Walkingman's Dead.
July 22, 2010 8:52 AM Subscribe
I’m looking to download MP3s of some really awesome Grateful Dead shows that I can listen to while I walk.
I don't know too much about The Dead other than American Beauty, which I love. I'd like to explore their shows more and I've found my evening walks are the perfect time to do so.
Some things to think about before you make a recommendation:
Links to where I can download / buy a show are appreciated. I need to be able to download the show, either in whole or split into songs, in MP3 so I can throw it on my iPhone. I don’t wish to spend time capturing a stream or converting from FLAC or any other format that isn’t built into iTunes by default. I know it’s technically better but I don’t care. I’m lazy and I want this to be easy. I want to click your link and be able to download an MP3.
I'd prefer suggestions for specific shows, not just a recommendation to check out a tour or era.
I’d love to hear why you’re recommending a specific show.
Recording quality should be excellent. Soundboard recordings are preferred (I understand archive.org only streams SB recordings)
Free would be best but I’m willing to pay for these as long as my money is going to people who are legally entitled to be earning money from selling these shows.
No need to debate which shows are the best. If you like the show, tell me why and that’s good enough. I don’t want to hear that you think the Dead suck. I’ve heard the jokes.
Thanks!
I don't know too much about The Dead other than American Beauty, which I love. I'd like to explore their shows more and I've found my evening walks are the perfect time to do so.
Some things to think about before you make a recommendation:
Links to where I can download / buy a show are appreciated. I need to be able to download the show, either in whole or split into songs, in MP3 so I can throw it on my iPhone. I don’t wish to spend time capturing a stream or converting from FLAC or any other format that isn’t built into iTunes by default. I know it’s technically better but I don’t care. I’m lazy and I want this to be easy. I want to click your link and be able to download an MP3.
I'd prefer suggestions for specific shows, not just a recommendation to check out a tour or era.
I’d love to hear why you’re recommending a specific show.
Recording quality should be excellent. Soundboard recordings are preferred (I understand archive.org only streams SB recordings)
Free would be best but I’m willing to pay for these as long as my money is going to people who are legally entitled to be earning money from selling these shows.
No need to debate which shows are the best. If you like the show, tell me why and that’s good enough. I don’t want to hear that you think the Dead suck. I’ve heard the jokes.
Thanks!
Response by poster: To reiterate: I'm already aware that Archive.org has a large collection of Grateful Dead shows available for streaming or download. Careful reading of my question should make it clear that I'm looking for more than just a link to this collection.
posted by bondcliff at 9:01 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by bondcliff at 9:01 AM on July 22, 2010
I assume you have already checked out deadlistening.com.
Phil Lesh says that the show from May 8, 1977 might be the best show they ever did.
posted by crunchland at 9:01 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Phil Lesh says that the show from May 8, 1977 might be the best show they ever did.
posted by crunchland at 9:01 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
(Oh, and I would recommend some of my favorites, but most of them are favorites just because they were shows I went to.)
posted by crunchland at 9:06 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by crunchland at 9:06 AM on July 22, 2010
1971-04-29. Make sure you get the soundboard (there are some out there that are incomplete audience tapes.) Recording quality is excellent. Show runs near 4 hours and is one of my favorites. You'll know some from AB (Truckin', Ripple, Sugar Magnolia) but there's a ton more here. Unfortunately I haven't seen this one in MP3, just FLAC. I think you may be really limiting yourself by not getting the FLACs and converting as a lot of these are only available that way. Another idea is to go to bt.etree.org, filter by Grateful Dead, then sort by number of times downloaded.
posted by sanko at 9:11 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by sanko at 9:11 AM on July 22, 2010
I don’t wish to spend time capturing a stream or converting from FLAC or any other format that isn’t built into iTunes by default
I know this isn't really an answer to your question (sorry) but you may have trouble finding reputable sites or groups that distribute recordings of shows in lossy formats. Bootleggers are pretty obsessive about the sound-quality of their recordings, and some of them explicitly forbid distributing their recordings in a lower-quality format. I agree that downloading SHN or FLAC and converting to MP3 or whatever is a pain but you may end up spending a lot more time looking for lossy copies of a show than you would doing the conversion yourself.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:12 AM on July 22, 2010
I know this isn't really an answer to your question (sorry) but you may have trouble finding reputable sites or groups that distribute recordings of shows in lossy formats. Bootleggers are pretty obsessive about the sound-quality of their recordings, and some of them explicitly forbid distributing their recordings in a lower-quality format. I agree that downloading SHN or FLAC and converting to MP3 or whatever is a pain but you may end up spending a lot more time looking for lossy copies of a show than you would doing the conversion yourself.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:12 AM on July 22, 2010
Response by poster: I know this isn't really an answer to your question (sorry) but you may have trouble finding reputable sites or groups that distribute recordings of shows in lossy formats.
If that's true (and when it comes to burning MP3s, I should probably trust a guy with your username!) then that is actually a very helpful answer so I guess I'll open this up to lossless formats if I must.
But other folks, feel free to prove him wrong.
posted by bondcliff at 9:16 AM on July 22, 2010
If that's true (and when it comes to burning MP3s, I should probably trust a guy with your username!) then that is actually a very helpful answer so I guess I'll open this up to lossless formats if I must.
But other folks, feel free to prove him wrong.
posted by bondcliff at 9:16 AM on July 22, 2010
Response by poster: And with that, a suggestion for a no-brainer drag -n- drop FLAC --> MP3/iTunes converter for the Mac would help.
posted by bondcliff at 9:22 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by bondcliff at 9:22 AM on July 22, 2010
I have lots and lots of shows on CD in MP3 format. Memail me your address and I will send along a bunch.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:40 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:40 AM on July 22, 2010
Also, if you are willing to pay, go to Dead.net and download the shows from the band. I happen to like the early 70's shows and this one from the roadtrip series is crisp and clean, has a terrific song list that includes a bunch of Bobby cowboy songs as well as a terrific Not Fade Away =>GDTRFB==>NFA.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:50 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:50 AM on July 22, 2010
An almost universally popular show is 5-8-'77 (and really the entire run that this show came from). It features a number of tunes that you'll recognize from American Beauty, but arranged for their electric on-stage lineup.
Alternatively, if you really dig the acoustic country feel of American Beauty, check out their 15th Anniversary run from the end of 1980. Several different songs from these shows were collected on the album "Reckoning." All acoustic, pretty good soundboard quality, and lots of favorites.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:10 AM on July 22, 2010
Alternatively, if you really dig the acoustic country feel of American Beauty, check out their 15th Anniversary run from the end of 1980. Several different songs from these shows were collected on the album "Reckoning." All acoustic, pretty good soundboard quality, and lots of favorites.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:10 AM on July 22, 2010
I use XLD to convert FLAC files to MP3s.
You just run it, open the preferences, check that "Output Format" is "LAME MP3" and "Add encoded file to iTunes" is turned on. I can't remember if those are defaults are not.
From then on you just drop the FLAC on the XLD icon and a minute later an MP3 shows up in iTunes.
posted by bcwinters at 10:25 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
You just run it, open the preferences, check that "Output Format" is "LAME MP3" and "Add encoded file to iTunes" is turned on. I can't remember if those are defaults are not.
From then on you just drop the FLAC on the XLD icon and a minute later an MP3 shows up in iTunes.
posted by bcwinters at 10:25 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Rhapsody, last time I checked, has a pretty good collection of Dick's Picks.
posted by mneekadon at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by mneekadon at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
From the archive:
June 30, 1984 is an excellent recording (though first set only); There's another recording of the whole show, but I haven't listened all the way through to evaluate the quality.
April 3, 1986 is another fine recording available to download.
Both are also fine performances from a little later in their career than American Beauty.
posted by fogovonslack at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
June 30, 1984 is an excellent recording (though first set only); There's another recording of the whole show, but I haven't listened all the way through to evaluate the quality.
April 3, 1986 is another fine recording available to download.
Both are also fine performances from a little later in their career than American Beauty.
posted by fogovonslack at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
A friend, horrified to learn that I didn't know the song, once gave me a bunch of tapes from shows where they played Black-Throated Wind. I'm not sure I could say why, but this one was always my favorite.
posted by willpie at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by willpie at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2010
I use Max for both CD ripping (to FLAC+mp3) and for FLAC to mp3 conversion on OS X. As to recommendations, I'm going non-free: Winterland June 1977: The Complete Recordings and Road Trips Volume 2 Number 2. I downloaded both of them forever ago before the band released them, but I imagine that the official releases are far better. Also, I don't like the Grateful Dead much, so take my suggestions with a large block of salt, those recordings are the ones that annoy me less than usual...
posted by togdon at 11:07 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by togdon at 11:07 AM on July 22, 2010
Another classic from the 70s is 8/27/72 which you can maybe download in MP3s from nugs.net but I can't really test it due to my work computer, so YMMV. This is another one that everybody has a great copy of AND the performance is outstanding. I haven't listened to my Dead collection in way too long, but IIRC it's a good (is it the first?) China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider and a good Dark Star.
posted by knile at 11:53 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by knile at 11:53 AM on July 22, 2010
Seconding bcwinters that XLD is a great and simple program. Another nice thing is that you can queue a whole bunch of songs and leave your computer on while you take a nap or something.
posted by wayland at 11:59 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by wayland at 11:59 AM on July 22, 2010
knile, there is a China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider on Europe '72, recorded in the spring of 72, so 8/27/72 can't be the first. Wikepedia suggests they started joining the two songs as early as 1969.
For the OP, I come to Metafilter once again to extol the virtues of Dick's Picks 3, from May 22, 1977. It is not the entire show by any means, but it culminates in an amazing Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Wharf Rat > Terrapin Station > Morning Dew. It also has a Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower that I like a lot. You can download it from the Dead's official site.
I also like Dick's Picks 2 very much. It is from 10/31/71 and is just the second set so, again, not the entire show. It starts with a great Dark Star and the whole set just flows very nicely from there. You can download it from the Dead's official website, too.
For ease of downloading live shows, you might consider going to iTunes and subscribing to the Deadpod podcast.
posted by pasici at 2:15 PM on July 22, 2010
For the OP, I come to Metafilter once again to extol the virtues of Dick's Picks 3, from May 22, 1977. It is not the entire show by any means, but it culminates in an amazing Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Wharf Rat > Terrapin Station > Morning Dew. It also has a Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower that I like a lot. You can download it from the Dead's official site.
I also like Dick's Picks 2 very much. It is from 10/31/71 and is just the second set so, again, not the entire show. It starts with a great Dark Star and the whole set just flows very nicely from there. You can download it from the Dead's official website, too.
For ease of downloading live shows, you might consider going to iTunes and subscribing to the Deadpod podcast.
posted by pasici at 2:15 PM on July 22, 2010
3/29/90 - Branford Marsalis sits in. (There are streaming soundboards, but this is a downloadable (& very listenable) audience FLAC.) Kind of a well-loved show... "Eyes Of The World" is undeniable.
posted by mintcake! at 2:57 PM on July 22, 2010
posted by mintcake! at 2:57 PM on July 22, 2010
You know that you can listen to the streaming shows on Archive.org without expending any effort, right? Any of the shows that are available for streaming will have a player embedded in the page, and all you have to do is click "play." Not iTunes, but I'd think it would be better, since you don't have to waste time (and space) downloading stuff.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:46 PM on July 22, 2010
posted by Afroblanco at 9:46 PM on July 22, 2010
(Psst. He said he wanted to be able to listen while walking.) Anyone know of a easy/free flac to mp3 converter for the pc?
posted by crunchland at 9:50 PM on July 22, 2010
posted by crunchland at 9:50 PM on July 22, 2010
Anyone know of a easy/free flac to mp3 converter for the pc?
LameDrop
posted by mintcake! at 7:07 AM on July 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
LameDrop
posted by mintcake! at 7:07 AM on July 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I use Foobar2000 for file conversion.
As mintcake! says, the Branford Marsalis show is well worth seeking out. For another fine version of Eyes of the World with horns, check out 9-17-73. (Streaming only, unfortunately.)
Another recommendation from later in their career: 7-17-88, a nice late 80s setlist and a great recording from the Greek Theatre.
posted by fogovonslack at 4:20 PM on July 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
As mintcake! says, the Branford Marsalis show is well worth seeking out. For another fine version of Eyes of the World with horns, check out 9-17-73. (Streaming only, unfortunately.)
Another recommendation from later in their career: 7-17-88, a nice late 80s setlist and a great recording from the Greek Theatre.
posted by fogovonslack at 4:20 PM on July 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
(Psst. He said he wanted to be able to listen while walking.)
If you have an iPhone, you can listen to streaming audio from Archive.org while you're walking. I do it all the time.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:39 PM on July 24, 2010
If you have an iPhone, you can listen to streaming audio from Archive.org while you're walking. I do it all the time.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:39 PM on July 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ijoyner at 8:55 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]