Grateful Dead

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Hi – this is long, but am trying to keep it digestible:
Am a little late to the conversation here, and am a little surprised and dismayed at some of the comments on this box set offering. I’m no spring chicken myself (turn 59 next month), although as a Deadhead, I’m only 2+ years along. That means several relevant things:
1) Certain things I write about get my blood boiling, and I’ve written with adrenaline flowing about them, and the effect on the reader usually causes him/her to arch his/her back in a defensive posture. But if I phrase what I’m saying properly (sacrificing no substance), keep it third- or first-person, the point I try to make comes across and doesn’t elevate the temperature. It also gives me time to consider whether my sentence is weaponized.
2) I’m old enough to have seen the actual Grateful Dead in my younger years (but didn’t). At that time (where I lived) they (and their retinue) were considered more a curiosity and freak phenomenon than anything else, my discretionary funds would come post-college (years away), and my interest was elsewhere.

This set is a standalone purchase item, not a mandatory part of some subscription, so the choice to purchase (or not) is up to each of us – no strings. If powers that be made a mistake in offering it, data from its sales will bear that out and they will adjust – they don’t want to be buried in inventory that stays unsold, and they exist to satisfy ongoing listener interest (and not hemorrhage money).

About the box set:
I’ve become more familiar with the GD sound and repertoire of the early and later 1970s (because of what’s been offered on dead.net), and with that lopsided exposure, I can’t say I have a favorite era. This Giants Stadium box set covers chronological ground I’m not as familiar with. So for listening, I like to alternate eras – it’s most enjoyable as that way it all stays fresher to me.

Video?
The offering of DVD/Blue-Ray of the movie content as part of the set may be a trial balloon. I don’t know where I saw it (it was a while ago) but Lemieux was quoted as saying not to expect much additional motion picture stuff for purchase (as there wasn’t enough interest). This offering (seen last night in select cinemas) is an opportunity for dead.net to get a good feel of the pulse of people’s interest in owning it (apart from viewing released content on some web site). If it sells briskly, it could indicate whether dead.net eventually offers the RFK show (an example, which they ran a couple of yrs ago at MUATM) or others on video.

I can’t comment on strength of these particular shows (I don’t know enough about them), but quantity of shows/disks feels about right to me, and the price is good. For outer packaging, I don’t need something to double as furniture – I just want it reasonably solid/protective and hope it fits nicely onto the bookcase shelves I use now for Dead audio content (without wasting a lot of space).

I didn’t see the movie (I had yard work to do and had to get up at 0430 Friday) - I expected performances in the sets to probably be hit-and-miss (Jerry’s health and vitality were fluctuating by this time), but generally New York audiences for whatever reason are reputed to elicit good GD performances – it’s a major market with high expectations, and reactions are reputedly loud and lively. If it coincided with the time when crowds got too big, that could have affected performance quality too. Vince/Bruce, from what little I’ve heard of them, did some things on keys I prefer to some I’ve heard Brent do (no slight intended to Mr. Mydland) – it struck me as a comparatively clean sound (not as laced with gimmicks), that served the music very well.

Because Thursday I was working outside and sweating after getting home from my job, I glanced at the box set announcement (too) quickly. I didn’t read it correctly, because I thought only 1000 sets would be available. Thinking about it later that evening, and the fact that the DaP offerings are now 20,000 quarterly, the number seemed disproportionately small. On that assumption, I hurriedly ordered the blue-ray option Friday morning after dressing post-shower, and only afterward saw that 10,000 total copies (not just 1000) of various types will be available. First (fleeting) sentiment was: I WANT MY MONEY BACK! Yeah that really happened, but the last part was a “what if?” notion I just found funny. I look forward to seeing/hearing this box set.

In peace, gratitude, self-control, and good humor. Have a Grayte day, everyone.

Dennis, love Amadeus, fantastic movie, and spot on to the noodling.

Wilfred, would love to see that.

Just realized that this box is tailor made for the so-called Touch Heads, and there's not a single version of the Top 10 hit in the release. They did play it as an encore at the 7/10/89 show, but I guess they can't release it due to Dylan's presence. But in the other 4 shows, it doesn't pop up once. Good setlists with variety, looking forward to that Foolish Heart.

I also have to say I like that Jeffrey Norman was so involved with getting this right that he bowed out of mixing a Dave's. I guess after having to rush through Europe '72 and Spring '90 which didn't use the multitracks, he thought it should have the care and brilliant sound of Spring '90 TOO, which sounds head and shoulders above the other boxes due to its glorious multitrack mixing.

....rise up slackers! Time to take what is rightfully ours! /s

I loved John Belushi, for anyone not in on that.

Classical sounds different because of the conductor, the hall, how old and expensive the instruments are, how good the symphony itself is, the players ability to interpret and execute, the quality of the recording, humidity.

But the deal is, the notes are on the page and you play them as they are, to the best of your ability. Not a lot of mystery in that. Nothing "wrong" with classical music. I've been moved as much as anyone by a fantastic piece, it's great music to use in film scores, etc. Elevators.

Anyone can argue any point they want. "Phil was like an orchestra unto himself." Yeah, sure, and the acid was really good that day.

Peace.

I do have a video on youtube of myself performing a theme and variations on a theme by mozart for classical guitar. From it, perhaps you can discern my age? :-)

PM me and I will supply you the link! Have a grateful day everybody!

First show: 7-9-95

P.S. I'm not a robot.

I’m about a decade behind you all, but always loved saying “Partying like Daryl Strawberry and the 86 Mets”...whew...those were the days, glad they’re over!!!

Dennis-not one to tell folks how to spend their money, but man you should really pony up for a decent turntable. For decent price (around $400), but still excellent upgradable quality you can get a Planar One which is what I have. Only saying because you always mention purchasing the vinyl but not playing it and many of these releases are brought up a notch IMO. I’m not one to talk, LOL, owning and buying new Cd box sets & subscriptions, and not owning a CD player. They all still get ripped and listened to but the quality probably suffers. I do think you would be pleased with the quality of the vinyl. Would be interested to know what you think if and when you decide to pull the trigger.

been busy, busy, busy ruining other peoples music...
;o)

Been here so long, I got to calling it home.

Wherever I go the people all complain. This is my life to a tee.

Thing I always like from the movie about Mozart was the king complaining "too many notes". Kinda what you get from people when you try and introduce them to the Dead :-)

Slackers, what took you so long to get here!