So have you heard about that killer Europe ’72 box set that’s coming out later this year from The Grateful Dead? 22 Shows spread over a whopping 72 CDs encompassing 70 glorious hours of live music from the Dead. A package like this will do a nice job of filling out the back cubby of your vintage VW van that you’ve maintained so lovingly throughout the years, just hoping that one day you might have the opportunity to hit the road with a really large soundtrack of tunes, as in more than a six CD changer’s worth of tunes. Back then, you didn’t even know what a CD changer was and they hadn’t even begun to think about those crazy iPod devices.
Here are some words about the upcoming Europe ’72 release from Dead HQ:
Through the years, there have been a few releases of material from the Europe tour—starting with the 3-album Europe ’72 which knocked our socks off in the fall of that year, and followed many years later by material from a pair of German shows and the fantastic 4-CD Stepping Out, culled from the group’s eight shows in England. Incredibly, though, only one full show from the tour has come out previously: the excellent 4/24 concert in Dusseldorf, Germany, released as Rockin’ the Rhein in 2004.
Until now, that is. Jeffrey Norman, who has been the primary mixer of Dead archival multi-track material for the past 15 years (Fillmore West ’69, Ladies and Gentlemen…, Rockin’ the Rhein, Nightfall of Diamonds, etc.) has spent many months toiling over the 16-track masters from the tour, and will continue working on the mixes through the Winter and Spring, employing the high-tech Plangent Processes transfer and restoration tools, trying to get every show to sound ”just exactly perfect” (as Bob Weir says) for this release. You might think you’ve heard that intense ”Dark Star” > ”Sugar Mag” > ”Caution” from Copenhagen, but I guarantee you’ve never heard it sound this alive! Mastering to HDCD specs is two-time Grammy-winning engineer David Glasser of Airshow Mastering. Needless to say, all the songs that turned up on previous Europe compilations will be appear in their proper show contexts, and in the case of songs from the Europe ’72 album, without overdubs that were added later (where possible).
To celebrate the release of this monumental set, we have a groovy giveaway for one lucky Popdose loving recipient. You’ll receive a copy of the expanded two CD version of the original Europe ’72 release plus a limited edition Europe ’72 button, sticker and patch….oh, but that’s not all, kids. We’ll also give you a Europe ’72 t-shirt, the official Grateful Dead 2011 calendar and a cool Grateful Dead poster.
All you have to do for your chance to win is send an email to Dave Lifton with “Coming to Chicago” in the subject line and ask Dave when you can schedule your walking tour of Chicago. Also, ask him if he has a spare pair of Birkenstock sandals you can borrow.
Good luck!
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