Spring 1990, Volume One Box

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August 8, 2012 - 10:43am

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Anonymous (not verified)

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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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September 27, 2012 - 4:25pm

#131

whupumpkin

Joined:
November 2, 2010

Crosseyed and Painless...

Still waitin', I'm STILL waitin'I ordered the box the day after it was announced,Customer care sent me a mail on Sept 2 telling me that the box had left the building,and here I am,still no dice. Received a mal a week or so ago asking me how did I like my boxset. I replied,what boxset?,they got back to me apologizing and offering a full refund since they didn't have a spare box set to send... But WAIT! The next day,new mail telling me that,no,they did not intend to offer me a full refund but only a 10% rebate,since after all people were sill receiving their boxes and they were investigating on the matter. It is sept 27th. True,I live in Europe,and it takes a while,but 25 frigging day? What a debacle this has been..I've purchased many many items in the past,from dead.net and never had a problem,but this is just terrible. It's like,they don't WANT our money... The music is available,in excellent quality around. We buy what we buy because we like to have the artifact,and maybe,at least for me,because it seems the right thing to do,given the amount of music shared freely elesewhere. You nderstand that,right? Please,get your act together,for the love of the music... Peace out, Dario (I'm sure if/when I'll finally receive the box I'll be so awe-struck that everything will be forgotten,and I'll keep buying,like a moth ever closing in to the light...)
September 27, 2012 - 4:23pm

#132

whupumpkin

Joined:
November 2, 2010

Crosseyed and Painless...

Still waitin', I'm STILL waitin'I ordered the box the day after it was announced,Customer care sent me a mail on Sept 2 telling me that the box had left the building,and here I am,still no dice. Received a mal a week or so ago asking me how did I like my boxset. I replied,what boxset?,they got back to me apologizing and offering a full refund since they didn't have a spare box set to send... But WAIT! The next day,new mail telling me that,no,they did not intend to offer me a full refund but only a 10% rebate,since after all people were sill receiving their boxes and they were investigating on the matter. It is sept 27th. True,I live in Europe,and it takes a while,but 25 frigging day? What a debacle this has been..I've purchased many many items in the past,from dead.net and never had a problem,but this is just terrible. It's like,they don't WANT our money... The music is available,in excellent quality around. We buy what we buy because we like to have the artifact,and maybe,at least for me,because it seems the right thing to do,given the amount of music shared freely elesewhere. You nderstand that,right? Please,get your act together,for the love of the music... Peace out, Dario (I'm sure if/when I'll finally receive the box I'll be so awe-struck that everything will be forgotten,and I'll keep buying,like a moth ever closing in to the light...)
September 27, 2012 - 3:51pm

#133

Star Dark

Joined:
September 5, 2012

Re: Brent Wailing and Jerry Sailing

I agree - Jerry was beginning to pull back at this point, which is why I much prefer Summer '89 to Spring '90. There's a Not Fade Away on youtube (I believe from 7/17/89) that fully captures the mood of that magical season. JG and the others were TRULY on fire - as animated and energetic as during any of their last 10 years.
September 27, 2012 - 2:42pm

#134

itsburnsy

Joined:
June 12, 2007

Replacement Disc Arrived

To those waiting for a replacement disc, hang in there. Mine arrived on Tuesday, hopefully everyone else gets thiers too. Thanks to Marye and the others who helped.......
September 27, 2012 - 1:08pm

#135

carolina boy

Joined:
February 1, 2010

I agree with your letter, wharfrattx -

The announcement for the fourth and final installment (this year) of Dave's Picks is well behind schedule based on the trend for the previous three. I have no doubts that this is due to the quality control issues. How it embarassing it must be to have the fourth installment ready for release when a percentage of purchasers haven't even received the third installment yet (if ever)!
September 27, 2012 - 11:24am

#136

wharfrattx

Joined:
August 22, 2011

Open Letter to Dave

What follows below is a letter I sent to the vault. I was inspired to write after reading the comments on this board and the trouble I had with my Europe '72 purchase. Dear Dave, Years ago i spoke with Dick Latvala who told me that things were taking an uneasy turn for the worse, but I bet he NEVER suspected what would eventually become of the Dead organization. I've been mail-ordering tickets and merchandise since the 80's, always a wonderful experience. I've got EVERYTHING EVER released except for "greatest hits" compilations and the Spring '90 box. (more on that below) I'm a subscriber of YOUR series, and I must say, I'm loving it, especially Volume 3! Damn, Keith sure could tickle the ivories when he wanted to! I completely respect and almost always agree with your opinions on the music, and I LOVE the videos - keep 'em comin! I think you're serving the memory of Dick pretty well. Now, here's my issue. You're going to lose me as a customer. Actually, you already have. I didn't order the Spring '90 set and as much as I love 'em, I won't be ordering next year's subscription to your series. I WANT TO! But I can't. The customer service and product quality has gotten so bad, I can't gamble with my money anymore. I would be writing them this message (actually I have, they never respond) but I thought since you seem to be a sincere, decent person who actually cares about the music, much like myself, I thought I'd take a chance and write you. I've had my Europe '72 set for a year and a week. Still haven't received my replacement discs. I call now and then, drop customer service an email here and there, but nothing. No one cares. They have my money. Why should they respond? This is where YOU come in, Dave. See, When I spoke to Dick 15 years ago, (I had burned him some CDs and he called to thank me.) he lamented the fact that big, bad "corporate" folks were trying to muscle in on the sacred organization he had grown to know and love. It was coming, he knew it. He assured me, however, that if/when that day came, there would still be people who made sure that the fans were treated right and fair, and that the music would be respected. And whether he knew it at the time or not, it was people like YOU he was refering to. YOU are now carrying that torch! Which is why I'm writing. People are angry and hurt. They feel ripped off. Have you read the message boards for Spring '90? What's wrong with Rhino? YOU know there's a problem yet you champion them in your videos and defend and promote products like Spring '90 when you know that many people will be ripped off and cheated out of their money! YOU are a good person! PLEASE don't let the powers that be get away with this. It's a disgrace the way customers are being treated by Rhino and in turn, the Dead organization. Other music mail order companies don't do this! I order from Zappa, Phish, Allmans, String Cheese, NEVER a problem, or if there is one, I'm confident they'll provide service. I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE DEAD ORGANIZATION. Ask yourself...What would Dick have said about the disgraceful way fans of this music are being treated now? What would Jerry have said? Other than my conversation with Dick, I don't know him or Jerry, but I do know that they would have been appalled. I believe you probably are too. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!! MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THROUGH ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS OR SOME OTHER WAY, BUT MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT THIS TRAVESTY WILL END!!!! IT HAS TO!! I want to resubscribe to Dave's Picks, but I won't do it now, not with things like they are. PLEASE - MAKE DICK PROUD!!! Do the right thing Dave!!!!!! Sincerely, John Coley P.S. - Even though this would have been the perfect opportunity to release 8-27-72 audio & video (40th Anniversary), thank you for not doing it now, while it would have been subjected to poor quality control and customer service. Save it for when things get better. And they will - I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!!!
September 27, 2012 - 11:24am

#137

wharfrattx

Joined:
August 22, 2011

Open Letter to Dave

What follows below is a letter I sent to the vault. I was inspired to write after reading the comments on this board and the trouble I had with my Europe '72 purchase. Dear Dave, Years ago i spoke with Dick Latvala who told me that things were taking an uneasy turn for the worse, but I bet he NEVER suspected what would eventually become of the Dead organization. I've been mail-ordering tickets and merchandise since the 80's, always a wonderful experience. I've got EVERYTHING EVER released except for "greatest hits" compilations and the Spring '90 box. (more on that below) I'm a subscriber of YOUR series, and I must say, I'm loving it, especially Volume 3! Damn, Keith sure could tickle the ivories when he wanted to! I completely respect and almost always agree with your opinions on the music, and I LOVE the videos - keep 'em comin! I think you're serving the memory of Dick pretty well. Now, here's my issue. You're going to lose me as a customer. Actually, you already have. I didn't order the Spring '90 set and as much as I love 'em, I won't be ordering next year's subscription to your series. I WANT TO! But I can't. The customer service and product quality has gotten so bad, I can't gamble with my money anymore. I would be writing them this message (actually I have, they never respond) but I thought since you seem to be a sincere, decent person who actually cares about the music, much like myself, I thought I'd take a chance and write you. I've had my Europe '72 set for a year and a week. Still haven't received my replacement discs. I call now and then, drop customer service an email here and there, but nothing. No one cares. They have my money. Why should they respond? This is where YOU come in, Dave. See, When I spoke to Dick 15 years ago, (I had burned him some CDs and he called to thank me.) he lamented the fact that big, bad "corporate" folks were trying to muscle in on the sacred organization he had grown to know and love. It was coming, he knew it. He assured me, however, that if/when that day came, there would still be people who made sure that the fans were treated right and fair, and that the music would be respected. And whether he knew it at the time or not, it was people like YOU he was refering to. YOU are now carrying that torch! Which is why I'm writing. People are angry and hurt. They feel ripped off. Have you read the message boards for Spring '90? What's wrong with Rhino? YOU know there's a problem yet you champion them in your videos and defend and promote products like Spring '90 when you know that many people will be ripped off and cheated out of their money! YOU are a good person! PLEASE don't let the powers that be get away with this. It's a disgrace the way customers are being treated by Rhino and in turn, the Dead organization. Other music mail order companies don't do this! I order from Zappa, Phish, Allmans, String Cheese, NEVER a problem, or if there is one, I'm confident they'll provide service. I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE DEAD ORGANIZATION. Ask yourself...What would Dick have said about the disgraceful way fans of this music are being treated now? What would Jerry have said? Other than my conversation with Dick, I don't know him or Jerry, but I do know that they would have been appalled. I believe you probably are too. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!! MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THROUGH ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS OR SOME OTHER WAY, BUT MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT THIS TRAVESTY WILL END!!!! IT HAS TO!! I want to resubscribe to Dave's Picks, but I won't do it now, not with things like they are. PLEASE - MAKE DICK PROUD!!! Do the right thing Dave!!!!!! Sincerely, John Coley P.S. - Even though this would have been the perfect opportunity to release 8-27-72 audio & video (40th Anniversary), thank you for not doing it now, while it would have been subjected to poor quality control and customer service. Save it for when things get better. And they will - I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!!!
September 27, 2012 - 9:54am

#138

pghas1

Joined:
August 29, 2011

My favorite period

...by far of this band. I taped the 3/30/90 show off the radio myself and my brother taped 3/26/90 and so these are considerable upgrades of 2 of my favorite tapes. I really only wish they could have included all of the shows - was at 3/28/90 and 3/29/90 is a must also, as are the other Hartford and the other Atlanta shows. In terms of the mix, I think it is true to the mix that was happening onstage. Jerry sounds a bit muted during Picasso Moon at times, for example, but he was using heavy distortion and some kind of compressor and that's how he sounded in the mix when you were there. Doing it after the fact is a bit artificial, although Cutler was in the truck mixing down the 16 feeds as they came in and optimizing them the same way he would now.And everyone's preferences are different regarding a mix - some like a matrix, some like auds, some like more sterile sounding sbds - there's no pleasing everyone so I think they did a great job. Finally just some comments on the period - by convention, all second sets after about 1979 were listed with Drums and Space in them. But if you listen to 3/22/90 at Copps, for example, the last several minutes of Truckin is a clear Other One jam, then into a similarly themed drums, a space segment that again is clearly an Other One jam, and then 7 minutes of the Other One. So even though the setlist reads Truckin>D>S>OtherOne and the Other One is under 7 minutes, in 1972 this whole track would have been listed as Truckin>The Other One with The Other One clocking in near 30 minutes. Anothe thing that is real interesting is the profound difference between the Eyes in Hartford - a magnificent uptempo version to be sure that takes its roots from many of the late 80's versions - and the Eyes that was played just a few days later in Nassau, which was significantly slowed down and frankly ahd a much sweeter groove that the two drummers really jumped all over. And maybe Jerry consciously slowed it down because of the presence of Branford Marsalis, but every version I've heard after that had that same tempo and those booming, low end drums that were so sweet. So sorry some of you have had trouble with shipping but would love to engage in a discussion about the music.
September 27, 2012 - 7:37am

#139

mike dunn

Joined:
July 17, 2007

Regarding cracked 3-16-90 disc 3

I called customer service about 4 weeks ago regarding my cracked disc dilemma. They said it would take a while. No problem. Called again last night, and they stated that they are still waiting for a 3-16-90 disc 3 replacement, so it will still be some time. No worries, I just hope it gets here soon...... Still love the box, anxiously awaiting Dave's Picks Volume 4, hoping it's either 6-30-85, 7-1-85 or both!!!!
September 27, 2012 - 6:11am

#140

bambini

Joined:
January 3, 2011

jerry

a grateful dead where jerry is not the focus so sad

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

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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

iTunes

Just drag the whole folder on top of your iTunes icon. The show should show up there, in order.

Spring tour 1990 box set

Thank you David Lemieux and everyone involved in this awesome box set!!!

Spring tour 1990 box set

Thank you David Lemieux and everyone involved in this awesome box set!!!

Spring tour 1990 box set

Thank you David Lemieux and everyone involved in this awesome box set!!!

Just as long as you are there

There is a lot that can be said about this or that band member's contribution, how good this show was compared to that show, which show that people who are really in the know like (oh, you like THAT show?)... But in my limited experience: These shows are a blast! It doesn't matter if you were there or not, you can feel it in these recordings. Church is in session and Jerry and the Boyz bring us to our knees. (And if you were there, what a memory, eh?) My recommendation is to follow the advice of Obi Wan Kenobi: "Let go your conscious self, and act on instinct." These shows have what you want, and you can believe it if you need it. Share and Enjoy!

...............

Words of wisdom Lloyd, words of wisdom

iTunes

Thanks One Man. I'll try that next time.

Fantastic

Great job. Beautiful set.

hello

can i get some EUGENE please and not so pretencious that its all EAST coast, the woods and tree forts live , peace

hello

can i get some EUGENE please and not so pretencious that its all EAST coast, the woods and tree forts live , peace

Makes me wonder

If your box set is like mine, have you noticed how difficult it is to remove the discs the first time? I know that it is always hard with this type of package, but yikes, for this box it is difficult not to crack them!

Beautiful Package

I watched the package unveiling and it is a very well done Box set, looks sturdy, the cd covers are just like the ones I like, with the plastic CD holders, and nice books ,pictures and laminates. Good Job Rhino.JIm

Hi

The Set looks very nice with everything done well, I hope everyone is happy with their setsJim

90 box-set

My box arrived this morning in France with French post via Germany.Nice box with a defective CD: 3.22.90 Hamilton CD1 cracked in the middle. so I need a replacement disc.

anyone have any tips?

Looking for an easy way to remove the discs without breaking them. They're in tighter than a blank blank with a blank.

virginal discs

Phew...thought it was just my set that should have come with a tube of KY! But, once they're out, it's all good - no longer a tight fit (intone Michael Scott, "that's what she said...")...actually, any way you try to describe the removal process pretty much sounds like blatant sexual inuendo WOOT pried it, rotated it, talked gently, took deep breaths

Tip...

Perhaps this was already tried, though it sometimes helps to press down on the center 'teeth' (gently) while lifting the disc.

What's with the mix?

I just (finally) got my box today in France. I'm really stunned by the mix; Brent's tinkly-tink keyboard is very loud and distracting. At times it's louder than the voices, or than Jerry's guitars. What gives? Frankly, I'm not a big fan of late Dead, but this is simply appalling. I think I'll be putting my box up for sale on Ebay.

Numbering

By the way, I ordered on the very first day, and I got #8477. No big deal, but I'd have expected the numbers to go out roughly in order of purchase...

Live to 2-Track Mix

True, the mix is unbalanced at times. I'm surprised it's as good as it is, considering no budget was dedicated to mixing from the available multi-track tapes. If you are bothered by the loud keys -- and this solution is counterintuitive -- try turning up the overall volume until the things you want to focus on are loud enough to satisfy. Yes, the keys will also get louder, but it may be easier to listen "past" them if you can adjust your brain a little to grab more Garcia or whatever you want more of. Good luck!

Mix and Numbers

kirkmc, I think the mix varies show to show. At least that's been my impression (though I haven't directly compared them). 3/16 and 3/19 seemed more Brent-heavy to me, but maybe that's just because I was getting used to him. By the way, you should give 4-2 a spin before putting anything on Ebay. Also, the same thing happened to me with the numbering.

Seriously,

if you're gonna sell one of the best produced box sets ever because the keys are a touch overwhelming at times, you might as well sell Dick's Picks 6 because the drums can be distractingly loud, or Dave's Picks 2 because Donna's howls are...well, they're Donna's howls.

Got my box set!

Please disregard my request for help.Apparently, while I was being told they couldnt ship because ofbackordered tshirt, both were already shipped! Got them today and all is well. Sorry to bother you. JohnL (order 8888313)

The Mix

Kirkmc - Not sure I get it... the Dead's standard 89/90 "mix" is fairly well represented on these discs, and you confess to being no fan of the era. So why buy this box? (IMO, compared to the outrageously up-front keyboard onslaught of Vince+Bruce, early '90 sounds pretty dern good. Of course, the two-keyboard configuration was designed to cover deficiencies in another area, but I digress!)

How to loosen those virgin discs

I have a solution for removing the tight discs the first time without breaking them, but as previously noted it is difficult to describe the technique without sounding sexual, sorry. First, you need a screwdriver. Most men have one of these, but the longer it is the better and I know this might present a problem for some. Second, slide that thing underneath the disc all way in to the g-spot and lift until you achieve the desired release. I'm referring to the center gimbal hole of the disc where the center "teeth" hold it. BUT WAIT! Don't be premature and blow it, you fool. You need some protection so that you do not scratch the delicate membrane as you go in. I use a piece of medium weight paper card stock, about 4" x 4" in size (that's about 10 cm for you backward Euroheads). Slide the paper in first and then insert the screwdriver (or similar instrument) under that so there is no contact with the disc. Pry upward at the center point and the disc pops off free and clear! Now that you know this, I don't want to hear any more reports of cracked discs. ; )

Missing Disc 1 for 3/19/90

Instead of getting disc 1 for 3/19/90 I got an extra disc 1 for 3/22/90............they said they would mail me disc 1 for 3/19/90.......it has been two weeks so far. I just hope they live up to their word.

The next big box

I can't complain with the S90 box it has been a real pleasure to listen to. I think maybe a good idea for a future release would be a group of shows from one venue over several different years. I'd love to have an Alpine Valley box with 20 shows during the 80's to choose from. You could make a great box set out of that! and throw in some video. Or maybe shows from one city. A Philly box? Chicago Box? How good would shows from the Electric the Auditorium theatre (DaP3), The Uptown, the UIC pavilion (there's a great radio broadcast show from that run.) The Horizon and Soldier Field be? And all in one box covering 68' through 95'. Just thoughts and wishes. Keep the music coming!

Springbox 1990

My box was supposed to have been sent on 23 August to the UK. However, no sign of it. Parcelforce also has no sign of it. Is anyone else in the UK still waiting?

Re:Springbox 1990

Actually no-one has got the S90 box in the UK yet. Boxes have turned up in France, Italy, Germany and Sweden over the last few days but nothing here. It is not clear how they are being sent as there seems to be no tracking data, however if it is by normal post then we could be getting them in the next few days. Based on the info in the despatch letters sent out we should give it until Friday before dropping a line to query the whereabouts. Despite all the evidence to the contrary I remain optimistic on this.

Garcia Live Vol. 1

Just wondering who plans on picking up the first volume of the new Jerry series over at the Jerry Garcia.com site? show from 3/1/80, with a great line up at the time. Could be the start of a really cool new series!

The Call of the Box

Every day I log into this website, I find it harder and harder to fight the $199.98 price sticker of this box set. Did I pre-order "Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It"? Sure! But it's just so...just so...PRETTY!

re: The Call of the Box

The Call of a stripped down set for $100 with just the book and shows might have been sweeter. At least, the music is great and the mix is good. This set piqued my interest enough to take 'Without a Net' off the shelf to compare. On disc 3 of Copps, they botch that 'Hey Jude' a little (it's 'tentative' in places) but you have to hand it to them. They were bold enough to take chances, so I can't fault 'em for it. They sure were in a good spot for this tour...

Wow great shows

These shows rock just listen to blow away from the first show Brent leading the band almost reminicent of pigpen. The band sound like they are enjoying themselves and everything seems to gel. This is not 70's or 60's dead this is the dead 30 years later and still having fun Great stuff

Jerry's website off life support

I orderd a copy of Jerry's Vol.1, went for the poster/shirt combo. If their is truth to the writing then we are in store for some solid releases from Jerry's Vault. I hope it is true, really love the Pure Jerry stuff. I also order the Keystone Berkly shows with Merle Saunders from Amazon. No mention of it on Dead.net. I'm sure Jerry's vault has some amazing music. Hopefully all the legal stuff has been put to bed and the music will play. In the meantime, Spring 90 will keep me jamming until some new stuff arrives. Hate to read that some folks still don't have DP3, massive "Charlie Foxtrot" The band and its managers did something amazing for all of us, they taped and preserved their shows. Bet they never thoght it would become an empire. Folks like us will never have enough Grateful Dead~JGB. Being a Deadhead is a big part of my life. Peace. Phil

Lower price for S90

I have seen several folks here ask for just the music without all of he acoutrements. I am all for a lower price, but just how low do you think Rhino would go? Based on Dave's Picks and other releases, the lowest you could possibly see is $150. That is $25 per show. So at $200 as is, still a fair price. Worth every penny IMHO.

recieved my spring 90 box in

recieved my spring 90 box in scotland on 07/09/12.very happy with it indeed.everything in perfect condition,no damaged cd's etc.however i would much rather have boxsets like the style of winterland 73 and 77.

Get in the groove and let the good times roll !!

What a perfect opener for the Spring 1990 listening adventure!! The entire package is sweet and full of goodness like a box of chocolates !! The big book of photos and those GDTS concierge letters that used to come with the mail order tickets (way back before the internet) bring back tons of wonderful memories : ) Thank you Dave and Rhino !!! Thank you Jerry and Brent !!! The sound (so far): 3/19 is the finest sounding live Dead recording I have ever listened to. 3/16 sounds flatter , maybe because they captured the sound of each hall? There is also less Phil and more drums, which is rare for live Dead recordings but welcomed because it's easier to turn that up than down. Both 3/16 and 3/19 sound brighter than Dozin at the Knick. I am listening to Spring 1990 with the turnover on my amp set to 2.5khz whereas I use 5 khz for Dozin because on that recording both Jerry and Bob's guitars get obscured by the midrange. Hey now - if it looks like rain better check your doorstep, porch, patio, or courtyard. Ordered on 9/04, received here in West LA on 9/08 while the order status was still listed as "processing". Shipping notification emailed on 9/10 : ( Arrrived in perfect condition & 100% complete. Are people really using screwdrivers to remove the CD's from their cases? Could they be the MP3 (or even LP) generation?

Spring 1990 in Scotland

bryso wrote: "recieved my spring 90 box in scotland on 07/09/12"Not yet arrived in my part of Scotland. Shipping confirmation received from dead.net on 23rd August stating sent by UPS 2-Day International with a UPS tracking code that does not exist. 20 days later and still no sign. How did yours arrive? Royal Mail?? Courier?? Any customs charges??

Spring 1990

PsyKies I received a follow-up email that advised that it was being sent by normal post. On a previous occasion I was advised that an order had been sent and when it eventually arrived the postmark showed that it had actually been posted three weeks after the notification. I regret not ordering the box from Spin, from whom I am getting my Dave's Picks discs.

Spring 1990 box

Non arrival in this part of Scotland (Central) Shipped 23rd August but I am not quite panicking as it is not quite 3 weeks However combined with the non arrival of DP3 it is quite concerning

Don't use a screwdriver!

Don't use a screwdriver to remove the discs! Gently apply a little pressure to the spindle the disc is sitting on. While holding on to the edges of the disc, gently give the disc a little turn; maybe a quarter turn) while pulling the disc up to extract it. It seemed to come out easier for me when extracting this way, without force. After extracting the discs once or twice this way it gets easier. It doesnt seem to add stress to the disc thus way, and it worked well for me. Good luck and Enjoy.

Yeah, whoever is using a

Yeah, whoever is using a screwdriver must have had a few too many Screwdrivers. You're just asking for trouble by doing such. I just pressed down firmly on the center spindle, placed fingers on opposite sides, and gently wiggled the discs out. I'm sure some of you have pressed down on the center spindle and tried prying the disc loose from one side, which doesn't work very well and will eventually guarantee a broken disc and a broken heart. The smart thing to do is to pry the discs loose and put them in a CD wallet. I ripped them at 320 and put everything back in the box because I much prefer the instant segue between discs rather than the delay CD changers present.

because Donna's howls are...well, they're Donna's howls.

Yeah, tell me about it.I wish we could use equalizers to get rid of her from all those wonderful '70's shows!

Garcia Live Vol. 1

Great, thanks for pointing it out. I didn't know about it. I don't see it on Amazon yet. I like ordering from there when possible. But I'll get it! Jerry rules! What, no track list on the web site? ;(

Jerry tracklist from jerrygarcia.com

For those of you unable to find the tracklist for Garcia Live Vol. 1 on jerrygarcia.com I have copied and pasted it for you here Early Show: Sugaree Catfish John How Sweet It Is Simple Twist of Fate Sitting in Limbo > That's All Right Deal Late Show: Mission in the Rain That's What Love Will Make You Do Russian Lullaby Tiger Rose (w/ Robert Hunter) The Harder They Come Promontory Rider (w/ Robert Hunter) Midnight Moonlight E: Dear Prudence The lineup is: Jerry Garcia - Guitar/Vocals John Kahn - Bass Ozzie Ahlers - Keyboards Johnny de Foncesca - Drums

Arrival in Scotland

Who was the shipper ? I've been told first that it was DHL Global, and then (from Dead.net) that it was UPS Worldwide Saver. Tony

Another comment on mix

I've been comparing the Knickerbocker discs to Dozin' at the Knick and find that I much prefer the mix of Dozin'. Granted, I don't have a huge problem with the mix like some here, especially nothing warranting complete dissatisfaction or threats to sell my set on eBay or elsewhere. No, I still believe this was $200 well spent. Also, I'm partial to Dozin' 'cause that was my first listening of the Dead ever back in '96 when it was released. Something about that mix is more front and center whereas I feel the Spring '90 mix places me somewhere in the middle of the arena; Dozin' rocks whereas the Spring '90 mix booms. Of course, Lemieux and Norman knew that comparisons would be made between the two and opted for this current mix anyway which speaks volumes.

JGB in 1980

Thanks for the list.As most of us know this band has another release from this tour (2/28/80 at Kean College) Known as 'After Midnight' which included a bonus disc that had five additional jams, four from 2/29 and one from 3/1 That track is the That's Alright, Mama From the Keystone sessions with Merl Saunders Made famous by Elvis (whose drummer would soon be in JGB). As for the Dozin' v Spring 90 there are also the different nights to consider as the Box set show is not on Dozin' and I have heard variations at multiple shows For example the New Years run in 1983 at SF Civic, the First Night ROCKED and the others were more contained altho extremely entertaining (was dancin' my socks off)

mix on Dozin @ Knick and "Without a net"

Every Mastering Engineer has a different spin on how he masters discs, Arista records did "Without a Net" ,It probably was done by some big name mastering engineer because these labels want that big label sound, ,Good test on your ears that you noticed the difference. Those are bothwell done CDS

Spring 1990

Of course, nothing has arrived. As the first email advised that dispatch had been by UPS and even gave a tracking number and then the follow up email advised that the package had not been sent in this manner, deadnet did not even know how the package had allegedly been sent, it is reasonable to deduce nothing has in fact been sent. I am now fed up to my back teeth. It should be a simple enough matter to post a package to an address in the UK.

product sku

GRA9900088