I’ve gotta say my favorite shows have also come from the 70’s, specifically 73 and 77. Anything before that is great too, and I’ve only recently started getting into the 80’s stuff.
I recently listened to a show from Cameron Indoor Stadium (;)) from 73 that sounds terrific! The TLEO from that show is total bliss. But you can’t go wrong with 73.
Europe 72.
Thats where I began.
1969-1973 are golden.
Lately I have been listening to some late 80s/1990 stuff, because I do love Brent. Drums>Space sucks to listen to, EXCEPT for 3/29/90 with Branford Marsailis. Everyone who enjoys the Dead should have that one. SICK!
here is an excellent Europe offering (MP3 but oh well)
http://stash.nugs.net/attics/720504_mp3.asp?artist=1&show=2&cmd=shows
I prefer the 70’s stuff but they can bring some heat in the 80’s as well. I recommend the 3 day Alpine 89’ run. 80’s Dead at their best!
Wow, you all are awsome. Thanks for the advice, and for responding so quickly!
Also, Jawbone, if you have a high speed Internet connection, you may want to check out the Dead shows on the Internet Archive, http://www.archive.org/audio/etreelisting-browse.php?collection=etree&cat=Grateful%20Dead and do a search on b.t.etree, http://bt.etree.org/index.php?search=Grateful+Dead&cat&sort=seeders
^yeah, that works sometimes, but other times it gets tricky.
i don’t know anything about all this downloading stuff and even with everyone’s help here i still have never seemed to figure it out. I guess i’m just not etree savvy at all.
nice name by the way and welcome to the board.
i don’t like their albums much, but i couldn’t tell you about any “classic” shows.
just download away, you probably won’t find a show you hate!
Ok, since we got some good Dead shows in here, anyone know of any good solo acoustic Garcia shows? I just downloaded 4-10-82 (early and late shows) from the Capitol Theater, NJ and I absolutely LOVE IT. Just wondering if there were any others out there…
never really got the dead until i heard 5-15-70. GREAT SHOW!! the archive has it i know b/c i got it off there. acoutic sets. new riders of the purple sage sets. eletric sets. i like early did because that was when the were the most bluesy b/c of pigpen. late 70s is alright but i just think it tends to get semi-boring after 73. but i love the allman brothers. which is why i love early grateful dead.
5/8/77 CORNELL. Availiable on NUGS.net.
And the 1970 Harpur College show, a Dick’s picks release.
Also Europe '72 is a great pick.
5/22/77 second set reamins consistatly in the changer
So so so so so so true. I listen to those acoustic sets ALL the time. Excellent call spooks. Don’t ease don’t ease!
I only have it on tape and haven’t look for a digital copy, but Jerry at Oregon State Prison, 5-__-82 I think, was always in the travel case. Him and a bass acoustic, John Kann maybe? Nice little setlist. Also, JGB at the Stone, again I can’t remember exact date 10/80 I think, has absolute fire on it!
This just showed up on etree. I already mentioned it in this thread. GET IT!
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=24401
3/29/90 - Grateful Dead
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Uniondale, NY
Recording Info:
Main source: SBD -> Dat -> CD
Patch source: purported FOB > DAT > ? > CDR, likely SBD or matrix (shnid 1317)
SHN Conversion By Charlie Miller
charliemiller87@earthlink.net
10/18/04
Notes:
–This source doesn’t have any of the flaws that the other etree sources have.
Set 1;
d1t01 - Jack Straw ->
d1t02 - Bertha
d1t03 - We Can Run
d1t04 - Ramble On Rose
d1t05 - When I Paint My Masterpiece
d1t06 - Bird Song ->
d1t07 - The Promised Land
Set 2:
d2t01 - Eyes Of The World ->
d2t02 - Estimated Prophet ->
d2t03 - Dark Star ->
d2t04 - Drums ->
d3t01 - Space ->
d3t02 - Dark Star ->
d3t03 - The Wheel ->
d3t04 - Throwing Stones ->
d3t05 - Turn On Your Lovelight
Encore:
d3t06 - Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Notes:
– Branford Marsalis plays saxophone on Bird Song and Promised in Set 1 and
the entire 2nd Set, except for Drums.
Another show I’ve been really attached to lately is 11-24-78, Capitol Theater, NJ. Another one of my favorites from '78 is 1-22-78, Eugene, OR. The energy there is just great and the playing is stellar. All the jams seem to ahve a touch more energy than any others I’ve heard. One of my top 5 shows for sure.
That Close Encounters Jerry solo > St Stephen on the January '78 show is sick!!!
^Hell yeah it is. Did I send that show to you? I sent it to someone.
Does that show seem to have a tad bit more energy than usual? Or is it just me?
I really like '77-'79 GD as well. The first time I heard those years, I thought “man, there’s a hint of funkiness to this Dead!” The "Franklin’s Tower"s from this era are some of my all-time favorites.
It is called DISCO Dead 
That makes sense!