Fillmore West, 1969 The Complete Recordings (2005)
The Birth Of An Art Form On 10 CDs
From The Oct. ’07 Archives
One of the greatest box sets of all time. 10 CDs containing “every note” played by the Grateful Dead at The Fillmore West from February 27 to March 2, 1969. This 2005 release was limited to 10,000 copies, which the Dead sold on their website for an unbelievable $75. Of course, at that price, it pre-sold out before it even officially went on sale. Which makes you wonder if the Dead simply underestimated its appeal or grossly under-priced it just to be good to their ever-devoted fans. Obviously the latter… though, it’s probably a bit of both. These are the original 16 track recordings (state of the art in ‘69) that spawned the measly 1969 double LP, Live/Dead, the album that introduced the Dead’s live group dynamic on record. The Complete Recordings, however, is something else altogether. An indispensable document of the Dead’s evolution from a trippy country blues band into rock’s premier exploratory improvisers. They’d been toying with the blues/jazz/free-form concept for years, but in 1969 – and particularly here – it all came together. The lineup: Pigpen, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Tom Constanten. Hear Disc 7′s 24 minute “Turn On Your Love Light,” below. Links & Track Listings in Comments (#90, near the bottom).
108 Comments
you're God!!!
thank
zoo
Thank you very very much!
Nice one Willard.
What a treat-many thanks!
I'll tell you what I think of it: This is the greatest post of 2007 so far! S.ZENI.
NIIIIIIIIICE! Tank you beddy mouch!
Rock on! Thanks a million!
divshare has worked fine for me. If you don't LUUUUUVVVV Live/Dead, you're wasting your time on this one. In my case, words fail me in expressing the gleeful delight in getting these legendary shows, since archive.org no longer hosts them.
A million thank yous, Capt. Willard.
One more thing… I can hardly wait until the morning to see what is on the hidden bonus disc. This is certainly one of the best posts anywhere ever. Woooooo!
thank you very much! great site
Super-nice!
Wonderful post!
Thanks !!!
This hungry Deadhead appreciates the tunefood. Thanks.
The 'Live Dead' album has been one of my fave albums for years now and was looking forward so much to 10 CD box set only to have make do with the 3 CD set.
I really look forward to hearing the whole thing. Thank you so much.
xhl
Just want to say thanks man!
I know it's a lot of work putting up such a massive post and it's really appreciated by all us music fans!
spiralwave
We agree exactly with the comment before. many many thanx for this all (this post and the others, of course…)
Yeah, just found your site and so far it's awesome. Love that you've not gone the RS way… Even though one of these days I'm gonna have to pony up some paper and do a mass run on them.
I'm having a bit of trouble with the #8 MF link – the new one. It's sticking after the start DL step… but I'll give it a shot later. It's happened once or twice with MF before, seems to be self correcting.
Thanks again. Great site. Anything you're looking for to return the favor? Just ask.
Thank you Willard!!!!!
Uhhhhhnnnnhhhhnnnn …. fnnnrrrghhh … *snork* ….
(SPEECHLESS)
Thenk yew.
(There's an Amusing Yet Cogent Review of the 3 disc set over at my blog …)
Yr pal, Pants Elk
Just gotta say:
this is the singlemost awsome music i've heard all year. i've been listening to live/dead since it came out on vinyl way back in the day – albeit from across the great peaceful water…
however, this is something else — way out there beyond the bounds…
domo arigato, capt. trips and you too willard, and remember death don't have no mercy in this land…
taro nombei
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Lord, I love the Tom Constanten era of the Dead's evolution. Thank you so much for making these available. I may have been a filthy greedhog in the past and not thanked you for the Richard Thompson rarities compilations and other items that I downloaded from your site, but just for the record, you are an extremely awesome individual. Many, many thanks. I'll try to do better from now on.
I'm a little man, I'm a little man, you're… you're a great man. I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across floors of silent seas…
WOW – The new link rocks – 5 min is much better than hours! Thank You so much~
GREAT!GREAT!GREAT! That's all I can say. Thanks man.
Wahoo!! Got the set!!!
You should get the Nobel Peace Prize for this …
Just want to say thanks a lot.
Thanks, Willard. Listening to this recording reminds me of those concert days in Philly, D.C., Kansas City, Dallas, Des Moines, L.A. and San Diego.
~Crux
Thank you!
WOW
dude, it's rare to see someone try so hard to keep a post alive. i've had the post since early on, but only recently found the prob with lovelight. shazaam! – already fixed. cheers and thanks!
anon23
Amazing! Thanks, Willard!! This is truly one of the best music blogs I've ever seen.
this is absolutly awsome!!!
i bought my first dead lp in 1973 (live/dead) just because i liked the cover art … then a 13 year old teen the music occured to me as a load of real shit … the lp sat untouched in my shelf ever since … now 35 years later i thought ill give it one more try … hmmm … and what shall i say… i am absolute fanatic about the record now … funny, took me 35 years to bring out the deadhead in me – lol – thank you so much for this beautiful post willard …
if somebody knows where to dl the dead box-sets "beyond description" and/or "golden road", plz plz lemme know ;-)
a new born deadhead
Are any of you dead-heads from outside the U.S., I know it's sacrilege to say that non-yanks can appreciate the dead , but some of us brits do as well. Does anyone recall seeing the dead in Hollywood, (not L.A., but a very rainy weekend in the north of England). How about the Ally-Pally, or the Rainbow, still, the road goes on forever, thanks Willard for this, and the bonus as well. Incidentally, not just 'B.D.' or 'G.R.', but the set produced by Arista back in '99, 'So Many Roads', that's a brilliant set, anyway, keep on truckin'.
All i can say is WOW!!, I thought the original 'Live/Dead' was good, then they brought out 'Golden Road', and it got better, now this. Pride of place, along with all the other 'Dead' stuff I have, and one more reason to believe that truly great music really does get better with age, both that of the music itself, and me. Thanks again Willard.
Good morning, Willard (well, it's morning in France)! The new link for CD1 works perfectly. At this point, I'd be well inspired to transfer the box-set into CDRs in order to avoid other losses. Thanks a lot for your great, great job, mate!!! S.ZENI.
My pleasure, many thanks for the follow up comment.
Most excellent…now I know what to get my deadhead friend for xmas!!
you are the king of uploading thanks for posting a pure treasure dead heads are still alive
thanks i am most grateful
Thanks, W…Some great taste in music on this blog.
Thanks for posting this Live stuff
Grateful Dead fan
Heavypsych dude
See my way cool blog!
Oh, mamma…. Great stuff, m8 :) This is my first time on your blog, but I really, really happy with what I see here :) Come check my blog. Cheers.
Finally went ahead and grabbed all this (thank gawd it's still up and running) – thank you, thank you, 1000 times THANK YOU! This might be the most valuable post in history…cheers!
XO
TSM
http://www.GreenAlienChick.com
Gosh Willard, This package is the BEST! Just to hear the Mountains of the Moon melt into Dark Star on disk two is a dream come true. I never thought I'd get to hear this stuff. Thanks loads.
Thanks Willard! I'm experiencing a mid-life Dead resurgence and finding this post nearly caused a major health event. I'll be checking your other posts, too, to see what damage I can do to myself.
Willard….Grate hookup – Thank you much!!! Do you happen to have the album Art as well… I to Downloaded this 10disc jem from a friend not to long ago. So I have 10 discs + the Bonus disc in flimsy plastic jewl cases…and wanted to be a little creative and make a replica of the original box set. I have all the literature but not the pictures OR Album Art. What I am really looking for is the album Art so I can make this box set look like a real deal box set. Thanks in advance…and keep on truckin'
Hi,
Sorry… I don't post album art. I'm sure there are a few places out there that do, though. If it matters, the artwork was pretty crappy (NOT the box or its contents… just the actual art) – using the same cover for each disc package, just in different colors. Good luck on the quest.
Like said before. You're a GOD. I WORSHIP YOU.
Not joking.
Willard – I came late to this–so glad it's still available! Sincere thanks for making this piece of alternative history accessible to those of us who love and still live the music.
Thanks for your efforts. This will be a nice treat to listen to this weekend.
Thanks so much for these great recordings. The lighten up y life.
Thanks very much for uploading 8 and 10 again!
This looks great! I am new to this though…is downloading this stuff kosher? Or am I at risk? It seems this stuff is all out of print though…
Capt. Willard. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I REALLY wanted to buy this set but was diagnosed with a pretty severe bone cancer that put me in the hospital for a month and reset my priorities. Short of it is, I missed the sale date and needed the funds for other things. I finally found it here and am beyoned jammed that you offered this. You rule!! Thanks again!
The 10 CD box-set is not commanding as high a price as it did a few months ago on Ebay. Maybe people are realizing that the music can be found for free here?
Hi Willard,
Thanks a million for this terrific box set! You are a real saint, and I'm sure glad I found you. I just don't see why this isn't available commercially, at least as a download, geez, they could sell this set till judgement day.
great post man
just to set record straight fillmore box was released in 2005, not in 2004 and the price (w/o pp) was $75, not $80. i know, i paid it
cheers
Hey, it WAS in '05.
Thanks for the clarification.
THanks Willard…
It's working now….i was getting prematurely dramatic. Thanks for the post!
Pher
Cool… thanks for the followup.
What a marvellous idea to propose this 10 box set, now so expensive to buy! Thanks a lot.
But only half of the set is available: as Shareonall is down, is it possible to upload again 2, 4, 7, 8 and 10 on another server? I hope so…
Dead forever!
1000 thanks for your quickness!
Nice job.
Thank you for helping us save our money. Stuff like this site is part of the green economy,LOL.
Thank you soooo much!
I've been wanting this forever!
You've totally made week!
Thanks again.
thanks a lot
Thank you! Disc 3 isn´t working. Can you re-up? Thanks. And keep on trucking. Moonerooney
Yes, thank you mr. Willard. It´s working and I´m so-o thankful. Thank you mr. man and keep up the good work. Mooneyrooney (that´s da name, I misspelled it last time)
Hey Mooney,
Thanks for the follow up.
Wow!
Just completed the download of all 10 discs in about 30 minutes.
I've been looking for these for quite awhile in all the usual places without luck, so a big big thanks to you…..
This something beyond words. This is a…masterpiece.
What more can I say?.
Thank you very much indeed.
Far out, Man! This is better than those unexpected flashbacks I get from days past!!!
…by the way, looks like disc 9 has been removed. can you reup?
Just tried it. 9 is there and OK.
must have been one of those glitches. i tried again just now to success!! Willard, you are the man! Thank you!!
Thanks for the follow up.
Great Stuff…Thank You VERY Much…the world needs more like you
neato
Hmmm….I tried the links on 6 and 9 again after clearing my Temp File and Cookies cache and they worked fine. Must be ghosts in the machine. Post a response if you are in need of a comp Dead ticket.
Hi Adam,
No, but thanks for the offer.
YOU DA MAN! Been looking for this one since I passed up buying it in 2005 (like an idiot) and missed the boat! Been kicking myself ever since! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS! A true gift!
Thank You for this wonderful gift!
Willard—thank you, thank you! A truly wonderful gift. And to think I just stumbled upon it. I had no idea. WOW! Mark in Austin
uh…wow!!!
Thank you, stranger…thank you very much!
-a happy deadhead
Hey Willard so many thx 4 this golden post.
Realy a gr8 work to let this post
live 4 years
Have a good live and a gratefull dead
Oooof. That is good. That is very good. I thank you.
Thanks a lot.
dec.7,2009 thank you, willard!!!
I have been looking all over to try to get these recordings. I missed out on the dead release, no money. I have tried for 4 yrs. I am unemployed at the moment and not much money. you have given me the greatest gift and it is my special Xmas gift. there wont be much around the tree this year but my heart is filled with these 10 discs. let there be songs to fill the air. I will pass on the gift you gave me. I will do something good for someone I do not know and for someone who needs help through the holidays. I will do a food drive to benefit the local foodbank.
I will give to those who need, even when I am unemployed and lost my job. wow, hope this thread goes out into cyberspace and may give others ideas. I know I cant change the world, but my actions help my little town. everybody help out in your own town, and city. then we all can do something good. stay positive.
Cool. What can I say? A nobel idea. I'm sure The Dead – and your recipients of kindness – will appreciate that. Thanks for commenting.
thanks for taking the time to make this available. much appreciated.
MANY thanks for this, as well as the other treasures to be found here. QUESTION: in the list of links, you have Disc 8 as 1 March. Is that a typo and 8-10 are 2 March (as it says elsewhere)?
Just a typo, thanks for mentioning it.
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Find it all HERE
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DISC 1 – February 27, 1969
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Doin' That Rag
That’s It For The Other One/Cryptical Envelopment
DISC 2
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Mountains Of The Moon
Dark Star
St. Stephen
The Eleven
Turn On Your Love Light
Cosmic Charlie
DISC 3 – February 28, 1969
Morning Dew
Good Morning Little School Girl
Doin' That Rag
I'm A King Bee
Turn On Your Love Light
DISC 4
That’s It For The Other One/Cryptical Envelopment
Dark Star
St. Stephen
The Eleven
Death Don't Have No Mercy
DISC 5
Alligator
Drums
Jam
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)
Feedback
We Bid You Goodnight
DISC 6 – March 1, 1969
That’s It For The Other One/Cryptical Envelopment
New Potato Caboose
Doin' That Rag
Cosmic Charlie
DISC 7
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Mountains Of The Moon
Dark Star
St. Stephen
The Eleven
Turn On Your Love Light
Hey Jude
DISC 8 – March 2, 1969
Dark Star
St. Stephen
The Eleven
Turn On Your Love Light
DISC 9
Doin' That Rag
That’s It For The Other One/Cryptical Envelopment
Death Don't Have No Mercy
Morning Dew
DISC 10
Alligator
Drums
Jam
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)
Feedback
We Bid You Goodnight
Willard – You are the MAN! Thank you so much! Love the back and forth bounce between mediafire and megaupload… very smart way to do that! Great box set!! Dead on.. Goose
Willard,
Brilliant – thanks. I missed out on the original sale because GD didn't supply to Spin (their usual UK outlet) even though it was pre-ordered – and have tried and failed a few times on eBay as I'm not willing to go over £150/$200. This fills a big gap in my GD listening.
I'm a newly converted Dead fan and this has been a great listen. I've played the whole thing straight through at my record store, on Disc 7 right now. Thanks a bunch
thank you so much, this is an era that is remarkably different … The energy and invention on these is totally beyond comparison…
Thanks for all the comments. They're very appreciated.
I wish you could see the smile on my face. Many many thanks!
I am having trouble unlocking the mediafire things. The rest work fine. You said the password is willard yet it isn’t working. is there something else I can do??? I love your sight esp the Richard Thompson stuff.Thanks Phil
Password is case sensitive. Use a capital W on Willard.
UPDATE: Hey Phil… nevermind all that. I just re-upped everything. Now all you need to do is follow the link (comment #90) and get everything there. Comment if there are any problems. Thanks.
Cap, this is awesome! Thanks a million man. I’ve been jonesing for some 60′s Pigpen-Era DEAD. This should do it :)
Check out what this Box Set is going for at Amazon these days…. Holy s&%$!!!
I really regret not grabbing this back in ’05 for the ultra low price of $75
Just looked (click the cover art). Whoo-hoo! Guess I should have held on to mine a bit longer. I think I got $400 (or was it $500) for mine… and was quite happy about it (then).
Willard, disc 10 (that in mediafire) is unavailable, no problems with the rest in DF. Could you please re-up that one? Thank you.
New link up. Thanks.
I JUST found your music Blog.I truly don’t know how I have missed it for this long. You may have one of the greatest blogs ever. Thanks for all these outstanding posts/contributions. Again THANKS.
Thanks.
Thanks for this box set. Disc 9 needs a fix, the rest work fine.
Just tried #9 and it seems to be working fine. I usually advise using a different browser, but if the others are working OK for you that shouldn’t be the issue. Try it again later and, if it’s not working, describe in detail what it’s doing.
So it worked in chrome after not working in safari, opera, and firefox. weird. Thanks for the tip.
Wish I could explain it. I’ve had some people just go back to posts later with the same browser and it works fine. Doesn’t make any sense though. Thanks for the follow up.