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    lilgoldie
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    Joined:

    What's Inside:
    • Five Complete Shows
    • 5/11/77 St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN
    • 5/12/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
    • 5/13/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
    • 5/15/77 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO
    • 5/17/77 University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
    •14 Discs, 111 tracks
    •Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman, Plangent Processes playback system for maximum sonic accuracy
    •Artwork by Grammy Award-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike
    •Period Photos by James R Anderson
    •Historical Essay by Steve Silberman
    •Individual show liner notes

    MAGICAL, MYTHICAL MAY 1977!

    If you're a Dead Head, chances are you've spent many an hour expounding upon the distinction of May 8, 1977, Cornell University, Barton Hall. Well, at the risk of preaching to the choir, we'd like to reintroduce you to a series of shows that matches said greatness from that same gloriously fertile season. While Barton Hall is well known, the astounding tour that surrounded it has occasionally flown under the radar due to the uneven quality of tapes in circulation. May 1977 is set to change all of that with a boxed set that zeroes in on this high-water mark in the Grateful Dead's long strange trip.

    For a band resurrecting itself after a 20-month hiatus, there was a great frenzy of expectancy that surrounded the Spring of 1977. We anticipate a grand reoccurrence of this fervor with the release of May 1977, a 14-disc boxed set featuring five complete shows from consecutive stops on that magical tour. Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, the "psychoacoustic phenomena" as Jerry once put it, of St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN (5/11) Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL (5/12, 5/13), St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO (5/15) and Coliseum at the University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (5/17) can now finally be appreciated. Each of these shows finds the Dead delivering punchier, more focused sets, tightening up the framework; each night turning out first-ever renditions ("Passenger,""Iko Iko,""Jack-A-Roe"), unloading potent new pairings ("Scarlet Begonias">"Fire On The Mountain", "Estimated Prophet">"Eyes Of The World"), classic covers ("Dancing In The Street") and soon-to-be staples ("Estimated Prophet," "Samson and Delilah"), and ultimately rising up to paradise.

    And now for the nitty-gritty...

    Due June 11, May 1977 is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies. Presented in a psychedelic box that boasts an intricate die-cut design created by Grammy®-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike, the set also includes a book filled with stories about each show, as well as an in-depth essay by Dead historian Steve Silberman, who delves deep into the history behind the tour and the band’s return from its extended hiatus.

    Once these 15,000 boxes are gone, May 1977 and its shows will never be available again on CD. However, the 111 tracks will be made available on release date as FLAC and Apple lossless full-set-only downloads for $99.98.

    Like its predecessors Europe '72: The Complete Recordings and Spring 1990, we expect May 1977 to 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 and on Facebook.com/GratefulDead and Youtube.com/gratefuldead.

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  • #121
    One Man
    Joined:
    Hey, Guit 30
    No, I did not tape 9/17/82 myself. I got it 2nd generation from a college friend. It's a good audience tape -- one of the best I had heard of any show at that point. But check out the archive.org Barry Glassberg aud tape of 3/14/81 that someone recently mentioned. That one demonstrates why audience tapes are sometimes better than soundboards. The excitement in the room comes shining through. Plus, the post-Drums Bertha is a scorcher, and it interrupts what would have been a painful Weir slide solo coming out of Miracle. I'm still chipping away at the May '77 box. Today, I'll probably get through 5/15. I can't say which is my fave yet. I really like all of them so far -- all of them better than Dave's #1, IMO.
  • #122
    guit30
    Joined:
    Bonus Disc
    I agree, This Box set sounds epic, what was the bonus disc you found from? Thanks for taking your time in making the 3 best of Discs!!!
  • #123
    guit30
    Joined:
    tape
    Hi One Man, Did you happen to tape it yourself? Have you listened to any more of May 77? I am listening to May 12 again and enjoying it more. I'm liking more stuff in it this time around. You can hear the drums better in this show better than others. Don't know why I did not like it first time around. Seriously great First Set. Take care One Man. Guit #30
  • #124
    One Man
    Joined:
    9/17/82
    This one is especially interesting, since Brent did not even have a microphone on stage. Bob & Jer handled all the vocals and it sounded surprisingly great. It is one of the only (of about 30) shows I attended that I care to hear now. I bet it is not in the vault. There are so many versions on archive.org that I don't know where to start. I transferred my crisp aud cassette to CD years ago and I listen to it regularly.
  • #125
    Eyes113073
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    Joined:
    89-90
    If it's going to be an 89 show, I sure hope it's either 10/20/89 (listen to that Other One, w/ Phil chomping at the bit long before it is actually played!) or 7/15/89 (w/ the Close Encounters space!). Some other 1980s shows I would love to see chosen include: 7/10/81 (might not be in the vault) 4/15/82 (") 9/17/82 6/20/83 10/21/83
  • #126
    davidadavis@gm…
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    Joined:
    Field trip DVD/CD
    Nice to see Sunshine Daydream is getting a September release
  • #127
    davidadavis@gm…
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    Joined:
    Field trip DVD/CD
    Nice to see Sunshine Daydream is getting a September release
  • #128
    TheeAmazingAce333
    Joined:
    ace's choice ~ May '77 BONUS Disc!
    the May '77 Boxset did not include a Bonus Disc...this was/is a bummer... so, my feeling was that there was still some tunes to be included here... & a compare/contrast (sound quality-wise, specifically) by adding something from 5.8 AND 5.9 as i've got KILLER copies of both of these shows (like most of you all surely) anyway... Bonus Disc: 1. Help>Slipknot!> 2. Franklin's ~ 5.9 3. Estimated ~ 5.12 4. Loser ~ 5.11 5. Passenger ~ 5.17 6. Ramble On Rose! ~ 5.13 7. NFA ~ 5.12 8. Morning Dew ~ 5.8 notes: ~the Boxset sounds EPIC... waaaay better than our 5.8s & 5.9s... ~love the pace of the 5.12 NFA... it needed to be included... ~we all agree that the lack of a H/S/F & Morning Dew is a toooootal bummer, so they begged to be included from those amazing shows... and, outta nowhere, while cleanin my apartment yesterday, BOOM! BONUS DISC TOO: 1. Fire! ~ 5.13 2. Jack Straw ~ 5.17 3. Ramble On Rose ~ 5.11 4. Looks Like Rain ~ 5.17 5. Jack-A-Roe ~ 5.15 6. Bobby banter/Samson! ~ 5.13 7. Row Jimmie ~ 5.15 8. Terrapin ~ 5.17 9. Lazy Lightnin> 10. Supplication ~ 5.15 ~~~~~thanx for reading, hope you all discover some gems... irie, ace...
  • #129
    One Man
    Joined:
    Best Ofs
    I'm thinking about my own best-of playlist. LLR will not be on it. I love that some of us think that tune is what the GD were all about while others think the opposite. Agreeing to disagree is important. And I would not break up a segue by playing the 5/13 TOO without its successors. It won't be easy to boil it down, but I'll probably try.
  • #130
    TheeAmazingAce333
    Joined:
    Donna Jean finally getting her props!!!
    DJ is truly the 'MVGDM' on quite a few nights in 1977, this has been myfeeling for quite sometime, so it's refreshing to hear your spot-on views guit30... she really is in thee finest form in her time with The Boys in 77... her 'duel' lead vocals on (to name a few) Passenger, NFA & ESPECIALLY Looks Like Rain (examples: 6.29.76 & 5.19.77 & now 5.11.77!) MAKE those tunes... feels like Bobby even backs-off a bit vocally & lets her shine... it was laughable to me to read all the negativity dumped on LL Rain as a 'skip-track'... the emotion evoked in those versions is the ESSENCE of what the GD is all about... it is a Classic, Essential Dead tune... anyway, back to my OVER-analyzing of ze Boxset: ~5.12 has grown on me as is indicative in my choice's... it's the distortion of the recording that gets to me (went to audio engineering school; trained ears & as the former archivist for Joe Gallant & Illuminati, recording live bands is something of a passion... anyone familiar with that bands interpretations of the Dead or even heard of them???) sorry, sidetracked... so my "period" about it being "worst in Box" in my Disc #1 post is retracted... ~here's my "Top 7 tunes of the Box" (staying with the theme of 7) considering # of versions, strength of them ALL as a whole & lack of a cluncker... enjoy: 7. Lazy Lightnin/Supp. ~ 2 versions, both different & quite good. 6. Ramble On Rose ~ 2 versions, 5.13 is KILLER & 5.11 is great as well. 5. Sunrise ~ see my diatribe above about Donna Jean. 4. Samson ~ 5 to chose from, 5.15 is THEE finest of the lot for me... 5.12 is smokin too, just the distortion gets me (Betty was awesome, but not perfect, which is a-okay) 5.13 is also smokin, with Garcia shredding as he sould. 3. Jack-A-Roe ~ we ALL love the shuffle vibe & all 3 versions are groovy. 2. Fire On The Mountain ~ all 3 versions are different, not drastically... ~just love the chill vibe of 5.11 & Jer's Mutron sound is really warm & tasty here... ~5.13 is unique in that Lesh starts 'driven the bus' before any transition jam is allowed to start... Garcia's long solo before verse 1 is sweet... 5.17 is a beast, the band sounds like they're havin a blast (no pun intended) AND confession: ~it is my favourite GD tune, so i'm biased in that respect... 1. ESTIMATED PROPHET ~ all 5 versions are fantastic, similar yet abit different... 5.15 & 5.17 are powerhouse versions... 5.11 is chill/mellow, with Garcia laying back a bit... 5.12 both Weir & Garcia playing & sound is rite on... okay, that's all for now, thank you all for your responses/opinions/kind words... Bonus Disc with some surprises soon... & guit30 i'm from Jerz (although i&i live in San Francicso now) so Englishtown having been your first show is VERY COOL! thanx for readig, hope it wasn't "All Too Much..." irie time... ~ace.
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15 years 7 months
Submitted by lilgoldie on
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Dead Store Products

What's Inside:
• Five Complete Shows
• 5/11/77 St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN
• 5/12/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
• 5/13/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
• 5/15/77 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO
• 5/17/77 University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
•14 Discs, 111 tracks
•Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman, Plangent Processes playback system for maximum sonic accuracy
•Artwork by Grammy Award-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike
•Period Photos by James R Anderson
•Historical Essay by Steve Silberman
•Individual show liner notes

MAGICAL, MYTHICAL MAY 1977!

If you're a Dead Head, chances are you've spent many an hour expounding upon the distinction of May 8, 1977, Cornell University, Barton Hall. Well, at the risk of preaching to the choir, we'd like to reintroduce you to a series of shows that matches said greatness from that same gloriously fertile season. While Barton Hall is well known, the astounding tour that surrounded it has occasionally flown under the radar due to the uneven quality of tapes in circulation. May 1977 is set to change all of that with a boxed set that zeroes in on this high-water mark in the Grateful Dead's long strange trip.

For a band resurrecting itself after a 20-month hiatus, there was a great frenzy of expectancy that surrounded the Spring of 1977. We anticipate a grand reoccurrence of this fervor with the release of May 1977, a 14-disc boxed set featuring five complete shows from consecutive stops on that magical tour. Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, the "psychoacoustic phenomena" as Jerry once put it, of St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN (5/11) Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL (5/12, 5/13), St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO (5/15) and Coliseum at the University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (5/17) can now finally be appreciated. Each of these shows finds the Dead delivering punchier, more focused sets, tightening up the framework; each night turning out first-ever renditions ("Passenger,""Iko Iko,""Jack-A-Roe"), unloading potent new pairings ("Scarlet Begonias">"Fire On The Mountain", "Estimated Prophet">"Eyes Of The World"), classic covers ("Dancing In The Street") and soon-to-be staples ("Estimated Prophet," "Samson and Delilah"), and ultimately rising up to paradise.

And now for the nitty-gritty...

Due June 11, May 1977 is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies. Presented in a psychedelic box that boasts an intricate die-cut design created by Grammy®-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike, the set also includes a book filled with stories about each show, as well as an in-depth essay by Dead historian Steve Silberman, who delves deep into the history behind the tour and the band’s return from its extended hiatus.

Once these 15,000 boxes are gone, May 1977 and its shows will never be available again on CD. However, the 111 tracks will be made available on release date as FLAC and Apple lossless full-set-only downloads for $99.98.

Like its predecessors Europe '72: The Complete Recordings and Spring 1990, we expect May 1977 to 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 and on Facebook.com/GratefulDead and Youtube.com/gratefuldead.

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11 years 4 months

Submitted by Lumadaylight on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 14:43

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I am still enjoying this box. Have gone through the entire run multiple times. After hearing a lot of 77 it's nice to go to the later years...but coming back again for another listen and it's just amazing how you find even more to love within this set. Now if I could only get my hands on spring 90 and Europe 72!
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10 years 9 months

Submitted by Mr. August West on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 04:45

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Holy smokes I'm like a kid on Christmas morning checking the mail everyday after work! Can't wait to jam this.
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16 years 9 months

Submitted by Underthevolcano on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 07:52

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I have been cranking this box on my car system while commuting and can't get enough of it. I reminds me of the old days when I wore out that Skull and Roses live lp set with constant listening. There is something about 1977. Also 1969, 1970, 1976, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1990 oh and 1988, 1989-ah well I could go on.
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11 years 4 months

Submitted by Lumadaylight on Sat, 01/25/2014 - 14:17

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This is some incredible music. Took a break for a while after first getting it but it is so so good to come back to. St. Paul and Tuscaloosa are my favorite two but there is something wonderful in each show. Best sound quality for sure goes to the 11th. We have had some great releases lately. Am so grateful to have this on my bookshelf. Thanks again and again. To anyone not sure if they want this because there is already a lot of 77 released, just get it. The box is beautiful. Love the fact that I can have this physical media on my shelf. The sound quality is sure worth it. Windows media player decodes HDCD btw...really makes these discs shine.
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15 years 6 months

Submitted by guit30 on Tue, 02/04/2014 - 04:55

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This box is something special , I listened to May 11, and it blew me away again. Just great stuff
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11 years 4 months

Submitted by dtobin7283 on Thu, 02/13/2014 - 16:57

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LIke many others, I have so much '77 stuff I was not excited when this came out. Thanks to a night of heavy drinking, I pulled out the credit card and dove in when judgement was impaired. I am so glad I did, I just keep coming back to this. Maybe it is the beautiful sound, or great performances, I don't know. I love almost all the releases, but this one just seems extra nice.
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15 years 6 months

Submitted by kevjones on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 08:03

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I am excited to see that this box set is on the UPS truck waiting to be delivered to my home sometime today! Decided to take the plunge and finally order this set. Looking forward to some heady jams this week.
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16 years 9 months

Submitted by Underthevolcano on Wed, 02/19/2014 - 10:16

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looks like the physical set will sell out shortly. I got mine a long time ago and still have it in regular rotation. I'm a little surprised this took so long to sell out given the quality of the performance and beauty of the physical product. What is next on the release agenda?
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15 years 6 months

Submitted by kevjones on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 13:44

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Finally got my set yesterday. I listened to the first set of the St. Paul show, and I'm glad I decided to get it. The St. Paul show has such a unique and warm sound to it. I really like the feel. The boys blister through a number of the songs, and they are all really unique. Looking forward to enjoying the second set tonight.
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15 years 6 months

Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 00:57

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SO GLAD I purchased this set. It gives me a whole new appreciation and understanding for 1977. As a 20+ year 'Dead Freak' I have never fully understood the power of 1977, until I heard a string of shows consecutively, in their rightful context. We all know 1977 is majestic, but I think I have come to take it for granted. As a tape trader, I would come across a random 1977 here and there...5/8/77, 11/4/77, 6/9/77, 11/6/77/ 2/26/77, 12/29/77, and embrace each and every one with exuberance, but casually move on to another era or decade. Over the past few nights, I have been delving into this box set and have a whole new appreciation for the music of the Grateful Dead. I have listened to the first 3.5 shows in their entirety and am blown away. I cannot wait for Tuscaloosa tomorrow!!! To hear the ebb and flow of each show in its proper context is unspeakable. The transformation of the music from night to night is uncanny. The 2nd night in Chicago is the only 'clunker' of the bunch, but with that being said, there are some serious moments of serendipity and majesty in that show. I cannot wait to piggy back on this box set and listen to the Fox and Lakeland shows and the Sportatorium show, followed by 'To Terrapin' after I have completed the adventure of this box set. On a side note, the 'Terrapin' from the first night in Chicago is one of the most beautiful versions I have ever heard. Bobby hits those notes just like it begins on the album, and he keeps going with the lick. It is rare to hear a version of "Terrapin' were Bobby keeps hitting that lick (put it on, you'll know what I am talking about). It's so bright and beautiful. Thanks Dave!!!
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Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 01:04

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Oh, and that Dancin' from STL is so groovy. It rivals the legendary one from Dick's Picks 25 and Winterland '78 (From Egypt with Love). My jaw dropped...
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17 years 5 months

Submitted by wilfredtjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 04:03

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Like you kevjones, I'm a sucker for '77 and '78 Dancin' in the Streets. Not sure the one from 10-20 Winterland graced RT 1.4 though. It's just not there. Oh well. Have fun on your May '77 excursion! DP 29 is going to be nice, real nice...
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14 years

Submitted by nitecat on Tue, 08/19/2014 - 16:52

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Believe it or not, I missed this box and just picked it up on Ebay. Wow I'm sure glad I did. I'm still working through St. Louis, looking forward to the Dancing, and the Terrapin mentioned below. The sound is pretty damn good for 1/4 inch, thanks to the amazing Betty! I hope she gets her share of this pie. She deserves it.
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9 years 2 months

Submitted by Chris killer on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 17:04

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Happy as hell, but wondering is there a CD version of Cornell Barton hall 1977 officially released,just wondering, if is a get able or is it just something best left as the unicorn out on tape ? I still have two tape decks . Thanks anyone
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 17:12

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Chris killer, it's not in the vault therefore not fully released. One song from Cornell is available, Dancin' in the Streets, on the So Many Roads box set. The 5 cd 'So Many Roads' box set is still available for sale on this website last I checked. I hope this helps.
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9 years 2 months

Submitted by the420bandito on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 04:47

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that single track from Barton Hall is actually on the 12cd set Beyond Description (1973-1989). I believe they have only one set from the show in the vault. Either way the existing copies on the internet are near perfect...at least the one I found. On ebay I saw 2LP set of the show from an Italian record company. Who knows what that sounds like
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Submitted by fancas on Wed, 05/11/2016 - 01:47

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g-leben.blogspot.com Planet outdoor fell from the sky. The RV rental company located Estourmel, opposite the SDA, was well off since 2010, the year of its creation. The schedule and bookings were even more promising, a few months of the summer: for this long weekend of Ascension, several campers had thus been sold. shoeboxgenealogy.blogspot.com
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Submitted by jacxo on Tue, 06/07/2016 - 08:02

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Submitted by lalag on Sat, 11/26/2016 - 10:09

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Submitted by Sawwwn on Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:11

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Been hoping to buy a digital download for months. Is this option returning soon?
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Submitted by NY Mike on Sun, 05/07/2017 - 11:32

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Is anyone else having issues downloading this from Warner Music? I have tried numerous times after purchasing the FLAC files and each time the download fails. So far the most I have been able to get is all but the last two songs from the first show, plus it takes FOREVER even on a (supposedly) fast cable connection. Can these shows be delivered in separate downloads?
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Submitted by cminton on Wed, 06/14/2017 - 02:24

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The comments suggest that I can pre-order it and that it would be available on June 11th. How do I pre-order (or order now that it is June 14th) this boxed set?
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Submitted by lilmaria1212 on Sat, 08/05/2017 - 11:00

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Solid offer for the music community, although it's a bit pricey?! JUST A BIT! Lol, I'm already spending a bunch of money on music promotion services.
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Submitted by aaron1990 on Wed, 11/22/2017 - 12:31

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