What listeners are left with is a loose assortment of shorter tracks and self-contained performances. So, why weren't those tracks accessed for this release? In essence, this boils down to two factors: the absence of quality control at the time the recordings were made, and some decidedly unsavory and unethical conduct by the band's concurrent management. Because the band had announced their decision to cease their incessant touring and essentially go on sabbatical, these concerts were being touted at the time as the "final four." By all accounts there was plenty of inspired musical interaction during the course of the run. Steal Your Face is compiled from the same four-night stand (October 16 through October 20, 1974) at Winterland Arena that the Dead filmed for the Grateful Dead Movie (1976). The evidence, however, speaks in the package's indescribably poor song selection and complete lack of cohesion. The story of why the Dead would contribute to such substandard workmanship has long been grist for the rumor mill. However, somewhat obscured beneath what is not on this collection are a few salvageable performances. These are undeniably accurate thumbnail assessments. Some Deadheads and enthusiasts have dismissed this two-disc live set as being foul-sounding and wholly unrepresentative of a typical Grateful Dead show circa 1974.
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