Spring 1990, Volume One Box

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August 8, 2012 - 10:43am

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What's Inside:
• 60 page hardcover Smyth-Sewn book featuring essays by Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, and Blair Jackson and photos by Jim Anderson & Mike Laurentis
• 25th Anniversary Tour Program
• Official Band Letters
• 6 Ticket Stubs
• 6 Cloth Sticker Backstage Passes
• 1 Tour Laminate
• Official 1990 Band publicity shot
• 6 complete shows on 18 discs
      • 3/16/90 Capital Center, Landover, MD
      • 3/19/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
      • 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON, Canada
      • 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
      • 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
      • 4/2/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA

Box Dimensions: 12-1/8" x 3-1/8" x 12-1/8"
Recorded and Mixed Live by John Cutler
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD
Original art by Wes Lang
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

Introducing The Next Box: Spring 1990!

And now for something a little different. This year's box set - Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 - offers six complete shows from the epic spring '90 tour, one concert from each city the band played, personally selected by Dead vaultmeister and archival release producer David Lemieux. The sizzling six are: 3/16/90 Capital Centre (Landover , MD), 3/19/90 Hartford Civic Center, 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum (Hamilton, Ontario), 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena (Albany, NY), 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) and 4/2/90 The Omni (Atlanta, GA).

In his "Producer's Note" in the beautiful book that is part of the box, Lemieux, who attended the first 10 shows on the tour, states, "To my ears this was the last tour that was consistently great, where every show is excellent, not a dud in the bunch." And Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally's comprehensive and informative insider's essay in the box is titled "The Last Great Dead Tour." These guys know what they're talking about.

Basically, the band had been on an upward trajectory since Garcia's return to the road in the spring of '87, following his near-death the previous summer. Of course, 1987 was a trip in itself, what with the unexpected mega-success of In the Dark and their first hit single, "Touch of Grey." But the momentum just kept building with each subsequent tour, as Garcia got back up to full speed (and then some!) and the group as a whole was as unified as they had ever been since Brent joined the band in the spring of '79. New original tunes were popping up and the old favorites were imbued with a freshness and spirit that was so uplifting and inspiring. The band was having fun again, and it was downright infectious.

The group's fall 1989 shows-as documented two years ago on the Formerly the Warlocks box (two shows from Hampton, VA, 10/8-9/89) and on the 2001 release Nightfall of Diamonds (a single night in NJ, 10/16/89)- kicked the energy level up another couple of notches, as the band reintroduced such loved classics as "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot!," "Attics of My Life," "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Dark Star."

And when the band hit the road in mid-March 1990, they had a bunch of other cool tunes to lay on their unsuspecting crowds, including the return of "Loose Lucy" (last played in 1974; it's not on this box), Brent's "Easy to Love You" (missing since 1980), a rollicking cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," The Band's "The Weight" (with all four singers taking a verse each) and a lyrically retooled "Black-Throated Wind" (absent since 1974), which elicited huge cheers every time it was played.

Over these six shows, most of the cornerstones of the Dead's repertoire from the era appear-splendid versions of "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain," "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider," "Playing in the Band," "Uncle John's Band," "Eyes of the World," "Estimated Prophet," "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia," "The Other One," "Terrapin," "Stella Blue," "Feel Like a Stranger," "Bird Song," "Let It Grow," "China Doll," "Box of Rain," "Morning Dew"; you name it. From the fall '89 breakouts come "Help-Slip-Frank," "Attics of My Life" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." Among the still newish tunes are "Picasso Moon," "Blow Away," "Foolish Heart," "Just a Little Light," "Victim or the Crime," "Standing on the Moon," "We Can Run" and a couple that would get their final plays from the Grateful Dead on this tour-"Built to Last" and "Believe It or Not." There are stirring renditions of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "Black Muddy River," rockin' takes on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Iko Iko" and the only version of the full "Hey Jude" the band attempted in the modern era. And the "Rhythm Devils" and "Space" jams at the heart of each second set are as noisy-beautiful-scary-funny-intense-mysterious-wild as you'd expect/hope for.

Of course, we understand that some of you may have other favorite shows from this tour you wish were included on this box. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. But at 18 discs, this is still the second largest Grateful Dead box (after Europe '72: The Complete Recordings) that's been released, and the non-inclusion of any other shows from the tour definitely does not preclude their future release! But this seemed like a more manageable way to go, while still giving a sense of the tour's amazing depth and breadth.

Besides the discs themselves, Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 has much to offer, including: a gorgeous 60-page hardcover book containing copious color photos by Jim Anderson and Michael Laurentus, unique artwork by Brooklyn-based fine artist Wes Lang, fascinating business letters and communications related to the tour, a detailed historical essay by Dennis McNally, a Producer's Note by David Lemieux and individual show descriptions by Blair Jackson; a reproduction of the Dead's 1990 tour program (printed and sold later in '90, for the fall and Europe '90 tours); tickets and backstage passes of all six shows; a band publicity photo from 1990 by Ken Friedman; Dennis McNally's tour laminate; and reproductions of the colored 8x10 sheets GDTS sent out with hotel, food and other information for each city on the tour.

With recordings made by longtime Grateful Dead recordist and producer John Cutler, mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD, you just know it's gonna sound great-and it does!

So, that's the skinny this time 'round. This box is limited to just 9,000 numbered copies - please note, this is the only time these shows will ever be officially available on CD. There will not be an All Music Edition and single shows will not be available physically. Due to ship out August 31st, we anticipate that this extraordinary set will sell-out, so order your copy today!

If you're looking for more of a bite-sized taste of the '90s, Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It, a 2-CD set featuring a handful of favorites, will be in stores on September 18th.

-Blair Jackson

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August 3, 2012 - 6:50am

#961

italiandeadhead

Joined:
March 2, 2008

oversea postage & taxes included

Q. who buys a 18 cds bulk all at once? A: cd junkies!
August 3, 2012 - 4:49am

#962

rrot

Joined:
October 3, 2009

Overpriced!

Overpriced? Only compared to the bargain that was the E72 box. Compared to other dead boxes, not overpriced. Warlocks box? More expensive per disc than this. Beyond Description? More expensive -- and it's a re-release! Basically same price structure as Winterland boxes, only this one now has a seemingly more lavish production -- so value for money has gone up, not down. Don't give a damn about the doodads? Me either, but the point remains: pricing same as Winterlands. So, weren't the Warlocks and Winterland boxes overpriced? Not a chance, if you judge by the prices of archival boxes from other artists. Here's a very typical (but awesome) example; Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton, released on Mosaic, 10 CDs, $136. "I can't afford it" and "it's overpriced" are not the same thing.
August 3, 2012 - 4:39am

#963

Underthevolcano

Joined:
February 6, 2008

i'm in

Grate choice, David. Consistently entertaining late period run. The sound system and electronics were top notch and the Dead were having a blast with the technology available to them. A welcome addition to the collection, in my opinion. A healthy band with a smiling Jerry was always a good thing. Is a video release from these shows on the horizon? as no DVD is included in the box as an extra? BTW, the doodads will be fun-good response to those who felt that there weren't enough doodads in the Europe 72 box-I know i kept lookinh for "the hidden steamer trunk drawer on that one"-never did find that drawer though.
August 3, 2012 - 4:37am

#964

katky111

Joined:
October 23, 2011

When you're ready to become your parents...meh

"...hope I d-d-die before I get old..." Thank you David, GD.net & Rhino! Great work (again)...
August 3, 2012 - 1:23am

#965

italiandeadhead

Joined:
March 2, 2008

if this shop

will be the only source to buy this utterly overpriced box set than... I am out!gladly!
August 3, 2012 - 1:01am

#966

rdevil

Joined:
November 2, 2007

listening party

Anyone else notice the pauses between songs in the listening party? This raises a big red flag for me. Do the songs on this release have the same pauses in between? That would be a deal breaker for me. I"m not sure about this release anyway, but if there are pauses between each song, each transition and each jam then that devalues this release considerably. WTF?
August 3, 2012 - 12:09am

#967

rdevil

Joined:
November 2, 2007

tough choice

First of all, there's no need to complain about "whining" or "bitching" about this release. People are just communicating their preferences.This release looks great and it's from a really good year (although I'm among those who would have prefered more 70s). The dilemma for me is the price. My first reaction was that it was overpriced but after giving it some thought it's not terribly overpriced. If eliminating the "goodies" would drive the price down I'd be all for that. I don't need a replica backstage pass, it won't do me any good now--I just want the shows. Mainly, though, for my wallet, this box is just too big. A three show box at half the price would be a no-brainer. And why does this tour get a six show box? Yes it was very good but certainly not in the same category as any tour from '73 or '77 and the two Winterland boxes were smaller and much more affordable. I might still go for this, there is a lot of great music here but I'm on the fence because it's a lot of money to shell out at one time. And quite honestly, I don't reach for 80s/90s Dead all that often when deciding what to listen to. I hope future boxes fall into the $100 and under price range. Also, very interesting choice to choose six shows from six different cities. My first thought was to prefer full runs of cities but this might work out pretty well.
August 2, 2012 - 7:38pm

#968

poetry420

Joined:
March 9, 2012

busted 3/17/90 cap center

its been a long time since i thought about these shows or even that year.cant remember how many times before this show i seen the dead or should i say expericed the parking lot.i was 18 years old and had only started to experiment w/lsd. so i bought 2 sheets of lsd and shortly after met a cute girl and we were in the process of dosing when this long haired wanna be hippie comes up to me and asks to buy some of what he seen us eating.i said no that i dont sell.after hassling me to buy some cause he said he wanted to head in and didnt have time to look for his own.long story short-i gave,not sold,5 hits to him.next thing i know,he puts 20 bucks in my flannel shirt pocket and pulls a badge and says your under arrest.they were calling me the rabbit after what happned next.i jumped and ran through the lot, in and out of cars while people were watching all this and urging me to keep running!LOL.you all might not believe this,but suddenly all the hippies that were undercover cops came out of nowhere and they tackled my ass.they(pigs)were all laughing afterwards saying nice try and calling me a rabbit, that i just up and tried to get gone.this is funny reliving this now.they busted so many people at this show we were put in school buses and taken to jail.i seen at least 2 buses that night filled.another thing that sucked for me that night was i just turned 18 a few months earlier,so when they came on the bus,they said anyone under 18 off the bus,calling your parents,the rest of us went to jail.did 5 days then made bail.had to fake a rehab stint and then 3yrs probation.one more thing,when i was cuffed with my hands behind my back and just waiting with all these hippies around me,which were all cops,(cops dressed like us,heads)but if you had just showed up from another part of the lot and did not just see what happened you would think we were a bunch of heads just hanging out,anyway this dude comes up to us and he is like,whats up everybody whats going on.just bullshitting.but i know he is swinging and (so do the pigs) and before he incriminates himself,i swing my back around to show him that i'm cuffed.we look at each other,i say nothing,he says,right on,man.and walks away.they did try to pursue him but he said nothing incriminating and he just kept walking.i felt great to save a fellow headhead,if only this nite. watching the olympics now,playing shine on you crazy diamond for the balance beam,awesome!! -- the bus came by and i got on,thats when it all began,for the next 22years for me and still going. i love you so much grateful dead,thank you.you all helped me to change my life for the better. 420- i say pigs but i do have respect,don't kid yourself.
August 2, 2012 - 7:23pm

#969

antonjo

Joined:
June 4, 2007

multi-tracks, multi-shows, multi-smiles

Yeah, when Terrapin Limited came out, I thought it was about the best sounding release I'd ever heard ~ and we'd always considered that the weak night of the three! It cleaned up very nice (and our seats weren't the best for sound.) Very psyched that one of the "other" nights ~ my favorite of the stand ~ is being released. "Black Throated" was a particular joy, as Bob never resurrected his classics once he put them away, and my friend Dean and I had just debated before the lights went down whether we'd rather see him bring out "Lazy Lightning" or "Black Throated Wind." Then, of course, the church version of "Blow Away," where Jerry himself enticed us to clap along, even he was that moved. Earlier that same evening in the parking lot, Dean had the bright idea to trade our extras for 3rd night Nassau (hated to lose the chance to "miracle" someone, but it sounded like a good train to catch). Our boss graciously supported the idea, so up we went. I still remember Dean's crestfallen face when he saw what they'd played already, the previous two nights. He needn't have worried. I, for one, am utterly psyched that David chose 3/30, much less heralded than the Branford-flavored previous night but what a gem. First set could've been louder from the rafters, but opened with my first Help On the Way (finally!); Dire Wolf was always a treat; and another was Phil singing "going back to New York City" in NYC : ) We scored VIP seats for the second set, with the Playin -> China Doll -> Uncle John's and a fully realized Standing On the Moon (complete with guitar solo unlike '89 versions, Jerry bestowing it with the mark of his classic ballads).....sweetness indeed. And the sweetest sugar was to come ~ the Attics encore left us speechless. The harmonies, and music, were impossibly tight. The last time I'd see Brent, as it happened : ( Can't wait to tell my brother ~ who made the Hamilton trek ~ that one of "his" Copps shows is finally being released! Maybe these aren't the sickest shows ever, but they were solid, the energy couldn't be beat, and in my own personal trajectory this was the last tour I dropped everything for ~ kind of the last bloom of my "golden" show-going years, where the band mattered to me more than anything else going on. I'd never do a Dead road-trip again (well, not till New Year's 2003). Anyway, sorry for the novella. I LOVE this box format of a show from each stop ~ I think it's just the right amount to document such a tour. Wish they'd have squeezed 3/14's Crazy Fingers -> Playin' set opener onto disc 3 of 3/16 (a la the Albany bonus filler), but hey we could always wish for more and I think it's great that there's bonus filler on one of them. (For the piece-mealers, Estimated from 3/21 Copps is released on Weir Here, hadn't heard that mentioned below.) Thanks, people. Fun release, and I love those 60-page hardbound coffee table books.....
August 2, 2012 - 6:19pm

#970

redemption searcher

Joined:
August 31, 2011

spring '90!

This is sweet. Thank you! David Lemieux for choosing the 3/30 show; all my deadhead friends always disagreed with me, but I always thought this show was the killer of that run, (if not the whole tour) even better than the great Branford show. I remember taping it live off WNEW FM in NYC at Manhattan College all those years ago and just being blown away at how HOT and TIGHT Jerry sounded in the slipknot and the dire wolf. We were having a raging kegger in our dorm and I had a tape running off a cheapo boom box playing the radio broadcast, but the tape came out great. Those were glorious times! The 3/28 show which I went to turned out to be my last Brent show, was awesome (and awesomely psychedelicized), AND was STILL probably the weakest of the three at Nassau. That tour was KILLER. Maybe not Europe '72, but still friggin' great! Also, cool that they're including the Help>Slip>franks and Loser from Albany; I remeber endlessly bitchin when Dozin' didn't have those. BTW, Messr. Lemieux, you mention the calaypso jam after Women r smarter in the Landover show; another show that has a cool post WrS jam from that era is the previous fall Meadowlands show from 10/14/89, which is a really good to great show that has always been overshadowed by the legendary 10/16 show. Not to mention being overshadowed by the goonish brendan byrne security that run, that night which a guy from my high school died at that show. Those east coast tours were getting crazy by '89-'90, but damn the music was sick!

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

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What's Inside:
• 60 page hardcover Smyth-Sewn book featuring essays by Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, and Blair Jackson and photos by Jim Anderson & Mike Laurentis
• 25th Anniversary Tour Program
• Official Band Letters
• 6 Ticket Stubs
• 6 Cloth Sticker Backstage Passes
• 1 Tour Laminate
• Official 1990 Band publicity shot
• 6 complete shows on 18 discs
      • 3/16/90 Capital Center, Landover, MD
      • 3/19/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
      • 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON, Canada
      • 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
      • 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
      • 4/2/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA

Box Dimensions: 12-1/8" x 3-1/8" x 12-1/8"
Recorded and Mixed Live by John Cutler
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD
Original art by Wes Lang
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

Introducing The Next Box: Spring 1990!

And now for something a little different. This year's box set - Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 - offers six complete shows from the epic spring '90 tour, one concert from each city the band played, personally selected by Dead vaultmeister and archival release producer David Lemieux. The sizzling six are: 3/16/90 Capital Centre (Landover , MD), 3/19/90 Hartford Civic Center, 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum (Hamilton, Ontario), 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena (Albany, NY), 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) and 4/2/90 The Omni (Atlanta, GA).

In his "Producer's Note" in the beautiful book that is part of the box, Lemieux, who attended the first 10 shows on the tour, states, "To my ears this was the last tour that was consistently great, where every show is excellent, not a dud in the bunch." And Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally's comprehensive and informative insider's essay in the box is titled "The Last Great Dead Tour." These guys know what they're talking about.

Basically, the band had been on an upward trajectory since Garcia's return to the road in the spring of '87, following his near-death the previous summer. Of course, 1987 was a trip in itself, what with the unexpected mega-success of In the Dark and their first hit single, "Touch of Grey." But the momentum just kept building with each subsequent tour, as Garcia got back up to full speed (and then some!) and the group as a whole was as unified as they had ever been since Brent joined the band in the spring of '79. New original tunes were popping up and the old favorites were imbued with a freshness and spirit that was so uplifting and inspiring. The band was having fun again, and it was downright infectious.

The group's fall 1989 shows-as documented two years ago on the Formerly the Warlocks box (two shows from Hampton, VA, 10/8-9/89) and on the 2001 release Nightfall of Diamonds (a single night in NJ, 10/16/89)- kicked the energy level up another couple of notches, as the band reintroduced such loved classics as "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot!," "Attics of My Life," "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Dark Star."

And when the band hit the road in mid-March 1990, they had a bunch of other cool tunes to lay on their unsuspecting crowds, including the return of "Loose Lucy" (last played in 1974; it's not on this box), Brent's "Easy to Love You" (missing since 1980), a rollicking cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," The Band's "The Weight" (with all four singers taking a verse each) and a lyrically retooled "Black-Throated Wind" (absent since 1974), which elicited huge cheers every time it was played.

Over these six shows, most of the cornerstones of the Dead's repertoire from the era appear-splendid versions of "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain," "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider," "Playing in the Band," "Uncle John's Band," "Eyes of the World," "Estimated Prophet," "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia," "The Other One," "Terrapin," "Stella Blue," "Feel Like a Stranger," "Bird Song," "Let It Grow," "China Doll," "Box of Rain," "Morning Dew"; you name it. From the fall '89 breakouts come "Help-Slip-Frank," "Attics of My Life" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." Among the still newish tunes are "Picasso Moon," "Blow Away," "Foolish Heart," "Just a Little Light," "Victim or the Crime," "Standing on the Moon," "We Can Run" and a couple that would get their final plays from the Grateful Dead on this tour-"Built to Last" and "Believe It or Not." There are stirring renditions of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "Black Muddy River," rockin' takes on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Iko Iko" and the only version of the full "Hey Jude" the band attempted in the modern era. And the "Rhythm Devils" and "Space" jams at the heart of each second set are as noisy-beautiful-scary-funny-intense-mysterious-wild as you'd expect/hope for.

Of course, we understand that some of you may have other favorite shows from this tour you wish were included on this box. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. But at 18 discs, this is still the second largest Grateful Dead box (after Europe '72: The Complete Recordings) that's been released, and the non-inclusion of any other shows from the tour definitely does not preclude their future release! But this seemed like a more manageable way to go, while still giving a sense of the tour's amazing depth and breadth.

Besides the discs themselves, Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 has much to offer, including: a gorgeous 60-page hardcover book containing copious color photos by Jim Anderson and Michael Laurentus, unique artwork by Brooklyn-based fine artist Wes Lang, fascinating business letters and communications related to the tour, a detailed historical essay by Dennis McNally, a Producer's Note by David Lemieux and individual show descriptions by Blair Jackson; a reproduction of the Dead's 1990 tour program (printed and sold later in '90, for the fall and Europe '90 tours); tickets and backstage passes of all six shows; a band publicity photo from 1990 by Ken Friedman; Dennis McNally's tour laminate; and reproductions of the colored 8x10 sheets GDTS sent out with hotel, food and other information for each city on the tour.

With recordings made by longtime Grateful Dead recordist and producer John Cutler, mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD, you just know it's gonna sound great-and it does!

So, that's the skinny this time 'round. This box is limited to just 9,000 numbered copies - please note, this is the only time these shows will ever be officially available on CD. There will not be an All Music Edition and single shows will not be available physically. Due to ship out August 31st, we anticipate that this extraordinary set will sell-out, so order your copy today!

If you're looking for more of a bite-sized taste of the '90s, Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It, a 2-CD set featuring a handful of favorites, will be in stores on September 18th.

-Blair Jackson

A roll of the dice...

Could have take all the time in the world and been as careful as one could be and still screw up the down-mix of these multi-track recordings. When down-mixing the multi-track recordings please mix them as to preserve the feel of the live show. Thank you.

Whining!

The steaming audio sounds FANTASTIC, so it's really disappointing to see all of this whining about which tapes they used or didn't use. Consider these points: 1. How many bands even have the ability, desire, dedication (no pun intended) to CONTINUE to offer live shows from 20+ years ago? VERY FEW!. Yes, there's profit involved. Welcome to the real world. Stop for a few minutes and really look at the catalog of live shows that are available - it's unparalleled anywhere. 2. They're going to try to produce the best product they can because they're professionals AND because it's good business. 3. Grow up! If you don't like the way they sound, then don't buy them. I am CERTAIN that it won't hurt anyone's feelings

It's

It's only "taper friendly" if you use the source tapes *I* think you should have used, and even then only if you mix them the way *I* think sounds best. Anything else is just worship of Mammon. Of course if you do it my way, you'll raise the price. And that's just worship of Mammon. What happened to love of the music? [/entitled Deadhead]

thoughts

I can't help but think while reading some of the incessent posts full of 'wants' and 'demands' that this is revealing the underbelly of addiction...Alot of these posters need to calm it down and breath. If we were all as particular with real aspects of our internal lives as we are with our 'wants' we'd be making major breakthroughs. Music is supposed to enhance your life.

Dead community

It does have to make one laugh!. Here we have our most favorite band, putting out a plethora of quality shows & music, and still the complaints rain down. NO OTHER GROUP even attempts to do what the Dead do. I have a friend who is a Stones fan and he is always complaining about the lack of live shows that are "officially" available. The Dead continue to surprise & amaze me with the quality shows they offer from all time areas. It is just awesome! You can take what you want and leave the rest. There will be more coming all the time. I am very happy to de a Dead Head and will always be thankful for what is available now and what will be available in the future. I do not have enought hours in the day to listen to what I already have but I am always up for more! Go DL! Keep them comong.

Releases

Spring 1990!! Awesome! Look, here's the deal: i will purchase and gladly enjoy any releases from 1965 - 1995. That's all there is to it. We get multiple releases and a box set every year, that's insane! My worst fear is that i wake up one day and they announce the final release they ever plan to release. Lucky for us, I don't see that happening anytime soon. We have enough to worry about in day to day life, don;t worry about the music too! Just enjoy it. My kids can't stand when a package shows up at our front door or in the mailbox with a return label from California, they know that brand new grateful dead music will be gracing their ears on the way to school, on the way to soccer practice, on the way to basketball practice, on the way to hike on the AT, etc. They say "Don't you ever get tired of hearing the same thing over and over?!?!" And here's the catch: I never get tired of it. With multiple releases a year we are afforded the opportunity of constantly adding to our collection of shows. It is a true luxury to have! Dave: keep the picks coming, keep the videos coming, keep the box sets coming!! For every complaint you read i promise you there are ten more of us who greatly appreciate the time, effort, and dedication yall have displayed over the years. It will always be appreciated!! Folks, enjoy the music, it's hear to add to our lives as opposed to take away from our lives

Love yer comment Mat

Right on. Those are very sensible words, Whenever your having a bad day all you need to remember is that you reach into your stash of Rhino releases and come up with something that eases the head-ache of it all. How great is that?

Glad you love

The "steaming" audio, bluedognever. As somebody said pre-release, this product would be reviled! Too funny!

Yes, Rhino is reaping on this one

Because they took a hit on the last one (E72). No one should feel there is any altruism here. These are purely business decisions. It must be a businessman's dream to have a fan base which you can pull 1.8 million from any time of the year... Would there ever be over-saturation?

More on Audio - (See bluedognever's Earlier Post)

Hey, bluedognever: 1. True, the GD archival program is unparalleled. There's not even a close second. That is because this band uniquely speaks to a deep niche of listeners AND they were smart enough to record so much of their live work. Don't forget that no other band would attract this kind of dedication. We are the other half of this equation and we understandably expect to be treated like critical listeners. 2. Wrong. Rhino is NOT going to try to produce the "best" product. They have proven that conclusively. They are going to try to maximize profit, and that is to the detriment of any listener who cares about audio quality. The E72 box was rush-mixed and it sounds that way. Same with the Warlocks box. These are not the best audio that could have been produced, given the available sources. This new Spring 1990 box probably could be mixed better from the multi-tracks but Rhino won't allow a professional audio engineer the budget to do it. It is hard to believe that mixing this properly would put much of a dent in the $1.8M take. 3. Not buying is always an option, especially as the bar is lowered on audio quality. There is so much out there for free that sounds about as good as these latest releases that folks must be asking themselves why they are paying large sums of money for minor (if any) upgrade to audio quality. Tapers have always been interested in the best possible audio. We will settle for what we can get because we love the music. It is frustrating that top-notch sound quality is traded for higher profits.

OneMan

RE: point # 2 In all fairness, the mixing of the Europe '72 box ~ that would be the entire Europe '72 tour ~ came down to logistics. Jeffrey himself said from Day 1 in the interview posted on this site that there was no way he was going to be able to give every song/show/an entire tour the same care he did for, say, Rockin' At the Rhein or any single-show release. It would've taken five years, and is more, I think, than even the audiophiles among us could reasonably expect.

too much crap

How much for just the disks wrapped in brown cardboard? I want to buy this music, not the big pile of pseudo-memorabilia. Jeeez. Somebody's MBA marketing whiz is making everyone look like assh0les

A/B'ing Without a Net versus The Warlocks Box

After doing some comparisons between Feel Like a Stranger from these two releases, the immediate differences in the mixes I notice is that Jerry's guitar is hotter, Phils bass is punchier and has better definition and clarity and the drummers overheads and rides are hotter. The overall mix on the Warlocks Box sounds bigger. The drummers high hats are more noticeably prominant on Without a Net. Personally, I think they both sound great. Just different mixes. It's the same case with Althea in respect to Without a Net versus Terrapin Limited. I trust that this box will sound awesome. I just hope we don't have to wait too long to get the rest of the tour in another Spring '90 box.

17 euros for each cd

here in Europe and they are not even "multitracks"?wow! nice shot!

Complain, complain

LOL@"The E72 box was rush mixed and sounds that way." The set sounds great. It's the greatest collection of music ever released in one shot. Some people are never satisfied.

handjive, I must agree...

...I prefer the stripped down box sets like the Fillmore West and Winterland Complete. (which we need more of, namely 2-74 and 3-77) Especially if it'll bring the price down a bit. Extra pictures and a deluxe booklet is all I need along with the music - - definitely not 'replica' items. That said, I think I'll like the book.

Why is Phish so far ahead on the digital front?

Well, I got mine. But its tough for some of us to come up with $213 on little more than a few days notice. OK, overall, I get the limited edition CD thing. What I don't understand is why the Dead put so much stock in physical media. Maybe it made sense for E72. That was a beautiful box. But if you're going to offer a late-model, incomplete tour this way, why not offer a digital-only FLAC download for a lower price, so everyone can partake (on their own schedule)? For years, we've been able to buy every single Phish release (from the White Tape to Party Time) digitally via livephish.com. Phish clearly understands the way this thing is headed and they make it easy for their fans to have physical releases, or instant gratification. So why are the Dead stuck with a 20th century distribution model?

asked and answered

above, per David Lemieux.

Accidently Double Posted

I accidentally double posted. Powers that be feel free to delete this post.

Possible reasons there is no digital release for now

Reading the description it seems pretty obvious that at some point down the road they are planning to release this digitally. "This is the only time these shows will ever be officially available on CD" so the strong implication is that it will be released digitally at some point down the road. I don't know anything more than any of you but I believe there are probably a few reasons behind why they chose not to release the digital version at the same time. For one thing releasing them side by side decreases demand for the physical version and if they don't sell out quickly then they have the cost of storage, which is the same reasoning behind all of these "limited edition releases". Also when they do release it digitally, without the book or all the knick knacks, it will probably be at a cheaper price, so if that was concurrent it would further drive down demand. Then there is the issue of piracy. With a physical only release it takes more effort to make pirated copies online. It will still probably happen but I would guess they have figured that doing it this way they will cut down on the amount of piracy. Lastly, because of the Dead's earlier origins than Phish the overall demographic is older and the older the demographic the more you find physical medium purists. Plus, I think that when they did the digital download series and and the Road Trips digital stuff they didn't have as many sales as they were hoping for. Anyway that's what I speculate. Regardless of that stuff, I am very excited about this release and appreciate all the transparency and clarity about what we're getting and what's being released now and in the future.

In 8 days since this release

121 different people commented. About 100 positively. 23 people commented multiple times. Of those who commented multiple times, 3 people tied for the most comments with 7 each. The overall rating for response to this release is "lukewarm". Given the comments so far for DaPs, it is hard to understand this tepid attitude. So many people wanted something from the 80s or early 90s. I think this is in large part due to the price tag. It looks to be a long way to a sellout. I would think something like 90 days at least.

Very grateful

It may sound cliched, but I'm very grateful for this release, these will be nice upgrades as to what is in circulation. Can't believe this hasn't sold out yet, really thought it would sell out after two days..... Looking forward to this and the impending Dave's Picks Volume 4....

new box

I ordered this as soon as the announcement hit. I have been mmore than happy with sound qauulity on most of the past releases other than some of the eartl road trips keep them coming andd thank you David et al

Listen With Ears Please

Spacebrother, I don't know which organ you were using to listen to those mixes, but I find the ears work best. (The two holes on either side of the head where sound goes in.) The Warlocks box sounds like a mix by someone in the first semester of audio engineering school. The worst offense is that the vocals are often buried, especially Jerry's. There are many other imbalances, unpleasant dynamics, and the whole thing sounds harsh and very cold compared to any other multi-track mix released thus far. Compare this to the amazing job Jeff Norman did on the Movie Soundtrack. Even Phil and Owsley could not make a listenable mix from those tapes (hear Steal Your Face) yet JN worked wonders because he had the time (budget). That release sold (and still sells) for less than $12 per disc, about the same we are now paying for vastly inferior audio products. Compare also to Two From the Vault, where Dan Healy worked tirelessly to correct time smear by running each track through different delays, to re-focus the sound. This kind of effort will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN because we accept the rush jobs we are now fed with regularity. So no one cares. Too bad for people with ears.

Dave's Picks volume 3

I know this is off topic, but is anyone still waiting on Dave's Picks volume 3? I'm here in GA and it has not yet arrived. I am trying to gauge if anyone else out this way is still waiting on their copy as well. Thanks and have a good evening!

to matthrelkeld

what up,i'm here in pennsylvania and i too am still waiting.in fact i emailed customer service yesterday because i never had to wait this long.yes i know a few more days is not that much but have been ordering for 15years i know how long it usually takes.here is what customer service said,right from my email-Dear,Sam Your order was shipped on 7/30/12 please allow 12-14 business days to receive your order due it being shipped by usps and their is no tracking number,because the order is a lite package.Thank You Sincerely, Andre Customer Service Dead..Net 1- 800-225-3323 now that you have not received yours in georgia is i hope nothing more than coincidence.peace-though i don't believe in coincidences

To poetry

I literally got the exact same email from customer service today. Signed by Andre as well. I have been ordering for 10 years, I have ever once had an incident before. But like you said it usually takes 4-5 days. Every time, release after release. Good luck on yours, I'm hoping it is just taking a whole to get to the East Coast. I know the USPS is going under but come on now. Next time I will go with UPS for my releases

spring 1990 listen and look video

everyone has their opinion but for david lemieux to say the spring 90's are has good has the europe 72',fall 73' and spring 77' is just....wow.i would have to say that is a man trying to make some sales.now he did say-the best tours in grateful dead history,maybe he was there on all those tours and had a great time but as far as music goes-your own opinion or someone else's-no freakin way do they compare to the 90's.spring or any other time.wow david,really?

Dave's Picks Volume 3 Delivery

My copy of Dave's Picks Volume 3 hasn't arrived yet either and I'm in California. I'm in Los Angeles though, so I'm not worried. The package has to go all the way to So Cal, stop at some major sorting house bureaucracy, probably go from there to LA, more bureaucracy, then finally go out with the mailman making his rounds to my apartment building. Judging by Europe 72 things tend to arrive about a day or two after the first people get it on the east coast. @ Poetry: Go easy on Dave, Bobby said pretty much the same thing in his little promo interview video. There are probably more people whose favorite era is the 70's than anything else, but there are plenty of Deadheads who swear by the Brent era. And Brent is on fire here, just listen to the latest sample from 3/19/90. It may not be your favorite tour of all time, but they had already released a lot from 72, 73 and 77, and it makes sense for the first mega-box after E72 to be non-70's especially considering that Dave's Picks Volumes 1-3 are all from the 70s albeit very different eras of the 70's.

DavePick 3

For what it's worth, I'm in GA & I'm waiting to receive it as well.

This, That & the Other Thing...

As far as Dave's Picks vol.3, I'm still waiting for my copy here up by the Great Lakes as well. Hopefully tomorrow! @ One Man, until the day somebody invents a way to absorb this music through osmosis, I'm afraid that I am stuck listening to it with the two holes on the either side of my head. If the sound quality doesn't meet the criteria of your high standards, don't buy it and quit sniveling. To me, all of these releases sound great. Truckin' up to Buffalo, Crimson White and Indigo, the Warlocks Box, Nightfall of Diamonds, Terrapin Limited, Dozin' at the Knick and the Nassau Birdsong & Copps Scarlet >Fire blurbs on the So Many Roads set all sound top notch. I wonder if the demons Brent was dealing with, if in relation to the stigma of being "the new guy" is what had finally caught up to him? Whatever energy that inspired his playing over those last several was nothing short of phenominal.He went out at the top of his game. I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but it's interesting that, like the 7,200 steamer trunks for the E72 box, they chose to grace the Spring '90 Box with 9,000 units.

reply to sometimesagreatnotion

my comments have nothing to do with the release,i want to hear everything eventually also,60's,70's,80's,and 90's.release it all,just get rid of the bells and whistles IMO.it has to do with dave's statement which i feel is more on the business side of selling the box set and not a true feeling of his.of course we will never really know.if it had been a late 80's release would he have compared that tour to the ones he mentioned in the video.they were on fire during this time,brent and jerry had a good blend.i love the videos-view from the vault,the way jerry and brent feed off of oneanother.just like you said in your post,bobby said pretty much the same thing about when they were in their prime.im just questioning his statement.i hope he does really feel that way to be honest,who wants someone making statements like that based on trying to sell new releases.

4 posts of not receiving dp# 3

no such thing as coincidences! LOL

The Truth is out there!

I have been ordering stuff since late 89, back then it was cassete tapes, grateful four cds. i noticed1990 box didnt sell out in the record time inwhich europe 72 did. the winner is e72, sofar, i would like to see afull box release of april 1971, it would sell out, as far as comparing the era's of to eachother is pointless none are greter or lesser than eacother in my opion, i have been hooked ever since i bought touch of grey single on tape with brother esau, i want to hear it all so there are afew blemiched recordings sound quality isnt perfect . i went to 9 shows in the ninties and i enjoyed them all i dont compare or judge them they are what they are and i love them all, but to be able to go online and listen to those shows is invaluable i hope that ability never goes away unless they are officially realeased which is probally unlikly , i have enjoyed reading the comments hopefully mine can entertain too.PS. I Love the Grateful Dead

dp3

No DP3 in CT yet either. I was thinking the postals lost it but as a lot of you aren't receiving it i guess its just a general snafu of the mail. I have always chosen the cheap option and received it within 3-5 days in the past.

DaP3

Also not arrived in NC. Aside from the whole USPS question, I'm thinking that since the release sold out, it's shipping all at once...more or less. I'm imagining one guy with a stack of boxes on one side, a conveyor belt with CDs on the other, and a little routine like the "I Love Lucy" assembly line thing happening (sorry for the way-ancient TV show reference). It keeps me amused while I'm waiting.

got an email, 24 vs 2

After one year almost to the day, I Got an email from rhino saying, we are sorry and am now offering to replace your defective discs. Ha, I've heard that before, they just want to shut me up cause they know any bad publicity will cost them sales, which is what it is all about to them. I haven't replied to their vain attempt to appease me cause I can't and won't go thru all that again, I will just keep what I have and not deal with them. man, I'm so glad I waited for the reviews, this hasn't even been heard yet and we now know that it is not 24, it's 2. What a joke, they've got the master tapes in 24 track and they give us 2 track mix downs. Rhino, you are the worst example of American business practices ever. Hey everyone, this release isn't worth 20 bucks, well alone 200. A friend of mine asked me to go in with him so we could get this release, I laughed so hard at him and told him to just listen to the e72 discs and from those, determine if you are gonna get a quality product, after a few cuts, he reniged his offer and said "thanks" for making me listen. Too bad, too sad, rhino, I wish you had never been given such a gift, the dead vault, for you to shat on, and maybe soon your envolvement with the best music ever made will come to an end. Ripoff money grubbing capitalist, your karma will catch up to you and when it does, I hope I'm still around to see your demise.

dp 3

i'm in ny and dp3 hasn't arrived here either. jennifer c at customer service said 10 - 12 days delivery they used to be quicker

DP3

Don't suppose I should wait by my UK postbox for a little while then.

sound quality

I must have tin ears because I think the sound quality of Europe 72 was terrific-especially for 40 year old tapes. I have generally thought the sound on all the releases was at least good to excellent given what the age is and the choice of recording medium. I'm listening through a system with tube amps and Klipsch old time speakers-either Heresys or Epics depending upon the mood. These speakers are revealing and dynamic so shit doesn't generally turn to shinola on them and I have been happy with the sound. I did think there were problems with the Warlocks box but, all in all, not bad. Judging from the comments around here I must have tin ears. I pity the "Golden Ear" folks-nothing is gonna make them happy.

E72 Needs A Re-Do

Released in 24/96 FLAC'S.

Waiting on DaP 3?

My experience is that it takes no longer than 9 days for UPS Ground to go coats to coast That is the slowest way to go, bar none, even USPS bulk. Therefore, all of this did not go out the door on 7/30/12, guaranteed.

Hey! Move it to DaP 3 thread!

This is the Spring 90 Fuss Fest thread! Stay on topic.

Work for free

To all those whining about Rhino (read The Grateful Dead) just want to make money when was the last time you worked for free

DaP 3

My copy of Daves Picks 3 was received in northern Virginia on Friday, 8/3/2012, via standard USPS shipping.

Dave's Picks 3

DP#3...pffft. I actually forgot about it. Needles to say mine hasn't arrived yet. I can hardly wait for the Spring 90 box to arrive though. I should be just getting back from Phish's 2nd leg when it arrives. I can't wait to pop in the first disc. I'm going straight to Nassau!

Dave's Picks 3

Hey everyone...for what it's worth, my copy arrived this monday, August 6, & I've never had a problem getting the releases..I'm in upstate NY..Albany. And, at the risk of offending some of my friends out here...Brent was a whiz on the keyboards, no question. But I found his voice to be one of the most annoying in rock and a distraction from any song on which he sang. Today being the anniversary of Jerry's death, would this not be a good time for folks to lobby the Post Office for a Jerry Stamp??? We all know now that addiction is a disease. And if that is raised as an objection to honoring Jerry, look at all the stamps that have been issued for Americans who were drug addicts and alcoholics over the years...Spencer Tracy, Billie Holliday, Bing Crosby, who also beat his wife & children, Edgar Allan Poe, James Baldwin...the list goes on. I don't know how a person gets to have a stamp celebrating his life & contributions to our lives and culture, but of all places, THIS site should have someone who knows how to get this started. Be well everybody, and as a wise old dude once said to me...go to church today and blow out a candle in Jerry's name.

anna

lets keep talking about dave's pick not arriving.stay off topic!!

Hmmm . . .

Let's see . . .A group of very serious and devout Deadheads responds to requests from other Heads to spruce up and release some great music from the 90's. They spend weeks and months listening critically to dozens and dozens of shows. They recruit a record company that specializes in releasing high-quality (both sonically and packaging-wise) CDs by obscure-yet-talented musicians, even though many of those releases have expected sales in the low thousands of units. This team of Deadheads (who have heard more Dead than just about anyone), who have the time, inclination, and equipment to produce the best possible sound from decades-old tapes, decide how the music will be best presented, in terms of source material and production process. They dress the CDs up with lavish books that will be a joy to look at for years, along with some trinkets that stir old memories and make the set a wonder to behold. Leaves me thinking of two words only-- Thank you! For anyone who thinks that Rhino is some greedy company, please go take a look at the artists they produce. The people at Rhino love music, and put out well-thought releases that no other company would even consider. I am willing to bet $200 that David and company made the best decision on this set as to which source tapes to use. And Europe '72 sounds amazing to my ears through a tube amp, some Grados, and some Magnepans. If folks didn't scream so loudly about complete show-only releases, then perhaps there would have been an 8-disc compilation of this tour that was $140, but hit all the truly fantastic moments, but excluded all the mediocre moments. Then it would have been more affordable, would have hit everyone's favorite moment, and would have allowed more production time for the 80's releases that some folks clamor for. (personally I would love more 60's) You can't have it all, so I'm Grateful that we get so gosh darn many releases that look and sound excellent.

Epic Box Set 2012!!

Being that I was too young to experience anything Grateful Dead before 1980,...and my first show was in 1982, the Brent years have a special place in my heart, and this expands my heart to 3x the normal size, no I am not the Grinch,..LOL>>>but this just gives me such a thrill to be able to go back and listen to the magic once again, and remember all those f***in' good shows I caught whilst they were in their late 80's rebirth. So looking forward to the expansive listen,..so glad I made it!!!

product sku

GRA9900088