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    clayv
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    “It has some of the first things I’ve written, and that we’ve performed as a band, that in my opinion are genuinely beautiful...We were in the studio, creating this thing, pullin’ together, and because we managed to get off under those circumstances the music has a certain quality.” - Jerry On American Beauty

    "I listened to the album two or three times that night just taking it in, living in its world, and loving it, trying to understand what this feeling was. It wasn’t happy, nor was it sad. Yet, it reflected the presence and possibility of every emotion in the rainbow, and the recording was unbelievable. The talent and musicianship were undeniable. The lyrics melted my mind." - Jim James, My Morning Jacket

    "A complete contentment shines through the vocal work on this album. A full contentment. The instrumentation is rich with sound that moves through, under, and into the listener. Damn it all, the album is American beauty, of the best possible kind. The positivity of the Dead just can’t be kept down. Look at the cover. 'American Beauty' can also be read as 'American Reality,' thanks to Mouse Studios. If more of the American reality were this album, we’d all have a lot more to be thankful for." - Andy Zwerling, Rolling Stone, December 24, 1970

    We are thankful to be here today celebrating the Grateful Dead's most lauded studio masterpiece with a 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION. Available on October 30th, the three-CD set will feature the original album with newly remastered audio, plus one of the most requested archival recordings in the Dead's vault - the unreleased concert recorded on February 18, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. On stage that night, the Dead debuted a whole new batch of songs, five in all: “Wharf Rat,” “Playing In The Band,” “Bertha,” “Greatest Story Ever Told” and “Loser.” Fans were also treated to a few standbys from the previous decade, including “St. Stephen” and an inspired “Dark Star>Wharf Rat>Dark Star” jam. Notably, keyboardist Ned Lagin (who played piano on “Candyman” on American Beauty) sat in with the band for the show. It's all been mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser. How about that!

    The show has been mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer David Glasser, with speed correction and tape restoration by Plangent Processes.

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  • MadDoc
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    No booklet w/download

    I got the FLAC download, there was no digital booklet.

    Also, the second track of the Port Chester show, "Truckin'" was a 16 bit file, not 24 bit. The rest of the files were correct. I've contacted support, but you know how that goes.

  • BigDeadFan
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    digital booklet?

    does digital download include digital booklet?

  • hendrixfreak
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    Received AB 50th, there's hope

    I listened only to Box of Rain and this remaster is an ear-opener. Rich and lush sounding.

    Then I had to go straight to the 2-18-71 show and boy oh boy, the band went out that night to rock and they did so in fine fashion. The energy and musicianship is high and -- it's early '71!

    When you get yours, you'll be happy. This is a grade A+ release in my book. Yes, they passed up opportunities for more closely related shows to WD and AB, BUT I suspect that the rare '70 shows are being held back to provide excitement in future releases. And we did get the Angel's Share, which I have yet to spin.

    I say 2021 will see the release of the Wake of the Flood 50th. They ain't waiting til 2023. Nor am I!

  • Dennis
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    My tracking thing-y

    says eat shit and die. Luckily Dap 36 is here, so I won't starve. :-)

    That 36 is some good shit.

  • hendrixfreak
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    Wonders never cease...

    So the tracking thing-y sez my AB 50th is due at my door today. Hopefully in good condition.

    So it made it from Newark, New Jersey to Denver, Colo in one day, following a 5-day trip from Calif to NJ.

    Amazing routing! Amazing service! And now, let me be amazed by the music. Very keen to hear AB once again in pristine form and will rock tonight to the live show, if it arrives as suggested.

    Yes, Mr. Ones, maybe the "tracking" is just playing with our minds. Every post office has a room where they get stoned and harbor undelivered Dave's Picks as they laugh and laugh... (Okay, getting a little delirious...)

  • simonrob
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    Great...

    This is great. Just like the Workingman's 50th reissue the remastered studio album is really good sounding, the best that I have heard (but I haven't heard the Mobile Fidelity versions). The live show, 2/18/71 is wonderful. If I have any criticism of this show it is regarding some of Ned Lagin's contributions (I think). This manifests itself as a high pitched tinkling on the left channel. At first I thought it was cymbals but I finally came to the conclusion it was Ned. I may be wrong and feel free to correct me if you know better. I found that it kept grabbing my attention in a detrimental way. Apart from that I thought that the performance was great. Now the long wait for Wake of the Flood 50th. 2020 has been a good year on dead.net.

  • Jack Baller
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    Lucky Lager Dance Hall Time?

    Wow. Love this bonus show.

    Realized during the banter before Casey Jones that I had this tape back in the day and wore it out.

    Love Phil in his best Foghorn Leghorn voice: "I don't think it goes down any farther that that!"

    Also realized how much I now regret tossing all my cassettes and tape player into the dumpster at the behest of my now ex-wife. (Sigh)

    Is this also the show where Phil talks about "Lucky Lager Dance Hall time"? If so, it's unfortunate that his wonderful comment didn't make it onto the release.

    (Yes, I know I could listen to this show on Archive to figure it out, but crowd-sourcing is the way to go on this one...)

    EDIT: Answering my own question, yes it is..

  • ldraznin
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    Damaged product

    My copy came yesterday. So excited! Opened my package and found that the jewel case has been smashed to bits. Now so disappointed!

    This is the second product ordered this fall to come to me damaged. I’m still waiting on a promised replacement of the June 1976 box set. I’ve emailed gnarlyworld and have yet to receive a response other than the system generated ticket number email....

    Frustrated and upset....these are expensive items.

  • amvenute
    Joined:
    Trade Dave's For American Beauty

    They did the same to me...I already received DP #36 as I am a yearly subscriber...I e-mailed them and they opened a ticket so I am in hell with you.I unfortunately don't have anything to trade you!

  • Mr. Ones
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    SIMONROB/HendrixFreak

    Simon, I was also surprised, but only a little, that there was no lenticular cover for AB 50. After looking at all 5 anniversary editions, I see that AB & 1st album are not lenticular, but have SOMETHING special(GD has foil cover art on O-card, AB embossed as stated). My theory is that the 1st and now AB do not really lend themselves to a lenticular, due to the cover art, whereas AOTS, Aoxo, & WD artwork responds in a fantastic way to the lenticular art. So, based on my "theory", WOTF should probably NOT have a lenticular cover, although it's a long wait to find out.

    HendrixFreak, I just last week received a package in Maryland that started in KY, then Pittsburgh PA, then Looong wait, only to see it in LA after 18 days. It took another 9 days, but FINALLY arrived. The USPS is TRYING to drive us "older" folks crazy!! Loving all the new stuff!!

    Music is the best!!

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“It has some of the first things I’ve written, and that we’ve performed as a band, that in my opinion are genuinely beautiful...We were in the studio, creating this thing, pullin’ together, and because we managed to get off under those circumstances the music has a certain quality.” - Jerry On American Beauty

"I listened to the album two or three times that night just taking it in, living in its world, and loving it, trying to understand what this feeling was. It wasn’t happy, nor was it sad. Yet, it reflected the presence and possibility of every emotion in the rainbow, and the recording was unbelievable. The talent and musicianship were undeniable. The lyrics melted my mind." - Jim James, My Morning Jacket

"A complete contentment shines through the vocal work on this album. A full contentment. The instrumentation is rich with sound that moves through, under, and into the listener. Damn it all, the album is American beauty, of the best possible kind. The positivity of the Dead just can’t be kept down. Look at the cover. 'American Beauty' can also be read as 'American Reality,' thanks to Mouse Studios. If more of the American reality were this album, we’d all have a lot more to be thankful for." - Andy Zwerling, Rolling Stone, December 24, 1970

We are thankful to be here today celebrating the Grateful Dead's most lauded studio masterpiece with a 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION. Available on October 30th, the three-CD set will feature the original album with newly remastered audio, plus one of the most requested archival recordings in the Dead's vault - the unreleased concert recorded on February 18, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. On stage that night, the Dead debuted a whole new batch of songs, five in all: “Wharf Rat,” “Playing In The Band,” “Bertha,” “Greatest Story Ever Told” and “Loser.” Fans were also treated to a few standbys from the previous decade, including “St. Stephen” and an inspired “Dark Star>Wharf Rat>Dark Star” jam. Notably, keyboardist Ned Lagin (who played piano on “Candyman” on American Beauty) sat in with the band for the show. It's all been mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser. How about that!

The show has been mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer David Glasser, with speed correction and tape restoration by Plangent Processes.

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I received my shipping notice today for the 3-CD set, so if you have not yet received yours, fear not. I was hoping that it would arrive by Sunday for the 50th anniversary of the album's release, but that doesn't appear to be in the cards.

In the meantime, I'm going to start Halloween weekend off strong with Samhain's Initium and several ounces of fine hooch.

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I always have trouble pulling the trigger on these as I prefer to buy the vinyl versions, and mentally I can’t get over having to pay twice for the same material at the same time. But then there’s the extra show...erghhh. Is it too much too ask to include at least a digital copy of the extra show for those of us who purchase the vinyl?

That said, I just figured out that the new 50th including the extra show is on Spotify. I’m on it now!

Happy Halloween Dead People!

KCJ

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In reply to by mld218

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I have/had the same thing. I couldn't find anything with that 4 digit number. Also the order page seem like it was from the "50th Anniversary Boutique Shop", maybe because we both got the vinyl edition as well. I finally sent an email to customer service yesterday asking about it. Today in email it says it was shipped and had a Post Office tracking number,,, the tracking number had nothing to report, it was too soon. But i did get a "real" tracking number. Here's to good luck for both of us!

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I bought the high def 96/24 download. The second track of the Port Chester show "Truckin" isn't 96/24. I think it's CD quality 16 bit FLAC. I'm not a audio technical sort, but it's a lower bit rate for sure at least according to the tagging software I use.

Why can't Dead.net ever get it right? I'm really wondering. Do I fight with support over this? Is it worth it? Are my burned out old ears good enough to tell the difference? I think I'm going to go into the back yard and contemplate this for a few minutes.

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Really want to read the new notes. Going to get the CD. Thanks so much for the response!

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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...."this better be good." Whelp. Mission accomplished mister.
Phil is pumped up!!
Sounds phantastic! The banter is GOLD.
Fuck yeah!
Just discovered my youngest step-daughter is pregnant.
I'm a grandpa again.

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Anniversary
Hey now today is my 10th anniversary as a member of this forum! It has been so interesting and wonderful to share all these great stories and appreciation of grate music. There was also a time when reading these comments saved me from boredom at work! Thanks for all the inspirational reads over the years.

nitecat

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Hearing it in this new remastering is almost like hearing it for the first time. And like that first time, it choked me up. "Box of Rain," too.

The vocals on this new mastering sound better than ever.

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in the age-old, "where the hell is my order" contest.

AB 50th shipped out of Carlsbad, CA, on Oct 27. On Nov. 2, today, it arrived in Springfield MA.

So instead of dropping it out over Colorado with a parachute or other means, it traveled an extra 2,000 miles to the East Coast and, now, presumably, it will make a U-turn and travel another 2,000 miles back the way it came to reach me. If I'm lucky.

It must be me, but I have a sneaking suspicion this could have been done a tad more efficiently.

However, note that this is my first such debacle (that I'm aware of) in a more than 20 year history ordering GD product. So they've popped my cherry.

Edit: Congrats, Vguy!

I can't complain, always had good service. I am looking forward to both the remaster of AB and the '71 show.

But I've got a roof over my head and my health and ... a shit ton of great music to keep me busy.

Here's looking at Springfield, Mass. -- send that bad boy to Colorado for me, I'll be waiting with open arms.

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Just wanted to give Dave a hardy thank you for finally releasing 2/18/71--and with my favorite Dead album remastered! I look forward to 9/19/70 now seeing the light of day!

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In reply to by hendrixfreak

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Hendrixfreak,
They’re utilizing the boomerang method.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Icecreamed, I actually hope you're right.

My AB 50th pkg just arrived in Jersey City, New Jersey, and has been handed off to the USPS for delivery.

That's one long drive to Colorado. Hope he/she delivers the ballots first.

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In reply to by hendrixfreak

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Are you waiting for vinyl and cd's?

I'm waiting for both and almost no word on either.

Is this gnarlywood/50th boutique only for vinyl?

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The name Gnarlywood is on the box that my copy of Dave's 36 was sent in.

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Awesome! Totally awesome!

I have refused to listen to the Port Chester shows on soundboard for upwards of 10 years knowing the day would come when this run would see its official release. And that decision has paid off in spades. Few shows are better sounding and played than the WMD and AB Port Chester shows.

First time hearing Dark Star/Wharf Rat/Dark Star just happened 10 minutes ago at max volume. Good Heavens man! Thanks Dave, it's High Time again.

Even the occasional rough spots are nice to hear on the new songs because they're finding their way back quickly. Just goes to show you how in tune they were with each other.

I'd love to know how strong the weed was in '71. I imagine they had to smoke quite a bit.

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are frickin awesome. The addition of an unreleased showfrom the era=brilliant. Workingman's and American Beauty, what a pair for a single year, and they are now enshrined on my music shelf.

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Having got used to the lenticular front panel on the O-cards that come with these 50th anniversary releases, I was surprised to see that this release does not have that. Instead it has an embossed version of the central part of the original album cover. Not disappointed, just mildly surprised.

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Hey guys and girls,

Dead.net sent me a second copy of Dave's picks 36 instead of the American Beauty 3CD set. Anyone interested in trading their unopened copy for mine? Please save me from customer service hell.....

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Simon, I was also surprised, but only a little, that there was no lenticular cover for AB 50. After looking at all 5 anniversary editions, I see that AB & 1st album are not lenticular, but have SOMETHING special(GD has foil cover art on O-card, AB embossed as stated). My theory is that the 1st and now AB do not really lend themselves to a lenticular, due to the cover art, whereas AOTS, Aoxo, & WD artwork responds in a fantastic way to the lenticular art. So, based on my "theory", WOTF should probably NOT have a lenticular cover, although it's a long wait to find out.

HendrixFreak, I just last week received a package in Maryland that started in KY, then Pittsburgh PA, then Looong wait, only to see it in LA after 18 days. It took another 9 days, but FINALLY arrived. The USPS is TRYING to drive us "older" folks crazy!! Loving all the new stuff!!

Music is the best!!

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My copy came yesterday. So excited! Opened my package and found that the jewel case has been smashed to bits. Now so disappointed!

This is the second product ordered this fall to come to me damaged. I’m still waiting on a promised replacement of the June 1976 box set. I’ve emailed gnarlyworld and have yet to receive a response other than the system generated ticket number email....

Frustrated and upset....these are expensive items.

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Wow. Love this bonus show.

Realized during the banter before Casey Jones that I had this tape back in the day and wore it out.

Love Phil in his best Foghorn Leghorn voice: "I don't think it goes down any farther that that!"

Also realized how much I now regret tossing all my cassettes and tape player into the dumpster at the behest of my now ex-wife. (Sigh)

Is this also the show where Phil talks about "Lucky Lager Dance Hall time"? If so, it's unfortunate that his wonderful comment didn't make it onto the release.

(Yes, I know I could listen to this show on Archive to figure it out, but crowd-sourcing is the way to go on this one...)

EDIT: Answering my own question, yes it is..

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This is great. Just like the Workingman's 50th reissue the remastered studio album is really good sounding, the best that I have heard (but I haven't heard the Mobile Fidelity versions). The live show, 2/18/71 is wonderful. If I have any criticism of this show it is regarding some of Ned Lagin's contributions (I think). This manifests itself as a high pitched tinkling on the left channel. At first I thought it was cymbals but I finally came to the conclusion it was Ned. I may be wrong and feel free to correct me if you know better. I found that it kept grabbing my attention in a detrimental way. Apart from that I thought that the performance was great. Now the long wait for Wake of the Flood 50th. 2020 has been a good year on dead.net.

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So the tracking thing-y sez my AB 50th is due at my door today. Hopefully in good condition.

So it made it from Newark, New Jersey to Denver, Colo in one day, following a 5-day trip from Calif to NJ.

Amazing routing! Amazing service! And now, let me be amazed by the music. Very keen to hear AB once again in pristine form and will rock tonight to the live show, if it arrives as suggested.

Yes, Mr. Ones, maybe the "tracking" is just playing with our minds. Every post office has a room where they get stoned and harbor undelivered Dave's Picks as they laugh and laugh... (Okay, getting a little delirious...)

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In reply to by Dennis

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I listened only to Box of Rain and this remaster is an ear-opener. Rich and lush sounding.

Then I had to go straight to the 2-18-71 show and boy oh boy, the band went out that night to rock and they did so in fine fashion. The energy and musicianship is high and -- it's early '71!

When you get yours, you'll be happy. This is a grade A+ release in my book. Yes, they passed up opportunities for more closely related shows to WD and AB, BUT I suspect that the rare '70 shows are being held back to provide excitement in future releases. And we did get the Angel's Share, which I have yet to spin.

I say 2021 will see the release of the Wake of the Flood 50th. They ain't waiting til 2023. Nor am I!

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does digital download include digital booklet?

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In reply to by BigDeadFan

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I got the FLAC download, there was no digital booklet.

Also, the second track of the Port Chester show, "Truckin'" was a 16 bit file, not 24 bit. The rest of the files were correct. I've contacted support, but you know how that goes.

I played AB 50th this morning and what a beautiful sound it is. A perfect album to open the day up with. Are the vocals a bit louder than they used to be, and the guitars a bit further back? I'm not sure, but the singers could almost be in the room with you, and the lyrics are crystal clear.
It reminded me, as it unwound, that when I first came across the Dead, in the mid 70s, it was not live shows or live recordings that drew me in, but the officially released albums. I was first attracted by the myth - The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test and all that, then the albums. Living here, on this sceptred isle, going to Dead shows as a lifestyle was not really an option. But the albums....they were to hand every day. And of those, American Beauty and Anthem of the Sun were the jewels in the crown. Well, they all were, up to Blues For Allah-but those two were my favourites.

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Anyone still haven't received their AB50 preorder ? I received a shipping notice on the day of release, I've checked the tracking number a few times and it hasn't moved at all. UPS says they don't have it and it hasn't gotten is USPS yet. Anyone else having the same issue ? My order number was a 4 digit number, not the normal dead.net order numbers.

Thanks
Mike

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In reply to by daverock

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Listened all the way thru this morning and this album is indeed a craftsman-like masterpiece of American music -- and, thus, "world" music if you buy that "America" is the culmination of history.

The clarity of every single element, the lyrics, the melodies, the singing, the licks, the arrangements, the mix and, finally, the fine remastering yields one of those "almost like hearing it for the first time" experiences.

And so close on the heels of the proto-masterpiece WD, an amazing achievement. One that provides deep meaning and hummable tunes all these 50 years later.

My older brother got this in the winter of 1970-71 and we wore out our first vinyl copy, which was replaced several times in the LP era and I've had a number of CD releases. They can stop now. This is it.

For those of you still waiting, you will in time be rewarded.

Did you order the vinyl, with or without the cd's?

I think the vinyl stuff is coming from a different source and we're getting a honed on this.

No proof, just seems the 'gnarlyballs" or whatever they're called are somewhat behind. I bought that "limited", clear vinyl of Joni Mitchell. That came via The Gnarl. Still not here, but tracking number shows forward motion. I assume it's coming, but no real word. I seem to have a tracking number,,, but system acts like it never heard of it.

Still no word on my download issue with AB-angel share?!?! I sorry, but download issues shouldn't exist. You have the files "somewhere",,, get a gdrive for gods sakes!!!

Hoping for the best.

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In reply to by Dennis

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Yes I ordered the limited splatter vinyl and the CD set. The tracking looks like yours with it not knowing it exists.

Received shipping notice on October 30, 2020. Tracking information says "USPS awaiting item". That's on 2 separate orders. I ordered twice because I thought I forgot to order; it's just that the email was from American Beauty 50th Anniversary and I was looking for Grateful Dead store.

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In reply to by Dennis

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Ordered both colored vinyl and cd. With only a 4 digit conf. #.
Rec'd 'it's been shipped' email and nothing else. No hand-off notice, etc.
Both arrived in same package 4 days later in big white pouch. Unharmed...

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... because I've just had so many problems with Dead.net, and Amazon had the AB reissue, so ...

I received my copy the day after it was released. Sounds like some of you who order from Dead.net are still waiting. Sorry to hear that.

If it's any consolation, the remastering is great. I bought this album on lp more than once, bought it 8 track, bought it on CD. Pretty sure this is the last copy I'm going to need.

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In reply to by chloejerrison

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I'd truly forgotten how great this album is. And that despite having bought it 4 times. I suppose I have bypassed the studio albums over the last 20 years or so, but now I have switched my attention back to them.

I wonder, with these 50th Anniverary collections, if they will release any of the solo albums-or even a version of Europe 72 before we get to Wake of the Flood? Garcia's First, Ace and the original version -the 3 L.P. version of Europe 72 are chocka block full of Dead classics that they played throughout their career, but which never made their way on to official Dead studio albums. I seem to remember Robert Hunter saying once in an interview that he felt regretful that the new songs first heard on Europe 72 were never sanctioned by studio releases. So it could be a great tribute to him if theses songs -as heard on Europe 72-could be re-released without the Truckin-Morning Dew jams at the end ( they re best heard as part of the complete shows they came from anyway), but with an additional Fall 72 show on separate discs. I'd buy it.

In the mean time...I never got the Warfield RSD shows when they came out last year-and listening to American Beauty again has put in mind that maybe I should see about them now too.

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Got email this morning, handed off to ups mail innovation. They say a week to get here. The Joni album is coming today. Still no word on the download issue with Angel's Share - AB.

Hurray? About time? Glad it's coming!

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I got a chuckle out of that Vguy, as I wondered what the latest they slept was before they hopped on stage to play. 15 minutes before a gig on an early afternoon show?

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