May 1977 box set question

Well, who really knows but these have all been widely circulated for years. I got a sound board of Cornell maybe inn 78 or so, same for the Boston show so these have been out in high quality availability for a long time

Because the master analog tapes were missing.  Heard of the Betty Boards?  They are now back In the vault.  Rob Eaton was a big player on getting them back in the right hands.  Betty lost a storage unit in what basically was a storage unit auction ( like the tv show Storage Wars) and the tapes were in there and someone else became owner.  Now they are back and are properly remastered. 

Good points--I read a great interview with Eaton, how he go them, Beatty's troubles and how she had to part with them, what he had to do to restore them, etc.  A true labor of love

MONEY 

Why do people keep referring 2 these shoes as some of the most famous shows in the history of the GD ?

Like did 1967 to to 1974 not happen? 

Just wondering. Thx 4 listening 

Don't get me wrong. 1977 has some interesting shoes.  

Even an old person like me on occasion listens 2 them.  

But, uh... never mind.  Carry on.  

Not only have I heard 4/2/73, I was at that shoe.  My third GD shoe ever. 

IMHO, even at their best GD vocals R nothing 2 get excited about.

Jerry was all emotion, which sometimes shined, considering is limited vocal chops.  

It's the jams that interest me.  Alway's kept me coming back 4 more.

As far as what's better, or more fun 2 listen 2 (60's vs 70's vs 80's) there is no right or wrong.

Pick your poison.  

I have my preferences as do U, but so what.  It's all good in the hood.  

All cool in the car pool.  

That's my take & I'm sticking 2 it.  

I think 77 has taken on a mythical, in many cases deserved and in others, over-hyped status because the boys just started touring again in 76 so a new "second generation" set of college age heads sprouted up--like me but I was younger.  Technology shifted so reel to reel was replaced by the cassette, making availability and ease of listening to the show much more available.  The Dead began to get more popular on the college circuit and thus, shows began to circulate and opinions began to circulate. I started collecting and tape trading in earnest in 77. I also think, like in life--a hot stock, a hit song, etc., there is a heard mentality so when people hear this or that was the best show ever, it kinds of builds on itself to the point where the average person will go ya, that is the best Scarlet-Fire ever, or that is the best show ever.  IMHO, May 77 is some of my favorite and to me, Englishtown the pinnacle of jamming, group dynamics and power.  But to say 77 or any period or show is the best is always subjective, in the ear of the listener. That is what makes in fun because there can never be a true "right answer".  A great 67, 69, 74 etc is great and different then a great 77, 79, etc--they are all great in there own way given the phase the band was at in that time. One persons clunker of a show on tape was another person who was there's best show ever. Its like baseball, you can debate the best pitcher outing, best game ever, and the debate goes on.

Yes, the debate goes on, I think it always will. I'm thankful that there are so many shows to listen to and discuss. It's like a great restaurant with a magical chef that prepared over 2,000 dishes.  Some folks actually tasted them when they were freshly served, others sample leftovers, others read the food critic reviews.  It's all good. 

"Maybe Latvala didn't see the release as that worthy since they were so common"

He told me that he would never release 5/8/77 because he thought that there were at least 20 other shows from '77 that were better.

Times in CD manufacturing have changed since Dick said that.

First because Dead dot net is now classifying tours and small portions of, as box sets. As opposed to complete year (or close) to; which was frightening.

Packaging is low cost, slim and light weight. Just a point and click away. Done. The market is smaller, but it's a healthy one.

these are dick's notes

Whatever, I can only report what he said to me in person.

And I'd add that if you've read many of Dick's notes you notice that there are a lot of "greatest ever" comments.  He was effusive, if not always consistent, in his praise.

The rumor of 5/8/77 not actually taking place is funny, since the notes about 4/24/83 are on an open date. Dew was played 4/20 and 4/26....

Umm...Dick is commenting about 5/8/77 on 4/24/83!! Geez folks...this isn't rocket science

Everybody take a big step back...

>> I'll start a 72 Playin at 2:45 every time.

LOL.  After all these years I've forgiven her, but Donna's contributions during jams, present listing concerns.  

Since we are deconstructing 5/8, I think that song selection plays a big part in it's popularity.  Specifically the Stephen & Dew.  

For my tastes, what stands out is the Fire.  It's just all there then some.  

For my (admittedly limited) tastes, there were 77 shoes that were just as good, some that R better.  Most of the May shoes R strapping.  

Playing lots of shoes between late April thru May helped.  A band on the road playing lot's, strengthens stuff. 

I think that Seth makes a good point, being that after the 76 (post break) start up, 77 & 78 saw a band that was touring strong. 

There was definitely an arc of improvement from the '76 shows through '77.  I saw three of the four Tower Theater shows in June '76 and while they were all enjoyable I thought that they seemed a bit low energy.  I enjoy that now as a different sound for the band but at the time it was a bit of a let down.  My next show was the second Day on the Green in Oakland in October and it was obvious that things were starting to jell a little more (I think the fact that Jerry had switched to a TB-500 Bean was a big part of this, much better tone then the TB-1000 he had been using).  By NYE at the Cow Palace they had hit their stride and by the three Winterland shows in March '77 they were firing on all cylinders.  They carried this momentum through the spring tour and back to Winterland in June (I'll take 6/9 over 5/8 any day of the week) but the momentum got interrupted when Mickey drove his Porsche off a cliff and they had to cancel the planned summer tour.  The fall tour had it's moments but I think Jerry switching back to Wolf changed the dynamics a bit and IMO (for a lot of reasons)  '78 never came close to what they achieved in '77.

totally love the notes about the shoe from Dick, sonomajon. that's what you call a "primary source"! and the fact he came back and reiterated in 83 what he said right after the gig is telling. thanks

Friends of mine were involved in the transfer of these reels to Hi-Fi VHS way back when. Those were exciting times to have such high quality recordings. I still have a bunch of those BB's on VHS. And not all Betty Boards are created equal in terms of quality... Some rooms just sounded better than others. I happened to see 5-5 through 5-9 and more from the spring tour and I'm partial to 5-9...Regarding the fall of 77 when Garcia got Wolf back is my personal all time favorite Garcia tone. It was loud and it was edgy...10-29-77 is monster show from the fall along with many others...I love 78 as well but it is more hit and miss...4-12 4-24 12-28 etc...But what detracts for me in 78 is Keith's inconsistency and Bobby thinking it was a good idea to learn slide while we all watched and sometimes cringed. 

I just bought the single show 5/8/77 for artwork alone. It's re-mastered with the latest and greatest.

It came with a free digital download sample of the Scarlet>Fire from 5/8/77

If I was at any one of the shows that are included in the Box set, I would be all over it.

>>> Regarding the fall of 77 when Garcia got Wolf back is my personal all time favorite Garcia tone. It was loud and it was edgy...10-29-77 is monster show from the fall along with many others...

This is where I land too. Spring 77 is legendary for a reason; the band was tight and crackling with energy, and the creative juices were flowing strongly. But when Jerry started playing the Wolf again, it added another layer of raw power to the sound that the spring just didn't have. For my money, 10/28 to 11/6/77 was the best the band ever was post-hiatus.

Spring vs Fall '77 is a discussion for the ages.  I was only 7 at the time and not doing shows at all but if I had to choose between one of those tours in terms of listening and could only pick one I would choose the Fall, but I would be dying inside while I made that choice due to how special some of those Spring show are to my ears.

Englishtown, Portland, Oklahoma, Seattle, Baton Rouge, Illinois, Colgate, Rochester and I would bet anything I'm forgetting others that almost feel like part of my DNA--I could not, not have those Fall shows to spin now and again, as great as the Spring was. As stupid and cringy as it sounds, they are like family to me.

'78 is just as treasured, Weir's attempts at slide were probably all kinds of annoying at the time and inside those arenas but they don't ruin anything in terms of listening to the tapes for me...they certainly don't add anything (especially when he's in the wrong key) but very little could ruin the kinds of stuff they laid down in 1978.  It furthered the raw power of that '77 Fall and blew it up to smithereens. 

Anyone who hasn't heard the Scarlet>Fire from 4/24/78 Normal should spend 20 minutes with it this weekend.  They really should.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmztvt2t2D8

>> Englishtown, Portland, Oklahoma, Seattle, Baton Rouge, Illinois, Colgate, Rochester and I would bet anything I'm forgetting others 

Gotta have Binghamton in that list.

Fuck yes.

Love every millisecond of that show--the Sunrise can't even bring it down. 

It was a clusterfuck getting into the Broome County Arena...I finally made it in about half way through 1/2 Step...It was instantly obvious that we were all in for a continuation of the high level of music we had experienced all weekend...One of the best weekend of my life...That 1/2 Step is one for the ages...The drummers were pounding the shit out of the drums, with Garcia leading them with his explosive and percussive playing. Pure magic...the psychedelics were extraordinary as well... 

>>>That 1/2 Step is one for the ages..

Again...fuck yes.

That one and 5/7 Boston in the spring (also Sugaree Winterland 3/18/77) will be some of the music in the air which will await us if we go to heaven.

I've been told this.

I Must have about 5 Versions of 5/8/77

I had 9 versions of 8/27 when the official release came out--most of any show by far for me.  Ridiculous.

How old r u Franklin?

"also Sugaree Winterland 3/18/77"

My first Winterland show. 9th overall,and the first where it all made perfect sense.