Grateful Dead to release $450, 60-disc "Europe 72" box set (all 22 shows of the tour)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

The Grateful Dead Unveil Giant Box Set: 'Europe '72'

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/the-grateful-dead-unveil-giant-box-set-europe-72-20110119



In the spring of 1972, the Grateful Dead exported their unique concert experience – transformed American roots and Fillmore-dance-party daring – to Europe for the first time, playing 22 concerts in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and even Luxembourg. The trip was first documented that year on a triple-LP set, Europe '72, with substantial vocal overdubs. But this fall, the Dead and Rhino Records will release a huge and lavish box set of more than 60 CDs containing every show of the Europe '72 tour, mixed and mastered from the original 16-track tapes. The project, still in production, will be a strictly limited edition and available by pre-order from the Dead's website.

We were hot and having a lot of fun," agrees guitarist Bob Weir. "We had a pretty plump repertoire by that time. So you're gonna go several nights before you hear a repeat. And if you hear one, it's going to be pretty different."

The Europe '72 tour would be the Dead's last with founding singer-organist Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, then ailing from a liver condition. He died the following year. The European shows were also a major showcase for new pianist Keith Godchaux, who joined in late 1971. "This is the point where he really plugged in," says bassist Phil Lesh. "This was another voice for us." And the Dead debuted a wealth of new originals at these shows, including the future live staples "Tennessee Jed" and "He's Gone," both written by guitarist Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter.

"The main entrée for us was the new stuff," says Weir, "and whatever we could bring out of the old ones like 'Dark Star' and 'The Other One.' Every time those songs came around, there was a new passage that was meaningful to us."

[NightWatcher]

1. You lost me at "Godchaux". The possibility/probability that Donna might be on it...

The Godchauxs (Donna particularly) destroyed the Grateful Dead. Donna couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and horribly fucked up some otherwise good live recordings. I'm also not convinced they didn't bring the hard drugs ( that ultimately killed Jerry) into the mix.

If they'll digitally remaster her out of existence I'll reconsider.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. I was listening the the soundtrack from "The Grateful Dead Movie" the other night....

...and she makes a noise like the "chest buster" guy made in "Alien" right after he ate his eggs.

"AWOOOOOOOOOOAWAUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOYEAHYEAHYEAHOWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGGH"...right in the middle of an otherwise-decent version of "Playing In The Band."

I'm not a "Dead Head" in that I ever went to a show and never lived that life, but I thought...and still think...that Jerry was a genius.

I never appreciated Donna's "contribution" in the least...but have to say that "Live Dead" and "Skull & Roses" are tied in the #1 spot as my favorite Dead album, with "Europe 72" second-favorite. There have been a number of "official releases," as well as "Dick's Picks" and "Road Trips" CDs, since "Europe 72," so the transition period between Pigpen and the Godchauxs has been well-documented (not taking into consideration the Dead Heads, once again, who probably own tapes from every Dead show ever performed).

[Archae]

3. 60 discs, one jam.

;-)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Yep...it's the 4800 hour version of...

Saint Steven > The Other One > Drums > Space > The Other One > Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Not Fade Away > The Other One > Saint Steven...

:-)

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. I thought for a moment that it might be possible to hear me snoring in the background...

.
.
.
...but I'm pretty sure it was 1973 or '74 that I saw them in Munich, Germany (my ONLY Dead show).
.
.
.
I fell asleep 15 minutes into the show (I had done the wrong drugs, hash and red wine). I DID meet
Jerry before the show (he and I alone at a bratwurst stand) although I didn't realize just who that
wild-haired American guy WAS 'til I saw him onstage.
.
.
.

[mulsh]

6. don't hardcore Deadheads have this on tape already?

n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. If you read the comments on the Dead's Website for virtually ANY new "official release"...

...you will ALWAYS see a comment along the lines of "I've had the tape for years but it's great to have a soundboard recording," etc.

Anyone who wants to listen to the band right now, for free, can go to Internet Archive and find all kinds of shows from the band, including the latest incarnation, "Furthur"...http://www.archive.org/

So I am assuming the draw on this one is the packaging, as well as the state-of-whatever-art the master tapes are in.