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    "When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

    We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

    The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

    The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

    The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

    Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

    (Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

    ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
    Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

    *Helpful hints for using your USB:

    Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
    On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
    On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

    Viewing the digital book:
    You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

    To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

    Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
    When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
    PDF
    Text

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  • Zuckfun
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    Headphones cont'd
    Just to springboard (and swan dive) off of what Jim said, a very smart move is to listen to as many headphones as you can before deciding. Some people love Grados, and some can't stand them. The same could be said for so many headphones. All that really matters is to find headphones that you love. Here's a beyond impressive review of many headphones: http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-c…
  • Roland Bruynesteyn
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    @ drShakedown > listening devices
    My system consists ofNAD M3 NAD M5 KEF Reference 205/2 very good cabling, no radio, no cassettes/tapes, no blu ray, no vinyl, no surround sound, no streaming, no dvd (except on pc)...
  • Zuckfun
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    Re: Great Sound/Headphones
    In terms of listening to the GD on headphones, an important question is how much you're comfortable spending. Are you willing to purchase a headphone amplifier? In terms of audiophile gear that is (believe it or not) also a relatively great value in terms of bang for the buck- Sennheiser HD600/HD650 and Hifiman HE500 are exceptional GD headphones. While an amp is recommended for these headphones, it's probably only absolutely necessary with the HE500. Also important, these 3 headphones are somewhat forgiving of the recording, so less than perfect recordings are still very enjoyable to listen to. This is a valuable characteristic to keep in my mind when looking for ideal GD headphones- Will the headphones be unforgiving of recordings and overexpose it's flaws. Of course it's worth mentioning the quality of the source itself is also important- CD player, DAC, etc. Hopefully more will contribute to this, in addition to speaker and receiver suggestions.
  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    headphones...
    I like a closed back headphone, just so I don't want an open back headphone. Makes it easier to hide in the music...
  • drshakedown74
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    Headphones/Equipment....Zuckfun reply
    I am willing to listen to all price levels. My Bose QC15 set me back 300 if I remember right, and I realize I will need to go north of that, hopefully without reaching 4 digits. I got the Bose for general family use, and now want something better. Plus the noise cancelling feature is ridiculous. I hear those Sennheisers mentioned a lot. 1.I want to plug headphones straight into my Integra DTM-40.4 receiver 2. CD player is a Integra CDC 3.4 3.I also have a seperate amp for a "Zone 2" I never use: Integra ADM 20.4 Not really sure if I should incorporate that into my speakers or if it would help or not. 4. My speakers are Monitor Audio Silver RX8's (gloss white) i got about 4 years ago with the above mentioned Integra stuff. 5. I also purchased the Monitor Audio W12 sub, but rarely use that now that the speakers are "broken in"..... I would love to hear about other peoples speakers BUT....I friggin love these things....the "field" is incredible for my large room, stunning really for the money. Thanks Zuckfun and whoever else wants to comment.
  • KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    Poodling About
    It appears I have 9/19/70 in my "Grateful Soundboards" folder (thanks to you-know-who). Not quite the 9/20/70 that received most of the hype, but it starts with Dark Star, so I'm happy nonetheless. Speaking of Dark Star, I've been on a bit of kick lately. Last night I revisited E72 Tivoli show 1 from 4/14 (aka Trekin' Through Copenhagen). Outf@#kingstanding. I had the headphones on and the Poweramp EQ set to "just exactly perfect". Bobby really shines. I always have to look for him in the mix, which is a bit easier on these multi-tracks from E72; he's still lower than Jerry, but not as low as the two-track mixes that we generally get off the soundboard. I was impressed with how much lead work he was doing, as well as some of the melodies he was developing throughout. And of course the transition into Sugar Magnolia is for the ages. Then I revisited the 5/23/72 Dark Star (Good Evening, and Welcome to Here). More of the same. This one doesn't get talked about much, but it's pretty damn solid. Then there was the Academy of Music bonus disc Dark Star, which is oh so fine, maybe better than any of the E72 renditions, which is saying quite a bit. Nah, I won't go there, let's just say it's pretty damn good. Jeez I almost forgot about that one, how late was I up? This explains why I'm so tired and not getting any work done. And then I plugged in the Dark Star from Winterland Blues (2/24/74) on the way into work; also a non-stop treat. The only time Dark Stars and Other Ones lose me is when they start making a lot of weird noise for extended periods; I need some melody, even if it's changing every 30 seconds. In the time I wrote this, the Dark Star from 9/19/70 completed. Yep, more solid stuff, lots of great unique melodies and exploration. These guys are the best. During last night's Dark Star extravaganza, I read this interesting article on a February '73 show. Some good insights into where the band was with their live repertoire at that point, as well as a song-by-song breakdown of the show (for those who are unaware, this site is virtual goldmine of insightful information on all topics): http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2014/08/21573-dane-county-coliseum-madis… Ziffle, glad to hear you're going to pick up May 1977, it's not going to disappoint. Just curious, do you have DP 3, 29, and DaP 1?
  • brianhahne
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    Wow... MadDogs
    That video is amazing... Watching now at work. Loving it! On another note, if anyone is looking for some VERY VERY rare (one of a kind) artwork from the Fare Thee Well shows, I'm selling some hanging banners of the band that were shown in the stadium, including the COA. Email me.
  • KeithFan2112
    Joined:
    muleskinner / Townshend Onstage with the Dead 10/9?
    Yeah muleskinner, that's about my impression of Road Trips '77. I keep going back to it, trying to give it some love, but it never reciprocates. Speaking of Franklin's Tower - I was listening to DP 33 the other day, and all of the sudden this crunchy guitar riff jumped right out of the speaker at me, and it sounded just like Pete Townshend! I think he snuck onstage during the Day On The Green outing, and right at 2:55, he cranked out the Roll Away the Dew riff.....and then snuck right back to his dressing room. I imagine Roger, John, and Keith rolling over with laughter upon his return, and Pete saying something like, "well that's the best guitar riff I never wrote, seems that one got away from me mates; although it goes on a bit long, too much poodling around." Heh, Brits.
  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: Lockin'
    Hey matchewy, Thanks for the update on Lockin', wasn't able to make it this time. Not surprised by the comment on Derrick Trucks. I have been saying this for years, but concerning Trucks, we are witnessing history in the making. He is going to go down as one of the true greats.. its likely most reading this have seen him once or thrice.. but if not, go get some. He is only going to harder and more expensive to see in my humble opinion.
  • matchewy
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    Joined:
    GD audiophile releases
    I picked up American Beauty and Workingman's on MoFi wax, and they sound great, as do In the Dark and Wake. Live Dead was interesting, and the source has become a mystery of much discussion. I also picked up the Analog Productions audiophile vinyl releases of Bear's Choice and Reckoning, both of which sound stellar. Also, went to Lockn this weekend. The Tedeschi Trucks Band tribute to Mad Dogs and Englishmen with many guests stole the show, IMO: Billy and the Kids with Bobby was also quite nice, and Billy's got himself quite the ensemble. This was followed by and um, awkward Phil and Friends set with Santana, who generally seemed lost the entire set. I was very pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a Dark Star. The Hot Tuna 50 Years of Jefferson Airplane set with Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Billy Kreutzman, and GE Smith was also very good. I was worried for a set that stodd on novelty alone, but the playing was excellent! Plenty of tapers there, so recordings should be circulating.
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"When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

(Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

*Helpful hints for using your USB:

Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

Viewing the digital book:
You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
PDF
Text

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13 years 2 months
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That's about what I was thinking.
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14 years 11 months
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Of course you can be a head and believe those things. They just don't make any economic sense, that's all.
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9 years 11 months
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From Relix during the internet's Triassic era: "Thanks to the computer age, there's now a way to bring [the Dead's 'traveling carnival'] right into your home. In growing numbers, Deadheads are finding that it's easy to stay in touch by calling one of the several Grateful Dead computer 'bulletin boards' that have sprouted in various parts of the country. A computer bulletin board is a place that people can 'visit' electronically to talk or get information fast. With the help of a 'modem', a computer can connect with the telephone line and dial into any other modem-equipped computer." The article further recognizes DeadHead dauntlessness even in the face of such fearsome Jetson-like technological revolution: "Computers are still freaky to many people, and one might think they'd be especially freaky to Deadheads", yet, "said Dead Board user Mark Israel, 'I don't think it's strange at all...we may enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life, but we are not simple people." Amen/K
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9 years 3 months
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What an interesting take that I never thought about before, it's Mickey's fault ;) It does stand the basic logic test of jazz based piano players were considered part of the rhythm section and the addition of a 2nd drummer would leave less space for Keith in the mix, where as syths, cheesey keyboards and organ would occupy a different spot in a 2 drummer line up. things to listen for in the future. Billy's new book has also given me lots to listen for and highly recommended for his point of view from the drummers seat on the mood/drug consumption of the periods. Jerry seems to be one of the few junkies that could still play well far longer than most of the people around him and even though it became a problem, they let it continue as the money became everyone's drug of choice at the end. meanwhile Weather Report suite from 9/12/73 SBD just shuffled on and Keith is sounding great, too bad theres a bunch of horns soloing where Jerry should be playing and it sounds like a flock of waterfowl having an orgy.
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Rdevil - Can you clarify what is meant by "Keith going through Jerry's briefcase may have been his biggest sin"??? Do you mean he was actually busted rifling through his stuff/stealing Jerry's stash, or was that just a euphemism for "he was doing the same, err…, recreational stuff as Jerry and it had a very negative effect"? I do recall a story from one book where someone had stolen Jerry's stash from his briefcase and he started VERY indiscreetly confronting people "Who took my bindle!" Maybe these stories are related (though probably not - made me think of it though…) I'm mildly uncomfortable that this is getting into unsavory gossip, but I'm hitting "send" anyway...
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15 years 8 months
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I always liked this show, but Keith is a non-factor and he really blows it toward the end of Good Lovin'-- when the rest of the band stops at one point, Keith hits a big chord. That is one of the worst obvious errors I have heard in all my GD listening, way worse than any vocal flubs they regularly made. Re: Beware Mr. Baker and the Clapton comment, in the movie they talk about Ginger's style a lot and that he was really a jazz drummer thrust into a rock and roll band. Clapton's comment, I think he was more appalled by the comparison to Bonham, you can hear him say, "no, no, Zep..." and then he catches himself before being caught on camera bashing LZ. Ginger could swing, hit 'em hard and provide some world beats, too. I like Keith Moon a lot and find his drumming amazing in his prime. This documentary gave me a better appreciation of Ginger Baker's talents-- in spite of the fact that he is absolutely insane.
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"But I think some of the reason he began to decline is the band's '78 swerve into louder, fuzzier, raunchier tones and electric rock 'n roll (vs the ragtime band). When Keith joined in 1971 it was a 1-drummer band and by '73 they were playing light, loose and ragtime/jazzy. But suddenly in '78 they were in full beast mode and a piano doesn't really fit into a raging 2-drummer band easily - must have been frustrating for him." Excellent post, Thin. I never articulated this correctly, and I think you are right. Since we were talking about the "non-factor" issue (and I'd never actually noticed anything BAD before, like the 12/31/78 bad chord), I decided to check out a couple songs from the famous 5/8/77 gig. After all, we all know that show, right? I dialed up Estimated Prophet in the car, and listened for what Keith was doing. Now, granted, I'm cruising down the road in 93-degree Florida heat, so the AC is cranked to the max, but let me just say: during the first 3 minutes or so that I road-tested that song, I did not hear Keith...at all. I could hear everybody else: Phil, Jerry, Bobby, Mickey & Billy. I skipped ahead to Morning Dew, and I heard a little bit of tinkling piano during the first few minutes...nothing bad, but nothing remarkable. Sounded low in the mix, too...very low. Maybe they really did turn his volume down overall? No idea. For contrast, I listened to a Yes show from the same basic era, '78. Rick Wakeman on keyboards. Now, it's not a fair comparison, I know: different band, different style. But I'll tell you what: those keyboards were prominent, I mean PROMINENT, in the mix. All over the place. So maybe it wasn't just drugs, passivity, or whatnot. Maybe he really was mixed intentionally low by the latter years of the Godchauxs' tenure.
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Unfortunately, when I think of Keith's later playing, I invariably think of the Cornell Fire. His blocky repetitive chords are just a sin, and almost ruin this amazing song for me. Give me his early stuff any day, the man was fantastic!
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There's some good insight into some of the music that influenced Jerry and some of the directions he wanted to explore or did not in the following March '78 JGB interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya2Vv1zcGmY It gives some background on the edgier, harder feel the music took on at that time. There's an interesting piece about new wave and punk that starts about 29 min in. Very interesting stuff.. if you had the same conversation say in '72 or '73, Its very likely names like Django Reinhardt, Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis and the like might just pop up. At one point Garcia states, "I like Cheap Trick." A musical Omnivore he was.. 35 min in he speaks highly of the Who and Townsend but says its a drag to do the same show '4 years in a row. Change and reinvention is a part of the golden thread this tapestry is woven from. Anyway, more food for thought. The only thing constant in this world is change.

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10 years 4 months
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I came up with a rather new twist. Listening to an entire show sometimes just isn't possible, so what I've done is to select one disc from a set and create a mix up. Yesterday I started with some 73 and jumped to 90 then back to 72, etc. kinda works with the 50th concept. I have SO much Dead now, I might be able to only enjoy 1 complete show in a day and that would take a while to go thru all of it. So this approach is in play. I'm also rotating in terms of sets too. First sets and then Second.It gives me a broad palate to draw from and lots of years to combine into one big groove for the day. I've read were some folks wouldn't try this, but it's working in the summer heat so far! Enjoy yourselves!
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Thanks for that link @frankparry. Can't say I'm impressed with the design of the 4-CD box, but I'll bet the 80-disc box will be awesome. And what a monster it'll have to be. Just look at 80 CD's in your collection and see how much space they take up! I'm betting there will be a cardboard slipcase for each show. Or maybe it'll be in the style of a book. It looks like that's what they went for with the 4-disc set. If that's the case, it may be hard for folks to sell off single shows as we've seen on this board and on eBay. Besides which, I think the idea of breaking up the box defeats the vision that Dave had: i.e. taking in the 30-year journey that was the life of the Grateful Dead. So if you're someone who loves the 70's Dead, this may be an opportunity to have some later era music in your collection. And if you're an 80's/90's lover, then this is the chance to go back a bit further. My story is this: I started listening to the Grateful Dead with the album "Without A Net," so Brent has always sounded great to me. I never did get to see Brent, though. I saw the Dead 4 times -- 3 in '91 and once in '93. I was at the 2 MSG shows before the 9/10/91 show in the box. Then I stopped listening for years. It wasn't until my son was born 3-1/2 years ago that I started listening again. Man, I was HOOKED! I tracked down every Road Trips and Bonus Disc over the next year, and then started in on the Dave's Picks and newer box sets as they came out. Despite my expanding collection, I was still pretty stuck in the late 80's and early 90's. But I slowly worked my way backwards. '77 and '74 offered ample rewards for my listening, but earlier than that was a little too much for me. Kinda raw at times. And Pigpen took some getting used to. So it took me a while to get into '72 and all that the European tour has going for it. Now I can dig it. On the other side of the Dead's career, I shied away from post '91 stuff. Without Hornsby, what magic did the band still have up their sleeves? Then I pulled out th '93 Cal Expo Road Trips this year. I've gotta tell you, it's good. Way better than I thought it should be. So when I first saw this box set, I thought, "Way too expensive," and "Too much stuff that I don't want." But the more I thought about it, the more excited I became to hear those shows from years I had shied away from - pre '72 and post '91. I think the box will be an amazing opportunity to experience the full scope of what the Grateful Dead's music was. Thanks for reading. Reach out your hand If your cup is empty If your cup is full May it be again
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Pretty awesome radio show.
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16 years 6 months
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very much like individual cases for each show in any box - so can carry one or two shows on a trip in the car etc.
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15 years 8 months
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For those of you still looking for the Newsweek Special Edition Grateful Dead 50th, I found it today at my local Walmart (Rt 1 N in Saugus MA). There's a bunch of copies left. Was totally surprised. It was my "Last Chance Texaco" before seeking it out on Amazon. So if you're in the Boston area, they have them there. Listening to the second sample of this boxset now - wish there were more supporting videos describing why these shows made the cut...
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I have to laugh when I hear you dilettantes substantiate "the decline" of Keith Godchaux with a bad chord on one song from 12/31/78, and from shows in 77 when he was low in the mix. So, first of all I'll start with the second laugh first. Nobody anywhere has ever said he "declined" in '77 - the comments were about his '78 playing. So now you gossip monkeys are adding years on to an already invisible claim. 1) If he's low in the mix, he's low in the mix - these are two track recordings - most of the live Dead library you can't even hear Bob Weir; 2) his playing style was phased out by the time they were doing songs like Fire On The Mountain and Estimated Prophet - read my essay on two drummers in the DaP 14 section a couple of weeks to understand how Mickey Hart's return changed the palette Keith had to work on. Being phased out stylistically and suffering a decline in skills are two different things. Dilettantes. 12/31/78 - What about Big River? What about I Need A Miracle? One bad chord? A f#@king beer probably fell on the piano. Peace. Donna - forgive them, for they understand not what they say.
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"I can't do anything about it" Really Dave? Among many solutions: you could go inside. Come on, man...
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Hey Thin, it took me awhile to find it, but the briefcase story I was referring to is on page 293 of Blair Jackson's Garcia: An American Life. I did not remember that the story about Garcia busting Keith going through his briefcase was told by John Kahn. According to Kahn, Keith "was gone from the JGB right after that." The story has stayed with me but only now does it occur to me that this is a secondhand story told by a guy with drug issues of his own. It's hard to say how accurate this is but Jackson did include it in the book. Maybe the story you were thinking of, Thin, was after a concert when Jerry received a death threat (early 80s). That one is in Rock Skully's book. Apparently Jerry was yelling things like, "Who stole my stash!" in front of promoters after the show. Anyway, my apologies to anyone offended by me bringing up gossip. I'm fascinated with the Keith and Donna story, in part I think, because there's so little written about them. There really weren't any books written about the band until the 80s (correct me if I'm wrong) so most of what we know about the Godcauxs are stories told from some very hazy memories. There's also no interview with them in the Grateful Dead Movie. Speaking of that, thanks JiminMD for the link to that '78 interview. It was great to hear Donna there.
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Heaven forbid anyone should have an opinion that differs from your holier-than-thou say. Keep your condescension to yourself. You're not the only one with a brain. EDIT: I come across no better than you. Sorry. Can we discuss without judgment? I'll try harder.

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10 years 4 months
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No gossip just truth.A friend of mine goes up to visit his folks in Canada, and as he is leaving he tosses me a key and says, Hey if you need a buzz and your out, drop by my place and take care of yourself. Totally out of character for my friend who is always the last to cough up a J at a party or whatever. Days go by. So I'm out and I go over and help myself, and knowing me I figure what the hell I will just take this home and buy him a fresh supply when he gets home. When I remove the goodies I accidentally pull a plant from the top of his fridge. There was a long leaf hanging down. Anyway the damn plant jumps off the fridge at me like a rabid pit Bull! Lucky I didn't get hit in the face from the stupid plant. In the process a little dirt gets spilled. Of course I clean up the dirt from the floor and get the plant all happy again returning it to its perch. Now my friend keeps his in an empty ice cream container. Anybody remember Fruzen Gladje? Anyway... He gets home after a month and calls me up to come over which I do. As I walk in he goes over to the fridge and before I can say Boo, he opens the fridges freezer door. Well I guess I didn't clean up as well as I thought cause the next thing I hear is There's Earth in my Fucking Freezer! Who stole my stash? I don't know why but I cracked up like a watermelon dropped from the 47th floor! I'm howling at his choice of verbage. As he looks at me with the gaze of a Manson Family member, I toss him a fresh full supply! At once all is well and cool! It was a totally funny as hell moment. When I see him even after 35 years, you can be assured at least once I love blurting out There's Earth in my Freezer!! Oh the goofy years of youth Rock on good people and Enjoy.
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10 years 9 months
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66 thru 69 GD is the true grit of acid rock. For sure the work they did onwards was fine, but to me the creativity of those 4 years of acid daze earns them a chapter in the the Gospel of Rock!
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12 years 1 month
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Listening to Stranger from Augusta '84, pretty hot! I've had this show in one form or another for 25 years, and always loved it. It's no '73 or '77, but none too shabby!
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17 years 2 months
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Folks, I give you the biggest dilettante of us all, from the 2012 Golden Road Blog... Blair Jackson: http://www.dead.net/features/blair-jackson/blairs-golden-road-blog-keit… Makes me want to explore the January/Feb '79 shows more. The comments after are interesting too - hey Cosmic Badger, did you ever listen to that show you were going to check out? What did you think? PS - One of the best things about the release of Boxzilla is that it's bringing back folks like Kate, Cosmic, Palmer....
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12 years 1 month
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Spectrum! WAY under the radar! Check this one out!
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17 years 2 months
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Less then 1500 to go. So with sales of 5000 in just over two weeks I think it is safe to say they will sell out before 9/18. Rock on
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9 years 3 months
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Just a comment on sales rates. Looking at the numbers posted, the sales run rate has dropped to 30 or so per day. Even so, the box will more than likely sell out. Approx numbers (as reported by other folks) Day 1/2 : 4000 in 2 days Day 3 : 300 in 1 day Days 4 to 9 : 100 per day Days 10 to 15 : 30 per day I bought one on day 3. I've also been a GD lover since 1969 Aoxomoxoa (but not a die hard enthusiast). The Dead are my favourites but all I've ever bought are LPs from the 60s and 70s as well as the 2 box sets (Golden Road & Beyond Description). I couldn't miss the chance to get this 30 trips box as a last chance live momento. Curious that I would have missed this if I hadn't just seen the Bob Weir feature on Netflix !
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11 years 10 months
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6/18/74 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY - Best "Eyes of the World" Everybody ready for that "Barton Hall, 5/8/77" announcement next week?
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17 years 3 months
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Wow, listen to that Other One Suite. Beg borrow or steal to get this box friends.
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14 years 8 months
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whoever mentioned the Ginger Baker movie. I watched it on youtube yesterday morning and enjoyed it a lot. whoever mentioned 1/8/79: I just had my face melted off by Big River.
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16 years 11 months
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There are a number of shows where Keith does just hammer repeatedly I'll come across them again at one point and post up which ones. The most prominent that I can remember from the collection is a Fire where he sounds identical to the sound you hear when a car has the keys left in the ignition and the doors open, honestly it has the same timing too....just ding...ding...ding over and over. While he probably nodded off for a minute and was playing by reflex it is annoying. I would also say that I agree with the comment that his fluidity goes from plinkling fast runs to a more staccato sound that does not suit him, his talents or his grand piano. Though Hornsby is a master of staccato textures and uses them very engagingly in the band. I almost wonder if Keith was just frustrated by the band's comments and his playing is a passive aggressive response to the comments. I also remember a book where Jerry mentions that the band wanted new and varying keyboard tones and textures because of all the new technology coming out as far as synths, pedals and electronic components go. But that Keith was absolutely against expanding his tone palette or attempting to bring in new colors almost to the point of confrontation. Not so much his playing though I have heard that before but more his insistence on familiarity and lack of desire to attempt a full band progression in a new direction of their tonal palette.
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14 years 8 months
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the grate debate is now best Eyes. someone mentioned 6/18/74. 2/9/73 is the best version ever. another pitch for Sleep's Dopesmoker. and computer world by Kraftwerk. Santa Clara is next weekend. any attendees getting excited?
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16 years 11 months
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Not everyone is on here 24/7 some of us have lives and only join you and the conversation when our busy schedules allow. And if you wanna talk "now" go over to the 50th chat room not the box set chat of past shows, which are not now but "then."
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16 years 11 months
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Wtf does that mean?!
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14 years 8 months
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seems like i came across like a douchebag to you. just putting some thoughts out there. I ain't going to SC. just asking. what's really bothering you, bro? put down the red whiskey.
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12 years 9 months
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Enough about Keith vs Brent....IMHO you cant even hear Keith's piano playing except for the Europe '72 shows at all. In 1977 you can kinda hear him plunking stoned chord patterns out on what sounds like one of those electric high school pianos form the 1970s. IMHO Brent is far and away the better of the two, he brought back life & enthusiasm to the band, had an incredible mix of keys/piano/B-3 Organ sounds, and frankly gave the band back the wonderful harmonizing they had missed since about 1972. With that said, who has some educated guesses at what DP#15 will be. I don't think it will be from pre-1978. His last 6 picks have had : 2-from 1972, 2-from 1974, a 1977, and a 1969. It's obviously time for some 1980s releases from this series. I am predicting DP#15 will be from 1981 or 1984...BRING IT!
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15 years 8 months
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Hope you're right, lot of predictions for a July '84 show, some say the 14th, I'd go with the 13th, duh, Dark Star encore, Scarlet-> Touch-> Fire, no-brainer! Knowing how this series has been since its inception though, safe to predict something in the '69-'77 time frame. Dave's picks aren't all that adventurous. No complaints here, I love it all. But I'd sure like more from those criminally underrepresented years. Not that I want to scroll past months of whining from those who think the band should have stopped progressing and become a heritage nostalgia act from '75 on...

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10 years 4 months
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I go for the fire extinguisher like in Animal House!
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14 years 11 months
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And me alone? Or are there other people out there who are just no-way no-how gonna click on any of the "listening party" links? I gotta wait! I mean, I WANT to listen!!! But... I just gotta wait, man.
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15 years
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First saw the Dead in concert in 1972, my last show was in 1994. Every show I saw through 1982 was great. Period. Early Brent shows were rockin. He definitely kicked them into a higher gear. After 1982 I can't honestly say the shows I saw were all that great but that didn't seem like Brent's fault as much as just burn out. I really didn't like Brent's songs or singing and as the years progressed those became more prominent in the repertoire. That didn't help. Last show I saw (94) was awful and heartbreaking. Can't blame that on Brent. Agree with whoever said 66-69 is really the big bang holy grail of the Grateful Dead. Birth of Acid Rock. My personal listening preference is 71-74. For whatever it's worth. Peace out.
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17 years 2 months
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direwulf, at the risk of becoming the next target, I think you may have mis-read Stoltzfus's comment. Someone mentioned 6/18/74 as the best Eyes, and Stoltz jokingly suggested that the debate was now about that, rather than Brent v. Keith. He wasn't saying we all have to do it right now. And about that Eyes - I tend to prefer 74 versions (10/19!), but I can never get enough of the inverted Eyes on 6/9/76 (RT 4.5). Almost ten minutes of jamming *before* they get to the singing... including hints of the "Stronger Than Dirt-esque" jam that had been the coda in 73-74, but Bobby, at around 4:30, turns it into a totally unique theme, as he did a lot in '76. Around 8 minutes in they seem to get a bit lost - "wait, did we already play Eyes?" when Phil kicks them into gear with an impatient and gorgeous explosion of his bass at around 8:27. For those of you who don't have Road Trips 4.5, there is a nice sounding copy on the Archive: https://archive.org/details/gd76-06-09.set2-sbd.gardner.5426.sbeok.shnf
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11 years 3 months
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Did the group only do Seastones in 1974? My face has been melting with the one from Alexandria Theatre in the UK, and now from Philadelphia in August of 74. Is it me, or is this a precursor to Space?
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11 years 3 months
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I listened for a few seconds, and stopped immediately because I want to hear these shows in Sept. I have a few of the shows on the set, but to hear them mastered will definitely be something else.
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17 years 3 months
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Listened to this show today - a combination of the Road Trips and a Miller. I've been into this show for 35 years - I don't use best, but it's one of the very few finest from '74, or any year. Happy 50th anniversary to Phil - he played his first gig with the Warlocks. I got an if clause coming ... What would Keith have sounded like had he been in the chair for the Warfield/MSG shows from '80? I love reckoning and Brent plays splendidly - no "dis-ing" goin' on here; just curious.
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13 years 2 months
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I used to listen..but not for a few years. I like to get the virgin listen when the mailman comes. Someone on this thread stated they don't even look as setlists anymore before listening to shows. I can't say I adhere to this, but when I do I am often pleasantly surprised. I have been listening to Spring '90 straight through this month, the show for today's bike ride was 3/28 Nassau and it was a treat listening to that first version of The Weight blind (well, second if you count the 1970 version w/ the New Riders). What a great show and what a great crowd reaction. oh.. that 6/18 Eyes>China Doll is spectacular. One of my first high quality boots and I played the living shit out of that all those years ago.
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15 years
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Not sure how would have done in the 80s. Lets' see...The Warfield/RCMH were done with the goal of realeasing live albums, and at the time they were going for a more formatted show, with less in between songs jamming. There was an interview in summer of 1980 in either Time or Newsweek where they mention the new direction. They were definitely going in a more commercial direction. Sadly(IMO, of course...)the formatting of the shows stayed on and the long, unpredictable trip ended. From that point on, there was 1st set songs, 2nd set pre-drum songs, drum space, post-drum songs, etc., with some rare exceptions.
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17 years 3 months
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In addition to 6/18/74 (and some Beaux Arts Trio Haydn this AM), I've had a Blue Note afternoon - stuff that'll make you forget about your laundry. Elmo Hope "Trio & Quintet" 6/18/53 Stanley Turrentine "Look Out!" 6/18/60 Horace Parlan "Up & Down" 6/18/61 Don Wilkerson "Complete B.N." 6/18/62 Hank Mobley "Dippin'" 6/18/65 - Phil's 1st show Salud.
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10 years 5 months
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I realize this post isn't on the proper board, but whatever. I was just checking upcoming tour dates for NRPS. Guess what...they are playing in Chicago the weekend of July 4 (July 3-5, if I recall). Is this simply a coincidence, or are there plans for a good old 1970-like acoustic set at the farewell shows? Who knows, but it's curious none-the-less.
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9 years 11 months
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After a 12hour day at work, that began in the pool at 0530 and encompassed a 2hour flex period mid-afternoon to accommodate a ridiculous run in 92F heat with absurd humidity, your post has officially 'made my night'! And to be mentioned amongst such august company from The (legendary) Eleven thread. Through a cloud of vampirous deer flies (I'm down a pint of B-positive)and enough sweat to swim in, I was propelled by the profound, absolute, utter, categorical, and nearly incomprehensible perfection of 2/26. Seriously. Second only to 9/18 - which, I might add, is also a component of one of the single greatest (pending) releases in recorded musical history (right there with the Furtwangler "Legacy" box, E72, ABB FE '71 complete, and the 45th edition of VU's eponymous album) - that show generated more discussion and contemporaneous listening/editorializing on this site than any competitor. Well, 10/29 held fair sway back in the day, too...peace/K
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