The upcoming July 1978: The Complete Recordings set is, on paper, the most exciting box since the Europe ’72 tour came out: not just remastered versions of the Betty Boards from Red Rocks, but three–count ’em–wild card shows. What was the last release that featured a show you hadn’t heard before, let alone three from a great year?
(Shut up. ’78 is a great year. And even if you don’t agree with me, David Lemieushuporx does, judging by the record; this means I win.)
There’s excerpts from the three non-circulating shows over at Dead.net, but I’m steering clear for now: I’m not a huge fan of context-less Dead. The proper unit is a Show; you could further divide into Sets, but you can’t measure the Grateful Dead in Songs. You can listen, though. Hell, you can do whatever you want.
Nice packaging. Wait for an eruption of complaints that it will not fit on regular CD shelves.
It will be worth cutting slots in my CD shelves just to fit this box set!