Grateful Dead

Just got back from vacation, so I don't know if it's been posted, but Garcia.com is offering preorder of GarciaLive Volume 6. Got back from vacation to the arrival of July 78 AND Day of the Dead AND Garcia Vol 6 offer,,,, wow. ps - to those that recommended things in Yosemite, just got back. Beautiful, but almost killed me! :-) Everything is straight up there!!

Are you referring to Alphabet City on the lower east side?

Betty did not really have access to adjust the levels on the whole mixing board, She had her own 2 track 1/2 inch recorder, that she plugged one line into the soundboard and she would put another mike somewhere on the stage, depending on the venue to give some live ambience to the recording, and she would mix between these two tracks to get the best sound, she had basically a 2 track mixer which she could slide in the middle, or more to one mike than the other, she probably usually had the slider using more of the soundboard. But she did not produce the show, making people louder or adjusting the eq.

Everybody must get...

Right there with ya, Goodman.

I made too many trips to Avenue D, lucky to be alive as well. 20 years missing out of my life.

Contrary to what my wife thinks, it's not "All Dead, All The Time" in my world. Nor is it in the worlds of many others who post on here. I have a "system" when listening to music, most of which gets listened to by me when in the car. That system usually involves 10 cds listened to three times each before being burned and put into my general rotation. I try to limit the Dead to one show (and no more than two, if they are 2cd-shows) in each of those 10-cd groups. It makes it difficult to keep up with all of the releases we've been blessed with. I'm so excited to hear this July '78 box set. #07166 landed on my doorstep last Thursday. However, I've not listened to anything in it yet, and at last glance, I still have 23 Trips remaining to listen to, plus DaP 17 & 18 (plus the Bonus Disc), before I'll even sniff this bountiful treasure. Accordingly, based upon my recent calculations, I'll finally be listening to this box set somewhere around August of 2017... LOL. Do we all have a problem? Or are we perfectly normal? I can't decide.

It's wonderful, it's wonderful.....Thanks a lot guys. The box arrives the postal service (Fed Ex) in Germany at the end of last week. On yesterday they could inform me that the box can be pitched up. Now its time to open it...It's a little bit like Christmas :) ......

I'm with you, I got so much stuff to listen to that I can't possibly listen to everything. I'm always got an audiobook playing and I shuffle everything else music wise. On my recent road trip I listened to a Star Wars story, then listened to 4 Furthur shows from January 2013 (Sweetwater, GREAT recordings and show BTW), listened to the Billboard top 100 hits from 66 and 67, started re-listening to a Dean Koontz books and then switched over to some Andy Williams. Started listening this morning to the first of the new July 78 shows while cleaning the pool. My sister will be showing up today and be here for the week, got the pool heated to 95 and will be floating around listening to the complete 78 shows (unless her and her husband get tired of Dead), then we'll switch over to something else. We indeed live in a golden age of audio choice (and movies, I have 5,000 dvd, at least!) The audio landscape that's barren is RADIO! What a wasteland, I couldn't find anything worth listening to on my trip.

I hear ya man. I've been using the term 30 trips hangover.. Listening to it, I felt like a python that just swallowed a bear. It took longer to digest than normal and I really didn't listen to much else but the Good Ole GD all the while. Still others lapped me in the process. What I missed was second listens and.. yes.. other music. I did keep up with TIGDH, that's somewhat random and light. Now that the first listen is over a big weight was lifted off my chest and life returns to normal. I am taking my time revising stuff from the glorious box and its light and fun, no marathons. Lovin' July '78 and the Orpheum too. What a treat. In the immortal words of Mel Brooks, its good to be the king. Dennis.. what did you hit in the valley?

Popmarket, a site that sells discount newly released vinyl, is having a one day sale preorder for Truckin' Up to Buffalo on vinyl. It's $40 off today: https://www.popmarket.com/products/grateful-dead-truckin-up-to-buffalo-… The foul: email announcement has a photo of the band with Vince.

I hate to argue, but if you look at photos of Betty with her rig, she is clearly mixing many signals down to her stereo outputs. I know it is easy to assume she only had 2 inputs, but she had all of them, each split off the house inputs. She did not use a pre-mixed mono or stereo feed from the house board -- she had control over all input levels and monitored using headphones to get her own tape mix live in the moment. Kidd Candelario before her did the same. So did Owsley.

I wish there was a way to edit out Donna Jean from these recordings, then all would be "just exactly perfect". I still stand by the old bumper sticker " Donna ruined some of my best tapes" lets just hope the other Betty Boards we get are better than these. But still, great work by Jerry and Keith and Bob and Phil and, well, everyone else. E 72 is still the best box ever.

Biff took the DeLorean and went to the past. What happened? Not good, remember how bad Marty's Mom's boob job was, the shitty biker speed and how Biff essentially become a more docile Donald Trump. You can not create an alternate 1986. Long been told that if it wasn't for Donna, Keith wouldn't have been in the band. According to Billy's new book they all loved having her in the band or is that vice-versa? (Crude thinly veiled double entendre courtesy of Bill himself.) "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" or, if you prefer, "Those that don't study the past are doomed to repeat it." Whichever is clever. Maybe some people are just jealous of Donna and believe themselves to be equally talented and think they deserved a shot to be in the band. Maybe I've smoked too much Facewreck and should stop reading Bill's book and go listen to Arrowhead again. My all time favorite tour and the one that really got me deep in to the Dead was Europe '72, where the Venn diagram of two different Grateful Dead Eras is maximum overlapped. Love you Donna.

Aw that's a shame Unkle Sam, I'm sorry you're not enjoying your box. I love her on most songs, and would feel something was missing without her. I do hear the volume issue others are talking about. Is it her volume Unkle Sam or just her voice? Yes agree, that 1972 was a good year!

What an absolutely stunning box set - brilliant - thank you to those who made it happen

I've only listened to the July 7th show so far, and am loving the setlist and recording. Dicks Picks 18 is one of my all-time favorites, featuring perhaps the best Music Never Stopped of all time. It should be called Jerry Never Stops, given all that Jerry shredding at the end. Just when you think he's winding up, he keeps shredding, then climaxes, then lives to shred again. I didn't think I'd ever hear a better version, but the Red Rocks Music Never Stopped comes close. Thank you, David and, most of all, Betty!

Get rid of Donna, then Keith with all of his banging on the keys. Get rid of Bobby and his horrid screaming voice and steel guitar. Get rid of Mickey who mucked up the drums. Who remains? Jerry, Phil and Bill. Just exactly perfect! ; )

On pg. 39 of the book, there's a picture of Bill Walton with a guy. I don't know where I know this guy from. Maybe Veneta, or the GD Movie. Somewhere. Looks like Esau? Anybody know who that is?

A bit surprised by all the praise for this release and all the backlash towards Donna. A faulty disk 1 of 7/3 aside, the artwork and recordings are simply stellar. Probably my favorite art of any release. And it's Betty recording after all. But just not getting how this could be considered a top release. When I listen to the 77 box, I am still in awe of the effortless precision. Sure the guys are having fun here, but I am just not blown away by the music. Poor Donna. Yeah, her random shrills sound like a bag of cats, but . . . Well I'll just say that I don't mind her and certainly don't dislike her contribution. Maybe it is just me, but I seem to be reaching a point of diminishing returns. Neither of the last two subscription offerings have gotten me jacked, nor has this release. Have only gotten through 1987 on 30 trips with no intent to listen any further. Sure, time is always an issue. Playoff hockey dominates the media allocation during Spring. I have never been one to multitask by watching sports with music playing. Besides, Doc Emrick is arguably the most eloquent play by play announcer of all time. Not to be missed. The GD library continues to expand which means listening choices need to be made. More often than not, I find myself heading back to Europe 72 and FW 69. 71 continues to gain relevance and has overtaken most as my favorite year. Yup. I will continue to purchase every release, cause if you don't, you get to pay a lot more later. But the urgency to listen immediately has lamentably been waning. Dave promised something different with the next release. Let's hope so. Not complaining. Just sayin.

I am really enjoying this 78 box ... its like the dead on steroids or PED's. Jerry especially is playing like a man possessed. I've been driving around town blaring this box in my car and my car must literally be rocking back and forth when I idle at red lights. on the slide ... I generally don't like the sound of the slide guitar, regardless of who is playing it. However, I do like weir's slide playing. It gives a different sound to songs I've heard a million times before. I suppose there have been a few times when he was overpowering with it but generally I like it and thought he added the right touch when playing slide. I love donna. Period. I never heard a song that she was on that I felt irritated by her contribution to the song. I think she got better as the years went on. Her high water mark to me was Sing me back home on venetta and any LLR in 78. I also think she should have been invited to FTW ... but that is another matter. hey sixtus - I live on other side of 95 down 109 past westwood ... can't be too far from u. I also think there is something about post hiatus Bob Weir and I don't know if he matured or stepped up his game or what but he just has a more commanding presence in late 70's which really adds to the dead shows in those years and really helped make 77 and 78 such stellar years. I.e. songs like estimated, etc. Quite frankly, toward the end when jerry had off nites, his tunes carried the show. Although I prefer late 60's to early 70's dead, his emergence helps contribute to the high energy dead we get in late 70's. So, if the dead didn't jam as much in those years, at least we got the high energy shows. Finally, someone gave kudos to weirs song writing earlier. I totally agree. I generally prefer Garcia/hunter tunes a little more but weir wrote some early tunes that I love. Plus as the band rolled into the mid and late 80's his writing made a greater contribution to the 80's sound (Throwing stones, easu, Hell in bucket, etc).

....I just discovered that Ween is starting to play again!!! Happy, happy day!!....and yes, takimoto, all your comments are on point. Also, is anyone checking out the Day of the Dead box? Good, good stuff in there. Happy Birthday Mr. Zimmerman. Playing Blood on the Tracks now....

Was going to ask the same question myself. A bit surprised that nobody else has brought it up. The few songs I have heard were pretty decent.

....the Day of the Dead box is cheap ($28?), proceeds go to AIDS research (+), and the covers do respect to the family. No brainer purchase. Plus, it clues me into artists that otherwise would have flown under my radar. I know Jim got it. Waiting for his opinion, 'cause I value all of yours....

Also enjoying the Day of the Dead box set. There's some head-scratchers for sure (uh, that Truckin'...), but many, many great covers -- everything Bonnie Prince Billy touches, Kurt Vile's Box of Rain, Yo La Tengo's Wharf Rat, The National's Peggy-O, Orchestra Baobab's very loose Franklin's Tower, Bill Callahan's Easy Wind, Sam Amidon's And We Bid You Goodnight, Hornsby's atmospheric take on Black Muddy River, Lee Ranaldo on PITB . . . From what I understand, it was the producers intention to introduce THE SONGS to a new generation. Of course the songs never quite sound the same coming from a source other than the Dead, and at times sound straight up sterile here, but it's a noble effort and I hope the kids (and all of you) are listening. '78 box thoughts: Incredible artwork/packaging, great liner notes, high energy sets, excellent sound quality. I haven't been thoroughly wowed by the performances yet, but that usually comes with time. With Dave's, '78 and Day of the Dead all in the same month, it's a bit much to absorb at once. Can't resist commenting on both Donna and the slide guitar. I think '78 was actually a good year for Donna's singing, save some rough moments here and there. I don't ever find myself cringing like I do when she howls in a 73-74 PITB. As for BW's slide, I could do without it, but what are you gonna do? We agreed to these terms when we signed on the dotted line.

I've heard disc one of Day of the Dead, and liked most of it. It's pleasantly surprising to see hipsters giving these songs props after so many years. I noticed one thing in the performances that is very different from the GD interpretations: there's very little in the way of dynamics. Morning Dew is a perfect example. It is played and sung just fine, but it's flat as a pancake in terms of drama. I think that kind of static performance misses the boat. Someone recently posted that they started their box listening with 7/7, and liked TMNS. Wait until they get to the 7/3 version!

Check out 4/24/74, Dave's Picks Vol. 7 for The Music Never Stopped, with attention to the instrumental section from about 3:30 to 5:30. Close in greatness to DP 18!

Listening to Today in GD History on SiriusXM. They are playing the penultimate show from the Spring '77 tour in Baltimore, TMNS and Sugaree are spectaculars to a great show. Besided the holy trinity in the Northeast, this could be my favorite unreleased show from this tour. Smooth as butter, tight as a drum. Love this show. Have not cracked the shrink wrap from Day of the Dead, but you guys did get me to pull it down off the shelf. What a great way to start my workday, pristine 1977 Grateful Dead.

Just occurred to me (doh!) what a tremendous service Betty did in recording shows all those years. Sensational sound, judicious mix. And fabulous releases, if you think that 2-3 hour killer rock 'n roll shows from the mud- and mold-infested storage locker making it to our living rooms is a good thing. That's my 'thought for the day': Betty! In the latest DL video (The Making of..., a misnomer, as they didn't discuss the 'making of') you can see plastic trays with many blue tape boxes.. if those are recovered Betty boards, then we're in for more goodies. Cutting back on sugar and salt so I live to hear the day...

I placed my order for Day of the Dead. I streamed some of it last week & there were a few standout performances so I definitely need to have it on my shelf. What I found really interesting is that the National being the curators of this project purposely excluded the current jam bands from taking part in this project. So I guess it's more about the songs & lyrics then the improvisation or noodling. Angry Jack-Last night I completed the 1986 trip. I'm still planning on getting to 1995 in good time. Keep going if you can, I can run with you if you need some support for 88-95. Most recent spring nights I fall into the same problem of turning up the play by play or listening to some GD as I watch the NHL playoffs. If my son is with me the sound is Doc or Kenny Albert, if I am alone it's Jerry & the boys. Lastly reconsider Dap 18. There is so much going on on those 4 discs that I feel rewarded every time I dive in. Tonight I plan on revisiting DaP 4 to see if it's in the same league as DaP 18. Perhaps I was initially put off by DaP 4's sound quality. For me the 76 Hat Trick is the Road Trips release, DP 33 & DaP 18.

Enjoying the musings on The Music Never Stopped; they are pretty hot coming out of the July Box and that is no surprise considering where it had been headed as evidenced by others' posts relating to the exquisite (and among personal favorites) DP 18 version from early '78. That one is a barn burner but others do come close. The meat of the two-part jam is always very fun to decipher and when it hits flawlessly it is pure magique. And LoveJerry, I didn't want to be a stickler but your little typo threw me off concluding that TMNS wasn't around in '74 (but you clearly meant to type '78). Although a primordial TMNS in '74 could be an interesting time travel experiment (anyone catch GoT this Sunday speaking of which? = Mind Blown, literally). I, too, have acquired Day of The Dead, but more so on a whim as a vehicle to perhaps get Ingrid (my seemingly unimpressionable wife) to warm up to at least some inspiring GD lyrics sans baggage of jamming (her words, not mine!). Although my initial take is similar to some others, in that outside of the lyrics the tunes are very much non-identifiable, but I suppose that is the whole point. I recall back in the early 90's, they made the album 'Deadicated', and it had some very nice remakes of several classic songs, several of which moved along the backbone of the originals. I recall Bruce Hornsby did a fine Jack Straw and the Indigo Girls did a nice acoustic Uncle John's Band. That CD, however, was horked from my possession when I was robbed back at the turn of the century when I lived in DC. Just even saying that phrase seems....weird. Buck Rodgers, anyone? Takimoto - yes, 109 down past Westwood is about a 15 minutes drive or so If I understand correctly, across the Great Highway from Dedham. This means that some kind of path crossing is entirely possible. And probably recommended at some point in the future. Finally, in the vein of some other recent comments, I feel that I, too, am reaching a temporary saturation point based on recent GD acquisitions. It feels almost hurtful to say that - and in no way am I saying stop - but at some point something's gotta give and I just hope it's not in the direction of a personal hiatus. I just need to hunker down and give them all Their Dew (Due). On top of Boxzilla, the multitude of DaP's, Day of the Dead, and the July '78 box I realized that I didn't have a CD version of the Closing of Winterland show (I only had the DVD, which admittedly doesn't get to much air time), so I found it on Amazon for a reasonable price and thus added yet anOther One to my queue. Admittedly I don't have the restraint like some of you to employ a slow burn, for example, through this box or Boxzilla, but on the same token part of me feels guilty for not spending the correct amount of intimate, imperative time that is needed to truly devour and realize All Epiphanies embedded within this voluminous collection that is steadily building. I need to know....Is my guilt unfounded? Help Me Deady-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope. Thank You for Your Support. Sixtus

Hi, anyone receive a copy in the UK yet? Thanks..........

I'm going to listen to Dave's Picks Volume 1 at some point today, as it's the 39th anniversary. This may be my favorite released show from 1977. As great as most of those May shows sounded, this one feels like it might be perfect. I don't recall any missed notes, vocal flubs, audio problems, or anything like that at all. The mix is great, as I can hear everyone clearly and the harmony vocals are spot-on. Jerry's solos are great on everything he plays (Brown-Eyed Women is one of the best ever). One would be hard pressed to find better 1977 versions of most songs in this show. And the set list is one of the better ones. The first set is particularly strong, perhaps in the top 3 for released 1977 shows (5/21, 9/3, and 11/4 are also in there). Even comparing it with some of the unreleased monsters, the first set makes a very strong showing (and without the aid of Help/Slip/Franklin or Scarlet/Fire). And for what it's worth, it commands the highest single show price tag on eBay, where a new numbered edition is going for $500 (I say for what it's worth, because, it's relative unavailability bolsters its esteem). Oh, and I love the album cover - big Star Wars fan here. I imagine somebody in Richmond had a day like this in late May 1977: got up out of bed at noon after calling out of work for the Dead Show; went to the beer store and stocked up for the tailgate party; went to see their Dude for their Dude supplies; sampled their Dude supplies and decided they didn't want to sit around doing nothing all day waiting for the Dead show that night; moseyed on over to the movie theater and bought a ticket for some unknown Sci Fi flick called "Star Wars" (and I'm sure they were a little bit disappointed ahead of time, knowing it wouldn't even come close to a good Star Trek episode); had an emission when Han Solo came barreling out of the sun screaming "Wooo hooo!!! You're all clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!!"; walked out the back door of the theater after it ended and indulged in more Dude supplies; walked back in the front door to watch it again; had a second emission at the same scene; met their girlfriend for the pre-game scene at the Dead show; got dumped by their girlfriend after being unable to explain where they were all day, or why their dungarees were soiled; took the tube back out of down, back to the rolling pin; staggered back to the underground where the breeze blew back their hair; stumbled through the turnstile at the Mosque; settled into their seat at the Dead show; indulged in more of Dude's supplies; and mellowed out, as they were blown away a third time that day, this time by what would become one of the most historically significant Grateful Dead shows of their career. And I think there must have been someone else who had the exact same day except the ending - in his experience, he got so hammered after the breakup with his girlfriend that he actually fell asleep at the dead show and missed what would become one of the most historically significant Grateful Dead shows of their career. Sorry, got carried away.

This article makes my stomach turn for a wide variety of reasons. Some people may like the circumstances around Jerry's guitars but rich guys buying up American cultural history at top dollar to keep for personal collections has always made me chew back my lunch. It should be in the hand of the "right" person and never for a lifetime, not sure who that would be or how you would determine that but I'm not convinced its these guys. Should be heard in concert all tour and not just played at a show where the owner lives nearby like he has requested. http://www.jambase.com/article/jerry-garcias-tiger-guitar-san-francisco…

Ok, so I should have picked up on this A LONG TIME AGO...in a galaxy far far away, but it didn't all click until JUST NOW. KeithFan, your putting two-and-two together is spot-on!! Given that today, May 25th, is the 39th anniversary of the original release of Star Wars in 1977, it only makes TOTAL SENSE now as to the cover of Dave's Pick's Volume 1, that there are criss- crossed drumstick 'lightsabers' on the cover. Depicting the exact same date for The Mosque show as the film's release date. I am about as rabid for Star Wars as I am for GD, so this is such an excellent revelation. I am actually borderline ashamed of myself for not seeing this (now blatantly obvious) tie-in earlier. But also internally amused and in awe of Dave's (someone's???) clear love for Both. My Day is now complete. Sixtus

...and out goes today's productivity goals for yet another on this thread. Its a classic case of KeithFan related benevolent malevolence, good natured suggestions that cause chaos and personal daily anarchy. As Sixtus lies on his comfy couch reveling in the fact that his day has already been made the world crumbles into a deeper state of chaos as important, globe changing tasks get moved to tomorrow's to do list. Good call to revisit 5/25, its a glorious good weather day where I am. Flawless weather deserves a flawless show. This one sounds best load on speakers that can move without distorting. So clean.

I have been buying all the releases since Dicks Picks started and am finding this release really great. Betty Boards, previously poorly understood shows (except Red Rocks)...a complete run of shows, great reading....Highly recommended.

Missing disc replaced by customer service. Thanks to Melinda at Customer Service for making sure this was elevated to Dr. Rhino and thanks to Dr. Rhino for having this shipped out ASAP. I am very pleased how this was handled by customer service. Concerning the box, Donna does go a little overboard but it is hard not to like because it sounds as if she is having a real good time. Isn’t that what it is all about? I really like this release so far. Keep them coming.

I hereby vow to refrain from posting comments on the Seattle Times web site. Posting there brings out the worst in me. At this point in my life, I need to cultivate the best in me. GOD BLESS THE GRATEFUL DEAD. They are a refuge from the aggravations of life.

No13937 has landed on my doorstep today ,just got in from pub crawl of Crediton and now lining up 1st July show,happy days!

When that "Concert For George" came out, my lone (personal) criticism was...the music is OK, but it's missing George...it needs George. Then I realized, that's the point! The undeniably tragic fact is (re this concert) there is no living George. The same point can be made for the "Day of the Dead" release. What's painfully & glaringly missing is...Jerry! But that's the point! Just like George...the undeniably tragic fact is (re this release) there is no living Jerry.

Mine arrived in Manchester today. No additional costs from HM Customs & Excise either, which was a nice surprise. That's my weekend sorted....

Diggin the Star Wars comments. Saw it on May 25, 1977 in Paramus, NJ with my dad and little brother. I was 11 at the time, so Dude supplies were Milk Duds, popcorn, and Coca-Cola to wash it down. On May 25 there were no lines, moderate attendance, and they gave out "May the Force Be With You" buttons; I still have mine. I went to see it again that weekend and there were lines around the theater, the place was packed. Dug KeithFan's imagining of a Richmond head circa May 25, 1977, unfortunately Star Wars was only in about 32 theaters on May 25, 1977 and none of them were in Richmond, VA.

Heide's Red Hot Dollars... a gummy raspberry-flavored treat guaranteed to pull all your fillings out. Sadly they quit making them many years ago.

I was in Midtown Manhattan that Wednesday and had time to kill. I went in to a movie theater, I forget the name, and put down a few Georges and saw Star Wars. Not too many for NYC crowds, but there was a short line for the next showing.I had seen the GD earlier in 1976 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, a suburb of Philly, but wasn't always in the know about tours way back then. I would have gone to see the Richmond show if only I had known ...

Try Juju Coins. Similar to Heide's. Pretty good too. Rock on

Safely landed in Wales!

Pretty sure I saw him scarfing down a pork chimichanga at 24th and Mission in The City last Friday.

I'm glad the read that the folks in the UK are getting their box of "July 1978: The Complete Recordings." Cheers! Enjoy! They're great!

Ken - "there is no living Jerry"Bolo: Pretty sure I saw him scarfing down a pork chimichanga at 24th and Mission in The City last Friday. Well, I guess the secret is out on DaP 19. See above!