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.