Grateful Dead : Dick’s Picks 21 Volume Twenty One : November 11, 1985 (11/1/85 : 11/1/1985) – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, Virginia (VA)!!! + September 2, 1980 (9/2/1980) – Community War Memorial – Rochester, New York (NY)… 2001 (1980/1985/2001) Grateful Dead Productions, Inc. (GDP) – GDCD 4041 -‘ Original! Grateful Dead 1985 Twenty Years So Far!!! Night # 2 Show! At the Richmond Coliseum!!! 1985 Grateful Dead, you either love it or you don’t. I’ve come to that conclusion over the years – and there are two very distinct sides to the Deadhead-Camps of opinion. While some Fans can be critical of some of the Mid-80’s song-material, upbeat-tempos, and Garcia’s slightly grainier voice… Others idolize & treasure this period, can’t get enough, and must track down every note played from this powerful era of the Band’s development. Yes, 20 Years in here – and our heroes are still developing, evolving and growing as musicians!! ? ! I myself, reside in the later camp – live for this high-energy, chance-taking powerhouse G. And have for years & years. However, when I was a kid – I had yet to get’ bit’ by the Mid-80’s bug that my friends were always pushing – but then I was gradually infected. And infected for good. Once I gathered more & more chunks (analog cassettes, to be precise) of both Summer & Fall’85 Tours? I just couldn’t hear enough of this stuff – warts and all. It clearly is a magical, brawny & groundbreaking period for the Band, and I wholeheartedly consider it to be one of the Dead’s four major ” Prime-Eras “. The fact is, there is some youthful vigor to this 20-Year Old Grateful Dead – and they just simply get after it night after night, after night in 1985. Every Band Member has 20-years of playing experience under their belt, and my do they shine. This is without a doubt one of the most ” Rockin’ ” Grateful Dead Eras there ever was. Unlike say 1977, by’85 they have 125 + songs in their rotation, Tons of great original material (along with’ tons’ of great covers), just nailed down. There are brisk transitions, and hard-pushes on jams everywhere. Technology finally caught up with them too, as this was actually the 1st Digital Soundboard recording ever released in the Dick’s Pick Series. Every String-player & Drummer has their favorite toys & tools, and these Guitar & Bass Rigs And Drum-Kits are just ridiculous – top-notch stuff, with the finest unique sounds & tones. And the main topic here that cannot be denied is Garcia’s furious & vicious fret board picking attack, and massive tone. My theory though who really knows? Is that it was a wide-array of insane sounding Boss equipment HM-2 – OD-1 – OC-2, etc. That laid the platform, and he dialed up the silver-faced twin pre-amp up 1 notch on the intensity, and like 2 (or so) notches on the reverb dial. It’s just brisk, glassy & completely awesome. The only other J. Guitar-rig tone this ear-catching after 1985, was probably 1989 – but still, at this point we are talking about the post-MIDI era. I mean come on Folks & Fans everywhere, we are talking about’85 Greek – River Bend – Blossom – SPAC – Merriweather – Ventura – Red Rocks – Kaiser – Tampa – Fox – S. Worcester – Meadowlands – Oakland, etc.. We need a 73-CD Box Set (Like Europe’72) out quickly for this one – but as we all know, this dream unfortunately will probably never happen due to the many points (though, some obviously valid) made stiffly & sternly by the naysayers. I love that Dick Picked this Show for ” Us “!! The mixed-up, multi-surprise set list is just grand. The boys burn the candle at both ends throughout all-three Discs here in VA. Words don’t describe the specifics here, as I’ll just let the music do the talking. However, do prepare yourself & get ready for one of Bobby’s greatest verbal improv’s ever during the midst of a Blistering-Hot! Gloria’ : After that, I just don’t know where my baby went – maybe went up in a space-shuttle, or maybe ran for Pres-i-dent! ? ! You’ve just gotta love this stuff…. Or, like Dick says himself – Caveat Emptor! And remember to turn’ Up’ the Volume Knob – on This-One!!!!! Down & Dirty Good Ol’ ” Mid-’80’s ” Grateful Dead!! Sheer Rock & Roll Muscle!!! Dick’s Picks 21!!!! TRACK LISTING >>> Grateful Dead’ Live’ at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA on Novemeber 1, 1985 (11/1/85) & the Rochester War Memorial in Rochester, NY on September 2, 1980 (9/2/80) : CD ONE : Dancing In The Streets > Cold Rain And Snow Little Red Rooster Stagger Lee Me And My Uncle > Big River Brown-Eyed Women Jack Straw > Don’t Ease Me In CD TWO : Samson And Delilah High Time He’s Gone > Spoonful > Comes A Time > Lost Sailor > Drumz > CD THREE : Space > Saint Of Circumstance > Gimmie Some Lovin’ > She Belongs To Me > Gloria > Keep Your Day Job BONUS TRACKS : 9/2/80 Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY : Space > Iko Iko > Morning Dew > Sugar Magnolia Item Condition : This Very Rare! Grateful Dead Dick’s Picks 21 Volume Twenty One’ Original! GDCD 4041 3-CD Set is in Very Good/Like New condition – close to Like New overall. CD’s are in Very Good/Like New condition : Disc 1 & Disc 2 are in Like New (Near Mint/Mint) condition – Disc 3 is in Very Good condition with some very-faint/light marks on the playing surface (please see photos). Liner Notes Inside Insert Booklet (6-Pages) & Front/Back Insert Cards are in Like New Mint! Condition (please see photos). CD Case (3-CD) is in Like New Mint! This Set has been very carefully stored inside my professional CD rack. Please see all photos provided. Photos included are of the actual item you will receive. 1985 20-Years So Far Tour G. Trouble’s Ahead – Jerry’s In Red! Please Note : This Very Rare ” Dick’s Picks 21 ” 3-CD Set is the Original! Printing (GDCD 4041) from 2001, not the later Rhino or Real Gone Re-Printings / Re-Issues. Please see photos provided…