Grateful Dead

Enjoying the musings on The Music Never Stopped; they are pretty hot coming out of the July Box and that is no surprise considering where it had been headed as evidenced by others' posts relating to the exquisite (and among personal favorites) DP 18 version from early '78. That one is a barn burner but others do come close. The meat of the two-part jam is always very fun to decipher and when it hits flawlessly it is pure magique. And LoveJerry, I didn't want to be a stickler but your little typo threw me off concluding that TMNS wasn't around in '74 (but you clearly meant to type '78). Although a primordial TMNS in '74 could be an interesting time travel experiment (anyone catch GoT this Sunday speaking of which? = Mind Blown, literally). I, too, have acquired Day of The Dead, but more so on a whim as a vehicle to perhaps get Ingrid (my seemingly unimpressionable wife) to warm up to at least some inspiring GD lyrics sans baggage of jamming (her words, not mine!). Although my initial take is similar to some others, in that outside of the lyrics the tunes are very much non-identifiable, but I suppose that is the whole point. I recall back in the early 90's, they made the album 'Deadicated', and it had some very nice remakes of several classic songs, several of which moved along the backbone of the originals. I recall Bruce Hornsby did a fine Jack Straw and the Indigo Girls did a nice acoustic Uncle John's Band. That CD, however, was horked from my possession when I was robbed back at the turn of the century when I lived in DC. Just even saying that phrase seems....weird. Buck Rodgers, anyone? Takimoto - yes, 109 down past Westwood is about a 15 minutes drive or so If I understand correctly, across the Great Highway from Dedham. This means that some kind of path crossing is entirely possible. And probably recommended at some point in the future. Finally, in the vein of some other recent comments, I feel that I, too, am reaching a temporary saturation point based on recent GD acquisitions. It feels almost hurtful to say that - and in no way am I saying stop - but at some point something's gotta give and I just hope it's not in the direction of a personal hiatus. I just need to hunker down and give them all Their Dew (Due). On top of Boxzilla, the multitude of DaP's, Day of the Dead, and the July '78 box I realized that I didn't have a CD version of the Closing of Winterland show (I only had the DVD, which admittedly doesn't get to much air time), so I found it on Amazon for a reasonable price and thus added yet anOther One to my queue. Admittedly I don't have the restraint like some of you to employ a slow burn, for example, through this box or Boxzilla, but on the same token part of me feels guilty for not spending the correct amount of intimate, imperative time that is needed to truly devour and realize All Epiphanies embedded within this voluminous collection that is steadily building. I need to know....Is my guilt unfounded? Help Me Deady-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope. Thank You for Your Support. Sixtus

Just occurred to me (doh!) what a tremendous service Betty did in recording shows all those years. Sensational sound, judicious mix. And fabulous releases, if you think that 2-3 hour killer rock 'n roll shows from the mud- and mold-infested storage locker making it to our living rooms is a good thing. That's my 'thought for the day': Betty! In the latest DL video (The Making of..., a misnomer, as they didn't discuss the 'making of') you can see plastic trays with many blue tape boxes.. if those are recovered Betty boards, then we're in for more goodies. Cutting back on sugar and salt so I live to hear the day...

Listening to Today in GD History on SiriusXM. They are playing the penultimate show from the Spring '77 tour in Baltimore, TMNS and Sugaree are spectaculars to a great show. Besided the holy trinity in the Northeast, this could be my favorite unreleased show from this tour. Smooth as butter, tight as a drum. Love this show. Have not cracked the shrink wrap from Day of the Dead, but you guys did get me to pull it down off the shelf. What a great way to start my workday, pristine 1977 Grateful Dead.

Check out 4/24/74, Dave's Picks Vol. 7 for The Music Never Stopped, with attention to the instrumental section from about 3:30 to 5:30. Close in greatness to DP 18!

I've heard disc one of Day of the Dead, and liked most of it. It's pleasantly surprising to see hipsters giving these songs props after so many years. I noticed one thing in the performances that is very different from the GD interpretations: there's very little in the way of dynamics. Morning Dew is a perfect example. It is played and sung just fine, but it's flat as a pancake in terms of drama. I think that kind of static performance misses the boat. Someone recently posted that they started their box listening with 7/7, and liked TMNS. Wait until they get to the 7/3 version!

Also enjoying the Day of the Dead box set. There's some head-scratchers for sure (uh, that Truckin'...), but many, many great covers -- everything Bonnie Prince Billy touches, Kurt Vile's Box of Rain, Yo La Tengo's Wharf Rat, The National's Peggy-O, Orchestra Baobab's very loose Franklin's Tower, Bill Callahan's Easy Wind, Sam Amidon's And We Bid You Goodnight, Hornsby's atmospheric take on Black Muddy River, Lee Ranaldo on PITB . . . From what I understand, it was the producers intention to introduce THE SONGS to a new generation. Of course the songs never quite sound the same coming from a source other than the Dead, and at times sound straight up sterile here, but it's a noble effort and I hope the kids (and all of you) are listening. '78 box thoughts: Incredible artwork/packaging, great liner notes, high energy sets, excellent sound quality. I haven't been thoroughly wowed by the performances yet, but that usually comes with time. With Dave's, '78 and Day of the Dead all in the same month, it's a bit much to absorb at once. Can't resist commenting on both Donna and the slide guitar. I think '78 was actually a good year for Donna's singing, save some rough moments here and there. I don't ever find myself cringing like I do when she howls in a 73-74 PITB. As for BW's slide, I could do without it, but what are you gonna do? We agreed to these terms when we signed on the dotted line.

....the Day of the Dead box is cheap ($28?), proceeds go to AIDS research (+), and the covers do respect to the family. No brainer purchase. Plus, it clues me into artists that otherwise would have flown under my radar. I know Jim got it. Waiting for his opinion, 'cause I value all of yours....

Was going to ask the same question myself. A bit surprised that nobody else has brought it up. The few songs I have heard were pretty decent.

....I just discovered that Ween is starting to play again!!! Happy, happy day!!....and yes, takimoto, all your comments are on point. Also, is anyone checking out the Day of the Dead box? Good, good stuff in there. Happy Birthday Mr. Zimmerman. Playing Blood on the Tracks now....

I am really enjoying this 78 box ... its like the dead on steroids or PED's. Jerry especially is playing like a man possessed. I've been driving around town blaring this box in my car and my car must literally be rocking back and forth when I idle at red lights. on the slide ... I generally don't like the sound of the slide guitar, regardless of who is playing it. However, I do like weir's slide playing. It gives a different sound to songs I've heard a million times before. I suppose there have been a few times when he was overpowering with it but generally I like it and thought he added the right touch when playing slide. I love donna. Period. I never heard a song that she was on that I felt irritated by her contribution to the song. I think she got better as the years went on. Her high water mark to me was Sing me back home on venetta and any LLR in 78. I also think she should have been invited to FTW ... but that is another matter. hey sixtus - I live on other side of 95 down 109 past westwood ... can't be too far from u. I also think there is something about post hiatus Bob Weir and I don't know if he matured or stepped up his game or what but he just has a more commanding presence in late 70's which really adds to the dead shows in those years and really helped make 77 and 78 such stellar years. I.e. songs like estimated, etc. Quite frankly, toward the end when jerry had off nites, his tunes carried the show. Although I prefer late 60's to early 70's dead, his emergence helps contribute to the high energy dead we get in late 70's. So, if the dead didn't jam as much in those years, at least we got the high energy shows. Finally, someone gave kudos to weirs song writing earlier. I totally agree. I generally prefer Garcia/hunter tunes a little more but weir wrote some early tunes that I love. Plus as the band rolled into the mid and late 80's his writing made a greater contribution to the 80's sound (Throwing stones, easu, Hell in bucket, etc).