Buckle up as we take a deep dive into Giants Stadium!
What's Inside:
5 Previously Unreleased Complete Giants Stadium Shows On 14 Discs
7/12/87 (24-track masters)
7/9/89 (24-track masters)
7/10/89 (24-track masters)
6/16/91 (48-track masters)
6/17/91 (48-track masters)
Blu-ray/DVD video of the complete 6/17/91 show, mixed in surround sound Mixed from the multitrack master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir's TRI Studios Mastered in HDCD by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering with Plangent Processes restoration Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 10,000
By 1987, the Grateful Dead had lived many of their nine lives but were about to embark on one not a soul had seen coming. In The Dark, their first studio album in seven years, had spawned a hit (A TOP 10 SINGLE FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD?!) and "Touch Of Grey" begat a new generation with their fanny packs and their MTV and their undeniable quest to join the party already in progress. And boy, did the Dead let them in! But not without fine-tuning their sonic vibes to meet the new demand.
"The Swamp," as Giants Stadium was affectionately known, along with the grandstands the Dead had been frequenting, would seemingly equate with BIGGER and LOUDER, but the band "remained determined to give equal weight to the more subtle, oblique elements; to the exploratory improvisation and rhythmic complexities; to the fine details of the most heart-rending ballads as well as the weirdest dissonances in the jams."
With GIANTS STADIUM 1987/1989/1991, we retrace this journey from their 1987 breakthrough to their 1989 revelation ("the closest they ever came to sounding like a really polished stadium-level rock act, but the band’s penchant for breaking out of the constraints of song structure and into freewheeling improvisation will remind you just who you’re listening to here") to their transformative return in 1991, aided by elegance of Vince Welnick and Bruce Hornsby.
GIANTS STADIUM: 1987, 1989, 1991 features five previously unreleased shows that were recorded at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on: July 12, 1987; July 9 and 10, 1989; and June 16 and 17, 1991. Originally recorded by John Cutler, each show has been mixed from the multitrack master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA, and mastered in HDCD by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering. The first three shows are mixed from 24-track masters. The final two from 1991 are the only Grateful Dead shows ever recorded to 48-track masters. We’re rounding things out with a little visual stimuli - the entire multi-camera 6/17/91 concert recording on either two DVDs or a single Blu-ray, both with a surround mix by Norman.
Due September 27th, this release is limited to 10,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from Dead.net. We highly suggest you grab a copy while you can so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out.
Prefer your boxed set byte-sized? The collection will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at dead.net, on release day. You can pre-order it now too.
#7938
The box arrived in perfect condition. The book is HUGE!!! The book alone must have cost a few clams. If it had feet it would be a coffee table book. The box itself is bigger then I thought. Great work rhino and dead.net. 1987 disks sound incredible and 91' sounds almost hard to believe it was almost 30 years ago. 91' has to be set lower on the volume knob it's so beautiful. It's so good you want to cry.
Oh, Fuck Yeah!
Box #5606 has arrived safe and sound in Northern Utah...everything seems to be in order. Book looks awesome!!...can't wait to dive in!
Giants Box Set
Nope. Was fired up on Friday morning when I got the email for download. Emailed customer service on Friday. We are going on Tuesday with no response. This is crap.
MBarilla (and others who want the Blu-ray box)
I found some stashed out back behind the rusted remains of Kesey's thunder machine. We heard about a gang from Moldova (the Marx Brothers 'Hood) posing as Amish encyclopedia salesmen working the area. A sharp-eyed IHOP waitress across the street we have on our payroll reported something suspicious going down, and the local gendarmes arrived before the thugs absconded with the goods.
Bottom line: they're back in stock. Order now!!
Bolo gives good advice
The BluRay is the way to go.
Don’t waste your time with DVD.
Damaged goods :(
Welp, mine arrived damaged. No damage to the shipping box itself but there is a slice down the top of the spiral book as well as a torn CD booklet for one of the shows, a pin sized indentation on the actual box, annnd another deep scratch on the box. How it happened is beyond me...I reached out to customer service Friday via email and have yet to hear back from them. Inspect your boxes folks!
Looking Good
Box arrived today and looks pretty cool, won't have a chance to start listening until tomorrow afternoon, but I am stoked. I did have a chance to flip through the book, the pictures really took me right back.
On another note, I would suggest we immediately start crowdfunding some funds to get the IHOP waitress on our payroll as well.
I should have bought it
You guys sound like you're having so much fun. Oh well another day. My June 17th 1991 show will be here before I know right.
What I really came here to babble about : Playing in the Band, Winterland 10/9/72. I love the Veneta Playing in as much as the next Dead Head. And 11/18/72. But ever since the release of that Dave's Picks Berkeley show (which also had a rip-roaring Playing in the Band), I've been really getting into this song 2nd half 72. I'm hearing a lot of them that are up there with Veneta. I'm also thinking they,re better than the E72 performances.
Once again....
....the boxes box didn't disappoint. #1867. Went straight to 1991.
The book is very cool.
Deadhead Brewer got triple 7's....
....Vegas is calling your name.
1991 48 track Drumz. This is why I'm here. I'm drooling.
Loose Lucy is my delight....
.... could definitely do worse. This Blu-ray is hot as fuck. Thank YOU for a real good time. The stage looks soooo small when the camera zooms in. Ha! Cheers.
edit. Got excited there. ,😃
Might as Well....
....can't help but smile. I have a new appreciation for Mondays.
Mrs. Vguy even came out an twirled for a minute. She likes that song and it pulled her out of the bedroom. Lol.
Download problem
The downloads were supposed to arrive on Friday. Instead of receiving the link to the 192/24 download of the entire box that I ordered, I was sent a link for 44/16 files of 7/9/89 only. I notified customer service on Friday, but have not heard back. Urgh.
Heard from customer service on Tuesday. I'm supposed to get a link to the right files within three business days.
Deep Dives
I'm a big fan of the Box Sets.
Take a look at the two best, FW69 and E72 (three best, I guess you can add Boxzilla). In all cases they offered skinny boxes.. which are really, really good and a good representation of the tours. But the fun is in the deep dive. After all, the GD never played the same show twice and after a few listens we tend to move on for variety. Boxes keep my attention for months/years.
Anyway.. my two cents. Haven't had the chance to rip let alone listen to this one yet.. Honestly, I am still enjoying last years box. Some of the China Riders in particular keep gaining nuance and admiration and I have not met a full Weather Report Suite I did not like.
Bolo has never steered us wrong yet, right? or has he???
Diving In
... also dove in last evening for a bit upon receipt of this bad boy box.
As already mentioned, '91 is AMAZING.
I popped the Bluray in and turned it up to '11'.....that Eyes opener...Man oh man. And I've heard it a thousand times; but this is definitely definitely the definitive listen. Definitely Wapner.
It just looks and sounds SO DAMN GOOD.
And on the ride in today I tossed in the 7/9/89 show with that killer Shakedown opener. They mean business! And the follow up Jack Straw moves. Jerry is ripping it up. Looking forward to the forthcoming audio digestion along with everyone else.
Sixtus
Don't despair....yet
The status of my order on the site is still processing and says it hasn't shipped. No emails. UPS My Choice is completely blank. An yet #7507 arrived safe and sound yesterday in Denver. Turned my frown upside down.
Charlie3 and IHOP servers
You don't have to pay them, if you know how to butter them up.
You guys have any plans to get me my digital download?
I pre-ordered on 8/2 (Digital 24 bit). Was sent on one show in wrong format on 9/20. Contact help on 9/21...No response. Spoke to customer service today..They have "Escalated" my case.
This is unacceptable. Get your shit together.
Adding to itunes sucks balls
Ok why would you guys format it so you cant put in in your itunes as one album for each show? Its all wrong,set one disk 1 and set 2 disk 3 but disk 2 is all by it self? really bad,and frustrating as hell.I buy all the box sets anmd this one has the worst editing ever !!! I spent alot on this and I expect it to be done right . Get it together guys
Arrived
I'll have mine this evening. So excited about this one.
Between my time of seeing the Dead live, from '84 through the end in '95, I've often said here that the period between '87 and '91 was magic. The band was on a late career peak, thanks to their newfound successes and the rapid evolution of technology that gave them a new lease to explore not only new music, but also the old classics. '89 saw them back to stretching out and flexing their improvisational muscle.
Over the years as more of these releases come out, and from virtually every corner of their career, I only find myself wanting to here more..more....MORE. I think I'll absorb this set chronologically, though the video will be hard not to put right in right away.
My pre-review is.....counting the hours this afternoon until this is physically in my hands and that '87 show ready to bounce air molecules into my eardrums at a healthy volume. Gosh, haven't dosed since the '90s. Kind of want to for the vid.
Downloads
Dear Dead.net Customer,
We have been advised that there have been issues with the delivery of the Giants Stadium 1987, 1989, 1991 Digital files.
Our digital team is currently fixing this issue and will redeliver your files within the next 3 business days.
You will receive an email from Dead.net with further instructions on how to download your updated files.
Upon completion, you will have the correct number of shows that you ordered, at the correct bit rate.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Dead.net Customer Service
Re: Adding to ITunes
Fuck! RIP Hunter!! So sad to see this. Rest in peace and thanks for all you left us with. It would not have happened with you.
"In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head.
Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul."
______________________________________
As for adding to ITunes, I have to agree on that one.. but I don't think Rhino this one is Rhino's fault.
I am not sure how it works.. but if you are absolutely first to get a Box or CD or whatever.. and go to put it into iTunes, the metadata is essentially blank. In that case, you have to manually type all this stuff in. ..and the next person seems to get what those who came before them entered.
I could be wrong, but I don't think Rhino adds metadata to wherever the data repository is all the Metadata that tags songs and CDs when you Rip it.
Yes, Giant pain in the ass (sorry for the pun).
Thank You Dave & Company
I received Giants stadium yesterday.
Not long after 7-12-87, I picked up an audience tape of this show that was probably the poorest sounding tape I owned. Not only did it sound like it was coming from an old hand held transistor radio from the 60s but throughout the tape I could hear two guys bitching about the traffic problem getting there and how they planned on leaving. Even with these major tape issues, the music sounded great and it was played often in my car. That cassette is now lost to history.
As I said earlier, when the box arrived yesterday I immediately put on 7-12. WOW!!! The sound, the performance is so wonderful. This show alone was worth the price of admission. They really were brilliant that summer of '87 and this recording is proof positive. I wasn't at this show but I saw them earlier that week in Pittsburgh. The Neville Bros. sat in at the beginning of the second set and with The Banana Boat song>Iko> Women Are Smarter just about blew the top off of the igloo they were playing in. One of those musical moments one never forgets. I'm hoping that one day this show will be released for all to enjoy.
Anyway, thanks Dave, Jeffery and everybody else that puts these labor of loves together every year for us fans. I am very appreciative for what you all must go through to put these beautiful boxes together.
R.I.P. Robert Hunter
Well I guess that's three. Didn't think it would be hitting so close to home though. After Ocasek, I was having a water cooler talk with a guy at work, and we were lamenting how our rock heroes of the 60s and 70s are at ages when we might be seeing this with more and more frequency.
If anyone has a favorite lyric from Robert, I would love to know what resonated with everyone. I always liked this one from Uncle John's Band, particularly when Phil can be heard singing harmony (Ladies and Gentlemen is a good example):
"Like the morning sun you come,
and like the wind you go."
Jimbo that's another great one. Brokedown Palace is probably my favorite downtempo song.
Hunter RIP
Black muddy river
Roll on forever
Passed through on the autumn equinox
R.I.P. Hunter
May the four winds blow you safely home!
Our condolences to his peeps, and all the Dead extended family etc.
Truly a huge loss....Arguably one of THE greatest word smiths of all time!
Holy F*CK! NOOOOOOOOOO
I am just seeing this terrible news now boys, from your posts. And corroborated elsewhere just to be sure it's all real.
So very sad about Robert Hunter. Holy cow. Wow.
Sad.
At least he and Jer are together again, collaborating once more, on the sweetest tune ever. For ever.
RIP.
Sixtus
RIP Hunter
A Lovely View of heaven but I'd rather be with you.
Today I lost a very good friend that I never had the chance to meet.
Keithman and a Favorite lyric?
I think that one is impossible. Like every line is a usable line for something in life. How many different times in your life have you thrown out a Hunter line as the answer to a question or a situation? I believe you could write a short story with just lines from the Hunter catalog.
Lines I use quite often ….
The bottle was dusty, but the liquor was clean.
Though I could caution all, I still might warn a few.
Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own (ok maybe my fave)
First one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me
Steal your face right off your head
You know better but I know him
you decide if was wise
It's a buck dancers choice my friend
Lotta poor man got to walk the line, just to pay his union dues.
Thanks for the lines Bob.
AAAHHHHH!!!!!
This is TOTALLY true:
I thought about RH and about his potential passing yesterday. It just came to me, completely out of the blue.
Now today I hear he has departed.
and what is playing on my computer?
"I will fly away" Hank Williams
I will fly oh glory
I will fly away in the mornin'
when I die hallelujah by and by
I will fly away
WOW.
Blessings beyond count to you, RH.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
RIP
:_(((
Listen to the River sing sweet songs to rock my Soul...
I owe a debt of gratitude I can only pay forward to the author of the lyrics that daily decorate the vast open expanses of my mind.
Thank you, sir.
"May the four winds blow you safely home!"
Dang.
Without Robert, there would have been no Grateful Dead. As lovely as those melodies are, and as intoxicating as those rhythms can be, those tunes would not be endlessly endearing without the lyrics of the master poet. We can listen to a Garcia song a million times because of the infinity of Hunter's words.
A few years back, I began a poem to send to Robert on his birthday, in order to let him hear how Grateful I am for his contributions to my favorite music. I never worked up the nerve to send it on ANY of his subsequent birthdays. Dang.
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet is passing by . . .
Robert Hunter, you are amazing.
Re: Buck Dancer
Seeing this today finally made me find out what the hell Buck Dancing is.
https://www.ncpedia.org/buck-dancing
You learn something new every day.. so very cool. It's amazing what you learn from the GD.. visited my folks this weekend and watched an hour of the Country Music documentary from Ken Burns with my dad. I knew almost every song from what I learned listening to the Grateful Dead (and Jerry Garcia). It got then point where I was thinking to myself, is there a song from this set the GD have not covered? It must have been the mid 50's to mid 60's part.
We're never too old to learn.
Again, RIP RH. May the four winds blow you safely home indeed.
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world....
The heart has it's beaches, it's homeland and thoughts of it's own
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the morning brings
But the heart has it's seasons, it's evenings and songs of it's own...........
.......that's all I can say at this time.
Fare the Well
Robert Hunter. We love you more than words can tell.
Jerry. Bob. Pig. Phil. Billy. Mickey. TC. Keith. Donna. Brent. Vince. Hornsby. Those were the players (& Dana Morgan).
But Hunter & Barlow are/were just as integral to the band. And now they are both gone.
My late father was born on September 24th....
Inspiration. Move me brightly. Light the song with sense and color. Hold away despair.
My entire day is now on hold. So many poignant lyrics. It's like he knew all of us in one way or another. Godspeed Bob Hunter. Say hi to Jerry, Pig, Brent, Keith, John Perry and Vince for us 😭.
Hunter
Don't mourn the inevitable, celebrate the life and the gifts bestowed through the lyrics.
Currently on disc 2 of 7/12/87 from this box and it is excellent on every level, an excellent show, a phenomenal recording. It sounds as good or better than that of the Spring 1990 TOO box, which is saying a lot. Cool when there is an official release of a show that you attended.
Shall we go, you and I, while we can...
Bad things keep happening to me this month, but this one really hurts. I live by your words Robert, and now that you are gone, there will be a tear in my eye everytime I hear them, which is every day. Via con dios by friend.
The '89 Bird Song from the Giants Box....
....is ringing true. Conviluting emotions get tricky, but we got this.
To You, RH
Tonight, standing beside the bronze of "Jerry's Hand" in Jerry Garcia Grove at the Santa Barbara Bowl, I will raise a glass to our poet. The Steely Dan show that follows will be bittersweet.
VGuy
When I heard the news, I quickly grabbed the new box, looking for something to play. And I chose the 1989 Bird Song.
You said that my "777" on the box was lucky. I sure was lucky to have found Robert's words and this band. Or did they find ME . . . ?
Lots of tears today, but trying to dry my eyes on the wind . . .