lantern for light, going through each tape and writing down any information I could find or marking things as unknown. That took me a couple of hours. The next day I went back to my notes and compiled it all on my computer and made a little report. I knew this fellow really wanted to do something with this collection; he really wanted to know what he had because I could see that he was envisioning trying to sell it. I convinced him that it was best for him to at least know what he had, since no one would buy the stuff if they didn’t know what it was, or whether it was playable. So that’s how we ended up doing the transfer, little bits at a time. It was an enormous job, and I don’t think that I left my house for a month. I spent twenty hours a day doing it; I spent hours cleaning and prepping the tapes just so they could be played. It was an enormous, taxing job, and yet it was very exciting at the same time; I’d have an unknown reel, with no idea what was on it. I’d clean it and play it, and there was beautiful music. It was quite exhilarating, while at the same time frustrating because I knew that none of it was mine, and that it wouldn’t see the light of day for quite some time. But I knew that they had to, at least, be restored in order for them to have any chance of making it at all.
Eaton wasn’t hired by the owner of the tapes. No money ever changed hands. He did it as a fan of the music and in order to preserve it since he thought it needed to be preserved. More than 200 tapes were cleaned inch by inch. There was so much silt and mold on the tapes, they had to be cleaned by hand.
After I cleaned the tapes, I tried to figure out exactly which show each tape was from. That was the next step in the process, and basically I started by pinpointing the year, just by knowing the sound. I could tell which tour a reel was from, or what area, but I didn’t necessarily know the specific date at first. The more songs I had, by using Deadbase and other tools, I could determine the exact date.
His deal with him was that Eaton would incur the costs of his restoration and in return, eventually, he’d get a copy of all of the tapes once the owner was able to liquidate the collection to whichever party wanted to buy it.
Theoretically, there would be a set of DAT’s waiting for me when it got sold. He was, is, in control. Whether or now I ever get them remains to be seen, but at this point in time, I’m not holding my breath. The guy has had some of his own legal trouble and money problems, so Eaton believes he was looking at this as a way to ease his difficulties. I think his not being a Deadhead doesn’t allow him to see the enormity or the beauty of what he has; he’s just looking at it as a business venture. He bought it all as an investment, and now he’s trying to make his investment pay off, and hopefully he can. Hopefully, one day there’ll be a collector or someone who wants to buy them, and then we’ll all have the music. But until then, it’s pretty tough.
EDIT: Apparently there are additional Betty Boards according to some. Pointed out to me by Frank Streeter and additional research (https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/comments/3ck6we/officially_released_betty_boards/) says that 5-28-77, 5-22-77, 2-26-79, 12-29-77, 9-3-77, 2-3/5-78 and many others are Betty Boards. I think these are Betty generated tapes that were not in Betty's storage, but always remained with the Band), more to follow
Grateful Dead Batch One 02.18.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.19.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.20.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.21.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.23.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 02.24.71 The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, New York 04.05.71 Manhattan Center, New York City (End Of 2nd Set Only) 04.06.71 Manhattan Center, New York City 04.07.71 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 04.08.71 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 12.14.71 The Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan 05.04.72 The Olympia Theater, Paris, France 08.21.72 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, California 08.22.72 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, California 08.25.72 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, California 08.27.72 Old Renaissance Faire Ground, Veneta, Oregon 03.16.73 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, New York 03.21.73 Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York 03.22.73 Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York 03.24.73 Spectrum Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 05.26.73 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California 06.22.73 Pacific High Exhibition Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. ca. Aug-early Sep 'WAKE OF THE FLOOD Studio Out-takes, San Rafael, CA circa 1975 'REFLECTIONS' Studio Out-takes 06.10.76 The Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 06.11.76 The Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 06.14.76 The Beacon Theater, New York City 06.15.76 The Beacon Theater, New York City 06.29.76 The Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Illinois ca. Early 1977 Side Two Of 'TERRAPIN STATION' 02.26.77 The Swing Auditorium, San Bernadino, California 05.05.77 New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut 05.07.77 Boston Gardens, Boston, Massachusetts 05.08.77 Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 05.09.77 War Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York 09.29.77 The Paramount Theater, Seattle, Washington 10.02.77 The Paramount Theater, Portland, Oregon 10.28.77 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Missouri 10.29.77 Field House, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois 10.30.77 Assembly Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 11.01.77 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan 11.05.77 War Memorial, Rochester, New York (End Of Show) 11.06.77 Broome County Arena, Binghamton, New York 04.07.78 Hollywood Sportatorium, Hollywood, Florida 04.10.78 The Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia 04.11.78 The Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia 04.12.78 Cameroon Indoor Stadium, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 04.14.78 Coliseum, Virginia Polytechnic, Blacksburg, Virginia 04.15.78 William And Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia 07.07.78 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, Colorado 07.08.78 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, Colorado 10.18.78 Winterland, San Francisco, California ("From Egypt With Love") 04.22.79 Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California Batch Two Betty Boards
10/19/1971
Northrup
First Keith Show
11/15/1971
Austin
Road Trips 3:2
11/17/1971
NM
12/4/1971
Felt
Please Release Soon
12/6/1971
Felt
Please Release Soon
12/7/1971
Felt
Please Release Soon
12/10/1971
St Louis
Please Release Soon
3/21/1972
Academy
Dave's Pick Bonus 2015
3/22/1972
Academy
5 songs Rockin Rhein Bonus
3/23/1972
Academy
1 song Rockin Rhein Bonus
3/25/1972
Academy
Dicks Picks 30; 8 songs
3/26/1972
Academy
Dave's Pick 14
3/27/1972
Academy
6 songs Dicks 30; 2015 Bonus
3/28/1972
Academy
Dicks Picks 30
4/8/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
4/11/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
4/14/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
4/17/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
4/17/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
5/3/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
5/7/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
5/25/1972
Europe
Europe 72 Complete
7/2/1972
Filmore West
3/15/1973
Nassau
3/30/1973
Rochester
3/31/1973
Buffalo
4/2/1973
Boston
Please Release Soon
6/17/1976
Capitol
6/18/1976
Capitol
Download Series 4
6/19/1976
Capitol
Listen to Chat b4 Jam
6/21/1976
Philly
6/22/1976
Philly
6/26/1976
Chicago
6/28/1976
Chicago
1 song Download Series 4
WBOTB This is the list of Betty boards that were scheduled to be redistributed under the What's Become of The Betty Boards moniker. The purpose was to get them back into circulation with known lineages. They DAT masters were to be made from the first generation PCMs, and in most cases decoding any Dolby NR.
Grateful Dead 02.18.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A decoded 02.19.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A *not* decoded 02.20.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A decoded 02.21.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A decoded 02.23.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A decoded 02.24.71 Portchester, NY, whole show, Dolby A decoded 04.05.71 Manhatten Center, whole show, Dolby A decoded 04.06.71 Manhatten Center, whole show, Dolby A decoded 04.07.71 Boston Music Hall, whole show, Dolby A *not* decoded 04.08.71 Boston Music Hall, whole show, Dolby A decoded 12.14.71 Ann Arbor, MI, whole show 05.04.72 Paris, Fr, 1st set only 05.07.72 Bickershaw Festival, Other One to end of show 08.21.72 Berkeley, CA, 2nd set only 08.22.72 Berkeley, CA, 2nd set only 08.25.72 Berkeley, CA, 1st 45 minutes only 08.27.72 Veneta, OR, beginning of show through most of Dark Star 03.16.73 Nassau Coliseum, 1st set through middle of Playing, beg. of Dew to end 03.21.73 Utica, NY, whole show, water damage on tapes causes some distortion 03.22.73 Utica, NY, 1st set plus very end of Other One to end 03.24.73 Philadelphia, PA, Bobby McGee to end of show 03.28.73 Springfield, MA, WRS Prelude to end of show 05.26.73 Kezar Stadium, whole show 06.22.73 Vancouver, BC, beg. of show through most of Other One 08.00.73 Wake of the Flood outtakes 06.10.76 Boston Music Hall, whole show 06.11.76 Boston Music Hall, whole show 06.14.76 Beacon Theater, whole show 06.15.76 Beacon Theater, whole show various parts of the above four shows, intercuts 06.29.76 Chicago, Ill, whole show 02.26.77 San Bernadino, CA, whole show, DBX type I decoded 05.05.77 New Haven, Conn, whole show, DBX type I decoded 05.07.77 Boston Gardens, whole show, DBX type I decoded 05.08.77 Ithaca,NY, whole show, DBX type I decoded 05.09.77 Buffalo, NY, whole show, DBXtype I decoded 09.28.77 Seattle, Wash, middle of Jack Straw to end of show, DBX type I decoded 09.29.77 Seattle, Wash, whole show, DBX type I decoded 10.01.77 Portland, Ore, whole show, DBX type I decoded 10.02.77 Portland, Ore, whole show, DBX type I decoded 04.06.78 Tampa, Fla, Good Lovin through end of show 04.07.78 Hollywood, Fla, whole show 04.08.78 Jacksonville, Fla, whole show 04.10.78 Atlanta, GA, whole show 04.11.78 Atlanta, GA, whole show 04.12.78 Duke University, whole show 04.14.78 Virginia Tech, whole show 04.15.78 William & Mary College, whole show 04.16.78 Huntington, WVa, whole show 07.07.78 Red Rocks, whole show 07.08.78 Red Rocks, whole show 12.31.78 Winterland, Me and My Uncle through end of show 04.22.79 San Jose, CA, middle of Estimated through middle of Around & Around 09.27.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set 10.04.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set 10.06.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set 10.09.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set, and 1st 45 min of 1st set 10.10.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set 10.11.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set 10.13.80 Warfield Theater, Acoustic set This is a list of all known "Betty boards" as posted on Terrapin Station BBS in Darion CT (no longer on-line).
Betty Cantor-Jackson Soundboards Non-Dead
Jerry Garcia Band 10.11.75 The Keystone, Berkeley, California (Second Set) (w/Nicky Hopkins 10.17.75 Concorde Pavilion, Concord, California (w/Nicky Hopkins) 12.17.75 The Keystone, Berkeley, California (w/Nicky Hopkins) 07.20.76 The Keystone, Berkeley, California 09.18.81 (Location Uncertain) (Rehearsal or Soundcheck) (The Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia circa 1975 'REFLECTIONS' Studio Out-takes
Legion Of Mary 11.27.74 The Keystone, Berkeley, California 11.28.74 The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California Various 1975 From 3.22, 5.22, 6.21, & 6.22.75 Keystone (except 3.22 - locatio
Reconstruction 03.07.79 Rancho Nicasio, San Rafael, California 03.08.79 Cotati Cabaret, Cotati, California 03.09.79 Cotati Cabaret, Cotati, California 04.08.79 Cotati Cabaret, Cotati, California 06.16.79 Keystone Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California 06.22.79 The Keystone, Berkeley, California 07.08.79 The Keystone, Berkeley, California
Garcia & Saunders 01.15.73 The Inn Of The Beginning, Cotati, California (w/Unidentified Fema 01.24.73 The Boarding House, San Francisco, California 07.10.73 The Keystone, Berkeley, California 07.11.73 The Keystone, Berkeley, California
Garcia, Saunders, & 06.04.74 The Lion's Share, San Anselmo, California (w/Unidentified Female 07.21.74 The Keystone, Berkeley, California (The Grateful Dead Played The 07.22.74 The Keystone, Berkeley, California 09.02.74 Marx Meadows, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
Keith & Donna Band 08.20.75 The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California
Kingfish 10.17.75 Concorde Pavilion, Concord, California (Also See...The Jerry Garc Date/Location Unknown
New Riders 12.02.71 The Boston Music Hall, Boston Massachusetts 12.04.71 The Felt Forum, New York City (w/Jerry Garcia ?) 12.07.71 The Felt Forum, New York City (w/Jerry Garcia ?) 12.10.71 The Fox Theater, St. Louis, Missouri (w/Jerry Garcia ?) 12.15.71 The Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan 05.26.72 The Strand Lyceum, London, England 03.08.73 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, California 03.30.73 Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York 04.02.73 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Date/Location Unkno(Probably 1973)
Hot Tuna 10.02.73 Winterland, San Francisco, California
Jefferson Starship 11.24.74 Winterland, San Francisco, California
Sons Of Champlin 12.03.72 Winterland, San Francisco, California
