• 109 replies
    heatherlew
    Default Avatar
    Joined:

    2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's eponymous debut studio album. What better way to celebrate than with a special album reissue series that will include two-disc deluxe editions and limited edition vinyl picture disc versions of all the group’s studio and live albums! These two-disc deluxe editions will include the original album with newly remastered sound, plus a bonus disc of unreleased recordings.

    THE GRATEFUL DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION contains the original album — newly remastered from the original tapes by David Glasser, and restored by Plangent Processes — along with a bonus disc that features the complete unreleased concert from July 29th, 1966 and select cuts from July 30th, 1966 at the P.N.E. Garden Auditorium in British Columbia, mastered by Jeffrey Norman. Only a few recordings from the Dead’s first two years exist, but each one reveals corners of the band’s repertoire not captured anywhere else. That’s especially true here, with three songs making their last appearance on any surviving Dead recording: “Standing On The Corner,” “You Don’t Have To Ask Me,” and “Cardboard Cowboy.”

    SHIPS 1/20/2017

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • kevjones
    Joined:
    Grateful Dead
    Got the release this weekend. Haven't listened to the first disc, some folks are right though they should have included the MONO mix. Most bands through about 1968 mixed in MONO due to stereo being a novelty and very expensive at the time; the stereo recordings are not always the true representation of the bands vision. Anyway, I need to check it out. I did listen to a bit of the live stuff, it sounds AMAZING especially for a 50 year old field recording, but the stereo separation is driving me crazy. I had to turn it off, maybe it's my old ears but the vocals are all in the left channel and the instruments are in the right channel. Anyway, the setlist is amazing, and I'll listen eventually. Still a good release
  • Mr.Dc
    Joined:
    Baby blue
    I always have really enjoyed this tune, and I was really happy when I heard a Grateful Dead version for the first time. It was from that unofficial live in 66 vinyl, withe the 3 blue skulls on the cover. I also enjoy the 13th Floor Elevators cover as well.
  • SPACEBROTHER
    Joined:
    Foil print outer sleeve slipcase
    Mine didn't come with one as shown in the reveal. I wish it did. Marye, can they send me one for my copy?
  • FeelgoodDead
    Joined:
    Everything In The Right Place
    Lovely job on the remastering. Reminds me of The Beatles 2009 re-issues, everything in it's right place and a really warm sound.
  • thelocalgardener
    Joined:
    got mine!
    My copy arrived today(way up here in Canada) along with the picture disc. My kid asked "What is THAT?!"No fraud on the credit card this time either. Cheers, Matt
  • snugwuffle
    Joined:
    It's All Over Now Baby Blue
    I wanted to add that I always love hearing the Dead perform that song. Sometimes they'd mess up their cues but this one is done well. Of all the band versions of Baby Blue, I think theirs was the best. I wish they had done a proper studio single. In most performances, the only defect is a couple of lines that are too low pitched for Garcia to sing; it might have worked very nicely if Weir had chimed in on those lines with a strong baritone. It was originally an acoustic song, and must've been difficult to adapt to a full band arrangement. The Byrds, who usually did well with Dylan material, couldn't come up with a good enough version to release.
  • snugwuffle
    Joined:
    A few grounds for complaint
    I was puzzled that the extended guitar solo ending from Cream Puff on the Rhino remix wasn't repeated here, nor any bonus tracks either. On the positive side, while I haven't done an A/B comparison on the sound, I always judge by whether Phil's bass is clearly audible. It seems to be very good here. Apparently I got the psych sleeve, if that's the outer box with the Kelly/Mouse collage and stickers. Dead.net never answered our queries about that, but I saw one for sale in a record store with no outer box. I wish Dead.net was more responsive to questions from fans and followers. If you read that "Everything I Know About Business I Learned From The Grateful Dead" book, being responsive to their fans was one of the secrets of their success. Unfortunately, those running the Dead business now don't seem to give a rat's ass about communicating with their followers. It's pretty much a "we don't care, we don't have to" and a "take it or leave it" attitude, from what I can tell. Would it really be so hard to give us more information and answer questions once in a while? Let me end on a positive note: the live set is wonderful, tho Garcia's guitar is barely audible here and there. What I loved so much about the early Dead is their imaginative arrangements, and the way Phil was the driving force, with his aggressive and confident bass playing. He's my favorite musician of all time, unless it's Casady.
  • Mr.Dc
    Joined:
    Minglewood
    Well the two versions have slightly different lyrics, I assume Bobby changed them himself as they arent too different. Also the second version's arrangement is even more removed from how the original was/is played. But yeah most I've seen say "Traditional, Arrangement by the Grateful Dead". I enjoy the Jim Kweskin Jug Band's version alot as well.
  • gr8ful.george
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Lost Package
    I bought Two of these on The 17th.Nov 2016 USPS says were delivered but never in My mail box.What do I do now??? Mary E can you help me ??
  • Jason Wilder
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Your answer is total BS. It
    Your answer is total BS. It had rightly been attributed as a traditional, arranged by the Grateful Dead (original album & Shakedown) or to Noah Lewis (Deadbase, 30 Trips Scroll, Complete & Annotated GD Lyrics book). It is correctly absent from the GD Anthology I & II books that collected all the GD original tunes. The first instance I see claiming it as an original is the 30 Trips '66 show & the 50th Anniversary release. It is one of many mistakes in the liner notes of 30 Trips (no credit to Matt Kelly on '75, Eleven Jam when the lyrics are sung '69, + others). Furthermore, it was recorded in by the Cannon Jug Stompers in 1928 & Lewis' group in 1930. Throwing another New or the word All to the title doesn't change that fact. Or the fact that all the prior attributions were correct & the last two are not. In the age of Trump, facts & truth ARE important. Fact, Minglewood is NOT a GD original. They should get it right. It is a lie & diminishes the folks who ACTUALLY wrote it.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

7 years 5 months

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's eponymous debut studio album. What better way to celebrate than with a special album reissue series that will include two-disc deluxe editions and limited edition vinyl picture disc versions of all the group’s studio and live albums! These two-disc deluxe editions will include the original album with newly remastered sound, plus a bonus disc of unreleased recordings.

THE GRATEFUL DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION contains the original album — newly remastered from the original tapes by David Glasser, and restored by Plangent Processes — along with a bonus disc that features the complete unreleased concert from July 29th, 1966 and select cuts from July 30th, 1966 at the P.N.E. Garden Auditorium in British Columbia, mastered by Jeffrey Norman. Only a few recordings from the Dead’s first two years exist, but each one reveals corners of the band’s repertoire not captured anywhere else. That’s especially true here, with three songs making their last appearance on any surviving Dead recording: “Standing On The Corner,” “You Don’t Have To Ask Me,” and “Cardboard Cowboy.”

SHIPS 1/20/2017

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

Vintage is great all the way through, sound quality-wise. Half of Historic is good quality too, but half is pretty much unreleasable. I'd settle for Vintage plus the two good quality songs from Historic as a release. That version of Baby Blue remains my favorite version ever.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

There's a great studio version of Baby Blue on the expanded CD version of 'Never Before', if you can still find it.
user picture

Member for

16 years 8 months
Permalink

I have many versions now of this - but it's a must have. Why? It was this Viola Lee Blues that turned me on to the Dead. I'm curios to see if this remastering fixed some of the known issues with the original, like it being too fast. I love the early Dead so the 66 show is a sweet bonus.
user picture

Member for

6 years 4 months
Permalink

I am a big fan of the Elevators too! So thankful that I got to see Roky Erickson a fee months back in Asheville NC. He sat down but hot-diggity-damn he played and sang his SOUL out. Very thankful I finally got to see that Legend. If anyone gets the chance, do not hesitate!!!!Peace, E-Dub
user picture

Member for

6 years 4 months
Permalink

I love the release, don't get me wrong.However like others have stated, the Mono mix would have fit onto the first disc,easy peasy. As for a second disc, I think it would have been nice to get the bonus tracks from the reissue from awhile back. Then I believe they could have filled the rest with other out-takes, maybe the other track from the Fire In The City single, and I'm going to guess there are enough demos and whatnot to fill the rest of my "dreamer version" Then the 3rd disc I have zero complaints about! Just my 2¢ E-Dub
user picture

Member for

6 years 4 months
Permalink

Can you pm me or let me know where to score this. I have heard that when the Elevators reached California that the Dead really dug them and that's when they started to improvise more. Not saying it's true, just something I read.But now I find out that they cover an Elevators tune???! This has me foaming at the mouth to hear it. Anu help would be gratefully appreciated!
user picture

Member for

6 years 8 months
Permalink

I haven't heard that about the Elevators influencing the Dead. I don't think its true. There's an interview out there from 66 where Garcia mentions them as a band that sounds like the GD, he gets their name wrong though. Garcia wasn't shy about naming his influences, and knew a lot about many other local bands (in the same interview IIRC they inform the DJ that a certain band is no longer together.) It's at the Grateful Dead sources blog if you want to check it out - they are organized by year.
user picture

Member for

9 years 5 months
Permalink

Either one of the Jan '68 Seattle shows, or 8-21-68 Fillmore West
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

5 years 11 months
Permalink

March 2017 the kick off of the Anniversary Series, and it was pretty depressing to hear at the time that the releases were not going to be spaced a few a year, but is Anthem coming out? https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7717115/grateful-dead-50th-anni… Outlined Rhino's grand plan and one would have thought there would be an announcement of some kind by now. Also around this time is the announcement for the year's big box so we can all get annoyed on how we can bot get our orders through on the first day or two. How about simply acknowledging these are happening, even if one can't get into to many details. Its kinnda like working somewhere were management does not let you know someone gave notice to quit until that person's last day. Bad for morale. And in this world, at this time, we all could use a little sunshine. What gives? And by the way...speed up the releases for the 50th Anniversary series (if it is going to continue).
product sku
081227942571