Grateful Dead

Not that I don't trust downloads, but on releases such as this the cds, the package, are objets d'art, and I like to see them and handle them, read the printed notes, as well as enjoy the magic and beauty of the music itself.

Cone Kid and DMCVT - the glue is generally easily removed with some 91% isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth, if so inclined. Scratches are another issue.

Another disc added to the list of problem children yesterday, Disc 1, 5/20, Santa Barbara. Ripped file for Playing has a 10-20 second stretch of static, skips, dropouts. Looking at the disc it has a very fine angular scratch, main body essentially parallel to the grooves, that I missed in my initial inspection. Crosswise I don't think it would have been a problem but running with them yeah it is. Tried 5 times, same basic result, slightly different each time, last one was the worst. Losing a few notes of Promised Land is one thing - but a problem like that 12 minutes into an awesome Playing is another.

3899 is in the house. I’ve visually checked the discs - no glue or scratches, but the proof is in the pudding, or CD player!

I was experiencing all sorts of tracking errors on the first disc of the set. First, I tried playing on multiple players, then I tried cleaning the laser lens of my players, finally I cleaned the disc (for a 2nd time). After that I made it through the entire disc without skips or tracking issues. I'm going to try the disc on another player before I determine that I am satisfied, but I will definitely be cleaning all the discs before I play them and test for skipping and tracking.

-edit- Now my DaP's 1-4, that's a different story!!... :-( :-( :-(

Obeah - that's a good idea, re-releasing sections of these big boxes. Pink Floyd did that with the Early Years set. As it goes, it seems more likely that The Dead shows from boxes will get re-released as vinyl editions rather than on cd-which is obviously a bit exclusive.My big omission was Fillmore West 1969- a mini box I guess - and I have been buying the records as they have come out. I'd still buy the cds of that run, though, if they were re-released.

Time to take a deep breath and look at the rest of the cds in the 73 box.

ICECRMCNKD: Thats it, exactly. When I read about Daverock prising loose his CDs, I knew why. Distracted by catastrophic floods, a little too much rain around here, roads closed, wash outs, comparisons to tropical storm Irene damage. Good time to listen to music... if possible. 5.13: Made it through first disc, all good, Second disc was fine until the last two minutes of PITB. Thats where it started to skip, because of dried glue bits on the outer edge. Took twenty minutes of very very gentle swabbing with isopropanol and there's still a smudge film. There's five other discs like that in the box. The glue holding the cardboard sleeves together was not dry before the discs were jammed inside. One disc is scratched in multiple spots, all scratches are parallel and about an inch long, as if a slightly gritty disc was jammed into the cardboard sleeve. CDs play from inside out, so if there's less than a full disc, or say 50 minutes of content, the very outer edge could have glue bits and play just fine, so it would not effect the 5.13 third disc. Close visual examination or a fine sense of touch may reveal glue along an outer edge, anyone who has to prise a disc out is likely to find bits of glue. Which could wind up inside your CD player....

Glad to hear that folks in England/UK are receiving their box sets!

I'd love to see Lemieux's production team work with Rhino figure out a way to generate more "All Music Editions". The production for the Europe '72 steamer trunk itself is obviously not going to come together again, but those beautiful rainbow-hued cardboard packs for the 22 shows all contain lovely liner notes and pics that many fans would love to have.

I've heard people opine that the problem with this is that only the most dedicated fans will buy a set of nearly two dozen shows from 2 months containing 22 versions of Mr. Charlie, 20 Black Throated Winds, 19 Casey Jones, 13 Tennessee Jeds, etc. But it feels like the set could be reimagined; suppose it was not re-released merely as the shows sans steamer trunk, but instead recreated as four mini-boxes? For ex. England/Denmark (6 shows), Germany (5), France/Lux/Neth. (6), and England II (5).

I mean, only with the Grateful Dead could a 6-show box set be called a mini-box ;) but there you go. This would make all the music available again, and in more bite-size chunks. Completists (so, that's probably all of us here reading this lol) could buy all 4. Sure, Rhino would have to pay an artist and a production designer to create four new mini-boxes, but that's a nice problem to have. And as mentioned, the liner notes and sleeve designs are already extant. Feels like there's a decent amount of profit in this model for Rhino, while for fans, even a fairly high price point per mini-box (for example, $179USD) would still come in at far less than the *lowest* starting asking price ($1500) today for a Steamer trunk.

Took photos.
Will need to inspect all the CD’s closely.

So apparently if your CD’s haven’t come loose from the sand paper holder it’s because they are stuck in the slot with residual glue.

This release is looking to be another epic fail by Rhino.

Sad, sad, sad…..

As soon as the download problems get fixed.

Mine came this past Saturday along with Garcialive 20. Haven't had a chance to check either out yet. I hope the Allman Brothers RFK sets get released to make it the complete experience.

I was thinking the same thing on the number released on this one. Still can't believe I missed it. Honestly had every intention but just dragged my feet too long. For now I settled for the single show and maybe a box will show up at a decent price someday.
But speaking of 'music only editions', do we think there's a chance of others someday? Europe 72? My lord there's got to be enough interest out there to sell several thousands more of that wonderful stuff!