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    Friend of The Devils: April 1978 (Dead.net Exclusive) [19 CD]

     

    WHAT'S INSIDE:
    Curtis Hixon Convention Hall, Tampa, FL 4/6/78
    Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, FL 4/7/78
    Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL 4/8/78
    Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 4/10/78
    Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 4/11/78
    Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University, Durham, NC 4/12/78
    Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 4/14/78
    Huntington Civic Center, Huntington, WV 4/16/78

    Recorded By Betty Cantor-Jackson
    Newly restored and speed-corrected audio by Plangent Processes
    Mastered by Jeffrey Norman
    Liners By Author Steve Silberman
    Artwork By Acclaimed Artist Matthew Brannon

    Limited To 10,000 Individually Numbered Copies
    Dead.net Exclusive

    It’s been said before but April ‘78 was an incredible month for the Dead. Like May ‘77, you could throw a dart and guarantee you hit a stellar show. - KyloRensPecs, r/gratefuldead, Reddit

    .... April/May '78 has a lot of the same qualities of Spring '77 but with some extra edge and a much bigger sound from the Rhythm Devils. A really special era that often gets neglected. - viewtiful_alan, r/gratefuldead, Reddit

    Sportatorium - April 7, 1989

    when drums started I thought, oh s*#!, i hate drum solos and Billy and Mickey stopped me in my tracks. Wow, these guys are really good. Little did I know the pervasive influence this phenomena would have on my life. - pearlybakerbest, Dead.net

    Huntington Civic Centre, West Virginia – 16 April 1978

    This is another must-hear concert by The Grateful Dead. The sound and mix are almost ‘absolutely perfect'... It’s difficult to pick out highlights because everything is played so well; the band are tight, Donna is great and the set list is strong. - Grateful Ted, gratefulted.co.uk

    We're hitting the bullseye with the eight previously unreleased stellar shows that make up FRIEND OF THE DEVILS: APRIL 1978. Filled to the brim with peak performances from the Grateful Dead's post-hiatus period, this collection captures the historic tour where "Drums" begat "Space," morphed into "Drums">"Space" and cemented the Rhythm Devils' second-set power move from the music business to the "transportation business."

    Spring 1978 finds the Dead consistently weaving spontaneous magic, showing signs of great promise and potential - from the no-nonsense rock'n'roll in Tampa, where scholars cite the first "Drumz" leading into "Space," to the lengthy communal get down in Pembroke Pines to Jacksonville where the twain emerge fully formed, offering the primordial opportunity for "soul retrieval." It's evident in the dynamic range delivered on back-to-back nights at the intimate Fox Theatre and through the laid-back unity of the band's performance in Durham at Duke, a comfort that carries over to Virginia and West Virginia where the playing is unbridled, bursting with momentum, threatening to carry itself away. And nowhere can you hear that more clearly than through Betty Cantor-Jackson's original recordings, reliably crisp, bright, and vivid.

    Individually numbered to 10,000 copies and exclusive to Dead.net, FRIEND OF THE DEVILS: APRIL 1978 has been mastered by Audio Engineer Jeffrey Norman using Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction. Steve Vance designed the collection’s custom box, which features a removable wave drum. (We invite you to unleash your inner Rhythm Devil.) Acclaimed artist Matthew Brannon created the set’s original artwork. The collection also includes a 48-page book with original liner notes by author Steve Silberman and photos by James Anderson, Bob Minkin, and more.

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  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    First pass through complete

    All CD’s played fine.
    Today copied to HD, converted to ALAC, and loaded onto a portable music player.
    Now going through the ALAC files to confirm that the CD’s copied to the HD without error.

    It’s fine with me that the Dead air was removed, we got 8 shows across 19 CD’s in the Box. Leaving the Dead air in might have required 24 CD’s which would have driven up the cost and made the Box larger.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    They say laughter makes one live longer....

    ....if so, I just gained an hour!!
    Pulled the last minute trigger to see Blue Oyster Cult in Laughlin (coincidence? I think not!) tonight. About an hour south from here. Rumors swirling regarding Eric Blooms health, so might as well see them while they are still performing because I'm not a fan of regrets.
    I will be taking the first Fox Theatre show with me.
    Update....Close Encounters sighting in the Jacksonville Space.
    Is that the first "official" Space? I'm down for it. The band is on fire!

  • Charlie3
    Joined:
    Nice

    I am digging this box. I am listening to the shows in order and up to the 4-10-1978 Fox Theater Show, and so far the sound is good and the shows are hot. Definitely cool to hear the genesis of the drums-space show format in these shows, I was always a big fan of the interlude and the transition to whatever came out of space, but I realize the sentiment was not universal. The design of the box is intricate but actually pretty functional and I find it pretty appealing, particularly now that fivebranch has explained the connection between the devil iconography and the deep south folk art. I'm pretty easy to please, so your appreciation of the box may vary, but if anyone is on the fence about getting this, I would pick it up. Thinking good thoughts for your smooth recovery Oro, good to see your sense of humor is intact.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    I was abducted by Aliens…

    at least that what it looks like after my robotic surgery lol.
    Fun to mess with people who don’t know any better: “hey, long time no see, how ya been” at which point I show em my scars and repeat the above header ; )
    In reality, it’s a long tragic tail involving collapsing vault tunnels AND Aliens.( DL has some serious security at that vault, bastard!), but the only way Bolo agreed to free me from my near impossible situation—(and as we KNOW, the situation is the boss not that douche from Jersey)—was after NDAs and blood oath to NEVER ever mention any details involved in my extrication, so yeah…

    Decided to go full cleanse of everything and anything, including Dead and dead related accessories for my somewhat “routine” procedure, but as things took a bit more than I had planned (all good, just takes longer to heal as ya get older) I kinda just kept with it, and as things have been slow here on DN, then kinda decided to have some fun and see how long it took to notice the absence of my usual over prodigious pontifications and general weirdness lol.
    Thanks to the kind folks who did notice, although that might have been directed toward the Other Oro, Oroboros who did lose his beloved mother recently. Condolences again as “a motherless child has a harder time” a the song goes…
    Chever way/intentions is good, and I’m ok, and hopefully he and his are doing better also!

    But we have been missing lots of good folks who used to add to the mix.
    Big names like Strider and Bolo, and Nappy, and one of my favorite DHs, GOGD, and SKULLTRIP, or even Gratefulhan, Wilfredtjones, Hendrixfreak, Angry Jack, Thin, Kiethfan (and more I’m unintentionally forgetting) and haven’t heard from the Onesies camp, hope things are progressing positively for you folks, and Mrs Doc, and big elephant in the room, PT Barnum…been like a couple months now…gulp. And Franks knee!
    Good to see Jimbo, Charlie, and Fivebranch, Fourwinds and some other “strangers” checking in! The more the merrier and less chance for me to ramble ; )
    Sorry to Mikey, but the fog from the drugs and alien mind erase incapacitated my ability to view said Bat signal until most recently! But do appreciate the RH book intel: of course TOO is such a hopeless book junkie that she already knew. As kind as she, is I’m starting to think her purchasing books for others is just a way to attempt to quell her savage insatiable book Jones…ahem, girls got a bit of a problem.
    Oh, to Mike and all jazz nicks, finished a great book during my time out:
    Three Shades of Blue: MD, JC, Bill Evans and the lost empire of cool.
    His prose is sometimes weird, but great research and detail. I’d call it a must read for anyone with interest in jazz!
    Also Spitz’s Led Zep Bio, good but? Left a weird after taste…
    And another, Once There Were Wolves, interesting fiction. Very informative, but perhaps a tad over the top story line?

    APRIL 78 BOX:
    Finally arrived after what seems to unfortunately have become normal MO of convoluted temporary lost in the ozone again fuckery,…but at least it’s here, ripped and ready and just finished an enjoyable listen to 4/6!
    “Sound sucks”…really? Maybe the sound of the band at the time might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d say the recordings don’t get much better, but maybe that’s just me? Certainly head and shoulders better recording than the previous last dog (ok show, perhaps worst released recording yet?).

    And ya gotta love DHs and our opinions lol. Now I dig Nitecat (and no offense intended!) and all he’s done here and on the toob of use etc, and I get what he ment about the tuning break pace, vibes/nostalgia, but after all these years I’m all for editing out unnecessary “dead air” though banter is always appreciated when space allows, but man I don’t miss the never ending tuning BITD before they had tuners, especially when after lengthy tuning break, they’d start playing and all ready be out of tune( like early 70s and primal) lol. Yeah, thank goodness for Korg tuners! Of course as any smoker knows, half those breaks were probably JG and that ole song (see Commander Cody’s take on ) Smoke, Smoke, Smoke lol
    Solid show and perhaps typical tour opener and already a step up from Jan/Feb run (did all those in order leading up to this box), but from what I recall things only get better, perhaps peaking at the Fox, especially the second night? We shall see, yum yum!
    Oh, dig the blown or overdriven speaker during 4/6 A&A being picked up on the instruments mic! Can’t figure out who’s speaker yet, but as a musician and roadie BITD I’d recognize that sound in my sleep. Just to illustrate how revealing these recordings are! Good Sheet Mon! Thanks to Dave and company for getting this awesome tour all gussied up and out to us!

    Ok, enough ketchup lol, good to see ya, now I need to call my BFF of almost fifty years (and awesome GD music bass player) to wish him a happy biff day, in spite of fucking cancer!
    Be well all, hope everyone gets their box soon and fully digs it!
    And
    DV, go VIKS! Lol

    Rombumzora: have you tried playing the discs on other players?
    The optics do wear out on players eventually…just a thought, good luck!
    ONWARD!

  • frankparry
    Joined:
    UK delivery

    Colin, did you say that Parcelforce is delivering your box? Mine is coming rom DHL and the tracking just says customs cleared but no mention of fees. It has supposedly been on its way for two days. Earlier I thought UPS had it, but that was another order.

  • nitecat
    Joined:
    CMD 70's tuning

    Oh yeah, CMD, I recall those long long tuning breaks in between songs. Listen to 71 shows you can hear the long breaks. It was kind of part of their charm, low key and not so showy.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Must Have Been The Roses....

    .....maaaaan. That song holds a place close to my heart. It was the song that was playing on the tape in my car the day Jerry died. I don't remember the show, but I remember the song. 🎶 If I tell another what your own lips told to me
    Let me lay 'neath the roses and my eyes no longer see.
    Edit. Billy Strings wife's water broke and he had to leave his Renewal Fest.
    Social media all over the place regarding his decision. I can assume you can guess why.
    Treys birthday is 9/30 btw. The big six O. That would be cool if Ally can hang on just a little bit longer.
    His new record is phenomenal btw. 🍻

  • rasta5ziggy
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Friend of the Devils Box

    I LOVE THIS BOX !!!!......only half through the Spotatorium show after finishing Curtis Hixon. I always play in order and never look at the setlists before playing, and that includes DaP's......such a great time to experience the band and great sound..........'78 Dead is sweet. The set stops before one of my shows in Columbus, OH on 4/19. I have several photos of that show as I was shooting for the school newspaper. Still have the 8 X 10 black and white from it. This was the beginning of their "Werewolves" journey. Another thing that I'm especially looking forward to is mastering the ocean drum and going on tour.

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    JAX Deal....

    ....yeah boi!

  • ronmarley1
    Joined:
    Always

    “Let me sing your blues away…”

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Friend of The Devils: April 1978 (Dead.net Exclusive) [19 CD]

 

WHAT'S INSIDE:
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall, Tampa, FL 4/6/78
Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, FL 4/7/78
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL 4/8/78
Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 4/10/78
Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 4/11/78
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University, Durham, NC 4/12/78
Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 4/14/78
Huntington Civic Center, Huntington, WV 4/16/78

Recorded By Betty Cantor-Jackson
Newly restored and speed-corrected audio by Plangent Processes
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman
Liners By Author Steve Silberman
Artwork By Acclaimed Artist Matthew Brannon

Limited To 10,000 Individually Numbered Copies
Dead.net Exclusive

It’s been said before but April ‘78 was an incredible month for the Dead. Like May ‘77, you could throw a dart and guarantee you hit a stellar show. - KyloRensPecs, r/gratefuldead, Reddit

.... April/May '78 has a lot of the same qualities of Spring '77 but with some extra edge and a much bigger sound from the Rhythm Devils. A really special era that often gets neglected. - viewtiful_alan, r/gratefuldead, Reddit

Sportatorium - April 7, 1989

when drums started I thought, oh s*#!, i hate drum solos and Billy and Mickey stopped me in my tracks. Wow, these guys are really good. Little did I know the pervasive influence this phenomena would have on my life. - pearlybakerbest, Dead.net

Huntington Civic Centre, West Virginia – 16 April 1978

This is another must-hear concert by The Grateful Dead. The sound and mix are almost ‘absolutely perfect'... It’s difficult to pick out highlights because everything is played so well; the band are tight, Donna is great and the set list is strong. - Grateful Ted, gratefulted.co.uk

We're hitting the bullseye with the eight previously unreleased stellar shows that make up FRIEND OF THE DEVILS: APRIL 1978. Filled to the brim with peak performances from the Grateful Dead's post-hiatus period, this collection captures the historic tour where "Drums" begat "Space," morphed into "Drums">"Space" and cemented the Rhythm Devils' second-set power move from the music business to the "transportation business."

Spring 1978 finds the Dead consistently weaving spontaneous magic, showing signs of great promise and potential - from the no-nonsense rock'n'roll in Tampa, where scholars cite the first "Drumz" leading into "Space," to the lengthy communal get down in Pembroke Pines to Jacksonville where the twain emerge fully formed, offering the primordial opportunity for "soul retrieval." It's evident in the dynamic range delivered on back-to-back nights at the intimate Fox Theatre and through the laid-back unity of the band's performance in Durham at Duke, a comfort that carries over to Virginia and West Virginia where the playing is unbridled, bursting with momentum, threatening to carry itself away. And nowhere can you hear that more clearly than through Betty Cantor-Jackson's original recordings, reliably crisp, bright, and vivid.

Individually numbered to 10,000 copies and exclusive to Dead.net, FRIEND OF THE DEVILS: APRIL 1978 has been mastered by Audio Engineer Jeffrey Norman using Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction. Steve Vance designed the collection’s custom box, which features a removable wave drum. (We invite you to unleash your inner Rhythm Devil.) Acclaimed artist Matthew Brannon created the set’s original artwork. The collection also includes a 48-page book with original liner notes by author Steve Silberman and photos by James Anderson, Bob Minkin, and more.

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@CmdrDarklighter

The flac files for this box are corrupt. For whatever reason, they're still for sale. Some of us have tried slugging it out with support, the higher ups, and whatnot. Nothing has changed.
The flac files are still full of drop outs and digital stuttering. The alac files, I believe, are ok.

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Just got done listening to the Box set in order, plus threw William and Mary in there to make it like I was on tour. I have to say that it was a very enjoyable experience. All the Box sets are excellent, but this one really brought a smile to my face. There's a looseness to the playing that makes it incredibly easy to enjoy - plus the sound is killer!! Going to need to relisten to July '78 now.

Now, let's scrape up anything listenable for that Fall 1970 Box set.

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I was able to get in both shows last night. The band is on fire, and there is a looseness to the playing, but also some really focused jamming

Scar>Fire from 4/11/78 almost set my damn house on fire!!!

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