Grateful Dead

What I foung strange about mbarilla's post about Plangent was not whether he had the purchased and/or received the SSDD set or not, but that the information is one (yes, just one) mouse-click away from here. Scroll up to the top of this page, then click on either the CD/Blu-ray, CD/DVD or Vinyl pictures (or the text link under the picture) then look at the right hand side of the page where it shows the product details. There, clearly displayed, is the line: "Audio tapes transferred and restored by Plangent Processes". Not so difficult to find, surely.

I just got the release from the New Riders of their Veneta set. It was issued in 2004. Recorded by Bob and Betty. Transferred by Jeffrey Norman and mixed and mastered by Stephen Barncard. Perfect companion to "Sunshine Daydream". Got it directly from NRPS website. Not too many copies left according to website.

Has anyone in the UK received their copy yet?

My biggest problem with this Veneta release is that it makes nearly everything else pale in comparison. I tried listening to Dave's #2 today. Same band, two years later, and it is such a struggle. (Uh-oh. Now someone from Brooklyn is going to write a response titled "Struggle???" followed by a rant.) Anyway, how am I going to delve into the shelf full of archival CDs and come up with a winner? I foresee parts of my collection gathering some dust. I guess that is the natural course of events. Not everything can be great, thank the gods. Maybe I'll start paring the collection down to lighten the chaff. ("Chaff???") Opinions! Love 'em!

I am in some agreement with One Man here, I received the Amazon basic set and it is beautiful, love the way he discs are placed in the Deluxe Digipak, but what really blows me away is the incredible Quality of the DVD and The HDCDs. The record set that turned me on to the Dead was "Europe 72", and now this is like a "USA 72", The songs are classic versions, and I have so much Dead material, I could be paring my collection back a bit too. I loved The May 77 box set too, great quality, but a lot of repeats, it has special meaning to me because of another reason too, it was given to me, and really helped me thru the summer. The rumors of The Creamery show are no longer a rumor, but inspirational reality.

I'm in Ireland. Still no sign. Getting very unhappy. Almost three weeks to deliver from the U.S. to Europe? Time for dead.net to change their postal partner!!!

Funny you should mention Dave's 2 as a struggle. I felt the same way even though I absolutely love 73-74. I responded to a review on Amazon for that release & I was accused of blasphemy. The reviewer said it was the best sounding dead release he had ever heard. I simply questioned that. To me it sounds quite sterile and laid back. But to each their own. In the end it's all really good & we are lucky to have so many releases. I can't wait to listen to this Veneta, very excited.

Oh by the way I forgot to mention that I am from Brooklyn & still live there. Surprised that I am not some ranting loon?

BluRay-version #7043 arrived in Växjö, Sweden on Monday the 30th. Nice package but I haven't listened yet. Will when I have nothing else to do and can relax. Micke Östlund, Växjö, Sweden

...to Brooklyn and all five Boroughs and the rest of Earth, for that matter: I'm happy to hear all opinions. Isn't that part of what this forum is about? Some love it all. Some are more critical. All of that is fine with me. I wish nobody would get uptight about it. I'm a lover of 1973 too, but it took RT 4.3 to really drive that home. I'll continue to be selective. That's what I love most about the GD. They took so many chances that the results varied wildly. I think they would agree. Otherwise, wouldn't a lot of this stuff have been released back in the day?

I purchased two of the DVD/CD SSDD sets, one for myself and one for a friend Jer in Upland, CA who's birthday was coming soon. Spent the weekend at Jer's in the very warm (how appropriate!) Inland Empire, next to 'The Pride Of Cucamonga' of Upland and we watched the the 8/27/72, sipping drams of Bushmill's Black Bush in civilized amounts. And we were absolutely speechless while watching and listening to this! Like they said in the booklet included in the set, film footage with quality sound for this time period is VERY rare and this film, along with the Grateful Dead Movie at Winterland, captures the essence of the music and the scene . But SSDD is SO FREAKIN' MAGICAL in it's performance! It truly captures the Cosmic Connection of the band/audience all throughout in a more pure sense than the '74 Winterland. Maybe it's because the show put on by grown-up Pranksters outdoors in a natural setting, in a Bill Graham-less environment? Perhaps. All I know is that the packaging was superb and quite whimsical, the children's book design was the right touch. Let's face it folks, going to a Dead concert was like being a little kid. And this set makes me feel like a 55-year old little kid. Thank you all at Dead.net for keeping me young & happy while I'm starting my Sen. Ted Cruz instigated spiteful furlough today from the Air National Guard base where, as a civilian employee for Uncle Sam, I do Military Pay/Civilian Pay/Travel Pay. "Hey, Sunter! Pass us that bottle, will ya?" - Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull ~Living In The Past~

...these releases would have seen the light of day back then? The record industry was totally different back then. That's why everyone traded tapes. The only reason it's being released now is because Dead fans are the only ones who will buy a release they already have on tape to compare the sound quality. This might apply to a few other bands, such as the Allman Brothers. But, definitely not to the extent of the Dead.

#4681 has arrived safe after the usual wait. I've really been looking forward to this!

The link to DaP 7 is no longer working. Clearing space for DaP 8 announcement?

Arrives at last in Dublin. That's the night's listening sorted out.

There are a lot of things that go into why our opinions vary so much. For me, DaP2 is awesome! Some of the releases may have better sound quality, but I was at this show and I LOVE the set list. It was the only time I got to see The Wall of Sound in person. I could not be happier with this release. I waited 37 years for it to be released and my dream finally came true. It was always my favorite show of all of the ones I attended. To each his own. That is what makes this Dead world go around & around.

"Hey, Sunter! Pass us that bottle, will ya?" - Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull In think you mean ; "Hey, Santa! Pass us that bottle, will ya?" - Think is at the end of "A Christmas Song". Enjoy your Bushmills !

that they pull down the old pages like they just did with the Dave's Picks volume 7 page. There was a lot of useful and interesting information that is now gone.

It's a good point that these archival releases had to wait until the market was ready for them. People - including me - forget that in 1976 it seemed like a good idea to release a live album like Steal Your Face. And I may be one of the few who actually got years of enjoyment out of that record. It contained the only officially-released live versions of a bunch of songs from studio albums, and the only official versions of some songs, period. In this way, it was probably supposed to be similar to Europe '72, except no original songs made their debut on Steal Your Face. I remember the excitement of listening to those raw performances. Of course, it has been overshadowed now, but at the time it seemed amazing to me. It was many years later before the second official live versions of any songs appeared, on Without a Net in 1990(!) So it must have been seen as risky to put out multiple versions of the same song, until the archival series finally broke that mold in 1991.

Very cool sunshine daydream on the Billboard charts this week. The album made number 19 of all the albums and number 5 on the rock albums chart. You gotta love that.

I've just answered my own post of a few days ago - arrived in the UK today. Beautifully designed package and first set - which is all I've heard so far, very good. I look forward to hearing the rest and sitting down to watch the DVD.

Package delivered today in Leeds, UK. Really nice packaging .... bigger than I thought it was going to be, but well worth the price.

Spacebro, totally agree - there were some great comments in the Dave's 7 discussion about shows from 1980-81, I was planning to go back this weekend and follow up some of those show recommendations. On the other hand: "The first Prankster rule is that nothing lasts..." - Ken Kesey -- EDIT -- PS - Is it just me, or is the phrase "nothing lasts" one of those magical phrases that just gets weirder and more magical the longer you stare at it? (Kind of like "Cellar Door") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellar_door -- 2nd EDIT -- Of course it's not just me - that is what Kesey intended all along, and it just took me this long to get the Zen Koan perfection of "Nothing Lasts" - a veritable fractal of a phrase. Mr. Kesey, my hats off to you AGAIN sir.

I HAVE TO STAND UP FOR DAVE'S #2, sorry. OK maybe not Dave's best now that Veneta is out, but still great. So many highlights, this is a great long listen, again and again. Phil is revved and growling and all over that China > Rider. I think that is a bit of Tighten Up jam as Eyes cranks up. Burning through the great WOTF and MH album material, scorching WRS. Truckin'> MLB? As good as anything played that summer. Yes THAT summer. I mean throwing SUCH A FINE SHOW under the bus to score extra points for Veneta? That's plainly in bad taste, doesn't pass the smell test here in Brooklyn. <<< awesome cue, anybody? your turn.... I am looking forward to Dave's #8. The bar is always high, and it really has been a great year for Deadheads.

Mine arrived this morning (4355/12500). Just finished watching the DVD, sensational, now got the whole weekend to listen to the Cd's. Oh and a bonus , no duties no taxes, just popped through the door!!

Since the DP7 thread is gone, it seems like the announcement of Dave's Picks 8 would soon follow. But since soon is a relative term, and the DP7 thread evaporated a few days ago, well then, never mind.

I sure thought there would be an announcement yesterday. First, one of my students was wearing a 15 year anniversary t-shirt from the Warfield. Then, on the way home I drove past a '55 Chevy that looked exactly like the car on the cover of Dave's #7. Needless to say, I was expecting to see Dave's #8, a show from the 1980 Warfield run, available when I logged on. Oh well, must have just been a coincidence -- if such things exist.

Check out the front page - Monday Oct7th @ 4pm PST -7pm EST tune to DAVE TV -> Archivist and producer David Lemieux will back next week to answer all your Grateful Dead brain-busters! Send in your questions for the chat via @deadnet on Twitter or post 'em on the wall at Facebook.com/gratefuldead edit- * Got my days mixed up, it's on monday not tuesday.

More than likely the announcement for Dave's Picks Volume 8 probably will be Monday, October 7th during the "Live Chat with David Lemieux webcast. Not long after the webcast has concluded the new page with the pre-release ordering information will go live. Your guess is as good as mine on what show has been picked for official release. I'm sort of guessing that it could be the "Lake Acid" show from 10/17/83. I'm playing on the theme of "Volume 8 should be an Eighties Show." There are several other shows from the early to mid-eighties that should see the light of day, but I'll keep those guesses to myself. Whatever show gets released this time around, I will be happy with, no matter what decade it is from, whatever the date. I am on the 2013 Dave's Picks subscription plan. WHY SHOULD ANYONE OF US COMPLAIN ON WHAT SHOWS GET RELEASED? WHY?

Can't wait for volume 8. Another question: When will the gift certificate be available for purchasing the 2014 Dave's Picks series - (assuming it will continue)? I would like to tell my family to purchase it for me for x-mas rather than buying it for myself like I did this year. thanks

Looking back to last year, my receipt is dated Oct 25th. I likely purchased it within the first few days of being announced. So I would anticipate an announcement about the subscription to come in about 2-3 weeks, at the end of the month.

Actually, it arrived here in Vegas a while ago, just haven't posted yet. The slipcase has a really nice feel to it. Wondering what kind of paper material they used. Could use it as a pillow if need be. The show.....well, you all know by now. I shouldn't have to say anymore. As far as DP 8, Lake Placid would be a really good choice IMHO. We'll see soon.

I have been digesting SSDD for a couple weeks now. I only had part of the first set on tape, so I am listening to the whole show for the first time. Of all the comments here and in the extensive liner notes, there is little mention of the smoking Playing in the Band! I love the late '72 PITBs for their tight, intense jams. As the song stretched out from 5 to 30 minutes between '72 and '74, it seems the intensity could only be held for for 15 minutes or so, and to go longer the jam required a more measured pace to keep from falling over from exhaustion at the end of the first set. That makes this 20 minute ripper a standout performance, IMHO, with Jerry unleashing a 100-degree guitar jam to match the afternoon temperature. I can't get enough of it. Further, and I hate to bring this up again, I think Jerry's performance could stand up to any of the famous classic rock guitar solos of the time, and if the Rolling Stone reviewers had a copy of this PITB Jerry would have had a better showing than 46....which we all agree he deserves. I love the China->Rider, Bird Song and Dark Star too, but I got my $50 worth with Playing in the Band. The only thing that would make SSDD perfect is if it was on the video!!

Dave's Picks Volume 2 is hands down my favorite of Dave's Picks series. The playing is phenomenal, significantly better than in the representation of '74 in Dick's Picks Volume 12. The recording quality is not perfect, but you play the hand your dealt and the master tapes are what the master tapes are. Ultimately I would much prefer an imperfect recording of a great show cleaned by the professionals to as good as it gets quality than a perfect multitrack recording of an average show.

danc & great notion, I respectfully have a different opinion of Dave's 2. It's got some fine performances, particularly on the "smaller" songs (Brown-Eyed Women, Half-Step, Bertha, Big River) & including the great Scarlet opener. Sound quality is excellent, and the band's energy is loose in the way that usually makes for an extra special performance. But as a whole, it just doesn't stir me relative to my favorite '74 stuff. I'd reach for the mighty Dick's 31 of a few days later many times (perhaps every time) over this one. Same for Louisville 6-18-74 & Omni 6-20-74, and/or Road Trips Wall of Sound 2.3. Even with Weather Report, which is never going to disappoint, 7-29's on the bonus disc is still more intense. To be fair, 7-29 is only a one-disc scoop, and I think you can make a fine 1 or even 2-disc scoop with 7-31. But it just doesn't grab me or keep me for three discs. I'd LOVE to have been there, and those that were seem to have had a wonderful experience. But for my listening, it's my least loved Dave's or official 74 release. If there's such a thing as an average '74 show, this sounds like that to me..... But to each his/her own. I find Dave's 3 incredibly under-discussed. I think it's essential & my favorite '71 release along with Road Trips 1.3 ~ those make a great pair, one featuring Pigpen's organ, the other Keith's piano. Of everything under the Dave's moniker, though, this year's bonus disc 12-21-69 is the crown jewel. I think it's as important as the Valentine's stand in Feb '70, and could serve as the first stop on a musical history tour of that period running through to 5-07, 5-15 & 6-06. (If only quality tapes of July 10th existed...!)

I agree with a recent comment that Dave's Picks 3 is undervalued. I find it to be easily the "most listened to" DaP thus far. The July 31 show has a 'outdoor, summer' feel about it which is nice. Lots of audience whistling, humid jams and thick smokey sequences. I think each part of the concert is justified, not just the outer space Spanish Jam toward the end of the Truckin' jam. There are nice moments all throughout. SSDD is exception. I agree, PITB is marvelous and energetic. The Dark Star warrants many close listens and the Sing Me Back Home just shines. Looking forward to the announcement tomorrow. I think the Fox Theater Atlanta show in 1980 would be nice given the extensive write up in the New Yorker about that particular show (though Dave seemed nonplussed about that particular show in the article). Either that or the Vancouver show or the Augusta Maine '84 would be cool. Whatever, Dave knows what he's doing.

Hey I'm with you guys. Dave's Picks 3 is underrated. It's my favorite and most listened to Dave's Pick so far. Is it possible that the fall 71 tour was every bit as great as the Europe 72 tour? I think maybe so. And the Yale Bowl 7/31/71 has long been a favorite. The Dark Star is so great and unique. It's the only Dark Star from summer 71 I've ever heard. And it sounds so different from the spring and fall 71 versions.

mylightningtoo- me too. Been listening to that Veneta PITB in my car over and over and over. It's got everything. It's happy, sad, beautiful, ugly, joyful, tragic, frightening, comforting. Music doesn't get any better. 8/27/72 is underrated.

Here here for the Veneta PITB. Blair raves about it in his Golden Road column, archived here somewhere. It's probably not smart to pick favorites, but I think this version is mine. And Dave's 3 has a flavor unheard elsewhere, I guess because of Keith's newness to the madness of the GD. His parts are not fully-formed, yet they are amazingly aligned with his new band's vision. How did he do that?

Arrived in Zagreb,Croatia today after long waiting and unfortunately with 15 $ taxes!

I absolutely agree it is vastly under-loved, for sure my #2 Dave's Picks. My fave PITB is still the burning 10 min version on the Academy of Music bonus disc.

DP8 = 11/30/80 Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA

> http://www.dead.net/store/1980s/daves-picks-volume-8-fox-theatre-atlant…

It is the BD set. What an amazing release! Thank you.

Bring on some more 1971. Great, great sound.

I know this is not the thread to mention this, but I was listening to the HDTracks remastered version of "Anthem of the Sun", and it happens to be the 1971 remix made by Phil Lesh and not the original 1968 mix available on CD. The original is better, at least for my taste, but it is interesting listening to a different approach to that hallucinating beast that is the Dead's second LP.

I have been unable to get CD2 out of my car player for over a week, I can hardly wait for GSET to be over to start the disc again.In my opinion 4.5 minutes into Playing is the epitomy and end-all of what the Dead is to me. I can't even describe the mesmerizing effect this has on me. I have never heard any other music by any other band that comes close to this. Between this Louisville 74' and DP31 is a toss up. Louisville had been my favorite for over 30 years, even the crappy version i had some old maxell dc90 tape. However, this relaease is close.

And one of my favorites. Will have have to listen to a few others from this era. 72' is probably my favorite year hands down. Dark Stars , other ones, sing me back home, two souls in communion (the stranger), wow Europe 72 , Morning Dew. Truckin' , Comes A Time, Cumberland Blues, wow it's doesn't get any better for me.

I saw the Dead for the first time in September '72, in Waterbury, Connecticut, a month or so after this show. For my money, '72 is the greatest year, and I shake my head in astonishment and gratitude every time I watch and listen to Sunshine Daydream. Just sublime.

I finally received #4678 (Blu-ray) today in Holland. I cannot understand why it took 27 days to get here - I received a shipping confirmation on 16 September. Roland Bruynesteyn, who also lives in Holland, posted on here that he received his copy on September 28. Why did it take more than two weeks longer for me to get mine? I assume that they both shipped at the same time. I was also not happy to have to pay 21.60 Euros taxes ($29.25) which is more than half the purchase price. I do not know if Roland also had to pay this, but I do know that in the case of the May '77 box Roland received his well before I did and I had to pay import duties etc. while he did not. I find it very strange that orders shipped to the same small country can vary so much regarding delivery times and customs treatment. All this has nothing to do with dead.net of course and ranting about postal services is an exercise in futility but it is frustrating to say the least. All that said, I now have it in my greasy paws and can settle down and enjoy the show. The packaging is just great, as others have said before me and I already know that the music and video will not disappoint.