The most important thing for me is how the cds are packed. Can I get them out without risk of scratching them, or do I need to remove them from the box after the first listen and house them in separate plastic or paper holders. That's the question.
I don't know what will happen to all my stuff when I slip this mortal coil. End up in a charity shop or a skip, I suppose. Won't bother me, where I'm going!

I am often asked what I'm going to do with all these Grateful Dead Cd's, lp's, downloaded SBD's and burnt shows from the internet including 2 digital storage bays full of complete shows. I really don't have any offspring to leave them to and I'm the only one besides my better half that even listens to the Dead in my family. I know, it's not the kinda thing that one thinks about while on that quest to be a "Dark Star completest", but as life happens and uncertainties occur sometimes, I wonder about that and if, if something was to happen, who would benefit and appreciate this 45-year obsession. Causes one to pause and contemplate.
Surgery on Thursday, 5-hour procedure, 7 - 10-day hospital stay, 6-to-12-week recovery time.

We will get by, we will survive.

Jeff,
My apologies. Had just gotten out of bed and my spelling was off, Jems should have been gems. SBD is soundboard. (I collect SBD, not fond of AUD, just my sound preference). I have a Utica '73 show that is a SBD. GEMS. I sourced that from online and believe GEMS is: Graphic Environment for Mulitmedia Storage.
I own 18 or so of the box sets, suffice it to say that beyond that, I have an expansive collection. I take the GD seriously. I also collect posters and prefer the Kelly/Mouse, Rick Griffin aesthetic. Of the boxes I own, I wasn't thrilled with the MSG "In Out of the Garden" artistic design either, but I did find it whimsical. I'm not arguing the quality of music or content. Simply my artistic preference.
'78 was "my coming of age and Dead enlightenment period," so I have to have this box. Art is subjective, no doubt. Given the size of my collection (and home) and the fact that I literally budget for Dead music each year, at some point I'll have to stop. I imagine that will be driven by the timeframe of the specific box release and/or the value of the package to me based on appearance and the storage space it consumes.
Just finished listening to DP 51 a second (enjoyable) time. The cover of it, as a tribute to the Office's, Michael Scott (and Scranton) (right down to the dead song related desk tchotchkes), coupled with the music itself, put a smile on my face.

Hey DS BGE, I notice the source for some GD shows on the archive are tagged as "SBD.GEMS". Is this the same as "Jems", and can someone explain to us in the great unwashed, what that means?

Also, like GD eras, cover art is a matter of taste. Annual box set releases usually far surpass the first glimpse provided with their announcement – the real deal is expanded in unexpected directions with many surprises. After checking out the FOTRDs poster (which is pretty cool), I can't wait to see the actual box. (BTW: I thought the cover on Dave's 51 is . . . well. . . kinda basic, with no fully developed box coming to the rescue. The music inside is already more than making up for the visuals.)

I have a few - still sealed - of DaP 37.. if some of you need it to complete the box - let me hear from you.. bw from Copenhagen

I'm a devout Dead Head and collect most everything related to the Dead. I've been following the dead since Terrapin Station was released. My first live tape exposure was to part of the 4/11/78 show. I often contemplate the box purchases for a few days (and then end up buying them anyway). This box is a no brainer. I almost didn't even need to read the setlists because I could start to hear the songs from memory just by seeing the dates. Needless to say, I have to have this box. These shows are jems, My one complaint is Jems should be boxed as such. The artwork to this set is a deterrent. I have been collecting rock and jazz show posters for 40 plus years; initially because of the way they tended to capture the essence of the music. I'm sorry Mr. Brannon, but this artwork is not a match to the music of this era for me. It reminds me of the doodles I used to do on my junior high notebooks. Other than that, what a nice collection of shows!

More April '71 !!?

Hi there!
I can send it as whatever file format you want - suggest a wav or flac - just give me an address and I'll wetransfer it

Ian

Are there any plans to reissue Dave's Picks 37 which is the missing show from this run for the 15/4. Be nice if it was reissued as download for those of us who missed the original release.

Slammed finger....OUCH