The live albums the band released during its 30-year career are the primary source for the collection, with some performances selected from the growing number of live releases that have emerged since 1995. Vol. 1 covers 1969-1977 with fan-favorite tracks such as “Bertha” from the 1971 Skull & Roses, and “Truckin’” and a searing rendition of “Morning Dew,” from the revered double-album Europe ’72.
“We wanted to follow up the 2015 The Best Of The Grateful Dead studio set with a live counterpart, and have focused our efforts on the band’s primary live albums as well as some key tracks from archival concert releases,” says band archivist and producer David Lemieux. “Just as there was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, there is also nothing like a live Grateful Dead recording; it’s no secret that as good as the Dead’s studio recordings were, they excelled in front of an audience, and this set provides an overview of just how great the Dead were live in concert.”