30 Trips Around The Sun Box & Digital USB

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September 4, 2015 - 10:38am

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admin

Joined:
March 9, 2007

"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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December 24, 2015 - 10:54am

#521

simonrob

Joined:
June 7, 2007

Hilarious

It is hilarious the way some here feel the need to try and prove that the medium they chose to buy their 30 Trips on is better than the other, and even funnier that they try to prove this by attempting to define the ease with which they can make a backup and the time this takes. The baseline here is of course that all things are ephemeral and the real question here is what is going to survive the longest, a set of CDs, an USB stick or the owner of the 30 Trips set. I opted for the CDs and I expect them to still be working when I shuffle off to another realm. What happens after that is immaterial, to me at least. On a different note, I think we are all aware that Rhino are great at bringing us fine music on a regular basis but they are not good at production, quality control, customer service and public relations. Almost all aspects of their products are done as cheaply as possible which is fine in a way as it keeps costs and prices down, but nobody should be surprised at the faults and problems that crop up with every release. Every time there is a new release, the same sort of problems are highlighted in these posts and year in year out nothing much changes. This is a great shame as the music really is worth better than this. Finally, I would like to thank all at Rhino for another year of musically excellent releases and of course to MaryE who is always there or thereabouts to help those in need.
December 24, 2015 - 10:02am

#522

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

where is wjonjd?

I just wonder, because I think this conversation would be right up his alley. I'd certainly be interested in what he'd have to say.
December 24, 2015 - 9:56am

#523

Willysin4wd

Joined:
July 30, 2015

Burning the 30 shows

It took me about 4 days to burn my box set. But i was able to clean the kitchen 6 times, insert CD inner sleeves i got from 'soundsource cds' (round bottom inner). I had to re-name each disc to my format '1966-7/3 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco 30 trips' and load up the disc picture. I also folded a few loads of laundry and overloaded my family with 4 solid days of Dead. I like the idea of plugging that USB into the Oppo or the car player. Have USBers been burning these onto another USB for portability like a car or coffee shop laptop?
December 24, 2015 - 9:19am

#524

Dennis

Joined:
November 1, 2012

Maybe I missed it, but,,,,,,

A big THANKS to all those who made this box set happen. I know this was no small undertaking and there were unforeseeable problems. Complaints and tempers seem to run high at times, ok, and still do. But I think most understand you didn't plan for this to happen, not like you stood around in meetings and said "how can we fuck with them, I know the file id's". There were times I laughed about the complaints, because, generally as a group of fans, Deadheads have to be the most "fucked-up" (drug-wise), group there is and I'm sure many have made more than their share of errors. So at this year end and this holiday time of the year, I just want to say thank you for this set and all the other releases that have come at. I know you all work hard and care about the fans and it's not "just" about the money. I look forward to Dave's picks in 2016, fan night at the movies and what ever box set comes next summer. Merry and Happy Dennis ps - oh yeah and get Dead and Company to schedule some dates around Dallas, there's a lot of fans here. :-) pps - and to the people in the forums, merry and happy and chill.
December 24, 2015 - 8:11am

#525

nab

Joined:
June 5, 2007

RE: nab

""Sure, on low quality settings." I'm talking CD quality WAVs, i.e. 44.1/16. Takes less than 5 mins." - Let's use a simpler analogy. Lets say you have a digital picture. The file is 4.5 mb and it is a jpg. You can archive the file straight from your camera or print it out, scan it, and archive the scanned image. The scanned image is also a 4.5 mb jpg. Which one is closer to the original? The printed and scanned copy or the one from the camera? Lets expand the scenario. This time the picture is a print with no digital file or negative. You want to scan the picture so you have a digital copy. You can use either of two scanners. One is a consumer grade scanner you got for Christmas a couple of years ago and the other is the professional archival scanner at the library. Both produce a jpg image. All things equal, which one would you choose? The files on the usb are copies of the original that haven't been printed and scanned. Cds are printed copies of the originals. To make a digital copy of the cd, you need to scan the print. It's all moot anyway, my original point was that ripping took more time and effort. Even using your estimation of time it takes to rip a cd, and ignoring all the bits about accuracy, it still takes more time and effort to rip cds than it does to transfer files from the usb. ""...I don't trust my hearing enough for it to be the only metric I judge correctness." You don't see the irony of that statement?" - There is no irony in that statement. What I hear and the information stored in a digital file are two different things. If I'm archiving something I want to archive as perfect a copy of the thing itself, not my impression of that thing.
December 24, 2015 - 7:58am

#526

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Mbarilla

Please pm me. Thanks.
December 24, 2015 - 7:19am

#527

mbarilla

Joined:
August 8, 2013

Ziffle , GDM is long gone

not sure what to call these guys
December 24, 2015 - 7:16am

#528

mbarilla

Joined:
August 8, 2013

Fuck Rhino !!! X 100

after reading OldeEnglish800 post ,, happy for you OldeEnglish800 they could get out some replacements, but its inexplicable I sent an email stating the same issue and they shrugged me off.
December 24, 2015 - 7:13am

#529

Kayak Guy

Joined:
June 4, 2015

The Scroll

Is at the end of the PDF, prepare to be underwhelmed.
December 24, 2015 - 1:28am

#530

Mr. Pete

Joined:
November 3, 2010

USB stick...scroll?

With the usb stick where is the scroll? Mr. Pete-------> aging hippie

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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