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I think the Veneta event is not overrated, but 72'
Has better shows. The location, cause, and filming is all part of the lure and mysticism of this date. The Sing Me Back Home is almost incomparable. The other highlights are great Bird Song, China > Rider, PITB. I think he (Dick) was just talking about the amount of requests compared to other shows from that same era. 8-25-72 only has a small portion of 1st set that I know about and I would rate that as piece (plus Berkeley shows from same week) almost in the same category as Veneta. Not much change can occur stylistically in 36 hours. The other Berkeley shows have a Dark > Morning Dew and Dark Star > El Paso > Dark Star. I don't know why the spike in requests were so much higher because all the set lists from that week are basically the same. My opinion is the lure of the event and more people were exposed to that show from the bootlegs and film. I think some of the reasons for a lack of other late summer or early fall shows is because of tape cuts. I know u rider has a cut in 9-24-72. And in regard, to 9-17-72 the soundboard is missing a piece of Uncle Johns band but the AUD is in optimal sound. The other shows 9-21 and 9-27 are complete. That is a huge reason for any show to be released if it is complete. With that being said the 9-27 show is 1 one of my favorite releases and the theater venue had great sound
Sunshine Daydream
....received my limited edition of this last week--watched the dvd first---very cool--brings me back to when I really started goin to many shows--not in that type of setting--mostly E. coast shows--then moved to Cal. late 70's--listend to cd's --when I had time--B-B-Q coolin libations & enhancers to -as was said--close ya eye music--I called it Brain dancing---which what happened last weekend--NICE---I've seenmany shows since 70& on --on & off nites--to me mostly ON---cuz I went to have a GRATEFUL TIME---always did--I read some of these posts & it seems to me -too many critics instead of lettin loose---but there will always be someone who will complain--when they get hung by a gold rope!!!! hahahaha...live,laugh,love ALOT--NO WHINERS!!
Dick's Pick 19
I found the sound quality on Disc 1 of this set unlistenable,but the rest was fine,
Veneta 72 overrated? IMPOSSIBLE.
to paraphrase Macklemore's Thrift Shop:
"Veneta's f&#^ing awesome."
Veneta 72 forever and always.
UPS Sure Post
This is not a good shipping option. See the following real exchange:
Initial Question: Weird Things Happening
Lucy G.: Hi, this is Lucy G.. I'll be happy to assist you.
Kell: Hi. Can you take a look at the tracking on this and tell me what is happening?
Lucy G.: What would you like to know about this package?
Kell: It has been in an infinite loop between USPS and UPS since last wednesday.
Lucy G.: Just a moment while I review your tracking information.
Lucy G.: Wow I can see that
Lucy G.: According to our tracking records, this shipment was sent using UPS SurePost service. These shipments are turned over to your local United States Postal Service (USPS) to make the final delivery.
Lucy G.: Unfortunately, based upon the type of service your shipper selected, I am unable to investigate or resolve this situation. Instead, the shipper has asked that you contact them directly about this shipment.
Lucy G.: I wish I could have helped you further. Please contact your shipper for additional assistance.
Kell: I called the Shipper yesterday. They said to talk to UPS
Kell: Can I pay money to have it delivered by UPS?
Kell: Isn't there some option to have UPS make the final delivery if I pay money?
Kell: So we could take it out of the infinite loop
Lucy G.: Unfortunately that option is not available for you anymore since we received this on 09/16/13.
Kell: Ok. Thanks. I'll talk to you next week, maybe?
Kell: When the package is still in infinite loop...
Lucy G.: I really wish there was something else I could do for you.
Lucy G.: This is the first time I have see a package do that.
Kell: Me, too. Thanks. Couldn't you, like, send an email or something to the local office and ask them to deliver it? They're like a block away. Or I could go over and pick it up
Lucy G.: Let me check my system to check if I can do anything else to assist you.
Kell: I could walk.
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Dick's 19 D1 inaccurately maligned here... unlistenable?
A tinny start to Promised Land, but it's all there by the time Sugaree cranks up.
money VERY well spent...
popped in the dvd a couple of nights ago and was taken to '72 Veneta, completely. I was going to catch a buzz before I watched this but I got to watching the dvd and I forgot to. Honestly, I felt equally as high at the end of the film just from watching it. What a beautiful job the filmmakers did of capturing just enough of the band and just enough of the audience to convey everything.....just as it should be. Really, really, really loved the additional 30 min. of interviews and how cool to see and hear a regular poster on here...Strider 88.
Nice job of restoration!
I absolutely love Jerry's face at 1hr 18min; that deep, introspective look quickly changes to a huge smile that bounces into laughter, kind of like he was transformed himself from that jam. And poor "pole guy", now that I know he is deceased, I truly root for him. Right there in the thick of it, dosed to high-heaven and dancing, dancing, dancing to try and hold on to that last thread of reality because if you stop, you dissolve into the white light.........we've all been there. And that shot, for about 30 sec. of pole guy dancing naked over Jerry's shoulder, the filmmakers knew what we all know: like it or not, that was an excellent representation of the transformative power of psychedelics coupled with the sound waves of the Grateful Dead AND the back and forth energy sent from band to audience and back. Extremely powerful, life-changing stuff. I, for one, absolutely love it. Great scene! (the nudity is irrelevant....and anyway, when you're close to the peak, those nasty, confining articles of clothing that are bound to our bodies due to the conventions of an uptight society simply have no place resting on our skin......sometimes they just gotta go!)The better the acid, the less clothes you wear, plain and simple.
Sigggghhhhhhhhhh.....if only....
I know one thing for certain: had I been there, I would've been saturated to the gills on orange sunshine and who knows, I might have been right there with pole guy :))))))))))))
To everyone who worked on this, Thank You! Exceptionally well done!
Congrats On The Top 20!
I know accolades never meant anything to the Dead, but congrats on your second top 20 billboard album. Apparently, this was the most anticipated of all the posthumous releases thus far.
Congratulations!
Congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone who made this happen!
Billboard Top 20
"In The Dark" was their first one to make this list in 1987, yes...the "Touchhead" era!!! Nice to see "Sunshine Daydream" to become the second. On another thread somewhere here, I had predicted that this one would be one of their biggest sellers with Rhino and was right. Didn't expect it to do as well as it's doing though. Right on!
The third trip to the Billboard top 20 will be the charm when they decide to release 3/29/90. It's the next big gun performance lurking in the vault just waiting to be heard by the masses.
Congrats to Rhino
And every poster who hounded them for this release over the years. So what if Dick panned it? The combination of a DVD, and 3 CDs for a liveable price, marketed also on Amazon combined with Furthur still out there on the road produced this miracle - along with the quality of the product. 18 years after the demise of the band.
Congrats/RS/Danc
Yeay, very cool - congrats to the band and Dave and everyone. I was expecting to see it charted in the recent issue of Rolling Stone, I guess that will show up in the next issue (would also not be surprised if RS does a cover story on Veneta - but more likely it'll be a picture of Justin Bieber getting twerked by Miley Cyrus or something culturally edifying like that).
Danc - I LOVE your post on DP 19. Never hear much about that one but have always loved it (right down to the wheat cover art). One of the best sounding releases period, and just a perfect show - playing, pacing, songs, deep jams... desert island relaase. (I tend to think prairie state shows kick ass in general, think Wichita 72, KC 72 (oh for a soundboard!), Iowa 78, KC 85 and 91... and so on).
Congrats all around ...
to all the good folks involved with the SSDD project. Watched the Blu-ray yesterday for the 1st time and enjoyed it. It seems to me the bonus documentary was longer then what was shown on 08/01 in the movies, maybe it's just my mind was clearer yesterday. Any way, I've been listening to this just about every day since 12:05am 09/17 on itunes and on CD from last Saturday. A great improvement over my CDR copy from '99.Thanks again to the Grateful Dead & DeadNet & the rest. (~):E
Re: dick or dave
From danc: "I had email exchanges with Dick a few times, in some cases regarding shows that were released well after his death, e.g. 5/10/78."
That definitely falls into the annals of the unexpected!
I agree that Dick was a contrarian and his views on Veneta were thusly distorted. I only wish he were still around (maybe he is, if danc is right!) to hear what Jeffrey Norman and the Plangent Process have produced. This is great stuff that sounds crisp and clean on appropriate hardware/software.
Listening to the clarity of this show, I can hardly believe that it comes from a forty-plus year old live source in 100 degree Oregon heat oozing with Orange Sunshine.
It sounds more like studio perfection to me. I think Dick woulda dug it.
In regard to DP19, 10-19-73
Does anybody have this show and if they do? The setlist on the back of my copy from the original release has El Paso and Row Jimmy listed as Track 9 and Track 9. Even though it should be 9 and 10. Any body else have this listed on back of CD case?
Thanks wilfred jones
For checking. I always wondered about that printing error, the Row jimmy is very enjoyable. As is most of the others from that night
DP 19 Misprint
My copy has that too. Ordered my copy when it first became available *gasp* 13 years ago. I haven't listened to that one in a while.
Possibly my favorite '73 release is DP 14 from Boston Music Hall. The second disc is what I have listened to the most from this set.
edit-
Pulling this one out for the first time in years, here are my thoughts on the first few songs of the first set on disc one...
Like many live recordings mixed in real time, it takes a few minutes to get the sound dialed in. It starts out with a little hiss and guitars are absent in the mix and the keyboards clip. By the end of the song, the mix is mostly on. By the second song, the sound gets dialed in, though oddly enough, ,one or both guitars sound a little out of tune and flat, but that too improves by the end of the song. Mexicali has a little mixing weirdness as well. Jerry's guitar and Bobs vocal levels drop in and out a little bit. By Tennessee Jed, for the most part, all auditory issues seem to be ironed out. By Looks Like Rain, the mix is spot on. A very listenable release imho.
This is mentioned on the cover:
"Caveat Emptor
Despite a rather skeevy ouverture, the sound quality of this release quickly settles into a nice, warm groove. Listen closely, however, for you may just find that your mind will be blown by the music contained herein,"
"Dick's Picks differs from our From The Vault series in that we simply did not have access to complete shows (nor the modern mixing capabilities afforded by multitrack tapes) But we think the historical value and musical quality of these tapes more than compensates for any technical anomalies... In other words what you hear is what you get. And what you get ain't bad!"
Personally, I'm all about the historical value of any of the recorded medium they used at any particular time, warts and all. Bring on the uncirculated soundboards from '84 - '87....all of them!!!!
-end of edit
Back to Sunshine Daydream, I've listened to the CDs a few times now and like the fact that the time was taken to mix these from the 16 track tapes artfully. Tasteful use of modern processing to bring out the mix on certain individual elements. So far, any tape patches from the 2 track soundboard mix to fill in (if any) reel tape change overs have gone unnoticeable to my ears.
Dick's 19
I know we are off-topic here, but I have to agree with a previous poster that the first disc of DP19 is pretty much unlistenable. It's too hissy, and the performances are weak. Things finally heat up on disc two in the Playing jam, and certainly disc three holds some big moments. Mine has the 9-9 misprint on the back. Overall, this is my least favorite 1973 release, and it made me doubt the supposed powers of this year. Things are better now!
unlistenable
Re: Dick's Picks 19, disc oneThis is internet BS 101, incorrect and extreme/ugly opinion post without factual basis. Unlistenable might imply that someone at Rhino or GDM didn't do their job right, or that you have something wrong with your auditory sense, not sure in this case. I think we more than most rock fans know what an unlistenable tape/CD sounds like, is this ain't it. In fact, it sounds REALLY QUITE GOOD. And the performance? OK, got that part. I like it, disc one is good enough, for me anyway, to set the stage for discs two and three. DP19 was a great release, and by '73 standards or any other I am pretty sure this dog hunts.
If any of us were with ten knowledgeable, reasonable and experienced Deadheads in a room and we cranked up disc one, would there even be a second guy who says, "Ugh, this is unlistenable."
There would not be. And kudos to Dave Lemeiux also for DP19 AND for serving up the great Road Trips 4.3 before UCLA.
and now back to our erratically scheduled programming...
1. If there ever was a t-shirt that should be printed and put up for sale (unless it is already somewhere?) it would be the blue Jerry tee that Steve Parrish was sporting at Veneta. I'd buy two immediately.
2. How funny that after all these years, SSDD actually gets not just billboard placement, but top 20! It's interesting from a social aspect how long it takes the rest of the world to find interest in what we've known for so many years.......that GD is THE band. Jerry absolutely has to be laughing his ass off over this recognition. :)))))
3. I just have to say, again, a great big THANK YOU to all involved who made the cds and the dvd restoration a reality. Spectacular!
#20 on the charts: Wow!
Congratulations to everyone in the GD organization and their afiliates who busted tail to finally give us the legendary show from August 27,1972. A week later in Boulder I saw an amazing 3 set show: still hoping for a better recording of that long, strange show.
In regard to the previous posts re Oklahoma City in 1973, some shows from that year seem to have inferior sound quality, notably from February (tape deterioration?). I think the best of 1973 is still to come: February through October all offer great performances.
I love the November releases from California and Colorado, and enjoy the December shows from Cincinnati, Cleveland and Tampa.
Top 20?--oh, no, 1987 AGAIN?!
So now a flood of "Veneta Kids" will force Furthur, Phil & Friends, etc. to start playing stadium shows? ;-)
I wish they could go back
I wish they could go back to 1987! :D
Not only was the band at their performance peak, they had several other things going for them...Jerry was sober for the first (and last) time in his adult life (for a few years anyways), they perfected their set list formula, were able to present their older material in a contemporary way that didn't make them sound dated like a '60s nostalgia act, had released one their all time best records (In The Dark is right up there with American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, Blues For Allah and Anthem of Sun) and had a bonafide mass interest in their music. From '87 - Summer '90, the Grateful Dead had become true musical giants.
David Lemieux, I think "In The Dark" deserves a 5.1 surround mix!!!
Thank a "Touchhead" that Sunshine Daydream even saw the light of day. If it wasn't for them, and the band stepping up their efforts to accommodate the newfound masses, we may never have seen a Dicks/Dave's Picks/From The Vault series and the rest of the wealth of material released over the last 20+ years.
Billboard
Bolo, when I look at Billboard online I see Sunshine Daydream at #19. Is this #5 ranking from more of your 'insider' knowledge :) Or am I reading the chart wrong?
http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200
Spacebro, right on about the Touch-heads. But then I'm biased - I heard Touch of Grey on the radio as a teenager who was into the Replacements, Husker Du and the like, loved it, went out to buy the album and somehow ended up with American Beauty (!). Life changer that was. And I still like that other stuff too, it's all good.
Come to think of it, without that damned song I'd probably be a lot richer now, har har.
Billboard
Breaks down albums into categories. GD #5 in the rock listing:
http://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-albums
Off to the Greek for me, too!
Disc 3 - WOW !
I don't want to take disc 3 out of my player... what a Dark Star!
As usual I'm still waiting ...
But I have plenty of records these days unopened and unplayed. Just got Jon Hendricks - "Fire In The City" on 45 last Thursday after a wait of about 25 years ... so I'm in no hurry. As long as the box set gets to me, everything is just alright!
Got the shipping mail on September 16th. Perhaps I'm a little worried since it's being shipped by DHL. They're experts in delivering packets aimed for Sweden to completely other countries. Had one which ended up in Eastern China before it eventually got to me and two packets with t-shirts which ended up in France. But luckily the French Postal Service sent them to where they belonged. ;-)
Well well, perhaps next week?
Micke Östlund,
Växjö, Sweden
PS! Of course the whole audio part has been available through Spotify since September 17th but I don't like to spoil the exiting fun in unwrapping the package AND THEN LISTEN ... ;-)
@Micke ... Got mine delivered to Sweden yesterday
I guess (hope) you got your copy after the weekend!
It is really terrific!! I spend Friday night with Sunshine daydream and a bottle of pinot noir. Both vintage.
I'm almost positive
This release would not have charted top 20 had Rhino not released the workingman's version. I had to settle for it, due to having a couple of annual bills every October. Plus, Christmas is right around the corner. I could live without the book and slipcase, but I regret not having the documentary. I'm a sucker for the documentaries. There's no telling how many times I've watched Anthem To Beauty. If the special edition is still available at Christmas, that will be what I ask for. Then, I'll just gift out this version that I purchased. I'm sure Rhino won't mind an additional sell.
A COMPLETE PLEASURE
Set number 4715 arrived to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nothing better than starting a saturday morning wiht a newly arrived Dead release. Beautiful package, designed with real good taste, every little detail was took into account. The film is far more interesting than what I thought. I was waiting to lots of shots of nude hippies dancing with the Dead playing on the background, but the filmmakers did put attention to what was happening on stage. Beautiful close-ups of Jerry's playing (a la "Grateful Dead Movie") and nice individual shots (even some of the always elusive Keith) make this film a must-have. Regarding the 5.1 mix, the band really sorrounds you, but, as someone pointed out on this forum before, some more bottom-end reinforcement would have been really nice, Otherwise, the sound is clear and carefully mixed (remember, these are 40-year-old live tapes!).
The band is tight and relaxed at the same time. A lot has been said about this show before. I ignore which is the best "Dark Star", and I'm not interested in that kind of ratings, but the version featured on this release is one of the best I've heard, along with 2-27-69 or 5-4-72, among others. Every member of the band is at his very best. 1972 was simply a glorious time for the band.
The fact that this release is on the Top-20 chart is very good news. It means beautiful music and extended jams catch the attention of many people all over the world.
Let us give a hand to the Dead staff and Rhino. They have really nailed it down this time.
A COMPLETE PLEASURE
Set number 4715 arrived to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nothing better than starting a saturday morning wiht a newly arrived Dead release. Beautiful package, designed with real good taste, every little detail was took into account. The film is far more interesting than what I thought. I was waiting to lots of shots of nude hippies dancing with the Dead playing on the background, but the filmmakers did put attention to what was happening on stage. Beautiful close-ups of Jerry's playing (a la "Grateful Dead Movie") and nice individual shots (even some of the always elusive Keith) make this film a must-have. Regarding the 5.1 mix, the band really sorrounds you, but, as someone pointed out on this forum before, some more bottom-end reinforcement would have been really nice, Otherwise, the sound is clear and carefully mixed (remember, these are 40-year-old live tapes!).
The band is tight and relaxed at the same time. A lot has been said about this show before. I ignore which is the best "Dark Star", and I'm not interested in that kind of ratings, but the version featured on this release is one of the best I've heard, along with 2-27-69 or 5-4-72, among others. Every member of the band is at his very best. 1972 was simply a glorious time for the band.
The fact that this release is on the Top-20 chart is very good news. It means beautiful music and extended jams catch the attention of many people all over the world.
Let us give a hand to the Dead staff and Rhino. They have really nailed it down this time.
Venetta
I haven't posted in about a dozen years and couldn't remember the old account info. Hi to Rango if you are still here. I just got my Venetta blu ray and CDs, and I was at the meet up on Aug 1. I've got a half dozen GD DVDs, and this one tops them all. DPIV may still be my favorite concert album, but the show captures so much of 1972 and the spirit of the era. Mind you, I was only 10 and not at the show, but I was in SF for the Summer of Love and I remember these wonderful people helping each other. Although I do remember them clothed. It was a lovely and nostalgic window overlooking the kinds of sights of my childhood when people just younger than my parents shone a light of hope on the human race.
The sound is lovely and I really can't see what Dick had against it.
"Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right."
This film gives you that sublime perspective.
Was the Plageant process applied to this release?
Since this was the most requested release, I am wondering if they did? May 77' was noted with that in the promo ads and I never heard a mention of this for SSDD? I am guessing they did not. I wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun about how great rhino has done. Because in my opinion the only thing they are doing or did is buy the rights to release the music. The kudos & accolades should be given to the band and others with the know how of capturing these great performances, so it could be enjoyed in the future. Rhino is simply taking a home made meal and reheating it for us. Thanks Bear, thanks Healy, Thanks bob Matthews, thanks Kidd Candelario, & thanks Betty, thanks for the crew that also helped. I am very optimistic about future releases because Dave L. Was an understudy of Dick L. But I am pessimistic about the ways and practices of Rhino. Please use the Plageant process on future subscription releases as well, starting in 2014
Plageant process ~ YES
If you ordered this SSDD release as DeadNet Deluxe Edition look on the last page of the booklet or the Amazon (Retail) edition look under CD3 and you will see the Plageant Process logo.
Just Asking?
mbarilla,
Are you really criticizing a release that you don't own? If you own this, I 100% apologize. But the way I read your post, it looks like you are criticizing a release you haven't heard or viewed. Not trying to be confrontational, and I SINCERELY apologize if I'm wrong. But Rhino is a necessary evil in this world, and I think they have done a pretty good job. Let's not forget that the Dead already tried releasing albums on their own in the 70's.
3749 found its home in the Netherlands
on Saturday. No time to either listen to it or watch it yet, but packaging and notes are wonderful.
Although I think the Winterland runs have the most (cost)efficient packaging, I do admit that I like the creativity in coming up with something different every time. The childrens' book design kind of transports you back to a more innocent age. I love it!
I own the the blu ray package,
Purchased from dead.net and i own vinyl, which i purchased from record store. Also saw the film in theaters. I do apologize for the the individuals, which I have offended on this board, but I think rhino still needs to hear feedback whether it be positive or negative. Unfortunately, I had some negative comments and some were wrong on my part. I also take back anything I said that may have criticized another opinion and I should formulate my comments based on my experiences. Each individual has a level of expectations for each and every event. My displeasure with rhino recently has been a lack of transparency with some of the last few releases, but not all of them though. DP5&6 were no issues, DP7 and May 77' I had concerns. SSDD I didn't understand why individuals with preorders were not given something additional for ordering from dead.net and amazon or record store purchases had add-on. None of my critiques are the actual show picked or performance. my critiques are based on methods and practices, which could get better, worse, or stay the same. and I sincerely hope a better experience in the future will happen for me based on my criteria. Some expectations are unreal or unfeasible, but I feel my expectations are realistic.
My apologies sir
When you asked if the Plangent Process was used, I took it that you didn't own the release. The logo is pretty hard to miss on mine. Your opinions are certainly valid, and in no way did they offend me.
marketing
I have some concerns about the marketing tactics used on some of the releases as well. There has been some sense of seeming to promise more than delivered( Europe 72 photos showing a lot of extras which, it turns out, weren't included) and the lack of mention that a stripped down version would also be offered( Veneta 72). Trust, once lost, is hard to regain. However, over-all I am VERY HAPPY with the release program to date. The Spring, 1990 choice of shows and packageing delivered more than expected and the May 77 box was very cool. The inclusion of a bonus disc with the Dave's Picks subscription is a positive. The sound quality on the big boxes has been exemplary in my opinion. I am not necessarily in disagreement with those who claim that multi-track should have been used when avail. but the cost vs. numbers to be sold should be considered, in my opinion as profit may quarantee future viability of the enterprise. I think Dave's more recent picks have had better sound quality as well. As far as the music-I am very happy with all of the releases to date(other than a few of the Road Trip selections)and can't wait for more of them to follow. We all have our favorite shows or eras and my opinions shift from time to time-that's one of the things that keeps it all fun for me.