Grateful Dead
Cal Expo Amphitheatre
Sacramento, CA
May 27, 1993

Source: Sankens COS1 FOB -> ? -> DAT (16 bit/48 khz)

Transfer: Sony R500->Sound Devices 722

Mastered: Soundforge Pro 10.0b - *All file manipulation in Soundforge done at 24 bits*. Volume normalization, minor clap removal during some quiet parts of drums/space, sample rate conversion 48khz to 44.1khz using iZotope 64-Bit SRC set higher than "Highest Quality" setting w/anti-alias filter, then dithered back to 16 bits using using iZotope MBIT+ with Ultra noise shaping, High dither settings. Tracked in CDWav.

Set 1
01.  tuning
02.  Shakedown Street
03.  The Same Thing
04.  Dire Wolf
05.  Beat It On Down The Line
06.  High Time
07.  When I Paint My Masterpiece
08.  Cumberland Blues
09.  The Promised Land

Set 2
01.  crowd/tuning
02.  Picasso Moon ->
03.  Fire On The Mountain ->
04.  Wave To The Wind
05.  Cassidy ->
06.  Uncle John's Band ->
07.  Cassidy ->
08.  Drums ->
09.  Space ->
10. The Other One ->
11. Wharf Rat ->
12. Sugar Magnolia
13. encore break/tuning
14. Gloria


Recorded By ?
Clone received on DAT circa 1993 from Brendan O'Neill
Transfer, mastering, and tracking August 2010 by Scott Bernstein

Repaired the following minor glitches using the pencil tool in Sound Forge:
Set 1, Track 6 - small digi-glitch at 6:51 has been minimized
Set 2, Track 6 - minor digi-glitch at 7:32 has been completely removed
Set 2, track 13 - .375 sec drop out at 2:36 has been removed and is rendered inaudible (as it was during a tuning segment anyway)

Taper notes:
So the BARN series started out as a way to try to get more of my master recordings that have been heard by few people outside of my apartment into wider circulation as well as starting an attempt to preserve my deteriorating DATs to a better archival format on hard disc.

Of course, every so often when you've got a formula worked out, you have to break that format.  So this will be the first BARN series recording that I did not personally record.  The mid 90's are not generally regarded as a great time for The Grateful Dead.  From 1990-1991, Bruce Hornsby was in the band and added a huge new music voice and a ton of talent that energized them for a bit which also pushed (challenged?) Jerry Garcia in new ways not to get lazy at shows.  So there were some truly amazing shows in that time period.  But, Bruce didn't stick with the band that long and eventually they started writing some new material (of somewhat dubious quality) with Vince Welnick (the final keyboardist in the band).  Truly excellent shows after 1991 were few and far between -- BUT there were a few actual gems from time to time, and this is one of them.

I pulled this DAT out to listen to recently, remembering when I got it that there was just something really sweet sounding about the quality of this "up front" recording.  I also remember at the time reading up on these Sankens mics which were comparable to the size of a dime and being very impressed.  Of course I went in the complete opposite direction, buying the large diaphragm Neumanns which are among the largest mics anywhere!

Back to this show -- let's start with the 1st set -- how could you ever go wrong with a Shakedown opener, followed by a set of mostly-lesser played tunes for this time period -- the great blues tune, The Same Thing (only in the rotation for a year and a half at this point after being introduced 12/28/91), Dire Wolf, Beat It On Down The Line, High Time (rare in any era!), and Cumberland Blues are all really nicely sequenced for a unique setlist.  Someone else commented that Vince's solo on The Promised Land could be among his finest performances.  I know that's not saying much, but worth a mention.

But the 2nd set -- wow!  When they start a set with Picasso Moon (I know this is not everyone's cup of tea) is a raging version, segueing into very rare Scarlet-less Fire On The Mountain, you know something is afoot.  Then a semi-new (and often maligned) Phil song for the time -- Wave To The Wind is presented in a slightly rearranged/smoothed out fashion that I have not heard anywhere else.  Personally I like this song a lot.  And then the big bust-out -- a split up Cassidy (which had never been done before or since) with Uncle John's Band sandwiched in the middle!  Great music abounds here.  Apparently if I recall correctly someone (an interviewer?) had suggested this to them earlier in the day and they just went for it!  The rest of the set is strong if not particularly notable, but the always excellent (and somewhat rare) Gloria encore just tops the show perfectly.

I have no idea who recorded this originally or what gear was used beyond a DAT and the Sankens mics, so if anyone has any more info on who recorded it and what other gear was used, PLEASE get in touch!

Enjoy!

Scott

A rundown of my previous BARN archival releases (all can be found on archive.org except as noted):
BARN1 - Col Bruce Hampton and the Code Talkers at Bret & Joyce's wedding 9/17/2005
BARN2 - Col Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit (w/guest Warren Haynes for all of set 2) Wetlands 11/20/1993
BARN3 - moe. Wetlands 7/8/1995
BARN4 - Dan Bern Bottom Line 7/31/1998 (late show)
BARN5 - moe. Birch Hill 10/31/1996
BARN6 - moe. Maxwells 1/20/1996
BARN7 - Dan Bern Central Park Summerstage 9/19/1997
BARN8 - Dan Bern, Bottom Line 8/1/1998
BARN9 - moe. Bayou 4/5/1997
BARN10 - moe. Irving Plaza 4/4/1997
BARN11 - moe. AKA 9/7/1995
BARN12 - Yolk AKA 9/7/1995
BARN13 - Robert Walter/Johnny Vidacovich/James Singleton/Donald Harrison Preservation Hall 4/30/08
BARN14 - Phish Las Vegas, NV 10/31/1998 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN15 - Phish Great Went @ Loring AFB, Limestone, ME 8/16/1997 (on bt.etree.org) - by request
BARN16 - Phish Great Went @ Loring AFB, Limestone, ME 8/17/1997 (on bt.etree.org), includes orchestra set - by request
BARN17 - Phish Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, 8/4/1996 (on bt.etree.org) - by request
BARN18 - Phish Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, 8/6/1996 (on bt.etree.org) - by request
BARN19 - Phish Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, 8/7/1996 (on bt.etree.org) - by request
BARN20 - Phish Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, 8/5/1996 (on bt.etree.org) - by request
BARN21 - God Street Wine, Irving Plaza, NYC 6/24/1993
BARN22 - Leftover Salmon, Wetlands, NYC 10/1/1994
BARN23 - Anders Osborne, Manny's Carwash, NYC 11/5/1997
BARN24 - Anders Osborne, Manny's Carwash, NYC 11/6/1997
BARN25 - moe. Pool Party, Morganville, NJ 6/2/1996
BARN26 - Widespread Panic, Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ 11/7/1992 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN27 - Stew ["Passing Strange"], The Turning Point, Piermont, NY 4/6/2003 (on bt.etree.org. dimeadozen.org)
BARN28 - Stew ["Passing Strange"], Joe's Pub, New York, NY 5/22/2003 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN29 - Percy Hill, Lion's Den, NYC 3/16/1996
BARN30 - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Irving Plaza, 8/3/1995
BARN31 - Percy Hill, Wetlands, NYC 6/8/1996
BARN32 - Bad Livers, Mercury Lounge, NYC, 11/15/1999 (opening for Leftover Salmon)
BARN33 - Bad Livers, Mercury Lounge, NYC, 11/16/1999 (opening for Leftover Salmon)
BARN34 - G. Love And Special Sauce, Central Park Summerstage, NYC 6/18/1995
BARN35 - The Band, The Great Lawn, Central Park, NYC 5/16/1993 (on dimeadozen.org)
BARN36 - The Band, Mountain Stage Radio broadcast, Charleston, WV, recorded 4/4/1996 (on dimeadozen.org)
*** Start of New Orelans Jazzfest Appreciation mini-series (note that BARN13 technically belongs in this series) ***
BARN37 - Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA, 5/5/2008
BARN38 - Steve Kimock Band, Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA, 5/6/2001 (2AM show)
BARN39 - The Funky Meters, Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA, 5/6/2001 (11PM show) (on bt.etree.org)
BARN40 - Anders Osborne, Tower Records instore, New Orleans, LA, 5/7/2001 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN41 - Joe Krown Trio w/Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Russell Batiste + special guest Mike Gordon, Tipitina's, New Orleans, 5/5/2008
BARN42 - Russell Batiste and Friends, The Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans, 5/1/2008 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN43 - Global Noize, The Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans, 5/1/2008 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN44 - Deep Banana Blackout, The Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans, LA 5/6/2000
BARN45 - Bela Fleck And The Flecktones, The Saenger Theater, New Orleans, LA 5/5/2000
BARN46 - Medeski Martin And Wood, The Saenger Theater, New Orleans, LA 5/6/2000 (on bt.etree.org)
BARN47 - String Cheese Incident, The Saenger Theater, New Orleans, LA 5/5/2000
BARN48 - Soulive, House Of Blues Parish, New Orleans, LA 5/5/2001
BARN49 - String Cheese Incident, Cajun Queen Riverboat, New Orleans, LA 5/3/2000
BARN50 - New Mastersounds, House Of Blues Parish, New Orleans, LA 5/2/2008
BARN51 - Funky Meters, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN 6/13/2003
BARN52 - George Porter And The Runnin' Pardners, Village Underground, NYC, 5/19/2001
BARN53 - Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Tramps, NYC 10/29/1993 late show
BARN54 - The Meters, Tramps, NYC 5/15/93 late show
BARN55 - The Meters, Tramps, NYC 10/29/93 late show
BARN56 - Wild Magnolias, Wetlands, NYC 2/10/2000
*** end of New Orelans Jazzfest Appreciation mini-series ***
BARN57 - Blues Traveler, Livingston Gym @ Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 4/17/1993
BARN58 - Phish, Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 10/29/1998
BARN59 - Jazz Is Dead, Bottom Line, NYC 2/7/1998 (late show only)
BARN60 - Grateful Dead, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA 5/27/1993