Grateful Dead

Here is a link to a page reprinting the initial press release/sales pitch:http://deadnews.blogspot.com/2005/07/fillmore-west-1969-complete-record… The important part: "there will be no second pressings or reprints. Once they're gone, they're gone for good." Ever see them say anything so clear and complete about a limited edition again? Now they artfully phrase the statement to provoke you to rush to buy while leaving themselves a loophole or two. I do think they should go against their statement. The spreading of these epiphinal recordings to the appreciative masses is a moral good that outweighs the moral bad of breaking their word, imo. (FYI, I bought the box when it initially came out.) But not everyone will agree with me... TPTB must know the money is out there waiting to buy these shows, so TPTB must have a good reason to be afraid to put them out again. Wish we could get an insider statement to clarify everything. As it is, our imaginations are left to make up the story.

I agree that these show feature similar jams. But to me, the respective first sets provide markedly different foundations on which the second sets are built. The 28th is more blues based, and seems to build in power to reach an incredible crescendo several hours later. 1st March seems more psychedelic - there can't be many shows that START with the Other One. It features more Aoxomoxoa songs, as well as the great-and I believe final-New Potato Caboose. I haven't played the March show for a while, so the details elude me at this moment in time. But its on my play list.

Yes, I agree 100%. Shameful that this release should have been confined to a limited edition release. Surely it would have recouped the money invested in it if it had been made available to music lovers as well as collectors. Obviously, I missed out. I wasn't online at the time of its release. My 3cd set has 2005 as a release date, so maybe enough time has passed to shrug of its limited edition status and put it out again as a box set. Or even release the individual shows, like they have done with Europe 72. I would buy all of them. I have the music from this run on Live Dead, the 3 cd set, So Many Roads and bootlegs of 28th February and 1st March. I would gladly get rid of the bootlegs if I could buy the music officially-in cd form-not as digital download. I would never get rid of Live Dead. Obviously.

I have a hard time comparing one of these shows to the next. I find myself drawn towards 2/28 because of the Dew, but that's just me. It's so similar to E72 in that each show is spectacular in it's own way. I wouldn't work too many brain cells trying to compare. The best is clearly the one you are listening to now.

Probably the most important run of their careers, and the one official release that should never have been a limited edition set. This is where the masses are deprived of the one set of shows every Deadhead should own. They don't follow the original advertisement for the Dave's picks series as being a broad representation of their entire 30 year career. Why do they choose to follow the original advertisement of assuring FW '69 will never be released again? Makes no sense. Have money will spend...willing to spend for the benefit of the band, family trusts and those who work on making these available.....just not on the overly inflated cost to the benefit of second hand marketeers.

But I find all 4 Fillmore West Dark Stars from that box set are awesome. I didn't grow up on Live Dead though, so give it to me: am I selling 2/27 short by saying 2/28, 3/1, and 3/2 are as good? No offense taken if you need to tell me I've pushed the weed into the bong water on this one - afterall, my PhD is in Europe '72, not Fillmore West '69.

Happy anniversary to one of the most famous dark stars ever. Every note of this beautiful journey is etched in my head forever.

http://gratefuldeadoftheday.com/02-27-1969 "The only group in the business that can drive you insane and still make it all worthwhile, the Grateful Dead." - Bill Graham Our Dead of the Day is a soaring, multi-faceted, and beautiful beast from 1969. If you have ever listened to Live/Dead, then you have already heard parts of this show. The sumptuous, attention-grabbing throb of Phil’s bass ringing out to proclaim the oncoming gem of a Dark Star followed by the fast and tight, utterly stratospheric Saint Stephen are both culled from this night at the Fillmore West. But as you listen to the entire recording here, you will wonder how they ever made the decision to forgo the mind-blowing matter that fills the rest of this show. The Other One Suite is a thoroughbred of face-melting jamming, the Eleven is perfection embodied as the band streaks through the nursery rhyme-like lyrics and stretches the possibilities of musical exploration within that tight little tune, and Pigpen delivers again on the Schoolgirl and Lovelight, making you realize what a consummate bluesman and provocateur he was. Not only did the band incorporate portions of this night on Live/Dead, they also released the entire show as part of the limited edition Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings and a sort of highlight 3-disc set of the four 1969 San Francisco Fillmore shows as Fillmore West 1969. Back in November of 1969 when it was released, Live/Dead was a watershed for the band. Recorded by Bear over three different nights (January 26 and March 3, 1969 were the other two), the double album brought the Dead’s improvisational live style to the masses, converting thousands of fans both at the time and in the decades since. The album also proved to be somewhat of a commercial success, reaching number sixty-four on the chart and temporarily satisfying Warner Bros. Listening to the full show from each of the nights that contributed to Live/Dead is a real treat that anyone who has ever marveled at that album’s awesome Dark Star> Stephen> Eleven and incredible Lovelight should experience. Go ahead and fire this one up now.

Dang! I am fully on board: That show last night was something else. Especially the aforementioned second set ridiculousness of Help>Slip>EYES>Dark Star....I mean, c'mon. That's like a dream setlist right there for Sixtus. They also pulled off a Bird Song > New Speedway > Bird Song in the first...another first? Sheesh. What fun this is all turning out to be. Sixtus

28th February 1969 is incredible. The first set is rock solid=a bit like a having a meal before going out.The second set is just about as good it gets. From the opening Other One to one of the most explosive Alligator-Caution jams I have ever heard. Golden music.