Grateful Dead* – Beacon Theatre - New York, NY - June 14, 1976

Word of caution - be mindful of someone that is listing this for sale under various names on Discogs with a comment that directs you to his/her websites for purchase (typically only one active listing, but they are using multiple website addresses). You may get a response or two when emailing about your order, but you will never receive what you're ordering. All examples thus far have been listed for purchase at $80.

This release is amazing. The quality of the packaging and records are fantastic. Quiet records with little to no surface noise! The big river and might as well on set 1 are mind numbing! Not to mention one of the best Samson and Delilah’s I’ve heard! The band came out swinging on this show!

I have 45 Dead shows on vinyl including some of the best sounding (Sunshine Daydream, Truckin up to Buffalo, original pressing Cornell 77, Wake up to Find Out, Dicks Picks 12), but IMHO, this is the best sounding of all of them. Huge soundstage with each musician perfectly spaced. Jerry stage left, Bob stage right with Donna, their vocals upfront and easily placed, Bill and Mickey on stage left and right respectively and slightly above the stage. Keith far right and slightly toward the back. Wow. I have many Betty recordings cut by Bellman and Plangetized, but what ever they did for this 1976 concert, I hope they keep doing! May not be the greatest Dead show, but the sound quality is absolutely amazing!!

Some outstanding songs are playing here. "Playing in the Band" takes up one side. Jerry and the band go jazzy, with Jerry providing lengthy improvisation. It starts like Morning Dew and ends up with a jam kind of like Dark Star. It's the most impressive track so far, and I haven't heard nearly all the records.

I wasn't expecting that much out of this set, tbh. I have the June 76 release from a few years ago, and while they sound nice, I never was really hooked by any of these shows.
However, I am very impressed by this box set. It certainly appears to have been mastered for vinyl and it shows. This show really pops and sounds just as good as any of the May 77 boxes, DaP 1 (Richmond 77), Pembroke, etc. Plus it has some gems in the show that I don't really have on vinyl. The side of Wheel -Sampson - HIgh Time really stood out. I was very pleased with the whole listen last night.
Also, credits are really incomplete here. Betty Cantor-Jackson Recording, Tapes provided by ABCD Enterprises, LLC, Plangent tape restoration by Jamie Horwath, Mastering by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, Lacquers cut by Bellman at BG. Really A+ team on this one.

HEY NOW

Purchased for $124.95, heard some were paying $150. It’s a solid show, not necessarily a barn burner. First set is crispy, Cosmic Charlie was a delight (five year bustout). 4/5.

Good show, nice package as usual - Tariffs must be hitting this release for American sellers judging by the prices from American sellers and noting this was made in . I bought this in Canada at a store for $140 CAD.