Grateful Dead

Jazzy jammin band indeed! I've been waiting on an official release for YEARS.

I wouldn't have thought it was necessary to wait for the exact date to release a commemorative edition of an old album. Other bands release them as and when they see fit - I've just had a look at the remastered box set of "Goats Head Soup" I have here, and that came out in 2020, despite the original coming out in 1973. There are scores of others who do this - too many to list. Even those without classic albums do it.

I wouldn't have thought every album warrants a remastered box set package either. Certainly every one up to now has. And "Blues For Allah" does, I would say. But I'm not so sure either "Wake of the Flood " or "Mars Hotel" do. Maybe "Terrapin Station", although side 1 is no great shakes. But "Go To Heaven"? Leave it out. I guess it's down to personal choice which ones have classic status and which ones don't.

It's hard to know what releases will sell out, and there is no shortage of good suggestions for more new releases. But, for me, the waiting is the hardest part. In a few years, provided I am still on this planet, will I finally get to hear a remixed full Terrapin Suite? (um, probably). Blues for Allah's Unusual Occurrences in the Desert? Sandcastles and Glass Camels? You get the drift. Anniversaries are wonderful for celebrating loved ones, or to give out an award. But is it really necessary to wait for the "exact date?". What about "Deluxe / Commemorative Editions or smaller box sets (a few albums) for each era instead?

I really love all my Daves-Dicks titles, and even had over 700 tapes at one time. But creating something new from something old? The first time I heard the opening notes of the latest American Beauty remix, it brought a tear to my eye. I didn't expect that from an album I've heard so many times. But, as for Terrapin, Keith Olsen recently passed, so he won't be able to do revisit his work. But a fresh mix of somewhat unique tracks? Yes please. And then, a few more live releases from the early days.

On a somewhat related note, I also wonder about any official releases of the band Reconstruction, the fast, jazzier JGB from 1979, although Legion's pace is just exactly perfect for me. I could listen to it all day (and I do sometimes). And I also recall David Grisman mentioned he had many more hours of "just playing", akin to the "So What" release. So, it's like the banana box quandary. There's so much music out there, in proverbial banana boxes yet to be re-discovered. I recently spent a "lifetime" during the pandemic on Bill Graham's "Wolfgang's Vault", with so many great artists and shows. I searched all of the Great American Music Hall Shows (So many Jazz and Folk Greats), every Record Plant, Fillmore. And then Joe Pass, John Fahey, Bill Evans, Booker T, and finally the various CSNY incarnations. Many of the shows still have the original between-song banter. For some recordings, it pointed me to better versions out there. But I only captured a small fraction. So much great music, just not in "the vault". Well, back to my main point, maybe I can wait just a tiny bit longer for those studio remasters, but then again, who am I fooling here? For now, I will just listen to the 2-20-77 Terrapin Session on Archive and imagine what may be someday. So, I will wait for the next box set, as I remain thankful for all the great music we get to hear every day.

Was a great year for rock music generally. Maybe the last one from those who started in the 60's - it started getting a bit tired for the next two years until punk came along with size 12 boots in 76.

....game tonight for free.
Who am I to say no?
Happy 50th anniversary to Dark Side Of The Moon btw.

*****
October 30th, 1971
Taft. Auditorium
Cincinnati
*With NRPS & Jerry playing ‘Pedal steel guitar’ before the Dead’s performance with ‘new riders of the purple Sage’!
Very heavy Grateful Dead! Everything seems so soulful! I love it! Heavenly!
Have a grateful day everyone! Peace be with you all!
“Keith is brilliant, primo playing! Jerry is just nailing it thru out the entire performance! Man, it’s just so beautiful! Good Ol’ Grateful Dead!
💀🌹

What a show! In the conversation for greatest show of all time. Definitely the coolest 1st set opener of all time. That 1st set must of left people going Wow, that was incredible!

....I think ANY 1970 board show would sell out before they even went on sale.
Remember when the Get Shown The Light box was released and it broke the internet? I do!
I got #333.
Magical number.

Immediate sell out. Complete Oct 1974 Winter land audio & video, immediate sell out.

....I think that's Swedish for, "what are you waiting for!!"
A friend of mine invited me to the VGK/Canes game tomorrow knight for free.
Who am I to say no?