I asked twitter heads what kind of not-whole-show releases they would pay money for, and the replies were interesting and fun.
I’ve collected most of the them below, grouped into a few categories, so you can get a sense of interest in different areas.
It should be noted that the single replies that got the most likes were:
- Donna Sings/Keith Plays (separate discs) (11 likes)
- I think highlights from later years. Thinking 92-95 especially. (11 likes)
- all the recordings that were done for the live parts of anthem of the sun (10 likes)
It should also be noted that numerous of people ignored the "not-whole-shows" aspect of the question and asked for more of them/boxes of them. Those replies aren't included here, but the fact that they happened underscores the strength of the whole-show mindset/market.
You can check out how people responded to the various ideas and add your own likes and thoughts onto the original twitter discussion right here.
Player-Based Concepts
A "Donna Sings" CD. Highlighting Donna. And a "Keith Plays" CD. Mix towards vocals and piano. Some isolated or high mix Keith long jam. And an Several minute Donna Playin mix.
Featuring Ned Lagin series.
“Get Yer Hands Out Your Pockets!” - a focus on Pigpen’s singing and playing, and when he inspired great jams by getting everyone worked up then says “ok, play your guitars!”
Acoustic Focus
Acoustic dead
An obvious niche would be a collection of the best acoustic set songs.
Curated Releases from Multiple Shows
… a highlights package from a run or a few week stretch would be great..
Tour/run highlights.
Great jam segments. Especially from the later years, and perhaps this approach might make some pre-87 80s releases possible in terms of vault contents and quality.
I think highlights from later years. Thinking 92-95 especially. Like a box set of Boston Garden 94 highlights. As one of many potential ideas
The following are presumably curated release concepts – not giant boxes of multiple whole shows:
- Whole tour approach
- Sequential years runs at a venue
- Greek theater box set!!
Curation + Mad-Scientist Editing: Jams & Weirdness
Infrared Roses II.
Plunderphonics/Greyfolded based on The Other One.
Interstitial zones- those in between places that are neither and both China & Rider, Scarlet & Fire, Estimated & Eyes, NFS & GDTRFB, St Stephen & The Eleven, Whatever & Whathaveyou...
I’d pay for a release of the isolated tracks of the instruments during the Playing in the Band and Dark Star from 8/27/72.
I had a dream last night that I bought an official feedback only mix 2xCD, so now it's all I want IRL
A Grayfolded-style mix of jams from songs with internal, bookended jams like cassidy/bird song/playin, etc on one disk. The other disc just outro jams like MNS, stranger, shakedown, etc.
More Drums/Space comps like 'Infrared Roses', but across time periods. Full jams, dubby/trippy mixes, whatever works.
Kind of like a road trips mix but slice and dice jams from the same songs together to make extended jams within a show or set of songs from a week of shows. This lends to a nice break with shorter songs that don’t normally have jams but allows the jam variation songs to shine
I would do a three disc instrumental jam box set called just the jams.
a mix that focuses on jams with song teases, that then segue into a totally different song
Would love a series of less than stellar but nonetheless interesting versions of songs. I'd even take a disc set of aborted songs and rip cord segues.
Patches. Really really good sbd > aud > sbd patches.
More Specific Concepts
all the recordings that were done for the live parts of anthem of the sun is on the top of my list.
Each studio album recreated with live performances of each song instead. It would be tough to nail down each song's best suited live version, and still kinda keep the album flow.
I would do song evolutions. Like, a collection of China Cat > Riders from early days through the 90s.
Thinking back to cassettes, we always had the Killer Philler. Single tunes that were fun covers, breakouts and bloopers.