Grateful Dead

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I would absolutely LOVE to see a box set released from the Berkeley Greek Theater shows, especially 1981 (the first run there & fabulous!), 1985 (20th anniversary) & 1989 (the last run there). Loveya, Jolie Cloud hands reaching from a rainbow Tapping at your window Touch your hair -- Robert Hunter, "Crazy Fingers"

And how incredibly wonderful that we can talk about the "eras" of this band. Hoping they round out each era with a complete run box set. Maybe every four years, we have 69,73, now for 77,then 81,85,89,93..... just a thought...

inventiveness, power, and dynamics of the boys that night left me slackjawed. I could say more about that show and I wanted to speak to the box set and era topic, but CosmicBadger beat me to the points I was thinking about. I also often have thought that the period that people attended shows or when they really 'got it' was the era of the band that they subsequently enjoy the most. But after reading the genesis of Dstache's experience, that may not be the case. I instead own that my heaviest touring 'window' starting in '74 and through the early '80s is the strongest influence that steer my 'wishlists'. I still attended a show a year (or so) once marriage and children came along but I attended fewer shows and look back on days more fondly when I was actively roadtripping. And I do hear or feel that some of those shows from that era really speak to me. I still do enjoy shows from other eras, but the '69 Dead's breakneck speed & turn on a dime frenzy combined with their DEEP jamming. and the evolution into the roaring beast through the 1970's will always have a special lure for me. I will never forget those June Forum & Winterland shows in '77 or the '77 NYE Winterland run and then there was that '78 midwest (Madison - Red Rocks) tour that really hit me where I live. As with you all, I don't begrudge anyone for desiring those later shows, but for me, those '70's are 'so right'. You know some love the Jalapaneo, others must have that Habanero, yet others desire the Cayenne, and some yearn for the Serrano ('you know this space is getting hot'). It is the same with wide variety of aural delights provided by the Dead that are so often 'just exactly perfect' for that person at that space and time ;o} The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.

For me a helpful distinction between the 'earlier' and 'later' dead periods is that the earlier work is timeless and universal..you can listen to it purely as music even if you were not around then and only be amazed. But for much of the later stuff, and especially as Garcia's inventiveness, consistency and voice began to wane, it increasingly becomes a case of 'you had to be there'. People develop very strong attachments to years and runs which they attended, not just because of the music, but also because of the whole experience they had at shows. We had no shows in Europe from 81 to 90 and a lot of what i hear from that period I find pretty painful..for me Brent's talents cannot in the tiniest way compensate for Jerry's slow decline. But then I also know that if I had been at some of those shows I would probably feel totally different and I also know that Jerry could still touch the stars from time to time! Each to his or her own I suppose. As for a box set...how about a 'wall of sound' set from '74.

I knew I shouldn't of posted that, as I was writing it I knew it, but ... haha Some points: (1) When I say "later years" I am using the breakdown of the Taping Compendiums and am referring to 86-95, so I am not referring to the 2 Anchorage '80 shows. In fact, I agree that they would make a fine release. (2) Mary, you've seen me often enough on the vineyard to know (my pic) that I didn't get on the bus until much later. I only saw shows from 93 onward and, as can be inferred from my previous post, I would probably not purchase anything from those years. (3) I agree that Brent was great. He's the main reason I sign up for vines for later era shows (the other reason would be the newer Jerry songs, the one thing he could still do was write and play a good slow song (see Liberty, Black Muddy, So Many Roads, Days Btwn, etc)). I love all of his songs except "We Can Run." I love his playing. I love his backup singing. (4) I have no problems with releases of later era shows. I would just like to see them release single shows here and there or a compilation Road Trips and not a huge box set, especially when they release such a limited number of box sets. (5) It just seems to me that in requesting a box set of the 21 show Spring '90 run, you are implying that you would rather have all the shows from that tour rather than all the shows from early '69, spring '72, fall '72, fall '73, spring '77 or fall '77. Notwithstanding Brent's contributions and the newer Jerry songs, I just think that is crazy. This reminds me of a remark in the Taping Compendium about how if one could have all the SBDs from one particular month, April of 78 would be way down the list. Spring '90 would be behind all the tours mentioned above on my list. (6) The packaging for the '73 Winterland box does not explain the $35 price difference btwn it and the '69 Fillmore West box. While I like it, the box is basically a crayon box, like you'd store your Crayolas in as a kid. The packaging probably cost about $2 more to manufacture AT MOST. Both were 10 disc sets, the Winterland box was released about a year or two later. The price increase was inexplicable. So, I don't think a '90 Spring box would be offered at a "discounted" price. I use quotes there because $450 for music is WAY more than I would be willing to spend. Heck, I complained they were gauging us for Winterland '73. (7) Finally, these are just my opinions. If you want a later era box set you are free to request it. But at the same time, I am free to request that shows from what I consider better years be released instead. Good vibes to all

One of my personal all-time favorite shows! My fave live terrapin (besides the first terrapin in san berdoo..) and the NFA was insane! :D Larree.ws

especially since I didn't come along till '81. To this day I miss Brent as much as Jerry, and the Brent era is woefully underrepresented. And I can think of quite a few shows or runs (Greek box set! Anchorage!) that would warrant the full show/box set treatment.

Take a deep breath, big guy... First off, the Winterland Box Set is $100 because of its packaging, as well. That's one package for 3 shows. If you have one package and one insert for all 21 shows (GOTTA have February), I bet they could package it, going minimalistic on the design/labels and sell it for $450. Yup. The whole dang 1990 tour for under a nickel. I WOULD pay that, assuming it sounded like everything else that has been released from that year (WOANet & Dozin). SICK STUFF, BRO.... Breakouts of Loose Lucy, Easy To Love You, Revolution (and the final version), BT Wind, Hey Jude, The Weight, the last Believe It Or Not.... Not only selectionwise, but these guys were simply tighter than they'd ever been (with this lineup) and there's SO many skull-crushing jams. Inasmuchas I love the 72-73 era, the sound quality on any of the recordings are simply not on the same level as what we get from the late 80s-90 - if not just for the sake of technology. Spring 1990, to me, was the height of the band....this is where the whole "taste is subjective" stuff comes in, of course.... I liked Brent 100-fold over Keith. I love Keith - don't get me wrong, but he didn't have the talent or power of Brent (or the B3!!!). The kid took this band to a whole new level and they peaked in Spring 90 - Summer 90 was good, but not AS good as the Spring. Fall 89 is the only other tour that came close, IMO. If I were allowed in the design lab, I bet I could get this bad boy to the people for under $400 if they let me at it!!! ;) ~ Pappy www.theCAUSEjams.com "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter

Let's see, 18 shows on the Spring 90 tour, not including the Feb shows, at $100 for every 3 shows (the price of the Winterland '73 box), makes $600 for the tour. Are you freaking nuts?!?!?!? You would pay that for THIS tour? 1990 is a good year, considering the years around it, but c'mon. If Rhino/the Dead release anything from the "later years," I sure hope it is an individual show or a Road Trips (with a bunch of Brent and newer Jerry songs and NOT an attempt to recreate a real show). The number of requests for "later years" shows always surprises me. Jerry's creativity, sense of adventure and skill began a steady decline after 1977. Although they don't announce sales figures, I would be surprised (yet again) if the best selling releases were not those from 1969, 1972, 1973 and 1977 (not coincidentally, the best 4 yrs IMO). I vote for more from those years, and especially 5/12/77 (Lemieux has posted excerpts in the Taper's Section so it is in the vault and a SBD does NOT circulate) and 6/4/77. No offense to anyone.

I second that emotion. The Weight....each one taking a turn on a verse, singing with the heavens at their back....just beautiful. peace,pk