Europe '72: The Complete Recordings is a box set of live recordings by the rock band the Grateful Dead. Billed as a "mega box set", it contains all of the band's spring 1972 concert tour of Europe—22 complete shows, on 73 CDs. It was released on September 1, 2011.
All 22 concerts from Europe '72: The Complete Recordings were also produced as individual albums, most of them on three or four CDs. They were released in chronological order, in four batches, from October to December 2011. Each of the individual album covers features artwork by Scott McDougall, inspired by the front and back cover art that was created by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley for the original Europe '72 album.
Production The CDs for the album were created by remastering the original 16-track analog tapes. The set was mastered in HDCD format. This provides enhanced sound quality when played on CD players with HDCD capability, but is fully compatible with conventional CD players.
The collection was first announced on January 19, 2011, and was described as consisting of "over 60" CDs; the final CD count was 73. Initially, the set was offered as a limited edition of 7,200 copies, each of which is encased in a box that looks like a steamer trunk, and includes an illustrated hardcover book and other bonus material. The first 3,000 of these sets are personalized with a name of the buyer's choice. The demand was much greater than anticipated, and all 7,200 sets were sold online within four days. In response to the ongoing demand, additional copies of the set were released, dubbed Europe '72: The Complete Recordings — All the Music Edition, which have individual packaging for each concert, with liner notes, but which do not include the steamer trunk case, the book, or the other extras. Before they sold out, both the regular edition and the All the Music edition were priced at $450.
Other albums from the Europe '72 tour Four previous live albums were taken from the band's 1972 European tour. Europe '72 was released in 1972 as a triple LP, and later rereleased as double CD, and has vocal tracks that were overdubbed in the recording studio. Hundred Year Hall is a two-disc CD taken from the April 26 concert in Frankfurt. Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72 is a four-disc CD of selections from various concerts in England. And Rockin' the Rhein with the Grateful Dead, on three discs, contains the complete concert from April 24 in Düsseldorf.
A new collection, Europe '72 Volume 2, released a few weeks after the box set, features two CDs of performances selected from the Complete Recordings. None of the songs on this album were included in Europe '72.
Lyceum '72: The Complete Recordings contains the last four concerts of the Europe '72 tour, which were performed on May 23 to May 26 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. It was released as a 24-LP vinyl box set on July 29, 2022. Lyceum Theatre, London, England 5/26/72 contains the last concert of the tour, as a four-disc CD, and was released on the same date.
The LP Dark Star, containing only the song "Dark Star" from the May 4, 1972, concert at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, was released on April 21, 2012, for Record Store Day.
The May 3, 1972, concert at the Olympia Theatre in Paris was released as a six-disc vinyl LP on June 12, 2021, as part of Record Store Day.
The April 8, 1972, concert at Wembley Empire Pool in London was released as a five-disc vinyl LP on April 23, 2022, as part of Record Store Day.
The April 7, 1972, concert at Wembley Empire Pool in London was released as a five-disc vinyl LP on November 25, 2022, as part of Record Store Day Black Friday.
Concerts Europe '72: The Complete Recordings contains the following concerts:
DateCityCountryVenueApril 7, 1972LondonEnglandEmpire PoolApril 8, 1972April 11, 1972Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle City HallApril 14, 1972CopenhagenDenmarkTivoli Concert HallApril 16, 1972AarhusStakladenApril 17, 1972CopenhagenTivoli Concert HallApril 21, 1972BremenWest GermanyBeat-ClubApril 24, 1972DüsseldorfRheinhalleApril 26, 1972FrankfurtJahrhunderthalleApril 29, 1972HamburgMusikhalleMay 3, 1972ParisFranceOlympiaMay 4, 1972May 7, 1972BickershawEnglandBickershaw FestivalMay 10, 1972AmsterdamNetherlandsConcertgebouwMay 11, 1972RotterdamGrote ZaalMay 13, 1972LilleFranceEsplanade du Champ de MarsMay 16, 1972Luxembourg CityLuxembourgVilla LouvignyMay 18, 1972MunichWest GermanyKongressaalMay 23, 1972LondonEnglandLyceum TheatreMay 24, 1972May 25, 1972May 26, 1972
Personnel
Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, vocals, pedal steel guitar (on "Looks Like Rain"), organ (on "Good Lovin'") Donna Jean Godchaux – vocals Keith Godchaux – piano Bill Kreutzmann – drums Phil Lesh – electric bass, vocals Ron "Pigpen" McKernan – organ, harmonica, percussion, vocals Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, vocals
Production Produced for release by David Lemieux Tape transfers and wow and flutter correction by John K Chester and Jamie Howarth, Plangent Processes Mixed by Jeffrey Norman at Prairie Sun Recording, Cotati, California CD mastering by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering, Boulder, Colorado Recording by Betty Cantor, Janet Furman, Bob Matthews, Rosie, Wizard Cover illustrations by Scott McDougall Package design by Steve Vance Liner notes written by Gary Lambert, Rosie McGee, Larry Rogers, Palle Lykke, Blair Jackson, David Gans, Steve Silberman, Jeff Tamarkin, Simon Robinson, Nicholas Meriwether, Sam Cutler, Chris Jones, Alex Allan
Track listing
Europe '72, Vol. 1: Wembley Empire Pool, London, England (4/7/1972) Album released October 3, 2011 Length 163:28 (2:43:28)
Disc 1 First set: "Greatest Story Ever Told" (Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Robert Hunter) – 5:24 "Sugaree" (Jerry Garcia, Hunter) – 7:08 "Chinatown Shuffle" (Ron "Pigpen" McKernan) – 3:02 "Me and My Uncle" (John Phillips) – 3:38Also released on Europe '72 Volume 2. "China Cat Sunflower" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:33 → "I Know You Rider" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 5:14 "Big Boss Man" (Al Smith, Luther Dixon) – 4:38 "Black-Throated Wind" (Weir, John Perry Barlow) – 5:55 "Loser" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:55 "Mr. Charlie" (McKernan, Hunter) – 4:56 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Jesse Fuller) – 3:58 "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:02 Disc 2 "Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 10:04 Second set: "Truckin'" (Garcia, Phil Lesh, Weir, Hunter) > – 10:53Previously released on Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72. "Drums" (Bill Kreutzmann) – 2:39 → "The Other One" (Weir, Kreutzmann) – 19:36 → "El Paso" (Marty Robbins) – 4:44 → "The Other One" (Weir, Kreutzmann) – 8:20 → "Wharf Rat" (Garcia, Hunter) – 10:58 Disc 3 "Ramble On Rose" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:21 "Sugar Magnolia" (Weir, Hunter) – 7:56 "Not Fade Away" (Norman Petty, Charles Hardin) – 4:19 → "Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 6:08 → "Not Fade Away" (Petty, Hardin) – 3:42 Encore: "One More Saturday Night" (Weir) – 4:36 Notes
Europe '72, Vol. 2: Wembley Empire Pool, London, England (4/8/1972) Album released October 3, 2011 Length 177:59 (2:57:59)
Disc 1 First set: "Bertha" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:44 "Me and My Uncle" (Phillips) – 3:20 "Mr. Charlie" (McKernan, Hunter) – 3:56 "Deal" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:54 "Black-Throated Wind" (Weir, Barlow) – 6:02Previously released on Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72. "Next Time You See Me" (William Harvey, Earl Forest) – 4:32 "Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 5:56 The Yellow Dog Story (traditional, arranged by Bob Weir) – 3:13 "Brown-Eyed Women" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:08 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Fuller) – 3:35 "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:18 Disc 2 "Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 11:28 "Good Lovin'" (Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick) – 10:43 "Looks Like Rain" (Weir, Barlow) – 7:57 "Casey Jones" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:29 Second set: "Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 11:52 "Big Railroad Blues" (Noah Lewis, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 4:29 "Hurts Me Too" (Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn) – 5:56 Disc 3 "Dark Star" (Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir, Hunter) > – 32:09 "Sugar Magnolia" (Weir, Hunter) > – 7:17 "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)" (Grateful Dead) – 18:30 Encore: "One More Saturday Night" (Weir) – 5:46 Notes
Europe '72, Vol. 3: City Hall, Newcastle, England (4/11/1972) Album released October 3, 2011 Length 202:18 (3:22:18)
Disc 1 First set: "Greatest Story Ever Told" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 5:43 "Deal" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:38Previously released on Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72. "Mr. Charlie" (McKernan, Hunter) – 4:03 "Black-Throated Wind" (Weir, Barlow) – 6:29 "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:14 "Big Boss Man" (Smith, Dixon) – 6:52 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Fuller) – 3:25 "Sugaree" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:23 "Jack Straw" (Weir, Hunter) – 5:11 "Chinatown Shuffle" (McKernan) – 2:47 "China Cat Sunflower" (Garcia, Hunter) > – 6:31 "I Know You Rider" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 5:56 Disc 2 "Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 10:53 "Next Time You See Me" (Harvey, Forest) – 5:24 "Brown-Eyed Women" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:33 "Looks Like Rain" (Weir, Barlow) – 7:12 "Big Railroad Blues" (Lewis, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 3:33 "Casey Jones" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:01 Second set: "Good Lovin'" (Clark, Resnick) – 15:27 "Ramble On Rose" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:14 Disc 3 "Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) > – 19:26 "Drums" (Kreutzmann) > – 3:18 "The Other One" (Weir, Kreutzmann) > – 25:47 "Comes a Time" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:55 "Sugar Magnolia" (Weir, Hunter) – 7:50 Encore: "Brokedown Palace" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:58 "One More Saturday Night" (Weir) – 4:52 Notes
Europe '72, Vol. 4: Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark (4/14/1972) Album released October 3, 2011 Length 206:16 (3:26:16)
Disc 1 First set: "Bertha" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:32Also released on Europe '72 Volume 2. "Me and My Uncle" (Phillips) – 3:27 "Mr. Charlie" (McKernan, Hunter) – 4:46 "You Win Again" (Hank Williams) – 4:01 "Black-Throated Wind" (Weir, Barlow) – 6:07Also released on Europe '72 Volume 2. "Chinatown Shuffle" (McKernan) – 2:52Also released on Europe '72 Volume 2. "Loser" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:34 "Me and Bobby McGee" (Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster) – 6:04 "Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 5:34 "Playing in the Band" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 11:27 Disc 2 "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:56 "El Paso" (Robbins) – 4:24 "Big Boss Man" (Smith, Dixon) – 6:24 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Fuller) – 3:16 "Casey Jones" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:53 (the first ~34.5 seconds of Casey Jones is a patch from a different performance) Second set: "Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 10:55 "Hurts Me Too" (James, Sehorn) – 6:57 "Brown-Eyed Women" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:57 "Looks Like Rain" (Weir, Barlow) – 7:06 Disc 3 "Dark Star" (Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir, Hunter) > – 29:25 "Sugar Magnolia" (Weir, Hunter) > – 6:41 "Good Lovin'" (Clark, Resnick) > – 18:27Previously released on Europe '72 (bonus track). "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)" (Grateful Dead) > – 6:44Previously released on Europe '72 (bonus track). "Good Lovin'" (Clark, Resnick) – 3:00 Disc 4 "Ramble On Rose" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:25 "Not Fade Away" (Petty, Hardin) > – 5:39 "Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) > – 6:55 "Not Fade Away" (Petty, Hardin) – 3:25 Encore: "One More Saturday Night" (Weir) – 4:44 Notes
Europe '72, Vol. 5: Stakladen, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (4/16/1972) Album released October 3, 2011 Length 169:47 (2:49:47)
Disc 1 First set: "Greatest Story Ever Told" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 5:53 "Sugaree" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:04 "Chinatown Shuffle" (McKernan) – 3:11 "Black-Throated Wind" (Weir, Barlow) – 6:40 "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:39 "Mr. Charlie" (McKernan, Hunter) – 4:12 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Fuller) – 3:12 "China Cat Sunflower" (Garcia, Hunter) > – 6:37