REVIEWS

The year 1976 was one of the most important moments in the storied history of the Grateful Dead. Almost two years prior, they had announced that they would end touring, as playing arenas and stadiums proved to be a money-losing pursuit. Transporting the sound systems needed to fill these vast spaces was cost prohibitive and logistically fraught with problems. During their time away from the road they performed with their own bands, sometimes with each other, and these solo projects seemed to be just enough to occupy their varied interests. That was until the debt they had accrued became something they could no longer ignore.

Enter 25-year-old John Scher, who was quickly becoming the biggest concert promoter on the East Coast. His idea was to have the band walk away from stadiums and arenas and focus on theaters and concert halls. With the help of a Bay Area computer firm, they married this new approach to the road with the first mail order ticket system. A 78,000 person list was assembled and sorted alphabetically and by Zip code. Fans were to be notified by mail that they qualified for tickets. This automated approach to selling tickets and the smaller venues were sold to fans as a way to keep prices down, and ensure that the experience was more intimate and “hassle free.” The smaller venues proved to be all that they were billed. The shows delivered an energy that was undeniable, and the reviews were arguably the best the band had ever received. The ticket-selling process didn’t go as well. In fairness it was brand new and groundbreaking. It was also clunky. Procedural errors prompted scores of angry letters from fans who had felt like the band had let them down. Often the fans had almost no time at all to respond and mail back the form. That might have been the only miss in the entire 18-engagement tour, but it was a loud message to a band that had always put its fans first.

Now the two-track live recordings that Grateful Dead engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson captured from these June shows are offi cially being contributor Jesse Jarnow, and photos from the tour by famed camera man Grant Gouldon. It’s a limited edition (12,000 copies) individually numbered collector’s set that’s been very carefully assembled and curated. In short, it’s stunning.