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July 1978: The Complete Recordings
What's Inside:
• Five Complete Shows on 12 discs
• 7/1/78 Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City, MO
• 7/3/78 St. Paul Civic Center Arena: St. Paul, MN
• 7/5/78 Omaha Civic Auditorium: Omaha, NE
• 7/7/78 Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Morrison, CO
• 7/8/78 Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Morrison, CO
Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman
Artwork by esteemed cartoonist Paul Pope
Intro and show-by-show liner notes by Nicholas Meriwether
Producer's Note by David Lemieux
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 15,000
Release Date: May 13, 2016
Announcing July 1978: The Complete Recordings
We’re pleased to announce JULY 1978: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS, five incredible unreleased shows and the first official release from the long-lost tapes, recently returned to the Grateful Dead’s vault. Follow the Dead on a sonic journey through a superb selection of settings, an often epic adventure that finds them winning over Willie and Waylon fans in Kansas City, conjuring charisma in Omaha, and elevating the Red Rocks beyond their already spiritual planes. With five distinct performances painting the masterpiece of 1978, Betty Cantor-Jackson's always-pristine soundboard recordings, and the "hall-of-fame pedigree" of the Dead's first-ever shows at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre, this is one release that far exceeds excellence in music, sound quality, and rarity.
Limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies, JULY 1978: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS includes Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (7/1/78), St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN (7/3/78), Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE (7/5/78), and Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison CO (7/7/78 and 7/8/78) - all of the performances in this collection are drawn from the band’s master soundboard recordings, each newly mastered by Jeffrey Norman. The set also features original artwork by esteemed cartoonist Paul Pope (D.C. and Marvel comics) and in-depth liner notes written by Nick Meriwether (Grateful Dead Archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz), as well as a producer’s note from producer David Lemieux.
Due May 13th, we anticipate that this extraordinary box will sell out. Your best bet is to pre-order it now, then sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out over the next few weeks right here.
Looking for something a little more byte-sized? The collection will also be available for HD digital download in FLAC and ALAC, exclusively at dead.net, on release day.
dennis wilmot
Maybe you will leave behind more than you think. Nothing goes unnoticed.
Mexico/Kimock
Grace sings something like " Your a legend Owsley, for your righteous dope". Recently picked up the Ghosts of the Heart of Gold Band, Missing Man Formation, Strange Remain, Love Will See You Through, Chance in A Million, and Nothin Lasts Forever. These are all GD family/post Jerry releases that feature Steve Kimock, and I have to say, all have surpassed my expectations. Kimock will be here in Seattle soon, with his son on drums, and longtime collaborator Bobby Vega on bass. In other recent events Kimock also recorded one of those Tiny Desk Concerts/Acoustic sessions for Youtube, its worth checking out.
Re: Glorious Saturday's, VGuy and DennisW
Thanks guys.. its a glorious, good weather Saturday here in the mountains East. Picking up on what is clearly a good suggestion, I am loading my river IPod with Cape Code, and planning to get to the Disco Dancin'>Franklins Tower right when the river is at its hardest. We have had some rain recently.. so its no family float.
Thanks for the inspiration.
What killed Garcia
Have you ever thought it was US. The demands we put on him to perform, be our party every night. Hey Jerry, thanks for that GD tour..Is JGB free next weekend? By the way, should we expect an album soon? Thanks for showing up at that benefit on your "off" night.
The pressure of the rest of the band and crew. How many lives rested on his ability to perform and provide income?
What will you raise to get away from it?
Disco Dancin and 'Dancefloors'
I have said it before, and I will say it again, the disco Dancin's - especially from the late 70s, will always be my favorite! I love that groove, and some of the jams get to some truly ass-shaking places. Plus, the vocal performances tend to be WAY better than the greasy earlier versions.
@ Rosebud - I hadn't heard of the remastered 'It Still Moves,' but after reading your post, I went right over to that large warehouse internet store, found it for a great price, and ordered it up! I read Jim James say that they refer to the original as their "wet blanket" album, yet it is far and away my favorite, so I am excited to hear what they did to "improve" it. Even if it isn't better than the original, it comes with a second disc of unreleased songs and demo versions of nearly all of the original tracks, which I would have paid $12.00 for anyway. I will let you know how it sounds when it arrives :)
Just Say No
Solidly in the corner of the old arrangement to Dancin', but I sure did enjoy the second set of the 79 30 trips this afternoon..
In truth, both arrangements can be quite good.
Lol, legalize heroin?!?
Daverock, you are a silly goose. That idea has about zero pros and 100 cons. Please indulge us with the benefits of your idea, as well as the pitfalls you foresee.
Courtney Barnett....
....keep her on your radar. Pretty, and has the chops. Reminds me of Chrissie Hynde, and that's a complement....
Legalize It All
If you wonder what would happen, check out Portugal which decriminalized personal use amounts of all drugs in 2001. Since that time drug usage rates have declined, overdose rates have declined, and HIV transmission rates declined. So there's that. But wait, there's more.
Let's contrast the situation in Portugal to the wonders of our prohibition system, which apparently has failed completely, with the spread of heroin from coast to coast a reality. I had a friend who started using H in the late '80s. He got busted, spend some time in the Bergen County Jail in NJ, which scared the shit out of him, but he went back to using and ultimately OD'd. Should anyone use opiates? I don't think so. Has prohibition had any positive impact? I don't think so.
The US has spent over a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000) and more than 40 years with a formal war on drugs mentality, but I really can't find any indication of even modest success. Marijuana has been supplanted in some areas by more dangerous synthetic versions, more dangerous research chemicals have to some extent supplanted non-toxic psychedelics, and we have succeeded in becoming number one in the world in per capita incarceration rates. Do we really have more bad people than the rest of the world, or do we have a problem with the application of our criminal justice system?
Courtney Barnett
Something about her voice pulls me in. I've only heard a couple of her songs on the radio, Dead Fox and Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party, I think, but she has a distinctive voice and sound that I like. Her most recent album is on my list of things to pick up.
Listened to the 7/5 Omaha Show from this box today, for about the third time so far, and it just grows on me. Starts a little wobbly maybe, but just gets better and better as the show goes on. Also, it is a good length to listen to on an afternoon when the family is present. Sometimes they are not really up for a never-ending show from '72 or '73 for example.
Estimated
I was actually thinking today that I like all of the EP's on in this box, especially the Estimated-Other One from 7/1 Arrowhead. Between TTAS and this box, the recent Daves Picks, my little E'72 bender, and acquisition of some other releases I missed, I have had a lot of Dead to digest over the last year. A good difficulty to have.
Yea
I'm in agreement on that. that sequence gets lots of love these days. I wonder what the willie fans thought of that? Mind blowing material to be sure.
One Add.. I keep playing the 7/1 Estimated>TOO next to the 7/8 Estimated>TOO>Eyes and waiting for an answer to present itself on which one is better. Still waiting and listening...
Willie Fans
I read the first part of the book from the box, caught the fact that the Arrowhead show was a Willie Nelson picnic with other country acts and could not stop imagining the scene, deadheads interspersed with Willie fans. Sounds like a blast. The first half has a good array of the Dead's cowboy and country sounds, and then the second half morphs into something with a more psychedelic edge. The whole show just seems to brim with energy, I am guessing there were a few Willie fans that engaged in the first half and went along for the ride on the second half with a smile. Just a great tight show, great representation of a full show in a single set.
I'm putting my stamp of approval....
....on the the Arrowhead show for sure. After 5-6 runthroughs, it stands the test. Wonderful show. Sounds like it was a blast, heat and all....and I know about heat. 108 degrees today. "Cooling off" to 104 tomorrow.
Like this release...
...but really wish they would release more '80's shows. Especially '87-'89. I know I express this about every release, but they all leave me feeling the same way.
1974 was a very good year.
Summer seems to have arrived in England, and I thought I would start the day with a show from June..and settled on Road Trips Volume 2 No 3. This is the one that cherry picks from 16/6/74 and 18/6/74. It starts off on the 16th with an amazing China Cat-Rider. One song later there is an incredible Eyes of the World, which has one of the best and most unexpected transitions I have ever heard into Big River. It almost sounds rehearsed-as though they had played it every night for months-but they hadn't, they had never done it before. Pure inspiration. Looking in Dead base, they only did it again once, too-on 16/10/74. Most bands who discovered they could do something that good would have repeated it again and again. It was almost TOO good a start to the day-there's another 12 hours left!
It got me to thinking that 1974 has not been served too well by official releases. Obviously this release was a cut up. So was Dicks Picks 12 with 26/6/74 and 28/6/74. The great jam from 23/6/74 is placed out of context at the end of disc 2 in the So Many Roads box set, Dicks Picks 37 mixes and matches with shows from August, Dicks Picks 7 does the same with the London shows and the final run at Winterland in October is presented in fragments on its own box set.
When you think of lesser years that have had shows released in their entirety in lavish box sets, it makes you wonder why this year has been treated in such a slipshod manner. Maybe because the above shows have been released in compilation form, it puts Dead Merchandising off re-releasing them in more complete form in a box. Which is a shame...a June 1974 box, for example would be up there with Europe 1972 as one of the all time great releases.
we killed Jerry?
laugh out loud, someone said that it was us who killed Garcia. That is funny, and about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. So, fans killed Jerry, and everyone else who had a following? I loved the man, never asked him for anything, went to the shows for the music, best music in the world, and now, someone thinks I had something to do with his death? Jerry did what he wanted to do, no one forced him to do what he did, he loved what he did. He could not help himself, he was possessed with the muse. I remember him saying at his wedding to Deborah, "Man, I need my axe". He felt naked without his guitar. He was a musician, a damn fine one, and a great guy. Even in the later years, when he was tired and wanted to get away, he still played for us, because he loved us, just as we loved him, there will never be another one like him. Miss you Jerry. Everyday.
Transitions
Just in case it got lost in the mix, the transition from Eyes to Big River on 16/6/74 is amazing.Jazz rock nirvana.And then the Playing in the Band that nearly goes into Seastones about a third the way through. Amazing stuff!
LoveJerry-silly goose dave
With respect-do you mind if I don't? I don't think many people change their minds on the basis of what they read-least of all on a computer. My ideas have changed in accordance with my experiences-I used to feel differently to the way I do now. Other people who have had similar experiences to me have come out with different conclusions.
Its been good to have had a medium, in which to express my ideas-but that's it on this one. The main thing, I guess, for me you and everyone is to keep an open mind and keep learning.
Theres a line from Black Throated Wind"You aint gonna learn what you don't want to know", which seems maybe relevant.
The worst discussions are when people don't listen to each other, but just try and bully others into thinking the they do. Lets all stay away from that one!
Breaking out of July 78
I've been really enjoying this box for the past 2 weeks or so. Solid listening thru the shows. Then for a break I threw on Daves 11. Wow! The difference is so welcomed. Don't get me wrong but I saturated the ears with July 78 and then breaking out, was such a fresh change.I'll be diving deep back into our new box, but plan to sprinkle in some other favs in between which I discovered brings big smiles.
Daverock: Please know, after you indicated the work you've done, I totally understand how your thoughts have come to where you are speaking of were you're at. I get it. On the front lines, the scene takes on completely different perspectives.
Sunday with some Keith Richards and my lil insulated groove palace, all seems right in the world!
Daverock - I still have auditory 'whip-lash' from my
maiden voyage aboard the 'Ship of Fools' that Sunday afternoon at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on 6/16/74. This was to be a day of epiphanies, my first Dead show, my first glimpse/listen to the Wall of Sound (unbefuckinliveably crisp and clean and LOUD!) along with my first Eyes of the World, complete with the Dead's 'turn on a dime' segue into Big River, which forced me to fumble to fasten my seat belt with reality.... but there was none to be found that fateful day.
That show was an extraordinary introduction to the transportation crew known as 'the Grateful Dead' as they led us through aural mysteries and tales of adventures for three sets that afternoon, debuting songs from their soon to be released 'Mars Hotel' album interspersed with those 'old tunes' we all were longing to hear. I recall when I first heard the lilting notes from the 'new tune' Scarlet Begonias, I thought it was the beginning of "China Cat Sunflower" but the Dead saved that transition extravaganza (China Cat > I know you Rider) for a little later in the show. A delicious and wonderful day!
Thanks for sparking that synapse to get me back there. I may play that Dave's Pick to fully tickle my brain and try to induce a 'flashback'. ;o}
The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.
Second the notion for more 74!
DaveRock, I concur that releasing more 74 would be a mighty fine route to take, but not because there's not much around. On the contrary, there's been a plethora of releases with 4 of the 18 Daves picks alone being from that year. I believe we need more because the jam segments from that year are so unique and varied that I want to hear 'em all. And you're correct about that China Rider from 6/16, I love the way Jerry digs in during the transition, magical stuff, not to mention the Eyes from that same Road Trips release on 6/18. It's tied with 10-19, the movie version, as best ever in my book. Concerning the heroin debate, I've refrained from commenting due to the fact that this is not Bluelight or Erowid, it's a Dead forum. However, for what it's worth, I believe many folks here (Lovejerry) hold their views against legalization because they have no first hand knowledge. They're suckers for the propaganda or maybe they know somebody, but they have no experience themselves. I've been doing heroin recreationally for decades. I have a wife, kids, own my own home as well as a successful business. I'm very educated and I don't hurt anyone. I just like to get high. (and listen to the Dead). It's not right I'm labeled a criminal. Live and let live. If you haven't walked in my shoes, then please, keep your thoughts to yourself. You don't know what you're talking about.
Now, back to a rainy Sunday and set II of 4-1-90!
Peace to all!
advocacy for/against prohibition fine
But personal anecdotes that might make you a magnet for unwelcome federal attention and the like, best take it private. Thanks.
daverock - 1974
was just reaching for 6.8.74 courtesy of the Jeebs stash when I read your post. Funny thing , the copy I have is mislabeled as the show you mention.
6.8.74 seems to be a candidate for full show release even though it flies under radar for a 1974 show
Heroin
"I believe many folks here (Lovejerry) hold their views against legalization because they have no first hand knowledge. They're suckers for the propaganda"
What first hand knowledge are you talking about? What propaganda? That heroin is actually a nasty, downer of a drug?
First hand knowledge? Propoganda ? Cousins...
If you read the post you are questioning properly instead of jumping in with your objections, you might find the answer you are looking for. Another way of getting knowledge about something is to actually listen to what someone is saying who has personal experience. We cant all do everything-nor should we-but surely we can offer the decency to listen to each other and not judge. Propaganda is when you decide what the conclusion is before you know what the facts are-and then publish the results as facts. Often with view to oppression.
Oroboros
How fantastic, to have actually been there on 16/6/74! I also liked your review of Red Rocks 1978 on the website for the single show release. It would have been well placed as an essay with the actual release. I only ever saw The Dead in London-1981 and 1990, so I would love to hear more first hand accounts of what it was like actually seeing them in the 1970s and 1960s when it really was something new and exploratory.
a thousand pardons to marye, but it's too easy:
don't you mean /nod off?
OK, done. Keep the H out of here, everyone.
And God bless marye. She must think we're all cracked. We love you. :)))
Jerry was, is, and will always be The Man, no matter what.
ANND, God bless the Grateful Dead.
Judge?
Why do you assume I don't have knowledge of what I'm talking about? I did read wharfrattx "properly", and I have my own opinions. I lost some friends to junk and yes, I am judging! I don't appreciate the pompous, condescending way you're trying to school me on how to get "knowledge about something"
Bolo24
You are right!Gainesville in Fla is a college town, and there are no drugs there! Forgive the joke...............
Petty Tom hails from there and is well loved by the locals, good Netflix show on him BTW but it is 4 hours long so pack a lunch.
And if you get bored you can cruise over to Cassadaga and hang out with a gypsy woman or two!
Wasn't there a guy in the Dead that sang about sumthing like that?
Bolo24 pt deux
And with that boys and girls I am sure you think a clue has been dropped and speculation shall begin, qui?
yes, what about Gainesville?
I used to live in Beloit WI, which is just south of Janesville, which rhymes with Gainesville.
So it must be...I still say Melkweg.
Bolo24, you are hereby called out as David Lemieux himself.
Am I right, folks?
Funkadelic is a nice non-GD band to listen to. Parliament, as well, of course.
Hot in Seattle today.
Gainesville
I saw many a good band in Gainesville back when I was a Floridian. Sadly, I did not see the GD there. But I was lucky enough to catch Mudcrutch here in ATL last Thursday. Tom Petty is America's rocker laureate. I do not know a single person who doesn't like his music. (Now of course one of you will say you don't like it.) The man just exudes rock-n-roll, and his cohorts are his perfect foils.
Gainesville >>>>
>>>> Jai Alai 74 DaP 19 - two shows from same year (Selland) in same subscription year never done before twist . . . .
Oh yeah - 7/7/78 so very very very very good. You are the cinematographer.
Milkweg
Impeccable logic, stoltzfus. So the next Dave's Picks is Melkweg.
I'm fairly confident bolo is not David Lemieux, however. He's obviously old school CIA.
Other Gainesville Musings:
The GD only played there one time, 11/29/1980 - the show right before the infamous Dave's Picks 8 in Atlanta, GA.
The closest city is Jacksonville, FL, home to the Allman Brothers Band.
Macon GA is also listed as the home to the Allman Brothers Band.
The closest city to Macon GA is Atlanta Ga, host of Dave's Picks 8. Duane also had a run in with a peach truck in Macon GA.
That can only mean we are getting a two show, mini box of June 9th and June 10th featuring guest artists from the Allman Brothers.
I'm sure the word Alligator from Alligator Gym ties into this somehow too, still working on that reference...
30 Trips '79 Dancin'
I see this has come up here in the last few days. I was listening in my car, loud, with the top down. There is a nasty, NASTY buzz around the 9 minute mark (I believe), that I would have preferred to hear at a much lower volume, and I am sure my speakers would have been happier too. Blast it at your own risk.
I think it would have been better to have a second (or millisecond) of silence rather that this speaker-shattering buzzkill, but whatever, it's there. Plan accordingly.
It wouldn't have been on so loud if it wasn't so good...
Gainesville >>>> jiminmd
Like your logic too - Jai Alai is a grail, RFK 73 is yet another. And 11/29/80.
The alligator alley gym thing opens up a whole lot of other paths too, all of them good.
Gainsville
I could really dig a Fox-like 1980 release. I still go for that one more than one might guess. Its a great show and the Scarlet>Fire transition from that one has an elastic, fun groove that seldom fails to transport. Its all smiles for that one.. a big thanks to Bob Wagner for sharing his audience master. Many thanks Dr. Bob.
I did like the 30 trips Lakeshore show, especially the eclectic setlist, but the matrix sound from the Fox combined with what I thought was a stronger performance was special.
..and welcome back Bolo. Oh where oh where have you been?
Creepy bathroom stuff
I swear this is 100% truthLast week I'm sitting in the waiting room at a MDs office.
One of the ladies on staff goes out from the office.
Now I think most of us have seen toilet paper on someone's shoe, or have heard of such.
This girl comes back in and hanging from the back of her scrubs pants is like 2-3 feet of toilet paper hanging like a tail!
No Kidding.
Well everyone in the waiting room started to snicker and then we heard the rest of the office giving her a good razzing about it.
One of those had to be there moments. Where was my iPhone camera then!
Re: Creepy bathroom stuff
You guys crack me up, thanks for what you all contribute.
My comments, as usual, develop in bullet point form.
a) Transitions: I know it's not exactly a deep dive audit result, but besides the great 'typical' transitions (China > Rider etc), I love Dark Star > El Paso from Veneta. That always both cracks me up and blows my mind as a perfect example of the group.
b) Day Of The Dead: I love Miss Courtney Barnett, but that New Speedway Boogie is just *OK for me. Wilco's St. Stephen is solid, and I've always liked the Tallest Man on Earth, I dig that Ship of Fools. But the only one I'll say really carried weight for me (admittedly very little listen so far), is Bela Fleck's Help On The Way. Really cool.
c) Speaking of China > Rider, 5/13/72 just came up on random. What can I say, the past harmonizes with itself...
d) New Paul Butterfield Blues Band release just came out Friday, Live 1966. From May '66, right in the heyday between their first two albums, after which Bloomfield left the group. Not great audio quality, unfortunately, but that aside a really great release. I could listen to Butter and Bloomfield in my dreams, and pretty sure I do.
e) Anyone ever read Stephen King's 11/22/63? I've re-read it a thousand and a half times now.. Started to check out the James Franco mini-series version on Hulu..I do like Franco alright, but it's just missed the whole boat on the vibe and the charm of the whole book. I knew it would be tough if not impossible to do justice to the book in TV form, so I won't say I'm disappointed but it's still unfortunate. Words of wisdom, Lloyd...words of wisdom.
f) Way behind the gun, but happy birthday to Kayak Guy!
g) Part B Reprise, what would folks recommend as the best Help > Slipknot > Franklin? As a sub-plot, I'm curious of what ya'll think of as the best, period, as well as what is the best available version from a combination of performance and audio quality standpoint.
For me, so far, I really love the 3/30/90 one, 5/9/77 (bootleg with less but still good quality), and the 1989 Warlocks set. I was never even close to seeing the Dead, let alone that group of songs, but when they hit the F minor chords and the crowd goes nuts on those recordings, I get the chills. And then I always love how the crowd inevitably goes nuts on that segue into Franklin's Tower...like the sun cracking through the clouds. Love it. Life turns on a dime.
King's 11.22.63....
....huge King fan here muleskinner. Have read just about all he has put out. Loved him since reading Salem's Lot when I was fifteen. Scared the living shit out of me. Realized I love having the shit scared out of me. Been reading him ever since. Plugging through Bazaar Of Bad Dreams recently. Gives me bad dreams every now and then. Mission accomplished Steve....you know they are filming a Gunslinger mini-series as we speak, right?....
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