Grateful Dead / Wea

Every Deadhead has favorite pockets of shows – for those who jumped on the bus early, that might be any run between 1970-72, or the fabled Spring of ‘77. For latecomers (i.e., those who signed on after “Touch of Grey” in 1987) or career ‘heads, the spring of 1990 looms large. The GD archivists have sought to address the latter group in a big way with this massive boxed set: six complete shows on 18 discs, housed in an enormous box (three inches thick) filled with all sorts of goodies including a tour program, hardcover book, ticket stubs, promo photo, backstage passes and more – all selling for $200. It’s a stunning addition to the Grateful Dead shelf, but what of the music? That, of course, depends on how one feels about the Dead at this stage to begin with. Brent Mydland, the band’s keyboardist at the time, had been with the band for some 11 years but would be dead in July, so these shows – from the East Coast, Canada and the South – mark some of his parting moments. That the band is playing well (although they are, at times, a bit uninspired) is never in question, so picking highlights is an exercise in futility, as every listener will likely choose another (Hartford first set and the “Hey Jude> Dear Mr. Fantasy” jam from Ontario are good starting points). Whether listened to in a marathon session or sipped casually like wine, there’s plenty to grab onto here. With Jerry Garcia in relatively good shape at the time vocally and playing-wise, this may very well have been, as many believe, the last great tour. For those who are wary of shelling out the big bucks, a two-CD distillation is also available.