Set 1



Bertha, Me & My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias, It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playin' In The Band



Set 2



U.S. Blues, Mexicali Blues, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow-> Dark Star-> China Doll, Promised Land, Not Fade Away-> Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad-> One More Saturday Night

Notes:



-- All disc changes are seamless



-- Reel flip in China Doll



-- Only Set 1 needed to be pitch corrected



-- Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction

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comment Reviews

Reviewer: nvona - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 10, 2017

Subject: Best of 74 WEATHER REPORT SUITE! - March 10, 2017Best of 74

Reviewer: gr8fuldad73 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2016

Subject: May 14 1974 !!! This show is smokin right from the start.Phil is on, and Jerry is in his zone.the set list is gr8 and every song sounds tight.highly recommend. - September 8, 2016May 14 1974 !!!

Reviewer: chris phillips - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 6, 2014

Subject: black throated wind While this show has good vibes, I think of '74 as a step down from '73 as far as intensity goes. - June 6, 2014black throated wind

Reviewer: N Bolton - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 16, 2014

Subject: New Favorite For sure one of my favorite shows from this time period.



First 25 seconds, and for that matter the whole song, of Scarlett Begonias is pure heaven.



Wasn't lucky enough to scoop up a copy when it came out on Dave's picks 9, grateful its here on Archive to enjoy.



Thanks! - May 16, 2014New Favorite

Reviewer: philgordon - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 5, 2014

Subject: Phil is on Fire



check out One of the best shows ever.check out www.justexactlyright.com for subtle dead t-shirts and decals. great decals for your guitar or bass. - April 5, 2014Phil is on Fire

Reviewer: greasylightning - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 20, 2014

Subject: to kochman not going to disagree with your review, but i read an article in a local paper about this show, and it said the grateful dead got one of the loudest cheers ever heard for a band in the state of montana. i guess they liked the dark star - February 20, 2014to kochman

Reviewer: c-freedom - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 9, 2014

Subject: Daybreak on the Land As soon as I heard the trippin' Bertha I e-mailed a link to this show out.

Me & My Uncle , loser , B.T.W. -all yummy!

This is absolutely incredible the separation I am getting in my headphones.

How did the Earth not go backward on it's axis when the Dead toured with the WALL OF SOUND.

I am just flabbergasted I have sound coming at me from all directions.

I am at Scarlet and I almost feel like Jerry is singing over here and playing over there and here comes Donna, (Wow, fortunate man Keith)

And Keith is like sliding notes from here and there. I cant wait until Phil gets ripping into something good.

Meanwhile Jerry is soloing in Scarlet and the band is sort of circling weaving in and out.

A Garcia double shot with 'The ROSES' listen to those backing vocals.

I can hear Jerry thinking the lyrics in his mind.

Jack Straw, Tenn Jed, Mexicali-Bobby!!! Phil singing backing vocals! Listen to Jerry play.

A minor technical difficulty-NOTHIN 'DEAL'

WON'T FIX..."It would burn off both your ears"

Big River-FLOOD YOU BIG RIVER!

Brown Eyed Women-One of the first Dead tunes I just absolutely lost my mind over.

Catch the backing vocals to Jerry's strong lead.

Phil can sing. His vocals are so key to the sound.

I feel stupid even having to say that at this late date. But his baritone is key here.

"Sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down"

Playin' In The Band-It never ceases to amaze me the Band would give you this huge first set and throw in a twenty minute 'Playin' to boot.

I love hearing Bobby count off the jump.

And here is what I was looking for the Phil zone.

Neat thing about Playin it sounds like phil is heading one way and Jerry is going another.

Donna is great! You don't like her getting down, you ain't got nothing to offer. (Diplomatic as I can be to those still wet behind the ears)

6 minutes in:

I hear Phil

I certainly hear Jerry

I am pretty sure I hear Bobby in Jerry's orbit

Bill the Drummer sounds like a marching band.

Trying to get a fix on Keith,

think he is playing the organ at this point.

This sounds like the origins of the jam in Shakedown at certain points.

At 18 minutes after some heavy jamming they come back for the Playin reprise.

I LOVE THIS BAND!



Set 2



U.S. Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow-> Dark Star-> China Doll, Promised Land, Not Fade Away-> Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad-> One More Saturday Night



I would be hard pressed to put together a better fantasy second set.

I consider the tune selection and execution from U.S. blues right thru to China Doll to be TOPS!!!

(Everything after China Doll you can chalk up as encore material just like Dane - 73)

How long is winter in Montana?- long enough for a Grateful Dead concert to be 'all summer in a day'. - February 9, 2014Daybreak on the Land

Reviewer: Beuff125 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 6, 2014

Subject: Oh Montana Nothing to dislike. An all time classic show from an all-time classic era.

DP9 in the ears and I'm trying to figure out how some can even come close to pick this apart?



Quality DEAD all over. BIG SKY DEAD.... as it were (USBlues) - February 6, 2014Oh Montana

Reviewer: kochman - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 6, 2014

Subject: Gradual improvement through the night - reviewed using Dave Pick 9 Bertha, this may be the first official release that I’ve heard starting with such sound/balance issues, though fixed by the end of the song. You can’t fix things forever recorded incorrectly (see Winterland Oct 74 run!). The song is mediocre.

MAMU gets the juices mixing, probably pleased the locals too.

Loser

BTW sounds great, nice tempo, strong Phil work, and Jerry is subtle behind Bob’s singing.

Scarlet>IMHBTR, Scarlet comes out with a great tempo and strong guitar. Keith has assumed the organ. Despite the strong tempo, there’s no rush when they hit the jam segment, Jerry bides his time and jumps in at the right moment. The ensuing jam reaches places that would be common in the later years of the jam, then breaks down nicely into It Must Have Been the Roses. This is the type of segue that brought me to the GD (specifically, the 77 Barton Hall S>F). I never know if it is planned or not, but either way the musicianship in astounding. I’ve grown quite found of Roses in the past year or so, though I wish Keith would have remained on the organ rather than going back to the piano.

Jack Straw

TN Jed is about average for the period, which means enjoyable.

Mexicali

Deal

Big River is usually a good gauge on the energy of a set in this period, or it adds needed energy. This one seems mediocre, though it does bring a little more energy before the final two songs of the set.

BEW starts off slowly, but gathers steam nicely.

PITB, the jam starts off slow with Garcia going to a watery tone. Billy is all over the cymbals, Bob providing steady rhythm, but Garcia, uncommonly, doesn’t seem to be there. Before the 8 minute mark Garcia remembers he’s the star of the show and starts making it count, which excites Bobby into more creative rhythm work, as things get weird. Around 11 minutes the jam goes into spacier territory, only to return to a more exploratory theme based jam a minute and a half later, which I appreciate because it is more intriguing. Around 14 minutes in we appear to be headed to the jungle for a Tiger strike. No dice on the Tiger, but it is a nice jam that brings us an energetic return to the theme for the reprise.



The encore slotted US Blues takes a set opening role, which is a nice start.

El Paso is fun as usual, keeps things moving along nicely, another locals pleasure I’m sure.

Row Jimmy, typically not a favorite of mine, is pretty good. Poignant playing by Garcia and good support from Phil before the meat sequence is key.

WRS>LIG>DS>China Doll

A nice line up for the meat sequence, though this probably wanted to make beer swilling college kids in MT run for the exits. Prelude and part 1 are excellent, with a somewhat sloppy but still entertaining LIG. The segue into Dark Star was easy work for them. The journey is a slow one. After some mediocre exploratory jamming they return to the theme around 11 minutes in. After the verse it isn’t long before it goes into space, the locals now drooling with their boredom. Deadheads who enjoy spaciness will enjoy it, it doesn’t scatter into deep space (few notes), but instead maintains a steady sound. At the 19 minute mark Jerry again flirts with Tiger territory and he fucking unleashes the hell out of it. Locals now going through anaphylactic shock. Feedback during the short tiger takes away from it a bit. A nice jazzy jam, probably the highlight of the sequence, brings us to the song’s conclusion as they segued smoothly into China Doll. For a band that is so consistently considered to have incredible interaction with their audience, it’s odd they didn’t take a more apt approach to the meat sequence.

Promised Land, and the audience rejoices!

NFA>GDTRFB

A great NFA, which the crowd earned after the meat sequence. Nice energy, which Bobby accenting Jerry’s solos well. This is actually the most sustained energy of the show. The fireworks continue in GDTRFB as the fans got their dance party!

OMSN

___________________________________________________________



Performance Summary

The first set is decent but lacks consistent energy. The Scarlet>IMHBTR is the highlight, with the PITB being typical of the period. Donna-haters beware, she’s extra vocal this evening. The second set is more consistent, though the first half of Dark Star is less than thrilling. The best part of the show is probably the NFA>GDTRFB, where the patient audience was rewarded with a dance party performance brimming with juice.



Sound Quality

A+ for the official release. - February 6, 2014Gradual improvement through the night - reviewed using Dave Pick 9

Reviewer: boscomorgan - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 5, 2014

Subject: Where do these people come from? Do you people have nothing better to do than pick apart,and examine every note that comes off the stage? Can't you just sit back and dig the music? Trust me i get what most of you say,it is just like the people who hassle me because i cannot listen to anything with vince welnick. But some of you break it down which speaker does garcia have his smokes on? Or when phil was drinking how many heinekens would he go thru? Or when keith was nodding and leaned to far and fell off his bench? Dig the music and let it go. It seems like a contest to see who can Out Grateful Dead the next person. Does it really make a difference? I have seen more shows than a lotta people but that does not make me anymore Grateful Dead than the next guy it only makes me more fortunate than most. Relax and dig the music and don't worry about nit-picking every damn thing that goes on. On what level does it really make a difference. - February 5, 2014Where do these people come from?

Reviewer: sharkmanlpn - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 26, 2014

Subject: Sound Sound 10+ Show 10+ Might be hard to find a better show anywhere. This on set's the bar high. As good but better no. This show is what the Dead were all about. Gets in to my top 5 that's for sure. sharkmanlpn -- January 26, 2014Sound

Reviewer: grateful phishmon - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 25, 2014

Subject: Excellent Playin', WRS, Dark Star, Not Fade>GDTRFB I think this is a great, spacey Dark Star despite the lack of a Tighten Up, Phillo Stomp, MLB jam, or whatever. The jam caresses you like a lover, then stings you like a viper in the meltdown section. Sends you to dreamland, then jars you awake in the best way. Ending of Playin' is a bit rough; other than that it's a great listen. WRS is starting to get a bit out there, though not nearly as much as it would later that year (6/18). How about Jerry's sound in China Doll; is that a kazoo doubling his solo? Sound is good though maybe slightly high in pitch.



Oh by the way, ignore beedup saying people who didn't attend the shows have no right to review them. I was all of 7 years old; how was I going to attend any show in 1974? Great that you got to see 180 shows in 25 years; it's still just you're perspective; don't be an a--hole towards others expressing theirs. - January 25, 2014Excellent Playin', WRS, Dark Star, Not Fade>GDTRFB

Reviewer: DMTrue13 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 19, 2013

Subject: review it all is that Bobby doing a ridiculous falsetto on roses?the quality of the aud is just as important as the performance for review, because we are presented with such a wide range of options thanks to the arc. Mr Miller's stuff is almost always good. good era 74, some weirdness in some songs,i like others better but this is still great. - December 19, 2013review it all

Reviewer: dc in colorado - - December 19, 2013

Subject: wassup with donna's voice? It seems Wall of Sound recordings often picked up way too much cymbals. That very annoying feature is absent from this one, thankfully!



Cool take on Begonias.



Then there's Must Have Been the Roses--Donna's voice sounds weird as all heck. I don't mean she's singing poorly--I mean she almost sounds like a different person. Anyone know why? A mic problem?? - December 19, 2013wassup with donna's voice?

Reviewer: WharfRat17 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 8, 2013

Subject: help downloading fairly new to the dead world, been coming to this site since 2010, was using real player to download sbd shows, but as of late it's not letting it happen, anyone that can help me out would be grately appreciated. As For the show, grate versions of many songs. Over the past few years, I've mostly listen to '82-'92, that's what I was turned on to. So hearing the material from the 70's is awesome, gives the music a whole new outlook - November 8, 2013help downloading

Reviewer: beedub - - November 7, 2013

Subject: Show vs. Tape I love Archive and read the reviews when I'm there. Just gotta say; 1) to state this version or that version is the best ever is idiotic and exhibits a very limited frame of reference, 2) A good, or bad for that matter, tape has NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW GOOD THE SHOW WAS. May I just say, IMO, that if you're making statements like this it tells me you haven't seen many shows, your credibility is sorely lacking and you don't understand the essence of The Grateful Dead. Just one guys opinion (180 shows over 25 year span). Thanks for letting me share. - November 7, 2013Show vs. Tape

Reviewer: HuaHinWharfRat - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 7, 2013

Subject: My thoughts from copy of E-mail to a mate



I've had the show in medium bit-rate mp3 format from the Internet Archive for a long while (I've downloaded all '74 shows being as they're in 'the peak years') but hadn't paid it too much attention. A FLAC version was 'bumped' to the top of the Lossless Legs list recently, following the announcement that it was going to be the next Dave's Picks, so I grabbed a copy. I saved the FLAC to 'ye olde' external hard-drives and loaded an mp3 version @ 320 kbps onto my mp3 player with a view to giving it a thorough going over.



After a few listens I have concluded that, although it is only a 'so so' show, the 'mix', recording, whatever is amazing. I am sure that Jeffrey Norman will work wonders when upgrading it to HDCD but most of the building blocks are already in place. If you ask me, the Charlie Miller version is already (almost) commercial release quality. Mr Norman is going to have his work cut out. I say "almost" because there is at least one flaw in the version on the Archive and Lossless Legs



I say 'so so' show because the "Dark Star" is a bit directionless and lacks a focal point like a 'Mind Left Body', 'Feeling Groovy' or 'Tighten Up' jam. That said, there are more or less perfect renditions of all the remaining songs.



One thing also appeals to me: the way they come in 'piecemeal' during "Bertha". It starts with just the drums and piano and Jerry's vocals, then the rhythm guitar and bass are piped in, finally followed by Jerry's lead guitar -



"The Promised Land" is attached as a sample (small enough to be E-mailed 'ordinary'). I'll see if I can send "Bertha" via Sky-Drive if I can manage it before I fall asleep.



Well those are my thoughts - feel free to shoot me down.



Hua Hin Wharf Rat

(AKA Tidewater 4-10-0-9) You've probably picked up on the announcement that the first release of next year's Dave's Picks is going to be the 14th May 1974 (Tuesday) show from Adams Field House, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.I've had the show in medium bit-rate mp3 format from the Internet Archive for a long while (I've downloaded all '74 shows being as they're in 'the peak years') but hadn't paid it too much attention. A FLAC version was 'bumped' to the top of the Lossless Legs list recently, following the announcement that it was going to be the next Dave's Picks, so I grabbed a copy. I saved the FLAC to 'ye olde' external hard-drives and loaded an mp3 version @ 320 kbps onto my mp3 player with a view to giving it a thorough going over.After a few listens I have concluded that, although it is only a 'so so' show, the 'mix', recording, whatever is amazing. I am sure that Jeffrey Norman will work wonders when upgrading it to HDCD but most of the building blocks are already in place. If you ask me, the Charlie Miller version is already (almost) commercial release quality. Mr Norman is going to have his work cut out. I say "almost" because there is at least one flaw in the version on the Archive and Lossless Legs i.e . the tape-flip during "China Doll' although Charlie Miller has 'repaired' it with an almost unnoticeable cross-fade. You can only tell because there are a couple of missing lines where the lyrics don't quite match, though the music doesn't skip a beat. No doubt the 'Deadnet' people will either have a complete soundboard from the vault or will patch it from another performance which they have developed a nasty habit of doing recently.I say 'so so' show because the "Dark Star" is a bit directionless and lacks a focal point like a 'Mind Left Body', 'Feeling Groovy' or 'Tighten Up' jam. That said, there are more or less perfect renditions of all the remaining songs.One thing also appeals to me: the way they come in 'piecemeal' during "Bertha". It starts with just the drums and piano and Jerry's vocals, then the rhythm guitar and bass are piped in, finally followed by Jerry's lead guitar - i.e . the 'Wall of Sound' as it was, warts and all."The Promised Land" is attached as a sample (small enough to be E-mailed 'ordinary'). I'll see if I can send "Bertha" via Sky-Drive if I can manage it before I fall asleep.Well those are my thoughts - feel free to shoot me down.Hua Hin Wharf Rat(AKA Tidewater 4-10-0-9) - November 7, 2013My thoughts from copy of E-mail to a mate

Reviewer: MTRawker - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 29, 2013

Subject: Blissed out This was my first Dead show and I remember my friends and I kicking back and taking in the incredible vibe the boys put down. All there was left to do was Smile, Smile, Smile. Snuck in to the venue earlier to watch the Wall being constructed to hear a fellow remark that Jerry had just been out to noodle around with the sound.

Had this on cassette but the SBD is sending me back all these years later. Thanks to Charlie, props to tapers and thanks to the Dead for letting their tunes flow so freely. - May 29, 2013Blissed out

Reviewer: doug_the_dude - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 29, 2013

Subject: -- No question about it - this is the BIG TIME - a first, fully-successful performance with The Wall. Awesome, completely essential stuff.



While some set 1's in '74 could plod, this one definitely does NOT. Right from the opening of Bertha Jerry is in fine vocal form, and Scarlet (despite Donna's truly *faceplaming* attempt at vocal "texture") is a lot of fun in this early stage, played light and fast. Playin' takes us out, for the first time this night, for a long jazzy walk, and there is a lot of fiery *activity* going on here. While a lot of Playin' jams in this era more glided along the air, this one digs down and hard. Donna-haters rejoice - you get not one but two Reprise wails!



Set 2 is possessed by jazz. We get through an elegant Row Jimmy (where even Donna comes off nicely) and into the WRS > DS > China Doll; the first two "movements" here, particularly the real thick caboose of Dark Star, rival anything put to wax on Bitches' Brew. Keith, despite the fact that he clearly was never in Brent's league on the keys, adds some excellent backdrop to the explorations here - nothing fancy, but really essential to the overall scope of what they're doing (the "forest for the trees", etc.)



I do think the unsung hero of this show is Not Fade Away - after all we've been through it's easy to overlook it, but give this thing as much attention as you do the Dark Star. If the latter was about pummeling those jazz depths, this thing is about sheer, ballsy ROCK.



I think the Saturday Night encore so perfectly caps off and encapsulates how the band must have been feeling, with this tremendous sound system at their disposal to do whatever they could possibly manage. Bobby in particular sounds like he's going to have an apoplectic fit.



Missoula '74 - I think this is one of the very best shows of the year. - May 29, 2013--

Reviewer: Tidewater four ten O nine - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 15, 2013

Subject: FAO bearbryant you mean you haven't got this show and you need to stream ? - March 15, 2013FAO bearbryant

Reviewer: akabak - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 15, 2013

Subject: awesome show thanks for posting :)) - March 15, 2013awesome show

Reviewer: bearbryant - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 13, 2013

Subject: thanx another quality recording, have almost 800gb of live dead, and still come to the archive for shows like this - March 13, 2013thanx

Reviewer: jjg4762 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 3, 2013

Subject: to good to be true There is nothing to dislike about this show just rips from the get go. I have only givin 5 stars to shows like this. - January 3, 2013to good to be true

Reviewer: monksbird - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 1, 2012

Subject: Wow. It bears repeating. Wow. - December 1, 2012Wow.

Reviewer: frosty19 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 17, 2012

Subject: yeah

Subject: i wish someone would show me how to download this show o

or any other stream the quality is so far superior

pretty good stuff, huh?. send me an email at srfx3@ Reviewer: jerdan45 - - May 15, 2012Subject: i wish someone would show me how to download this show oor any other stream the quality is so far superiorpretty good stuff, huh?. send me an email at srfx3@ hotmail.com i have a suggestion for you - July 17, 2012yeah

Reviewer: jerdan45 - favorite favorite favorite - May 15, 2012

Subject: i wish someone would show me how to download this show o or any other stream the quality is so far superior - May 15, 2012i wish someone would show me how to download this show o

Reviewer: pauggroove - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 29, 2012

Subject: Kudos Charlie Great job with the mix as always Charlie. Outstanding recording, great show, great playing. 5 stars all around - March 29, 2012Kudos Charlie

Reviewer: Pangolin22 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 14, 2011

Subject: Sheer perfection If I could give this one 10 stars, I would! A perfect performance beautifully captured and remastered (I found the drums to be particularly crisp). Truly one those shows where picking through the setlist seems almost pointless, not even Donna's caterwauling on Playin' could bring me down on this one! - December 14, 2011Sheer perfection

Reviewer: njpg - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 27, 2011

Subject: Certainly a professional job! Excellently played, tight performance and the recording is relatively warm for a '74 soundboard. I can't help but wonder what an AUD of this show would be like! Not as insanely, crazily good as some other '74 shows I've heard, but super high quality nonetheless. Keith G in particular sounds great on the ivories, both grand and electric, and the jam in Dark Star gets super funky. - September 27, 2011Certainly a professional job!

Reviewer: missy mae - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 30, 2011

Subject: Before My Time Is this the sort of magic that made Missoula such an incredible place? - July 30, 2011Before My Time

Reviewer: Evan S. Hunt - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 23, 2011

Subject: Heard This One Awhile Ago But forgot to review. This is really pretty much what you got in 1974 if you were attending shows. The first songs are weak because the band is trying to dial in their mix on stage.



Wall of Sound is totally intact re: recording excellence in second set. You could hear every whisper and nuance.



Have had numerous discussions with John Meyer about the GD's sound systems -- especially the modern ones he's designed for the various offshoot bands. He maintains a perfectly appreciable stance that the band(s) sound better under the aegis of his systems and I would generally heartily concur, consistency wise, but to this old fart nothing compares, in person, nor on tape, to the WOS. - July 23, 2011Heard This One Awhile Ago

Reviewer: severedhead - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 18, 2011

Subject: Another Shining Star Thank you once again, Owsley Miller. - July 18, 2011Another Shining Star

Reviewer: PigpenLives - - July 14, 2011

Subject: nice upgrade I had the gd74-05-14.sbd.murphy.1823.sbeok.shnf version - already pretty good - but this is even better. A nice upgrade. Thanks! - July 14, 2011nice upgrade

Reviewer: jmrust - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 14, 2011

Subject: Wow.... The audience got there monies worth during this show. Amazing show, tight playing.....Thanks Charlie - July 14, 2011Wow....