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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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  • rbmunkin
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    Quality
    How would you answer my example in my first post about this:Do you seriously contend that Jerry isn't OBJECTIVELY a better guitarist than me? Comparing Van Gogh vs. Monet is much more difficult of course. I'm trying to make the point by using an absurd example, but a valid one. Personally I think we want to say quality is purely subjective because it's easier to say that. It's too difficult to show objective quality so we don't want to go there. But just because something is difficult doesn't mean it's not reality. This reminds me of the joke: A man is searching on the ground under a street lamp. Someone comes up and asks him if he lost something. He says yes, his keys. Did you lose them here? No, I lost them in the alley but it's too dark there. When looking for objective quality, one must look in the dark alley even though it's easier to see in the subjective lighted area.
  • FootBear
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    .
    .
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    that's back on topic?
    Who got screwed out of their order is back on topic? Do tell, Footbear, who got screwed out of their order? What started out as a thread that was finally mostly about the music in the box has degenerated into another bile fest. Guess some people feel better having an audience. I'm about done with these boards, myself. Talk about disenchanted and disgusted...... Sheesh.
  • Hoopsie
    Joined:
    Spring 1990
    March 29, 1990 on VINYL, yes please.
  • Hoopsie
    Joined:
    Spring 1990
    In a vain effort to return the discussion to the excellent but somewhat inefficiently shipped box set -- I was only able to catch the boys from 85-95, so 89 and 90 stand out as the apex years, with Jerry sounding fresh and not so ragged and tired, and inspired ensemble playing. I am so glad to have this. It will be cherished for years. Wish I was able to catch 5-2-70, but I was still only 4! Geez, you people who were able to see these shows must be practically senior citizens by now! ;-) Now, if only they'd ship my replacement for the cracked Disc 3 of 3/16/90? See, I'm not bitter.
  • Tanis Fane
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    Quality _is_ subjective, no
    Quality _is_ subjective, no matter how you describe it. The idea of one artist being more talented than another is subjective. Is Monet better than Van Gogh? Quality is, for most people, subjective to the price at bidding that has been established by people claiming authority to declare it such. Objectively, something is "good" or "bad" because it has been granted a more desirable status in a given framework. Social capital, if you will. You place great cultural capital in Jerry's playing and thus, for you, he is the best. The value I place on his playing, though high, is not as valuable for me as it is to you. I'd pay more for someone else. (Much as I value/love/geek-out-over the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd, VU is still, for me, minted from the most valuable coin music/art provides.) You are correct about my mis-attribution of the "bold"-ness, that was someone else calling it that. My mistake. :) But the comparison of Pigpen dying and the band continuing vs. Jerry dying and not continuing, isn't a fair one. The first, a member dies while everyone in the band is still under 30 years of age. When they're all around 50, another one dies after 30 years together. Economics and age played as much a role in that. And then, as you said and I agree, even when the "tribute" bands contained all members but Jerry, it wasn't the same. But neither was a JGB show anything like a GD concert. I'm not attempting to convince you, or anyone, to alter their opinions. You've made a great case as to JG being your favorite guitarist, and that is a valid opinion and reasoning you have. Declare one better than another when you reach a level of quality and performance between Clapton (whom I think is not as favorable as JJ Cale), Hendrix, Garcia, and let's say... Carlos Santana. Who is better? Depends on the night, the performance, the song. Ask most musicians, especially of an age to have seen a taster's choice of Great Guitarist, and Hendrix will, for good reason, be often cited as the best. I think Hendrix was a Beethoven-level musician. Making Garcia a Liszt-level guitarist, doesn't take anything away from him at all. Two entirely different styles, backgrounds, and intentions from each in what they attempted to do musically. Hendrix deliberately complicated his music as he progressed, while Garcia often spoke of enjoying simpler-constructions because it enabled the ability to freely improvise upon it. Personally, I think it's great that you are passionate about this. It's music, and musicians are people we turn to to share the most intimate aspects of our lives: when we're joyous, when we're depressed, when we're furious about blah, blah, or blah. I personally don't think of the ears of the Dead as one being better than another. Nothin' gets me goin' like a scorching rampage through The Eleven (which didn't happen after 70-71), but paring Scarlet & Fire couldn't have happened before 77. Terrapin is easily the most often played live song for me, but that's because there was only a single version of, and terribly recorded, Rosemary. Because they did what they did and continually evolved in their sound and performance, they've given us this huge palette from which we all, evidently, paint our own pictures of the past and what we want them to be for us, and some of these paintings we call masterpieces.
  • rbmunkin
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    subjective/objective
    Quality is not purely subjective. No way to prove it to you in words. So I'll stop here. "And without the GD, Jerry wouldn’t be known outside of some audiophiliac music fiends." Nonsense! He was a musician extraordinare and his passion would move him toward notoriety one way or another. He didn't need the Dead, he CREATED the Dead. And he would have done something no matter who he worked with. Hunter and Garcia met completely independent of the Dead. "Jerry without the Dead mostly likely wouldn’t have had Hunter as a song-writing partner, thus none of these songs would have come about." Of course the same exact songs wouldn't have come about, but I certainly wouldn't have cared. All I would care about is hearing Jerry, no matter what he did, because he was GREAT and would have been no matter what. "Favorites are favorites for damn good reasons. But yours are no more objectively the best than mine," I never said that. I said art is not just subjective; that there is an objective component. I never said MY likes were any more objective than any one else's. "You can congratulate yourself all you want for “bold statements” (Jerry is the greatest guitarist is hardly a bold statement on Dead.net." I didn't call it "bold". Another poster did. Anyway, we can agree to disagree. At least we agree about Donna! One more thing: With all the personell changes, the Grateful Dead were great, even after losing Pigpen, and all the other keyboardist they lost, as well as when Mickey was gone. Then when Jerry was gone - poof. No good any more. They didn't continue because they couldn't. But anyone else they lost Jerry could have kept the band going. The post Jerry band called "The Dead" and then "Further"; I'm sorry but they sucked compared to the Grateful Dead. Jerry made the GD, he was the GD, and could have created a great band with any good musicians.
  • Tanis Fane
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    Opinions are still subjective
    So, RBMunkin, In the spirit of analytic debate, he's a response contrary to a number of your "bold" statements. Your analyzing note-by-note and what-have-you, doesn’t mark you as any less subjective than Best Of polls by whomever. Your liking Jerry's guitar work better than anyone else's is one thing, but no matter how much note-by-note comparisons you make, it doesn’t elevate your opinion to the level of objective. “Without Jerry the phenomenon of the Grateful Dead never would have gotten past small clubs if that.” And without the GD, Jerry wouldn’t be known outside of some audiophiliac music fiends. Considering they all talked about how essential each one of them was to the whole, and based their entire musical philosophy around that, you’re deconstructing the Dead is a great theoretic exercise, but one that misunderstands the overall point of the collective being more important aurally than the individual components. “Robert Hunter was a great poet. He's my second favorite Dead.” Absolutely a great poet. Also one who likely would have never written with Jerry without the GD. Hunter knew Kesey from the Menlo Park research. Kesey knew the Dead through Owsley. The Dead played through the Acid Tests. Without that connection, probably no song-writing team of Hunter/Garcia. “Phil was a great musician in many ways but never would have gotten so popular without Jerry.” Maybe. Is Brian Eno “popular”? Is John Cale? Robert Fripp? Phil would have likely progressed along those experimental lines without the GD. “Bob, meh. Very good rhythm guitarist, taught largely by Jerry. Vocals, song writing, and personality - not my cup of tea. He was always jealous of Jerry being the front man. He wanted to be the front man but just plain old didn't have the talent or personality.” Did he now? Good to know. I never thought he was a great guitar player, nor a great song writer, but he did pen the music of Sugar Mag, Looks Like Rain, and belt out a mean Minglewood. GD wouldn’t have been without this finger on the hand. “Drummers - very good but the Dead could have gone on with different ones.” And the sound of “rolling thunder” wouldn’t be. Thus, no Dead as we know it. No Scarlet>Fire, no PITB. “Keyboards - Pigpen was the only GREAT one.” 
Not so. But you can believe that all you wish. Pigpen had charisma and was a “stone jack baller and his heart was true” but he couldn’t play piano very well. He blew a mean nasty dirty mouth harp, but his musical ability didn’t span a great spectrum. Keith was quite proficient on piano but limited on organ and the encroaching diversity and array of keyboards. Any discussion of Brent is for another time. “Donna - OMG why was she ever in the Dead?! Just horrible. Sounded like a bag full of cats being hit with a bat. Okay on a couple of studio albums but ruined many a live concert recording.” I agree, but then there a couple of Eyes of the World and Sugar Mag she doesn’t sound bad on. I usually skip tunes if she gets gonna too much. Jerry without the Dead mostly likely wouldn’t have had Hunter as a song-writing partner, thus none of these songs would have come about. Talented as he was, he would likely have been a bit like Ry Cooder, Al Di Meola, and such ilk. Infinitely talented and diverse, but without a band, they go through the ages being treasured by a few, liked by some more, and unknown to most. As for “Hendrix to me was a bit one-sided. The overall sound always sounded a bit the same. Absolutely amazing but limited IMHO” … I think your lack of analyses is demonstrated lacking here. Y’know, cuz 1983 sounds sooooo much like Purple Haze. And Jimi with a 12-string acoustic is the same one-sided sound as when slaughtered ear drums at Monterey with the opening riff of Killing Floor. Favorites are favorites for damn good reasons. But yours are no more objectively the best than mine, VH-1s, or Rolling Stones polls from readers who can’t remember back any further than last summer’s hot thing. You can congratulate yourself all you want for “bold statements” (Jerry is the greatest guitarist is hardly a bold statement on Dead.net. And your argument lacks anything beyond your talk of how awesome you feel when you listen to him play. He’s great. But talk of the “best” is beyond the faculties at hand. Or… ehem… ear. P.S. If anyone is interested in might-have-beens with music, check out a novel called Glimpses by Lewis Shiner. A guy puts on his headphones and hears records by his favorite bands that never were: a Doors album post-LA Woman, Beach Boys beyond Brian Wilson's mental collapse, another Beatles record... that kind of thing.
  • streetvan1997
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    Also, if you know they are going to sell out so fast make more!
    I don't have much money at all in this point in my life and it really stinks I can't take advantage of items like this. But all the T shirts are sold out and all the box sets. Is it fans or people who are going to sell them on eBay?
  • streetvan1997
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    Also where's 3-29-90!!
    Isn't that the Bradford Marcalis show? Did I butcher his last names spelling . The eyes of the works from that 3-29 is so sick, but I think it's on Dozin at the Nick
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jq171(document).ready(function (jq171) { jq171("h2.product_title").each(function(){ var title = jq171(this); var new_title = title.text().replace(' - SOLD OUT', ''); title.text(new_title); }); var covertArtDownloadMarkup = 'Looking for the digital cover art? You can download it here.'; setTimeout(function() { jq171('#digital_cart').append(covertArtDownloadMarkup); }, 500); });

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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Just drag the whole folder on top of your iTunes icon. The show should show up there, in order.
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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!
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Words of wisdom Lloyd, words of wisdom
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15 years 10 months
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Thanks One Man. I'll try that next time.
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13 years 5 months
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Great job. Beautiful set.
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17 years 4 months
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can i get some EUGENE please and not so pretencious that its all EAST coast, the woods and tree forts live , peace
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17 years 4 months
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can i get some EUGENE please and not so pretencious that its all EAST coast, the woods and tree forts live , peace
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17 years 5 months
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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!
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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
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The Set looks very nice with everything done well, I hope everyone is happy with their setsJim
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17 years 6 months
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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.
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17 years 6 months
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Looking for an easy way to remove the discs without breaking them. They're in tighter than a blank blank with a blank.
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13 years 2 months
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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
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14 years 9 months
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Perhaps this was already tried, though it sometimes helps to press down on the center 'teeth' (gently) while lifting the disc.
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17 years 6 months
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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.
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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...
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13 years 7 months
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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!
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12 years 5 months
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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.
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14 years 10 months
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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.
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12 years 3 months
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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)
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12 years 3 months
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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!)
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17 years 5 months
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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. ; )
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17 years 1 month
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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.
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12 years 3 months
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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!
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13 years 5 months
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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?
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13 years 10 months
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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.
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12 years 3 months
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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!
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12 years 10 months
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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!
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17 years 6 months
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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...
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13 years 3 months
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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
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17 years 6 months
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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
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17 years 5 months
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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.
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13 years 4 months
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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.
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17 years 6 months
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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?
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12 years 3 months
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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??
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13 years 5 months
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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.
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17 years 6 months
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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
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13 years 10 months
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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.
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14 years 10 months
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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.
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15 years 10 months
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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? ;(
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17 years 6 months
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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
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17 years 6 months
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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
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14 years 10 months
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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.
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17 years 6 months
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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)
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15 years 7 months
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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
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13 years 5 months
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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.
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