Grateful Dead

Easy decision!

Sitting in the theatre now - waiting for SSDD to start on the big screen. Thanks for this release!

CD's / Blu Ray and t-shirts ordered! Thanks!

CD's / Blu Ray and t-shirts ordered! Thanks!

...and I'll never have the same mental picture during Jack Straw again!

I am sitting home tonight - rather than at the theater - in a disciplined act of fiscal responsibility; that is, after the shock I received pursuant to recently tabulating the staggering sum spent on new releases (incl. the video box) and catch-up purchases (like Real Gone's rereleases of DPs) over the last 2-3 years. So, let's reconcile tonight's accounting sheet: Saved: $6 (movie ticket) Spent: $52 (Veneta) _________________________ Net: - (minus)$46 sigh...katie

I just listed to my copy of the show the other day, and thought the sound quality was amazing. So, do I order a copy, even though I already have a great sounding copy? I think I already know the answer to that... Where's my wallet?

Watching the film tonight was like stepping on a live wire -- I don't know how I will ever sleep. The bootleg has kept me happy for many years and finally here is the real thing. I'm SO glad they didn't sanitize it. Until now, the movie from '74 has been my fave visual document. This one is way beyond. Seeing the intent on the faces and the body language while the music is played brings a whole new dimension. If you think you know why you love the Dead, see this and think again. It's everyone's finest moments brought to life right before your ears AND eyes.

Save your sighs, dear Katie. As I was reminded tonight, the scene still lives and breathes. There will be many more opportunities for you to fellowship and shake your bones. The music never stopped, and I don't think it ever will.

Saw the movie tonight and loved it. I want to get one of these digital sets, and here are my questions- The film's kinda rough-looking, so dvd would be fine in that regard (and the video itself is not the priority for me), but not sure if there would be any sound differences between the blu-ray and dvd disc itself if I popped one into a universal disc player- any benefit to one over the other here? I'd hope that the potential audio advantages of blu-ray over simple dvd would be utilized for the release, but imagine it's the exact same mix and resolution for audio on that as on the dvd (but all that's specified is "5.1 mix"). Anybody hear or read any word on this? Also, though I love vinyl, I'd imagine it's a digital transfer (probably 24/96) at some point, and not fully analog. Has anybody heard anything specific about that? I searched the net a bit on these two issues but no info turned up on this- probably just too soon on that. Any inside knowledge, good inference or deduction would be helpful, thanks!

Loved the music and close shots of the band tonight. Could have done without all the collage psychedelia during deep jamming in Dark Star (would much rather watch the band!), but it is what it is. The animation was almost 'monty pythonesque' without the goofiness. That said those 'close ups' of Garcia (and the rest of the band) are priceless. Our theater wasn't full but great to share with my wife and good friend. Loved the taste of Veneta '72. What a show ! Hoping that on the 'official' DVD version of Veneta that there may be 'alternative' cuts/angles (China Cat?) ala the alternate views on NYE 78 DVD. Or some extra footage ala the Dead Movie. That extra footage of the '74 Dead on stage playing through entire songs (China>Rider, TOO) with very few cutaways or 'artsy' stuff was so transcendent. Hey, might there some more footage from that '74 run? Yum....;o} AND I still have hope they grace us with a DVD of that Alpine Valley show from last years 'meet up at the movies'. That show was/is shining gem, and beautiful capture of the interplay on stage with the Grateful Dead. The truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.

Movie was fabulous here in Seattle! Thanks for doing this. But my pre-order of blu-ray is not working :^( I wonder what the secret to success is? At least one other person (on the chat page) is having trouble pre-ordering. EDIT: Tried one last time and it worked! WTF? Isn't software marvelous?!

It's a limited edition...but there are 12,500 Blu-ray sets, another 12,500 standard DVD sets and an additional 5,000 vinyl LP sets for a grand total of 30,000 units that will be in circulation. If any single show can sell out 30,000 units, it's going to be 8/27/72. My birthday just so happens to fall 10 days after the shipping date. I wish I could afford to birthday miracle myself an LP copy of this. I missed the Meet up at the Movies but am glad that I will at least most likely get a chance to see this, if not on my own tv, at one of my friends places. I also missed last years Meet up at the Movies for the showing of the 7/18/89 Alpine Valley gig, and was in attendance of the actual concert itself. I too wish that would get released.

The film was incredible, much different on the big screen and with BIG sound. The mix is vastly superior to ALL available versions, and believe me I've tried them all. Keith is actually audible and his performance makes the show even better (imagine that)! The drums are spread very widely across the mix, another HUGE improvement. The three guitars...how to put this...imagine three of your favorite mammals in a sprint toward an imaginary finish line, each in turn grabbing the one in the lead and throwing him aside and saying "no, I'm in front!". Repeat until the song ends. Garcia's intensity during 'Dark Star' is always fascinating and the 'Sing Me Back Home' at sundown is without doubt THE highlight of the film, far more moving with the improved picture and sound (the theater did help...). 'Bird Song' is now included. Here's hoping a download will be offered to us po' folks!?!?

This is getting to be expen$ive!! Sorry to have missed the film. I had the same repeated failure as spam so, after about 3 "strikes", I put a shirt from the annoying pop-up shirt menu in my cart, edited the cart to get rid of it and then it went through fine. Oh well, help on the way indeed...

Great to see this film in the theatre. Amazing concert-the filming sometimes puts you right in the midst of the group mind unfolding-esp. during Dark Star. I agree that "Sing Me Back Home" was superlative. Soundtrack was clean, clear and detailed. Wonderful document of the band in a peak year. Bring on the box set.

I wonder why Amazon had this listed last week when this appears to be a limited edition release. I ordered right away in case Amazon and other retailers start selling this. This would sell out fast if that happens.

Loved the show. Blown away. Gets my vote for movie of the year. Award winning!

Does anyone know the time and place of the 60's footage of the band and Neal Cassady that was mixed into the film? Not the Furthur bus, but the band with Pig, also some dude mixing up a batch...I am guessing an Acid Test, but this is before my time. Thanks

I just noticed : "A Dead.net exclusive". I wonder why it was listed on Amazon and other online retailers. Anyhow, really looking forward to this one. I would like the vinyl version but opted for the cd/dvd.

Whenever I order or download from dead.net, I find that google chrome is the only way that works.

being able to see and hear the band like that, in that setting, among fellow deadheads was a sorely needed reminder of the power of our thing thanks to rhino, dave and everyone else who helped make this happen i may or may not have gotten a little emotional during "sing me back home"...and it felt good

Any idea if the vinyl version will come with a CD-quality download of the songs?

Was jacked up all day waiting to see SSDD on the big screen. Having missed past Meet ups's I could not believe that the stars were aligning and I was finally going to see the band as they were when I was in the prime of my life. Arrived at the theater early in anticipation and as the film started to roll I realized that the universe had not let the stars align since there was no sound except static and then we were told by the theater management that they would not be able to show the film due to technical difficulties. I am still in disbelief. Hope this did not happen in too many theaters as the disappointment is almost too much to bear............

The Kens: Babs and Kesey had me laughingPromised Land: back on that devoted road China->Rider: chuggin' on that northbound train Jack Straw: envisioning Garcia explaining traffic jams at Woodstock Birdsong: preparing for liftoff Dark Star: hurling me through the cosmos El Paso: border cowboys Sing Me Back Home: crying for days of lore Greatest Story: homage to the family in my heart and soul.... Thank you!

THAT would PISS ME OFF. Did you get at least a refund? So sorry to hear that. Psychedelic blue balls. If you order the show, make sure to play it loud.

Dark StarDark Star Dark Star Jerry and Phil and Bill's faces during Dark Star are priceless. My OCD kicked in between El Paso and SMBH, but no matter ("gonna happen every time"; "there's nothing you can hold for very long"). I got DARK STAR. After the movie, I came back out to the world of iPhones and Wolverine. Sigh.

Will the DVD contain the entire concert or at least more than whats on the bootleg DVD I already own?

but as they say, you can never tell

We were so lucky to have Adrian Marin make sure the manager had the sound perfect! And of course we were so lucky to have a lot of us who were there that day in 1972 in the audience: Ken Babbs, Chuck and Sue Kesey, Mike Hagen, Chez Ray, Sara Hammer, Nancy from the Springfield Creamery, Joey and Shirley Valentine, and many of the interviewees in Adrian's documentary. For me, it was a very emotional screening, partly because of the loss of that era; but mostly it was the faces on the screen who are no longer here among us. To see some of the FWAPS film crew: Bobby Sky, Lew Melson, and the Ultimate Intrepid Tripper, Ken Kesey; and then to see the youthful Ken Babbs, Bobby Laird, Tangerine, etc; was heart rendering. However, it was the Incredible Music, the sensory visuals, and Garcia the Guitar God, Passionate Bobby Weir, Bone -deep bassist Phil Lesh, Entranced Bill Krutzman, and Brilliant Keyboards and a background vocal by the Godchaux's that had me riveted. They say if you remember the 70's you weren't there, and I don't remember much about that day, but especially this music being so incredibly transcendent. Maybe we were spoiled by all the great music concerts at the time. But this had to be an all-time high-water mark. So thank you to all of you who struggled 41 years to make this happen. It was so very worth it!

This is great, and I'm not complaining. Oh, maybe I am. I wish the DVD came with the vinyl. The sound was awesome and the film was awesome. But I want both and really like vinyl better. Guess I'll have to see which friends order the DVD so I can go watch it at their place...

Why isn't there an option to just buy the film on DVD? I don't need the CDs & the price for the DVD & CDs combined is more than I can afford. Can you please make the DVD available for order separately? Thanks.

...behind Jerry was hilarious, AT FIRST. While the show was spectacular, I couldnt help but think the camera operators gave the pole-humper a little too much screen time. An older head gave me a copy of this show when I was first getting into the band but the remaster felt like hearing it for the first time. Exquisite. Thank you very much.

Not for the first time, I found myself wishing Pole Guy a bad case of strategically placed splinters after he became inescapable in every shot of Jerry. But hey, the whole thing was so darn great. In Emeryville, the place sold out in advance and a friend of mine was reduced to doing the Miracle Ticket thing. She did make it in and sat with us though! Since half the local Heads were at the Symphony seeing Warren Haynes, this was a pretty notable turnout. But not really news, given that it was this show. Also, I too would really love a release of that Alpine show.

In general I would love the option of a "songs only" version - cuts of only the band. I would watch the GD Movie more often if I could have a songs only version with only complete songsAny chance?

Wow what a show! This was remastering at its best I was impressed of the quality over the vhs copy i own. Altough I will kepp my copy because there is mre footage that did not make the big screen. I was the only one dancing in my theatre until the second set was joined by another I saw alot of people tappin and swinging. Why dont people just stand up let their inspiration flow. Kevin Port, Maine

Hi, I have always wanted to see the band - this goes back to the first time I saw it in 90. WE all would love the raw, un cut film. DOES IT EXIST? IS ANYONE READING THIS THAT MAY KNOW?????? Thank You, Dan in Minneapolis !!!

Short of a DVD of Live Dead's Dark Star at the Fillmore West, which of course doesn't exist, this is the one. I've pulled out my VHS copy for years whenever I want to "initiate" a newbie to what is used to be all about and why I've been on the bus for 43 years since the first time a friend handed me some headphones and lowered the needle onto Dark Star. The Taper's Compendium had it right: the 60-seconds of Jerry's eyes searching out the notes of Dark Star around five-minutes in is the single heaviest moment of Dead ever. The band's finest hour, IMHO. Thank you to everyone who fulfilled this wish. And I'll never stop laughing when the poor fellow charged with playing Bill Graham that day, his mind bending with the acid, extolls the boys to "Play it for me!!" as the first triumphant notes of Dark Star emerge. Priceless. My goodness, those were the days. Glad I was old enough to see the band for the first time a month later in Baltimore!

i never bothered to watch the "crimson white & indigo" & "rocking the cradle: egypt 1978" DVDs. they just sit in a closet where i store all of my jewel cases. for me personally, the video is just an added expense. will this show be released on CD without the movie? ---

I watched at the Blackstone theaters in Millbury Ma.The sound sync was off by about a 1/10 of a second through out the Movie. Did anyone else notice lip sync issues? The visual was ahead of the audio by about a tenth of a second

I have a DVD I picked up years ago of "Sunshine Daydream" I have not watched it in a long long time. I do remember that its great footage of the band. I really enjoyed the flashback to the 70's. Not sure if thats what your looking for Veghead, but it does exist. I'm looking forward to this arriving. Rumor is it will be on Amazon for a reduced price, just not have the 40 page booklet and slipcase, rumor only. Peace

I noticed it too, in Des Moines, Iowa. But I've downloaded videos that were much worse... Oh, and add me to the count of folks that would like a performance-only video.

Yes tbmcisp, I noticed the sync issues in Mountain View, CA Century 16 Theater myself as well. In fact, that was the 1st comment I made to my wife - that it was a little annoying that "they" could not get the video/audio sync'd up correctly. At the time I was not sure if it was the theater or the source movie. Unfortunately, your initial comment leads me to believe that it is the source and not the theater.

Seeing the Dead with the Prankster from 1972 is amazing. Watching the movie almost made me feel as though I was there, in Veneta, in 1972. I love seeing the visual communication between Jerry, Bob, and Phil. Additionally, the naked fan bobbing on top of a pole, behind stage, was classic. Someone gave him pants about 1/2 through. It's just not something you are ever going to see at any concert.

I noticed the slight sync lag with the audio at the Danville, CA theatre where I was. There’s a lot going on in this movie that will be discovered only after multiple viewing. I’m sure most of us noticed the small kids running across the stage at various times. How precious is that?! And there’s so much going on in the crowd scenes; so many little vignettes and spontaneous interactions between and among the people there. There’s so much more to see in this movie that we haven’t noticed yet. I’m looking forward to getting this release and revisiting that incredible scene again. This movie is time travel to the past.

My theater in Los Angeles was sold out but the audience was kind of annoying - lots of people talking over the music. Anyways, thank heavens the DVD is coming soon. I was surprised to find I enjoyed the Dark Star animation. I never liked it much before but it seemed to really work for me in the theater. Of course, footage of the band would be preferable. And I agree that "Sing me back home" was probably the highlight. I've never seen that before and it was perfect. Donna Jean just radiantly beautiful (oh, her singing, too). (eh, sorry, Musburger moment)

Saw Sunshine Daydream in Mnt. View last night. Great film and performance of course (and a great upgrade to the nth generation VHS I have from 20 years ago.) But the mix was off - Jerry was buried and barely audible, and Keith's keys were annoyingly loud. Moved around to several seat locations to no avail. I can't believe that Jeffrey Norman would intentionally mix it that way, so it had to be some mismatch between encoding formats (e.g., Dolby vs. DTS). Anyone else experience that?

Jed, I can only speculate but I suspect the issues you experienced were in the sound system where you were in Mountain View, CA and not with the source material. The mix at my theatre in Danville sounded OK. Overall though, I was mildly disappointed with the sound quality, and as the reports in this thread indicate, there was a great deal of variability in the sound systems at various theatres. However, early the movie my date took her bra off and flung it away so I was pretty much oblivious to the anomalies in the sound track thereafter.

I'd also like the whole video to be predominantly of the band playing (did see it last night), but I'm sure the whole thing is in the can by now (mailing in a month and a half), and there won't be any revisions- but if the feedback on this site could possibly affect editing decisions for future video releases, that would be great. Not having seen more than snippets of the film before online, I do wonder if the whole final video mix of the film (with an abundance of creamery interviews and setup shots, plus mostly cheesy animation, etc.) is the way it is either because that's rhino's/gd production's notion of what a concert film should look like as a "full historical document," or because the people on the current release project are trying to stay faithful to general form of the the whole bootleg version that's been out there forever. I'm sure someone on this board can speak to this. Also, although I was more interested in watching the rest of the band play, I was still surprised by how few shots of Keith there were. Was this due to editing decisions? The lack of raw footage (not enough cameras or a problem with filming angles) at the show? Just seemed a bit odd.

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