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.
He's Gone
i woke up to find out my box set arrived with nary a shipping notice just like how i like to receive them. i decided to heat some water on the stove and found out about that bad news. my life would be very different without Robert Hunter's words, and the band would have been a very different band had they decided to go on write their own words as well.
Thank You Robert
There were days
And there were days
And there were days between
Summer flies and August dies
The world grows dark and mean
Comes the shimmer of the moon
On black infested trees
The singing man is at his song
The holy on their knees
The reckless are out wrecking
The timid plead their pleas
No one knows much more of this
Than anyone can see...
Thank You Robert--Until Next Time
Such a Beautiful Box Set
Such a beautifully done box set and I cannot wait to get lost in it. Thank you!
You see? It's stuff like this that gets me....
Mason died on Monday
We bricked him in the wall
All his children grew and grew
They ain't never grew so tall before
They may never grow so tall again
We dug him up on Tuesday
He hardly aged a day
Taught us all we ever knew
We ain't never knew so much before
We may never know so much again
Mason was a mighty man
A mighty man was he
Always said, "When I'm dead and gone
Don't you weep for me"
The wall collapsed on Wednesday
We chalked it up to fate
All his children ran in fear
They ain't never hear it so well before
Swore they'd never show their face again
Thursday came then Friday
With buyers tall and bright
Mason's children cooked the stew
And cleaned up when the feast was through
Swore they'd never [Incomprehensible] before
Take me to the repo man
To pay back what was owed
If he's in some other land
Write it off as stole
Take me to the repo man
To pay back what was owed
If he's in some other land
Write it off as stole....
Wow. I currently have stew on the stove.
Robert Hunter
Added more to the Great American songbook than many people realize. Truly one of the greatest lyricists of all time. He will be truly missed and always appreciated.
A lovely view of heaven... but I'd rather be with you. (Inscribed on my wedding band.)
Love
American Beauty/Workingmans....
....is gonna be an emotional rollercoaster from here on out. For good or ill.
Hunter
I came out of my Brazilian jiu jujitsu class this afternoon feeling pretty good. It was a long day at work and so those classes usually help to remedy such things. So when I got in my car I got email from Dead.net in my phone that broke the news. I feel devastated. My life has been largely shaped by Star Wars and the Grateful Dead. There is no doubt that Robert Hunters lyrics guided me through life. Of course this will still be the case for me. Its amazing how some people are just so skilled to be able to create things whether be songs or lyrics that transcend people, places, and time.
Music is the melody whose text is the world
For RH:
Thank you for the positive shaping of my world, for the joys and laughter, for the tears and pain, for the encouragement and advice, for making a better world for all of us. For making it so very real, and so so much fun!
I didn't get into the music, the music got into me...………..
In your honor, 12/18/73 Dark Star...……………..
Rock on, and rest in peace......………………
Doc
The Wheel Keeps Turning, And You Can’t Slow It Down
Sad day indeed.
As KF said, the rock stars of the 60’s/70’s are going to keep peeling away.
From coming in 3’s to coming in multiples of 3’s.
Glad that D&C are still playing the songs. Eventually that will end too.
This afternoon I read the Rolling Stone story. I knew, but had forgotten, that Hunter and Dylan had collaborated. I probably should check that out.
A lot of posts today, so this references a post several pages back where I believe it was Jim who asked if Bolo had ever steered us wrong.
Well, I’m still waiting for an explanation of the Liberace reference.....
‘91 in 48 tracks makes you wish it all came that way.
I BOUGHT YOU A PADDLE FOR YOUR PAPER CANOE.
And thank you
For a real good time.
He had the world to give, and he gave it to us, in lyrical form.
Roll on forever....
When it seems like the night will last forever,
And there's nothing left to do but count the years,
When the strings of my heart begin to sever,
And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears,
You will be my missed. Thanks for it all. Be at peace.
The Special One
My Giant’s Stadium box set arrived on the same day as Mr. Hunter’s passing...this box set will have a special personal meaning for me now and will be remembered as the “Special One” In my collection. Thank you for your lyrics of peace to all...RIP RH. I imagine you and Jerry have a lot of catching up to do!
Playing in the Band
Hunter wrote that too.
Love that song, especially when it gets real spacey.
Well the first days are the hardest days
Don’t you worry anymore.....Thank you for the kind words and for getting me through some of my hardest days Robert Hunter. Say hello to my mom for me if you find the time.
KCJ
Stay strong my friends...Every silver linings gotta touch of grey
My Bob Hunter run-in's
#1) Just off the top of my head there was that time in August 1984. The show that we attended was The Jerry Garcia Band, Caldwell College (8-11-84) and had Bob Hunter as the opener. This venue on school grounds was outdoors and completely wide open all around the back n side stage area. There were speakers set up facing back stage to fill in the sound for the area's ticketless car campers and acts like Bob Hunter got his Chevette parked-in. We had our boom-box on the roof of Hunter's car recording Jerry. Just about when Jerry was ripping' into Cats Down Under the Stars, this high voice started to yell to everyone " Hey Can get your box off my car". Everyone was dancin' and ignored him. Then Hunter got into the rental and went to take off, with box on roof being saved. Man he is high stung!
My mom responded to Ripple....
....and I quote, "Well, that was very, very nice Vince. Thanks."
When she says very twice, it's a good one.
Me: "I have tons more mom."
Our Words aren't enough,
but our passionate attempts to say goodbye to Robert make up for it. Onward.
Dead.Net Philosophy : Take the Money and Run
It's nice to hear this pathetic business can deliver box sets to those who purchased CDs. The digital download however is broken and "Customer Service" is just two words. My credit card was charged well in advance, which would be fine if delivery of the FLAC 192/24 files was as promised. My initial email regarding this issue remains unacknowledged with a second sent this evening. I'm not holding my breath for a response. I also placed two phone calls which did nothing but waste my time. Time to get the credit card companies involved, four days of crickets is enough.
JKA
I hear ya man.. and you are justified to be a little miffed.. but hang in there, they will make right on this. Just give them a week or so. You can PM MaryE here too, it will probably help. I am 100% confident you will be made whole. I realize these are hallow words, but we have waited almost 30 years for this and someone screwed up a little.. but I believe we are still inside the official release date by a bit, right? Be patient and give them another week to make good.
Complaining now on these boards won't do much good. It's a somber time.. As for the money grab comment, I respectfully disagree. There aren't huge numbers here. I bet they wish they were.
BOX SET
it's midnight and im still ripping this box set. i must say i'm surprised to see this one dwindle down in stock so fast, the groans from all the 80's shows from 30 Trips made me think this will be sitting here for a few years like the Spring '90 box sets did. All i can say is the '87 show seems to be of sparkling crystal clarity from what i heard. and am quite glad i have the RFK box set for it makes a nice companion piece to this and i believe it sold out now.
Nite All
Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwIl-7KykuQ
Worth a listen, I was looking for the early Lomax version but settled on this one.
Is it weird....
....that I cried more today than on August 9th, 1995? Didn't cry when Barlow passed.
Serious question....I'm a mess.
A pistol shot....
https://i.redd.it/8v9p9a223no31.jpg
....Trey's a China Doll fan. Can't say I blame him.
Nice IKYR Jim. Nite....
A cut above
I was always struck by the generosity of spirit in Robert Hunter's words, which were unique in the context of the other "rock" song lyrics I heard in the 1970s. The lyrics to the songs on American Beauty, in particular, seemed to me to have more in common with those found in books of spiritual wisdom, like the Tao Te Ching, rather than those found on other rock albums of the era.
I also think his talent was hidden to some extent, by the fact that his words were sung by Jerry and Bob. I have a tendency to think , when listening to, say Eyes of the World or Playing in the Band ( to pluck two songs out of thin air) that Jerry and Bob are singing their own words, rather than interpreting the words of Robert.
Ugh, I have never had such…
Ugh, I have never had such bad luck with Dead orders this year -- first I did not get the second to last Dave's Pick with bonus disc -- still waiting on that.
Now I did not get the giants box set w/ blu ray -- UPS says it was delivered but it was never there -- and now the blu ray is sold out
JK- This is response I received after "escalation:
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
Dry your eyes on the wind
Thank you Robert. Thank you for taking a piece of your personal life, which I know through interviews you wrre a very private man, and sharing them with us for the benefit of all. Life gave you an opportunity to step up and be a giver with your gift, and you accepted that opportunity with grace and humility. God bless you.
Giants Stadium shows
Wow! Great shows...I was at all of them...brought me back! Thx for making them available✌
Remembering Robert Hunter
Fare you well, Robert...I've been blessed to have been going to shows since 1980 so I've definitely enjoyed your music for a very long time. With loads of love, peace and appreciation...fly on the wings of angels...❤😇✌
Gems Found in Sadness
Trying to find answers and solace....as I was listening to the 7/10/89 show coming in to work today, and it got to the end of Uncle John's Band, it suddenly struck me that I HAD HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE:
As it heads into the final refrain after the last lyrics, the song dissipates into a somewhat spacey jam which is none other that the "Riverside Rhapsody" track from 'Infrared Roses', that sneaky album released in late 1991 that only encompasses drums and space tracks. Incidentally, on that CD, "Riverside Rhapsody" is among the only tracks wherein you can actually hear a melody from an actual song - most of the others are literally snippets and unless you have an amazing penchant for this sort of identification, it's fairly tricky to pinpoint which show they are being pulled from.
Anyway, just thought I'd toss that tidbit out there for anyone else who may find this sort of 'gem finding' of value - even as we mourn our dear poet and inspiration.
Sixtus
Nice Catch
Amazing catch Sixtus.. and an under-rated, fun album. The late era drums/space could be amazing under the right conditions.
Infrared Roses Connection
I haven't listened to the '89 shows yet, but while scanning through the book from the box I did notice that they reference the same Infrared Roses connection with the 7/10/89 UJB that Sixtus points out. Nice catch Sixtus. Planning on spinning that show later today but the chance of me connecting something to Infrared Roses after all these years was likely pretty low without the heads up.
Transitive nightfall of diamonds
That may be the most inspiring lyric for me personally. It makes me feel both spiritually connected to it all, while inspired to fully comprehend "it".
Robert Hunter - Thank You
My sincere condolences to the Hunter Family as well as the Grateful Dead Family.
As the Grateful Dead Community Family we at least have Mr. Hunter's lyrics, poetry and prose to console us...
'You took me (us) to the farthest stars
and Shakedown Street's grimy bars...'
For that good Sir I thank you...sometimes there aren't enough words.
Re: Trainwrecked / Transative Nightfall of Diamonds
Agree, what a cool line. It's one of the few things Hunter reveals too..
___________________________
"I was very impressed with T.S. Eliot around the time I was writing Dark Star," Hunter said, and one line was clearly influenced by a line in 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock' - "Let us go then, you and I, when the evening is spread out against the sky." "Beyond that, that's just my kind of imagery.... I don't have any idea what the 'transitive nightfall of diamonds' means. It sounded good at the time. It brings up something that you can see."
___________________________
So it's one of those lines that pretty much means exactly what you want it to mean.
I got that quote from David Dodd's Greatest Stories Ever Told. I used to read that blog every month, and miss it. I also liked Blair Jacksons blog.. but the name escapes me. It's been years since Rhino sponsored any of that stuff.
https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-stori…
Next Release?
This link was posted by Kate C. in a more obscure (probably more appropriate) part of the forum:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y9BH2NG/?tag=imwan-20
Looks like another attempt to release the "unrecorded album".
Note that Wave to the Wind didn't make the cut.
....next?
That is an interesting find, the 'Unfinished Album' placeholder - and from none other than GD Productions, so we know it's likely not a knockoff.
Now, how one may find such a gem embedded within the bowels of AMAZON, I have no idea. Most impressive.
I also found this when doing a bit of sleuthing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Grateful_Dead_album
And it looks like a few others would be left out, including 'Childhood's End' and 'If the Shoe Fits'....each of which I have only heard one time.
Again, the words of Hunter are all over this - which is fitting.
I always loved 'Lazy River Road'. Truly invokes the 'Hunteresque' notions of his most famous lore.
Sixtus
Favorite Hunter lyric
So many to choose from, but the first one to come to mind is one a friend pointed out to me 46 years ago:
Nine mile skid on a 10 mile ride, hot as a pistol but cool inside
R.I.P. indeed Robert
Rock on
Box of Rain
In 2003 I bought the book, Box Of Rain. It has the lyrics of ALL of Robert's song through 2003.
I just looked on Amazon today for this. New copy is $400!!!
Boy am I glad I got mine when it was "normal" price
Rock on
Transitive nightfall of diamonds
Yes, beautiful imagery. The same poem by T.S Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is also echoed in Stella Blue. Eliot writes "Of restless nights in one-night-cheap hotels" and in Stella Blue we have "I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel."