Grateful Dead-Two From The Vault

I originally bought this on cassette in 1992. This 4 record set is one that was released in 2021 and I bought it a couple years ago at the store in Kutztown. This is a top notch product in every way, the packaging, the recording, the pressing and most importantly the playing are all excellent. The records are packaged in book form with the four records in pockets of the four pages. According to the technical info the original recording by Warner Brothers was not done correctly causing leakage, phase cancellation and sound smear (whatever they are). Sound man Dan Heally used some digital wizardry to remix this show from August 24 1968 giving the instruments perfect stereo separation. The band is a sextet for the first time with the addition of second drummer Mickey Hart earlier that year. The show starts with “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” on side 1 with Pigpen singing and an amazing jam with Jerry’s guitar and Pigpen’s organ. This is followed by a 38 minute jam of “Dark Star>Saint Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don’t Have No Mercy” on sides 2, 3 and 4. Another long suite of over 48 minutes of “That’s It For The Other One>New Potato Caboose>Turn On Your Lovelight” is on sides 5, 6 and 7. “Morning Dew” is the last song on side 8 and is abruptly stopped as the power is cut off at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. due to a curfew. The interplay between the two guitarists, Garcia and Weir and Pigpens organ with the rhythm of Kreutzmann and Hart’s drums and Lesh’s booming bass is awesome, only a little over three years into their career. I listened to all 8 sides and really enjoyed it. More to come as I have 6 more of their Box Sets to listen to.

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