Grateful Dead

I like to store my Dead CD collection chronologically on a standard large CD shelf ... the oversized CD cases that came with May 77, HCS 73, June 78, June 76 and the 8-27-72 have made that impossible. I've moved much of my Dead collection to a book shelf to accomodate the oversized containers. In addition to being difficult to store, the larger cases are just tremendously cumbersome to take discs in and out of. By comparison, I recently bought the standalone versions of 5-8-77 and 6-10-73 just to have an extra copy in case the discs in the box sets ever go bad (damage, skipping, whatever), and the packaging is just so much better ... the CDs fit perfectly on a standard CD stand and are much easier to manipulate. My vote would go for future box sets ditching the oversized CD cases and just giving us packaging like the 5-8-77 or 6-10-73 single release.

Update on HCS damage: I've had WMG respond asking for pictures, I've had Marye ask for my details in the hopes of getting my Disc 4 from 5-13-73 replaced (what a disc to receive in defective quality ... it's only the best disc from 5-13-73 and one of the best discs in the entire box), and nothing of substance has happened of yet (no indication that I will definitely get the disc replaced, certainly no timetable, just waiting and hoping). Peace y'all

Thanks for checking! We had some seepage in the basement, not too bad for 3" of rain in the second thunderstorm of the day. We also had a prolonged downpour of hail, probably 20 minutes of dime and quarter-sized hail. Never had that even in the worst NC thunderstorms. But no damage, and no trees down. Was surprised to see today that there had been rescues in town. Was out that night, luckily didn't see any water.

Pretty awesome event you went to, it sounds like. Would love to run into our junior senator and Grace Potter.

1stshow on Lost ending, I take Christian Shepherd at his word that "Everything that happened on the Island was real", it was the most important experience for all of them. Me and my buddies used to debate the meanings, and to me it seemed to be a stealth religious show that wasn't quite as stealth in some aspects of that like Locke vs Jack in Man of Faith vs Man of Science; I mean that is pretty blatant, but what it all means in the grand scheme is less obvious. Interesting that every single one of the main characters becomes a murderer at some point, yet they all seem to still be redeemed in the end. And the Church they end up in must be a Unitarian Universalist Church with Dharma Wheel, Star of David, Cross, Crescent and star on the walls, and Sayeed is among them. I think the Sideways Universe was Purgatory, and when they left in the Church, they moved on to their final destination.

But the best thing about the whole show to me was John Locke, or Terry O'Quinn's portrayal. Then Michael Emerson as Linus. They really made the show for me. And of course the wonderful mysteries of the Dharma Initaitive and their reclusive funder, Alvar Hanso.

And agree with Daverock that it would be nice for TPTB to acknowledge the pervasive quality control issues on this release, especially to say what they might do to ensure better experiences going forward.

I finally made it through the last of this box set. I guess I was lucky, in that I only noticed two skips. I'm not that worried about it and won't ask for a replacement. This is just my own point of view, obviously, but I would much prefer to have these come in a plain brown box and secure packaging than to have "fancy" packaging and the discs getting damaged. These are collectibles, hence the numbered series but I'd imagine the collectable aspect of this particular disc set is rather minimal. Not that I plan on selling my GD collection but if I did I'd be a bit hesitant selling this one, based on the product quality (not the music) from word of mouth (or type on screen). I'm generally not a critical person and I'm not trying to be one now but for me anyway a few more questionable end results and I may just pass going forward. I likely have three copies of almost every show out there so it isn't like I need to buy these. I just like to. If it becomes stressful and I have to deal with issues though I won't bother anymore.

That said I know that this issue wasn't intentional. People worked hard to get us something nice. So I have no animosity and I hope the next one comes together a little more effectively. I have been generally satisfied with all of the releases. Some have been a little big size-wise for me but that's okay. So if this is it for large scale issues I'm good. I wanted to throw this out just in case anybody does read these chat boards that works in the production line for the releases.

That's all I have. Now I'll go back to being quiet.

Please please please

There has been a fair amount of posts on here about the 73 box from people who have had discs that won't play, and about the poor presentation of the box, which has further damaged discs. Going off all that, I would think it would be better if Deadnet gave us some sort of assurance that they had read these posts, and are going to try and iron out the problems before trying to flog another giant box.
There's only one track in my box that won't play, and that's one of the Sugar Magnolia's - so it's not worth my while doing anything about it. But it's crazy to buy boxes and feel lucky if only one or two tracks won't play.

Oro, I like the way your so called pointed little head works. Great list there and if the Primal 68/69/70 box was just 15 or so CDs, that would be enough for a good start, then they could do second batch, call it TOO #2. Alvar, hope all is well over there after yesterdays deluge, Middlebury and Rutland flooded again. Lagunitas makes a tasty seasonal triple IPA called The Waldos, is that what we talkin' bout here? (smiley face). And yes, I am smiling after attending a by invitation outdoor music event in White River Junction this afternoon that featured young musicians as well as Bernie Sanders and Grace Potter. Mostly apolitical, more about the arts, how important the arts are to school curriculum. Had a chance to speak with Bernie, then Grace. Had no idea she grew up legally blind. Made sure she knew how much I enjoyed her at Dear Jerry, doing Friend of the Devil with Bobby. Evidently her vision is better now since she drove her SUV off to Burlington for a second afternoon event. Still only half way into this HCS box, wicked busy.

Yeah I hear ya on that one. I mean, who do they think is reading this stuff ; )

And yeah, PRIMAL DEAD baby, just get it over with: 50 disc 66-70, even if just fragments from early years.
Something on the line of E72. I know some folks watching the budget and some get saturated on “stuff”, but really it’s the only way to pay proper tribute and as I say, tick tock etc…

Let’s Say 2 more big boxes: Primal, and another thirty trips for the 60th in 2025, the rest can be plain Jane road trips or Winterland style but up the show count per box!

Besides those 2 biggies, regular considerations could be:
Fall/winter 71
Fall 72
Winter & Spring 73
Summer 76
Spring 78
80? Alaska plus…(best of year mix including….the big G)
81-83?
Summer 85
Fall 89
Summer 90
Fall 91
Greek, Frost, ok, maybe another biggie, call it simply California!
Just off the top of my pointy little head…

Hey Oro! I'm up in T.O. keepin' jive alive! I hope all is well with you, too. Just a real busy summer, but all good. I trust your summer and your health is good.
I agree on more boxes - get them out there. There are so many great suggestions from these posts, and it would be amazing to focus for a while on some of those early days of 1968-69-70. You had a comprehensive list a while back of all the shows from Dave’s banner back in 2011, and there is some real gold there. I agree too, Oro, on the booklets included, they always “set the stage”, but maybe it is an age thing, or some kind of eye test, but make the type a decent size to read, and perhaps black typeface on a white background, because it’s real Finding Waldo stuff trying to unscramble/decipher some of the print.
But keep the boxes coming, but a little (a lot) of attention to Quality Control, and Customer Service.
The recent release was a debacle, and I felt bad for anyone who got caught in that nightmare. Do better, Rhino/Dead.

Those fall 89 multis are just sitting there rotting in the vault…Dave?….Bueller?….

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like there’s a shelf life here as to how many more boxes they’ll end up releasing, so I’d like to see simpler, even plainer boxes, but with more shows!
Yeah those boxes are nice (thanks again you know who for WL 73! ! ) but I’d like to see something like those, but say a little deeper with say six or 8 shows, instead of just 3…for this reason, that 2 show 89 was kinda a waste of a box. (Kinda pricey too).
Hell, I wouldn’t mind more just music only, or like Alvarhanso, I like when they include a good book with nice pics.
Yeah, bare bones, music, and ja book!

Howdy Mike, I was wondering where ya were!
Hopefully not therapy for hockey ; )