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    clayv
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    Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

    Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

    Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

    GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

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  • fourwindsblow
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    First Nights

    To me it always seamed that the first night of a three night run was just a warm-up night and the goods would come the next two nights. The only thing I can think of to release this first night over say the last night is that maybe the recording sounds better.

  • Sydney Prentice
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    rhinos,winos and lunatics

    Which one are you? So now we could be getting a no number numbered edition when and if we do get it, I'm consoling myself that at least it's not a '71 or '72 pick, guess what I'm listening to in the meantime.
    I do hope that Rhino isn't involved with MUATM on Thursday night.

  • unkle sam
    Joined:
    no nit picking, just the facts

    So sorry for you UK folks, Rhino, you have done it again, how can you continue to make these mistakes and keep your customers happy? I hope it will get sorted out for you folks which it always seems to, it just sucks that you have to wait and wait for this release. I have not received my copy yet either, but it will come tomorrow according to the tracking site.
    I concur with others who have stated that Jerry is out to lunch on this show. I said it before, Jerry is slow and just not into it that much, sure, he tries to muster up something during a couple of the tunes this nite, but he just doesn't seem like he wants to be there. I agree also that there were better shows from this run and tour and yet, we get this one. I was hoping a new remaster would spice it up a bit, but from what I hear on this thread, it just doesn't make up for the fact that the mastro is off, and not in a good way :) and I have only heard the Charlie Miller pull.

    They try this nite and Bobby tries to pull it off, but that Lazy Lighting>Supplication is a poor rendition of a great couple of Bobby tunes. There are a couple of other Kingfish tunes that I would have loved to have heard the Dead do, Jump for Joy, Goodbye your Honor, Hypnotized, all had room for Jerry to tear up a lead or two and were great songs but they chose Lazy Lighting>Supplication which are also good, don't get me wrong, just wish they would have done others/more Kingfish.
    I am still looking forward to hearing this release and the art work is very cool, would make a great shirt....

  • Infinitejest3
    Joined:
    If daves picks 32 is a 73 or…

    If daves picks 32 is a 73 or 74 show this year will have been a perfect 4 part 2019 Dave’s picks series for
    Me!

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Compilations

    I hear what you are saying, Mr. Jack.. but I would still rather see whole show releases with perhaps filler on disc 3 from neighboring shows.

    I could be in the minority, but I don't mind having a few songs or even a full disc that get skipped from time to time.

    I just don't trust them on deciding what to cut vs. keep (remember Morning Dew on the Wall of Sound Roadtrips) and the shows themselves tend to lose cohesiveness and flow when they cut stuff out. @$9 a disc, I would rather have the full shows then to buy an official release and rebuild the full show myself with what's available on the archive/traders market. I do skip the occasional Mexicali from time to time.

    I see your points. I would expect periodic releases from outside some of our comfort zones once or so a year. I have a few shows on my wall that I have not listened to in years but I feel somehow I already got my monies worth from them.

    As an alternative point.. I consider much of the first set material from 72 to be very similar and it often doesn't get the repeat listens that the meat of the show does. ..but I would hate to not see it included. 74 is one of my favorite periods but there are a few shows where they seem to get lost on a tangent that I don't always want to revisit.. but again I don't like to see them cut out.

    Still waiting on mine.. it takes some extra time to reach the backwoods. Hopefully today.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    The Emperors new clothes

    Mr Jack Straw...I agree with the part of your post describing DaP 31, the rest I disagree with, which means nothing of course. I too, thought some of this show was a bit.....wont say flat, perhaps subdued is the word? I must preface this by saying that I’m comparing to other fall 79 shows.....
    I think it is a good show, I thoroughly enjoyed it, I think it sounds great for a cassette master, the set list is good, there are definetly some high points, but felt a few times like Jerry was not fully on this night.....(all of your examples for instance, though I did not feel as intensely as you did)
    So once again, I wonder about the show selection for this release, as has happened in the past, some of the recent 71s, the fall 83, and the Berkeley 72 show come to mind...all good shows, but i.e. “what about the night before/after” etc....
    Now before everyone’s panties get all in a bunch, I fully admit I’m being “the picky deadhead” here! As I’ve said I love it and I’m glad I have any/all these wonderful shows to listen to etc, but, perhaps others might also feel like there was a stronger show available, especially as a representation of this fine tour! Just a thought, please don’t kill the messenger! ; )
    Ok, enough nit picking, I’m glad to have this show, and REALLY glad they used a little variety. Sorry Mr JS but there were 30 years not just 5, so some of us want the best of ALL years! No doubt that was the sweet spot, but there are hundreds more, from most eras, that move me just as much! But that’s just me, which as I say means nothing!

  • simonrob
    Joined:
    UPS vs Rhino - Who do you believe?

    So UPS say they have been trying without success to contact Rhino and Dr. Rhino has stated that they are working with UPS to resolve the issue.

    Unfortunately I think it is more realistic to believe that UPS are more likely to be trying to sort this out than Rhino. Time after time Rhino have committed acts of such gross ineptitude that it is hard to believe that they are still in business. As for communication, surely no one is as deageningly silent as Rhino. Possibly, hopefully, UPS will refuse to do business with Rhino ever again.

    I am curious to know if or when I shall see my copy of Dave's 31.

  • Steve Jones
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    The UK despatch saga

    Someone on the Eurotraders list has been badgering UPS over all this and got a response that they have been trying without success to contact Rhino/Warner to try and sort what they are now realising is a serious problem causing major chaos to their European operations.

  • simonrob
    Joined:
    Tracking...

    The tracking info that I can see on the UPS site is all over the place. The package starts its journey in Indianapolis, IN, presumably a WMG shed. on 7/24 in the early evening. Before midnight the same day it has made it to Louisville, KY, to a UPS shed I guess. There is the first sign of trouble - the activity log states "A missing commercial invoice is causing a delay." Half an hour later it seems to be back in Indianapolis. That is pretty fast, but there are not a lot of miles between the two places. Two hours later it is back in good ole Louisville. At 8:23am on the 25th it was being processed at the clearing agency and at 4:43am (Central European Time) on the 26th it appears to have arrived in Rotterdam here in the Netherlands. The activity log states: "Duties or taxes are due on this package." This is not what is stated elsewhere on the UPS website, where it states that the package is free of Government charges, brokerage charges and BTW (VAT) but there is the freight charge of EUR 81.88. The activity log then states: "Import cash on delivery charges are due on this shipment." At 12:22 the same morning of the 26th (in the relevant US time zone) the package is scanned in the UPS facility in (Yep, you guessed it...) Louisville, KY. Since then there have been warehouse scans in Louisville on the 27th and the 30th. I have received no communication in any form from UPS about charges or delivery and no UPS van has come near to my house to attempt delivery.

    My fervent hope is that the item is indeed back in Louisville, recalled due to action by Rhino and that they will either reship it without the freight charge or return it to Indianapolis so that Rhino can ship it again, this time using the tried and (reasonably) trusted method that they have used in the past. That method may take about two weeks, but it least it doesn't impact my blood pressure or my wallet.

  • perithecat
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    P.S.

    it's gonna make any potential box ordering a bit of a roulette

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Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

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I'm still thinking it will include something from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.

ps. I so thankful that we get these vault release so people have something to complain about. I guess we could go back to the days of third and fourth gen cassettes of really good clean Jerry shows.

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Enjoyable show. Great sound and mix. A lot of whiners on this board. Expect every show to be the best show EVER. I have a theory. Third show of a year is always less known. Fourth show and 1st of the coming year have to sell the subscription. Second show has bonus. Stop the whining. Its a bore.

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In reply to by simonrob

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I emailed Dr Rhino yesterday, and got a generic response thanking me for my patience, but advising me that due to the "high-volume of email traffic I will respond to your email within 5 business days."
Looking at the tortuous tracking information last night, I saw that it was still out there for delivery somewhere, with the same expectation of me paying £73 + on delivery for freight charges.

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Don't build your hopes up!
UPS delivered mine yesterday. Courier said customs paid.
Today I had a phone call from UPS requesting payment £73.92 which I ain't paying.
They're sending courier back out tomorrow to collect. So I expect I'll see it again soon??

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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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This makes me very happy that 6/17/91 is getting a solo release; methinks it will be included in this box (although I believe someone had already speculated/potentially confirmed this elsewhere); similar to how they also did a stand alone release for 'Wake up to Find Out' when it was also included in one of the Spring '90 boxes.

drip...drip...drip....
Sixtus

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... I would wait until you see the film before pre-ordering or if your not attending, wait for Reviews to be published/posted HERE or elsewhere, it’s your choice. 😉Imagine if they offered the opportunity to do that with every concert that was recorded both Audio & Film!!! That would be Primo! Lol, it would be a total deffent business model they operate under right now and would Effect Sales. I bet Some fans would pay extra just for the opportunity/chance! Lol ha ha ... who knows maybe after that you won’t be interested in adding this Vinyl/CD release to your collection.
🙏❤️😎
*Plus artwork is Incomplete ;)

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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...stolz. You crack me up! Lol 😂 The Healing Power Of Laughter is always welcomed!

Also
...”I want my $2.00 dollars!”... ha ha

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Ok...so i was reading this article with an interview with Bruce Hornsby just now, and I came across a very interesting reference/mention by Bruce therein; it goes like this (and please note his VERY LAST SENTENCE):

"... Look, I’ve spent my career collaborating and getting calls from amazing people. There was the Dead, maybe the single most amazing collaboration. It was a beautiful, often transcendent experience to do that, and maybe especially earlier with Garcia. I wouldn’t trade anything for that. I was so influenced by them as a songwriter. Obviously, the younger generation of forward-thinking musicians feels the same way, hence this several CD Grateful Dead compilation that was put together."

https://www.stereogum.com/2038972/bruce-hornsby-spike-lee-grateful-dead…

I'd say that's a decent hint as to what's about to blow open with this box.

Sixtus

Yep - probably a hint at what's to come (though he could also be referencing the compliation of GD covers from modern bands that was put out a couple years ago). Either way, it should be an exciting day (and looks like I'm WAY off my prediction of a set from 76)!

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I was really looking forward to it, but was on call and of course 20 min before show time the phone rings. But from what I hear everyone had a good time. However, there was no box announcement here. Apparently it's a U.S. only announcement.

That’s my prediction.

That way everyone gets the announcement at the same time. Tonight’s reveal will show what the Box looks like.

If it turns out to be a high-demand Box, can this website handle the onslaught?

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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Yes, it is a medical kind of thing. The only good thing about being on call this week is I've made more than enough to pay for this years box set!!

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Hi you all, who were in the same situation confronted with an extra charge for transportation to europe (esp. Germany). Today UPs stands at my door and delivered Dave's Picks No. 31 without any extra costs. Dr. Rhino has cleared the situation. So all will get well.

The good ol Grateful Dead are my favorite band and have been for forty years. But the fact is is that they were very mediocre quite often, especially in the last 15 years. There are great shows from that period, but this isn’t one. There are at least ten shows from fall 79 that are better then this release. Dissenting respectful opinion should be welcomed and not looked down upon. My opinion is that the Ramble on Rose, Althea and Terrapin and others are painful to listen to. Just listening to the filler from the next night shows a more awake Jerry.
I don’t expect every release to be great, but there are plenty of good shows left in the vault and my opinion is is that this wasn’t one of them. Maybe Dave walked into the vault to grab 12-1-79 and a blue heron flew by and distracted him and he grabbed the wrong show.....I have lots of great shows to listen to, including the first two picks this year and I’m grateful for that. I guess my point is that just because it’s the Grateful Dead and Dave says it’s a great show doesn’t make it so.

People paying and supporting the cause have a right to voice an opinion, as do you. If that wasnt Jerry and the Dead and you heard a live recording of that show I think youd be more critical. This band and Jerry get a lot of slack for the rough nights and its well deserved - they gave us everything they had to the music. When it was a live show I took whatever they had on a given night and was always grateful. It was what it was in the moment. But now that its Dave picking shows and selling goods online 24 years after Jerry left, I think we can request better material or feel free to voice when we think he laid an egg. Sorry that offends your senses - but to my ears, Jerry, sadly, is a total wreck on DP31 . Glad your ears hear it different and that youre enjoying it though - if you want an extra copy Ill sell you mine at face value

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Just got mine. just uploaded to Itunes. I for one know I'm going to love this one immediately so will save my thoughts until after a listen.

Bummed to have to miss the Meet-Up. It will be epic. Not playing anywhere near me withing a 6 hour round trip drive. This is the second time they've overlooked my city. All previous showing played in my hometown. sure, attendance was less than stellar, but the money is in the release. Hope this is the box.

Hope I can afford the box. Hope it doesn't sell out before I can order one. These always seem to come out when I'm between pay periods and/or low on funds. If it is Giants '91, hope the edition numbers are high enough. sometimes they don't print enough copies of these to accomodate demand.

Whatever the case, the movie and box will no doubt be awesome.

Happy Birthday Jerry!

Also, any HQ scans of the cover from Dave's Picks 31up yet?

Thanks! Hope everyone is enjoying your Summer.

Listening to it with headphones - sounds good enough to these middle aged ears. Dave is right - from Oct through December, 1979 is full of fun, energized performances. Really like this little pocket in time and I'm happy to have this release.

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and I still don't remember much from the July 31/Aug 1 GD/Band shows in lovely Roosevelt Stadium. They could've filmed Bladerunner there...

It rained at least one night. And on Aug. 1, a woman riding on someone's shoulders was able to approach the lip of the stage and hand a birthday cake up to Jer. The music? I confess to few specific memories.

The run-up, though, was, in today's parlance, "epic." That was July 26 (travel), 27(soundchecks), 28 (shows) at Watkins Glen. We walked away from the all-star jam as Jer broke into Dylan's Takes a Lot to Laugh... and we got on the road because we had to. Made it home on the 29th. The very next day we go to a two-nighter with the GD and The Band. Guess I had a good time!

Let's do the math... In six days, I saw the GD and The Band play four shows each. Together. Throw in two Allman Brothers shows. So that's ten shows in six days. Probably explains why the first few days were memorable and the second half of the game is a bit fuzzy.

But I'm still on my feet! Confessions, confessions....

On to the movies, the box set and more summer.

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Toggle back, yes there were scans kindly posted recently!

Blue Heron! :-)

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I live in Maryland. My subscription Dave's Picks Vol. 31 is still sitting in Rhino's warehouse, "Shipment Ready for UPS". Anybody else with this problem?

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16 years 8 months
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After reading Dave's description of the DP31 first set I was prepared to be blown away by this show. Sorry to say it is not living up to expectations. Maybe unfair to judge having only listened to the 1st set but it's pretty mediocre. Sounds like the Scarlet > Fire may have potential but AARGH. Audience patch in Fire! C'mon, really? Not the first time one of these offerings has been a disappointment through the years. I'm sure plenty of hard work goes into these releases and I will continue to subscribe since it's an easy Christmas gift for my wife to get me but I hope future choices will be more satisfying. BTW, we saw them 3 weeks later in Oakland and they were on fire.

Not quite the same issue as you but according to the tracking, mine has been sitting in the OKC post office for 5 days now! Obviously not Rhino/Dead.net's fault but frustrating.

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DP 31 captures the Dead at a good moment in '79. They were definitely in the groove for this show and it has "that swing". Sit on your porch, open a cool one and let this music wash over you as the sun goes down, remove all negativity from your mind and you will experience the music the way did way back in '79!

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17 years 5 months
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It's not BIG, it's GIANT.

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17 years 4 months
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This box is right in my sweet spot! 5 shows / $167 with shipping & tax. Don't have to break the bank or hide it from wifey. Nice mix. Bring on The Swamp!

Rock on

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9 years 1 month
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Box is ordered, looking forward to seeing what it will look like. Given the source material, I anticipate that the sound should be excellent.
Edit: Actually, I was at the July 12, 1987 show, makes it even cooler. Saw the July 10, 1987 show in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium also that summer.

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Blue ray box ordered - only 6000! Nice size for me and in the range of affordable on my pension so I am a happy Deadhead. Now if I could just get to hear DP31 :-))
Overseas Deadheads have always been here. I traded tapes via Relix adds from the late 70’s. Those that have their DP31 treasure it or pass it on. Peace & love to all.

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Still waiting
Why????
The address on my package forgot to put the apartment #
So now it goes back to the sender
It takes 2 days to respond to a email
Never had this problem before
I wish all releases were digital
I wouldn’t have to deal with this mail foolishness
Also it would stop the “mark ups” on eBay later
Anyway I’ll get the Chicago Dave’ s pick sooner or later
Forgetting to put a apartment # for a Brooklyn Mailing ........madness!!!!!

Had a casual listen to the first set this evening driving around in the Toyota. It’s All Over Now was a standout for me. And I really like the well placed cannonballs in Jack A Roe. Have they had those before? I am assuming they came from Mickey rather than Bill. Maybe he was listing to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 before the show.

Sound wise, I think the vocals mesh better with the instrumentation than last year’s DaP 27 Boise. Could be better, but unobtrusive when the volume is kept reasonable. You can really tell when Jerry leans into the mic.

Looking forward to a close listen of Set II tomorrow.

Carry on!

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Really enjoyed the show tonite. High lights for me were Might As Well and Truckin' > New Speedway Boogie. Great stuff. This leads me to believe that the new box will be delicious!

Rock on

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Dead.net have submitted the missing commercial invoices and now it says mine will be here on Monday. Tracking still showing a payment is due but hopefully it has already being sorted or is about to be...

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Here in the Netherlands I see exactly the same information. On the UPS site, my package is still in Louisville,KY, but instead of daily warehouse scans, yesterday the following appeared: "A missing commercial invoice is causing a delay. / The information requested has been obtained and the hold has been resolved." and today there has been an import scan followed by an export scan. Delivery is scheduled for Monday. The freight charge of 81.88 EUR is still shown. I just hope they don't ask for payment on delivery. Optimism levels rising, blood pressure falling...

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Mine apparently ready for collection from the local UPS delivery point...all charges settled. Let's see this afternoon...

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I saw the bulk of my shows in the '78 - '80 time frame, so I was looking forward to this release very much. I have listened to it once and found that I like it. I will be listening to it continually for the next week as I usually do. I like to really dig into any new release. Are there some ballads that seem a bit more slow then usual? Sure, but it is certainly not the train wreck some of you had led me to believe it might be. Just goes to show that every listener hears things differently.

I sign onto this forum first thing every morning, and check back on it constantly throughout the day. You Dead Heads are my kind of people. So it is with love and caring that I have to say to some here: PEOPLE! GET OVER IT"! Every release will not be Veneta! Just because Althea comes off a bit slow does not mean you have to comment on Jerry's heroin addiction, or his diet, or his traumatic life! Maybe he had a headache or a bellyache this night? Maybe he had just had a blow up with his wife / girlfriend? Maybe he just wanted to try it slower tonite as was his want, to keep changing it up to keep it interesting.

I think we all have the right to comment on the music, but try to keep it to that. Not to pontificate here, but none of us was on stage or back stage that night so none of us knows exactly what happened. All I know is, even when I hear a show that I thing is not up to par, it is still better then 95% of the crap I hear out there today. So I will sit back and enjoy this one and if I come across a show that is not too good, I will put it on the shelf and await hungrily for the next one.

Rock on

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After 2 episodes of sending the UPS man away after refusing to pay £73, package containing 31 got pushed through my letterbox this morning, so the good Dr Rhino seems to have sorted the problem. Hopefully those still waiting will shortly be rewarded for their patience

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I was in good shape for the first set ;)))

at set break I ate a couple pieces of candy ("green M&Ms", not electric ones)

the theater was 2/3 full, with a lot of space in the front row. so I moved up there and looked up at the screen with full sound.

"Giants Stadium". from my vantage point, it looked like everyone in the band was a 10 foot tall giant.

It was cool.

Phenomenal show. The sound was soooooo good.

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