30 Trips Around The Sun Box & Digital USB

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September 4, 2015 - 10:38am

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admin

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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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June 3, 2015 - 6:58am

#7551

accountantguy

Joined:
November 13, 2014

It looks like there may only

It looks like there may only be between 12 and 1300 left....
June 3, 2015 - 6:24am

#7552

dilbert

Joined:
April 1, 2010

I am really only interested

I am really only interested in the pre-80's Dead so spending $730.00 for this is not something I can justify to the wife or even me. I hardly ever listen to a cd from post 1980 and I have the the E72 box which is grate but I have only listened to that once; I have the Fillmore box and I have listened to that maybe twice! I have so much Dead right now that I just can not spend this kind of scratch for a handful of shows that I will actually listen to more than once.I have the subscription and that has been alright with me!
June 3, 2015 - 6:22am

#7553

WharfratWhitey

Joined:
May 19, 2013

Cart

If you put numbers into the cart say 1500 the. Go to checkout it will tell you if that amount is still available. You can keep narrowing it down
June 3, 2015 - 6:21am

#7554

rrot

Joined:
October 3, 2009

Exclusivity

Every single Dave's and Dick's Picks was available (albeit some only briefly) as a single release. The Dick's Picks that went out of print are getting reissued. Every Europe '72 show was made available as a single release. Veneta 1972 was available as a stand-alone release. Truckin' Up To Buffalo, Crimson White & Indigo, and Nightfall of Diamonds -- all single show releases. Rocking The Cradle was a nice little condensation of the Egypt shows. Houston 11/18/72 and Family Dog 4/18/70 -- outstandingly affordable single-CD releases. Some wonderful, approachable small box sets in Winterland 1977, Winterland 1973, and the Warlocks show box. One could go on. The facts are that there are far more "affordable" releases than there are exclusive, "definitive," expensive releases. There's pretty much a firm commitment to releasing individual shows every calendar quarter for the foreseeable future!! But this is the band's 50th Anniversary and I'd say they ought to be able to commemorate that with one of these monolithic, sweeping productions that really attempts to map their legacy. These may not actually be The Very Best shows remaining in the vault for each of the band's 30 years, but they are for the most part unarguably great shows and without having seen the final product this certainly looks like a pretty good shot at a very elusive target. There's every hint between the lines that -- eventually -- these shows are going to be available individually in some format other than CD. But even if that weren't the case it's just not true that either A) mammoth exclusive sets are the only way stuff is being released, or B) something called "the spirit" of the Grateful Dead demands that every release be one *you* can afford. There is so much official small-release music, so much free (as in free to you, not to the people hosting it for you!) unofficial downloadable audience and soundboard material, that the only possible interpretation of these complaints is a negative one: self-entitlement.
June 3, 2015 - 6:18am

#7555

fourwindsblow

Joined:
October 13, 2008

Less than 1900

I guess I'll have to live on pb&j and oatmeal for a couple months, but it will be worth it. I buy these release's so one day when the world is right I will share with all who are interested in the music.
June 3, 2015 - 6:16am

#7556

Roland Bruynesteyn

Joined:
August 7, 2008

@WharfRatWhitey

How do you check stock on this item?
June 3, 2015 - 5:35am

#7557

chuckj

Joined:
November 1, 2010

:)

:)
June 3, 2015 - 5:35am

#7558

WharfratWhitey

Joined:
May 19, 2013

Ditto

Ditto. Despite my CC still jammed up with spurious charges I pulled out another card and let er rip. Last night I remember checking stock and there was at least 4000 units left give or take the 8 I might have locked up. This morning I checked and there was over 1000. I couldn't wait for my CC to clear out. Didn't want to miss this. It is huge. I'll find a way to cut back on some thing over the next few months and squirrel some away so that this will get paid for and I won't have a heart attack. I feel bad though that this limited format has essentially become the only way in which music is being released. This is the biggest by far and though I can't wait for it to arrive by 18 wheeler in September, I hope this is as big as it ever gets. One and done. It's a lot to ask of fans. I think numbered to 19650 would have been better. This may sell out by the end of the day.
June 3, 2015 - 5:34am

#7559

chuckj

Joined:
November 1, 2010

The price of the box.

To me those who are complaining about the rich being the only ones who can afford the Box are just wrong. I make $11.75 an hour and just purchased the box. I don't have kids so that helps. My health insurance is paid by my employer, so again lucky there. After tax the Box costs almost exactly $25 a show, not bad at all. Plus you get all of the goodies (and oh my! some tasty extras indeed!!)You just have to purchase the 30 shows all at once :) So, yeah it is expensive and no the rich 1%'s are not the only ones who are going to purchase this Box. Two folks I know who are in the same tax bracket as me have also purchased the Box. My personal wish was for a '73 Box but this Box seems much much more appropriate for the 50th celebration. There is plenty of time for my dream Box(es) to be released. The 30 Trips Box seems to fit perfectly into the 50th slot. So, I guess my two cents is...very well done Dave and Rhino Folks!!!
June 3, 2015 - 5:28am

#7560

direwulf

Joined:
October 15, 2007

You don't actually have to pay til September.

Not really tarnished. Things as old as this band do tarnish a little. But, can something so amazing as the Grateful Dead really be that tarnished by that which in the grand scheme of things is insignificant. If your financial and personal business is that tight can you even afford a $20 show? I know I've been there...for many years until I turned it around by the skin of my teeth. I can't "afford" this and now will be scrambling to save cash but it's on hold til then, so I can figure something out. I don't have kids so WTF.

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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