The Grateful Dead Live at Avalon Ballroom on 1968-10-12
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- Publication date
- 1968-10-12 ( check for other copies)
- Topics
- Soundboard, Charlie Miller
- Collection
- GratefulDead
- Band/Artist
- Grateful Dead
- Resource
- DeadLists Project
Set 1
Dark Star > St Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy
Set 2
Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Jam > Drums > Jam > Feedback
this date generally circulates mislabeled as "10/13/68" from a copy of an FM broadcast; for more info see deadlists.com; Other artist(s): Lee Michaels; Linn County; Mance Lipscomb
Dark Star > St Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy
Set 2
Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Jam > Drums > Jam > Feedback
this date generally circulates mislabeled as "10/13/68" from a copy of an FM broadcast; for more info see deadlists.com; Other artist(s): Lee Michaels; Linn County; Mance Lipscomb
Related Music question-dark
Versions - Different performances of the song by the same artist
Compilations - Other albums which feature this performance of the song
Covers - Performances of a song with the same name by different artists
Song Title | Versions | Compilations | Covers |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction | |||
Dark Star -> | |||
Saint Stephen -> | |||
The Eleven -> | |||
Death Don't Have No Mercy | |||
That's It For The Other One -> | |||
New Potato Caboose -> | |||
Drums -> | |||
Jam -> | |||
Feedback |
Notes
Notes:
-- Pigpen was absent
-- First notes of 2nd Set missing
-- This runs over 80 minutes so you'll need to overburn your disc
-- Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction
- Access-restricted-item
- true
- Addeddate
- 2011-08-14 00:23:33
- Identifier
- gd1968-10-12.sbd.miller.115593.flac16
- Lineage
- Dat (Sony R500) -> Tascam SS-R05 -> Adobe Audition v3.0 -> Samplitude Professional v11.2 -> FLAC
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
- Run time
- 80:17.52
- Transferred by
- Charlie Miller
- Type
- sound
- Venue
- Avalon Ballroom
- Year
- 1968
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
Jim F
-
-
October 5, 2022
Subject: Alligator?
Subject: Alligator?
After the fine performance of The Eleven (I prefer the following night's myself, by miles) I love how someone apologizes as they swerve down into Death Don't. They say something about "sorry, weren't we gonna do Alligator?" I find this interesting for a few reasons. The main one being that Pigpen wasn't even there! Likely they were going to do the powerful Pigless Alligator/Caution jam they did to close the second set of this show as well as the following night. They sure seemed insistent on putting Alligator jams into these famously identical setlists (the only time ever?).
Does anyone really know which of these two shows was the "Primal Dead" tape Dick made Phil listen to? The answer is probably as murky as the dates attributed to tapes of these shows over the years, but either way, they're some of our last great 1968 tapes, and I love them. They had the Anthem suites pretty perfected by October but it's neat to hear the Dark Stars in their early transformation stage. They're not quite "Live/Dead" yet, but these are our first without Pig's repetitive organ riff. I love many versions that featured it but it wasn't really until they put that down before Dark Star really became Dark Star. Notice Billy starting to move onto the trap kit at times as well. That was another key change in Dark Star's evolution, less reliance on all the shakers and scratchers. And more gong of course.
Classic show, I still listen to them both every year. Having two New Potato's is pure gold, even if they're unconventional.This is the source to go with, but if you do want to hear Jerry tell everyone to "please let go of their bodies" before the set you'll want to look at some of fhe other sources.
Does anyone really know which of these two shows was the "Primal Dead" tape Dick made Phil listen to? The answer is probably as murky as the dates attributed to tapes of these shows over the years, but either way, they're some of our last great 1968 tapes, and I love them. They had the Anthem suites pretty perfected by October but it's neat to hear the Dark Stars in their early transformation stage. They're not quite "Live/Dead" yet, but these are our first without Pig's repetitive organ riff. I love many versions that featured it but it wasn't really until they put that down before Dark Star really became Dark Star. Notice Billy starting to move onto the trap kit at times as well. That was another key change in Dark Star's evolution, less reliance on all the shakers and scratchers. And more gong of course.
Classic show, I still listen to them both every year. Having two New Potato's is pure gold, even if they're unconventional.This is the source to go with, but if you do want to hear Jerry tell everyone to "please let go of their bodies" before the set you'll want to look at some of fhe other sources.
Reviewer:
Magichord
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 21, 2020
Subject: a couple other A+ versions
Subject: a couple other A+ versions
I wholeheartedly agree with the reviews here (and on other pages for the same show), that this Other One and The Eleven are mind-boggling, of-the-charts incredible. Those of you who are open to suggestions, I've saved links for a couple other versions which, though not having the amazing sound quality of this show, will still blow you away. These are personal favorites of mine, guaranteed to get all of your psychedelic juices flowing!
https://archive.org/details/gd68-11-01.sbd.cotsman.18100.sbeok.shnf/gd68-11-01d1t01.shn for the Other One
https://archive.org/details/gd1969-02-21.sbd.miller.111780.flac16/gd69-02-21d1t05.flac for The Eleven
https://archive.org/details/gd68-11-01.sbd.cotsman.18100.sbeok.shnf/gd68-11-01d1t01.shn for the Other One
https://archive.org/details/gd1969-02-21.sbd.miller.111780.flac16/gd69-02-21d1t05.flac for The Eleven
Reviewer:
njpg
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 14, 2015
Subject: -
Subject: -
Great, though you can definitely hear the hole on stage where Pig should be.
Reviewer:
rebelsaint
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 19, 2013
Subject: this and the 13th are great
Subject: this and the 13th are great
how-ever, lol, it would be nice if someone could have removed that song-ruining gourd-playing in Darkstar. Whoever was playing that thing might as well have been hammering the mic with it.
Reviewer:
dr. flashback
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 6, 2013
Subject: Beyond the beyond
Subject: Beyond the beyond
Okay, we've enjoyed those shows in 1989 at a Dead stadium show with a Bud Light in our hands and dancing to Touch of Gray. Nothing wrong with that at all.
But sometimes you have to get back to the roots of the World Tree to get your bearings. To rediscover once again what it was all for in the first place.
How and why the whole thing was conceived.
And that means 1967 and 1968. Down in the basement, you know, where you've stashed all your old ideals, dreams and hopes from the movement years. When people talked about college classes having relevance and changing the whole goddamn world with some drugs, music and fairy dust.
Some younger folks may think the 1960's were nicey nice and just flowers and rainbows. Not true, and especially in 1968 was this not true.
They killed MLK and then Bobby. And we knew the official story was bullshit. And we knew the CIA was already into Laos and Cambodia.
And we were mad as hell. And scared as hell too, that our draft number was gonna come up. And then we would be faced with a life changing decision.
Run, or be part of the death machine? Tough, gritty thoughts for a 17 year old. And people you knew getting harassed on the street by cops just because they had long hair.
So, when you hear the intensity and anger in this show, this is the matrix from whence it was formed and inspired.
This IS essential Dead. Yes, folks were crazy and fun loving psychedelic children. But they also knew they were dancing on the edge of a dark abyss. And so they were warriors for the forces of light and love, had to be.
This show, and also 10/13 are just as much a part of American history as Washington crossing the Delaware. As much as the Beatles playing the Ed Sullivan show.
1968 was not for sissies. Can you pass the test?
It simply doesn't get any more masterfully, honestly primal than this. Expose your mind to this ASAP. Jerry is the Picasso of guitar here.
The whole band is other dimensional tonight.
Let your freak flag fly. Even if Hendrix did miss this show, we were all there. Know what I mean?
cheers,
Dr. Flashback :-)
But sometimes you have to get back to the roots of the World Tree to get your bearings. To rediscover once again what it was all for in the first place.
How and why the whole thing was conceived.
And that means 1967 and 1968. Down in the basement, you know, where you've stashed all your old ideals, dreams and hopes from the movement years. When people talked about college classes having relevance and changing the whole goddamn world with some drugs, music and fairy dust.
Some younger folks may think the 1960's were nicey nice and just flowers and rainbows. Not true, and especially in 1968 was this not true.
They killed MLK and then Bobby. And we knew the official story was bullshit. And we knew the CIA was already into Laos and Cambodia.
And we were mad as hell. And scared as hell too, that our draft number was gonna come up. And then we would be faced with a life changing decision.
Run, or be part of the death machine? Tough, gritty thoughts for a 17 year old. And people you knew getting harassed on the street by cops just because they had long hair.
So, when you hear the intensity and anger in this show, this is the matrix from whence it was formed and inspired.
This IS essential Dead. Yes, folks were crazy and fun loving psychedelic children. But they also knew they were dancing on the edge of a dark abyss. And so they were warriors for the forces of light and love, had to be.
This show, and also 10/13 are just as much a part of American history as Washington crossing the Delaware. As much as the Beatles playing the Ed Sullivan show.
1968 was not for sissies. Can you pass the test?
It simply doesn't get any more masterfully, honestly primal than this. Expose your mind to this ASAP. Jerry is the Picasso of guitar here.
The whole band is other dimensional tonight.
Let your freak flag fly. Even if Hendrix did miss this show, we were all there. Know what I mean?
cheers,
Dr. Flashback :-)
Reviewer:
indoe Loop
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 9, 2011
Subject: 10-12-68 If you get confused..
Subject: 10-12-68 If you get confused..
I've had this tape for a good many years, and it's always been one of my top five all time. It was only later that I learned just how screwed up some of the labelling could be on these tapes.
Originally (mis)labelled 10-22-68 Avalon Ballroom, my version of 10-13 (which might actually be 10-12-68) started out with a 'cold rain and snow', (later revealed as from 12-12-67 fillmore aud) then kicked off 'that's it for the other one', into 'new potato caboose', followed by a great version of 'morning dew'. Of course the Morning Dew featured a flute solo, which ruled out the 10-12 and or 10-13-68 show(s).
Forensic research later indicated it might be from a show from 1-14-67 Golden Gate Park, but I'm still unsure.
Side two is just incredible, and starts out with Jerry imploring the audience to 'please let go of your bodies, everybody!" After a short time, he says to somebody,"what do you want me to say, everybody HAS to dance, Or Else?" It's a great moment, but I can't seem to find the quotes on my upgrades of both 10-12-68 and 10-13-68.
Dark Star gives way to St. Stephen, launching into The 11 (one of their best ever!) then giving way to 'death don't have no mercy'.
Finally, for whatever reason, the original source of my tape decided to tack on the james brown classic 'man's world' (from 5-2-70 harpur college) as the side two closer.
Of course after all these years of spreading this show to all my friends (complete with mislabelled information!) i've come to believe that my original tape is probably from 10-12.
if you get confused, listen to the music play!
Originally (mis)labelled 10-22-68 Avalon Ballroom, my version of 10-13 (which might actually be 10-12-68) started out with a 'cold rain and snow', (later revealed as from 12-12-67 fillmore aud) then kicked off 'that's it for the other one', into 'new potato caboose', followed by a great version of 'morning dew'. Of course the Morning Dew featured a flute solo, which ruled out the 10-12 and or 10-13-68 show(s).
Forensic research later indicated it might be from a show from 1-14-67 Golden Gate Park, but I'm still unsure.
Side two is just incredible, and starts out with Jerry imploring the audience to 'please let go of your bodies, everybody!" After a short time, he says to somebody,"what do you want me to say, everybody HAS to dance, Or Else?" It's a great moment, but I can't seem to find the quotes on my upgrades of both 10-12-68 and 10-13-68.
Dark Star gives way to St. Stephen, launching into The 11 (one of their best ever!) then giving way to 'death don't have no mercy'.
Finally, for whatever reason, the original source of my tape decided to tack on the james brown classic 'man's world' (from 5-2-70 harpur college) as the side two closer.
Of course after all these years of spreading this show to all my friends (complete with mislabelled information!) i've come to believe that my original tape is probably from 10-12.
if you get confused, listen to the music play!
Reviewer:
benhead
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 7, 2011
Subject: Just Perfect
Subject: Just Perfect
This show is perfect from begining to end. The energy of this show may have been matched but I don't think ever exceded. The eleven jam is just incredible and also as other reveiewers have said may have been the finest, it is just pure perfection. This show will leave you grinning from ear to ear. A must have. Again thank you Charlie Miller for all your great work. Your debt can never be paid.
Reviewer:
UngowaUngowa
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 13, 2011
Subject: Historia Regum Britanniae recounts it best
Subject: Historia Regum Britanniae recounts it best
A fine musical space in which to recover
Reviewer:
NYLifer
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 13, 2011
Subject: Spectacular
Subject: Spectacular
My first 5 star review.
Peace, Bob
Peace, Bob
Reviewer:
micah6vs8
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 13, 2011
Subject: A Desert Island Show
Subject: A Desert Island Show
Essential Primal Dead.
Reviewer:
clementinescaboose
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 12, 2011
Subject: A Monumental Performance
Subject: A Monumental Performance
This is perhaps the band’s finest offering from 1968. It’s an absolutely classic show from start to finish; whether you’re a fan of the era or not, it does not matter. This show belongs in everyone’s collection, and this latest Charlie Miller upgrade does the seemingly impossible: makes this show even better!
The elementary dance number to start things off is a moody masterpiece in miniature. Though not as intense as some Dark Stars from this era, this more introspective version remains a favorite of mine. Jerry is wonderfully lyrical and dynamic, and Phil is right there with him.
A powerhouse St. Stephen>The Eleven follows, The Eleven especially being one of the greatest of all time. The whole band is “just exactly perfect” and the jam is as wild, hard driving, and electric as it gets. I love when someone (Bob or Phil?) calls out the minor key transition, too. Death Don’t Have No Mercy is, as usual, a hot and sweaty blues excursion, but this version seems to have a little extra danger about it.
They may have saved the best for set 2, however. This Other One is truly a majestic beast, burning with fire and determination like I have heard in no other. I would not hesitate to call it a top-five version of the entire suite. Everyone is totally in synch. Every note by Garcia is perfectly placed. Almost too perfect to be live, but too great to be rehearsed!
The spacey segue into New Potato is wonderful, and then we get a classic reading of this tune, Phil taking a truly astonishing ‘thirteens style’ solo. A short, powerful drums segment precedes a totally out-of-nowhere Jam that bounces all kinds of themes around, including Alligator, The Other One and even a brief stopover at Caution. Only one way to describe this jam (and the whole show really up to this point)- Primal! The jam lends its way into a brain-melting feedback that sadly gets cut off, and- whew! -we’re back on solid ground.
The elementary dance number to start things off is a moody masterpiece in miniature. Though not as intense as some Dark Stars from this era, this more introspective version remains a favorite of mine. Jerry is wonderfully lyrical and dynamic, and Phil is right there with him.
A powerhouse St. Stephen>The Eleven follows, The Eleven especially being one of the greatest of all time. The whole band is “just exactly perfect” and the jam is as wild, hard driving, and electric as it gets. I love when someone (Bob or Phil?) calls out the minor key transition, too. Death Don’t Have No Mercy is, as usual, a hot and sweaty blues excursion, but this version seems to have a little extra danger about it.
They may have saved the best for set 2, however. This Other One is truly a majestic beast, burning with fire and determination like I have heard in no other. I would not hesitate to call it a top-five version of the entire suite. Everyone is totally in synch. Every note by Garcia is perfectly placed. Almost too perfect to be live, but too great to be rehearsed!
The spacey segue into New Potato is wonderful, and then we get a classic reading of this tune, Phil taking a truly astonishing ‘thirteens style’ solo. A short, powerful drums segment precedes a totally out-of-nowhere Jam that bounces all kinds of themes around, including Alligator, The Other One and even a brief stopover at Caution. Only one way to describe this jam (and the whole show really up to this point)- Primal! The jam lends its way into a brain-melting feedback that sadly gets cut off, and- whew! -we’re back on solid ground.
Reviewer:
severedhead
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 15, 2011
Subject: Bliss
Subject: Bliss
This recording is breathtaking. If any thing ever made you wish with all your heart that you lived in SF during the psychedelic era just listen to this show.
Thank you Charlie 'Bear' Miller. Please continue your work on 60's shows.
Thank you Charlie 'Bear' Miller. Please continue your work on 60's shows.
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