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    You can listen to Grateful Dead records over and over again and never understand the attraction they have for certain people until you attend one of their concerts. Sometime during the Dead's usual five-hour set, it will all click: Jerry Garcia's Indian bead string of notes on the guitar, the ozone ooze of the vocal harmonies, the shifting, shuffling rhythm of bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and the distant echo of the oldest of American folk music. - Columbia Flier

    "Certain people" will know that we're coming in hot with one that's got all these things and more, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 41: BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 5/26/77. Yes, there's still plenty of spectacular May '77 to go around. Nearly chosen for Dave's Picks Vol. 1, 5/26/77 delivers three-fold. There's one count for the energy - all the precision of the Spring tour conjuring up the raw power of the Fall tour that was to come. There's another for the setlist which featured beloved songs from WORKINGMAN'S DEAD and soon-to-be favorites from the freshly recorded TERRAPIN STATION. And a third for its element of surprise (or shall we say surprises) from an astonishingly peak 15-minute "Sugaree" to new delights ("Sunrise," "Passenger," "Jack-A-Roe') to a rare first-set finale of "Bertha" to the second set's "Terrapin>Estimated>Eyes," traveling leaps and bounds towards the improvisational journey that is a nearly 17-minute "Not Fade Away." 

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 41: BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 5/26/77 was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

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  • alvarhanso
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    DaP 40 was DAT master I think

    Believe that one came from the DAT 2 track master, not a cassette. I would have less of a problem with DAT masters than cassette masters. Some of those cassettes do not sound good, and most are the PA mix and so are missing elements such as Phil Lesh's bass. But even with that, they felt they had to mix in an AUD for crowd noise. The crowd noise on DaP 36 was a bit too much, the Matrix mix could have dampened that a bit. DaP 8 was a good Matrix, though I can't tell you the last time I put it on, even just the Scarlet Fire. The completist (and bargain hunter) in me will make me subscribe every year, but there have been several lately I just don't think I'll be picking up to put on even every couple years. Even DaP 23 1/22/78 is one I don't listen to often. If I want a '78 show, I'm more apt to dig into July '78. Going to more cassette masters might change my calculus. And if they're gonna do an 80s-90s box, I would hope it would be DAT masters or multitracks like Spring '90 TOO. Fall '89 was recorded on multitrack, so that I could be far happier with than a box that has shows that sound like the worst of 30 Trips. Just hope we have years before we really reach the dregs at the bottom.

    Also, I'd much rather some of the 60s stuff gets put out while those fans are still around and still enjoying Dead releases.

  • wissinomingdeadhead
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    GD Trading Cards

    I wonder if these will have the same value as my Pokémon cards? I recently sold ONE 1st Edition Charizard for mid 6 figures, I'm still in a state of shock over it.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Hendrixfreak

    Okay Hendrixfreak, I will mark it.

    I like the way your mind works. Are you sure you are not an accountant?

    We also had some cassette masters released in the Dick's picks series and previous Dave's picks as well as the 30 Trips box.

    Any thoughts on why the last box hasn't sold yet? How long do you think it will take?

    I do think we will get an 80s box released this year. Just would love to know when.

  • Sixtus_
    Joined:
    Bring It On

    HF, I thoroughly enjoyed your detail-oriented (and scratch math-heavy) assessment;
    it had me nodding my own noggin along with it by the end.

    Give us some 85.
    I wish for April Twenty-Seventh, 1985 at The Frost please.
    To start.

    Sixtus

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    My theory...

    The lack of pertinent filler and the inclusion of a 1990 encore of US Blues (and other "clues") pushes me to look for a pattern and I think I see one.

    Last year, partly no doubt to reward Lemiuex for successful "legacy management" -- and, obviously, the evidence: a solid sales record --- Rhino gave DL the green light to put out his first two shows ('87) in a four-disc set based on a cassette master. Same thing with the '90 show, sans the encore. So far, historically speaking, they've been loathe to release more '80s shows due to the quality of the cassette masters. So 2021 was a test of cassette master viability in the market.

    Now Dave speaks of "variety," which tells me that he and Rhino believe they can sell the music on the '80s cassette masters. No doubt there's smokin' music on many extant '80s cassettes -- many if not most of us caught smokin' '80s shows (particularly '80 to ... you choose the year their batting average dropped). So into the release mix they go. Those DPs sold out, right?

    Compared to other bands' archival releases, '80s cassette masters of GD shows probably hold up pretty well. In terms of what the GD have released, it would be a drop in sound quality. Fans like us might bitch, initially, but will we buy it? I believe that this year they will construct a box set of these shows and its sales will be the arbiter of whether this strategy works over time. Part of the appeal of DPs, for me, is that they're relatively inexpensive and, lately, two of four will be pretty vintage -- I'm not going to risk losing out on them, especially the bonus disc. $100/yr is nothing. And if I don't care for a box, I won't buy it. I skipped the '90s boxes because I don't need to have it all. But the relentlessness of releases means that we already have a phenomenal record of this band's ability to deliver. If in a few years the market's enthusiasm begins to wane, they can dial back the number of copies in the limited DP series.

    What's the advantage to testing the market-ability of '80s cassette masters? They have nothing to lose but one slow-selling box. They have a limited number of iconic shows in the Vault. Though somewhat plentiful, release-able shows from 1971-1979, say, are finite. By my count, they've delivered nearly half of all shows played in the 1971-1974 period, so well over half the release-able goods. Ultimately, if they plan to have their releases hold up for another, say, 15 years, they've got to mine the '80s. 15 yrs of DPs = 75 shows. 15 yrs of 6-show boxes = 90 shows. Toss in a few random releases and that's ~175 shows. Say the years 1971 to 1974 will still yield ~15-20 shows each (max). That's 60-80 shows. Say there's another 10 from '69 that'll work and 20 each from 1976 to 1979. That's another 80. That's pretty close to the max needed. Although I think DL has remarked about "20" years (add another 50 shows to release). Say we have ~200 shows already. Add another ~200 shows and that's closing in on one-third of the 1,500 shows rumored to be in the vaults. That's a big percentage. Dipping into the '80s cassettes gives them a lot of breathing room and would make the choice stuff that's left sound even better by comparison.

    Mark my words: look for the box set annoucement this summer and we'll see just exactly how addled I really am!

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    And Now Trading Cards?

    But the glassware is still there. I guess cards make sense. A rabid base of collectors what with sports and other categories. Can't wait to see how sky high those go on Fleabay soon. Wonder how many of those they printed?
    Cheers

  • aikon.art
    Joined:
    Gone, all gone

    Looks like it took about 24 hours to sell out.

  • stillwaters
    Joined:
    ALVARHANSO

    I concur both in reasoning and conclusions

  • alvarhanso
    Joined:
    Filler? That's it?

    Just one song? Just the US Blues from 13 years later? And 45 min of blank space? Why even bother putting a US Blues on there? None of the 5/22/77 material that was left off of DP3 is usable? Makes no sense to me. The Jack Straw, Ship of Fools and Other One> Stella Blue 5/18/77 could have fit, unless that show is a potential DaP, but that's why I allowed myself to hope that some of the missing 5/22 material would be used. Shame.

    The Sugaree from this show is fantastic, and I liked the 2nd set Jam. The Jack a Roe sounds fantastic in the listening party, and love Jerry's use of the Octave Divider and MuTron on Uncle John's, a great sound.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: Ezy Wind

    According to the crack customer service team at dead dot net, there is only one way to handle address changes. You must contact customer service and have the subscription address changed to:

    JimInMD
    Baltimore Civic Center, Box 1968
    Baltimore, MD 21211

    (or you could do as Sixtus suggests, up to you) :D

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You can listen to Grateful Dead records over and over again and never understand the attraction they have for certain people until you attend one of their concerts. Sometime during the Dead's usual five-hour set, it will all click: Jerry Garcia's Indian bead string of notes on the guitar, the ozone ooze of the vocal harmonies, the shifting, shuffling rhythm of bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and the distant echo of the oldest of American folk music. - Columbia Flier

"Certain people" will know that we're coming in hot with one that's got all these things and more, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 41: BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 5/26/77. Yes, there's still plenty of spectacular May '77 to go around. Nearly chosen for Dave's Picks Vol. 1, 5/26/77 delivers three-fold. There's one count for the energy - all the precision of the Spring tour conjuring up the raw power of the Fall tour that was to come. There's another for the setlist which featured beloved songs from WORKINGMAN'S DEAD and soon-to-be favorites from the freshly recorded TERRAPIN STATION. And a third for its element of surprise (or shall we say surprises) from an astonishingly peak 15-minute "Sugaree" to new delights ("Sunrise," "Passenger," "Jack-A-Roe') to a rare first-set finale of "Bertha" to the second set's "Terrapin>Estimated>Eyes," traveling leaps and bounds towards the improvisational journey that is a nearly 17-minute "Not Fade Away." 

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 41: BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 5/26/77 was recorded by Betty Cantor-Jackson and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

Billy the Kid ... my very first show was at Pauley Pavilion (I was a student at UCLA) in Feb '82 ... I'd been listening to dead albums and a pal talked me into going to the show. Agree that the Greek, Frost, Ventura were all super that year (and for several subsequent years) ... but my highlight of '82 was the rain-out at Red Rocks ... even though it was always wet and periodically gushing, that was three nights of killer music IMO. And the first live song I ever heard? Shakedown Street!!!

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40 years ago today, another cool Dead show at the Warfield Theatre. The Dead could have easily of played at the 20,000 seat Oakland Coliseum for 2 nights and sold out both nights, but they chose to play at the 2000 seat Warfield, very cool. Topchinacat, it must have been a cool scene to see the Dead at Red Rocks, I'm glad you made it there.

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In reply to by topchinacat

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It's really the wild west when it comes to international shipping of these things. ...like you spin a wheel and pay the tax it points to when it stops spinning.

A little normalcy and predictability would go a long way.

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In reply to by Tramjams

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The only other complete '67 GD release is the complete show of 10-22-67, which was the bonus disc on the 50th anniversary edition of Anthem of the Sun.

I don't not think they have much in the can for 1967. Remember, a lot of shorter sets that year. Mickey joined in September (IIRC). The first 8.5 months are essentially 1966 Dead. Fall is when we get Mickey, trippy, and Hunter.

I think a chunk of Rio Nido 9-3-67 has been released on various stuff. The Viola Lee Blues (with a cut) is on the Golden Road Box Set re-release of Grateful Dead and the Midnight Hour is on Fallout From the Phil Zone.

Don't forget about 30 Days of Dead. There have been some nice, primo nuggets featured there. Check out Dead Disc or the usual sources to see what has been shared there.

-edit- Looks like only the few tunes that were shared there back in '010. Two tunes from Toronto Aug. 67 and one from Winterland in March. Nothing the rest of the series that I could see.

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43 years ago today, I was up at the Oakland Coliseum to see the Dead play a benefit called Rock for Life, it was also Keith & Donnas last show. It's a killer of a show and should definitely be released. Maybe they are saving it for a 1979 box set.

yeah, just probably not a lot of recordings available, and those that are available are not likely to be releaseable quality.

but maybe, just maybe, there is a treasure trove of them in the vault.

2/17/79: ja, gerne.

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In reply to by proudfoot

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The fact that the Toronto stuff was included on 30 Days and a tune was featured on the Taper's Section leads me to believe that would be most likely to see release. But, I understand from the Taper's Section index that most of August 1967 was 'recorded over'.

P.S. No bikes, but Traffic Lights.

-edit- Quick note to say, I just noticed that there's not much more of Toronto on Archive so maybe not after all.

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I watched the Seaside chat of Dave's Picks 41. I have to say, he is so funny when he starts checking out birds and stuff flying around. Dave said he almost picked Dave's Picks 2 to start the series. This is the show from July 31,1974. I bought this on eBay for a million dollars. All I hear is a medium performance on a bad recording tape. I like 1974 too. Pacific Northwest and Dave's Picks 13 are in regular rotation. What am I missing here guys?

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In reply to by Butch

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I think you missed Dave's obsession with log rolling in addition to getting distracted by birds, seals, Russian cargo boats, salmon spawning and wandering sasquatch.

My Dave's Picks 2 sounds similar to the other 74's out there, give or take. I do believe Jeffrey Norman has gotten better since then. I do suggest you compare this to a digital copy from someone else. I have heard reports that the CDs from vol 1 - 4 may have degraded somehow affecting the sound. The China>Rider from #2 is especially compelling. btw, Love, I mean Love the PNW box despite the vocal dropout during the first set of Porland 74. Great box set.

Hope that helps Butch.. but seriously, Dave is an avid fan of log rolling as evident in the first couple minutes of the video, must be a Canadian thing.

Edit: Oh, and also seriously into tracking bigfoots and anything related to the gentle beasts. He's a bigfoot fanatic.

Oh, and VGuy - That's hilarious. Top 5 VGuy reality break posts.

Random comments flying through faster than silver fishes swim, procedure for kidney stone today, still comfortable on surgical meds, hope I get some sleep tonight. You never want to go through this, believe me. Dave L is a poster child for ADD/ADHD, easily distracted. So am I. We love him (mostly) all the more for those sudden spins off topic. A flock of chickadees made me stop to watch their gleaning of dried crab apples off a tree top early this morning. So friendly, so acrobatic. Totally agree, the Norman process continuously refined, later results, audible improvements over earlier efforts. Just about exactly perfect now, thinking detail and dynamics. High aftermarket prices simple supply and demand, I can't tell myself not to open my only copy of Dave's first because its still factory sealed and might eventually be able to pay for a dialysis machine. Ouch. Humor and Grateful Dead music help so much, so where did I put the CD player. Very glad to read 41 is reaching across the pond, look forward to reading comments. Now would be a good time for the announce for a 60s box, parts and pieces, warts and all. Must mention that as far as craft brewing is concerned, Vermont is at the top of the lists for per capita, though friends in Maine insist they have pulled ahead.

DMCVT.. wishing you a speeding yet hopefully blurry and complete recovery. ..I just assumed we all are ADHD, initially thought to be a defect.. yet add GD and your favorite enhancer and it turns out to be a superpower. Or perhaps it's just me.

Seriously though.. wishing you a graceful, relatively pain free and speedy recovery. Your posts here are always thoughtful, full of thoughts and appreciated. Keep on keeping on.

Edit: On a happy note, U.S. military pilot Gail S. Halvorsen — known as the “Candy Bomber” for his candy airdrops during the Berlin airlift after World War II ended — has died at 101. I'd like to think of him as America's oldest deadhead.. the Candyman.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Great news story that reminded me that the world is not a giant s***hole, though some try to make it that way.

So I'm wondering, if Dave wanted to put out a few (potentially partial) '67 and '68 shows, what would the vehicle look like? A Dave's Pick of 3 discs (capacity = 4 hrs), a Ltd Edition small box of 4-5 discs, an RSD release or just a small 2nd box of the year? Or do they think it's "all out there anyway," doubt its commercial potential or underestimate the fans' interest in the 6- and 7-headed beast?

Or do they just cudgel us for years with '77 tapes until we're on our knees, begging for tapes of the early band?

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I have just paid the Dutch customs €8.63 for my Dave's 41. That is €4.63 VAT and €4.00 administrative charges. Having a Swiss tracking number obviously didn't fool the customs. Now, with typical Dutch efficiency, according to the Dutch postal service it should be delivered in 5 - 7 days. It is currently about 20 miles from where I live. At least it has crossed the pond successfully.

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I’ve played the discs twice through avoiding the 1990 jump by the simple expedient of ejecting the disc after Big River. The sound is very good and the playing is tight. The jamming on ‘Big River’, ‘NFA’ and ‘Around and Around’ is very good. I’ll certainly listen again. I also re-listened to DaP #1. I think the right choice was made for no. 1, that set list is better, the sound is a little muddier but that’s probably due to how the transfer process has improved in 10 years. I might try listening to all the May ‘77 releases in order next May.
There were no extra delivery charges this time. As I’ve said before although a charge is probably always due many times it is ignored.
Looking forward to seeing what comes out next, with two months to the next DaP release and ‘so much to come out this year’ wouldn’t now be a good time to start?

Youch, no bueno!
Hope all goes well! We’ll send good vibes your way!
I always joke with the gas passer: “it’s ok if ya kill me, just don’t make me more of a vegetable than I already am”
Great fun, some of the looks are priceless, one guy started giving me shit back lol.
Laughter, usually the best way to head into the serious stuff in my book…

Look out look out, the Candyman! Dbl meaning here lol

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Phish 12-5-91 (phew - almost through all the 1991 shows!)
Phish 12-4-91
Phish 11-30-91

Dub Apocalypse 5-6-18
Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 41

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In reply to by Oroborous

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I don’t really compare or pay that close attention, but it does seem overall like they’ve gotten better with time/experience. I try to judge each show singularly, on their own merits.
Later, I might compare to other shows within that tour, but any other than that it seems futile to me.
The only recent one I’ve thought was audibly subpar was the 73 from last year, and I think that was more to do with the recording. Most folks couldn’t even tell though, I think you need certain ears/equipment?

Think sonics the last couple years have been great except the above mentioned, and perhaps a smidge too much ambient mic on the 87? (But I really prefer a good matrix! SBs don’t sound natural to me)
Still blown away how well the 78 (37?) sounds. 41 too.
Really, all formats have marked improvement, If you compare apples to apples: meaning i.e., say 40 to other summer 90 DATs, and say, 41 to other May 77 Beatty reels etc, and Philly 83 to other cassettes, there seems to be an audible improvement over early releases of similar formats.
My only complaint Is that sometimes Dave picks a good city and street, but goes to the wrong house…

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Said it before, I’ll say it again: only have fragments of primal, no problemo, center the box around some primo 69, say April 69 Avalon/Ark, and tack a few discs of 67-68 on it, voilà!
Say frags of 67 on one or two discs depending on quantity/quality, three or four short 68 shows, and the majority of the Avalon and Ark shows…

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Perhaps this is too obvious, but the Listen to the River box is just so good in concept, execution and content, that
WHAT IF ... ole' Dave decided to couple up shows from
- fall '67
- spring '68
- fall '68
- spring '69

To show the early band's evolution. Fall '67 to spring '69 is quite the arc in their ability to deliver, from surging beast to well-oiled psychedelic band. That approach could be done in 5-6 discs. I think the barrier to my own "ideas" relates to Dave's story on how "Listen" came together. He went to Rhino, if I recall correctly, with the "Listen" concept but only a 10 or 12-disc product and they responded, "could you do a 20-CD box?" I guess we'd have to review the history -- shorter boxes have been issued -- to see what the pattern is. Or maybe 20-disc boxes are Rhino-favored going forward? For my money, it'll be tough to surpass the "Listen" box because '71-'72-'73 is prime material for me. Okay, maybe older heads want primal 67-69, younger heads might favor 80s-90s? My thrashing about here confirms that I don't belong in merchandising. Just purchasing...........

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.

Well, we know that #42 is 2/23/74. Making this another year where Dave has selected at least 1 show from both the late Keith & Donna era (with Mickey post-hiatus) and the early K&D era (post Pig pre-hiatus). The only exception was 2018 with no early K&D. 2 late K&Ds + Brent + Pig/TC. Also got PNW Box that year, so plenty of early K&D.

On the chat Dave said a good year for variety. Pig, Brent, & Vince/Bruce are the other eras. Hope the Box + 2 DPs touch them all. Have not had a Pig Dave's since 2019. Have had 2 Brent's the last 2 years, the only times Dave has done that.

Last 5 boxes: STL 71/72/73, June 76, Giants 87/89/91, PNW 73/74, May 77 GSTL. I think we are gonna get early (Carousel '68?) or late (Brent 80s or MSG fall 90).

HF - your comment that older heads might prefer 67-69 shows and younger heads 80's and 90's shows got me thinking. I only saw The Dead in 1981 and 1990, but my taste in listening to live recordings has always been 1967-1974. With different years within that timespan being my favourite at different times. It was 67-69 that originally got me interested in them.
Curiously perhaps, I don't really relate listening to their live recordings to my experience of actually seeing them. It doesn't feel nostalgic when I listen to them - a forever now band.

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In reply to by daverock

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So I saw the band 1972 to 1992, with a ton of shows in '73. I have found that magical '73 sound to be my favorite in many ways, probably because I tripped out back then as a very young man and the sounds made an indelible impression. Yet I'm a stone Pigpen fan and love the early band's energy. I bemoan the lost of ... "spirit" let's say in the later years that to me reflected Jer's decline due to H. That said, something some folks call "attendance bias" or something like that suggests that people do enjoy hearing the shows they attended. Therefore, if they released the two '92 shows I went to, I'd dig it. But I'd go apeshit for a release of my first show in Sept '72 because that would overlap with the band's best year(s).

I'm babbling but I guess it must be difficult to intuit what the GD fans will purchase. Some suggested that younger fans (those under, say, age 55!) might have snapped up the Giants Stadium box (I skipped it, always looking for opportunities to stop spending on GD music, though not really succeeding). Are older heads (I'm 65) really a monolithic force jonesing for '60s shows? I do not pretend to know.

I suppose they can always analyze the sales for any given release, but who's to say what the demographics behind the sales #s really are? We're currently fixated on chronology and specific years for the band, which seems natural, but does that really influence sales? It has to, but how much of a factor is it? Versus, say, longtime buzz about a certain show and its circulation on tape, etc. (Example: Barton Hall '78, said to be "the greatest of all time" show doesn't really impress me... As in, I have NO IDEA what the hype is all about. It's a fun show, that's all -- for me.)

The whole thing is a mystery to me. And for Dave, and Rhino, how much of their release decisions are based on data and how much on intuition and wishful thinking?

I'm going to solve this conundrum by immediately retreating to my music room with a whiskey and spleef and play around on slide in standard tuning on my 1964 Gretsch as the day's last light slants across the room... Hey, I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to kick stuff around and goof off on this forum. Thanks gang!

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I love the discussion of live shows vis a vis, shows we attended vs. shows we love to listen to. I will always enjoy having a cd of a show that I attended, regardless of which band we’re talking about. It’s just the ultimate souvenir.
But when it comes to the Dead, my first show was 8/31/80, and while I would flip my lid if it was ever released, what I really want more than anything else, are shows from 1967-1974, with 67-70 being the real hot spot for me.
I realize that there are most likely not too many shows of that era in a releasable form. Do I like shows from all years. Yes. To a point. If it is a superbly played show, I’ll give it many listens. If it’s not, it’s probably a 2 and done for me.
While I’m perfectly ok with that, it’s human nature to want what I want(and right NOW).
ANY show is desirable for me between 67-70, regardless of how sloppy or how much repeat of set lists, because they were absolutely PRIMAL at this time!!
Of course, that just one idiots opinion. I gladly take whatever Dave gives me. I don’t feel the need to ‘threaten’ him by saying I’ll stop buying stuff. If I were to stop, there are certainly many punters ready to take my place. My music addiction does not seem about to subside anytime soon.
As far as box sets go, I don’t see me buying anything from after ‘74. Again, that’s just me, I know I’m in the minority.
I think I’ll let Dave worry about choices and sales figures, and I’ll just keep subscribing, and pick and choose which boxes to buy.

Anyway you look at it, my opinion only applies to me, and I welcome opinions from any and all who contribute to this site.

And keep the Last 5’s and other recommendations coming, because I sure as hell want to be on the receiving end of your much anticipated suggestions/favorites!!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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My Primal Box pipe dream is that there were more of those 8 tracks from the PNW Winter of 68 Tour. When Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 2 - 2/14/68 Carousel Ballroom was released, Lemieux indicated they found a box of 8 Tracks that were lost or mislabeled or something from the PNW tour, but most of what was included are one-offs.

I think it's a long shot, but wouldn't it be grand if they were somehow able to piece together a few full shows from this tour recorded on early 8 track tapes?

Primal Dave.. or we will be forced to taunt you a second time.

Thanks for kind words and my apologies if sharing TMI last night. Pushing 70, am not conversant with hospital grade pain meds, never was (they took very good care of me) and I did have a driver. My vision of a 60s box is much like HF wrote below, six or nine discs of 60s material, we already know there are partial sets, or short sets that could be a stitched together. Would love to see some photos of those early venues as well. Playing a little catch up here, there's a great look at some Gram Parsons back story on a website easily found mrporterdotcom, which includes his bromance with Keith Richards, Stones music, great photos.

Love to know more about the refinement of the processing Jeffrey Norman uses to bring us such great recordings, just barely aware that it started out as a way to correct inherent distortions of analog recording. Surely it has progressed far past that, there's a story there.

recent music:
Charlie Haden's Montreal Tapes with Geri Allen led me to:
Three Pianos for Jimi: Geri Allen and the Batson Brothers (not your typical Hendrix tribute)
Allman Brothers Band, Live from A&R Studios
Bruce Katz Band Live at The Firefly
Bruce is a truly gifted musician and teacher, there's a bunch of his great music out there.
so, boring story: went to the 2016 North Atlantic Blues festival in Rockland Maine to meet an old friend who knows Bruce. Bruce was there to play with John Hammond Jr. We hung out with Bruce and his wife first night, got to know this great keyboard guy, born in Baltimore within a few weeks of my own birthday in D.C. Quickly discovered our first Dead show was the same, March 1973, Baltimore Civic Center. During that evening, before ever hearing Bruce play, he asks, where are you guys staying? Oh yeah, that's where John and his wife are staying... next morning we head to the little breakfast area and there is John Hammond Jr. and his wife. We do not bother them of course, but later, my friend drops the news that we were hanging with Bruce, looking forward to their performance that afternoon. John invites us over to chat and tells us a few stories over the end of breakfast. John met Jimi in NYC in 1966, before almost anyone knew about the immense potential about to supernova. John is a very fine bluesman, began to listen to him around 1970.
We meet up with Bruce after the music is over and continue to hang. Bruce learns I live in Vermont, says I will be there in September with Les Brers in Rutland would you want to come? I am at the afternoon sound check, we meet for dinner before the show. Bruce tells me he is very concerned about drummer Butch Trucks, lots of stuff going on, way too much stress. One of the last Les Brers shows, Butch left the world a few months later. Derek's uncle. Guess all I am saying, this community right here, these connections, means a lot to many of us, life is precious, taking care of and with each other, it matters, no matter how small, pay kindness ahead. This is the spirit I felt at every Dead show, it was there in the seventies. And when i went to Dear Jerry a few years back at MPP I saw and felt it again. I still get shivers when I hear Jorma start that version of Sugaree, he was singing to his ole buddy.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Started as 2¢ but inflation……

I listen to all years, and think that the 1-Box-per-year model isn’t enough. A 2-3 show Box and a 5-10 show Box every year, along with the Dave’s subscription would be just exactly perfect. And some video too, please.

All years sell out eventually, Dave/Rhino seem to be doing pretty good on the production numbers for a given era.
I think that Giants Stadium sold out faster than PNW. 76 was a hit and St. Louis will sell out eventually.
We are due some 67–69 at this point.

A Bruce Box is absolutely needed in the near future, and the 2-Box-per-year model will make it possible to keep everyone happy.

And more video Dave/Rhino!

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I love these 19.2oz stovepipe cans of west coast ipa from stone brewing. I'd like to see Belushi crush one of these bad boys on his skull.

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Swans feel good now
Swans public castration is a good idea
Motorhead inferno
Husker Du zen arcade
Husker Du new day rising

Raw sounds for raw times

HF - that's a great combination...to have seen the band so many times and in 1973, one of their peak years. Also, maybe, being young at the time. Bands I saw when I was, say 15-18 had a massive impact on me - that's from 1972-1975. Although I got into The Dead in 1976, it was through records only, and I didn't know anyone else who liked them. Bit of private interest in a way.

Mr Ones - I too would get anything from 1967-1970...make that 1974. I would get any of the 5 shows I actually saw from 1981-1990...and maybe other shows from those European tours, too. Apart from that....I might get some more 1976 onwards shows...but not before checking out what it was, and what people said about it in Deadheads Compendium etc.

Incidentally-HF- that's a good idea, playing slide in standard on your Gretsch. I knackered my left hand overplaying mine last week - its has a slightly higher action than normal for me - ouch! - so rather than let it gather dust I should try what you do.

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Why the hell not?? He's out there, rolling around on logs and mossy rocks and looking for eagles. Why not cuff him a bit around the ears and order him back to the Vault to dig out the '68 tapes? He's Canadian, he won't fight back (oh, wait...).

Okay, 6 brief communiques and I swear I'll stop (!):

Mr. Ones: "ultimate souvenir," awesome phrase, could be lascivious or a band name.

JimInMD: how long ago did Dave mention PNW '68 tapes?? Are "one-offs" simply one reel of several for a show? (The OSF just revealed the number of reels used in their various outputs and it surprised me. The average is 11 reels per release, but vary from 2 reels to 32 reels or something like that. I'd guess the faster the tape (71/2, 15 ips) the better the sound...)

DMCVT: glad you're healing! Good John Hammond story. I've got a pretty good one for another time. I interviewed him for a Jimi-dedicated magazine.

Icecreamed: Yes, the solution is TWO boxes per year, one small, one large-ish. Rule: small box MUST contain Pigpen material...

Proudfoot: I sure hope "Public Castration is a Good Idea" is the title of a CD, not your new mantra.

DaveRock: I needed something meditative and new to play around with. When the pandemic started, I taught myself to fingerpick on the back porch. Lately, getting better acquainted with the fretboard and slide in standard tuning is a challenge. I put the Gretsch through a Tube Screamer for tone and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and use a short, fat glass slide (Ernie Ball). I'm just doing 12-bar blues in open position, then doing some Elmore-type licks higher up, staying within the rhythm using a metronome. Takes some work, but the payoff is there. What I love about learning guitar (I picked it up ~17 years ago in my late 40s) is that whatever you put in, you get like 5x back. Great ROI! Plus it feeds the soul. Have a crappy day? Pick up the guitar and feel better.)

Maybe Vguy could try crushing the stovepipe can into his head. Or at least do a doctored video of such an act.....

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I'm struggling with the Dead at the moment. Post '74 has never really been my thing, the 1977 Winterland box is OK and I really liked those actual Winterland boxes, they're a nice size, but I really can't settle and listen to any GD at the moment. I first heard Europe'72 in 1974 and have been a big fan since then but now I don't know. Maybe It'll come back. My St Louis box is not far from the Missouri river in Columbia MO at the moment, at my sister's house, that's how I get round the import taxes here in England. Haven't gone to pick it up yet, maybe she'll bring it over next time she visits. Fox Theatre 1972 was always a big favourite of mine.

Last 5

Molasses-A Slow Messe
Dylan-disc 2 More Blood More Tracks deluxe box
The Who-Tommy
John Eliot Gardiner-Bach Cantata Pilgrimage Vol 10
Mogwai-Come On Die Young

The 5 records I reckon I've played the most times over the last 50 years

Love-Forever Changes (the winner by a mile)
Talk Talk-Spirit of Eden
Dylan-Blood on the tracks
Spirit-Spirit of '76
Traffic-John Barleycorn Must Die

This was discussed during the Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 2 announcement. I might check the liner notes, but I don't think that's where it popped up because most of this in on the Bonus Disc.

Someone out there help me clear up my failing memory, but what I recall is Dave saying someone found a box of tapes at either one of the theatres or perhaps (more likely) a studio somewhere. Like they were left behind after mixing Anthem of the Sun. I believe they recorded the whole tour on multi-track, 8 Track to be precise. I'm flying on memory which should scare us all.. I also think this wasn't too far removed from the Houseboat Tapes which was released late in 2005, so returned reels were still a thing.

So I hold out hope that somewhere, more of these gems exist or perhaps instead of pulling one or two songs they could piece together a complete show or three.

My four cents.. please someone out there either confirm or deny my memory of this.

Peace. Stay warm, stay safe. Speaking of peace, FU Count Vlad!

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so much, DMCVT enjoy those meds, had stones 20 years ago, passed most of them, quite painful but after being able to relieve oneself again without pain or dribbles is great. Hated it when they said no more meds, love those Percocet.
Billy 82' was a great year, saw a show in Nov. of that year, First Passenger for me.
All this box talk has really got me thinking about an early box Primal Dead, awesome choices, but I would love some 1970 Dead too, those Spring shows at the universities, the summer Festival Express shows have been touched on but there were some great shows with that train trip that need furthur exploration. The fall of 70 also great shows there too, lots to choose from and we have really only gotten Jan. 70 with Dave's if I remember right (which is highly suspect nowadays)
Also those European tours from 81 and 90, both have some fine music and we haven't seen anything from those tours and the 90 tour has Bruce so could scratch a couple itches at once. There are a lot of eras that we haven't heard and I think variety is the spice of life, although just about any Dead is good dead to me.
Learned to type in 72 and back then, 2 spaces after a period to start a new sentence, now, only one so it is hard for an old dog to learn new tricks but will try. lol
Keep those last 5's coming. Here's mine:
Box of Frogs - 1st
Bloodrock - Bloodrock
Trapeze - Medusa
Pat Travers - Radioactive
Greg Lake - 1st
Todd Rundgren - Todd
that's six, but it's been a while I know it's early, but I've got spring fever...

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JIMINMD

Towards the end of the liner notes:

“Another cool surprise is the ‘filler’ tracks: These were recently discovered among some long-missing reels that surfaced from the studio where Anthem was mixed 40 years ago. There were only fragments of the early ‘68 shows - a few songs here and there…”

So well done to your memory.

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In reply to by PT Barnum

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....no crushing stovepipe cans for me. Might knock some much needed sense into me though, so I will ponder it.
My step grand-daughter is getting married in August. She called me last night and asked me if I would walk her down the aisle (no dad, long story). Someone was cutting onions in my house when she asked. Of course I said yes. She enjoys 80's rock/metal (girl after my own heart) and has never been to a concert (22 years old). Turns out Def Leppard / Motley Crue / Poison / Joan Jett are doing a stadium tour and are coming to Vegas in September. During our three hour call, I asked her if she and her fiance would like to go. They jumped on it. She lives in Winnemucca, NV so a 2 hour drive to Reno and a quick flight to Vegas and we're golden. I have several step grand-children, but she is my favorite (don't tell the others). Kind soul with a good head on her shoulders and smart as a whip.
Last five....
Killswitch Engage - World Ablaze
Elvis Costello - The Boy Named If
Los Lobos - Native sons
Motorhead - Hammered
GOGD - 6/17/91 Giants Stadium

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Been a minute since I posted anything here. To start, this release is just what I expected, top notch playing, great sound. The last box? Just what I wanted(needed). Would love to see more like this. Count me in for the primal dead. Just listened to the kings bowl DiP, never gets old. We are definitely way overdue for some pre 70 stuff. I also like all the years but prefer up to 78. Some of the eighties stuff is a tough listen, more because of Jerry's voice than anything, especially the ballad type songs but the music is still great. Looking forward to 42!

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Congrats on the wedding! My oldest is getting married this year so walking her down the aisle is something I'm very much looking forward to. I'm looking for a song for our dance. Does anyone have any suggestions? Not the same old songs you always hear at weddings, something cool, haha. I was lucky enough to have my wife agree to Thank You by zeppelin for our wedding song. Especially considering she isn't much of fan

It is. So I do. HF - sounds like a great way of coping with all these restrictions. I also play every day if I can, and, although I will never be Chet Atkins, it really does uplift me. Which is why it's a bit of a sod having a weakened left hand. Still...there's a way round most things, and I like to play my Gretsch through a fender champ, and an analogue Memphis Sun Delay pedal. Even playing chords in the first position with some elementary finger picking to get that percussive "chug" sound from the bass strings is quite satisfying. I also like having a go at slide-but I do that on my resonators - one in open D and one in open G.

Last Dead was 1/22/78 - which I really enjoyed - high energy and a more stretched out Other One than is usual ( I think) for 1978. Before that it was those timeless shows from 2/13/70 and 2/14/70. Bob Weir really seems to come into his own around this time. I never really focus on his playing in shows from earlier years - even from the beginning of 1970 when TC was still there. But on these Fillmore East shows he seems to step out of the shadows and join Jerry and Phil in the great adventure. He seems much higher in the mix here than in 1966-69.

Last 5 - but I don't think many will be impressed -
The Alabama Box ( 1950s and 60s Oddball Labels) cd 2 Various
SUN 50 Golden Years Rockabilly Central cd4 Various
Think I'm Going Weird cd3 Various
Eddie Cochran Story cd3 Eddie Cochran
John Wesley Harding (mono) Bob Dylan

I have never been married, but I have been to a few weddings. I can remember one where they played "July Morning" by Uriah Heep - in the church. It made me smile at the time, and it makes me smile now, thinking about it. People were nuts in the 70s.

We played Jimi's Little Wing at my wedding. Two years later, divorced. No moral to the story. Except: BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!

Vguy, you seem like a hidebound old cout (that's a sincere compliment) with a soft heart. Beautiful....

Ah, Jim, great memory, tantalizing detail, but disappointing info on the fragments! Still, we know they have shows from the early days. Let's have 'em! Great to see the instant interest here on the idea of primal GD.

Watch your back, Dave....................

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Thanks for the suggestions so far, unfortunately I don't think I can convince my daughter to go over the 3-4 minute mark=). Hendrixfreak, little wing was a thought but u threw in that bad juju there so.... I love your name btw, im not on your level, but I really do love me some Jimi. Eveytime I listen to are u experienced I can conjure that same feeling I got when I was 13 or so and heard it for the first time. It was quite a transitional time in my music listening going from all rap all the time to zeppelin and jimi! Like there was a void I didn't know I had till they filled it.

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17 years 5 months

In reply to by Shadeyguy

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....have you checked out the Live In Maui release that came out a couple of years ago? Good stuff.

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By request, so don't blame me.

At the risk of becoming universally hated, here's the clue for Today:

Miami greyhound squid

PM your guess to me and show your reasoning. 3 guesses allowed per screen name, no new screen names.

Winner will receive some lovely GD schwag from my underwear drawer.

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