Here’s another early-1980s Grateful Dead “Road Trip” mp3 mix that finds an extensive convergence of exciting performances and inviting soundboard mixes. Plus, statistically significant events!
I already hit October 1985, so here we step back six months to April. The two official, whole-show releases from the year are from June and November.
2.5-hour mp3 mix zipped up here
Disc 1: April 13 (66 minutes)
- Why Don’t We Do It in the Road
- West LA Fadeaway
- Little Red Rooster (edit)
- Terrapin Station >
- Playin’ in the Band
- Drums
- Space >
- The Wheel
- It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Discs 2-3: April 14 (93 minutes)
- Hell in a Bucket >
- Sugaree
- Down in the Bottom/Ain’t Superstitious
- Brown-Eyed Women
- Big Railroad Blues
- I Need a Miracle >
- China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
- Women are Smarter
- Space Jam >
- Dear Mr. Fantasy >
- The Other One
- Sugar Magnolia
- Gloria
Notes:
- This may be the only instance of “Miracle” opening a 2nd set, and the only time it flowed into “China Cat.” Garcia’s voice is ragged on “China Cat.”
- This is one of only four 1980s “Glorias.”
- “Down in the Bottom” was played nine times, and “Ain’t Superstitious” eight times. They appeared together this way four times.
- The band played “Do It in the Road” seven times.
- Edits on this mix are limited to removing a second Weir slide solo from this otherwise fine and slinky “Rooster,” and skipping over a messy “Sunshine Daydream.” On the April 13th mix, you’ll hear a segue from “Drums” to “Space,” but that’s fake; I cut out the second half of drums.
- The April 14 SBD source I’ve used is one generation back from the latest, which has bigger dynamics, but which also includes a maddening, gargly defect. The 13th board mostly sounds great, but the “Terrapin” and “Wheel” vocals could have been handled more forthrightly.
- Cover art elements obviously swiped from Rick Griffin.