Conference marvin::uk_music

    Try the Grateful Dead conference, CSCMA::GRATEFUL (KP7 etc).
    
    Keith

A couple of weeks ago I read a very complimentary review in the Guardian of the
new Jerry Garcia Band album 'Almost Acoustic' that mentioned Garcia and Weir 
playing some dates in this country.

Rumours of the Dead playing in this country appear every year, usually that they
will make it to the Glastonbury festival for the summer solstice. I tend to
discount them. The last time the Dead were in this country was 1981, before
that it was 1972. There has of course been a great resurgence in the popularity
of the band in the past 2-3 years since the release of the album 'In th Dark' &
they are now the most popular live band in the States. It would be wonderful if
some or all of them were to play over here and I for one would be first in line
for tickets but I'm not going to hold my breath. 

The Dead are currently on tour in the States, the last date is on 17th April so 
I guess it is possible. They will definitely not be at Glastonbury as they are 
playing a date somewhere in California on that date that is being broadcast on
pay-for-view cable TV in the US.

Most of the Dead's albums are being re-released in this country and even the
first Jerry Garcia album which has been unavailable for years is now out again.
They're actually in the racks in Our Price because I've seen them. 

The new JGB album mentioned above is interesting from a technical point of view 
in that it is a live album recorded with 2 microphones directly to a 2 track 
DAT recorder, no post production mixing, overdubs or anything. Perhaps the way 
ahead for live recordings (+ studio?), a simple but effective return to the old 
days with vastly improved sound quality.

Nigel

    
    >in that it is a live album recorded with 2 microphones directly to a 2
    >track    
    >DAT recorder, no post production mixing, overdubs or anything. Perhaps
    >the way  
    >ahead for live recordings (+ studio?), a simple but effective return to
    >the old 
    >days with vastly improved sound quality.                                        
    
    This would make the album much cheaper for the punter, of course! %*)
    
    Richard.                                                                       
    

    Just to add to a very good round-up in .2, there have been quite
    a few good reviews of the acoustic album - sounds like it's worth
    getting.
    
    The N.M.E. reviewd the re-issues of "Wake" (very complimentary)
    and "Allah" (not so) a few weeks back.
    
    David
    
    PS: hello again ....
    

Just a couple more points. The Dead are playing dates in the US at the end of 
April so I think that probably means that they won't be coming over this month. 
I have seen a copy of a tour schedule for the rest of the year that has the odd 
fortnight free but if I continue to be pessimistic then at least I won't be 
disappointed. Incidentally the Jefferson Airplane (w/o Marty Balin) are
reforming for an album/tour and there are strong rumours that they will be 
playing some gigs with the Dead, now _that_ I would like to see.

The JGB Almost Acoustic album is in Our Price records both vinyl & CD (don't
know about cassette). As mentioned in .2 this was recorded digitally and
initially was only intended for CD release (with 70 minutes playing time) at
least 4 tracks are missing from the record. Don't buy it expecting the Dead it 
is more bluegrass/traditional country/Jimmie Rodgers type stuff.

Nigel

    I just heard that Jerry Garcia has passed away. He died reportedly of 
    natural causes at ~4:15 am Wedneday August 9 in California. Jerry
    Garcia was 53 years old.
    
    fred deady

    Jerry.  Gone.  Poor, poor, Jerry.