The Grateful Dead were better in odd number years. Why?
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JP (J Bomb)
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Not taking into consideration pre-hiatus, when each year contained tectonic and diversified expansion, the Grateful Dead were a markedly better live band in odd number years.
The answer may lie within the Chinese zodiac, divine numerology or black magic. Anyone here practice these arts? Election year cycles could also be a factor.
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1977 - better than 76 and 78
1979 - Fairly indiscernible from 1978 and 1980. Granted I'm not a big fan of this window so take your pick.
1981 - better than 80 and 82
1983 - better than 82 and 84
1985 - better than 84 and 86
1987 - better than 86 and 88 (or a toss up)
1989 - better than 88 and 90. Yes 90 has the advantage of a volcanic east coast spring yet 89 is a superior effort calendar-year wise.
1991 - better than 92. Vince haters will never give 91 the nod over 90 but from summer forward, 91 has equally inspired playing.
1993 - better than 92 (or a toss up) and 94
1995 - Better than 96 natch
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
1972
1972
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
Too many exceptions and
Too many exceptions and variables. Sorry, not a real solid theory.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
1995 was generally bad.
1995 was generally bad. Garcia got off the mat and delivered a few times, but was tired and disoriented at most of the shows. 1994 was stronger, and while it was a sobering dose of reality, at least we could think Jerry was at peace in 1996, instead of wondering what was wrong with him like 1995.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rasputin O'Leary
What doc doolittle said -
What doc doolittle said - theee end
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Where Does The Time Go?
everyone just skips to the
everyone just skips to the list.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Exactly, there are some great
Exactly, there are some great and good even years but the odds have got it, in all aspects of this evolutionary wheel
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
Even years had some
Even years had some exceptional shows.
Paris 74
Orpheum 76
Spring tour 78
Alaska 80
Hartford 82
Greek 84
86 ok I'll give you that one
87-90 not my favorite years except spring 90.
90-95 I switched to Phish. Then I got bored.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
^^^Paris 74^^^
^^^Paris 74^^^
I was thinking of London on that tour,
Dick Latvala talking about 9/9/74>9/11/74, number 7 in the series
First off, you have a reason for choosing this run of shows, some substantial reason. For me, I heard a lot of material that was good, and it has just a definitive jam of "Dark Star" > "Morning Dew" that's gorgeous, I mean, unreal.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
The OP is stated as fact, but
The OP is stated as fact, but it's really just personal taste.
I strongly disagree that '83 was better than '82, as I think 1982 was VERY strong, and I think '84 was a really strong year as well. I also love 1976.
And in my personal opinion by 1985 the "evolutionary wheel" had stopped and the devolution had begun, with the last ten years all just varying degrees of the same heavy, clanking, less dynamic rock band "show" and the end of the gentle, articulate ensemble group.
But that's just me. Nobody's wrong, it's all personal preference and experience.
Carry on.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Previously, they were best
Previously, they were best every four years.
69, 73, 77.
Odd years, yes, but not 71 and 75.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DaBreeze
They were better when they
They were better when they were younger and dosing frequently.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Weren't we all?
Weren't we all?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: long live the dead
I enjoyed 1970
I enjoyed 1970
not that it matters.....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: g-reg
apples and oranges
apples and oranges
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
Jamspace would be very
Jamspace would be very disappointed with this thread.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philnweird
I normally avoid mid-80s just
I normally avoid mid-80s just out of habit but I'm aware there's some great shows in that period. When was the stretch - year and month(s) - when Jerry was doing so much coke he sounded like Kermit the Frog for a while? 84?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Meh. Methinks you could pull
Meh. Methinks you could pull a 2-3 night stretch of any 80s or 90s tour where Garcia's voice was trashed or phlegmy. Hell, 78/79 had their share, especially if it was live on the radio.
But I think 84-86 might be more consistently rough.