Grateful Dead

Thanks for the great jams, I'm still amazed that some are still complaining, remember a few years ago when we were not getting shit? Now, we get good jams all the time. I'm very grateful, keep jamming. Happy holidays to all involved and to all reading this post. Coconut Phil, living Free.

Just finished listening to this and it is great. From the very first song the band make their intentions clear - they are gonna rock - and they do just that. A fine choice for release and I'm glad I've got it. Gratefulhan's summary of how things are seems pretty reasonable to me. I think the reason for the RT's being only 2 discs is that only 2 discs will fit in those nasty 2 cent carton sleeves. 3 disc sets would require a better, therefore costlier sleeve. As everything here is currently done as cheaply as possible (or so it seems to me) this seems unlikely to happen - even though it seems utterly absurd that something so trivial as the type of sleeve should determine the format of all releases and preclude the majority of complete shows.

With this my post about this release being done, I do want to touch upon a few things as the current state of things have been bothering me: First and as always, I would like to thank David and Jeffery for their work on this release. I also would to send out a simple acknowledgement to Marye who seems to be single-handedly resolving every problem. I think that the customer service department has been in the toilet for a long while now and if weren’t for Marye, I am not sure how many issues would resolved. At least we still have some one in our corner. I do want to raise another nod to some points that have been made regarding this Road Trips series. Letting the complete show vs. compilation go (which is huge for me), it has become quite clear that that this Road Trip release does have a format. Last time I mentioned this, I got in some hot water, but truth be told, I am not stopping as I think we all need to keep asking for things and for change. So it is clear that the Road Trips series IS only to be 2 disc releases. If a complete show is short enough to fit on two discs, then it has a chance of being released as a Road Trip. Other wise, we are going to get compilations. Whether it is compilations or complete shows, 2 discs are limiting. In terms of compilations, there is lot of stuff that can be left out of a multi-show release because it simply won’t fit on 2 discs. As for complete shows, well how many fit on 2 discs? There are some, but the majority are going to be ones that require 3 discs. Yes, I know there is that bonus disc, if you are lucky enough to get it… Which leads me to this point: These releases should just be 3 discs period and not this order and hopefully you get the bonus disc nonsense. To begin third disc is already being produced, so it is not like asking for anything extra. Second of all, this will help keep the integrity of the music as well providing all us of with guarantee that we will have more to listen to. A third piece is cost: All of the Dick’s Picks that 3 discs are retailing at $21. The last 3 disc complete show to be released, To Terrapin, was the same price as each Road Trip release at $19.98. I know that we are getting box sets and other releases and they have been great, and yes there other ways to get shows. But I am like everyone else in that I will buy releases because they sound great and I don’t mind supporting the band and crew. As the Road Trips series is the primary release vehicle, it is clear that it could use a little tune-up. As a result, I am speaking my mind, again, because Rhino, the powers that be, aliens, or whoever/whatever is in charge of this could stand to do better. I know I am not alone, I may get in trouble again, and I am sure I will get few people whining about my freedom of speech saying “Quit complaining” and “Don’t buy it” and the usual mindless ramblings. So the bottom line is that the customer services need to be heavily upgraded and the Road Trips series should be improved. I am stubborn, tenacious, and I will probably get banned from posting here, but as long as some things get better and I can still order the releases, it will be worth it. Do or do not; there is no try.