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  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    We have a winner!!

    And the trophy goes to Oroborous for "fungal foxtrot" -- my gawd man, you should be a writer. Oh wait...

    Another story: Roy Buchanan. We first caught Roy at Carnegie Hall in spring '74 and probably caught him a dozen times across that year into fall, most often in small theaters and clubs. (See: Roy Buchanan at Town Hall 1974...) At many shows, we had purchased "seats" and we sat in them -- for about the first 15 minutes. Then a half-dozen of us would emerge from our sometimes scattered seat assignments and basically make our way to the lip of the stage. It's not a Dead show and most folks remained seated while we formed a small cluster in front of Roy. He would smile to himself. His drummer later told me that the band referred to us as "Buchanan's rabbits," because we were always "popping up" at the lip of the stage. To this day, I've got more hearing damage from Roy's Tele and Twin Reverb (maybe 75 shows, 1974-1986) than from a roughly equal number of key GD shows (1972-1992). (Key shows: RFK '72, Watkins Glen '73, Capitol Theater/Passaic '76, Englishtown '77, Red Rocks '78 and every single subsequent GD Rocks show.) Not braggin', just happy lookin' back.

    One such event featured a double bill of Roy and Boz Scaggs w/Les Dudek on slide. We were in the first 10 rows and it was so loud, no need to get closer! After both bands played, Boz, Les and Roy jammed at supersonic volumes...

    Not to mention the many times we spent the day on the east stairs at the Rocks, then dashed in to actually cop front row (one behind the actual front row, reserved for handicapped) and at one ABB show realized that we had WAY better seats than the fairly large contingent onstage in the wings.

    Basically, my life has been one dash for the front or a judicious stance near the soundboard when I wasn't working, going to school, chasing tail or poking around the backcountry. I'm semi-retired from the big shows and, looking back, pretty effin' happy with the way I misspent my youth.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Up Front when it was cool

    The first six or seven years we’d go up front any chance we could if it was GA and we got there early enough.
    Half the fun was hanging out with the heads all afternoon waiting for the chance for the mad dash to the front.
    We’re talking small Auds we’re up front you were often less than 10’ away from them and the stages were often only 4 or 5’ high, very intimate! And the stage sound was amazing.

    Speaking of the dash: At the 7/1/92 show that we worked production, we were on the stage when they opened the gates and it was wild watching the throng come swarming over the hill and down toward the stage at Buckeye as Healy blasted the Horse race Trumpet Fanfare lol. Like some kind of psychedelic scene from Braveheart!

    It could be physically brutal and grueling though, especially if you weren’t in the very front row on the rail, where you could sorta lean and push back against the throng. Better ventilation too. Basically, it was on the wall or nothing, with the wall being only about 4’ high.
    If you knew what you were doing, and the circumstances were right though, there was nothing like it, but nothing comes for free so it was often a long grueling day, but we were young, prepared and it didn’t really phase us, especially once we got electric!
    So early on it was all about up front. Yes the vocals weren’t as prominent but you got the golden pure unfiltered sound of their amps/speakers, and in 83 when they started using the Meyers stuff full time they’d put small monitors on the stage in a half circle pointing out to help fill in the vocals better.

    But besides the sound it was like going to school to be able to see how they played things and to check out all that marvelous gear out up close! “Oh, Finger Ease, that’s the stuff Bobs always spraying on his axe”, like going to school!

    Perhaps the best part was the eye contact. If you were really paying attention you could see them communicating non verbally and they’d pick up on if you weren’t just some stoned civilian, but could tell if you were really catching all the little things they were doing. It was like you were in the band and if they picked up on you, they’d watch you and see if you caught little things they’d toss about. They seemed to really dig folks who could properly pay attention to all this, especially if they made a mistake!
    I can still picture any of them throwing some musical little tid bit out there, and watch your reaction, and then smiling because they knew you caught it, PRICELESS!
    It was big fun to joke around between songs with them too. We used to pick on Bob about songs and Phil especially always had a good time with that!
    Sigh, those were the daze!
    BUT!!! learning the fungal foxtrot in front of the SB was pretty damn sweet too lol.
    And aw those awesome summer nights outside with a big ole moon during a hot Terrapin…
    Sigh, yep, those were the daze my friends, we thought they’d never end…

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    Getting close...

    So apart from Watkins Glen we had partaken of the GD/ABB gathering at RFK earlier that summer, the first day. The GD went on first, I think because Jer had an Old & In the Way show in Boston that night -- that's what we heard. (He 'coptered from DC to Boston with Peter Rowan, according to hearsay.

    So a good friend who had not eaten the blotter said, "Let's go up front." Plenty of room to manuever that day. We got real close -- definitely whites of their eyes -- and several things unfolded, no longer sure the sequence. First, some Deadheads being assholes, a few miscreants were tossing fireworks around. Some genius lobs an M-80 onto the stage and it lands at Jer's feet. He used to do a little shuffle when he was jamming and, without skipping a beat, he kicks the M-80 (prior to explosion) back into the crowd with one smooth movement. When they started He's Gone, the crowd moans and boos -- the feral animals on acid syndrome. But Garcia carries it off and I think they closed the set with China-Rider. (Just looked at the Setlist Program, and that's backwards -- set closer with China-Rider, 2nd set opener He's Gone.) During China Cat I get acid-confusion. Bobby is playing a Gibson SG (I believe) and Phil is playing a big brown hollow body, but in my youth and ignorance I always associated the solid body with bass and the hollow body with a Gibson guitar -- so I'm like, wait, which one's Bobby and which one's Phil?? (I knew from photos who was who, but go figure in that "special moment"...) I said nothing, but I think my buddy realized he was leading a potential casualty around and we retreated. Also, when you're 15, although tall, you are rail thin and still getting initiated, so we did not make a habit of pressing forward. It was a foray only.

    In 1976, during their theater tour, I had something like 7th row center, 3,000 people, I could the band quite well right in front of me and discovered for the first time the buzz of the amps in the back line. I was much closer in May '73 for Old & In the Way: 3rd row, audience left, right by Jer and his banjo.

    If that's not a great way to grow up, I don't know what is.

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    About 20 rows up at red rocks

    Is just exactly perfect. My first show 7th row middle was too close for the best sound. Got there early as HF suggested and had our pick. But it was so loud I had to sit some just to give my ears some relief. Next two times there we figured out, as Vguy notes, the balance and full bass effect was better about 20th row middle. A few rows in front the tapers section and soundboard (duh, that's why they put it there). For Brent's RR debut in '79 we got back closer to 12th row as we wanted to see the new guy and the sound was pretty darn good and it seemed the crew had figured out the Red Rocks by that third visit and how to bounce Phil off them. All my other shows were pitifully far back or to the side with McNichols '79 the worst sound of all, upper deck right side and an echo chamber. The Denver Coliseum, where I saw a few other bands, had terrible acoustics. College halls that were designed for good acoustics like C.U. Boulder's were ideal. Pin drop perfect for the Chick Corea/Gary Burton show. You could visually see the notes, no wait, maybe that was the shrooms.
    Cheers

  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    close up Newcastle May 1970

    Probably late to the party on this, just discovered on utube , lengthy (almost two hours) coverage of the Dead's May 1970 trip to England, rough cuts, casual interviews, a few tedious moments, loaded with inside looks and about 35 minutes of concert footage from 5/24: "Grateful Dead England 1970 (The Lost Film)"

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Seeing the whites of their eyes

    As I remember it, it was quite easy to walk up quite close to the front of the stage when the Dead played at the Rainbow, London, in October 1981. It was standing room only down there.
    I was even closer the first night on the October 1990 run at Wembley. Brilliant! Seeing people you have read about and listened to so much, for so long, at such close quarters. Prior to this night it was hard to believe that they actually existed. Nobody I knew had ever seen them, or even heard of them. Like living in a world of your own. Which, given the alternative, might not be a bad thing.
    The last night I was up the balcony to the right, and that wasn't as good. I'll never know what was me - I was high as a kite - and what was really happening. The people around me appeared to be dancing and cheering before the band came on. It was like they could hear something I couldn't. When the band did come on, the only instrument I could clearly hear was Bruce's piano. I went bombing downstairs to try and get in to the stalls, but was easily ejected and went back to my seat. The balance improved during the show - but it was an odd sound. And as I have said before, drums and space was incredible.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Being really close at the Dead....

    ....only twice. Vegas '91 and Portland '95. Sound sucks up there anyways.

  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Getting up front

    Was fairly easy early on. Then it became a headache.

    Back in 93 or 94 we decided to go to the Spring shows on Long Island. You were still able to call in for tickets back then and somehow I got right through. To the customer service rep - I need tickets for Thursday and Friday, but purchase Friday first because that will sell out quickly. Of course when she reads the first order back it is for Thursday. Annoyed, but I got 6th row. By the time she put in the Friday order, we got the farthest section back in the upper deck. That was the last time we got up real close. Of course as any seasoned head would do, we brought our Thursday stubs to the Friday show. The usher gladly showed us to our seats right up front soon after the lights went down.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Up Front

    Pretty much gave that up around 85-86. Combo of no more GA, getting a little older, and most of all…discovered the Lysergic shuffle which requires proper floor space lol

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Phish fans....

    ....yup. They have changed a lot since I first saw them in 1994. People up front on the floor tend to get very territorial. Throw down huge tarps and will say they are "holding spots for their friends" and will get hostile sometimes. A lot of times I never see their so-called friends ever show up. Sad really. I don't go up front anymore.

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17 years 4 months

In reply to by That Mike

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....I changed it again because I just found this and I couldn't resist.

That’s definitely what I thought on 3-27-94 when they were opening for Rush.
I came for Rush, Primus needed to get off the stage.
Yes, they played Jerry Was A Race Car Driver.
I wasn’t impressed.

That was a nice hoodie Dave was wearing.

Hah, ET embryo in Eugene.
Not only just after the solstice, but Dave said that the show ended around 5 pm.

Rhino should release the Little Feat opening sets as a companion release.

Dave said a Box next year and a studio album anniversary release. I didn’t hear him say that the Box would not be a 1973 anniversary as was stated in a previous post (don’t remember by who).

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Who ever wrote the description for DP 44? It’s obvious who ever did is a fool when they wrote that 6/23/90 was one of their longest performances. Such complete utter misinformed information. The second set is around 90 minutes. Whatever. Attending these 2 shows was well worth the drive.

....I think they meant for 1990. But that has to be by maybe a couple of minutes. And no. I'm not gonna research it.
Aaaand, conekid is an official fan club card carrier lol.
This day in Dead lore, Keith played his first show with the band. 51 years ago.
Digging out my Dave's 3. Disc 3 has a Dark Star 🌟
"Thank you sports fans!" What happened that day in sports history? 10.21.71.
I see the Pirates won the WS, but that was on the 17th. Must be a Chicago thing.
Liner notes by Blair Jackson doesn't mention it. Some help here....

Snafu - I'm not sure wearing a tee shirt with teddy bears on would have gone down too well back then, either. Not that there is anything wrong with wearing such a shirt, of course. Maybe not for every occasion.

I think I'm glad I've never heard of Primus.

I have created a new account on the store so that I should be able to make future orders. However, I can no longer look at my previous order history. I have tried the ‘Check without being registered’ but that requires order number, email and zip code. I enter these, using my post code since we don’t have a zip code, and an error message appears telling me that the combination of the three items isn’t recognised. Once again, for the third time, my order history has become inaccessible. Let’s hope the ordering process has been improved at least.

I have heard of Primus but have never heard anything by them so I’ll refrain from commenting on them.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Colin-go on...put the boot in. It's a bit of a poor do if we can't be unreasonable at this stage of the game !

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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I thought It said somewhere that you can't see your older order history, after the update.
Since creating a new store account, I ordered a sweatshirt 2 weeks ago, and nothing, no shipping notice, nothing in two weeks. I can not overstate how much i dislike this store.

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are subtle. He's smart enough not to give it away too early.
What I heard was what I wanted to hear, and am hoping for.
That there MAY be a box for both an anniversary and another.
More boxes please and maybe some I can afford like a mini.
Cheers

Edit: I'm trippin' again. To my ear 3-9-81 sounds a tiny bit fast. Played it on two different CD players. Is it possible Plangent didn't fix all of the speed issues associated with cassette decks? A great show nonetheless. That deep drum on the Drums is shaking my floor! Love it.

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10 years 5 months
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Bobby's "Ace" just got the 50th Anniversary Treatment. What about Jerry's "Garcia"? It was released about 2 months after "ACE" in July 1972. However, except for Bill sitting in, "Garcia" is truly a solo effort, so does that disqualify it from getting a 50th remastered new mix?

(Crap-cha seems to have gotten more bitchy of late.)

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In reply to by That Mike

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....just checked out their album Zonkey. Holy shit! This is the best thing ever! All incredible mash-up covers. I mean. An Electric Avenue/Highway To Hell mash-up?? Ace Of Spades/Its Going To Be
A Long Night by Ween? Genius.
That seals it. Just bought tix to see them in February.

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10 years 8 months
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And I use that term loosely... with a nod to any women who may be lurking but are put off (to say the least) by our tendency to rave unconscionably (sp?)....

Hey, I met Oro -- the Colorado Oro -- yesterday! I was hammering west across Colorado (with good, if diverse intentions) and stopped in Eagle to deliver my Band of Gypsys box from my coveted collection to a complete stranger... But no! It was Oro, aka Pedro, who we all know and love from his shall we say voluminous correspondence. A man a bit difficult to pin down, as events unfolded, that sunny day (24 hrs ago).

I'm happy to report -- and no doubt he'll spread some greasy rumors about me... -- that our local Colorado "Oro" is a fine gentleman and -- instead of "dyed in the wool" can we advance to something more like "soaked in a vat of whatever we all been soaking in for the last 50 years" Deadhead? I mean, his hour-long narrative of GD shows experienced had me dizzy... (but I digress).

Tryin' to say through the Indica and Jameson that Colorado Oro is a righteous brother and I HOPE HE MAILS ME BACK BY BoG BOX!!!! I mean, I met the cat in the parking lot of Eagle, Colo.'s largest liquor store, which was our fallback position, and he never took his shades off.......... But he did say that he wants to go to Las Vegas to meet some of you, including the now infamous Vguy and anyone else who wants to say goodbye to a settled life. (Basically, we're talking a regional conference of people who can no longer take their shades off for physiological reasons.)

But I'd say this: there are actual people behind the avatars displayed here. And some of them seem to be pretty fine citizens.

Reporting in, HF

Got home tonight and found mail from experience vinyl. They are offering a redo of "Garcia". A 2 lp set with second lp being out takes. I believe the vinyl will be gold. I read nothing about a remastering.

But odd you should just ask,,,, and there it was!

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44 years ago tonight I was at Winterland for a knockout show with the Good Old Grateful Dead. What a blast; I hope they release this whole run as a box set . Fun times!

....you are blessed 🙌 to have seen so many awesome bay area shows. Jealous.
Golden Knights won 5-2. Scored two or more goals in the 1st period. That means two free Taco Bell tacos all day tomorrow if you show your ticket. 🌮

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DaveRock - Dylan is currently touring Europe and the UK, and I wondered if yourself or any friends may have caught a recent show, or are his shows being covered in the press at all?

I’m just curious how he is sounding this tour? He always brings a great band, so I’m expecting that is still the case.

I always try and make a point to see him if he plays nearby. One of the best songwriters Garcia ever sourced.

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In reply to by hendrixfreak

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Good to hear you are out moving around Hendrixfreak. What was in your Gypsy box?

Looking forward to #44.
We should know #45 within the next couple of weeks. Maybe Dave will open the year with Kezar or Maples Pavilion?

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Amazon has it for pre order 44 bucks. Says "limited", but not how many. Gold vinyl.

I bit. But I'm worth it! If not me, who? If not now, when?

Money in the bank, right?

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Thanks Dennis. Forgot how pristine and tight "Garcia" is. With the rest of the Dead sitting this one out except for Bill on drums, and Jerry playing/singing everything, it's almost like an "unplugged" performance. His pedal steel on the Wheel is ethereal. Also looking forward to the Alternate Takes on the second LP. Onward.

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Oro - If you are perusing the boards today, please check your PM.

Dennis - Since you have the wallet out, Vinyl Me, Please is offering Miles Davis’ “Star People” on vinyl. IMHO, this was one of MD’s better late career releases, and features John Scofield and Mike Stern on guitars. See the MD website for a L-I-N-K to Vinyl Me, Please.

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10 years 2 months

In reply to by That Mike

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Thatmike - no sadly, I missed out. A few months ago, when the tickets went on sale, I spent ages looking at the prices, trying to decide where to sit, which night to go on, who to buy the ticket off...and it literally sold out before my eyes while I was mucking about! I don't know where my head was at that morning.
I'll keep a lookout at the the music papers and see how the shows are reviewed. I have only actually seen Dylan once - 2017, I think. Chances of me seeing him again aren't looking too good !

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Can't find a track list online; I'm wondering if the outtakes are the same ones that were included a few years ago in the Jerry box set, 8 outtakes altogether.

They appear to be the same tracks as that jerry box set (beyond description),,,, but they're on cd, not limited edition GOLD vinyl!!!

Come on now,,,,, GOLD VINYL!

Can't spell gold without god

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10 years

In reply to by daverock

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Thanks Dave. I was just curious how his 80+ something croaky voice is holding up. I think his tour poster on his site states 2021-2024, so I’m guessing he is trying to get to every place he can at least once before he hangs it up. The guy is 81. I don’t think either one of my grandfathers even saw age 80.
Thanks again, Amigo!

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In reply to by That Mike

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Ordered the vinyl AND joined the vinyl of the month club (cancel any time)

Ordered the cd, used for 12 bucks from amazon.

Was surprised I didn't have this in stock. Interesting reviews seem to concur with you about John Scofield and Mike Stern being the star of the show.

It's coming,,, thanks for heads up. I've said it before and will repeat. One of the great things about this site is people pointing out "things" that have come out. You can't watch it all, nice to have extra eyes.

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44 years ago today - the windup at the end of The Other One and the Stella Blue are forever etched in my brain.
I assume Billy and Nitecat were there as well. Magical Mistery Tour(if my memory serves me well...) and east coast vs west coast volleyball game prior to the show(or was it Dead crew vs. Bill Graham's crew??)
The band was LOUD, with Jerry louder than everybody else, just the way it should be!

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RTs Volume 1 #4 a most appropriate show to listen to on its anniversary. This whole run needs to be Normanized.

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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Who you calling a fine citizen and a gentleman!
Why I outta!

So yaaasssss, after a ridiculous chaotic fluid morning, I was fortunately able to rendezvous for a fine enjoyable meeting with the multi talented senior Freak, (much too brief but his patience was appreciated considering his agenda etc) after, all was well, until…? Until I say that dark and stormy night
(“ Stooooorrrmmmmyyyy”), ahem wrong rabbit hole.
Until about an hour later, which is around the last I remember, for approximately 48 hours—though I have weird reoccurring flashbacks of running with the pack, and scratching my ear with my foot—until I woke up naked and alone and an unbelievable urge to howl? Strange occurrences in the mountains indeed!
But long short, Senior is even much more than shines through from his posts.
Oh, and generous beyond comprehensive. I did him one small act of kindness without expectation of any return, and well, his gifts, ahem shocked me!
Oh, love the HF album: The Sagebrush Bohemians Let’s Smooth It. Check it out!
Modern Dylan like influences, with often fun songs, good arrangements, and great sound!
A writer, field nut, science freak, connoisseur of much, singer/songwriter, AND an all around GOGD brastafarian!
Mucho Garcia’s!

Oh, don’t worry, your children are fine and will be returned home shortly once we’re done having are way with them lol.
More on this and others whom require individual correspondence just as soon as they get these elephants off the stage…
Now if I could just stop scratching my ear with my foot?

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17 years 4 months

In reply to by Oroborous

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....don't get me wrong, but HF mentioned a Vegas road trip.
Don't think for a minute I didn't catch that little nugget of potential intel.
There is no autumn here. Going from 85 degrees today to 68 on Sunday. Major cold front heading our way. 60 mph wind gusts tomorrow.
Buckle up buttercup. (That's to myself. Thin blood and stuff).
And before y'all laugh at me in "Dude, really?", keep in mind, I was born and raised here. 🍻 When it gets under sixty degrees, I bundle up big time and make hot toddies.

Relax, it’s only gibberish, but…but I say, I say, if and when we ever make it back to the great city of Lost Wages, it would be our honor and pleasure to buy you and your lovely other a beer if not dinner!
It’s just really nice to actually meet someone from our kind little universe here!
And like the real world certain diamonds shine brighter!

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My order is on the way! UPS are aware of the packages existence.
Mail Innovations this time so I’m not expecting to see it too soon, but it’s nice to know the process has been initiated. Now back to your regular ‘Meet up at the casinos’ programme:))

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44 years ago tonight, I was at Winterland ( along with Cousins and alot of other great folks who post on this forum) for a knockout show with the Good Old Grateful Dead. Hopefully, this whole run will be released as a box set one day. They could combine it with the March 77 shows and have one hell of a box set. Fun times for sure.

It would be great if this run was released as a box.
I was thinking this morning if there would be any value in releasing runs of shows without all the paraphernalia. The boxes do look good, and I enjoy reading the articles in the books...but if they cut down on all that, maybe they would be able to release more shows in box sets. Less extravagant ones. They are only released on deadnet - not general release, so I am sure we all know the background to shows already - or can look them up in Deadbase or online. For example-I would think we all know the background to the October 78 Winterland run - they could just release the shows on cd/download - or vinyl, without the extras - and it would still sell like hotcakes. Just a thought.

Dave Rock
They don’t get nominated for a Grammy if they don’t make the box look pretty:))
Yes, I’d be happy with simpler formats and more music.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Colin - looking at what you have just posted on the 17cd section - maybe the international postage charges wouldn't be be so much if the boxes were a bit smaller.

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According to Music Direct, the tracks are:
1. Sugaree ( Alternative Take)
2. Loser ( Alternative Take)
3. Late For Supper/ Spidergawd/ Eep Hour ( Alternative Take)
4. The Wheel ( Alternative Take 1)
5. The Wheel ( Alternative Take 2)
6. Study for "Eep Hour"
7. Dealing From the Bottom (Studio Jam)
8.Study for "The Wheel"

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I would be on the MSG Box thread, but it looks like it's kaput.
I know the MSG '81 shows, and I think disc 1 from 3/10 is fast.
Tempted to bust out my cassettes from storage...will have to fire up the old TEAC W-6000R.
Firing up disc 2 from 9/20/82 in 3...2...1...

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