Completely Conspicuous 534: In the Dark

I'm joined by guest Phil Stacey as we discuss the Grateful Dead album In the Dark.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Zoom

- We originally planned to do this in early March, but then something happened

- In the Dark was released in July 1987, seven years after the last Dead studio album

- Phil had just graduated from high school, Jay was going into junior year of college

- The band had been playing the songs in concert for years

- Jerry Garcia had gone into a diabetic coma in '86

- Had to re-learn how to walk, talk, play guitar

- Band was renewed after his recovery

- CDs were just starting to get popular

- We both didn't get CD players until 1989

- First CDs: Phil's was 10,000 Maniacs, Jay's were Cult, the Who, Joe Jackson

- The Best of Steve Miller was a college staple in the '80s

- Recorded live in an empty theater

- "Touch of Grey" was all over MTV and rock radio that summer

- Very catchy single

- Phil: Album was breath of fresh air after two disappointing releases

- "Touch of Grey" resonated with Boomers as well as younger listeners

- New fans were known as "Touch heads" by veteran fans

- People were going to Dead shows for the scene, not the music

- Released videos for "Hell in a Bucket" and "Throwing Stones"

- The one clunker is sung by keyboardist Brent Mydland

- Jay: His vocals didn't seem to fit

- They ladled on the synths

- Phil: Mydland was good at harmonies

- Vocals sounded like Kenny Loggins or Bob Seger

- Phil: Listening to at least one album he hasn't heard every day

- "West LA Fadeaway" may have been inspired by Belushi

- Phil gives it a B+

- The success of "Touch of Grey" was so unexpected

- Next up: We talk about the last Dead studio album

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The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.