Grateful Dead

Hmmmm?
Another quirky good but inconsistent show?
Definitely a creeper. Starts a bit off (technically and otherwise) but by mid set they start settling in and syncing up. Second set, like much of this tour may not be flawless, but their is some fine playing and highlights!. And I’ll have to find that video cause wondering WTH was up with JG at the end etc? Wow?
These shows are hard to pin down, interesting run.
14 mañana…

Absolutely no noise reduction ON THE RECORDING, but that doesn’t mean some kind of processing on the final release, and, it seemed like 4/12 sounded much different, especially in the frequency spectrum we’ve been discussing.
There are other ways in mastering to treat noise beyond basic noise reduction, like, not your 80s tape deck Dolby…
I’ve been looking at pics and some don’t seem to have overhead drum mics where others certainly do. But haven’t dug deep so don’t know dates that correspond to pics etc. Just wonder if that was something Betty was messing with as she’s known for her mic placement perhaps above all else…
Also noticed JG moved into the center, and Bob to the left, (as per their stage orientation at the time) of the soundstage on maybe the 10th? Before that they were switched, and the 12 all kinds of things going on lol,
Always fun to try and dissect things!

No where in the notes does it state any noise reduction was used in the reel recording of any of the shows in the box.

Will be doing the 15th tomorrow!

Going to have to listen to the 11th again as I thought they were a little out of sync...

Previously, Only heard this one once, thought it was good but overshadowed by the 11, 15 and 16th…let’s see after proper sit down if it matches the hype…

Think 4/11 was tops so far, but 4/6 seemed to stand out too. These shows are sneaky good. Meaning sometimes you have to wait for it. The dynamics are often impressive. Not freight train Dead like you might expect from this period, but often nice subtle build ups/peaks. You can tell their having fun, getting loose and digging the smaller venues.
Really tasty when their all in sync etc, (sometimes the looseness is a tad much) and 4/11 is a good example of being synced up!
And DG has been improving nicely as the tour has progressed and has some real moments here.
That Sunrise is one of the most powerful I’ve heard, and some songs she’s carrying the lead vocals. Meaning on shared vocals, she is often the strongest most consistent, which allows J &B more latitude.
And the sound is great on all so far, but I too will compare with 37, which I recall is the benchmark of this tour…

I do understand 4winds “cymbal” comments. Don’t have torrents to compare, but they aren’t prevalently splashing all over so ?…
It doesn’t seem like an issue to me, and probably wouldn’t notice it if I wasn’t trying to…guessing mastering, probably added some shimmer to the torrents versus some noise reduction, tape restoration, age etc, or, perhaps artifacts from different machines used to record copies from the masters, versus Bettys reel decks and masters…

here we go! set 1 was okay! I like where set 2 is going...

Samson oh yeah!! Lions Den for sure!! Growls...

Music swinging!!

The Natives are restless!

That was fun!

Love them while you can, for someday they'll be gone.

4 11 78

When i first heard it back in later 80s I was amazed at the post drumz sequence. I didnt know they had done it.

Nowadays its like "cool"
Back then it was like "wow!"

At the moment
4 14 78 looks Like Rain (never one of my favorites)

Due to holiday no need to go to work so plenny o' GD

Yay!

I’m going in order and will do 4-15 next to see (hear) how it compares to the Box.

I like 4-10 and 11 a lot, but they’re also burned into my synapses from having them on cassette and then CD-R.

nothing has really caught fire for me (I am jumping around in the sequence)

however

4/14/78 before work today sounded hot.

also:

in the car I am listening to 10/8/89

good stuff
really good stuff

Hoping it’s as good as I recall…
4/10 was not, in fact, bit of a dog, perhaps worst so far?
Not a bad show, just more inconsistent and several notable flubberies etc…
Let’s find out ; )
Onward!

JAX - middle of 1st set.
(edit - nice Estimated/Eyes in 2nd set)
Still most impressed with 4-6-78 so far.
Glad I got this box, I have skipped some.
Cheers

Recent listens:
Fleetwood Mac - Future Games LP
Teruo Nakamura - Manhattan Special LP (with Herbie Hancock)
Pat Martino - Joyous Lake LP
4-6-78 Tampa
4-7-78 Hollywood