GATE FOLD HOE

COMING SOON: 

GRATEFUL DEAD :: CORNELL 5/8/77

Many Deadheads believe, of the thousands of storied shows the Dead ever played, Barton Hall ‘77 is the GREATEST SHOW THEY EVER PLAYED.

It’s arguable...but there’s no denying that the band was absolutely on fire and in sync with one another that night on another level than they typically reach. 

It is FINALLY being officially released on CD and Vinyl for the 40th Anniversary, this May. 

Here’s what dead.net has to say:

“...the single best rock performance anywhere, anytime, by anyone.”

“There was just some kind of magical connection this night between the band members and the band and the audience - some texture, or some type of cosmic or celestial force is in the room.”

"This show is, was, and always will be Mecca.”

The Grateful Dead played more than 2,000 concerts, but none continues to spark interest and provoke discussion quite like the band’s performance at Cornell University’s Barton Hall on May 8, 1977. It is one of the most collected, traded, and debated concerts by any band ever, has topped numerous fan polls through the years, and was a favorite of the group’s longtime archivist Dick Latvala, who stated: “Enough can’t be said about this superb show.” Even Uncle Sam got into the act in 2011 when the recording was “deemed so important to the history and culture of the United States” that a copy was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Limited edition of 7,700

“Q: Any words of advice to the young generation who’s getting into music and records?

A: Well, there’s nothing today coming out that worth’s anything. Kids are all brainwashed today listening to that electronic garbage. Sure there’s a few kids interested in the old music. And they’d have to pay a hell of a price to get into that music. These rare records disappear into collections and into black holes. Never see them again.”

1971 45rpm single “Watching The River Flow” b/w “Spanish Is The Loving Tongue”

Studio version never lasts long on YouTube. It was included on Bootleg Vol. 10 - Another Self Portrait (2013) (one of my favorite of the Boot Series). 

Here’s a good quality live version from later years: