June 1976 15CD Boxed Set

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February 13, 2020 - 8:15am

2,627 replies
clayv

Joined:
March 14, 2018
During the mid-1970s, the Grateful Dead saga was unfolding like a Greek classic. The Sisyphean Wall Of Sound had nearly broken the band. From it spawned a Medusa head of countless side projects, all deliciously fruitful but woefully not the same as the whole. The chorus lay in wait, pondering the reemergence of their heroes, and wondering if "THE LAST ONE" had really been it...

But in early 1976, Apollonian light and healing would shine upon our intrepid wanderers once again. No more epic battles for the people with cops and lines and tightness, the Dead would return triumphant in smallness, playing intimate theaters and renting equipment along the way. No more ticket scams and greedy promoters, they'd give back with first ever mail-order ticket program, one that had a few kinks to work out but eventually served the fans well.

Musically, June 1976 signaled a Golden Age of harmony and prosperity for the Dead. It marked an Odysseusian-like return for Mickey Hart. Donna Jean was in lock-step with the sirens' call. Jerry and Bob delivered orphic delight with solo musings like "Mission In The Rain" (the only tour they ever played it on), "The Wheel," and "Cassidy," emboldened by group effort. There was fresh repertoire from Blues For Allah, breathing new life to the Dead's continually morphing sound - as Weir once said of the '76 tour, they wanted to play "a little bit of all of it." Old favorites were re-envisioned with cascading tempos and unique sequencing, making the crowd question if they'd ever heard these songs before. And there was comfort and joy in the familiarity of watching the band make it up as they went along. By all means, it was clear that the bacchanalia of live Dead would reign on.

And now the revelry from this epoch, evidenced by the near-studio quality sound captured on two-track live recordings by Betty Cantor-Jackson, lives on, bolstered by Jeffrey Norman's HDCD mastering. It's housed for posterity in a handsome box featuring original art work by Justin Helton. It’s documented in liners by Jesse Jarnow and photos by Grant Gouldon. And it’s ready for a spot on your shelf.

As part of our pre-order for this Dead.net exclusive boxed set, we'll be delivering downloads of each listening party - one for each show included in JUNE 1976 - to purchasers from now until the March 20th release. Order at any time before release and you'll receive all the listening parties to date.

Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 12,000

What's Inside:

5 Previously Unreleased Complete Shows On 15 Discs

Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA 6/10/76

Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA 6/11/76

Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/14/76

Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/15/76

Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ 6/19/76

Sourced from Two-Track Master Tapes, Recorded By Betty Cantor-Jackson

Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman

Restoration and Speed Correction by Plangent Processes

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April 6, 2020 - 9:48pm

#681

Angry Jack Straw

Joined:
October 2, 2012

Random thoughts

With all of this free time on hand, I’m going to do something others have done. Europe 72 on the anniversary dates. Someone else mentioned that it took them 2 1/2 years to get through the first listen. It took me a year and a half. Now I have time.

Hard to believe that it’s coming up on 25 years since Garcia passed. I’m a bit surprised that not more has been made of it. A special release perhaps?

71 is the deal. Doc was on top of this long ago. Flat out rock and roll. A Capitol release would be very welcome.

As for the person who asked why many of us shun the later years.

Easy Answers
Eternity
Samba in the Rain

And many, many others. Not banging. Just providing clarity.

A little bit too much Vince Gilligan in tonight’s episode of BCS.
April 6, 2020 - 8:47pm

#682

hendrixfreak

Joined:
February 26, 2014

I'd like to go on wreck-erd...

as saying, with all due respects to everyone and all, I'd go for a 30-disc box of spring '71 in a heartbeat, even if it destroyed the business model and it was the last thing I every heard.

Love, HF
April 6, 2020 - 6:37pm

#683

billy the kid

Joined:
December 3, 2019

8/30/70 - Easy Wind

Great version of Easy Wind! It would be nice if this whole video of Calibration could be cleaned up and released. The Dead at their best.
April 6, 2020 - 6:07pm

#684

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Easy Wind

Charlie3, the ones that come to mind - my fav from the Closing of Winterland bonus disc. I don't even want to tell you what I traded to get this CD into my collection back in my completist days, when my credit card had no balance :D

Anyway that has one from I think New Year's Eve 1970 into '71. Or was it 71 in the 72... I get the years confused on that disc because they're all New Year's shows. Dave's Picks Thelma, DP 16, Fillmore East Road Trips 3.3 all have Easy Wind. Hmmm could that be it?

I wonder why they didn't play this one more. I would have traded it for a couple of the shorter tracks he did on the Europe 72 tour. Next time you see me & Hurts Me Too.

Hi Doc, good to hear you weigh in on 1971 - any discussion on that subject matter without your input seems kind of in vain. Vein. Veign. Vaughn. Stevie Ray Vaughn. WHO IS Stevie Ray Vaughn. That's my final answer.

I would be less interested in Port Chester and Fillmore East Spring 71 if they had not been recorded on multitrack. It's that tease for pristine sound that really elevates them on my list. If I think about it, the 30 Trips show from 3/18/71 is IMHO the best sounding two track from 1971 pre-Keith (of the official releases). Come to think of it, I wonder if any 1971 Pre-Keith shows came back with that acquisition of tapes from the lost storage locker. Hmmmm. Chin scratcher.
April 6, 2020 - 4:36pm

#685

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders

Yo, rockers!!!!

I must admit that I'm both amused and amazed at all the 1971 chatter flying back and forth. Seems like old times....

First and foremost, my prediction----there will never be a single complete April 1971 box set. It's not because it isn't good, great, classic, and occasionally sublime. It is, and so much more. But for most, it's too big and unwieldy. People bought 30 Trips because there was variety. The E72 box had all that amazing jamming. Selling a box with 20 shows that on first glance (and I emphasize, "first glance") are very similar is a much tougher nut to crack.

Generally, the "detractions" about this period fall into two camps:
1) "The repertoire". Yes, there is a lot of repetition. Some new stuff, Bobby cowboy tunes, Pigpen's grease---but hey, if you don't care for that, then April 1971 is definitely NOT the month for you. And as some have pointed out, "big jams" are generally lacking. That can't be denied. The big jams vehicles that month were The Other One and Good Lovin'. Hey, works for me, but not for everybody.
2) "The style". Since I'm a rocker, I'm drawn to the style of this era and revel in it. Pared down, lean, mean, Bakersfield blasts of hard edged rock and roll. Not all of it is sledgehammer material, but some is, which means it's very powerful. But others like their Dead smoother, creamier, jammier. I get that.

Then there's the issue of the Fillmore shows. Since portions were released already, that makes their inclusion in a big box a little redundant. And there's all those guests, and the legalities, and the hassles, and the lawyers. But I'd love to see 4/25 as a solo release----that Hard To Handle is as crunchy as a Jake Lamotta right hook.

Make no mistake----while every April 71 show has something to recommend it, not every show that month was a gem. I won't name names, folks know who I mean. Personally, I think an April 71 mega box would sell poorly, which is something that TPTB dwell on over fine cigars and cognac. But I think a pared down box, excluding the Fillmores, would sell very well. Maybe 5 or 6 shows, my preferences would be 4/6, 8, 12, 14, 18, 21.

Actually, I'd much prefer a Port Chester or Fall "FM shows" box (IF it include 11/7, 10/29, and 12/5!)

Guess that's all for now, time to go read some cosmology and strum the guitar....

Rock on,

Doc
P.S. Anybody who needs/wants any 71s, Aprils or otherwise, you know where to find me...……….
April 6, 2020 - 4:33pm

#686

Charlie3

Joined:
September 21, 2015

'71

All of this talk of '71 made me think of the awesome 2/19/71 Port Chester show released as 3FTV. That show has one of the best versions of GSET ever, a version that like some others from '71 has that great loping feel to it. I also realized that 3FTV has a great Easy Wind, another song I dig and a premium Pig vehicle. Which made me wonder, which other, if any, official releases have an Easy Wind? Haven't had a chance to look thoroughly, but can't think of any others off the top of my head. Nice summary on some of the appeal of '71 Keithfan2112, not really much else to add beyond what you already pointed out.

Last 5 - more 1967
Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
Grateful Dead - 11/10/67 from 30 Trips. Yeah, I have underestimated this show, it smokes. Can I amend my top shows from the 30 Trips box answer?
Cream - Disraeli Gears
The Doors - The Doors
Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come

Edit: DP 16, DaP 10, and DaP 30 all have Easy Wind.
April 6, 2020 - 3:02pm

#687

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Keith

Oh yes, so would I !
April 6, 2020 - 2:51pm

#688

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Daverock

You're probably right. It's probably one of those deals like Winterland October 74. Once you actually list out what didn't make the movie soundtrack, you're not missing that much. But I would take any of these over a nineties box set for example.
April 6, 2020 - 2:25pm

#689

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen

Its a great release, no question, but I am not sure I would prioritise a release of the whole run as a box set. Those 2 second set jams mentioned from 4/28 and 4/29 are incredible, though. Its years since I listened to tapes of the whole shows from those two dates, but I seem to remember the first two sets were quite similar, in feel if not actual song selection.
I feel the same way about Portchester February 71-very popular on here, and frequently suggested as the source for a future box - but it wouldn't be my choice.
April 6, 2020 - 2:14pm

#690

KeithFan2112

Joined:
August 6, 2014

Spring '71

What I like about it:

* From Feb - April '71 they introduced one metric fuckton of new songs. And if they didn't introduce them, they began peaking on stuff from Workingman's Dead and American Beauty. If I look at the track list for Ladies and Gentlemen and Three From the Vault, I would guess 65 to 75% of the songs are not on official release prior to these. And prior to that, Skull & Roses came out as an official release in that actual era, so people were getting some of these tracks for the first time. I can't find a better released Morning Dew prior to the one on Ladies & Gentlemen for example, or Midnight Hour to name a couple. I guess add King Bee. New Minglewood Blues. Only Ripple. Second That Emotion. Dark Hollow.

Truckin' and Bertha tightened up by Autumn '71, and Bird Song went into hyperspace after they gave it a rest between the summer of 71 and the summer of 72. Those are really the only songs I can think of that may have gotten a little bit better on a more consistent basis. I'm not saying there aren't any great Truckin's in Spring of 71, just saying it got even better later. China Cat IMHO gained an immediate infusion of energy; the two drummer versions that came prior always seemed a bit crowded to me.

* One drummer. I think they really began to swing a bit more wiith just Billy back there. Take a listen to St. Stephen from Ladies and Gentlemen - the last-minute is pure rock and roll. Hard to Handle peaked big time and continued into the summer with those great August versions, where one drummer allowed for some intense improvisational instrumental solo sections - I'm talking about the little 2 to 3 minute jams within some of the shorter songs, when they chose to rock out. Greatest Story Ever Told is another. It rocked out extra hard and Spring 71, prior to Jerry picking up the Wah wah on it.

* Agree, they definitely took a step back in the duration of a lot of the Dark Stars and they played it frighteningly few times compared to 72 and 73 and 69 and 70 before it. But that being said, the times they did play it were some of the best 12 to 15 minutes of Dark Star you'll hear with acouple of 20s. No cacophony, no meltdowns, no atonal space drift. Just pure Dark Star melodies and Garcia noodling. February 18th was awesome, all 3 in April were awesome. You will find beautiful Jam on Feb 18th, which is one of a kind, as well as the Jam on Ladies and Gentlemen which may as well be in the middle of a Dark Star.

* Pigpen peaked on the organ. It's funny you mention it actually. House listing in the Cold Rain and Snow from Ladies and Gentlemen this morning, thinking how accomplished Pigpen had become by then. By then he was still playing sparsely, which is good because it didn't overwhelm the soundscape, but he also wasn't limiting himself to chords and basic melodies; he was actually improvising a bit in between. You can really hear him on the 30 Trips show from March.

* Sound quality - the Port Chester and Fillmore East runs are all multi-track sourced.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

During the mid-1970s, the Grateful Dead saga was unfolding like a Greek classic. The Sisyphean Wall Of Sound had nearly broken the band. From it spawned a Medusa head of countless side projects, all deliciously fruitful but woefully not the same as the whole. The chorus lay in wait, pondering the reemergence of their heroes, and wondering if "THE LAST ONE" had really been it...

But in early 1976, Apollonian light and healing would shine upon our intrepid wanderers once again. No more epic battles for the people with cops and lines and tightness, the Dead would return triumphant in smallness, playing intimate theaters and renting equipment along the way. No more ticket scams and greedy promoters, they'd give back with first ever mail-order ticket program, one that had a few kinks to work out but eventually served the fans well.

Musically, June 1976 signaled a Golden Age of harmony and prosperity for the Dead. It marked an Odysseusian-like return for Mickey Hart. Donna Jean was in lock-step with the sirens' call. Jerry and Bob delivered orphic delight with solo musings like "Mission In The Rain" (the only tour they ever played it on), "The Wheel," and "Cassidy," emboldened by group effort. There was fresh repertoire from Blues For Allah, breathing new life to the Dead's continually morphing sound - as Weir once said of the '76 tour, they wanted to play "a little bit of all of it." Old favorites were re-envisioned with cascading tempos and unique sequencing, making the crowd question if they'd ever heard these songs before. And there was comfort and joy in the familiarity of watching the band make it up as they went along. By all means, it was clear that the bacchanalia of live Dead would reign on.

And now the revelry from this epoch, evidenced by the near-studio quality sound captured on two-track live recordings by Betty Cantor-Jackson, lives on, bolstered by Jeffrey Norman's HDCD mastering. It's housed for posterity in a handsome box featuring original art work by Justin Helton. It’s documented in liners by Jesse Jarnow and photos by Grant Gouldon. And it’s ready for a spot on your shelf.

As part of our pre-order for this Dead.net exclusive boxed set, we'll be delivering downloads of each listening party - one for each show included in JUNE 1976 - to purchasers from now until the March 20th release. Order at any time before release and you'll receive all the listening parties to date.

Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 12,000

What's Inside:

5 Previously Unreleased Complete Shows On 15 Discs
Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA 6/10/76
Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA 6/11/76
Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/14/76
Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/15/76
Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ 6/19/76
Sourced from Two-Track Master Tapes, Recorded By Betty Cantor-Jackson
Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman
Restoration and Speed Correction by Plangent Processes

@HendrixFreak

Thanks! I was reading about this new Jimi box set release last fall and wondering if I should get it? I do have that Band Of Gypsies cd. With all of the Jimi live releases available it is hard to decide which ones to get? Yes the title: Songs for Groovy Children is kind of silly but for the others reading it is JH quote from these concerts and can be heard during one of the shows. It is cool looking box set. One of these days I will buy it and report back.

Stay safe everyone!!!!

Songs for Groovy Children

The mastering is the best I've heard and I've been listening to those shows since Band of Gypsys came out. The tapes do have a bit of buzzing during the quiet parts between songs, I'm guessing it's the amps buzzing. The thing that's great is you can really hear Buddy and Billy. On the "big" stereo you can hear each instrument and it has real depth.
That being said, there are some tracks missing. I've heard various reasons why. I guess some weren't recorded, some were mono, but I don't know for sure. Personally I think it's about time these recording got some TLC.

11391 arrives in NW Fla

Put on 6/10/76 and sat back and enjoyed. Song 11 is my favorite Mission In the Rain and it was perfect. You guys take care and try and be safe. We will ride this out. I am still working as deemed essential by the Air Force. Lots of controls in place for protection.
Good Luck
Drp Out

Skulltrip

Right back at you brother.

The Cream of Hendrix

Yes - if you dig live Jimi this is a must have box. Ignore the dumb title, the sound is magnificent. Ditto for the new Cream box. It's amazing that they waited until now to release both of these but both were worth waiting for. Like all this fantastic Dead coming out, analog to digital remastering techniques have never been better. In this sense, classic rock audiophiles have never been more fortunate.

June 1976 Cover Scans

Hey Kids!!

Anyone have scans of the individual show covers from the June 1976 Box Set?

Mahalo

*Re/ 76’ boxset

... absolute lay beautiful, just so beautiful!
I’ve been listening to 6/14/76 on repeat for days ; love it! Time to put on another show today! 🙏❤️😎💀🌹

Cream new live cds.

The new Live Cream cds is another purchase that I've been eyeballin'? I have both Vol. 1 & 2 plus some bootlegs from DimeaDozen but the deluxe treatment with this official release is tempting.

And yes -- what took them so long?

Another band that I would love to see release more official live cds from the past would be Hot Tuna. I still can not believe that Hot Tuna does not allow on line tape/cd sharing of their concerts at DimeaDozen or anywhere. Please Jack and Jorma were only fans trying to scratch an itch!

The Far Side...

Thank you! This website is amazing! Gary Larson, the Pynchon of comics, gets it.

Peace

Edit: That Pynchon reference was too good to pass up. Also, 76 "Let it Grows" with the drum solo?!?! Fuggin tight, bro!

Delivery

...just ordered beer online for the first time ever...they deliver.
I don't know whether to be happy or sad.
Prolly both.

Gotta make due; the Soundtrack Beckons.
Up to 6/15 at this point...loving the vibe and *Oozy Groove.

*That would be a cool band name.

Sixtus

Hot Tuna....

.....has a ton on live recordings on Spotify.

Help On The Way

Got this email from UPS which confirms that you can reroute a package if you have a My Choice account.

—————-

In these unpredictable times, you still have control of your package deliveries. With UPS My Choice®, you can tell your UPS Driver where to leave your deliveries, redirect your deliveries to another address, and receive notifications on when to expect your deliveries from UPS.

If you have a delivery location preference already set for somewhere other than your home, you can update it at any time by logging in to your UPS My Choice account using this link.

Link:
https://www.ups.com/lasso/login?returnto=https%3a//wwwapps.ups.com/ppc/…

June 1976 Box Booklet

Got the June 76 today and so far it sounds great. Very Nice packaging but I have only one complaint. The book that came with it has no spine and will fall apart. It looks like this is a defect and hopefully not the way they designed it to be. Anyone else have this issue ?

Hendrix Fillmore Box / Missing Songs

If you type 'Jimi Hendrix Songs For Groovy Children Missing Songs' into your search bar, you'll see the missing songs. I recall reading that upon listening back to the tapes at Electric Ladyland Studios, Hendrix was furious with Buddy Miles for his 'vocalizing' during the shows, and was the reason most of the songs were left off.

A quick listing: 10 songs total if you count 'Auld Land Syne'. 2 for each of the first 3 shows and 4 for the last show. All the shows were sequenced/re-sequenced in the correct running order according to 'Super Deluxe Edition', a Box Set website.

Currently on 6-19 set 2

So far I have not heard annoying “ya ya ya” guy.
I thought I did hear him very faintly in the background once. Maybe he is only on the FM copy which might have had some AUD mixed in, or maybe Norman did is a favor and removed the guy.

Bennyblack

The subject has already been discussed below.
It’s designed that way so that it will lay flat when open.

The Sound

I've only listened to the first two shows, but had to post how impressed I am with the sound quality. It's amazing that a two-track tape from 44 years ago, stored in really bad circumstances, could be brought to life like this. Congratulations to the whole tech team and, of course, Betty.

Re: Beer Delivery

Remember this moment.. March 21st, 2020. Thanks to Sixtus, this day marks the exact moment we realized we never have to leave the house again..

Great to hear about the sound quality. I knew three things when this release was announced.
1) I was going to get it.
2) Another 76 was not going to be universally accepted (the 76 groove thing).
3) I suspected the sound would be exceptional.

Happy Spring.

Listening to No Box Blues by Willie Poor Boy Jameson. Such a sad, sad song.

3/21/81

Very nice show with excellent sound.

https://archive.org/details/gd1981-03-21.sbd.walker-scotton.miller.1067…

Set 1

Alabama Getaway-> Promised Land, Peggy-O, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Tennessee Jed-> Little Red Rooster, Althea, Let It Grow-> China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider

Set 2

Jack Straw, Ship of Fools, Estimated Prophet-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> Not Fade Away-> Black Peter-> One More Saturday Night, E: Don't Ease Me In

Book Binding

The spine on the book looks like a Coptic binding or some similar method (stitch-based, non adhesive). I think it was an aesthetic choice and not a defect.

Though I could be wrong. I have been before.

Did you know that 7-11 carries toilet paper?....

....i didn't until today. Only bought one package of four.

Book binding - 76 Box

I must be one of the lucky few, my book has a beautiful hard cover, over the binding; inside the front cover is a bonus CD, and the back cover has a dvd of 6/19. Also included, a never published before recipe for head-cheese souffle.
S/N 04412

June '76 Box ranks among the best

Hi-dee-ho there Deadhead-o-roonies!

Sheesh Louise strange times! Love all the positiveness I’m reading here. Holy shit we are in the Matrix. I feel like we’re all reduced to ones and zeros. Anywho, more important digits: 09992 arrived yesterday. Numerology speaks to me and the triple nines say I will survive, and you two.

Giving it a proper listen this morning. I’ve had a penchant for ‘76 for a long time. Well, ever since the archive dot org opened. Sublimely recorded and oh so tight. It’s tingly to me. Fits like a warm hug. A well rested Grateful Dead, music halls, Betty, new material, what could go wrong? Nothing; well, except for the missing spine of the book. I overlook it. I’m in love with how it’s packaged. Neat; easy to get the discs in and out. Just like the (first) May ‘77 box. Ahhh, that May ‘77 box. So good! This box is fast moving up the ranks and contending with the top box(es). I know I know. We say that after each release (well at least I do). Gots me to thinking: hmmm, how would I rank thy boxes? Here is my top 10 list of Grateful Dead boxes and a drip of what I love about them. I only put what impressions came to mind first now that I’m reflecting on them. If I put in all my impressions, we’d be here for a while.

1. Thirty Trips- the sound is phenomenal; it's immense; covers a lot of ground...still taking it all in

2. Europe ‘72 - pretty much the gold standard

3. June ‘76 - made the top 3...I think it has staying power!

4. First May ‘77 - Jack a roe, my favorite two versions

5. Get Shown the Light - I like the mix...not at first, but it grew on me. Amazing shows!

6. Pacific Northwest - sound quality- I closed my eyes and I thought they were in my living room - long groovy jams

7. Giants Stadium - it’s the pinnacle of sound quality; I feel like I’m standing in the mouth of the beast

8. Fillmore West - sound quality and intimacy feel. Pigpen. Jerry’s voice quiver; Death Have No Mercy

9. Winterland ‘73 - 11-11-73 Black Throated Wind..bobby is just so soulful

10. Spring 1990 The Other One - Branford; sound quality is superb

Honorable mention: Warlocks cigar box - Darkstar, and some awesome Space

Cheers All!

DP36's mention of warm hugs....

....reminds me. I need to hug my wife. Off the next few days. On a rotational schedule at work. Long story, but when this is over, my grip on your hand, should you shake it, will be as if you're shaking Thanos's gauntlet. Look out.
Nice list.

Ranking Box Sets

I began ranking box sets and my mind imploded and my body was simultaneously transported to another dimension. Fortunately there's an internet here allowing me to post this warning:

Resist the temptation of trying to rank box sets. Much like time travel and nuclear weapons, it simply should not be attempted...

The sun has set, my front porch barren, the mailbox is empty. How dry I am.. how dry I'll be.. I checked my mail, no box for me.

Stella Blue 6/11/76... OMG

Play it as loud as you can!! It is basically a Jerry vocal solo. Holly shit... Minimal backing on first refrain, non on the second.. Wow.....

There's a Betty AMA happening on reddit on May 22nd....

....in case you didn't know.
https://i.redd.it/yfd8dgefxpn41.jpg
Legendary.
Day after my birthday. So close. We can do this if everyone stays home for now.

"Down every lonely street, there's ever been"....

....Stella Blue - Garcia/Hunter. The 6.11.76 version. Still working my way through it. Loving it. Sixtus has good taste.

Digging This Box. A Lot.

Listened to the 6/11/76 show this morning, Bob T is right, that is an awesome Stella Blue, fantastic Eyes, the whole show was great. Listened to the 6/14/76 show this evening and wow, I like this one even better than the first two shows in the box. Great PIB, the High Time was sublime, the Crazy Fingers was all I'd hoped, those Dancing in the Streets have all been fantastic in this box and the one on 6/14 was no exception. The Help-Slip-Franklin's was stellar. I'm easy to please, but this box is proving to be one of my most gratifying purchases in a while. Really dig the laid back, mellow vibe to these shows and the sound is phenomenal. I guess I should wrap this up before I use all of the superlative adjectives that I can think of.

June 76 is STELLAR

Just got to Beacon Night 1 and my take through the 2 Garden shows is just THANK YOU. The sound quality is exceptional. You hear everyone right where they need to be in the mix. And the music throughout speaks for itself. Everyone is on point. And Dave might be right that Donna never sounded better. The Mission in the Rain from 6/10 had me in tears. This is straight up medicine while were all sheltering in place in Cali. Thanks to all involved. Its also a beautiful case. Stay healthy friends!!!!

Geosynchronous Shock

"8. Fillmore West"

I feel the need to counterbalance a sudden shift in the earth's axial spin:
1. Complete Fillmore West

Really, things are quite mad enough already!

Kate C/ Fillmore West box set

I agree with you Kate C, I would definitely put that Fillmore West box set at #1. I would also put that Winterland 73 box set in the top 3, it is fantastic!

Ha.

Eight sided whispering hallelujah hatrack
Balance restored

Edit: I'd put FW high in the list. Nothing wrong with ranking box sets and releases, I just have a hard time doing it myself. ..There is one factor that comes into play, not everyone has the FW Complete Recordings Boxset.

We will get by

It is even worse than it appears but it is alright.......

30 years of the best live band ever. No contest.

Still no box, but don't forget the Winterland 77 Box!

Just dropped in

to see what condition my condition was in

I am sitting in a room

While being at home, apart from any essential food buying and medical needs, I thought it would be interesting to re-listen to ‘I am sitting in a room’ by Alvin Lucier. This is a fascinating piece where a simple set of words are slowly converted to an unintelligible drone by multiple recordings of the interaction of the sounds and the resonances of the room. Well worth a listen.
I’m also passing the time by reading a recent biography of the composer Michael Tippett by Oliver Soden. I haven’t finished it yet but so far it is very good. I also just finished re-reading ‘Beyond Jazz’ by Trevor Barre. This is history of the free music played in London 1966 - 1972. On first reading it got me back into listening to AMM, Spontaneous Music Ensemble and ISKRA 1903. Some stunning pieces of improvisation.
I look forward to the arrival of the boxset this side of the Atlantic soon. Keep well.

Music Books

Seeing the reference to the book "Beyond Jazz" reminds me that the free music played in England between 1966 and 1972 is something I have always intended to investigate further, and so far haven't got round to. I believe early Pink Floyd and Soft Machine were influenced by this approach. The only cds, apart from the ones by the aforementioned bands, that I have got are by the guitarist Ray Russell...assuming he was part of this style.

I am re-reading Greil Marcus's "Mystery Train" recently re-released with beautiful black and white photographs by the Folio Society. Each chapter is focussed on an artist or band. It doesn't seem necessary to actually be familiar with the band in question to enjoy the book, as Marcus seems to be trying to identify and describe the moment when music bursts free from societal and formulaic constraints, to voice something new, exciting and slightly dangerous. Of the individual chapters, I am not sure how "The Band" fit into this paradigm...and I've never even heard anything by Randy Newman - apart from "Gone Dead Train" from the film "Performance". But its a good book.

June 76 box

Yup, I m digging this box set too. The sound quality is top notch so much so that there are many nuances in the playing that I am hearing. So far 6/15 is my favorite show - I have listened to all but 6/19. I am partial to 6/19 as I have a lot of familiarity with it so it may still win out for me. Overall every show is good and there are highlights throughout.

Not to jump to far ahead, but I am really curious as to what the next box will be. I say this not out of impatience but because looking at those lists of box sets got me thinking. We have really been given many great box sets of peak eras that have excellent sound quality. Certainly there are more shows to pull from. I think the big question is that I wonder if they will stick with Betty Board sources or go another route. However this is just fun speculation as I am way too invested in the current box set.

Stay healthy and safe everyone.

Randy Newman

My own favourite album by Randy Newman is ‘Sail Away’. The song ‘Political Science’ is a very funny take on the Americanisation of the world with nuclear weapons. It also has the songs ‘Simon Smith and his amazing dancing bear’ and one I’d like played at my funeral (in the distant future obviously) ‘Old Man’ some of the lyrics are ‘Won’t be no god to comfort you, taught me not to believe that lie. you don’t need anybody, nobody needs you. don’t cry old man don’t cry. everybody dies’ That should go down well.
There is an anecdote in ‘Beyond Jazz’ about The People’s Band. They were asked to stop playing at a night organised by anarchists because they were too anarchic :-).

Ranking Box sets

Very hard to do - but agree with Kate C as well -- Complete Fillmore West is at the top (or close to it) for me
I really like this June 76 box, so it may rise up the list a bit

My top 5 is probably:
1. Complete Fillmore West
2. Europe 72
3. Get Shown the Light/May 77 (tie)
4. Winterland 73
5. winterland 77

After that, I'd probably go July 78, June 76, 30 Trips, Spring 90 (first one), Pacific Northwest.
I think July 78 is really underrated

Ranking box sets

I’d probably go for:
1 Winterland 73
2 Complete Fillmore
3 Europe 72
4 May 77
5 Europe 90 (first)

This may change according to mood and when June 76 arrives!

FW

Top one or two for me. The 1978 box would be way up on my list, as would Giants. PNW would be lower on my list.

Jim, please check your PM. I, too, have been listening to the "No Box Blues" you speak of. :)

Love Randy Newman.

I'll have to check out that jazz book. I've picked up a bunch of free jazz and British jazz of late.

A few days back, while extolling the virtues of 3/17/93, I mentioned that the next two nights were supposedly quite good as well. In checking my DeadBase, I meant to say that the 3/17-19 run from 1995 was the highly-regarded three-pack. I apologize for any confusion my error might have caused. :)

Top 3 box sets

That's easy, 1) Fillmore West the Complete recordings, 2)Europe 72 box, 3) Winterland 1973 box. If anyone doesn't have the Winterland 1973 box set, get it, it's fantastic! This order of course will change, when the complete recordings of April 1971 comes out.

catching up, slowly...

I can heartily recommend the Cream box. I've listened to the first three shows, at a generous volume, though not really loud. Similar setlists. But they stretch this way and that and at nearly anytime in any song, those boys are careening off each other in style. It is said, and probably true, that spring '67 might ultimately be their peak. But fall '68 is no slouch. The RAH show is said to be a major step down in SQ, but great playing. Probably hear it today.

As for live Hot Tuna, I recommend the recently released "Before We Were Them" by the Owsley Foundation. It's Jack and Jorma in summer '69 blasting away (and, I believe, opening for the GD), months before they went out as HT.

Crazy, just saw Jack and Jorma electric at Boulder Theater and they killed it. Jack in particular was rock solid, so when Jorma (about to turn 80 -- the new 50) flagged just a tad, Jack kept everything rolling and Jorma brought himself back up to stride. That was Feb. 29 and we were all aware of the virus but still oblivious on some level.

Well, two weeks later, I'm ticketed to see Los Lobos at Boulder Theater (Sat, Mar. 14) and by Wednesday prior I had made the executive decision not to go. The next day the band cancelled and rescheduled for October.

Tuesday, March 10, we were doing our weekly open mic at a local bar and the last song played (the bar shuttered afterwards) was "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett (1962). Everyone joined in the line "It was a graveyard smash" in our best ghoulish voices, while the women behind the bar did the high refrain of "the monster mash" over and over. The last real fun before things went to hell.

I recommend hitting YouTube for this song -- it might make ya smile.

This box set is really good…

This box set is really good. The sound quality is incredible. In my opinion, the best sound of any of the releases. Everyone talks about 77. I think there's a better groove in 76. The band is tighter and in my opinion everyone is playing with more creativity.

lack of metadata????

anyone else notice a lack of metadata on these 76 discs? seems previous releases had way more metadata. i put these in my laptop and the descriptions are minimal metadatawise. anyone else???

Ranking is tough:

30 Trips and Europe are just so much larger, that is almost a different category. Even the difference between the 2-3 show (6-10 discs) boxes (Warlocks, RFK, Winterland '73 & '77) and the 5+ show (14-15+ disc) ones is pretty substantial for me (May '77, July '78, Spring '90s, Giants, PNW, this one).

For me, at some point, it just comes down to more awesome beating less awesome. It is why the White Album is my favorite Beatles album & Physical Graffiti my favorite Led Zep & Exile my favorite Stones.

So, Europe '72 and 30 Trips will always be tops for me. And Warlocks/RFK will always be bottom (RFK).

As for the middle. Fillmore '69 Complete or Get Shown the Light for me. Really a jumble for 3rd. Better sound with the earlier boxes and better variety with the latter ones.

I think I'd go "outside the box" (sorry, could not resist) and choose All the Years Combine. Is that off limits?

Ranking Boxes

For me it really depends on my mood at the time. Different box sets fit different moods. Having said that, FW '69 would be at the top of the list for that 2/27/69 Dark Star, just like Live Dead will always be at my favorite original album. That 2/27/69 Dark Star was instrumental in turning me on to the Dead in the first place, that whole Dark Star - St. Stephen - Eleven - Lovelight sequence was unlike anything that I had heard before. Once I discovered Live Dead it replaced most of the classic rock that I had been listening to on my morning ride to school on the bus.
Looking back it surprises me sometimes that the school bus driver didn't just drop a few of us off at the police station. There were about 5 or 6 of us that would just sit in the back portion of the bus and smoke bowls, carefully covering the bowl and discretely passing it around. I mean, we thought we were slick, we'd hold our hits for as long as possible to minimize the smoke, but it obviously must have reeked. Everyone else in the back of the bus knew, and in fact pointed it out on one or two occasions. And yet, nothing was ever said. But I digress, I was talking about box set rankings...

Talk about repetitiveness

There’s a lot of song repetition in FW69.
I don’t have the physical box, but do have a copy made out of digital ether. Also have 27,28 on vinyl which are made from Plangentized remasters. Thus, those who don’t want the FW Box rereleased are denying themselves a better sounding copy.
Personally, I think I like 11-10-67 and 2-14-68 better than the shows in FW69 (not that I don’t like FW69).
So Dave, bring on a 67/68 Box (after the 71 Box).

Don’t forget about the From The Vault Box which contains a remastered 8-13-75 and a third disc with FTV2.

Box speculation is fun. I agree with what others have said in the past, that ABCD Enterprises may have stipulated that the returned reels get priority treatment for release within a set time frame. ABCD is run by Deadheads, and they want the reels released just as badly was we do. I wonder how many copies of each release ABCD gets, and if they are unnumbered.

Jamming to 6-15 set 2 right now.
Sound quality on this release is spectacular.

FW box

So one of the few Dead.net musical releases I do not have is the FW box. My embarrassing admission is that at the time when it came out, I was more into shows from 72-74 and 77. Because of that and my cashflow at that time to a somewhat lesser extent I passsed on it. I was wise enough to get the 3 CD compilation which surprisingly came with the bonus disc.

I had 3/1/69 on tape back in the day and the 3 disc compilation set so I am familiar with the shows. However seeing how highly regarded the FW box is on these lists has compelled me to make acquiring it my next conquest.

Looking at the secondary market the 2 most expensive releases to acquire are: the FW box aand Dave's Picks Vol. 1. Spring 1990. TOO, the Warlocks, Dave's 2-4 get up there on prices as well. Right now on ebay there are a few FW boxes sitting at about $500. Recently a complete FW with discs only (no box no sleeves, just the loose CDs) on an auction went for $200. A cheap price for Dave's Vol. 1 is $250. It would be hard for me to shell out 500 big ones for the FW box. Similarly I am not keen on paying $250 for Dave's Vol. 1. However if I could get the complete FW box for $250 (discs, box sleeves) I would do that. I might have to wait for a while as I am not sure when or even if I will find it at that price. It just seems like that box is the "missing link" for me.

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