• 348 replies
    clayv
    Default Avatar
    Joined:

    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.

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • Born Cross Eye…
    Joined:
    2/21/71

    Great show, I haven't heard in a while. I think I'd rather have a 1970 show than this one, but why complain. I deeply appreciate that 2/21/ gets to see the official light of day here.

    If Workingman's Dead 50th gets a 3 disc set, will American Beauty get the same treatment, or better? Perhaps we'll get another show from this 1971 Port Chester run, I really do hope so.

  • Bill13
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Wish this included a Blu Ray…

    Wish this included a Blu Ray of the surround mix;(. I alreay have it but they are very expensive and would like more people to be able to hear how awesome it is.

  • dissident1980
    Joined:
    Initial Reaction

    I don't like putting a Feb 1971 show with Workingman's Dead. The album's songs started seeing live performances in 1969, recorded in early 1970, released June 1970. Then we get American Beauty in November 1970. So a Feb 71 show with Workingman's? Not even the Workingman's era, man. (Not that I won't buy it ... but what's coming with American Beauty? A 1972 show?)

  • Sydney Prentice
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    50th Anniversary ?

    Okay, it's the 50th anniversary of the studio release, but why a '71 show? as much as I would have liked to have seen the complete box set of the 6 Capitol Theatre shows, all I can think is that perhaps we are going to get a full 1970 box set with the American Beauty Anniversary release. Fingers crossed!
    This, however, is still a welcome addition to the collection, Workingman's Dead is my favorite Grateful Dead studio release, along with one of my Desert Island Discs- Europe '72 Complete. it's not cheating to have a Boxset as a Disc is it?

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    The IRS and Dead.net must be in kahoots....

    ....just got my stimulus check direct deposited a couple hours before the Workingmans announcement w/ cool schwag. Ugh.
    Hey roguedeadguy. Does your almost new tee have the band on the back? I have a pretty worn tee that doesn't.

  • Roguedeadguy
    Joined:
    I'm all in

    The CD set, obvi.

    I have a very nice, still very new vinyl that sounds great but it doesn't have a cool picture on it that'll make me dizzy if I watch it spin around for awhile.

    I have a nice, still very new T shirt with the album cover on the front, in a tan / off white hue. But what if that one gets dirty and I need a backup Workingman's Dead T shirt for the annual Workingman's Dead festival or something ?

    I have a shit ton of coffee mugs, but what if one or more of them were to meet an untimely end due to a hatchet related accident ? I'd probably need a new hatchet then too.

    Thank you dead.net for having my back covered for all of these extremely likely high risk contingencies.

  • frosted
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Moving along to the next plane

    Michael McClure, one of the original beat poets who made his debut back in the mid '50s along with Ginsburg, Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder, Jack Kerouac, and all those cats has passed away age 87. I didn't realize he'd been teaching in Oakland since 1963 at a small arts college, near where I lived at one point. Said he never made a dime off his poetry, but the teaching paid the bills. He also wrote the tune "Mercedes Benz" made famous by Janis Joplin.

    I remember him touring around with Ray Manzarek of the Doors a few decades ago too, which they mention in this article about his passing:

    https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/michael-mcclure-famed-beat-poet-…

    Also wanted to give kudos to forensicdoc for the Dap 34 photos he shared. Cool stuff.

    I remember Doc once said he didn't think they'd release more Port Chester '71 too, and coming from the '71 guru, that was a let down at the time to hear that he thought that. Glad to see that proven wrong with this release, but maybe he was talking only about not expecting another full box set from that?

  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Open the flood gates

    Still to go in 2020:
    DaP 35, 36
    American Beauty with the assumed bonus
    Record Store Day, 5-9-77 vinyl
    Fall Box that Dave alluded to in the June 76 video (unless that Box is the AB 50th release)

    Keep ‘em coming Dave, we’re not getting any younger.

  • Willysin4wd
    Joined:
    I didn’t know I needed these items!

    I’m a material guy, but I may finally be up for the digital download on this one.

    The hatchet is a quality Swedish axe, Hults Bruk Tarnaby Hatchet. If you don’t have a quality hatchet.....I’m eyeing the shop apron, a working mans outfit.

  • Jason Wilder
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    In like Flynn

    on the 3 CD set. Full show from '71 is NICE! Wonder why no full show for Aox?

    Would have loved a 69/70 show more, but no biggie.

    Nice schwag too! Particularly the hat, mug, and jacket. Had to pass, however. Hard times.

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

6 years 8 months

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.

user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month

In reply to by daverock

Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

12 years
Permalink

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!

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I don't come here for the fashion opportunities.

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 7 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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?

user picture

Member for

14 years

In reply to by simonrob

Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months

In reply to by cmd

Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

4 years 11 months
Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

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!!

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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?

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

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

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 3 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

15 years
Permalink

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. ✌

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 6 months

In reply to by stoltzfus

Permalink

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

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 6 months

In reply to by Dennis

Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months

In reply to by snafu

Permalink

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...

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 6 months

In reply to by stoltzfus

Permalink

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!

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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?

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 9 months

In reply to by simonrob

Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

9 years 1 month
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months

In reply to by Charlie3

Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

9 years 1 month
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

9 years 1 month
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months

In reply to by KeithFan2112

Permalink

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.

user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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!

user picture

Member for

4 years 11 months
Permalink

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

user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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!)

user picture

Member for

14 years 10 months

In reply to by billy the kid

Permalink

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

With 9 19 70 as filler :)))

product sku
081227908706
Product Magento URL
https://store.dead.net/special-edition-shops/workingman-s-dead-collection/workingman-s-dead-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition.html