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    clayv
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    Due July 10th, WORKINGMAN’S DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available as a three-CD set and digital equivalents featuring the original album with newly remastered sound, plus an unreleased complete concert recorded on February 21, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. The show was mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser, along with restoration and speed correction by Plangent Processes. 2/21/71 delivers a plethora of songs from both Workingman’s Dead and the band’s follow-up album, American Beauty. Some highlights include Weir’s moving vocal take on “Me and Bobby McGee,” Pigpen’s whiskey-seasoned growl on “Easy Wind” and a stellar run through “Uncle John’s Band” to close out the show.

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  • hendrixfreak
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    Well, Billy, about that decade box....

    All I really wanted out of "30 Trips" was 1966-1979, though I caught some great shows in the '80s. As for 6-17-75, we had a buddy come to town in fall '75 with a reel-to-reel tape copy of a great audience tape. So I made a cassette copy, then converted that to CD. But a first-gen tape cleaned up? I'll keep that dream alive.

    Again, I'm intrigued by the next box potential, which I suppose is next year. This year we're just talking AB 50th, I guess? Plus two more DaPs. We'll all be curious to see if Dave couples that with a more AB-time-frame show than he did with WD. But I must say, except for my beloved Pigpen totally blowing Easy Wind, that 2-21-71 show absolutely smokes (although I've only made it thru the first disc so far).

  • billy the kid
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    Hendrix freak/ 6/17/75

    If I had a great copy of 6/17/75 in my possesion, I would give it to Dave & Co. for free if they would promise to release it, so that everybody could enjoy it. If they had 6/17/75, they could put out a decade box set, one show from every year, 1970 to 1979, I bet that would be popular. I wonder if the Owsley
    foundation has a copy of 6/11/69, I would love to hear that.

  • hendrixfreak
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    I never used to dream on like this, but I need positive thoughts

    So.... what say we get "Wake" plus 3-disc show in 2021, "Mars" plus 3-disc show in 2022 and ... wait for it ... "Blues" in 2023. On the "Blues" front, there's only one unreleased show from '75: 6-17-75, the Bob Fried Memorial Boogie. There's said (on this forum) to be a soundboard but it's not in the vault. Meanwhile, there is at least one excellent audience tape in circulation. The show is amazing, so I can at least dream that the board tape gets returned to the vault in time.

    Otherwise, Dave pulls a '76 show with lots of "Blues" material on it. No shortage there. Also, the Compendium documents a good deal of studio rehearsals, outtakes, etc. that could fit the bill.

    Piling on, the foregoing is just the "50th" projects. I'm still rooting for a fall '72 box, which Dave indicated was inevitable. And what is the avenue for more '68 shows? Many of them are one-set wonders, so it might take too many of the remaining '68 tapes to make a DaP. Speaking of which, when they sell enough of those trashy cartoon novels ("Origins"?) that come with an October '68 show, we need that on CD.

    Thanks for the group therapy. Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on these topics.

  • simonrob
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    50th Anniversary releases...

    I will be 116 when the 50th Anniversary reissue of "Ready or not" comes out.

    Oh! Forgot that it wasn't a studio album. My bad. I had a senior moment.

  • billy the kid
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    Hendrix Freak / 50 th anniversary releases

    I heard Dave say that they were going to speed things up and not wait until the.official anniversary dates. Let's see , When Built to Last comes out, if I'm not a pile of ashes, I'll be over 93 years old. "Built to last till time itself comes tumbling from the wall".

  • Charlie3
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    I Hope You Are Right

    I hadn't even thought about the 50th Anniversary Wake of the Flood but I hope you're right about a nice mini-box with a full '73 show on 3 or 4 discs. I have been wondering if they'll include another full show with 50th Anniversary American Beauty and subsequent 50th Anniversary editions, I would definitely prefer that they do. At this point it is definitely the bonus material on these 50th Anniversary editions that motivates me to acquire them. I don't really need another remaster of the studio albums as the versions released in the Golden Road and Beyond Description boxes all sound pretty good to me, but if there is a complete, or mostly complete, show included I'll have to pick it up.

  • hendrixfreak
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    note on Wake of the Flood "50th"...

    It seems I remember Dave saying that they might speed up the "50th" anniversary release of "later" albums. I don't recall him naming actual albums in that remark, but I got the sense that, for instance, we won't wait til 2023 for the "50th" anniversary remaster album w/live show of Wake of the Flood. The obvious upshot is that '73 shows went on forever. (An aside: as a 15-yr-old at a few shows, fall '72, RFK '73, Watkins Glen, that after 2-3 hrs I was wondering when the freakin' show would end and they were just rattling into The Other One, or Dark Star, so I was out of luck. A year later, I'd learned to pace myself etc. etc.)

    What I'm trying to spit out is that, when they do "Wake," that's gonna be a four-CD mini-box. OR MAYBE Dave will drop 6-10-73 on us; make that a 5-disc set....

    Anyone else recall Dave saying this? At the time, I thought, oh yeah, Terrapin, In the Dark, LPs I don't even know. But this being 2020, 2023 sounds pretty far away to keep up the momentum.

    And I highly doubt they'll be giving this treatment to any of the band's solo LPs, even Bobby's, though I get the logic. If they do, that's the one to get the treatment, cuz Dave would have to put out another fall '72 show.

  • boblopes
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    Loving this release - question about the download version...

    I think this show is much better than the FTV show, I don't know why - maybe the remaster, maybe the Cumberland and Birdsong?

    I was wondering how the FLAC version sounds and if it is truly 96/24. I am building a new computer that I'd like to use to compare the FLAC vs the Physical CD. I don't know if I am ready to convert over since I love the physical product in my hands, but willing to get a duplicate. I guess you can never have enough Workingman's Dead, since I have that "excellent quality" LP from the 80's (cough cough), the initial Warner Bros CD release, the "Mobile Fidelity - Original Masters Recording" release and now this outstanding 50th Anniversary release...

    Is there a digital Grateful Dead release out there that would show the definite sonic superiority over the "RedBook" HDCD release? I was hoping that the 48 channel recording from the Giant Box would have 192/24 FLAC but alas it's 96/24. I'm leaning toward the PNW "Believe it if you need it" compilation since it has one of my favorite Birdsong's and Here Comes Sunshine, plus it claims to be 192/24. Does anyone know if it really is?

    Thanks - looking forward to DaP arriving this weekend and anticipation for what's to come regarding American Reality ;).

    PS: The Angel's Share is supposed to be 96/24 in FLAC, but I've seen comments that it's 48/16, so I will wait for that to play out.

  • laf848
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    WMD Deluxe Edition

    I played this concert 3 times already and think it's great. Been playing the studio album in my car , awesome sound with great instrument separation. The vocals sound fantastic.

  • carlo13
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    WMD

    I just received my WMD cd today and I'm amazed how good the 50th edition is. Cool old school 3d slipcover and the port Chester live is amazing. I love the pencil drawing of Robert hunter and the rest of the band.

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Due July 10th, WORKINGMAN’S DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available as a three-CD set and digital equivalents featuring the original album with newly remastered sound, plus an unreleased complete concert recorded on February 21, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. The show was mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser, along with restoration and speed correction by Plangent Processes. 2/21/71 delivers a plethora of songs from both Workingman’s Dead and the band’s follow-up album, American Beauty. Some highlights include Weir’s moving vocal take on “Me and Bobby McGee,” Pigpen’s whiskey-seasoned growl on “Easy Wind” and a stellar run through “Uncle John’s Band” to close out the show.

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Happy belated Birthday Keith. Sorry man, I was dealing with a broken washing machine all day. You sure played a mean Pinball. People are still enjoying your gift. R.I.P.

Simonrob...I have just had a look, and my copy was made in the E.U.
I bought it off a seller on ebay, and I have just had a look to remind me of the details. I bought it on 13th June last year-only about a week after it had been released, I think. It cost £12.45, with £1.00 post and packing, and I bought it off a seller calling themselves "mm3478". It looks as though he is an individual rather than a shop or business. Maybe he did keep the lenticulor cover for himself for some reason. I felt a bit cheated at the time, but I didn't contact the seller to ask the whys and wherefores. Of all covers that would have benefitted from the enhanced packaging-this is one.
Bit beside the point....but I used to have an enormous poster of it on my flat wall back in the 1980s.

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In reply to by daverock

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I ordered the first album 50th anniversary discs from dead.net soon after it was advertised. At that time I didn’t realise the discs would be available elsewhere so I paid more than double the necessary price and waited some weeks after it was released for it to arrive. My copy has a slip case but it is not lenticular. As it came directly from dead.net I assume no lenticular version was produced.
EDIT: I ordered anthem and aoxo from amazon and they both arrived on their release dates with the lenticular covers. I don't remember there being two versions of these albums offered for sale when they were first available

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Anyone else bite on this?

Still haven't seen a price!

A chance to win an invitation to buy?!?!

I don't even wear sneakers!!!

I don't have a turntable or feet!

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I don't come here for the fashion opportunities.

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Ok I take it all back; I see now that these were designed with a zippered stash pocket in the tongue. Ingenious - that would have come in handy in the frisk line back in the daze.

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I’m sure I’m right about this( awww, who the hell am I kidding, I’m NEVER right), I did get a first day issue. The First album 50th anniversary edition had a special slipcase, but it was not lenticular. It was super metallic shiny, slick, without the lettering obfuscating the artwork. That’s why I was surprised/pleased with this new release. I love the fact that lenticular art clearly has improved over time. There seem to be at least 5 different levels of depth to it. Keep ‘em coming!! Still loving 2/21/91.

Yeah, shoes. I’m always wary when you don’t see the price upfront.

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For the first album, I also got that very nice metallic foil O-card. Yep, they are O-cards. A slipcase has one end closed, like on Dick's Picks 29 or the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. O-cards have both ends open. In the great scheme of things this is trivial of course, but what isn't?

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In reply to by simonrob

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Anyone have a link to artwork (iTunes style) for
this release, especially the live stuff? Thanks.

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In reply to by cmd

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A load of bollocks.

I feel like Sam Hughes in the GD Movie.

I thought the WMD hatchet was the height of lameness. I was wrong.

GD Nike shoes?

RELEASE MUSIC, NOT THIS NIKE SHOE BULLSHIT.

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Reiterating, but haven't you seen the STASH TONGUE? :-P

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4 years 11 months
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Alright, my copy has arrived, it looks cool.. Now, to take it for a test drive.

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Thanks for setting me straight on slipcases/O cards. I could have sworn that since the O card “slips right over” the cd, it was a slipcase. But I am never too old to learn. I want to know who’s job it is to name these products.
I do have a rebellious streak, so I think I will refuse to call them O cards.
I remember J cards being a thing also, but I can’t remember what they were(maybe the cards inside the cassette cases??). If anyone knows, I would love to get a reminder.
I am not being sarcastic when I say I do appreciate being informed of these tidbits, but I always feel a need to “Buck the trend” as it were. You, Colin Gould, & DAVEROCK are my 3 favorite UK posters here. I love getting the perspective from across the pond. And it sucks that your wait time for merchandise is so long.
Not quite sure why I am rambling here, but it’s way past my bedtime.
Dave’s 35 should be here in less than 2 weeks. What a great year for us Dead fans!!

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Indeed, J cards are the cards that go inside cassette cases. J because they are (allegedly) in the shape of a J, albeit a square J rather than the round J of most text fonts.

O cards, J cards, slipcases - you can Google all these terms for clarification, even illustrations.

This is one of the consequences of lockdowns. One has the time to seek out all sorts of minutiae like this.

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I was fortunate to have observed one earlier in the Spring. As I understand, it's a fairly rare occurrence to have seen one. I am glad 1. that I was able to take a short video of it and 2. that it didn't get squished by oncoming traffic, because it was strutting right across the roadway. Funny Woodcock. :-)

Have a Grateful Day everyone and good luck on the shooz! :-) :-) :-)

P.S. Do the shoes have a bell of any sort?

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17 years 3 months
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Has anyone actually received their copy of Workingman’s Dead? Mine still shows as USPS awaiting info from shipper for the past two weeks...

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Received mine today in South Jersey. It took 2 weeks to get here. Playing the concert right now and it sounds great. Hope everyone gets their's soon.

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There is little that I can say about the remastered studio album. My favourite studio album, this version sounds great. Whether or not it is a sonic improvement over (recent) previous versions I cannot say as I haven't made the comparison, but I cannot fault this version.

The live show also sounds excellent, largely due to the fact that it was mixed from the original 16 track tapes. The performance is also pretty damn fine with many of my favourite songs. Pigpen's organ playing immediately stands out as it is high enough in the mix, something that is not always the case. This is one of the advantages of multi-track recordings. Everyone is in fine voice as well. This is going to get a lot of listening.

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Great comment there on hovering but ultimately not buying ... I'm in the exact same spot ... and for the same reasons ... yet somehow think resisting forever will be ... difficult. ✌

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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Don't like or care about shoes don't bother with them. Pretty simple

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In reply to by Dennis

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Guess everyone complaining about nike either doesn't know youngsters or like a lot of old people are practicing willfull ignorance. Collecting shoes is common among the sub 40 group. And to he who scoffed at the chance to buy them. That's the chance to buy them and immediately see them go up 1500 %. Now who's laughing

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In reply to by snafu

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I scoff and say, drown the GD Nikes in the pond.

I hold a lot of GD merch in contempt. SYF golfballs? Hippie, please.

Steal your mask...

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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I guess you don't give a hoot if the next generation gets on the bus. I do. The nature of my job is I work with ( or soon worked with) about 7-800 20 or 30 something's. I'm glad they picked up on John Mayer and did a deal with nike. Grow or Die

It doesn't help coming on here everyday ! Nobody has a bad word to say about it-WMDs 50th, that is. Still...

I'm less tempted to buy a pair of shoes, I must say. Showing my age-I didn't even know there was a shoe culture. Outside of fetish's, of course-high heels and all that.
But I have always hated buying shoes-my feet are different sizes and they also seem to change in size from one year to the next. So I am never sure which size to get. Its a right palaver, getting my feet measured, then taking said shoes back after I have bought them because one of them doesn't fit. As rule of thumb, I get a pair of Clarks, and they last me a year or two. Then when they have fallen apart I go and get another pair. Why I am telling you this, I know not!

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I do not understand youngsters. I am obviously a victim of the generation gap. I just cannot understand why anyone would want to collect shoes, particularly limited edition items at grossly inflated prices. Am I missing something?

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I love the music but never much cared for the clothing especially tye-dye items. Although tye-dye looks good on other people, it's not a good look for me -- no offense. Having said that, I did think the sneakers/trainers could be fun, nevertheless, I hesitated and now. . .. Who knew that people had sneaker collections? Like baseball cards or comic books? Another thing that gave me pause was wondering exactly where they were manufactured? Maybe I should not care but the more I learn; the more I care about issues like that. Oh well.

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It is more than just where Nike get their shoes made, it is also about who makes them and under what circumstances.

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Had a chance to give a somewhat distracted listen to 2/21/71 over the last couple of days and that is some good stuff. The sound is excellent and the show has some great stuff - I always dig a Cold Rain and Snow to start things off, and that Wharf Rat caught my ear, but there is a lot to like and I'm looking forward to a chance to get in a less distracted listen. And just 'cause Daverock said he's wavering, let me add that the cost is really not much different than a single Dave's Pick, and the show is well worth having in all its multi-track sonic glory. As I was listening, one of the things that I kept thinking was, damn, let's get the rest of the multi-track recordings released.

As far as the issue of sneakers, modern supply chains and forced labor issues, yeah, there are some things to think about. Run a search or two on this issue and on the treatment of the Uighur population in China, but be prepared to be disturbed.

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In reply to by Charlie3

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Charlie...hell, yes ( or no), just cause I am wavering doesn't mean I would want to put anyone else off !

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I was just jokingly encouraging you to pick it up;) I didn't at all interpret your earlier post as pushing people one way or the other. I haven't listened to the WMD remaster, but the 2/21/71 show (and the lenticular cover) alone make the purchase worthwhile for me, if the rest of that run sounds this good I can only hope the rest of those shows get the box set treatment. As with the other dead releases sourced from multi-track recordings, the sound is fantastic.

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The inclusion of the full 2/21/71 show with the WMD 50th Anniversary set really has me curious as to whether we'll get another full show along with the American Beauty 50th Anniversary release. Sure would be cool if we did.

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Heck yeah. I wouldn't mind another Port Port Chester show: Feb 18 or Feb 23 would be great. 4/26/71, if they can find a way pay for Duane to appear. I guess they could just compile the leftovers from the Fillmore dates (other than the 26th) on 2 discs, since they squeezed a lot of that run on to the 4 discs for Ladies & Gentlemen. Then release 4/26 at a later time.

And then box us up the rest of the Port Chester run as a 4 show collection. I'll take the repeat songs, no questions asked. We'd still be getting a lot of kick-ass unreleased songs from that run (inventory time):

Mama Tried
Hard to Handle
Dark Star Special Edition
Candyman
Big Boss Man
St. Stephen
NFA > GDTRFB > NFA
Lovelight
Morning Dew
New Minglewood Blues

Ned guests on the 2/18, but they don't seem to have an issue releasing material with him.

The Lovelight on 2/20 runs a little long, but the last 6 or 7 minutes is fantastic (and Pigpen tells a similar story to the Refrigerator Repairman gag from Ladies & Gentlemen, so it moves along nicely).

The New Minglewood Blues is fantastic. I've always felt the two '71 versions were the best. There are only two live pre-hiatus versions officially released at the moment (both from the Fillmore East): 5/15/70 on Road Trips 3.3 and 4/29/71 on Ladies & Gentlemen. Bobby really shreds his voice on the Road Trips version, but Ladies & Gentlemen is perfect, as is the other lone '71 version from Port Chester.

Yeah, I'm okay with repeats of Ripple, Bird Song, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, China Rider, Loser, The Othe One, etc. Their sound was distinctly different from Europe 72 barely a year later, and the audience in the mix elevates the energy. I'll take it all.

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In reply to by KeithFan2112

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If they follow the same reasoning they appeared to in selecting a show to accompany WMD, I would think they would pick a show that has a smattering of songs from American Beauty on, from any year 1970-1973. In which case, Fall 1972 might be favoured. I have just had a look at 11/17/72-one of the Dave's Picks, and that features 4 from the album-including Box of Rain. So my money would be on a show from a similar timespan featuring those songs.

Another possibility could be a show form 1970 that features both Attics and When the Morning Comes, if such a show exists. Actually, that would be a more exciting option for me, as I see things this morning.

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I'd like to get the rest of the '71 multi-track content. Daverock, I'd be totally okay with a Fall '72 show, as you suggested. There's a touch of grey area (no pun intended) as to how many years into the future is "acceptable" to represent the live companion to a 1970 studio LP (okay pun WAS intended). Any way you slice it, if we're going Fall '72, may as well make it one with Bird Song and Dark Star :D. And Box Of Rain and Brokedown Palace are a must. Will see if I can hunt down the perfect show. Sshhhhhh. I'm huntin' wabbits. Does that one translate overseas?

Uncle Gary once compiled a "live" version of American Beauty for me from different AUD and SB sources (I'm talking all of it - even Operator and Till The Morning Comes). Thanks man, I never forget!

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9/20/70, 12 songs from AB & WMD.

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A Classic in Cleveland 10/28/72. It boasts 5 American Beauty tracks, including Attics:

Box of Rain
Friend of the Devil
Sugar Magnolia
Candyman
Attics of My Life

Not too bad. And the best that can be done and still include Attics, as it was only played 2x in 1972. There IS a Dark Star, but no Bird Song to fulfill my personal agenda.

Some of the missing AB tracks are commoners like Truckin' and to some extent Brokedown Palace (you could just snarf those off of DP 11 at the Stanley (and grab Bird Song!)

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In reply to by billy the kid

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I listened to that the past few days. A perfect companion show.

With 9 19 70 as filler :)))

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