Grateful Dead 1969 Fillmore West Boxset coming

Nice set. (#1655) The "official" 2/27 Dark Star & Suite sounds really nice - and this fresh mix is a different take on the performance. A number of sounds and gestures that were mixed out on the original.

BTW, I was almost a bit disappointed - but not really - to find the booklet was the same as the 3-disk set, except a soft-cover. Given the packaging approach - 2 double-CD digipacks and 2 3-diskers - I have little doubt that those who missed the boat on this limited edition will ulimately have ample opportunity to pick these up as 4 individual sets.

The 3-disk set really represents an alternative "Live/Dead" -- what it might have looked like if it was issued today, in the post-CD era, rather than in the vinyl period.

All-in-all, this is pretty nice!

 

My boxset arrived today. The bonus CD is in a separate sleeve from the boxset. Can't wait to fire this puppy up.

 

Got # 1803 in the mail a couple hours ago. Won't have time to open it till about midnight. Seems like a good time to explore!

 

I got #515 in the mail today, my wife ordered it for me for xmas. She says I can have it early though!

 

hmmmmmmmmmm...stiiiilllll waiting.

 

Same here.

 

I didn't pay for express shipping, but I didn't think it would be neccesary coming from SF to Seattle. My guess is they sent it book rate.

 

It ships out of Virginia (or one of the Carolinas - I can't remember). Even though I didn't choose express, it still shipped via UPS and arrived in two days. Did you get a shipping confirmation with a tracking number?

 

Woooheee! Mine was waiting for me when I got home from work today -- #2699.

 

I am starting to get antsy. My copy didn't arrive today either. Usually regular shipping from the GDstore online never takes this long to get to me. I guess I will have to wait.

 

Mine was waiting for me today. #7984

 

I'm listening to the March 1 concert as I write this. Many consider this to be their best performance ever. The box invites comparison to Miles Davis Complete Plugged Nickel, although Live Dead is a more iconic album, and the two LP original Plugged Nickel existed only as Japanese imports for many years before their first American release. What's interesting about this set is it shows how calculating and goal oriented the Dead could be. They played pretty much the same limited song cycle (again, like Miles, but for a different reason) throughout the run of concerts in order to get enough good takes for the final record. But this is the stuff. Pigpen was still in relatively good health, the drugs of choice were psychedelics rather than opiates, and the Dead had not quite broken through as national and internationally known figures. Of course, the golden age of Workingman's and Beauty were still to come, but this is the Dead at their prog-rockin' high water mark. Enjoy, everyone.

 

I picked up the 3 CD Rhino comp box. Is it just me, or is the organ mixed a little too low?

This is my first GD purchase (besides Beauty). Is this typical of Dead concerts? Do any of the other guys in the band solo--or does Garcia pretty much do all the soloing himself?

 

With that amazingly hideous Hey Jude it is definitely not their best performance ever. That track is probably the single most amateurish, atrocious performance by any major artist to ever appear on an official release.

Other than that it's a great show, but this track is just appalling.

 

When they're really peaking they're all soloing simultaneously. Without a net, as they say. Call it spontaneous ensemble composition. Or something...

 

Different strokes. I just love their Hey Jude, Brent-era or Pigpen-style.

Sincerely,
GregY (Grateful Dead apologist)

 

Hi,

Probably a fair representation of the master tape and live performance. Pigpen was not an overly gifted organist.

Take care,
Jeffrey

 

TC was gifted though, and he was with them at this point.

 

If not the worst, then perhaps second only to their performance of "Hey Jude" on the Fillmore East 2/11/69 CD I'm glad we managed to work a Beatles angle into this thread

I always wondered where Pigpen came up with that "why don't you try walking on the water" line?

 

Hi Mike,

Exactly, TC was there to "supplement" Pig's mediocre organ playing. Seldom, however, will you find tapes of TC mixed real heavy and Pig real light given Bear's approach. IMO, Jerry & Phil's instruments were getting much more emphasis than Bobby & Pig's at this point. Still think it's probably a fair representation of the master tape and live performance

Take care,
Jeffrey

 

But this release, and the boxset, don't come from the typical "Dicks Picks" 2 track tapes. They were recorded to multitrack and remixed for these new releases, correct? So they could have mixed it anyway they wanted, I suppose. Or are you saying that TC is mixed low on purpose because it represents how it would have sounded on stage?

 

Yes, they were mixed from the multitrack. The Dead have always mixed their keyboards low; they've always just been there as extra coloring. One for the Vault and Dead Ahead seem to be the only releases where keys are mixed on the same level as the other instruments.

Jonathan

 

It's typical of 1969. I have to be honest, I prefer shows from later in the year (especially DP 16). The two drummer sound from 68 through mid 69 just has a sameness to it. But that's just me. I'm also not a fan of the carnival organ sound that TC did.

Jonathan

 

Hi,

On purpose! because "it's probably a fair representation of the master tape and live performance". I'm not saying that it is the way it sounded on stage through the stage monitors.... i'm saying it's probably the way it sounded in the audience.

Take care,
Jeffrey