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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
Donna Jean
Jerry loved her, that March 1978 JGB is my favorite.
Think of what happens to the room when your in a band and you add a woman. Vice versa works as well.
The Dead sounding the way they do in the 70's has part to do with Donna just being there.
Probably why Jack White traveled with an all girl and all boy bands. He said the same thing about dynamics in a band changing when you add different sexes.
Just a thought............and yes, we are all Playing in the Band.
It's Just a Set Man
As far as Donna, I am right there with most. Right in the middle. Some things she did well, others not so well. Enjoy the input from all. I never saw her but can imagine that description of her looking down on all with the smile. Image looks very pleasing. Family aspect, love that thought.
Did all members and all eras have greatness and flubs...I say yes and I can live with that. From what Jerry said, it was just one set. One set maketh not greatness nor tragedy. Jer seems to have a great perspective, even seems to be based on sound statistical reasoning. Most bands practice same set over and want to make everything just exactly perfect (OK had to use that once) for the audience that night. This thought process leads us to everything from Rush and Yes to Kiss. I have nothing against this way of thinking. However, I think Jer figured out you can't have greatness or really valid "highs" without flubs and really valid lows. (Manic Depression indeed, so is the cycle of life.) It is just a set, that was great. It was just a set, that was horrible. It is improv, you will have both. I furthur posit that Grateful Dead took it that each show should have a touch of each. They talked about how each fan approached the band from various positions. I know I have posted this before...some fans approach the band from statistics. When was the last time they played this, how many times on this tour. You know who you are...I see you got your list out. Others approach it differently...make me a tape but I only want the song parts, skip the jazzy wierd stuff. I believe that Jer figured this out early. Each show with its silver lining and touch of grey has its moments of intense peaks of rapture and some bottoms of despair. However, which is which. For whom is the rapture...can one man's rapture be another's despair. Well of course. So from Jerry's point, it is just one set. Let's pack up the gear, hustle on down the road, get the circus into another state where state lines provide a new set of state laws and enforcement so that all get home safe. The epitomy of Grateful Dead, rise (from the curb to space); fall (take down the equipment and move on). The cycle of life, one set.
Do I enjoy Donna? Mostly yes. Does Bob's slide guitar get under my skin? Absolutely sometimes. It is never perfect, even for Rush, but it is just a set man. Look at how many we have now to enjoy and debate over. Fascinating!
Estimated Prophet - scream !
10.14.84 - start of 2nd set
China Cat Sunflower->
I Know You Rider->
Samson & Delilah->
High Time
Estimated Prophet->
Eyes Of The World ->
Drums
,, killer 2nd set and I think return of combo NFA > Lovelight
and folks get ready.. its going to be released --------- 10.20.84 ,, sounded great and performed excellent
is there something wrong with me ?
I like all the contributions from each member of the band.
I like Brent. I like Donna. I like Vince.. Good band
Weir Vocals
A great moment for me was Bob singing The Eleven at the first Santa Clara show, gives me chills, he really gave it his all. Don't know if it will translate through recordings but live it was awesome! This is the season of what now!
nice timing
Watched "It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" last night. It has been decades since I watched it. Great story, even for us older folks. It was also the 50th anniversary showing, nice. Who was one of Charlie Brown's close friend? Of course, Pig!
Still going...
But going VERY slow...
Up to 1971 after spending a lot of time on 1969 and 1970. Love those 2 shows!
1971 is STELLAR.
This is my favorite Greatest Story, I think.... it has hints of the Pump Song still in it, with it's little musical interlude after each song phrasing. I love it...
LOVE IT.
I may make it to 1972 today... but May have to give 1971 another listen.
'74 Growing on me, Donna discussion, more stats
'74 Trips show growing on me on 2nd listen. Especially the first set and Disc 3. Jazzy to be sure. That's what makes the Dead so wonderful IMHO, a little bit for everyone. Jazz. Improv. Country. Blues. R&B. Rock n' Roll. Shredding. Sweetness. Often all on the same night. Certainly over the course of the entire 30 years. And an ideology of sorts. Let's not try to make things exactly perfect, but do things in a way that is true to ourselves and keeps things interesting for us. That's the way we'll make musical magic most often, which is what it was really about. And the great accomplishment is not only how often they succeeded, but how many were willing to take the journey with them.
In terms of mistakes and such, they all made them. We've been focused on vocal issues and Bobby's slide guitar, but all members had their issues. Pig's vocal ramblings could get a tad long. Sometimes the exploration a tad too atonal. Whatever, it was all a part of the journey. The experiment. We knew what we were signing up for, and that experimentation was part of it. And it's not like chemicals didn't play a part many nights for the band as well.
Sometimes, mistakes could be fantastic. I can remember a Deer Creek show where Bobby blew the lyrics to Truckin (shocker!) but Jerry put a bit of extra muscle into the jam and the whole band seemed to join in. One of the best Truckin's I ever heard, probably wouldn't have went down that way if Bob hadn't flubbed the lyrics.
I can think of a Samson on a release where Bob blows the vocal intro and the band responds by going on a raging 4 minute jam before the lyrics even start.
Gotta run, no time for stats. Peace!
Donna and Bobby
My wife, who is younger than me and was more of a Phish head when we met, used to laugh every time she would hear Donna wailing, or Bobby screaming at the end of Hell In a Bucket. However, after a couple of years together, and much more exposure to live Dead, she commented one day that she missed Donna when listening to the eighties Dead. I used to defend Bobby's shrieking by saying "you had to be there". I can't be sure(since I never saw the band with Donna) but I'd bet the same is true for Donna. BTW, I just gave Dave's Picks 15 a good listening last night. That's a very nice show.
The Sun and The Compass
Well off to get ready for Tedeschi Trucks. Decided to wear the 1987 Ventura Fairgrounds shirt. Nice big Stealie on the back with Grateful Dead on top and "Love is real not Fadeaway - Tour 1987" on the bottom.
The front says "A Weekend at the Beach!" Then has the 30 trips SunStealie with the four directions (four winds) of the compass. The compass has a pelican on it. What an incredible weekend that was. Standing on the beach, daytime show. Palmtrees swaying on the side. Electric intensity, Bob growling a Prophet on the Burning Shore. Awesome. Much more to this weekend if any one wants to hear more. Gotta get to it, like the Shakedown man twirling his watch (?).
Nothing wrong with you mbarilla
I'm in the camp of Loving all incarnations of the Dead! Vince and Donna included!They were a talented bunch. They each have their individual talents but the Sum of the parts always made a difference! In different ways when there were different parts but always GRATE to my ears!
@Lowspark75 - re: Donna
From everything I have read, Donna grabbed Jerry one night and told him Keith would be the Dead's next piano player. Keith just put his head down on the table and said nothing. But once Jerry & Billy worked him out by themselves, they knew he was 'da man! I really don't think Donna argued for a place in the band for herself. She did not begin to sing with them for a good 6 months or so after Keith took his place at the keys.
I know she can definitely be a point of contention on this board. I got on the bus in '73 and I love her, especially on PITB.
So there you go. No accounting for taste! Lol.
Rock on
Yin Yang Wabi Sabi
Weavers and potters purposefully include imperfections in their work.
Sing me back home, Mizz Donna Jean!
Donna
The irony is that Donna was just saying how she sees a post from lowspark and it completely ruins her message board enjoyment, and that she cringes at what sort of inappropriate comment he might make; but she doesn't go so far as to compare it to an abusive parent coming home, because she knows that's a sick and twisted analogy that only lowclass pig would make.
Ticket trade
If anyone out there wants Cal Expo 5-27-93 I'll do a swap,just send me a PM.:)
Donna..
According to her she was asked right away to join, but waited around 2 tours before joining. I always found it interesting the she was this really good studio session singer in Muscle Shoals. Sang for Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, Percy Sledge, Elvis.
There's a good interview with her in the book Goin' Down The Road by Blair Jackson.
Damn Dude
@Minus - You really need to back off man. I made a comment about scalpers weeks ago that wasn't even directed specifically at you.. and you attacked me in a PM about it. You need to get over it and move on. As I said, it wasn't even directed at you. And you still seem to be agitated about it. If you attack me via personal message, yes, I am going to call you out. I didn't dwell on it.. you clearly are. Enjoy the forum and leave me alone. That's the last I am going to acknowledge of that situation.
No More Donna?
I love me some Donna, mostly. Everybody has moments that miss. Everybody in this band certainly did. There are some astoundingly off vocal harmonies in 1969 and 1970 (two of my favorite years for the band) -- and not a dame in sight to blame!
What I really can't believe for even a second is the speculation somewhere here that somehow Keith had Jerry and the rest of the band over a barrel to keep Donna in the band or he'd take his keys and go. That doesn't add up to me, and I sure can't reconcile it with the video extras from The Grateful Dead Movie that show an apparently gleeful Garcia trading licks with Ms. Godchaux on Scarlet Begonias.
I think the band dug her work. I do.
...and I know this
I know this will invalidate any opinion I have as far as many folks are concerned, but:
I dig Yoko Ono too.
(And don't really think she has much in common with Donna Jean, plumbing aside.)
lowlife
Don't try to obfuscate with me you lowlife. I'm calling YOU out for your reprehensible comments about child abuse. Or do you spew so much thoughtless garbage that you've already forgotten what you wrote? Here, let me remind you of what you said:
"To be frank, she totally ruins live versions of PITB for me. When I listen to them, I get really into it.. and then when that moment is approaching for her to come in.. I know it's coming and I dread it like a child dreads hearing their abusive parent coming home from work."
Leave you alone? You ever trivialize child abuse on this forum again, and you can be sure I won't be leaving you alone.
a rhetorical overreach definitely
But I think what point there was has been made, no? Is there anything good to be gained from more?
@MinasMorgul
Lets keep it out of the forum. I'm sure you already bashed Lowspark75 in the PM you sent him. No need to make your argument public. Lots of people saw what he wrote. Probably not the best thing to say, but I doubt the guy takes child abuse lightly.
"Oh Doooonna"
She was great with the Jerry band. She was a studio singer, so it makes sense that she would do better in smaller, intimate venues(like both Keystones). Richie Valens had it right!
Approximately Infinite Universe
A Yoko album worth checking out. Read about it in Mojo, then happened upon a used copy. It's a little long, but first disc rocks!
So does "Kiss Kiss Kiss" from Double Fantasy. Decades ahead of its time.
30 trips sticker
The Dap 15 came with 1 of 2 complementary stickers, anyone want to trade me their 30 trips sticker for my Fare Thee Well sticker?
Yoko Ono
Yoko's vocals on What a Shame Mary Jane are IMO the best of her entire recording career. After that I haven't found many recordings of hers I can enjoy, there are times where its ok for a couple minutes but a whole albums worth seems like it would make my ears bleed. This is coming from a person that LOVES 64-67 Coltrane even at his most dissonant hahaha either way when guests are over they will have a WTF look on their faces haha
30 Trips Sticker
I didn't know about this either? I've even been a subscriber since day 1.. Poo pancakes.. :(
Currently listening to the Cobo Hall 76' show.. Ramble On Rose!!!!
30 Trips sticker...
Didn't notice mine until I was about to throw away the empty shipping package. It was down in the corner. Mine is the 3x3" 30 Trips sticker. Didn't know there were two different ones.
What's that you say?!?
Excuse me while I dash down to the basement and check my shipping box....
Oh, '76 is on my agenda for listening at work tonight too. Probably '78 as well.
Plastic Ono Band
Big Yoko fan here, actually had the pleasure of meeting her. Very sweet. The first Plastic Ono Band album is stellar (released in conjunction with John's). Ringo, Klaus and Lennon are the three piece punk band banging around behind her. I echo the plug for Approximately Infinite Universe as well.Perhaps the full musical realization of her art. The OOP 'Ono Box' is a great collection if you can find it. Her recent work does not disappoint either with Nels Cline, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto, Cornelius, the Flaming lips and others contributing musically to the Plastic Ono ideal.
On a GD level I have worked my way through the 74 show. Moving slow and sure and in order. My face melt moments have occurred in the 67, 69, 70, and 72 shows in major ways. ALL the shows are great but the 1970 OO jam, the 72 Dark Star movement and the 69 show particularly blew my mind. Looking very much forward to the 75-80 segment coming up. I'm a 76 fan and have been patiently waiting for the 75-76 upgrades on this set. Dig it friends!
EDIT:
I did get a 30 trips sticker in DaP 15, fell out the case upon opening.
No Sticker
In my 30 Trips box. Come to think of it, I also didn't get the usual packing invoice from Dead.net for the box. Unless, in my excitement, the invoice and sticker were flung under the couch while I unpacked the mega-box.
That 30 Trips sticker....
It wasn't in the box. It was included with Dave's Picks 15.
The Weight and random ditties
Those performances of The Weight with Brent are the unmistakable glint of gold in the miner's pan. This song, atleast to me, never regained it's former gravitas after Brent. Kind of wish I transferred the 30 Trips recordings in a more 21st century fashion, compared to the time consuming real-time recordings I'm in the midst of. That said, 27 down and only 3 left to go- 1974, 1980 and 1982. Was trying to record in order, but ended up with an ad-hoc desperate proceeding. It all turned out okay...Will be nice when all that's left is to listen.
observations on 30 trips
Well I've had the box for 8 days now and would like to make some personal viewpoints. These are mine and only mine. Others will act or appreciate in their own way which is just fine. At 1st I was a little skeptical about the concept of 1 show a year, but have come to feel it really was the way to go. It really helps those oldies like me who have been at it since Captain Trips and relative to actual newbies gain an understanding of the growth and changes they went through over the 30 years they existed. While as I said I've been into them since almost the beginning and have been to many shows and have many shows on tape and disc I am not at the in depth knowledge level some here clearly are. so the box helps me remember or understand the difference between 76 and 77 or 66 67 & 68. While those who have studied the shows and differences may well be able to point to a better show from a specific year I feel they have done a really good job of presenting quality shows for each year ( I am listening to 78 right now ). I also feel that for most people a chronological listening is the best way to go. Excluded from this would be the people who have an encyclopedic knowledge of their shows. But then again even they might benefit from such a listening. I must say from audio quality and musical quality the producers have done a fine job. It's truly amazing listening to this and how good it is. In closing I would just like to say outside of 1 or 2 weak releases over the years we have really benefited from fine and moderately priced product
Worcester '83
Today is the anniversary of yet another 30 Trips show. Too bad it's not loaded on my phone yet and I have to go to work. Three more coming up soon as well: '79, '89, '90.
bingo bango bongo
this post by snafu really sums up a lot...i am thoroughly enjoying 30 trips. i've really enjoyed every show, and there are ones that rise to the (current) top, the listening and thinking about the shows reinforces many already stated observations and aspects of the dead. there is a joy in discussing the pros and cons of this show, that show, this song, that song, etc....few (no?) other bands have this legacy. enjoy these wonderful recordings! it is 30 daves picks at once! high praise
Of Yoko and child abuse
I gotta say I never got what the few people besides John saw in Yoko's vocals. In truth she was pretty pathetic. The exception to this would be Cold Turkey. Her vocals definitely give voice to the torment of that. To the poster that was upset about the analogy about Donna and the abusive father stop looking for offense. I read the post and he didn't trivialise child abuse he was making a comment that while others might have phrased it another way is felt by a majority of Heads. What is truly offensive and of no question is threats don't belong on this site.
snafu and lowspark
snafu, nice post - I am doing the chrono order listening, only on 1969 tonight. So good, amazing sound quality. (the perfectly timed whoo hoos after "what another man spills" - love it!)
lowspark, I enjoy your contributions to the board, just wanted to say that.
1976
Incarcerated Client: Why the big grin, am I getting getting out jail?
Me: I just listened to this killer Dead show from 1976. It opened with Bertha, which threw me because Deadbase X lists the opener as Sugaree. The opening disc was strong, my favorite being Scarlet, which was interesting because it sounds like Jerry missed a verse, but rather than starting to sing mid verse, he waited, the band jammed, and he picked it up soon after. The second disc had an interesting Samson, because Jerry doesn't play the typical notes; I'm guessing but I think the song was still a work in progress and he hadn't put it all together quite yet on those notes we know so well. Disc 3 was phenomenal! I love those opening notes of Wheel, but the highlight was Not Fade Away which begins with almost 4 minutes of jam before the verse, and more jamming with Jerry playing the opening riff of China Cat, you can hear the crowd cheering but the band returns to Fade Away, it was awesome and that's why I'm smiling!
Incarcerated Client: Ya man, but am I getting out of jail?
Me: What? With your record? Hell no! This is your sixth conviction for theft, you're doing 30 days which is a gift, don't you know Walmart has like 100 cameras in their store? You might as well wear a sign into the store that says, "I am about to shoplift." I'll come visit ya next week though, 1968 is up next!
lowspark75 . . .
As I've said before, I enjoy your posts. Keep on . . . keepin' on, man!:-)
Has 30 Trips brought back some interesting memories ...
I wondered if getting (or anticipating) the 30 Trips box/USB triggered any special memories, and particularly of the last time you saw the Dead play …
In my case, I actually forgot the last time I saw the Dead until just recently. Maybe someone will find this story entertaining.
Because of my renewed Grateful Dead interest, due to 30 Trips and Fare Thee Well, I’ve been doing a little organizing and cleaning. Now, I am not a sentimental person and tend to throw memorabilia out fast. However, I was organizing a box with some CDs and on the bottom I saw a little piece of paper peaking out of the cardboard flap. What was it? A used ticket stub, Grateful Dead, 10/31/90 Wembley Arena. The last time that I saw the Dead and a totally hot show (looking forward to the 30 Trips show from that tour).
Why did I put it out of my mind? Well, the evening started out well. I took the subway (sorry, Underground) from where I was staying along with my British friend (who had never heard the Dead). The closer we got to Wembley, the greater proportion of Americans so that by the time we arrived, I could have been in the USA.
As mentioned it was a hot show. Garcia was in full voice (until the last hour then rough), his guitar fluent poetry, the band in great synchronicity. Truckin’ ragged, out of tune vocals, wild percussion, with Vince & Jerry bouncing to Weir’s vocals. They played over three hours. The audience dug every minute and was flying with the band. I was as much in the Dead Zone as I was twenty years earlier at the Fillmore E.
After the show I turned to my friend to ask, what did you think? To which she answered “interesting” which I immediately translated from the British to mean “boring”.
So, I guess you could say, it was a great show, but a really lousy date! Pity we had train tix to elsewhere in England the next day, so it dragged on another couple of days.
Anyway, I highly recommend Wembley 10/31/90 to everyone. It is available in an OK mp3 soundboard stream at the archive. I assume (hope) someday that entire Europe tour will see an official, high quality release. At least we have the Paris show in 30 Trips.
USB Sightings
I am pretty patient, but i am starting to get restless at this point. Hope we have some USB sightings before the Holidays...
Loving the Cobo vibe....
....cherished this show after the first note. Tight, yet loose. Searing....
....Spirit of '76 indeed....stay kind my friends
Phil's 50th
The day Phil turned 50. I was in the middle of what was nicknamed " Spring Broke ". (KU student) Because by the end of it, I had no money. I started out with money. But with car issues in Vandalia Illinios. Never forget that. I ended up in Landover. Phils 50th. I tried to get a ticket to no avail. I knew a girl from Pennsylvania. I had met at RFK on a earlier tour. So I was walking towards the parking lot where I thought she might be. But I wanted just one more: Glimpse of light through the curtains in the hallway through the glass on the outside of PHIL's 50 Birthday. "Spring Broke". As I walked towards the glass of the doors of the stadium to see all I could see which was just the lights moving through the tops of the corners of the curtains. I noticed a group of What I would call Washington Suits ( Boys and Girls) who got comp tickets that were leaving. I got myself in the same foot work as them and walked towards the door. The minute they opened it. I was there and walked right in. Still had about 30 feet to go. The security guard sitting in the chair was watching the Dead Heads dance. Bam I am in. Now I ran to find a place to go. Got there. Then I opened a Budweiser can I had in my jean jacket. I was not expecting to be in. Security guard saw my Bud Can and went after me. I turned around and all I saw was the the wall at the very back of the stadium so I ran up there. Then I hit the floor in the very last row of The Capital Center Landover Maryland Phil's 50th Birthday. I crawled under all the seats under the legs of the dead heads. At least 4 people. It was Drums so it was mellow, lots of people sitting in the back row. I looked up at a Dead Head and said " I am from Kansas I just sneaked in. Help me." he covered me with his leg. And in a few minutes he said it was all cool. No one was sitting there. Empty seat I got to Phil. Phil's 50th set for me was "drums space take you home throwing stones wharf rat not fade away. the kicker was when the encore hit. at first i though it was deal. No it was Revolution. Wow. "Spring Broke"
Donna
I originally did not care much for Donna as I was only acquainted with her wailing on PITB from the early 70's. But, I must say, I really like the harmony she adds on the material from '74 and beyond. Her contributions to songs like "Look Like Rain" from the '77 era are outstanding. Overall, I think she was a net plus for the band.
"Let's hear it for Pig"
I just finished 1966. That Midnight Hour is pretty hot, and Pig is in fine form, vamping his way through the whole thing. I must say again, Billy was the man on this tape, really creative drum fills.
Bill Graham at the end of the night " Let's hear it for Pig"
30 Trips sticker
went right on my locker at work, front and center ;)
product sku
081227955892