Grateful Dead

originals can command high prices on the used market and they sound great-my original, long-lost copy was mono.

Still have my original mono copu but will look to get the 180 gram issue

I guess it would have been 1969 that I bought a used portable stereo record player from a friend at college, and he threw in three albums with the deal: The Grateful Dead, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and The Hobbits. 2 out of 3 becoming timeless classics isn't bad. The record player is long gone... ~ I'll meet you some morning in the sweet by and by

my original very scratchy mono copy...

I bought this the first day it came out, in what in England were called "Underground Record shops"!. St. Patrick's Day I guess. I gave it to my brother-in-law to look after when I was away for a while, and the bugger sold it thinking I didn't want it!

how much this mono release will cost used by the end of the year ... 27 years ago I had one chance to get the original album but in stereo. It was the first pressing though since the label was in gold. Warner Brothers were celebrating something and the records released in the Spring of 1967 had golden labels before going back to the grey ones. I guess a mono copy with golden label must be worth A LOT. The copy 27 years ago was sold at an Swedish auction and was in mint condition. My top bid was 275 SEK (USD 43,30 today) but it finally went for 660 SEK (USD 103,90 today). Not much today and perhaps not much 27 years ago either. 660 SEK then is like 1500 SEK today. Micke Östlund, Växjö, Sweden ------------------------------ My record collection: jazzmicke

How bout a digital mono version? Or does one already exist?

I am so f**king tired of seeing "Limited Edition" attached to releases I could scream.

If the Limited Edition helps independent record stores then I am all for it. I miss the days of going to a record store to buy my music.

I stopped in to my local store and reserved one for Saturday the 16th. Trust me, these will be limited, as I was told they might get 7or 8 copies. There will also be limited pressings of Country Joe's "Electirc Music" and "Safe at Home" by the International Submarine Band, among others. Early bird gets the vinyl!

That may seem like a dumb question, but Record Store Days occur quite frequently and each time there are quite a few seemingly very tasty limited edition releases which are often limited to a mere 300 copies. However, literally months later they are still being offered new by the stores so it would seem that only a couple of hundred people find these delights interesting enough to purchase. That said, there are some real gems produced and those that do buy them are undoubtedly delighted that the record companies took the trouble to produce them. Personally I hope they keep doing this but I am not very optimistic when I see that so many such releases do not sell out in a short period of time.

We got the stereo version - which I consider to be a very tasteful, simple mix that is enjoyable - but getting the mono version as well (which I've never heard) would have been nice, especially since the set included the original Aoxomoxoa mix. Of course, The Doors vinyl set included the mono mix of the debut LP and it's not all that popular (although I like it).

The implementation of the way this is run is flawed. The last few record store days I was totally shut out of the items I wanted (with the exception of 1). I really want this LP, but because of the limited status and the trumped up demand due to RSD, this may be a hard to find item. How much you want to bet, that you will see a lot of copies on ebay going for double or triple the price. I don't need a RSD to make me buy music, I do that nearly weekly. All RSD does is create "pandemonium" where it otherwise would not exist. I understand that it helps get people back into the independent record store, yet the stores get limited stock, with people running every which way when they open the doors to try and score the limited edition items. I just wish this could be purchased "normally". I'm sure the 3,000 limited copies would still sell and it would create less of a panic to get them.

I got a call yesterday from Pitchfork Records (Concord, NH) telling me that they had indeed received a small supply of this most Holy Grail and that a copy was reserved for me if I still wanted it. @$22 is the price I was told, and he will only sell one copy per customer because of the e:bay mongers. Apparently there were 40 or so people behind me who were on a waiting list.

Little did I know when I bought the album that the band would become such a part of rock history. My favorite cut was "Morning Dew" and it is still one of their best songs. As an old Head I believe the pre-1970 albums are unequaled for originality and intensity...I still have the original copies I bought back when. If I remember correctly, mono albums sold for $3.98 and stereo went for a dollar more. As for being the first album...memory tells me the Dead put out a live album on Sunshine or Sunrise Records from the same time, maybe beforehand, with the whole second side being Midnight Hour. It may have been from the Warlocks and just renamed. Does anyone else remember this album? My copy was stolen one New Year's Eve along with a first edition "Freak Out" and a first edition "Double White".

and I must say, it sounds amazing. I am listening to Morning Dew.....WOW!! The mix is perfect, and I venture to say that they spent more time on this than they did on the box set stereo version. I understand why people are upset that this wasn't included in the box set, but this mono set was super rare even when it was released and only pressed once (as far as I know), so it makes since to make it limited. Mono nowadays is such a niche market that to make it available in large quantities doesn't make much sense, at least to me.

Picked this up this morning. There were 30 people in line ahead of me over an hour and a half before Harvest Records opened. To me, this was the holy grail of Record Store Day limited releases. They got 6 copies in, and I was lucky enough to pick one up before they were gone. This is a beautiful beautiful beautiful mix. Sounds incredible. And I'm so glad I was able to get it!

I got to my local store about 30 minutes before it opened - I would guess they had 8 copies - I got one. Question for those who have opened it - Is there a booklet of some kind included? I planned on just leaving mine sealed - I have an unsealed Anthem that I bought about 35 years ago. I don't want to play this one on the turntable I have.

keep it sealed

"I am so f**king tired of seeing "Limited Edition" attached to releases I could scream"I could not agree more. Apparently I did not realize how "limited" this was as I went to 3 record stores in Omaha who all were sold out. I'm trying to give you my money, but you won't let me!!! A strange business model to be sure. Seriously? What gives? Grateful Dead, LTD?

I managed to get a copy and it sounds great. I'm sorry for those of you who didn't, but sometimes we all get shut out. The "business model" (such as it is) is to create a buzz that makes us all go out and support our record stores on one day set aside to call attention to them. They are fading away. This day is more about the stores than it is about the fans, I guess. Maybe there will be a consolation for the rest in the future. I'm not sure how involved the Grateful Dead were in this.

I'm with allman on this one....

In fact, I shop in some nice independents all year long. Lucky to have some great ones like the Antiquarium and Homers here in Omaha, NE. However, I can't buy something that isn't there!!! I also understand the supply/demand curve. Supply goes down and price goes up...for ebay sellers!!! Price remains constant for record stores and Rhino. Check out link to find out who benefits from limited edition. http://cgi.ebay.com/Grateful-Dead-Record-Store-Day-12-vinyl-lp-mono-sea…

As someone who lives in Europe, my initial reaction was "Dammit, no way can I visit a record store in the States". However it didn't take long to discover that any number of the participating stores also have websites and these limited edition Record Store Day releases are there to buy online. Pre-order is also possible. Arguably this goes against the spirit of the concept, but it does mean that people like me can get hold of these gems. For those who have failed to get what they wanted from their local record store, get surfing and the chances are good that what you want is still out there somewhere. Seek and you shall find. As for weird business models, I don't think this is about record companies or musicians - it is about supporting real record stores. Selling a limited edition of a few hundred or a few thousand copies will do no harm to a record company or to a band or musician, though the record company may not make any profit here. The idea is to raise awareness that record stores do exist and they are generally nice places to spend time browsing in. In the end this can only benefit everyone - the record stores, the record companies, the musicians and the punters who want these releases. From the posters here who have just got the Dead's first album in mono it would seem that everyone is very happy with the whole thing. The only complainers are those that failed to get a copy. Whilst I feel for them, there will always be some losers when it comes to limited editions. One has to look no further than the posts on this site about a certain not-yet-released limited edition mega-box to realise that.

I've worked in an independent record store for over 20 years, and have watched the sales trends rise and fall during that period--mainly attributable to the development of digital music as the primary delivery format. We were able to stock just one copy of "Grateful Dead" in mono on RSD, and I was the clerk for that LP's sale--to a young man who was very happy to purchase it. The LP was pressed on Rhino, who also issued a vinyl exclusive of Television "Live at the Old Waldorf," previously only available as a CD on Rhino Handmade. Record Store Day is a neat way for the buying public to have a reason to patronize music stores all over the US. I felt extremely satisfied with the turnout at our store Saturday. We had a lot of good records for sale--used, new and RSD exclusives, along with breakfast food, sandwiches and coffee for our customers, live music and an awesome "meet & greet" with Slug & Ant from Minnesota hip-hop group Atmosphere. The customers represented a wide variety of age range, both new and regulars, and there truly was something for everyone! There is nothing wrong with not getting an exclusive release, especially when you can see the joy in the face of the one who did get it. BTW, I was finally able to buy a used gold label Warner Bros. copy of the debut album (albeit in stereo) this past week--something I've wanted to add to my collection for over 30 years. I was also happy to purchase an RSD exclusive 7" picture disc of Built to Spill covering "Ripple" and a double LP set of Vanguard Records "lost" psychedelic era, after the store closed and the customers were finished looking through the stacks. Record Store Day is a positive experience, as is just shopping at an independent record store. I'm grateful to the customers, artists, record labels and the Coalition of Independent Music Stores for making this annual event so successful. Merci!

Makes me "A Happy Camper"

I scored my copy at the second store I hit yesterday. One interesting note, there is a sticker on the front of my copy which says it was pressed by The Pallas Group in Germany not RTI which is in California. Big River you don't happen to work at the Electric Fetus, nice store. I scored my copy at Cheapo in St Paul MN.

It is surprising to hear that this was pressed by The Pallas Group in Germany - simply because the blurb at the top of the page actually takes the trouble to state that it was pressed by RTI. While (as a European) I have never heard of RTI, I can assure you that The Pallas Group has a very good reputation for their high-quality pressings. They press many audiophile vinyl releases for top-end labels and are frequently credited for it, whereas albums pressed at the Acme Recycling Corp. are rarely credited (and rightly so).

to hear that one of the two top stores in our town had 200 plus customers enter the store as it opened Saturday morning - the buzz was still happening when I went today. They sold all seven copies they ordered. Cool. " Where does the time go? "

Photomatt--yes, I work at the Fetus, but the one in St. Cloud--up the "big river" from the flagship store in Minneapolis. We're about a tenth of the size of the mothership, but magic still happens at our store. I had a great experience Saturday when an old friend, and 90's Dead companion came in with another woman. My friend introduced me to her as her daughter she gave up for adoption 20 years ago. They recently connected on a social network--mom went to San Francisco to meet daughter--and hit it off all too well. The eerie part was mom has had a green "Dancing Bear" tattoo on her ankle and the daughter had a green "Dancing Bear" tattoo on her wrist! Congrats on getting your mono LP! If you're ever up in the Cloudy town, come check out our little enclave of independence.

....that the folks at Rhino make the mono mix available as a download or on CD? I would think that would satisfy the 'exclusivity clause' because it was the vinyl format that was limited.

i'm really sorry for those who hate limited editions. i do understand, but personally i love them. one of the records i wanted was the big star one, but i gather it flew off the shelf everywhere, and is going for big bucks on ebay. i was told it was mastered from the analogue tapes, not a digital source. i wasnt able to get to my local store, so i called sunday, and as luck would have it they still had the deads mono in stock. paid over the phone. cant wait to go pick it up! anyway folks, keep supporting your local record stores!!!!