Here
we go Dead Fans ... it's time once-again to get your ears-on ! Yet
another very-welcomed ' return ' to one of those Prime ! special eras of
G.D. -- 1969!!! And, this just isn't any '69 Show either ( though I
really would listen to any of them ! ) ... but, this very-special release
from the cherished Vault ! in the form of Thelma Theater - in Los Angeles,
California ... straight from the Sunset Strip !!! And, speaking for
myself - I've been crazy about the Live Electric ! Magic !! that the Dead
delivered here - since back in 1994 ! I only had a small sliver of this
12/12/69 Show - less than 45 minutes ( the Uncle John > He Was A
Friend Of Mine > Alligator > Drums > Alligator segment ) ...
and, it's one I'll never forget - and why ? Because we selected it for
the 1st ! Tape to get played in the Car, on the way down south to San
Francisco - in August 1995 - on the journey to Golden Gate Park, to show
appreciation - and appropriately celebrate the life of Jerry Garcia.
We needed to kick this road trip off in a way that showed the greatest
respect possible - and, ultimately decided that 12/12/69 sound was
indeed the ' right ' choice ... Uncle John's Band > He Was A Friend Of
Mine.
Then followed by a Heavy-Duty ! Alligator > Drums > Alligator. So
for me - when I think ' Thelma '69 ', that's what I remember. I am
personally delighted beyond belief ! that this one was finally selected
for
pro-release, as it's now been about 25-Years since I found just a little
golden chunk of this one, and now ... a pristine digitally remastered
version with
some seriously generous song additions ! Wow, and to think that
this
one was played right on the Strip ! - and, in a small Rainbow, Whisky,
Roxy type Club -- and, a quite smaller & more intimate Venue too -
from
the crowd sounds on these CD's. I can't even believe that I now
actually own this one, as I'm actually feeling honored, or
something like that. I mean here's the general mood in the air when
this one gets-a-rollin', completely classic ... " Before-set ritual, time
to contemplate ... " ( Garcia ! ) - " Why doesn't someone go and make a
Tequila run ? - and we all can get Drunk ! " ( Weir ) ... and of course, " Hey
Bear - how about some monitor-action Bear ?! " And then, it gets
down-right Bluesy !!! The tempo starts out fierce, but - not
fierce in a ' fast ' way, but in a slow & controlled - we're just
gonna Smoke !! this night way ... dang, believe-it ! I mean let's just put
it like this - if, you hadn't already well expected it ... Pigpen is
on sheer Fire !!!!! That's certainly one of the trademarks of this
glorious 3-CD Set - for certain ! And another, of course ... is this
Late-'69 period in general ! Right on the heels of Workingman's Dead -
there are over 1/2 dozen tunes from Workingman's delivered
freshly ! on
here. Their collective tone ! - communication, tempos, and voices
( Garcia !! ) are nothing short of remarkable. Comparatively too, to say
Dick's
Picks 16, Dave's Picks 6 ... Dave's Picks 10 ! - I mean this is '69 Live
Dead in its rightful groove ! But, this one being in such a small &
intimate Venue & right on the Sunset Strip too ! - it's just
that special ... and it sounds! that special. The whole time during
this
Show, they must have been thinking to themselves ... damn, we've gotten
pretty good ! None of the Boys in the Band would ever say that of
course, but instead - they deliver it! right through the PA's. I'm
listening to Cumberland right now, and it's awesome ... Pig also
delivers a 30-Minute + Lovelight ! on here too - one that goes strictly
Blues ... to Red-Hot ! ... to the point that it's hard to even know what
hit you ?!? Plus, though there is hard & heavy everywhere all
throughout this Show ... it is amazing how much of a different overall
mellow ' Vibe ' it can deliver, say in comparison to - the
Late-Feb / Early-March 1969
Fillmore West Shows ... as it's so very clear that these Boys are
heading into the beautiful-music unknown - best described as the
Workingman's Dead Era !! Just letting strings & tones resonate ! -
and letting subtle & full ! vocals feel the air. Wow ... this Black
Peter is silly, it's so good ! The sound is so incredibly rich -
that it feels like Garcia's got his 6-string & mic ... while he is
sitting right on your couch ! And also, keep this in mind ... that same
little ' chunk ' of G.D. Magic that I've mentioned earlier ? Well, that
was obviously a somewhat common circulation - in the Dead Fan taping
community in the Mid-'90's ... and, I finally confirmed that when it
indeed aired
on the Dead Head Hour in 2000 ! ... but, this time - it was not only the
Uncle John's > He Was A Friend > Alligator > Drums >
Alligator ... but ! ... it also !! included the Caution > Feedback >
Bid You Goodnight ! that followed. And All !!!!! of that Magic is right
on here, in the form of Disc 3. And as far as some of the earlier
tracks on this release ? Well, you bet ... count your lucky stars in
the form of yet another " Return " of a Reel-To-Reel to the Vault !!! I
don't know all of the details, and in's and out's of this-one ... Ha !
But, let's just send out a blind " Thanks " !!! Wow, I mean it really!
Iced the Cake with this release ... and I'm talking Frosting !!! So,
as the story goes ... I've been putting this one together piece by piece
for just about 25 years now, and now Finally ! & Thankfully !! - my
12/12/1969 life-mission is complete ! So I guess now ? I can just
kick-it & relax like a Sleepy Alligator in the Noon Day Sun !!!
Still had better keep the Tail ! off of that Track ! though ... Ha ! I
mean just check out that Cover Art !!! Add this one to your collection,
and don't even think twice. Whoa !?! ... DP # 10 -- G.D. in December 1969 ! at Thelma Theatre !! on the Sunset Strip !!! Wow .. .. ..
TRACK LISTING >>>
Grateful Dead : Recorded ' Live ' at the Thelma Theater - Los Angeles, California ( CA ) : December 12, 1969 ( 12/12/1969 ) :
Disc 1 ( 12/12/1969 ) :
Cold Rain And Snow
Me And My Uncle
Easy Wind
Cumberland Blues
Black Peter
Next Time You See Me
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
Disc 2 ( 12/12/1969 ) :
Turn On Your Lovelight
Hard To Handle
Casey Jones
Mama Tried
High Time
Dire Wolf
Good Lovin'
I'm A King Bee
Disc 3 ( 12/12/1969 ) :
Uncle John's Band >
He Was A Friend Of Mine
Alligator >
Drums >
Alligator >
Caution ( Do Not Stop On Tracks ) >
Feedback >
And We Bid You Goodnight
Item Condition :
This Very-Rare ! Out of Print ( 2014 GDP / Rhino release ) Grateful Dead Dave's Picks 10 (
Thelma Theater - Los Angeles, CA - 12/12/69 ) 3 CD Set is in Very Good condition - close to Like New overall. CD's are in Very Good condition - close to Very Good/Like New overall, with light scratches/marks on the playing surfaces (please see photos). Liner Notes ( 16-Page Insert Booklet ) are in Like New (Near Mint/Mint!) condition (please see photos). CD Case ( 3-CD Quad-Fold ) is in Like New (Near Mint/Mint!) condition (please see photos). This 3-CD Set has been very carefully stored inside protective plastic in my professional CD rack. Please see all photos provided. Photos included are of the actual item you will
receive. The Grateful Dead Live ! at the ' Thelma Theater !! ' in L.A., CA on the " Sunset
Strip !!! " - on December 12, 1969 !!! -- Enjoy !!!!
Please ask any questions before
bidding/buying & Best of Luck !
( also ... please feel free to
click the 'see other items' button above to check-out my other related live
listings - Thanks ! )
U.S. & International buyers welcome (additional shipping charges & delivery time will apply for international destinations). Shipping charges include delivery confirmation on every item. Returns accepted within 14 days of purchase if item is returned unused & undamaged (buyer pays return shipping). All items will be shipped as merchandise with the winning bid entered as item value (2023-2024).