The acclaimed Dave’s Picks archival Grateful Dead series has just announced the 20th volume in their archival series, this time opting for some 80’s Dead–from December 9th, 1981 at Colorado University’s Events Center in Boulder.
The last show of a 10-day run, Dave’s new “pick” finds the band cranking out back-to-back high-energy sets. Set one is filled with top-notch Jerry performances (“Friend Of The Devil,” “Bird Song”) and a very rare pairing of Bobby songs (“Cassidy,” “Looks Like Rain”). The second set is a powerhouse of tight playing, featuring a nearly perfect “Scarlet>Fire,” excellent organ work from Brent Mydland that takes “Estimated Prophet” to an otherworldly level, and a double encore fit for “rock ‘n’ roll excellence.”
And if that wasn’t enticing enough, this show is packed with classic covers like Merle Haggard‘s “Mama Tried,” The Rascals’ “Good Lovin’,” and a handful of Rolling Stones tunes, including “Little Red Rooster,” “Around and Around,” and potentially the very best version of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” that the Dead ever played.
Taken from 7″ reel-to-reel master tapes, Dave’s Picks Volume 20 offers up top-notch sound quality and a robustness that was unusual for the tape recordings at this time. As always, it has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 16,500 individually numbered copies.
Dave’s Picks Volume 20 will be available via dead.net on November 1st. You can see the full setlist from the show below:
12/9/81 – The Grateful Dead – Events Center (Colorado University) – Boulder, CO
SET 1:
Cold Rain and Snow
Jack Straw
Friend of the Devil
Little Red Rooster
Bird Song
Mama Tried
Mexicali Blues
Candyman
Cassidy
Looks Like Rain
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider
SET 2:
Scarlet Begonias
Fire on the Mountain
Estimated Prophet
He’s Gone
Drums
The Other One
Stella Blue
Around and Around
Good Lovin’
ENCORE:
U.S. Blues
Satisfaction
[Cover Photo via EW]