Grateful Dead on Vinyl: Comparing Pressings

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Wingtip, Dec 20, 2020.

  1. lucan_g

    lucan_g Forum Resident

    It's nice to have an objective opinion... but I just can't figure out why you didn't listen to that "Hey Jude" and think, hot damn this is a must have! ;)

    Wait till you get to 3.2.69... 4th night and definitely NO tiredness there...
     
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  2. Crispy Rob

    Crispy Rob Cat Juggler

    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    I’d say maybe give That’s It for the Other One and New Potato Caboose from 3/1/69 a second listen before writing off 3/1 (before it gets more expensive). It’s a sentimental favorite because other than the Live/Dead portions of 2/27 it was by years the first show I heard from that run and an array tape in my collection, but I do think that 2/27 and 2/28 are probable a bit stronger overall.

    As for 12/10/71, I am happy to have it on CD as part of the box, but it is not as essential a show as most of those they’ve picked as vinyl releases. I did pick up the 10/18/72 Fox 2-LP set, and think that’s more essential.
     
  3. latheofheaven

    latheofheaven My Pants are FULLY Analog...

    Okidoke... I will make a point to check those out, thanks! :)
     
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  4. latheofheaven

    latheofheaven My Pants are FULLY Analog...

    Thank you Sir, will do!
     
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  5. ODShowtime

    ODShowtime jaded faded

    Location:
    Tampa
    I grabbed Veneta right away due to it being an all-time favorite. Scooped up E72 Vol 2 later at retail before things went nuts. I should play that more often...
     
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  6. uzn007

    uzn007 Watcher of the Skis

    Location:
    Raleigh, N.C.
    As is not unusual, I agree with Rob's assessment here.
     
  7. dminches

    dminches Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    No, it is not an iconic show.
     
  8. Crosseyed

    Crosseyed help I'm a rock

    Location:
    NJ
    Strongly disagree good sir. The second set is amazing and was a prophetic template for the Europe 72 tour. The vinyl sounds beautiful.
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
  9. jewelsnbinoculars

    jewelsnbinoculars Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    he didn’t say it’s not a great show, he said it’s not iconic, and it’s not. ask 1o serious dead heads to list their top ten shows and my guess is this wouldn’t come up. plenty of releases have been iconic, and plenty other great shows have been released which are not. not a value judgement, just a consideration of shows that have a lot of mythology and allure around them, based on the playing, cultural moment, band history or otherwise, and have thus grown iconic. this really isn’t one of those shows. the Saint of Circumstance release of 91 show is phenomenal, I’d recommend any fan have it on vinyl. that said, it’s not iconic like Wake Up to Find Out, featuring Branford Marsalis.
     
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  10. dminches

    dminches Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Well said. I really like 12/10/71. But, the show has been in circulation for decades and no one really ever talks about it. I have enjoyed revisiting it when the box set came out but there are at least 4 shows from set that I find more interesting.
     
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  11. Crosseyed

    Crosseyed help I'm a rock

    Location:
    NJ
    12/10/71 has always been iconic to me. I've listened to this special show for over 35 years on various hissy fm cassettes. And yes many heads did not talk about it but that doesn't mean sh_t. It's a dark horse and I love dark horses.

    Anyways I totally respect everyone's opinion and I'm simply stating mine as well. Btw I was at the saint of circumstance show at Giant's Stadium and don't consider it nearly as iconic & have zero interest in having that one on vinyl (I do have the box set).
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
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  12. katstep

    katstep Professional Cat Herder

    For what it's worth, many of my "iconic" shows differ from the consensus of iconic. 11/14/71 is one of my most listened to shows, but it never gets mentioned. Iconic is in the eye of the beholder. Or is that ear?
     
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  13. jewelsnbinoculars

    jewelsnbinoculars Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    No one is saying that these are bad shows. No one is saying they are not even great shows. But up against something like Fillmore 69, Cornell 77, or Oregon 72, they cannot be said to be “iconic” - not in any dictionary based definition of the word, a word which a poster used in part to inquire about whether to purchase the show. Saying you think it is worth it because it kicks ass is totally fine, but iconic, again, it clearly is not. Iconic has a definition, of which “underrated” and “dark horse” do not play a part. Iconic means well known, well established, not only highly regarded but widely known to be. Not “eye of the beholder” but in the eyes of most who are knowledgeable and informed. The show in question, which is awesome and has been called a great pressing, does not fit that bill when we are talking about a band with a large list of far more widely, well regarded shows, be they regarded for the right reasons or otherwise. 5/8/77 is iconic, though many have suggested 5/9/77 to be the better show.

    De Niro in Goodfellas and Raging Bull is widely regarded as iconic in those roles. De Niro in A Bronx Tale is a good role, but is not considered iconic.
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
  14. Crosseyed

    Crosseyed help I'm a rock

    Location:
    NJ
    I get what you are saying and it's all good.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2021
  15. CowboyBill

    CowboyBill Forum Resident

    Location:
    Utah
    What’s the consensus on the MOFi “From Mars Hotel”?
     
  16. Ron Jones

    Ron Jones Happiness is a Warm Gun

    Location:
    AR, U.S.A.
    In my opinion all of the mofi albums blow the regular versions away.
     
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  17. dminches

    dminches Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Not Live Dead. That is one of the exceptions.
     
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  18. Country Rocker

    Country Rocker Forum Resident

    Going slightly off topic:

    Is the tape hiss that's present on the 2003 CD release of 'Europe '72' also still there on all the vinyl issues? I know it's not there on the original CD issue from the 80's. But they used NR in that case.
     
  19. hhjack

    hhjack Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oak Park, IL
    I agree. I owned this version but sold it because it just felt "off" to me. Of course, if I had waited a few years, I could have gotten a lot more for it. Still on the look out for an original mint version. But yes, typically the MOFI versions are all top notch.
     
  20. Ron Jones

    Ron Jones Happiness is a Warm Gun

    Location:
    AR, U.S.A.
    I guess I missed on this one. It’s only mofi I don’t have. I have the VMP anthology set and is only copy of live dead I have and it sounds great as well.

    I would say specifically on the Mars Hotel Mofi; it’s the best example to compare. Phil sounds like a giant ax wielding warrior on the mofi and it’s clear and punchy and changes how that whole album sounds for the better.
     
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  21. dminches

    dminches Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Garcia is way back in the mix. I am not sure if MoFi got the wrong reel or if their mastering caused it.
     
  22. cdb3

    cdb3 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milton Keynes, UK
    I think they used the remixed version that appeared in the Golden Road box. However, could that have been an analogue source?
     
  23. markmck79

    markmck79 Forum Resident

    Be happy where you are. I have the MoFi and VMP and the VMP is the better of the two. In fact I would say the VMP is the best pressing available, unless you can locate a clean & quiet original (which has been very difficult for me - not surprisingly nearly all I have found have been played out on poor 70s stereos).
     
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  24. dminches

    dminches Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
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  25. Ray29

    Ray29 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    The Mofi Mars Hotel I own was bought around 1985. At that point the other only Dead vinyl to be bought new was the Warners and Arista releases. So my only choice at the time to own that one on vinyl was the rather expensive Mofi version.

    I remember first time hearing Unbroken Chain on that record. It was one of the greatest sounding records I ever heard. Up there with my fathers steely Dan Aja LP. Of course he had a way better stereo than I had. I still think it sounds fantastic. Better than my CD in the beyond description box.
     
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