WHAT'S INSIDE:
Madison Square Garden 3/9/81
Madison Square Garden 3/10/81
Madison Square Garden 9/20/82
Madison Square Garden 9/21/82
Madison Square Garden 10/11/83
Madison Square Garden 10/12/83
Newly restored and speed-corrected audio by Plangent Processes
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman
Liners by award-winning music journalist David Fricke
Artwork by Dave Van Patten
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition Of 12,500
“Welcome to the unique, enduring phenomenon of the Grateful Dead in New York City, a mutual devotion, forged in concert, that ran for nearly as long as the band itself—from June 1, 1967, a free show in Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side (ahead of the band’s official, local bow at the Cafe Au Go Go), to the Dead’s last Garden run, six nights in October 1994…the Dead’s affinity for New York City…was instant and arguably their most profound with any city aside from San Francisco.” - David Fricke
They got on the bus to the Port Authority, rode in on the Long Island Railroad and the New Jersey Transit line. They traveled North, South, and West on the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines, their numbers growing as they descended upon Penn Station. Some rolled up in those iconic New York yellows. Some walked excitedly through the bright lights of Broadway and Times Square, meeting up with old friends on the way and picking up a few new ones too as they ascended The Garden's stairs. Maybe you were among them - lightly buzzed on the way in, fully aglow on the way home. New York City was in its prime and damn if the Grateful Dead wasn't going to rise up to meet it! If you were there, we call on you to join us as we recapture that MSG magic and if you weren't, we invite you along on the epic journey that is IN AND OUT OF THE GARDEN: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN '81 '82 '83.
Numbered and limited-edition to 12,500, this 17CD set celebrates the band’s rich history at “the world’s most famous arena,” introducing six previously unreleased shows recorded at MSG between 1981 and 1983. It offers a front-row seat to the Dead in the early 1980s, an overlooked and underestimated era of rebirth for the band. At the time of the recordings, the group featured Brent Mydland. Mydland’s vocal power and colorful keyboard palette energized the band, invigorating older material like “The Wheel,” “Truckin’” and “Eyes of The World.” He also gave the band more musical flexibility, which encouraged them to dust off rarely aired treasures like “Dupree’s Diamond Blues” and “Crazy Fingers.”
IN AND OUT OF THE GARDEN touches on the three-year period after 1980’s GO TO HEAVEN was released, a time when the Dead were constantly on the road, playing more than 200 dates. While they were in no rush to return to the studio during this time, they continued to write new music. In 1982 and ’83, the band performed most of the songs that would appear on 1987’s IN THE DARK. The new collection includes performances of four songs from that album – “Touch Of Grey,” “Hell In A Bucket,” “Throwing Stones,” and “West L.A. Fadeaway” – plus the B-side, “My Brother Esau.”
Due September 23rd, IN AND OUT OF THE GARDEN comes in a custom box featuring new artwork by Dave Van Patten celebrating the band’s eclectic fanbase, with a cavalcade of illustrated Dead Heads. The collection also includes detailed liner notes by award-winning music journalist David Fricke, who explores the band’s connection to the Big Apple. It features newly restored and speed-corrected audio by Plangent Processes, mastered by Jeffrey Norman.
August West 9/20/82
Hey August I've been spinning 9/20/82. The very beginning of Shakedown sounds like they're all tuning up and getting the mix, but then it settles in very nicely and the Shakedown has all players well balanced. Hot Shakedown>Mingle one-two. I just listened to the Scarlet>Fire last night and it is excellent also. I'm liking this box more and more.
MSG Box Set
Anyone still on the fence on this I would jump on this. If you like early 80's Dead, this will not disappoint. I love it. Such great variety and the sound quality to my ears is 5 dancing bears! Just fantastic. Revisited 3/9/81 and this show smokes. The first set Deep Elem Blues, Birdsong! So good. Second set China Rider and the Estimatesd UJB is what this band is all about. So glad they put this one out.
Only complaint, they didn't include the 79 MSG shows.
I took the plunge
Just ordered the vinyl copy of 3/9/81 from Experience Vinyl (125 bucks).
I'm guessing the Dead never released this on vinyl,,,, I don't have a copy in stock.!?
I lost a chunk of emails,,,, this order (in cd's) would have been in that chunk. I would have thought if it was available on vinyl I would have bought when I ordered the cd's.
But I can find NOTHING to show this has ever been released on vinyl.
Am I nuts or did I just spend more of my wife's hard earned money!
MSG BOX
Spinning 9/20/82 today and it's really hitting the spot! So much magic in this MSG box. It's been in reagular rotation since the day I recieved it. I really like how they switch things up with the multi night, muti year run from a particular venue.
Also, if you've been hesitant about getting this because of reading post about sound quality, era, or performance quality, don't listen!!! If you like early 80's Dead, wait no more!
I get not liking an era but it seems a lot of posters (not all) come out in immediate protest of anything post 78.
Anyway, if you like this era, I promise this box won't disappoint! and no, I don't know DL or work for Rhino.
Rock on, gang!
Paradise Waits
In the past few weeks I've given the '82 and '83 shows a relisten and with each I had the same thought, "Oh geez, I forgot how much fun this one is! I've got to get on dead net and spread the word......"
But I'm a bit biased with towards post 70s GD. The ritualistic approach they kept with from '79 onward simply works and one I'll never tire of. Although, does fall into the whole, 'for those that understand no explanation is needed; for those that don't, none is possible'. Seems the majority of the people that really dig 80s and 90s Grateful Dead are those that saw them in that period. Makes sense.
Of the four shows, I'd say 10/12/83 stood out the most for me this time around. Because of the Help>Slip>Franklins. Has to be one of the better post '77 versions out there. Certainly one of the longest Slipknots from the 80s and 90s. Which is the part that counts most ; -)