• https://www.dead.net/features/tapers-section/august-27-september-2-2007
    August 27 - September 2, 2007

    I undertook the Taper's Section last November with a pretty simple vision: to have fun providing folks a regular opportunity to hear vault material that kept their interest in Grateful Dead music fresh.

    Recently, I and others that work on dead.net became aware that certain fans had been regularly downloading the tracks offered in the Taper Section. From the very beginning, this program has always been intended to be a "for streaming only" service. Downloading was never announced, described or promoted in any manner. The situation that developed over the past months is very different than my original plan.

    Where we’re at today requires us to step back, gather some information, do some thinking and get back to you. In the meantime, we ask that you all realize that dead.net's and GDP's commitment to the Dead Head community is unchanged. We’re very excited to be hard at work with Rhino on a number of very cool releases and programs that you’ll be hearing about soon. Please bear with us until then.

    See you next week,
    David

    This week, we’re going to explore some cool moments from the Family Dog in 1969, as well as some great material from 1980 and a taste of 1972.

    Although most shows in the Bay Area in the late 1960s were BGP-produced concerts, there was a very hip alternative promoter, namely Chet Helms and his Family Dog at the Great Highway. At the end of the summer of ’69 (no Bryan Adams jokes, please), the Grateful Dead played a few shows at Chet’s cool venue, and from those shows we have some interesting material. From 8/29/69, we have a nice Easy Wind, Me and My Uncle>High Time, as well as the show-closing Lovelight, and from the next night, 8/30/69, we have a very good Morning Dew from early in the show. Be sure to check back next week for another rare track from the Family Dog in 1969.

    One thing we always get excited about is a great tour with consistently great performances, with highlights too numerous to list. The mid-August to early-September 1980 tour is one such stretch of shows, and we have a few examples of great material from this tour this week. Unfortunately, two of the best shows from the tour are not in the vault (9/6 at Lewiston and 9/2/80 at Rochester), but what does live in the vault is exceptional. From 8/27/80 at Pine Knob in Michigan, the second set opening trio of China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>C.C. Rider (or China>Rider>Rider, if you will) is as high energy as they come. From three nights later in Philadelphia we have the ending sequence of the show on 8/30/80, featuring Space>Not Fade Away>Black Peter>Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night. A classic 1980 sequence if there ever was one. Unfortunately, the first set of this show is not in the vault. Finally from this tour, we have the show opener on 8/31/80 at the Capital Center in Landover, MD, with a rocking duo of Alabama Getaway>Promised Land. As the flipside to the Philly show above, the second set from this Cap Center show is not in the vault.

    Lastly this week, we have a couple of tracks from the first night of the Europe 72 tour, the first two songs played on the tour, in fact. Both of these songs from 4/7/72 in London have a little extra something, as the band was clearly happy to be playing in Europe, a feeling that would evidently continue through the final show on 5/26/72 in London. Oh, yes, the songs: Greatest Story Ever Told and Sugaree. Enjoy.

    Be sure to check back in next week when we’ll have some music from 1969, 1972, 1973 and 1985. It’s going to be a busy week. Feel free to write anytime with questions or comments.

    David Lemieux
    vault [at] dead.net

    10648
312 comments
sort by
Recent
Reset
Items displayed
  • Default Avatar
    timhorpo
    17 years 1 month ago
    tapers section
    David.Please understand that certainly a few songs that we could download and listen to whenever we like, makes us enjoy the dead even more. Hearing a great song from a great show makes us more keen to do just that. What you guys seem to be doing now is turning people off, rather that turning people on with some juicy little nuggets. The downloads make us buy more man... isn't that what its all about??????? Peace
  • Default Avatar
    moment of bliss
    17 years 1 month ago
    enjoying music
    i don't get it. the band would let us bring a tape deck in and record the whole show,BUT you won't let us have a couple of songs a week
  • Default Avatar
    chinarider1
    17 years 1 month ago
    lame, weak, sad
    ......take another step back...and another step back........
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 6 months

I undertook the Taper's Section last November with a pretty simple vision: to have fun providing folks a regular opportunity to hear vault material that kept their interest in Grateful Dead music fresh.

Recently, I and others that work on dead.net became aware that certain fans had been regularly downloading the tracks offered in the Taper Section. From the very beginning, this program has always been intended to be a "for streaming only" service. Downloading was never announced, described or promoted in any manner. The situation that developed over the past months is very different than my original plan.

Where we’re at today requires us to step back, gather some information, do some thinking and get back to you. In the meantime, we ask that you all realize that dead.net's and GDP's commitment to the Dead Head community is unchanged. We’re very excited to be hard at work with Rhino on a number of very cool releases and programs that you’ll be hearing about soon. Please bear with us until then.

See you next week,
David

This week, we’re going to explore some cool moments from the Family Dog in 1969, as well as some great material from 1980 and a taste of 1972.

Although most shows in the Bay Area in the late 1960s were BGP-produced concerts, there was a very hip alternative promoter, namely Chet Helms and his Family Dog at the Great Highway. At the end of the summer of ’69 (no Bryan Adams jokes, please), the Grateful Dead played a few shows at Chet’s cool venue, and from those shows we have some interesting material. From 8/29/69, we have a nice Easy Wind, Me and My Uncle>High Time, as well as the show-closing Lovelight, and from the next night, 8/30/69, we have a very good Morning Dew from early in the show. Be sure to check back next week for another rare track from the Family Dog in 1969.

One thing we always get excited about is a great tour with consistently great performances, with highlights too numerous to list. The mid-August to early-September 1980 tour is one such stretch of shows, and we have a few examples of great material from this tour this week. Unfortunately, two of the best shows from the tour are not in the vault (9/6 at Lewiston and 9/2/80 at Rochester), but what does live in the vault is exceptional. From 8/27/80 at Pine Knob in Michigan, the second set opening trio of China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>C.C. Rider (or China>Rider>Rider, if you will) is as high energy as they come. From three nights later in Philadelphia we have the ending sequence of the show on 8/30/80, featuring Space>Not Fade Away>Black Peter>Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night. A classic 1980 sequence if there ever was one. Unfortunately, the first set of this show is not in the vault. Finally from this tour, we have the show opener on 8/31/80 at the Capital Center in Landover, MD, with a rocking duo of Alabama Getaway>Promised Land. As the flipside to the Philly show above, the second set from this Cap Center show is not in the vault.

Lastly this week, we have a couple of tracks from the first night of the Europe 72 tour, the first two songs played on the tour, in fact. Both of these songs from 4/7/72 in London have a little extra something, as the band was clearly happy to be playing in Europe, a feeling that would evidently continue through the final show on 5/26/72 in London. Oh, yes, the songs: Greatest Story Ever Told and Sugaree. Enjoy.

Be sure to check back in next week when we’ll have some music from 1969, 1972, 1973 and 1985. It’s going to be a busy week. Feel free to write anytime with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault [at] dead.net

Display on homepage featured list
Off
Feature type

dead comment

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Hi David~ First off, nice work! Either downloading or streaming, this stuff is classic. I am wondering if you have crisper version of the NFA> Easy Wind from 6-24-70. This is a great sequence (and a one-timer if I'm not mistaken). The only recording I can find is and AUD and, while good, this sequence would sound much better w/o the audience. The rest of the show is fantastic, too! Cheers.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

tj crowley you have a right to your beliefs and opinions but i think to think that 'the boys' are(have been) in it for 'the gold' is really far fetched. i don't see it necessar to support my point but think ablout it for a little bit. i can understand your anger (based on dis-appoinment, entitlement, pride/ego) and if you review additional post's for this week and last you'll see that your not alone. it is obvious that musician's play for enjoyment but it comes to a point where those that also enjoy and want to hear more, the musician(s) ask for financial support to permit such a pleasure ('...used to play for silver, now we play for life...'). going to 1000 shows was a choice you made but to expect something more than the good time(s), memories, higher-consciousness (hopefully you achieved some of that along the way) is an irrational mind set.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

tj crowley now it (kinda) makes cents. with the additional frequency to air the 'dead' via satellite, shutting down a free access would hinder the demand for purchase of that style radio.for me tho, i'm still in favour of free radio (listenning to mostly college stations/npr/bbc ) and find it difficult to put $$$ into something i wouldn't utilize often. i mean, how much time are "WE" in the car? my personal time is to/fro employment = 1 1/2 hour x5 days, shopping (other than the stop coming home for milk bread - when it snow up here 'we' could be stuck in homebound for 1 - 3 days) 45 minutes( monthly). attendance to 12 step meeting 2 hours (weekly)...that's where the cd's comes in as i choose to liten to WHAT i want to hear (even w/ the dead). so it goes...what i've noticed (as a reaction to decision made to now tream) is a gathering of friends (newly made as a result of this) and increased trading. the karma is good
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Well as I suspected, the GD hour is no longer on XM satillite. If I'm wrong please except my apologies, but I haven't heard it on the sat/radio for a few weeks. Thought maybe they changed the time or day and I was just missing it so I went to the XM site today and there is no mention of the show, so I'm assuming it's gone. HEY GUYS!!!!!!!!! How about a show of good faith! Realease a show with all proceeds going to Katrina relief. Those folks down there are STILL going thru hell. So if Rhino were to do something like that, then maybe we can put all this bad blood behind us, help some folks out, get new music out and get back to THIS THING OF OURS . VIVA the HAIRBALL!!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I had to take the GD Hour off XM when I went to work for Sirius on their all-GD channel, which launches on Friday, September 7. That has nothing to do with what's going on here at DeadNet. GD Hour blog Station list
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

tj crowley dave what is going on? can you say? lot's of chatter w/o much added helpful direction....tom
user picture

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

Streaming GD music through computer speakers is an insult to the music. I want to hear it REAL LOUD over the best quality system I can find. The Dead explored the boundries between music and noise in their shows. Now the boundry is explored in a different way. Just how crappy a sound system can we tollerate? Chip
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

My boys. What they do often: What ever you do, don't click on the hairball! No! Don't.... Feh! Ugh! Now I gotta go clean that up!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Dude, I'm laughing so hard right now!!! How the Hell did it come to this? We now have a great download for all .......of cat Horking. So Ed is it ok to trade this or are the cats holding onto the rights. I'm hoping that once they're done with it they will let us enjoy the music. So now we can date this 8/30/07 Set 1: Cat Vomit . I hope the boys decide to change up the set list for tommorrows download. Maybe Cat Vomit > Cat Scratching!!!! I think we're onto something BIG now. Get them tore up on some good catnip and tape that... ala the acid trips shows. Maybe a trip to Egypt where they can hork up one in front of the Sphinx!!!! Think of it, T-shirts, programs,sold out arenas,a new parking lot scene. Just remember Ed, don't let it go to their heads.....it should always be about the music man.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

as I watch eagles fly and deer prance gracefully past my window at work, I am thrilled that I am able to enjoy the great mix of music that we are privelaged to enjoy for free. Please do not muck it up. Enjoy it for what it is, a treat for us all. Let's keep it available for all of us. Thanks David for the great music.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

tj crowley i have to admit and make an amends...i too had downloaded week after week available (or so "WE" thought) music and NOW i need to say..i did click the hairball....since coming into recovery and a stricter application of the 4 noble truths and 8 foldpath i need to say..i'm sorry...my desitnation is harmony but occassionally get traped into ego driven states of mind and pleasure seeking behavior(s)...I'M SORRY
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Ugh - Sugaree seems to be missing from the stream. Is it me? Thanks for all your efforts David - when you fold away all of the politics and business, the music is what we all share !!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I would suggest that if Rhino were ever to consider appeasing this restless crowd here, then then why not do so in a way that would be no skin whatsoever off Rhino's teeth. The simplest solution I can think of would be to only post downloads from the scrap heap of the vault, ones that will never, ever find themselves on any future releases. For example, only post show fragments that are the only surviving fragments from a particular show (with the rest of the tape destroyed, for example), or fragments that have reel switches in them, or ones that are only hissy cassette masters, or beta recordings that have major glitches in them ... ah! you get the picture: only post as downloads the defective stuff. Greg SC
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

So Ed, which cat plays that killer solo on that cut? Intoduce the band. Looking forward to tommorows show, looks like a great set! They sound like they may have been influenced by the great Lily Allen. Laughing is good for all. Viva the Hairball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

First off thanks for all your hard work David. I, for one, would never download here or anywhere, but I thank you for your dilegance in this matter. Let's keep this site safe! Amazing, when you think of it, the forsight these musicians had. Instead of being tied up in courts like many bands, their music is as available as ever. I can't imagine anyone could ever make money off these sessions, but if they are trying; they, nor their buyers, just don't get it do they? Anyway, thanks so much for providing some selections even in the middle of all this... Patiently yours, seco
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

wowwwi dont believe they took off the downloads, and blamed it on them being oblivious to it i mean yeah they probably blaze since this is dead.net and all, but they knew....and it wasnt a big deal im all for a (stupid) weekly subscription service though as others have mentioned what a JOke the musics off,.,,,ive got a good cpu so im fine with streaming for now, though building a collection is always a good time watchin' out for all the heads that enjoyed the dls peaceee SOME FOLKS LOOK FOR ANSWERS OTHERS LOOK FOR FIGHTS I can tell your future Look what's in your hand But I can't stop for nothing I'm just playing in the band
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I, too, must profess my guilt. I downloaded the hairball when I should've been streaming it. I just wanna be able to listen to the hairball on my iPod or my home stereo system! Maybe I can find someone with AUD tapes for trade...
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

it's all a grey area, and it's important to keep that in mind, Truth is, the recordings are so valued to us fans. And we feel the need to collect, simply for preservation, as well as enjoyment. Thank god album releases such as shakedown and terrapin are not the only record of the band in the late 70's because frankly, there might be a lot less fans if so! The shows were an outlet for the band to create the music that best described them, and there is clearly an apitite for it, even in 2007. Found in the Liner notes of DP4, (correct me if I am wrong) Dick Latvala writes, in february of 1970, the band would record and listen to the shows after playing them, providing feedback, and playing an integral part of the growth of the changing sound of the time. Who is to say, allowing access to the music now, couldn't contribute to a new successful artist that could touch us all? there is enough negitivity out there, lets not due it to our selves.
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Your tie-in between Ed's hairball and the "Great Lily Allen" is absolutely brilliant! Oh Ed, PLEASE PLEASE put your hairball in the Lily Allen thread too! Then we can continue developing her setlist of caterwauling great hits. Perhaps Rhino should sign HER, then she'd get over 500 posts about how it sucks, and thus some publicity.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

CORPORATE GREED!!!! What a loss and complete bunch of BS when you can go to archive or many other places to seed shows.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

I am trying to picture myself back in the 80's when my buddy would bring tapes over for me to copy only now saying "oh, you cannot copy them. You have to sit here and listen only." The shows were allowed to be recorded....allowed to be shared. Jerry said when they were done with the show we could have it. It is only because of greedy folk does this stuff happen. I certainly do not remember greed as part of the atmosphere at any show. This site sucks now. Later.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'm done with cat horking for now. I'm tired of it, so I imagine others might be too. I posted the URL for all the cat .wav files, so if anyone else is familiar with HTML, maybe they can post the stuff in the Lilly Allen thread. There is lot's of caterwauling available! I've never heard Lilly Allen's work, so I can't really comment about her.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

... but come on guys. True, a Dead stream is still better than the junk you get from the rest of the net, but being able to play them on a stereo with proper sound (which is what the Dead are all about, I thought) was really something! Why fix something that ain't broke? This site is brilliant, I love it. But I only registered as a user today to say what a sorry move this was. The streaming, not my registering.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

only voted 1 star cause 0 wasn't an option.weak excuse. everyone knows you can download MP3's.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Ed PLEASE reconsider. Don't let the cats be a one hit wonder. You are sitting on a gold mine! Does this mean tonight's show is cancelled? I was looking forward to the " Cat Purring" breakout.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Thank you indeed for taking the time to share all of this wonderful music with the fans. I love the idea of getting to listen to choice selections picked by the vault master himself, based on particular weeks in the history of the Dead. Very enjoyable.I too, like so many others, am disappointed we can no longer download the music. I could be wrong, but I believe this is soley Rhino driven. Big business has once again reared its ungly head... I buy every Dead release that comes out. I love hearing anything new, entire shows from days past, and even compilations of various unreleased material, be it live or otherwise. Please be assured, Mr. Bigs at Rhino, you are not losing any of that all-American-almighty-dollar from me by allowing me to download the music that I love and enjoy so much. Please don't be stingy. Bring back the mp3!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I would first like to apologize to the dead horse I am about to flog... ...now...Did anyone notice that when the "Streaming MP3's" were available, their file sizes were listed right next to the songs themselves. Now the files are "Streaming Windows Media or Quicktime" the file sizes are gone. I'd like to note that if you would like us to believe that you didn't know that we were downloading that you should put the file sizes back next to the streaming song links. I'm just sayin'... | I'm just a, well...porpoise. |
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

Regarding those 17 stages of heartbreak - I'm at one of the last ones {I think} - It's called acceptance. I don't want to lie down and take it, but what can we do except voice our collective disapproval/disgust?That doesn't seem to be doing much, either. "I guess It Doesn't Matter Anyway..." I am glad I did get what I could, which was everything up until last week, and that I saved it all on the hard drive. This is because last night I accidentally erased my whole 80 gig ipod. If I had counted on this always being here, I would have been one unhappy camper. David, please talk some sense into Rhino - I can't stream this stuff at work, and I don't think I have the capability at home because I run Linux. We're not burning discs and running around selling them, and there should be enough stuff that will eventually be released that we all would buy. A very wise man once said something to the effect of, "Once we've played the music, we're done with it..." Apparently now that he's gone, you guys aren't done with it.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

I am also guilty of downloading and then listening to the music. Streaming doesn't always seem to work as MP3 with me - and I'm not too tech savvy either. However, I don't copy and sell/trade the music. It's only with me and I erase many of the tunes due to questionable quality or lack of interest in listening to a piece of music again. Personally I would buy/trade complete shows. Bits and pieces in the trader section are only for my personal use and what difference is it if I download and then instead of coming back to this website to re-listen to a tune simply clicking on the tune on my PC? It whets my appetite and make me want to buy a whole show and I think that is what a lot of us deadheads are interested in. The comment that a group of us (who download the music) are spoiling it for other people seems a bit harsh and uncalled for. Remember, and it was stated in an earlier comment, the dead fan base will probably not grow - the fan base is what it is now. It would probably be best to come to a compromise as oppose to alienating your fan base. gary
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Wow...this stinks. I discovered this site and the taper section about a month ago. Yes, I was downloading them...hey, they were MP3s...thats what they are for, right??? I hadn't listened to the dead much for several years...I have my share of DPs and the Vaults but they were occasional. Suddenly I'm getting these handpicked nuggets and find myself listening to them all day at work on the iPod. But this has been going on since November? Crikey! I've missed a lot. Does anyone have these hosted anywhere or would be willing to burn them on a CD? Email me at greid at nc.rr.com if you can help me out.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

1-Rhino sunk all their money into a DYING area of media. Satelite Radio has lost MILLIONS of dollars over the last 2 years. CARS ARE BEING BULIT WITH MP3 JACKS IN THEM!!! NO ONE WANTS TO PAY TO LISTEN TO RADIO!!!! Another STUPID move by Rhino.... 2-They are more concearned with creating a new fan base for the Grateful Dead. HARDCORE FANS DON'T BUY DP'S ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEM ALL, THEY WANT NEW $$$ Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Mac users will see that these "streams" will download as Quicktime movies which can still be used in iTunes and that whole family. They download quicker than the old mp3 format. From someone who remembers preNapster live archives and a few GD live sites that were around, this is the last schnizzle of the GD legacy and the Profound Wise Ones have limited the music to a trickle. If anyone really wanted this vast storehouse-they have it - as when Jerry + Co. were active all this was spread around. Only the format has changed (some). The one great thing Rhino has produced was the GD movie soundtrack which was sonically superior to ANYTHING ever released much less a truncated mp3. The teats have run dry-Use yer heads!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Blah Blah Blah, Yadiyadiyadi. Is this over yet, or should I stay tuned till next week and hear this bull all over again? Some are a little entertaining though. I hope that I spelled everything ok.
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

First off, I'd just like to say thank you David for all the very enjoyable Taper's Section postings since last November. I've read every one of these informative jems, and it was always the highlight of my Mondays. But I must confess, I too am one of those "certain fans" that downoaded all the mp3's in the TS postings. I found the sound quality to be quite decent, and the convenience was very much appreciated. Having said that, I would like to respectfuly ask a few questions. 1. What's so wrong about offering mp3 downloads in the Taper's Section? I've been reading the postings in this forum for the past few weeks in which some fans are just fine with change to streaming (when it works), and others are outright pissed. But I have yet to read and explanation of WHY the mp3 downloads were a problem at all. Did Rhino somehow feel they were losing revenue? Or potential revenue even? I can assure you that they were not missing out on any revenue from me, and probably many others as well. I've purchased hundreds of dollars worth of GD CD's, videos, and downloads, and I will continue to do so. The downloadable mp3's didn't discourage me in any way about wanting to buy more GD mercandise. If anything, it made me want to buy MORE. Also, I do not feel that I am somehow entitled to the Grateful Dead's music just because I am a long time fan, but it sure was a nice gesture of kindness to have those fresh mp3's every Monday. So why the change of heart? 2. Have we reached the point with the Grateful Dead's music that none of it should be had for free? I realize and respect the fact that the Dead's music is their property and they have every right to do with it what they please. But some of the changes that have taken place in regards to access of the music over the past couple of years seem very alien to what the whole Dead community is, or at least was. Was archive.org really that much of a threat to the income of GDM? And if so, what's next? Are the bit torrent downloaders next on the hit list? I've also noticed that GDlive is now gone, which, in all honesty, may or may not be the fault of GD/Rhino. But it does make me wonder. And was it really that much of a problem that people downloaded the mp3's from the Taper's Section? What did you think poeple were going to do with these except just enjoy them? 3. And finally, why are Deadheads getting the silent treatment from Rhino? I understand that selling the Vault was a major deal, and I'm sure it's a big job getting things in order, but there has been absolutely no word from Rhino about any future developments or releases of GD material. Why? What purpose does it serve to give the cold shoulder to the most loyal fanbase in the history of music? Does Rhino think this is going to build anticipation? Do they care at all about what we think? It's very confusing, and a bit alienating to Deadheads. How about wetting our appetites with some info, a tease, or something to get us excited about the GD's future with Rhino. A little communication from Rhino would go a long way towards fostering goodwill and making Deadheads feel better about this whole undertaking. I will always be a deadicated fan of the Grateful Dead, and nothing is ever going to change that, but there does seem to be a lot of changes happening in regards to how the Dead's music is being handled without any reason being given as to why. I know that no one in the GD/Rhino management owes us an explanation, but it sure would be nice if we were given one, if for no other reason then to keep things open and positive. Otherwise the result is a flood of harsh criticism and angry comments like what we've seen over the past few weeks. And that doesn't do anybody any good. The whole GD scene works as a symbiotic relationship, one that's been going strong for over 40 years now. I sure would like to see it stay a healthy one. Thanks again David.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Why?? Why did the tapers section downloads have to stop? Did corporate greed take over everything we felt dearly to. I know everyone wants have a cash flow in but this is ridiculous when you can go archive, Bt-etree and numerous other sites for music. This wasn't whole shows but nuggets -- but wait some corporate Rhino person pitched some lame presentation that showed giant $ graphics that you can make all this money based on the download traffic for tapers section. Thank you for selling out and let alone not let the Tapers section program be what it was meant to be!!!!!!! (Not against you D.L. just these corporate greedy guys marketing some charts to pinch every penny possible out of us - BTW thanks for the nuggets) BTW I will never support this Rhino effort if this is the way all decisions are going to be made based on increasing cash flows in at the expense of the fans. It's another Archive Part II. Hopefully the fans will be heard and bring tapers section back! I have two words for Rhino and they AREN'T Happy Birthday! Go Archive and other great sites. The music never stopped.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Here's a very interesting article about how "members of the organised music cartel, are slowly grasping the message that DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control isn’t only dumb, it’s bad for business." http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13195 Apparently the news hasn't hit Rhino yet!
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

richthephotog said: "Regarding those 17 stages of heartbreak - I'm at one of the last ones {I think} - It's called acceptance." The "17 stages of heartbreak" was in an old Matt Groening Life in Hell comic strip. And the last stage was: "ready for further punishment." I think that about sums it up.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Are they involved with this site on any level? I mean Bobby, Phil, Mickey...Billy, or Kid, Sue, Eileen...anybody still around or is this a facade, the logo is the same but what about the people....did they all get off the bus? I feel sometimes like a kindergartener who rides the same bus every day and trusts the local bus driver and when suddenly one day it pulls up the door opens and there is a stranger behind the wheel...
user picture

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

I am simply writing here to echo the sentiment of others in hopes that someone who may be making decisions about this site and the future of the music of the Dead may read this. Indeed, since this site was born and the mp3's became available, my appetite was renewed, my energy invigorated, and a sense of community re-awakened. Having these tasty nuggets of music from David downloaded to my iTunes, led to me spending more money on Dead products in the last year than I have since Jerry died. Besides that, because I was coming to the site enjoying the music, I wound up putting up posts, sharing photos, looking at old set lists again, remembering shows with others, etc.... I was feeling the energy being re-born!!! As someone who was once a retailer, I agree that what was created here was what seemed like a genuine acknowledgment of the community as well as a wonderfully conceived marketing plan to awaken our interest and invigorate the community. Whether planned as such or not, it "was" brilliant indeed as it was working for me and many others and any good marketing mind should recognize this. The feeling that is left now is one of the veil being pulled on the wizard behind the curtain. It is kind of like waking up from a dream. Feeling like I was in this blissful daze of remembering the good times, remembering why I spent 10 years of my life traveling and seeing shows and spending so much money on this magical entity known as the Grateful Dead - and now feeling like - oh that is over or is it? Is what was being born here a new road of community and avenue to re-discover the music again - or is this all simply for the profits of some big corporation that does not understand who I am and why I would come here in the first place? Not sure of this answer and I believe how Rhino and the GD respond to what is happening here will for sure shape that for me and many others. Hope y'all catch on before hearts are broken beyond repair. I for one would love to see a vibrant happy community again that continues to grow, expand, and gives us the space to continue to share pictures, memories, and, of course, music! Waiting for a miracle, Brother A ps Coming from a conflict resolution background, and knowing how intelligent but yet emotional and sensitive dead fans are, I believe the "client" needs to hear and apology before they can hear anything else. Trying to offer a "treat" after a "slap" does not always win back the trust and affection of the other party. It sometimes takes heartfelt sincerity and communication.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

I agree with many other posts I've read today. The explanation is very flimsy at best and it seems to have a tone of "did you really expect this to last forever? are you stupid?" I also think though that Rhino is unable/unwilling to adapt like other music labels in the area of digital content. I'm probably generalizing, but no one really wants to sit in front of their computer and stream audio - computer speakers typically suck and this method does nothing for the person who wants to listen in the car, at work, at the gym, etc. Just my $0.02 - I'm undecided on whether I'll purchase any of these alleged forthcoming CDs. I agree that the community has no right to free MP3s, but the way they were unceremoniously removed and the way the explanation was conveyed, has left a bad taste...
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

the more pig the better. Once again thanks david. As I was looking for the bob dylan taper section to stream his live music archive I found none. After looking to locate the allman brothers site that streamed free live shows I found none. Same is true of almost all of the bands/artists that I love. I was not allowed to take home the monet I saw at the museum either. But you have continued to deliver each and every monday and for this I thank you. and let me speak for my friends, brothers and sisters who LOVE the Grateful Dead - This music brings us together and we love you for sharing what you have to share. If sometimes WE don't get it - fucks on us! You don't owe us a thing. We owe you are appreciaton. BLESS YOU!!!
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

About that Monet you saw at the museum - Were you allowed to take a photograph of it?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Isn't it kind of a sin to deal in Mp3 anyway? Who ever reached 'new sonic highs' on that format? Thanks fo putting the section together; it is fun for quick bits and bites.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Hi all, I'm a new deadhead (hence the username) of 19 years and have never been to a Grateful Dead concert in my life. You can say I've never fully experienced what it truly means to be a "Deadhead", which is why I scour the net for as many of these experiences that I can find. This website has truly helped me in a lot of ways. But I think I am one of those "certain fans" as well... I only recently finally found the Taper's Section a month ago. After I downloaded the songs for that corresponding week I was left unsatisfied. I opted to go back through the previous weeks and pick up what I had missed, whatever looked interesting. I apologize if my actions caused any problems with the "system". I hope you do not see my actions as a blow against your corporation. I merely wished to learn about and become familiar with all this amazing music. I am not on the best financial terms at the moment, so it's hard for me to purchase official releases all the time. Everything is expensive. But I do what I can with what I have and finally bought my first "DP" volume (and am looking for more!), which was not a waste of money by any means. I do not regret spending the money. In addition, I intend to continue purchasing more of these excellent releases until my collection is satisfied. I appreciate the time you've put into this wonderful commodity, and I'm sad to see it "go". I enjoyed what you had to say about the music you chose to give us. I feel I now have a greater understanding of the Dead's music and history. However, it is foolish to post mp3 files and expect no one to download them. In fact, when I'd click the link for a certain song, the only choice I was give was to download them. I was given no option to stream (not that I would've streamed anyway: streams are far more repulsive to my ears than mp3 and are almost completely unlistenable with the ever-present "digital rumble" throughout). I am grateful for what I've gotten and I hope someone at Rhino sees the light and the joy of this music and the amazingly cool fans and gives us back the mp3 downloads. Or at least give us an option in the future. Thanks for everything. Thanks for giving new life to an old legacy.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

This was always too good to be true, but it was always exactly what the grateful dead were about. I would feel really heartbroken if you guys down in the control room there were to shut this down because we (the people who Jerry spoke so fondly of in every interview I've ever heard, the people who Bob and Phil and Bill and Mickey and Brent and Keith and Donna And Pigpen all spoke so fondly about) are downloading what you`ve put out their for our own musical enjoyment to download and copy to cd and play in our car on our way to work. Alot of us never got a chance to download much from GDLIVE.com or here, and I still have about 1000 maxell XLII cassette tapes in my garage right now, and I love them sooo much, I was cleaning out the other and couldn't dare even think about throwing them out. I was so excited to think I could start rebuilding my collection on cd's with these awesome mp3 you've been putting up and which we are allllll so GRATEFUL for!!!We always be able to go back to trading Maxell XLII's but those days seem to have died with Jerry. This was the grateful Dead's way of once again being the leader of a new phase, Remember the wall of sound?!?!?!?! Remember when the Allman Brotheres said you guys can tape but you cant transfer ftp files to trade our music, The dead were once again the innovators of this new way of having control over the music they chose to share with their fans. Please don't decide that it's detrimental loss but rather maybe choose well what you decide to share. I recall the first few taper's section's had far fewer files each week, and I think you were having so much fun you might have got carried away and decided to just pour em out. well you can always be more selective about what you put out, after all, We all had so many of the dick's pick's on tape when they released em and maybe they weren't from the vault but what are you going to do?! sell us every show from the vault on an official release ???? I don't think so. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell everyone about www.wolfgangsvault.com (there might be a mispelling) It's stuff you listen to from bill graham present's from 65 onward. Long Live the GRATEFUL GOD DAMN DEAD!!!!! Hand me my old guitar and pass the whiskey 'round. Matt
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

I could take a photo of it, or any other masterpiece the museum displays (which they do with their rules and restrictions that I also choose to respect) However, I would liken that to using a tape deck and microphone to "tape" the music as it streams from the computer speakers (which we could still do.). With respect- Drewstar11
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

The simple fact is that IF Rhino knew their deadhead market, they would know that mp3s are a second best for us. No trading takes place in that format (that I know of) and we always want the best sound quality for whatever we get. So the mp3s acted as a taster for people for shows they hadn't heard before. Show becomes available. They buy. Instead, an alienated market who will turn their backs on Rhino. Me? I live in England, and Rhino's postal charges, up THREE times on GDM's mean I won't buy a single thing from them. And I'm looking on the shelves above my desk at the entire commercial output of the Dead, bar some really sucky 80s and 90s shows (exit, stage left, ducking ;-> ). Essentially, UNLESS it was a copyright problem (in which case they would have told us, surely), then it was a dumb thing to do. Way to go, Rhino. JP, The Limey Bastard :-)