30 Trips Around The Sun Box & Digital USB

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September 4, 2015 - 10:38am

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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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November 20, 2015 - 2:08pm

#1061

outpost

Joined:
June 11, 2007

TheDude77

Dead.net took my $700 .... they should be providing the solution. But I just sent Dr. Rhino an email, anyways !
November 20, 2015 - 2:07pm

#1062

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

Simon/Box of Rain

Dang Simon, you most certainly know your dead. I am constantly amazed!
November 20, 2015 - 1:29pm

#1063

TheDude77

Joined:
November 6, 2013

Outpost...

I don't think customer services are the people you want to be blaming or contacting about the USB screw-up. I've had many problems (2 months to get a pre-paid return for damaged Sunshine Daydream) with them that were obviously their fault, but this is one time when I believe that the people who answer the phone have not been told anything. Some news would have leaked by now if they knew. I feel for you guys/girls on this one, but If I purchased the USB I would be sending mass amounts of e-mails to Rhino or maybe Warner Brothers Music.
November 20, 2015 - 1:20pm

#1064

outpost

Joined:
June 11, 2007

@JeffSmith

Are you waiting for the USB ?
November 20, 2015 - 12:44pm

#1065

Mr.Dc

Joined:
April 7, 2014

Venues

Hope your recovery goes well Dave. I hear you on the uncomfortable venues, I recently had surgery and apparently the anesthesia caused nerve damage, which left me basically bedridden the last couple months. I had purchased TAB shows prior to the surgery though, and decided to push myself to go to the shows. I made it to the venues ridiculously early in order to find seats at a bar or wherever available and made it through the Showbox in Seattle, but the Crystal Ballroom was another story, I ended up spending the 2nd set in my car laying there in too much pain. I also noticed that I was being judged for not "moving enough" during the shows, like I was giving people a bummer vibe haha. It's because I was in a personal battle with debilitating pain throughout my entire body people lol. Needless to say I haven't even considered tickets for anything else, I can barely stand for more than about an hour. Was planning on getting Arlo G tickets too, well hopefully they find out what's wrong with me by april.
November 20, 2015 - 12:33pm

#1066

purpleerik69

Joined:
May 24, 2015

no

UNBROKEN CHAIN toobut it is on 7/5/15 - heyhey
November 20, 2015 - 12:31pm

#1067

purpleerik69

Joined:
May 24, 2015

still----

Boxzilla makes me smile everytime i look at itand grab another year to listen, still 8 to go and then start all over again. What a trip , what fine work, thanx Dr Rhino and Dave L.
November 20, 2015 - 12:20pm

#1068

Guss West

Joined:
August 21, 2015

Can't Win for Tryin'

I'd rather they try than not. I'd rather they grow than rot. Rocket science it's not. This place is getting hot. I'm glad Rhino and TPTB have a profit motive to make this music available to me. My empathies to those still waiting for the USB. I sat this one out, but my spidey sense was tingling from the start on the never-done-before USB release. I hate being right, this time. Does anyone know if "Dr. Rhino" has the appropriate credentials to claim such a moniker? Just curious. (Having earned mine the hard way, I get hinky when I think I'm being fleeced. Like when military guys bust a poseur at the shopping mall.) Dr. Rhino has been great to me. If I was waiting on my USB, I'd be busting HIS agates. Happy weekend, Deadlandia! Off to see DSO, first show in 10 years! Where does the time go!?!?
November 20, 2015 - 12:13pm

#1069

gerd65

Joined:
November 12, 2015

customer service

i don't blame the people answering the phones, etc and while i agree that we have been given a ton of tunes to listen to this year, etc, the famed PTB can surely be professional and provide honest answers for a very sizable purchase. that's all. (it's not like we are waiting on a $10 SYF Christmas ornament or something) i don't care about the delay. send it whenever its properly ready but a) you can't have my money until you send me a product and b) just tell us why and when. not so hard to be an actual business and explain something to your core backers.
November 20, 2015 - 12:00pm

#1070

JeffSmith

Joined:
June 9, 2014

Half-Full and Then Some (or Don't Blame the Messenger)

Sounds like gui2i3 had a totally different experience with Customer Service than me. During a year when the Powers-That-Be probably bit off more than they should have, I have received prompt, response each time I have contacted Customer Service. They may not sit on the board at dead.net or Rhino, but they’re obviously (to me at least) not some fly-by-night answering service. I too have gotten frustrated with the delays and lack of communication, but those issues are not the fault of Customer Service. CS may not have been able to always give me the answers I’d hoped for, but they’ve taken the time to provide the correct answer to my questions. I haven’t encountered a single rep that fits any of the categories gui2i3 listed. We all seem to agree that dead.net supply lines have been stretched past their limits this year. Maybe it’s just me, but I appreciate the fact that the PTB weren’t afraid that their reach might exceed their grasp. I am grateful that they aimed high and have been trying to deliver unique musical offerings in exceptionally creative, artistic ways. They could have taken the easy way out – thrown together a few safe cookie-cutter offerings and called it good. Instead they took a chance and have created something worthy of the 50th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Many/most of us may be disappointed in how the PTB (not their proxies in CS) have handled some of the inevitable problems with ambitious, one-of-a-kind efforts. I for one am very thankful that the effort was made to do something special (and risky). I do think of myself as a member of this huge, inclusive FAMILY. As such am willing to share the risk inherent in the amazing efforts made on my/our behalf this year. In a few months, our frustrations with the multiple musical birthings of 2015 will be old memories. Onward!

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

"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

Vguy72

Can you send the link to the interior of the set - are these card covers as per daves picks for cds - any word on extras....

Stacked Box

I think its logistically easier to stack the CD cases in columns.. not rows if that makes sense. Much like The Golden Road box set, but with more columns. ..also, it slipped my mind to tell my gf about the box. Bet that's going to cost me some skin. Am I the only one?

The interior link....

....sorry to disappoint, but that link is buried in my gray matter. You need to ask Bolo about any other details. And why all the hate for Don't Ease?....

Easy to slip....

....like Jim and dusty rambler, it "slipped" my mind as well....hope it's not too big....

Dough Knees

Attending too many 80s shows and being disappointed at a Dough Knees virtually every other night....still Dough Knees would have been a joy in the 90s as opposed to Wave to the Wind, Childhoods End, Samba in the Rain, Long way to go (and the list goes on)

Hard to argue that....

....felt the same about Black Muddy River back in the day. I would give my left nut now if they played a show of only BMR now if Jerry was there....

BMR agree

Totally agree with you on that..... I did about 28 shows from 85 to 92 and the late 80s I got sick of certain songs (in heavy rotation) and also Weir's f***** cowboy songs....BMR I had a lot of love for again later but Dough Knees and cowboy songs no...... If only they had pulled off some of the songs they were playing on the 2003/2004 shows or the recent SC/Chi shows with Jerry still on board now that would have been hot...

bathroom break songs....

....Masterpiece was on that short list as well. Looking back, I think I should have held it and waited till setbreak....lol....

names at bottom

I couldn't agree more Zuckfun. I thought the exact same thing. The artwork itself looks lovely- but the big letter names along the bottom- really? No one raised an objection to this? It's really kind of funny. Horrible artistic decision, IMHO.

listing the names....

....agreed. A row of hand painted roses would have been nice. But, if your going to do it, I would think they would have at least put Jerry, Bobby, Bill & Phil all on one of the lengthwise parts. And yes, I would have printed Bobby. I would think one of those sides would be facing forward in anyone's display....am I wrong?....

Names Arranged

It looks like the names are arranged by who joined the band when. Jerry, Bob and Pigpen were first as 'Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions' followed by the 'Warlocks' with Bill and Phil and finally as the 'Grateful Dead' with Mickey. Sound reasonable? Be interesting to see how the other sides are arranged.

Masterpiece

To each his own, but Masterpiece is actually one of my all time favorite songs and the GD version is what won me over. Also love JGB, Dylan, of course, and The Band doing that song.

Box Dreams

Funny you should mention your dream, Kate. Last night, actually this morning, I had a very vivid dream that the box arrived early, as in now. In my dream the box was like an extra large rectangular book with four discs, 2x2, on each "page." Maybe describing it as a giant photo album is more accurate. Anyway, my box was missing the second disc from "page" one and there was no gold 7 inch to be found. Thankfully it was just a dream and totally unimportant to anyone reading this. Just shows how much it's on my mind I guess. It's been quite awhile since I had a "Dead dream." I'm not that excited about the visuals of the box posted today. My main concern is that the discs are housed similar to the DaP series.

i like 'em...!

as for me - i like the band member names at the base, just as they are. i think they look folksy, quaint, family, homespun, fun, and fit the overall design, pattern, colors, and pics just exactly perfect!

Inside the box

"What's in the box??" Brad Pitt - "Seven" Actually, the box doesn't open. There are jacks on the back side (USB, HDMI, RCA, etc.) to allow connecting to your computer, stereo, home theater system and so on. It is kinda like a Bluetooth-enabled jukebox. For example, you can simply say, "play 1969" and it will do just that. Very user-friendly with flexible commands like "random play" or "skip Samba." Also, the stealie on top of the box conceals a lens for a built-in projector. You can project lyrics, concert videos (if available) or custom light shows by Candace Brightman on your wall or ceiling while you enjoy the tunes. A bonus compilation DVD is included, featuring all your favorite moments of Bill Graham yelling at people. Really endearing! The celestial symbols in the corners of the boxtop can emit smokeless incense of your choice (included scents: patchouli, citrus, lavender and veggie burrito). More fragrances will be available via future downloads, including licorice, stale beer, and "Keith." Random boxes (1 in 100) will also include either a "holographic Jerry" feature or a rainbow generator. And one lucky Deadhead will receive the actual bandana worn by Pigpen at the Shrine Auditorium show, complete with original DNA-authenticated sweat stains! There's more, but Dave and crew would be pissed if I revealed everything. They do like their surprises! Cheers!

Puzzling isn't it

Thanks for that, Bolo. I'm still laughing my ass off. See the way I hear it.... Another random 20% are Himitsu-Bako puzzle boxes hand crafted by Mr. Yoshio Okiyama. It will take 111 steps to open and once you do inside is an extra 10 show bonus box. And that box is another puzzle box taking 66 steps to open. And of course 1 lucky person will get just a box with a rock in it. "I got a rock"

Countdown

I try to keep my countdown banter down the barest minimum however just for today, it's going to be a bit longer so here goes; 22 days until the "MOST BEAUTIFUL BOX IN THE WORLD" ships.

First and last

Just wondering if, for those of us without turntables, they'll slip hidden tracks at the beginning of show 1 and end of show 30 (Caution and Box of Rain)?

Fifteen men...

Couldn't help thinking of the old song "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest" when I saw the picture of the box. Perhaps we could amend the lyrics? "30 Trips in a Dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a Box of Fun"?

The box

I just measured my 15 Dave's picks and they are 12" long, so a single layer of 2 rows in digipacks would would fit in a box with a 12"x10" interior compartment. This would allow you to choose single shows and not have to unload all the CDs, much like the E 72 box and unlike the Rhino Studio boxes. I worry about sleeves because of the Warlox box and while it looks great on my DVD shelf, the 1977 box is my least favorite option for CD sets. The box pictured in the Relix photo looks like it could have a 12"x10" space with room for a book and goodies on top of the CDs. The artwork reminds me of a magicians chest in a Terry Gilliam movie.

Very nice looking box from the outside!

As stated above in the "shows" listing: "Oh boy! We intended to add announce all 30 shows throughout the pre-order period, but we got scooped!", did they get scooped once again? Maybe that will accelerate the official unveiling here. I am hoping.

Listening Party: 30 Trips Around The Sun, Part 6

I just finished the Listening Party: 30 Trips Around The Sun, Part 6. Does Comes A Time from the 86 show sound like it has some low level static noise throughout? It's a Man's World sounds far superior.

The Panels on the Box...

...depict Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal".

Listening Party: Part 6

Don't know about he '86 show, but the Passenger from 1980 sounds muddier than the version on the archive.

Passenger

Hey Cousins - I hear what you mean. It's subjective of course, but I prefer the Box version. Listening to them side-by-side, and the Archive version sounds great, until I go back to the Box version, which sounds warmer and less trebly to me. (One man's "less trebly" is another mans's "muddier" :)

Bolo, this sounds like Rhino

Bolo, this sounds like Rhino took a page out of Neil Young's playbook! ;-)

caution on vinyl?

Has the caution on the vinyl already been officially released on 'Birth of the Dead'?

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOX IN THE WORLD

Wasn't that a Charlie Rich song? Hey, did you happen to see the most beautiful box in the world? And if you did, was it open and playing? Or was that my wedding song?

Re: Beautiful Box

..or perhaps the John Lennon song Beautiful Box would work. I will take Bolo at his word.. which can only mean Rhino hired Special Agent Q to design the bells and whistles. Where did he say the small, leftover Owsley crystal was again? WhWhat! The Caution was already released? Cancel! (kidding).

Box reveal

That's an awesome looking box! That Relix debuted the images is odd, but maybe later today they'll unveil it officially here. I keep coming here to see if the images have found their way here yet, since they had to be the ones to preview it to Relix and to give them Cream Puff War to preview... I'm incredibly stoked for this box seeing those two pics!

Box Reveal

True Relix got the pics but Bolo unveiled the special features. I am still waiting for the drop-o-liquid feature.

Names on the box?

Two sides we've seen name 6 members, we've still got Tom, Robert, Keith, Donna, Brent, Vince, & Bruce... Think they'll fit or will someone be left out? Can't explain how excited I am now that I've seen it!

re: Passenger

Claney says:"One man's "less trebly" is another mans's "muddier" Yeah, so true! I feel the same way about guitar pickups: I think of humbuckers as muddy, and P-90s as more defined and crisper, and yes more trebly. :-)

Why Relix?

Relix probably paid for the exclusive reveal. And Relix is owned by Peter Shapiro.

Make room for the box! Get rid of your old tapes

Most of us probably got rid of all old tapes by now as we switched to digital. However, if you're still hanging on to those old analog gems and need space for the master of all boxes, here's a potential solution: http://www.jambase.com/Articles/126264/Numero-Group-Wants-Your-Grateful… You know you don't listen to the tapes anymore and just hang on to them because we are collectors, and that's what we do.

Road Trip V1 N1

Can't find where this was discussed,,, but RT 1-1 just came WITH Bonus disc. So this month I've gotten v1 and n 1&2 with bonus. If you don't have, might be worth the chance.

Hip Ripple video

Hip new Ripple video compliments of Jerry Garcia Foundation. http://www.jerrygarciafoundation.org/?eml=dn/PlayingForChang-CheckItOut… I'm sure you folks all get the same mass emails I do, but in case your not on the list.. its a nice, happy-feel good effort with lots of cameos.

What is the deal?

Ever buy anything practically sight-unseen? I rarely do, but in the case of this collection I ponied up a substantial sum two months ago, with the expectation that I'd be learning more about my purchase over time.... But all we've gotten so far is some snippets of music, some press about the book ( great, but honestly, is anyone paying $700+ because of the book?) and now Relix releases a couple of pictures. If they started working on this in 2012, why am I getting the feeling that they're still gluing these boxes together. Normally if this was something like the numerous other boxed sets it'd be no big deal. But we paid a LOT of money, and we are trying to figure out how big the box is? Where am I putting it? How would I know? And where are Dave's funny but focus-challenged videos? Always makes me wish I could read lips... "Oh look, a seagull!" GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION!!!

Individual shows

I just hope the individual shows are packaged well inside the box. Please nothing like Europe 77 or The Warlocks box. Please.

30 Trips box looks like ...

These first pictures of the "30 Trips Around The Sun" box look like a case of beer. It's very colorful and I like it, so far. I wonder how it opens? We will find out soon.Thank you Relix & Peter Shapiro for the glimpse.

Names On The Box

They appear to be in the order that the band was formed/grown: Jerry, Bob and Pigpen were originally 'Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions' then the 'Warlocks' with Billy and finally Phil. They were already the Grateful Dead by the time Mickey and Robert came aboard. Then the order would be Tom (T.C.), followed by Keith, Donna, Brent, Bruce and finally Vince. I believe the order's correct, let's see if it runs that way on the box.

DaveStrang

Hate to burst your bubble but that won't be the correct order. If Robert's included - and hell, I'd love to see Hunter on there - then we'd also need JP Barlow of course - and with that many names we would run out of space - I'm thinking your list ex. Hunter would be right.... Now for an image of the inside please Rhino (or Relix)

Seeking a Swap

Looking for a swap. I have the 2013 Allman Brothers Band complete box set (close to 80cds) in a numbered deluxe box with 2 programs....only played once...will cover shipping my end Australia to anywhere worldwide Looking to swap for: Europe 72 box set (un-numbered and un-named is fine) PM me

@saintstephen1971

I remembered Barlow after I posted; he'd come in around the same place as Keith & Donna - but let's face it Hunter wrote far more songs than Barlow - Hunter was the band's lyricist not just JG's,having co-written 'Sugar Magnolia' 'Greatest Story Ever Told' 'Playing In The Band' and 'One More Saturday Night' with BW, as well as 'Mr. Charlie' with Pigpen and the sole writer on Pigpen's 'Easy Wind'. But you're right, Barlow should be included also. Maybe the former members and lyricists are listed vertically so everyone fits?

Countdown

3 WEEKS or 21 days (whichever LOOKS better) until the box of BROBDINGNAGIAN proportion ships. Today is August 27th do you know where your copy of SSDD is?

LAWDY!

Hola - Not sure about everyone else, but a little disappointed that all that was shown is the box! Was hoping for a little more reveal . . . but, then again, it will make the arrival a much more exciting experience I suspect. I've bought every single thing issued since OFV series initiated the plundering (of course, like most, already had all the official album releases on vinyl, a few CDs and casettes (before CDs). Just lucky I've been in workforce since it all started. Anyway, the box is quite hip on the outside and the notion of a "crate" should fit in well with the other "cases" that the E72 and Spring 90 came in. Main reason came on was to comment on DSO. They usually hit Lexington, KY about once a year or so. I went once, enjoyed it, but it is a really good cover band that has found a perfect niche in the Dead scene. They clearly love the music, are performing a wonderful service, and I didn't detect a whiff of opportunism. All that said, and its probably because I'm now north of 55, but I just couldn't get into it. The musicianship is certainly competent as most professional musicians are, but there is really no depth or surprise or flexibility that were integral to the Dead; or, for that matter, any band that has the talent and tenacity to create an original sound. But, I know lots of folks who love them, and I definitely agree they have the vibe . . . which is why I belive they are a valid piece of the GD kaleidoscope.

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