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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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In reply to by billy the kid

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I took a very brief try at setlists searches to see if I could find one that fits but just knew that a couple people around here would find some great candidates and . . .. Thank you! You saved me some obsessive-compulsive idiot-savant(cy) like behavior that my girl thoroughly disapprove of. She does like the music though and has gone to a good few shows with me. I will give a shout out to her favorite local music station: WFUV from Fordham University.

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Hey rockers!!!

M-Skjellyfetti----check your PM..................

I still favor 11/16/70 to accompany AB50, for no particular reason other than it's smokin' hot! Maybe they could squeeze in 10/4/70 too!!!!

Rare Friday off, not enough coffee, my mind is wandering, rock on!!!

Doc

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Have you seen docmarty's post on the Dave's Picks 34 thread? Its aimed at you. Check it out if you haven't seen it.

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That's what I'm waiting for. I get the sneaker critique.... but really I guess I don't care - if it makes someone happy and that's what it takes to continue to fund the folks that put out this great music....I'll just shake my head in wonder and move on

Thanks Nappyrags for the Commander Cody Bears Sonic Journal notice - that release sounds so fresh even though it is 50 years old. Bear was the total pro. The Owlsey Foundation has a bunch of Sons of Champlin that Bear recorded - would love to hear some of that !

Anyway, then this WD release hit my mailbox and the Port Chester show has got to be the best sounding GD show I've heard, because I prefer the tone of most of the instruments the boys were using at that time. Yes, the '91 Giants Stadium shows sound amazing too and Jerry's guitar is equally amazing, but I don't know if the Ibanez Bobby went with measures up to the old Gibson nor Phil's bass to the old Guild (?) - I understand them changing things up and -- this is truly just a subjective comment. No really long jams, but still - what a great recording! Love this one.

Thanks to all you regular posters for keeping a good vibe going on here during these trying times - Keep going!

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That's a great show, and I would be more than happy if that was paired up with American Beauty later in the year. Although looking at the suggestions from 1970, maybe one of those -with the suggested fillers-would be more appropriate. With 10/28/72 to follow as a Dave's Picks.

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In reply to by simonrob

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docmarty is a fine person.
But desperately I had ordered one from the net earlier this week. Should be coming soon, I hope.
Thanks for your attention, very kind of you.
Gerd
...the today''s arrival of the WMD-Box made my day. What a great show and what a fantastic sound!

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Has anyone in MA received their WMD yet? Mine seems lost in the PO ....

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Just saw news that William Leonard Pickard is being granted compassionate release from Federal Prison. Looks like the court granting the compassionate release order specifically referenced the impact of the First Step Act, passed by the 115th Congress and signed by President Trump in 2018, citing it as support for granting the compassionate release. I can't help but think that it is a good thing if Mr. Pickard does not have to die in prison for his involvement with psychedelics.

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I don't know what tapes they have in the Vault these days, but I've skated around the actual 1970 year as a possibility for bonus tracks on American Beauty's 50th anniversary release, simply because they went to '71 for Workingman's Dead. I assume the Jail Bear issue is keeping a lot of the second half of 1970 from official release, either unrecorded or no soundboard.

I know the 9/19 Dark Star well, and I would pay handsomely for great audio of that show on an official release. Top 10 list for me.

6/24/70. This one has AUD audio in way worse shape than than 9/19/70, but it is a head turner once auditory desensitization kicks in: Dark Star > Attics of My Life > Dark Star, Pt. 2 > Sugar Magnolia Jam > Dark Star, Pt. 3 > St. Stephen > China Cat Sun Rider. These early 2 minute Sugar Magnolia Jams were really something else. This medley reminds me of the November 8th 1969, where there is another three-part Dark Star sandwich, only this one includes Uncle John's Band The Jam.

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... while we all take in & experiences All the goodies from the 50th WMD Anniversary Release I’m pretty satisfied with the product of all 4 50th releases so Far. But the ‘studio rehearsals was a Huge step in reveling the dead in a controlled environment of a studio. A first for Even many long time fans & collectors! But is it the closest recording of the magic the dead held in their grasp of extended & long jamming sequences compared to the live recording included, there’s no long jams put as I’ve read here by some members, the show is almost perfect in every other approach either the bands singing in harmony or playing the shorter songs in their uttermost attitude of lets give this crowd a show they won’t ever forget! I believe they exceeded that & beyound. The recording’s speak for them selves and the dead’s long term commitment to their art! Long live the good Ol grateful dead! Here’s to another grateful 50 years in the dead’s history & ours, the fans Who keep coming back for more in only the most respectful way we can, in the words of ‘Oliver Twist’, “ Please Sir, I want Some more. What?! “ I want some more , please!” The music never stopped! What a long strange trip it’s been my brothers & sisters.!
I’ve heard from a good friend of mine that The ‘American Beauty Album 50th will include another 1971 recording and some..... but I can’t say for sure yet. Have a grateful day everyone!
Just received the new Jerry Garcia release this past week! Hands down a primo pick along with the bonus disc! I love the recording and Setlist forall four performances! This is some of my favorite Jerry music. Reminds me a whole lot like the June 5th 1982 Salem state prison recording and sound, another favorite Jerry show !

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1nskrTz5wKXxXrir_DfaBCuAYP67dtoB…

Grateful Dead December 1, 1979
Stanley Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA

Set 1:
Jack Straw ~
Sugaree
Me And My Uncle ~
Big River
Loser
Easy To Love You
New Minglewood Blues
Althea
Music Never Stopped

Set 2:
China Cat Sunflower ~
I Know You Rider
Looks Like Rain
He's Gone ~
Gloria Jam ~
C C Rider ~
Jam ~
Drums ~
Not Fade Away ~
Black Peter ~
Sugar Magnolia

E:
One More Saturday Night

... I love 1979 and this is a fine example why! 🙏❤️💀🌹

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Finally got a ‘ full immersion‘ listen in with the 2/21/71 show included with this 50th release...and have to echo what I said about Jeffry Norman’s work with the Giants Stadium boxset; he has really outdone himself...yet again. 1971 has very clear and open sounding recordings and this one is no exception. Add to that what Jeffery has been able to do, utilizing Bobby’s TRI studio, has taken this one beyond the sound of any other ‘71 recording I have heard...
I am also thrilled for the casual Dead fan that will pick up the 50th release and have this show and its extreme sound quality to help them get into the bang even more. Sure, it’s not a show near the actual release date of the original album but it sure does represent the songs and the times quite well.

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Has anybody given any thought to the fact that it will be 3 years between American Beauty and Wake of the Flood. Everything else was live therefore outside the perimeters of this series. I know there are so many reasons they wouldn't do it but Ace was essentially a GD album. Would be nice timing wise

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Great idea Snafu. Yeah, I've wondered if maybe we're gonna be jonesing big time after getting 50th anniversary treatments of TWO studio albums this year alone. 'Ace' could be a perfect addition to the parade while we wait for 'Wake of the Flood' to roll around in late 2003. And why stop with 'Ace'? So what if 'Garcia' is a Jerry solo album? It's got at least six soon to be GD staples. And might as well give Mickey's 'Rolling Thunder' the treatment. Everybody but Kreutzmann plays on it at some point and it includes the first glimmers of Playin' and Greatest Story.

And, maybe not studio LPs, but other 50th anniversaries coming up while we await WOF's five-oh, include Veneta (yeah, I know, already been done. . . or has it?), RFK and Watkins Glen. Hmmmmmm? On second thought, maybe we won't have too much time for jonesin' between now and October '03 after all. Onward.

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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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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.

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In reply to by laf848

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In reply to by billy the kid

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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).

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Whats up with the Egypt 1978 stuff that just showed up???

How would that treat you Hendrixfreak?
Pure speculation on my part.

Maybe ABCD got the SBD reels as part of the stash.

I don’t listen to the studio albums (except Anthem) , so I only buy the reissues for the bonus material. But, no reason to not reissue a studio album every year.

Hendrixfreak,
In the June 76 Box chat Dave said that the 76 Box was coming out in spring to make room for something this fall.
Waiting for that announcement.....

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Continuing their obsession with merchandising, maybe we will see a limited edition repro VW Microbus with a tie dyed hippie trippy paint job. Any takers?

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IcecreamMan, I had that thought, too. Clearly, just dreaming of something to blot out reality, whatever that is.

So, I too recall Dave talking about clearing the deck for another release this fall. I kinda suspected another box at first, then assumed that AB 50th was "getting the treatment," whatever that might be.

Size and price matter. It's a different world now in terms of $$, but they must have had whatever project Dave was alluding to in the works before the you-know-what hit the fan.

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I expect a box set, Dave's Picks 36 and the American Beauty 50th Anniversary deluxe edition before the end of the year. I think it is likely that American Beauty will come with a show from 1971 or 1972. As for the box set, it could be anything, just like Dave's Picks 36.

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Caused by "Technical difficulties".

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American Beauty 50th, I think will come out in Oct. I think we are due for a 1969 box , if not this year maybe next. Avalon and Ark shows, who knows.

5-9-77 vinyl is supposed to be available on Record Store Day.
I’ll take that along with everything Simon listed.

Also, as Shaggyfraggle wrote on one of the boards the other day, the Owsley Stanley Foundation posted a comment on Facebook about 12-31-69. That would be great if that came out this year as a Bear’s Sonic Journals release.

Here it is again
————-

Grateful Dead, Boston Tea Party, December 31,1969: Bear's recordings of this legendary show were preserved in memory of Greg Wheaton by his friends and family. Greg's passion was the music of the Grateful Dead and the extended GD family (we were touched to learn that he was particularly fond of Bear's recordings of NRPS), as well as all of the other great Bay Area bands of the late 1960s, including Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service. We were truly honored to preserve these reels in Greg's memory.
On this incredible night of music, here's what Bear captured on tape:
1. Hard To Handle
2. Me & My Uncle
3. Mason's Children
4. Dire Wolf (Jerry exhorts the audience to sing along) 5. Uncle John's Band
6. Alligator
7. Good Lovin'
8. The Eleven
9. High Time
10. Cumberland Blues
11. Big Boy Pete
12. Not Fade Away
13. Merry Go Round Broke Down Tuning 14. Seasons of the Heart
15. The Race Is On
16. Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Around about midnight, Jerry announces, "Well, it looks like the '70s are going to be weird."
Before the acoustic songs, Bobby says more than once, "Bear, turn it up regular for the time being."

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IceCreamed, I did see that and it looks tasty. Confusion enters, however. If the OSF gets a GD reel(s) sponsored for preservation, it usually doesn't make news. I have sponsored a reel and it's being kept under wraps, which is by their request and I'm down with it. By announcing this reel sponsorship, however, it would seem that release is imminent. Or, perhaps, the announcement of a donation made in honor of a recently deceased fan, was a gesture of kindness to the family of a lost member.

On the other hand, and I have no knowledge or evidence for this, I had the feeling that the OSF was deferring to Lemiuex on GD releases of Bear's tapes, as we've enjoyed a number of those. Perhaps the Bear tapes in the GD's actual possession get released as they see fit, while a GD reel in OSF's possession could see release under their banner?

Whichever it turns out to be, releasing news of a tape sponsorship seems encouraging for a possible release. And that setlist is major loosey-goosey. I'd snap it up in an instant.

As for Lemieux and the Vault, the fourth release of the year should be a goody, plus AB 50th and ... are we really expecting a freakin' box, too? If so, here's hoping it's 15 discs or less. Ha ha ha! Think of it, begging for a "small" box of ONLY 15+ hours of GD! On the other hand, this winter is sizing up to be heavy on the isolation, so we'll have to roll with the punches. Oh poor me!

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Mentioned the 8/1 Dark Star. I had listened to it before, sure, but I just HEARD it for the fitst time this week. Good recommendation, thanks for that one.

It sounds like 12/29/77 needs a listen this week too. Someone gave that one the nod, and it's been awhile.

Jeff S - good call on a 50th release of Ace. Any excuse for a new live show works for me.

My morning show is 12/15/71. This will make a good Dave's Pick some day.

I'd like that Boston Tea Party 3 night run. Is it safe to assume Bear got 'em all? I really enjoy late '69 / early '70.

I have just listened to 8/6/71, and found it to be incredible - both first and second sets. From there I went to 7/2/71, which doesn't have quite the same velocity, but has a great Other One.

It occurred to me-when I think of pre Keith 1971, I tend to think of the Portchester February run, and the April Fillmore East one. They seem to be held up as the gold stand, but I am not so sure. There are some thunderbolts from heaven in the April run, but as whole maybe both cycle of shows are a bit overrated, and the real highlights occurred during the summer shows.

This is actually a follow up post from one I put on the Dave's 35 board yesterday-but now that release is starting to trickle out, it seems more appropriate to put it here. If anywhere.

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This sure is good. I've had it about 15 years now. Still has my favorite performance of The Eleven. First time I've listened straight through in quite some time. Also has my favorite Potato Caboose, and I don't go in for favorites much. That's It For The Other One is sublime - now there's one to revisit- no drums between the Cryptical and The Other One is nice. I like when they cut that drums into its own separate track I can edit out. Love what they're doing but prefer the music flow without it.

Daverock - very interesting commentary on Summer '71 Dead. It's a toss up for me. But you have me motivated to dig back into the Summer. Uncle Gary sent me a fine mix not too long ago - maybe I'll start there.

One of the difficult things about comparing them is that the February and April runs have multi track releases that sound so good. Some of those houseboat tapes are in rough shape...but you will find Empty Pages. It would have been cool if he swapped that one in on the Europe '72 tour for Chinatown Shuffle or Next Time You See Me once or twice.

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I made a conscious decision with this 50th Anniversary release not to order this from Dead.net given the CDN/US exchange rate and the fact that all of the previous 50th releases were not limited edition and were commercially released in record stores (at least in Canada). Saved $10 when all was said and done vis a vis US exchange and international delivery charges. vs a CDN $49.98 list price and Federal and Provincial taxes. The obvious downside is that it has just shown up in Regina this week, well past the July release date givin the COVID problems we are all living through.

So far 2/21/71 hasn't disapointed and the re-master is simply a pleasure to listen to, discovering nuances I didn't know existed! Well worth the wait IMHO.

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Yo! Rockers!!

Doc here,

Yes I have come out of hibernation, because it is the golden anniversary of that great great Grateful Dead year 1971. To honor, commemorate, and celebrate that year, I will be offering any and all 1971 recordings to any and all that are interested. No limits. You can ask now, you can ask on the anniversary of any shows, or you can ask at any time up to and including midnight on December 31, 2021. After that, only the Shadow knows………….

Friends, I understand that 1971 is not everybody’s cup of Grateful Dead kool-aid. Perhaps you know little about it, maybe want to dabble, merely poke around, or heaven forbid go all in. Let Doc be your guide. Haven’t led anybody astray for decades……

I will also be posting, on the show anniversaries, comments, recaps, and opinions on every 1971 show. That’s right, you have to put up with my rants, raves, and ramblings for an entire year!!! And, for any & all interested, the “1971 Project” is almost completed, and available upon request……

You know where to find me,

Doc
One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star……………

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This 2/21/71 show is one of the best early GD shows!!!! All these classic, one of the best Me & Bobby McGee, plus a personal fav of mine Cold Rain & Snow! I hope they release this show in full on vinyl.
Three From The Vault pales in comparison to show, it's about half the length. The band was on fire this night

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50 years ago today…………….

January 21, 1971
Freeborn Hall, University of California, Davis, California

Set 1: Cold Rain & Snow-Me & My Uncle-Smokestack Lightning-Truckin'-Dire Wolf Hard To Handle-Sugar Magnolia (missing from circulating copies)-Black Peter (missing from circulating copies)-Mama Tried-Around & Around-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones

Set 2: That's It For The Other One >Cosmic Charlie-China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-
Uncle John's Band (missing from circulating copies)

One of the great unknown shows of 1971. Oh, to be stuck between the end of 1970 and Port Chester! Considering the taping technology available at the time, the longer (but still not complete) circulating version is a “not bad” audience recording that is actually “somewhat listenable”. The highlights include the coupling of Smokestack Lightning and Truckin’ (with Pigpen blowing some harmonica on both—a very rare occurrence), a typically hot 1971 Hard To Handle, a strong (and rare-for-early 71) complete Cryptical/Other 1/Cryptical suite, nicely transitioning into the only Cosmic Charlie of 1971. Plus rare performances of Dire Wolf and Around & Around (both played only three times in 1971).

A short soundboard portion (Mama Tried-Around and Around-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones) does circulate. Wonder what happened to the rest, is it hidden somewhere in the vault? Worth a quick listen………….

For a more detailed analysis, see
http://deadsources.blogspot.com/2012/07/january-21-1971-freeborn-hall-d…

OK, I don’t listen to it often, but I’m glad I have it…….

Rock on,

Doc
Patience is passion tamed

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50 years ago today………….

January 22, 1971
Main Gym, Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon

Casey Jones-Beat It On Down The Line-It Hurts Me Too-Me and My Uncle-Cold Rain and Snow-Hard to Handle-Brokedown Palace-Johnny B. Goode-China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider

Benefit for the Eugene White Bird Clinic. Fifty years on, the clinic is still functioning. If you can, support their work………….

If you like sonic challenges, maybe this is the one for you. This looks like first set material, and all that commonly circulates. Is it even in the vault? Badly damaged/degraded soundboard, did somebody spill their electric kool-aid on it?

Attention, Chuck Berry fans. The first documented version of Johnny B Goode by the Dead was on 9/7/69, although that gig may not have been a full Grateful Dead band performance. Following that, it apparently was not performed again until this gig in 1971.

It appears that a big chunk of this show is missing, so hard to judge based on only what we have here. There are a few bright moments, but “sonic issues” make it a very difficult listen. Unless you’re a completist, you should probably skip this one…………………..

Rock on,

Doc
As soon as I hear music, something in me starts to vibrate

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50 years ago today……………….

January 24, 1971
Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington

Truckin'-China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-It Hurts Me Too-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia-Hard To Handle-Turn On Your Lovelight >Not Fade Away >Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >Turn On Your Lovelight >Drums >Good Lovin'-Uncle John’s Band

It is unclear if this is two separate sets or one long set. There are no audible set breaks or announcements on the circulating soundboard tape. On the commonly circulating Lai soundboard remaster there is approximately 45 seconds of Good Lovin’ after the drums segment. The conclusion of the Good Lovin’ (estimated length 20 minutes) and the show-closing Uncle John’s Band appeared on the deadnet Tapers Section in either December 2012 or January 2013.

The last show before the first seismic change of 1971............

Clearly, sonically the best of the three January 1971 shows. Hard rocking, with a generous helping of greasy Pigpen material. A fine early 1971 example of the “sledgehammer approach”. Recommended!!
Rock on,

Doc
In 1905 Albert discovered Relativity, in 1906 he invented Rock and Roll

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I would dearly LOVE to purchase the 50th of Workingman's, but why would I when I have spent so much time trying to get any customer service for the FLAC I purchased of the American Beauty 50th.
I have not been able to play the FLAC in any form besides one song at a time, which would drive anyone nuts--and which I did not pay for.
I have kindly requested help from gratefuldead@gnarlywoodstore.com and I am ignored.
I even got the automatic reply for a ticket having been created (March 12th, 10:09 A.M.), but have heard nothing but crickets.
I'm sure they are busy, but this is ridiculous.
Anyone else have any of these problems?
Is this kind behavior? Is this what we elderly people used to call "Dead Etiquette"? I don't think so...

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