Grateful Dead

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Great recordings, these two Port Chester shows....throw Three From The Vault back in for a remix....

No, the latest they slept in on an afternoon show was 15 minutes after it started, not 15 minutes before.

10 days in UPS limbo finally here. Guess I shouldn't complain. I ordered the poster, then they said they oversold it and refunded my money. Then sent me the poster. Thanx narly

I would advise against ordering this product.

I initially received an email that my order was out for delivery. However, I did not receive it. I checked and the item had been "Returned to Sender". I contacted the Grateful Dead store and received an email that a ticket had been opened.

However, I have never received any more contacts concerning this item. I have asked for status updates twice but have not received any answers.

This is lousy customer service. I am going to dispute the charge with my credit card company. Once I get my money back, I will never order anything else from this store.

Definitely worth ordering from any other site, though.

So I finally got my order after over two weeks in transit...and the t-shirt, button and stickers are so crappy they seem like bootlegs.
The silkscreen color layers on the shirt are not lined up correctly, making the image look blurry/low-resolution —and to do this with such beautiful art is just a shame.
The stickers are passable but look cheap and “photoshopped” so to speak.
And the button is no different; a low-res mess to look at.

Very disappointed this time around... Good thing its more about the music.
But save your money if you haven’t ordered yet.

I just wish more people than just us dedicated could see these complaints.

We’ll all be back
We’re addicts and Rhino knows it.

But yeah,
AB50 can be found cheaper at other sites.

https://www.dead.net/forum/got-issues-your-store-order

Not sure if they actually read it or care about it.

So I just did a little research and see the company that manufactured the crappy merch for this 50th anniversary release is Gnarlywood group or LLC. And they have dismal ratings out there on the web. Not surprising but I sure hope we never see this company associated with GD merchandise ever again.

All three products arrived yesterday,,,, yeaaaaa.

I have to say the LP's were boxed nicely, very secure. I not hot on envelope mailing, but the stuff was well boxed inside. The picture disc was a picture disc, the colored lp was nice, 180gram heavy for sure. Not sure about how it will sound, but since I still don't have turntable......... Really I just get them to have, even if I had my turntable hooked up, I wouldn't be playing these "fancy" lp's.

Sidenote - received my Joni Mitchell "archive box set". Nice box.

Now if I can get TPTB to get me a correct link for AB - Angel share!!!!!!

OK -- tonight I listened to my original A+++++ Vinyl version of this back to back with this CD reissue. Thoughts:
1. The vocals are definitely clearer on the re-master CD
2. Some of detail on the Vinyl is NOT as clear or prominent on the CD (Piano part on Box of Rain - Candyman) -- given that vocals are usually mixed "centre" - reckon that "centre" only has had some EQ / compression tweaks to make the vocals clearer.
3. My dog really can't hear the difference
4. The remaster is pretty faithful to the quite "soft" sound on the origianl VInyl (for instance go compare "Rocking the Rhine" versus the E72 box set -- the box set has sone very specific EQ to make the drums punchier (7k ish).

On balance the slightly better focused vocals make this remaster very marginally (5%) better than original vinyl.

Nice to have another Port Chester show -- although (like a few people have commented ) Ned Lagin is a distraction -- but the Dark Star Wharf Rat Dark Star is worth the entry price by itself.

Nice one Daverock, I damn near fell out of my chair reading that one.

... after learning about one of my beloved friends since childhood had been taken away to the great big concert in the sky, passed away at his home with along his bed side, living with wife & 3 lovely daughters & lovely wife! Please keep them in your payers if you remember ! a

Wow, the warmth and clarity on this live recording is chilling. The Workingman's Dead 50 content from 02/21/71 is spectacular too, but there is something about this show that gives you a whole body groove. Maybe it's because it's the first of the four night run; or maybe it's because they debuted five new songs; who knows. Three From The Vault the night after this show (02/19/71) is great too, but I think there have been improvements in the mastering process since then. Only one left that might top this is 02/20/71, which needs to be released to complete the run. My bootleg copy ("Daybreak On The Land") is sweet but needs the full Norman.

Wow, the warmth and clarity on this live recording is chilling. The Workingman's Dead 50 content from 02/21/71 is spectacular too, but there is something about this show that gives you a whole body groove. Maybe it's because it's the first of the four night run; or maybe it's because they debuted five new songs; who knows. Three From The Vault the night after this show (02/19/71) is great too, but I think there have been improvements in the mastering process since then. Only one left that might top this is 02/20/71, which needs to be released to complete the run. My bootleg copy ("Daybreak On The Land") is sweet but needs the full Norman.

That's still my favourite from this run-including "Daybreak on the Land" for the 20th. I notice its being re-issued on vinyl at the end of this month, and I wonder if it will have been remastered in any way since the original cd came out.

From the information I managed to find, it is a reissue of the 2015 4LP set. Whether this reissue or the original vinyl release is remastered is hard to say, but one or the other has had the treatment.

This is what I found:

Future Days Records
Repress of 2015 release
4LP Set
Remastered for vinyl by Joe Gastwirt
Lacquers cut by Kevin Gray
Gatefold Stoughton ''tip-on'' M-Pack jacket
Pressed at RTI

Simonrob - thanks for the info. Hopefully it will be of the same calibre of the original 2015 issue. I never heard it, but Joe Gastwirt and Kevin Gray are names familiar to me from lurking on the Steve Hoffman forum, and both are highly thought of.
Two From the Vaults is also being reissued, and I have ordered that one instead of number Three, which is a bit more pricey. I would imagine they both sound better than the cds that came out - especially my Two From the Vaults, which is the one without Alligator on, that came out about 1992.

A double post. They must have thought it was so good it should be printed twice.

I ordered the FLAC 96/24 download. The 12th track (second track "truckin' Port Chester) is a 16 bit FLAC file. I contacted support which is different from Dead.net support. They informed me that the downloads are handled by yet another company and I'd have to contact them. I contacted the second company via email, no response yet. I'm posting this in case anyone has, or might purchase the FLAC download.

I order the American Beauty - Angel's Share. Download only.

Let's leave it at BAD experience. Emailed dead.net & gnarly.

Two weeks later, oh sorry you need to contact download.b.us.

Now waiting to hear from them!

You'd think this be simple?

I'm not normally one to find fault... but I wonder why they didn't include the studio outtakes for Working Mans and American Beauty in with the 50th Anniversary cd reissues ? It would have rounded them off quite nicely.

Yes I agree, but it seems to be the way that Deadnet do what they do, "We are where we are" I am pleased that we got the two shows, although I expected 1970 show as an accompaniment. Those two shows along with Three From The Vault are the reason why I love this band so much.
I'm thankful that it was released this way in the end, as otherwise, I would have had to shell out for another Box of those 2 shows, and that now we can enjoy these with all the latest mastering enhancements of the two studio albums.
Also it does rather put the latest DaP 36 in the shade, where is Phil on that release? all I hear is distortion.

I got a response from the folks who handle the downloads. They gave me a new link and a sincere apology. Turns out the link was for the "American Beauty Angel's Share" which i never ordered. I don't know, I thought it was funny, like really funny. I responded to them, thanking them for the link, but went on to explain that it didn't fix the problem with the AB 50th FLAC download. I'm starting to think a good laugh is enough compensation and leave it at that. My ears are so burned out from going to concerts my whole life, I'm not sure I can tell the difference between bit rates. Still....

I received my AM. Beauty CD box with such a bad scratch on Disc2 it is not readable on my Mac. Fortunately I was able to rip it on a PC with a better optical drive. None the less, Gnarly has yet to respond to my email ticket from nearly 10 days ago and there is nobody to get on the phone anywhere concerning Dead .net. I should not have to get stuck with damaged goods. Scratches like this usually occur when snapping it into the box, not removing them for the 1st time. There is noone to call and I would appreciate this issue being rectified.
If Gnarly has replaced distribution and customer service for Musictoday's lack of support, may The Dead help us?!

After getting the Angel's Share link, within a few minutes I was sent another download link for the AB 50TH. like some sort of miracle, all of the FLAC files were the correct bit rate. I wouldn't hesitate to get the FLAC download. It sounds AMAZING on the big fat speakers. The Port Chester show is lots of fun. I had part of this show on a bootleg lp around 1973 but the sound quality was awful! I was given a tape sometime in the 80s that vanished with the rest of my tapes ( I used to lend out tapes and totally forget about it). The download FLAC version is music to my ears. Thank you to the download support folks. You done good!

For 50 Anniversary American Beauty has yet to come . I received a email stating that on or around 10/31 it would arrive .But it hasn’t. I have had problems with DEAD NET before but seriously this disregard for the customer has gotten out of hand . I may have to go the BBB route again as there has been no response to phone calls . It is a lousy way to be treated considering we support this band and are loyal fans

Post that thing!!!

Or at least sent to me if it works???

Did it work???

Still no word from Gnarly!!!

Ordered AB CD from amazon, disc unreadable. Returned another disc unreadable. Couldn't return. Ditch GNarlwood or whoever they are please.

Just wondering if anyone else has has this problem. I've downloaded the 24/96 FLAC version about 5 or 6 times by now and each one throws an error message. On Windows 10 - the error is that the folder is empty... and on Mac it just says it will not decompress. The zipped folder that downloads show up as 4.34 GB on Windows and 4.7 on Mac. Still no response from gnarly....

if you're still having this issue, send me a PM with the details and I'll see if the Doc can help.

Yo! Rockers!!

Doc here,

Yes I have come out of hibernation, because it is the golden anniversary of that great great Grateful Dead year 1971. To honor, commemorate, and celebrate that year, I will be offering any and all 1971 recordings to any and all that are interested. No limits. You can ask now, you can ask on the anniversary of any shows, or you can ask at any time up to and including midnight on December 31, 2021. After that, only the Shadow knows………….

Friends, I understand that 1971 is not everybody’s cup of Grateful Dead kool-aid. Perhaps you know little about it, maybe want to dabble, merely poke around, or heaven forbid go all in. Let Doc be your guide. Haven’t led anybody astray for decades……

I will also be posting, on the show anniversaries, comments, recaps, and opinions on every 1971 show. That’s right, you have to put up with my rants, raves, and ramblings for an entire year!!! And, for any & all interested, the “1971 Project” is almost completed, and available upon request……

You know where to find me,

Doc
One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star……………

Mentions a bomb scare at Stony Brook at the end of October 1970. I was there on the 31st and can say it did not happen on that date. Also do not remember anyone saying or referring to a bomb scare the night before. It could have happened on the 30th. Any readers who were there on the 30th who can comment on that?
I also read in my Dead Base 50 in the comment section on on specific Dead shows someone who supposedly was at the 2/18/71 Capitol Theater show that claims that there was a bomb scare that night. I was there that night and the next three nights. Didn’t happen on the 18th, 19th, 20th or 21st. It was either the 23rd or the 24th. My information on this is from several fellow high school class mates who talked it towards the end of the run the following day in sculpture class. (The amazing teacher Joe Dadzie from Ghana) Internet Archives says there was a bomb scare at the November 1970 run. Was there for the complete run. Again they have it mixed up for February 1971. Port Chester Fire Department records and Stony Brook Fire Department records and or newspaper archives could nail down those dates.
I finally ordered and received American Beauty 50th yesterday. Could not afford it until last week. One other concern. I ordered through Dead.net and it cost $45. I would like to support buying direct from this site. And I see the same CD listed on eBay for $30. New with free shipping. Is there a way to remain loyal to the direct organization under the umbrella of Rhino and Grateful Dead and not feel short changed?
Quick note on the persistence of memory. Of the February 71 shows I’m positive I attended, I was at the first four nights and possibly the 23rd or the 24th. The only other run of Dead shows that I’m not positive of the exact number of nights I attended were the Academy of Music shows from March 1972. Was either 3 or 4 nights. As far as the Nassau Colosseum run of March 73 I know I went the first two nights and most likely not all three nights. When in doubt better to accept the lower numbers .

I concur, best to look around for your dead. This site is not always the best place to pick up the goods. "Just got to poke around"

The band still gets their cut of every sale. I’m not familiar with music industry standards but I suspect that musicians get their cut from wholesale sales, not retail. So, buying it wherever it’s cheapest just takes from the middle man, and you save money.

50 years ago today…………….

January 21, 1971
Freeborn Hall, University of California, Davis, California

Set 1: Cold Rain & Snow-Me & My Uncle-Smokestack Lightning-Truckin'-Dire Wolf Hard To Handle-Sugar Magnolia (missing from circulating copies)-Black Peter (missing from circulating copies)-Mama Tried-Around & Around-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones

Set 2: That's It For The Other One >Cosmic Charlie-China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-
Uncle John's Band (missing from circulating copies)

One of the great unknown shows of 1971. Oh, to be stuck between the end of 1970 and Port Chester! Considering the taping technology available at the time, the longer (but still not complete) circulating version is a “not bad” audience recording that is actually “somewhat listenable”. The highlights include the coupling of Smokestack Lightning and Truckin’ (with Pigpen blowing some harmonica on both—a very rare occurrence), a typically hot 1971 Hard To Handle, a strong (and rare-for-early 71) complete Cryptical/Other 1/Cryptical suite, nicely transitioning into the only Cosmic Charlie of 1971. Plus rare performances of Dire Wolf and Around & Around (both played only three times in 1971).

A short soundboard portion (Mama Tried-Around and Around-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones) does circulate. Wonder what happened to the rest, is it hidden somewhere in the vault? Worth a quick listen………….

For a more detailed analysis, see
http://deadsources.blogspot.com/2012/07/january-21-1971-freeborn-hall-d…

OK, I don’t listen to it often, but I’m glad I have it…….

Rock on,

Doc
Patience is passion tamed

Pigpen mouth harp on Truckin. Mark me down for this one. Thanks Doc. You may know the Dead better than anyone. Half joke , half serious .

If I recall correctly, there's also some mouth harp on the Fillmore East 11/16/70 Truckin'. I think by Will Scarlett. That Truckin'->Other One is smokin' hot. The Hard To Handle---with Winwood sittin' in'---cosmic, deep, wondrous---with some crazy good playing by Weir. Sure wish they'd clean this one up, get permission from the folks sitting in, and make it an official release.............

Rock on!!

Doc

50 years ago today………….

January 22, 1971
Main Gym, Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon

Casey Jones-Beat It On Down The Line-It Hurts Me Too-Me and My Uncle-Cold Rain and Snow-Hard to Handle-Brokedown Palace-Johnny B. Goode-China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider

Benefit for the Eugene White Bird Clinic. Fifty years on, the clinic is still functioning. If you can, support their work………….

If you like sonic challenges, maybe this is the one for you. This looks like first set material, and all that commonly circulates. Is it even in the vault? Badly damaged/degraded soundboard, did somebody spill their electric kool-aid on it?

Attention, Chuck Berry fans. The first documented version of Johnny B Goode by the Dead was on 9/7/69, although that gig may not have been a full Grateful Dead band performance. Following that, it apparently was not performed again until this gig in 1971.

It appears that a big chunk of this show is missing, so hard to judge based on only what we have here. There are a few bright moments, but “sonic issues” make it a very difficult listen. Unless you’re a completist, you should probably skip this one…………………..

Rock on,

Doc
As soon as I hear music, something in me starts to vibrate

I loved it. Pigpen harmonica on Truckin is unique and kicks ass. Thank you Doc.

Ken Babbs introduction of the band is priceless. Referring to Pigpen as Ron Mckuen (Rod McKuen American poet) hilarious. No wonder I love and respect Babbs and Ken Kesey so much. I wish a clean soundboard existed. Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon ,1971. How can one go astray. August ,1971 was my first time visiting Oregon. Started living there in 72. Absolutely the closest to the old stylie hippie days of post Haight Ashbury as it would get. And changed by 73.

50 years ago today……………….

January 24, 1971
Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington

Truckin'-China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider-It Hurts Me Too-Cumberland Blues-Casey Jones-Sugar Magnolia-Hard To Handle-Turn On Your Lovelight >Not Fade Away >Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >Turn On Your Lovelight >Drums >Good Lovin'-Uncle John’s Band

It is unclear if this is two separate sets or one long set. There are no audible set breaks or announcements on the circulating soundboard tape. On the commonly circulating Lai soundboard remaster there is approximately 45 seconds of Good Lovin’ after the drums segment. The conclusion of the Good Lovin’ (estimated length 20 minutes) and the show-closing Uncle John’s Band appeared on the deadnet Tapers Section in either December 2012 or January 2013.

The last show before the first seismic change of 1971...............

Clearly, sonically the best of the three January 1971 shows. Hard rocking, with a generous helping of greasy Pigpen material. A fine early 1971 example of the “sledgehammer approach”. Recommended!!
Rock on,

Doc
In 1905 Albert discovered Relativity, in 1906 he invented Rock and Roll

A real toss up as what may be my favorite year.
In regards to the persistence of memory.
A friend quoted to me yesterday, “it’s ok to look back, just don’t stare.”
I will listen to 1/24/71 today. I appreciate your enthusiasm Doc.

I have not been able to play the FLAC in any form besides one song at a time, which would drive anyone nuts--and which I did not pay for.
I have kindly requested help from gratefuldead@gnarlywoodstore.com and I am ignored.
I even got the automatic reply for a ticket having been created (March 12th, 10:09 A.M.), but have heard nothing but crickets.
I'm sure they are busy, but this is ridiculous.
Anyone else have any of these problems?
Is this kind behavior? Is this what we elderly people used to call "Dead Etiquette"? I don't think so...

Late in the day -- but I've been listening to the 3 Port Chester shows again this week. 'fraid to say that apart from the Dark Start / Wharf Rat / Dark Star -- 2/18 is not that great a show -- most of the other debuts sound pretty tentative -- the drum sound on the recording is lousy, the boys harmony singing is poor. The WMD 2/21 is by far the better played show -- spot on.

I was so knocked out with this version of American Beauty that I lent it to my friend, who hasn't heard a Dead album for about 50 years, to see what she thought. I advised her not to bother with 2/18, though. Shouldn't have bothered lending any of it it really - you can't turn other people on.

Is this version better than the MoFi 2LP?