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    heatherlew
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    The unexpected return of the masters of the Grateful Dead's triumphant show at the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, November 17, 1971, yields great rewards. The Dead came in HOT for their first New Mexico show. Aided by clarity and precision and abetted by confidence and focus, they finessed old standards with definitive takes. With Keith now blending in seamlessly on keys, the first set offered up a triple shot of electric Blues, an exceptional "You Win Again," and a stellar "One More Saturday Night" to wrap things up. And the second set, well, it might just be unlike any you've ever heard. Archivist David Lemieux urges you to turn it up and do it loudly. We won't dare spoil all the surprises, but pay special attention to the rippin' "Sugar Magnolia," the aggressively monstrous "The Other One," and the highly-danceable "Not Fade>GDTRFB>Not Fade." Rounding out the 3CDs, you'll find selections from Pigpen's return tour at Ann Arbor, MI, 12/14/71. Subscribers will get nearly all of the complete show as this year's bonus disc.

    As always, Dave's Picks Volume 26 has been mastered to HDCD specs from the original analog tapes by Jeffrey Norman and is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • SkullTrip
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    Re: DaP26
    Both shows are gems and stand strong on their own merits, but Albuquerque hits the sweet spot for me (though it may not be as smooth as Ann Arbor). Nothing sounds embryonic or remotely throwaway to my ear. The first set line up may not be as exploratory or as expansive as they would quickly become, but the band is clearly in the zone and firing on all cylinders. And, more importantly, they sound like they're having one hell of a good time. There's a collective enthusiasm that radiates from each gig, with and without bacon.
  • Willysin4wd
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    DaP 26 and RT V3No2 Austin
    Well, earlier i was finally reading the liner notes late at night and Dave discussed the Austin Road Trips release from 11/15/71. I have a tough time buying a la carte on the web with the prices these command, but with DaPa 26 playing, and a head soaked in red wine, I found one at a nice price on Discogs. It just arrived two days ago, I've been spinning that heavily. It is nice to listen to Austin and then Albuquerque. Both really good recordings. I'm turned on to 1971 like never before. Concerning the fist set, i'm enjoying these songs, there's an exuberance to them. I really like hearing the strong harmonies and vocal inflections that changed or got lost over time. They have young voices and the recording highlights them well. I'm also digging Billy's drumming, played like a lead instrument. So much already said about the single drummer years, these recordings are just more testimony time to that. Keith's playing is great, i like that it's right up in the mix and driving the songs along. Just a plug, RT Austin was my first purchase on Discogs, and it seemed to me a more laid back, personal event. Check it out. Kinda between craigslist and ebay?
  • Charlie3
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    And Another Thing...
    ...that Next Time You See Me from Ann Arbor is sublime.
  • Charlie3
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    DaP 26
    Currently finishing up a second full listen of this release, and while I like all of it a lot, I would agree with Spacebrother's description of the Albuquerque sequence starting with Cryptical Envelopment and continuing through Wharf Rat as indeed transcendent. The same is true of Ann Arbor sequence starting with Cryptical Envelopment through Wharf Rat on the bonus disc. I really don't know which sequence I like more at this point, but both are definitely highlights. There is just something different about these Other Ones, I lack the vocabulary to adequately describe the difference, but the difference is in a way that helps blunt the long dry stretch between Dark Stars in the recent Dave's Picks. Also find myself taking notice of the Sugaree's and the Pig contributions on this release as well. The more I listen to it the more I like it. The sound quality is top shelf as well. I used to worry that there would be a decline in release quality over time, but that does not appear to be the case, they just seem to sound better and better.
  • Charlie3
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    No Right Or Wrong?
    I don't know Jim, your post sounds right to me.
  • JimInMD
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    First Set
    I thought the Playing and Cumberland were exceptional. Throw-aways? I don't know.. I consider the first set more a spicy but excellent breakfast burrito myself. To each his/her own I guess. I think both shows are well played and find myself liking them about the same. I could be alone here.. but I also like the fact that we pretty much got two shows in close proximity to each other date wise with similar setlists packed into one release. Both shows are well played, they seem relaxed and having fun.. yet both are vastly different in my opinion. Had they come out as separate releases at different times I might not have given them comparative listens. It really brings to the surface what the Grateful Dead were so good at.. improvising and making each show different and special. Just my thoughts, certainly no wrong or right here. Have a great weekend all.. I'm heading out for what promises to be a grand adventure.....
  • daverock
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    The Byrds-The Dead 76
    Having recommended Goin' Back by The Byrds earlier today, I decided to listen to its parent album-The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Superb album-both the songs and the laidback flow. Earlier albums, Younger Than Yesterday and 5th Dimension also surely pass the acid test. Things were less happy in Deadland. I decided to listen to DaP 4-24th September 1976. I haven't got to the 3rd cd, which looks promising, featuring as it does Help=Slipknot-Franklins-but the first 2 cds are a bit ordinary. I am not sure I would welcome a 1976 box...I think I've got enough of this sort of thing already.
  • SPACEBROTHER
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    DaP 26 - my take
    Gave the CD proper a one-time through listening session (not the bonus disc yet). I find the Albuquerque show to be interesting in that most everything up until Cryptical feels like the band is still working out the songs. Embryonic. Kind of throwaway material in my opinion. Cool as a historic document and reference to see how they grew into the newer material and Keith's recent addition. By the time they hit Cryptical though, it's like a switch gets flipped, and the band goes from rehearsal mode/working out the kinks into what really makes this band awesome. Transcendent. The Ann Arbor portion on the other hand, awesome from start to finish. pigpen's presence clearly lifts the band considerably, and keith plays and sounds the best here of his entire time in the Dead. A true Keith peak. The piano has never been mixed better prior or after in my opinion. I understand wanting to release shows that the Dead didn't have in the vault, and welcome them all, but man, that Ann Arbor run should have been released as it's own standalone package. Those who didn't subscribe, but were lucky enough to score one ala carte, are getting totally gipped out of the best part of this entire release. I oftentimes find these bonus discs to surpass the actual release. I've had the legendary Ann Arbor shows forever, and in good quality, but this is by far the best and cleanest I've ever heard of this first nights show. Absolutely amazing. Another legendary show cannibalized as use for filler. Yikes. (just like 3/24/90 and 7/12/90 and many others...wtf) Sometimes these marketing decisions leave me scratching my head. Hopefully 12/15/71 won't be stuck into some $1500 box set and/or hacked-up into multiple releases. Waaaaay too important of a show for that.
  • Thin
    Joined:
    "Ring Them Bells" by Dylan
    Amazing song from the "Oh Mercy" album. My bro and I have agreed this song is played at the funeral of whoever goes first. FIND THE STUDIO VERSION ON I-TUNES. It's not on youtube. If you think Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is powerful, you will love this. Some of Dylan's most powerful lyrics: Ring them bells ye heathen from the city that dreams Ring them bells from the sanctuaries cross the valleys and streams For they're deep and they're wide And the world is on its side And time is running backwards And so is the bride Ring them bells Saint Peter where the four winds blow Ring them bells with an iron hand So the people will know Oh it's rush hour now On the wheel and the plow And the sun is going down upon the sacred cow Ring them bells Sweet Martha for the poor man's son Ring them bells so the world will know that God is one Oh the shepherd is asleep Where the willows weep And the mountains are filled with lost sheep Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf Ring them bells for all of us who are left Ring them bells for the chosen few Who will judge the many when the game is through Ring them bells for the time that flies For the child that cries When innocence dies Ring them bells for Saint Catherine from the top of the room Ring them bells from the fortress for the lilies that bloom Oh the lines are long and the fighting is strong And they're breaking down the distance between right and wrong
  • claney
    Joined:
    There is a Dark Star on DaP 36...
    ... in the first four minutes of Bobby McGee.
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The unexpected return of the masters of the Grateful Dead's triumphant show at the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, November 17, 1971, yields great rewards. The Dead came in HOT for their first New Mexico show. Aided by clarity and precision and abetted by confidence and focus, they finessed old standards with definitive takes. With Keith now blending in seamlessly on keys, the first set offered up a triple shot of electric Blues, an exceptional "You Win Again," and a stellar "One More Saturday Night" to wrap things up. And the second set, well, it might just be unlike any you've ever heard. Archivist David Lemieux urges you to turn it up and do it loudly. We won't dare spoil all the surprises, but pay special attention to the rippin' "Sugar Magnolia," the aggressively monstrous "The Other One," and the highly-danceable "Not Fade>GDTRFB>Not Fade." Rounding out the 3CDs, you'll find selections from Pigpen's return tour at Ann Arbor, MI, 12/14/71. Subscribers will get nearly all of the complete show as this year's bonus disc.

As always, Dave's Picks Volume 26 has been mastered to HDCD specs from the original analog tapes by Jeffrey Norman and is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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would be great to get out 2/23/74, just missed by DaP 13, just thirteen picks ago
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Wouldn't that be fantastic? Although QRP seems to have the lock on 200g pressings and the Dead vinyl has been 180g from RTI. Either way it would be most appreciated if they cut it AAA as they did for the WB vinyl box at Grundman's. Now that sounds special. And a tip-on sleeve from Stoughton. So, how about either a 180g RTI cut AAA at BG's or....a 200g QRP cut AAA by Kevin Gray?
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David Lemieux's continued marketing of limited releases remains the most idiotic business model ever practiced by the Grateful Dead. He should retire and leave it to someone who cares more about the Deadheads. Byrd - with finger in the air
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Dave speaks highly for the NFA>GDTRFB>NFA on Dave's Picks 26. I have to agree, it's way up there, close to rivaling what has always been my favorite NFA>GDTRFB>NFA, Oct 31, 1971 (Dick's Picks 2), which has an awesome transition from GDTR to NFA. Both shows have similar styles with loads of energy; and it has always been among their best in my opinion.
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Byrd, I couldn't agree with you more - idiocy does run rampant once again, but you're the idiot. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or even a business major to understand why the Dave's Picks business model works. I suppose you have a plan that will increase sales by a third (as Rhino has done) without leaving stock on the shelf. If you're going to bad mouth someone in their own house, at least have a valid point to make. I suppose you're complaining because you missed out. Get a subscription jackazz.
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I think I see at least one bearded skeleton in those balloons....
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I'm usually the one who takes heat for pointing out the real world. As for those who were surprised how fast it sold out????? You're kidding right? I was surprised the sub didn't sell out. Bolo Doors v Who split decision. For a high energy live show the early Who for a quality catalogue for listen to on the home stereo Doors hands down
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Doors subscribe sell out in minutes, not hours Dave doesn't run the whole show...he is merely the face of the Rhino juggernaut subscribe "I willllll subscribe" speaking of Doors: "true a la carte is dead" subscribe I learned the hard way, too. subscribe.
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I really like the balloons... and the color scheme is nice too! Looking forward to this one, (though thanks to the good Doc, I am pretty familiar with Ann Arbor - not that hearing it again all Normanized is going to be any kind of problem.) On another note, an old head friend of mine turned me on to the April 84 Hampton shows (4/13 and 14). Both are on the shorter side, but the playing is HOT! 84 is a year I often overlook, but I am mending my ways. Peace
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And yet I bet the bitching still abounds. 'Cause, you know, it's all so damn unfair.
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i'll take the doors. the who has some certain song material that just makes me cringe, and barely contain the vomit that rises in my throat.
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I dont know, that one with the hat on in the lowest hanging balloon looks like it may have a beard. My guess is though, that the bonus disc will be covered with bearded clams - I mean skeletons!
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I took this as a clue to the upcoming Box Set contents myself.. but I can never figure Bolo out.. The Doors borrowed their name from Huxley's book The Doors of Perception about a Mescaline trip in 1954. Who opens doors? Mescaline Sulfate perhaps? The only Mescaline show I know of has already been released (5/11/78, Springfield on Dicks Picks 25). There's got to be more to this post then stirring up discussion... I bet it ties to the other two posts, '7 and bacon', 'No 14' and now this 'The Who or The Doors'??? mmmmmmmmm........ What, the bearded skeletons are back? Like the last release, I like the colors and I took a hot air balloon ride over a desert near Albuquerque at a company function, so it resonates with me...
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4/16/72 Get Some.
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Just finished it about an hour ago..
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17 years 4 months
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....listening right now. Kinda in the background, but I'm listening. Cumberland just started. Boiiiiing!
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Hey Dave (if you read this) Any chance of releasing any of the NRPS sets when they opened for the Dead? Either with or without Garcia? Thanx.
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China Cat just started for me....
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Ha interesting reaction to the who. You might not have got it from my post but I was far from as big a fan as my friends were though I did like the early days who. What songs were most shall we say puke provoking to you. I started Townsend's auto a year ago. Serious vomit material. I read a lot, have a large library I not only stopped reading halfway which I rarely do I threw it away which I never do
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Very interesting hearing from Dave their policy on bonus discs and cover somgs. Somewhat limiting
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Got to admit outside a couple of songs always hated Tommy. Quad was ok
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I know some of you purposely avoid listening to these, so the whole experience is brand new. So, you can skip this post, or let it tantalize you at your own risk. The sound on the 11/17 tracks is just fantastic! What a great recording by Betty or Rex, and a great mix by Mr. Norman. The band sounds really fired up. I'm more excited for this release after checking this out and the video with Dave's usual overly effusive ebullience. Looking forward to 2 Other Ones, especially with that kind of talk of Bob and Phil playing aggressively. The whole thing about covers on the bonus disc makes sense, but those 2 examples from years back are definitely not public domain, Smokestack is credited to Howlin' Wolf, and Good Lovin' is credited to Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick, maybe Rhino heard from a lawyer or two since then. Perusing a few of the Road Trips, they have Lovelight as a fairly popular bonus disc track, Not Fade Away shows up, Hard to Handle, a Sing Me Back Home, etc. This site allows one to quickly search the tracklists: https://www.whitegum.com/bonus.htm Also, The Who are, to me, the greatest rock band of them all. The Dead are my pick as the best American rock band, and their varied setlists make engaging in such recording hoarding a much more addictive venture, though I have about all The Who live recordings and studio stuff, outtakes, the Townshend demos (which if you don't know about them, his demos of him recording at his home studio are just astounding on their own, they are fully realized tracks with a straighter, more basic drum and bass playing, and Pete singing everything, and they've been officially released in the Scoop series, well worth getting), but their is a more finite amount of releases than with the Dead. With the Dead, I get at least 4 new shows, perhaps a box or two with some cool extras. And the ever changing setlists and ways of playing songs and the explorations of the Dead have me listening at work and in the car most of the time, but I could just as easily fall down a several week rabbit hole of Who, with lots of repetition, or go off on a Duane Allman listening excursion for a month, or split time with String Cheese and Dead, but the mainstay is Dead. So, shorter answer Who over Doors. Thus ends the rant. Carry on with fervor for Dave's 26, and SUBSCRIBE in November and avoid the pains of scrambling for 200 or 300 copies.
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I like both bands. Some deeper comparisons.... Robby Kreiger vs Pete Townsend Both are iconic guitar players. I think Pete Townsends strengths are with his theatrical presence, a riff master and coming from Europe, perhaps a more classical music sensibility, where Robby Kreiger comes from a background of blues, jazz, flamenco and soul. Might have to give Robby Kreiger the edge here. Keith Moon vs John Densmore Hands down, Keith Moon at his best was pretty phenominal. Sure, he had the famous incident where he got to high on pills to play, but at his best, right up there with the greatest rock drummers. Densmore is more of a finesse soft touch player, but still great. Roger Daltry vs Jim Morrison Daltry always seems like the consumate professional. Still belts it out. His lyrics tend to take themselves less seriously. Morrison the poet certainly had his merits as a lyracist and at his best, a decent vocalist, when he wasn't fried. Certainly unpredictable and by todays standards would have probably been considered bipolar. Still, both iconic. Probably give Daltry the overall props here. Entwisle vs Ray Manzarek's left hand Obviously Entwhistle, because, he was a bass player. Huge part of the Who's sound. Albums I suppose the Who has a more iconic catalogue. High production value. The Doors first three albums and LA Woman are iconic as well. Probably overall, The Who wins out for me, but I do like Waiting for the Sun and Strange Days a lot. Apples and oranges in many ways. Now if someone were to draw comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, it would be hard for me not to put him at the very top of the 60's rock and roll food chain. Electric Ladyland may be the best album by any artists from any era....ever....imho. Clapton vs Beck vs Page Jeff Beck all the way. BB King vs Freddie King vs Albert King No debate. All three are essential, especially for blues. Coltrane vs Miles At this point, why even compare?
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...it’s in a written clause, contract. It’s all about business...Like somebody once said, ‘Money beats soul’ ;)
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I don't hate The Who I didn't mean to give that impression. I just have a really hard time getting through "Fiddle About" on Tommy it grosses me the hell out. It always bothered me even when I first bought the album in 12th grade. and just recently I mean the whole line of "who is it? i'll rape it" or what not in Quadrophenia I was like what the good fuck?
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Hey snafu, I was never much of a Tommy fan, but had an extraordinary listening experience last week after hearing Keithfan's live track. Highly recommend it. Takes the best released performances and ties it all together in one track. The not so great songs are not there. There's a link on the Dave's 25 page.
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Imagine a who book around the fiddle about and you have Townsend's book. It was sick.
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I dig the cocktail jazz that was the Doors at the end. Pete Townshend is an artist, he interprets subject matter and possibly as a catharsis releases it in his material. He wrote all the lyrics Roger just belted them out. New Dead, I don't usually even queue up Lemieux rambling on about all the minutiae concerning a given recording. I'll listen, and fill in the blanks myself. It goes quicker that way, I mean, does the guy seriously fire up a fat one before blathering on endlessly? Current listen: The Strange Remain, The Other Ones. The Grateful Dead never really left us, what with all the incarnations over the years. Yes, when Jerry got on the elevator it was an immeasurable loss, but the music continues.
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Not at my computer at time of ordering, I speak English, Spanish Italian and Athabaskan, (My Mothers language,,,aka Apache)...But I just couldn't understand this Dude...Hence the Phone call....CRAZY HUH !...PEACE....TOMAS....
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I was not at my Computer Vato....And the Smart Phone wasn't smart enough to Translate from Swahili or whatever He was speaking into English....But...I FINALLY got thru to him...I believe it's on it's way....PEACE....TOMAS.
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You cannot petition the Lord with prayer. Alltime great lyric amid a very cool song. Riders on the Storm The End When the Music's Over The Crystal Ship Peace Frog The Changeling Five to One All better than anything the Who ever did. The Who were very cool live. But for the energy they delivered, not for the content. The Dead had both.
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It’s art after all so we can all agree to disagree. It’s like whose better Picasso or Van Gogh. I’ll take The Who every day of the week. I said in an earlier post that I really dig the L.A Woman album, and I do. But I agree with the sentiment posted earlier that Quadrophenia is an album that stands head and shoulders over most. Play it loud and marvel at Moon and Entwistle driving the music. Listen to the lyrics and marvel at Townshend’s description of an insecure kid’s growing pains and angst. Townshend wrote unique songs from day one. Go back and listen to the Who’s first album, My Generation, and compare it to the Stones or the Beatles at the time. Also listen to the track The Ox - I don’t know why that doesn’t seem to get credit for the first use of recorded feedback. Another classic album in the early canon is The Who Sell Out. Who else could write Mary-Ann with the Shaky Hands. Pete is a genius lyricist, composer and player. And he was accompanied by the most powerful rhythm section and a great front man. Long live The Who in the studio and live. The one downside to the Who in the studio is the missing Lifehouse album that should have followed Who’s Next and been before Quadrophenia. It’s kind of like the Dead not having a great studio album after American Beauty and instead having a bunch of awesome songs instead appear on Garcia Ace Skull and Roses and Europe 72. Listen to the extended Odds and Sods and you can hear a lot of those great Who songs that were never put on a proper album.
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I had two copies of Morrison Hotel. one was a standard like 1990 edition. and the other was an expanded edition. well one day I took the standard case to a used cd store and sold it not really needing it. years later I open the expanded edition jewel case to find out for some reason the standard edition was put in the expanded edition jewel case by mistake.
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Both bands were great but very one dimensional. It is really hard to listen either band for long periods.
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I've caught wind of some of Pete Townshend's issues, but haven't paid full attention to them, as I just want to enjoy his amazing music. Nothing against the Doors; I've never really listened to them. But the Who, with two good songwriters, and everyone an ace at whatever he did? Yes.
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"Lifehouse" wasn't intended to fall between "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia". "Who's Next" was assembled from the remnants of "Lifehouse" after the project was abandoned. So essentially, it's "Lifehouse" condensed. And though it may only be bits and pieces of a bigger concept, it's still an amazing album. Hands down their best after "Quadrophenia".
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I give you Lifehouse: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1z9nXrpZ_5WxZfKW6pFc0YbQKXKuLXHoZ It only felt right to stick with studio versions, but truth be told, there's nothing that compares to the Isle of Wight 1970 performance of Heaven and Hell. Perhaps a bonus track one day :D P.S. - these are the best mixes of these songs. Like, Long Live Rock is the guitar mix, not the piano mix (if you're into such nuances); and Naked Eye is the original Odds 'N Sods version, not the Astley remaster where everything was all f***ed up.
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That's pretty fucking cool. Never knew the full list and order of songs.
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And for that brief moment, we were one...
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I have a subscription for Dave's Picks and glad I do. I have had to call about something, I ordered, and had someone on the phone that was "almost" impossible to understand. I agree with one of the people who, earlier, made a comment that you use to call the dead number and get a person who spoke....English.My nephew worked for Dell for years and said that when the company started using non-Engilish services to answer peoples questions about their computers it was the beginning of the end for Dell. Maybe it is time for us, as coustomers of Rhino, to start to complain about their phone service. I think, from the comments posted on this site, that it is VERY poor! If you have not had any issues that required a phone call consider yourself...lucky!! Mr. Pete---------> aging hippie
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Well at least I subscribe every year, I was going to get extras in hopes to sweeten trade for the new box/RSD, if I I miss out on those, the gentle sobbing and ghostly moaning you will hear on the evening wind...that's me. Im already anticipating a shit show on ordering. My baseline anxiety levels waiting for new boxes and the inevitable panic inducing ordering process grows every year. Did anyone have any ordering problems besides the fast sell-out. It would be nice if they fixed the server issues, or just put out on the Rhino site for ordering to start.
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I don't know about comparing The Who with The Doors-but both bands seemed to peak in their earlier years. The Who, to me, were far better in the 1960s than they were in the 1970s. In the 60s, there was nothing like them-and the songs they wrote were genuinely weird and transgressive. In the 1970s, they stopped being revolutionary-and started writing about being revolutionary. In the 60s they were the thing they wrote about being in the 1970s, when they just seemed to join the massive "rock" industry. High on professionalism and power and guitar solos, but lacking in inspiration. A lot of other bands were like that-great in the 60s, but a bit bloated in the 70s. You've only got to look at Pink Floyd. I'd take See Emily Play over any of their 1970s albums any day. To bring it back to The Dead, maybe they were one of the few bands around in the 60s who carried on developing in the 1970s. Maybe The Stones, too, for a couple of years.
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daverock I would agree with your statement about the Who, if you had said the change in their quality occurred after 1973; however, the Who of the 1970s produced Who's Next and Quadrophenia. The synths used on Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again were the first of its kind, not only in sound (Townshend had to "invent" the tone of the synths on WGFA through creative experimentation, eventually feeding a Lowry organ through an ARP synthesizer); but in implementation as well (nobody had really used a synthesizer to create a rhythm backing track in a song before - pioneer type stuff). For that many can be thankful :D But yeah, things grew stale after Quadrophenia. I suspect even Pete would admit by 1978, they were singing the same old song (with a few new lines) ;-)
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