Listen To The River: St. Louis '71 '72 '73 (20-CD)

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July 21, 2021 - 6:32am

1,587 replies

Srinivasan.Mut…

Joined:
July 2, 2018

What's Inside:
7 Previously Unreleased Complete Shows On 20 Discs
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/09/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/10/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/17/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/18/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/19/72
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/29/73
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/30/73
Sourced from tapes recorded by Rex Jackson, Owsley "Bear" Stanley, and Kidd Candelario
Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman
Restoration and Speed Correction by Plangent Processes

Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 13,000

Steamboats and BBQ, ice cream cones and Mardi Gras - are you ready to laissez les bons temps rouler with the "gateway" to the Grateful Dead? Meet us, won't you, in St. Louis for seven complete and previously unreleased Dead concerts that capture the heart of the band's affinity for the River City.

LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73 is a 20CD set featuring five shows from the Fox Theatre - December 9 and 10, 1971; October 17-19, 1972; and two from the Kiel Auditorium - October 29 and 30, 1973.

The seven shows in the collection span slightly less than two years, but they represent some of the best shows the Grateful Dead played during some of its peak tours. The music tells the story of a band evolving, changing from one sound to another seamlessly, precipitated – in large part – by significant personnel changes in the Dead’s lineup.

The two 1971 shows feature the original Grateful Dead lineup plus newcomer Keith Godchaux on piano. This version of the band would hold together for the next six months as the Dead embarked upon its Europe ’72 tour. By the time the Dead returned to the Fox Theatre less than a year later, they were without Pigpen, who’d played his final show with the Dead at the Hollywood Bowl on June 17, 1972. A year after the exceptional Fox 1972 shows, the Dead came back to St. Louis, but played the much larger Kiel Auditorium, touring behind the release of WAKE OF THE FLOOD, which came out just two weeks before.

All told, the band played 60 different songs during these shows highlighted by blazing romps through “Beat It On Down The Line” and “One More Saturday Night” and wistful takes on “Row Jimmy” and “Brokedown Palace” (whose lyrics give the collection its name). Meanwhile, the copious jamming ebbed and flowed like the mighty Mississippi River on multiple voyages through “The Other One” and “Dark Star.” Naturally, the band paid tribute to one of its favorite rock and rollers and one of St. Louis’ biggest stars by playing Chuck Berry songs at every show in the collection, including Pigpen galloping through “Run Rudolph Run.”

Each show has been restored and speed corrected using Plangent Processes with mastering by Jeffrey Norman. The collection comes in a slipcase with artwork by Liane Plant and features an 84-page hardbound book as well as other Dead surprises. To set the stage for the music, the liner notes provide several essays about the shows, including one by Sam Cutler, the band’s tour manager during that era, and another by Grateful Dead scholar Nicholas G. Meriwether, among others.

Due October 1st, LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73, is limited to 13,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from Dead.net.

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November 30, 2021 - 1:54am

#411

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

Never cut what you can untie……

I’m not big into analyzing—or choosing--one show over another. I like what I like, but I am interested in what criteria folks use to judge what is “best”. The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.

Style? Content? Quantity over quality? What is the value, if any, of weirdness? Whose tunes are “better”? Decisions, decisions, decisions, every song is like a painting. Speaking of which, Renoir-Dostoevsky-Mingus-Frost-Bradbury-Rubies. Just for the record….

Honestly, I love BOTH shows. One is “merely excellent”, while the other is “quirkily classic”. Which one is which? The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions. By constant contemplation of excellence, we clear our selfhood of all dross and impurities. Freedom comes with the impossibility of choosing…..

This may surprise no one, but if I had to choose a “desert island show”, it would not be either of these shows, although clearly, both are exceptionally fine, and worthy!!! Music is the best means we have of digesting time…..

Tomorrow brings December, be prepared! He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter……

Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest, the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life……

Rock on!!

Doc
Truly fertile music, the only kind that will move us, that we shall truly appreciate, will be a music conducive to dream, which banishes all reason and analysis. One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate reason.
November 29, 2021 - 1:59am

#412

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

I respect music, I do, I love it…………..

Fox Theater December 10 1971

Set 1: 12 songs. Opener: Bertha. Closer: Casey Jones. 6 Garcia (including two back-to back), 4 Weir, 2 Pigpen.

Well played, somewhat Garcia-centric first set. No major surprises or weirdness. Appears “typical” for late 1971, which still means “excellent”. Even so, clearly, on this evening the goodies were delivered in the second set.

Set 2: 14 songs. Opener: Good Lovin’. Closer: NFA reprise. 5 Garcia, 5 Weir, 1 Pigpen, 2 “group” (NFA, NFA reprise), 1 loose jam (sometimes labelled “China Cat” jam”, which lasts perhaps one minute, does that count as a song?).

Encore: One More Saturday Night. Big jam: The Other One.

Really fine Good Lovin’ to open, here Pigpen reveals his old soul, the only time it was played this month. Excellent big jam, as the Other One bobs and weaves along, seamlessly transitioning into and out of Sitting On Top Of The World. Typical fine late 71 jamming in the NFA suite. Rockin’ Saturday Night to close the show.

Now, after all these decades, we are treated to the full sonic majesty of the second Fox Theater. Now, without doubt, it shall get its due respect………..

Overall rating: Excellent!!

Rock on!!!

Doc
To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth……
November 28, 2021 - 12:44pm

#413

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Grateful whine

12 5 71 should have been the one released, not what was released.
November 28, 2021 - 2:18am

#414

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

Where's your will to be weird?

Felt Forum December 5 1971

Set 1: 15 songs. Opener: Bertha. Closer: One More Saturday Night. 7 Garcia, 5 Weir, 3 Pigpen.

Substantial, top notch first set. Perhaps the greatest one-off ever, revealing Garcia’s old soul. Muddy Water sounds so well rehearsed, as if it had been in the repertoire forever. Garcia’s picking is so so sweet. Solid Weir and Pigpen material. Excellent first set.

Set 2: 15 songs, plus one ‘loose jam”. Opener: Truckin’. Closer: NFA reprise. 5 Weir, 7 Garcia, 1 Pigpen, 2 “group” (NFA, NFA reprise). Encore: Johnny B Goode. Big jam: Dark Star.

A Truckin’ for the ages. A nonverbal—but certainly not silent---version of their signature psychedelic opus. Fine jamming in the NFA suite. Really fine second set.

We should revel in the gooey exotic weirdness of the Felt Forum show. Twists and turns, peaks and valleys, Pigpen and Bakersfield, rock and roll, Grateful Dead. In December 1971, did it get any better than this???

Overall rating: classic of the first rank.

Tomorrow: Second St Louis, Rodney Dangerfield’s favorite December 1971 show…..

Rock on!!

Doc
Embrace your weirdness!
November 27, 2021 - 3:17pm

#415

Deadicated

Joined:
June 4, 2007

11/27th heaven

Billie, Peggy Lee, Bird, Jimmy Forrest , Ya Ya's, Roy Buchanon "Livestock" or the expanded version w/ HF liners.
Weird's gotta count for something!
November 27, 2021 - 2:32am

#416

Forensicdoceleven

Joined:
June 17, 2008

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see………

Fifty years ago today…………

It was a day between, a travel day, now, fifty years later, giving us time to ponder the deeper mysteries of music, because there is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres…..

I have been asked by a fellow traveler in 1971 Grateful Deadness to post a comparative analysis of two December 1971 Dead shows. I won’t tell you where his own tastes lead…….

Monet or Renoir? Joyce or Dostoevsky? Ellington or Mingus? Whitman or Frost? Wells or Bradbury? Rubies or emeralds?

Second Felt Forum or Second Fox Theater????

Every precious gem radiates and luxuriates in its own unique brilliance. One mustn’t necessarily outshine the other. Must we be forced to choose that single one that touches our hearts, and ears, most deeply?

The "1971 challenge" is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I generated a single page/single post rough draft early, and while it's nice, I'm not totally satisfied with it. After all, 12/5 vs 12/10 is serious 1971 Grateful Deadness. LOL it's like Ali vs. Frazier, Cowboys vs. Steelers, chocolate chip cookie dough vs. pistachio.

The analysis itself isn't that hard, as long as you try to apply uniform criteria to both shows. And in attempting to be "objective" (always an issue while trying to analyze/criticize any art form), one has to try to put aside personal, subjective feelings and opinions. Which in this case, is truly difficult. I'm very familiar with both shows, but 12/5 has been a favorite of mine for a long long time.

When comparing different years, one comparative factor is "style". Here, that's not an issue since the shows are only 5 days apart. Which is actually good, because that factor is quickly eliminated and therefore one can concentrate exclusively on "content". Which means things like lengths of first and second sets, characteristics of the big jams, encores, etc. Naturally, the two shows have a lot in common, but there also have some very important differences as well.

For any and all who wish to weigh in, vote early, and often!!

Tomorrow: Felt Forum---how much does weirdness count?

Rock on!!!

Doc
What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit…..
November 25, 2021 - 10:57am

#417

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Nappy's Right

There's more music on that Target sale than d-net's black friday sale. The buy 2 get one free will help but some items were considerably higher priced than RGM's recent sale prices where you didn't have to buy 3.
Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2021 - 7:37am

#418

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

10-18-72

There is a digi click between China and Rider.
I just confirmed on my copy.
On the STL Box download page KF says that it’s on 10-19 too.
November 25, 2021 - 7:14am

#419

hendrixfreak

Joined:
February 26, 2014

Still listening to the river...

The pair of '71 shows was delicious. Tons of songs, and a real nice two-night evolution to the sets. Just listened to the first of three '72 nights and, again, the band manages to make old favorites sound new as they take different angles on the jams and the feel of jammy tunes.

Waiting in the wings: Neil Young/Carnegie Hall, Coltrane/Seattle, Los Lobos/Gates of Gold, Pharoah Sanders/Live, Gov't Mule/Heavy Load, Dylan/1970, and more.

Happy Indigenous People Sorrow Day to all.....
November 24, 2021 - 6:22pm

#420

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Positive post....

....took me a minute. Good one.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

What's Inside:
7 Previously Unreleased Complete Shows On 20 Discs
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/09/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/10/71
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/17/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/18/72
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/19/72
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/29/73
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 10/30/73
Sourced from tapes recorded by Rex Jackson, Owsley "Bear" Stanley, and Kidd Candelario
Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman
Restoration and Speed Correction by Plangent Processes

Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 13,000

Steamboats and BBQ, ice cream cones and Mardi Gras - are you ready to laissez les bons temps rouler with the "gateway" to the Grateful Dead? Meet us, won't you, in St. Louis for seven complete and previously unreleased Dead concerts that capture the heart of the band's affinity for the River City.

LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73 is a 20CD set featuring five shows from the Fox Theatre - December 9 and 10, 1971; October 17-19, 1972; and two from the Kiel Auditorium - October 29 and 30, 1973.

The seven shows in the collection span slightly less than two years, but they represent some of the best shows the Grateful Dead played during some of its peak tours. The music tells the story of a band evolving, changing from one sound to another seamlessly, precipitated – in large part – by significant personnel changes in the Dead’s lineup.

The two 1971 shows feature the original Grateful Dead lineup plus newcomer Keith Godchaux on piano. This version of the band would hold together for the next six months as the Dead embarked upon its Europe ’72 tour. By the time the Dead returned to the Fox Theatre less than a year later, they were without Pigpen, who’d played his final show with the Dead at the Hollywood Bowl on June 17, 1972. A year after the exceptional Fox 1972 shows, the Dead came back to St. Louis, but played the much larger Kiel Auditorium, touring behind the release of WAKE OF THE FLOOD, which came out just two weeks before.

All told, the band played 60 different songs during these shows highlighted by blazing romps through “Beat It On Down The Line” and “One More Saturday Night” and wistful takes on “Row Jimmy” and “Brokedown Palace” (whose lyrics give the collection its name). Meanwhile, the copious jamming ebbed and flowed like the mighty Mississippi River on multiple voyages through “The Other One” and “Dark Star.” Naturally, the band paid tribute to one of its favorite rock and rollers and one of St. Louis’ biggest stars by playing Chuck Berry songs at every show in the collection, including Pigpen galloping through “Run Rudolph Run.”

Each show has been restored and speed corrected using Plangent Processes with mastering by Jeffrey Norman. The collection comes in a slipcase with artwork by Liane Plant and features an 84-page hardbound book as well as other Dead surprises. To set the stage for the music, the liner notes provide several essays about the shows, including one by Sam Cutler, the band’s tour manager during that era, and another by Grateful Dead scholar Nicholas G. Meriwether, among others.

Due October 1st, LISTEN TO THE RIVER: ST. LOUIS ’71 ’72 ’73, is limited to 13,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively from Dead.net.

Hard to believe I'm the first comment

Guess I got lucky?

This is a box set to get on board with. I like the concept of "the river". Listened to 12/10/71 last night at store, very nice show, very nice recording off archive. "Official" release should be a-ok.

NOW WHERE IS DaP 39???? :-)

Plangent Processes ....

.... I am in! Dutifully ordered; grateful for the embarrassment of riches

2021 Box Set

Another big surprise from Dave. A St. Louis 71-73 combo, nobody had this on their radar screen. Just ordered mine. Never have seen a box released without a seaside chat. What the hell is going on? I am excited!

Yahoo!

You are the MAN, Dave!!!

And all the PTB.

:)))

Wonder what the box is gonna look like?

No pictures of the box!

OMG!!

So, everyone was right: it's a '71, fall '72, fall '73 box. The setlists really reflect the band's evolution, especially going from a 7-minute Playing in the Band to a 20+ minute version over the course of the year.

Beautiful the way this box will provide the pre-Euro '72 and post Euro-'72 band in all its glory.

$200? There's the sweet spot.

I believe this will take me a good deal of the w-w-w-winter to listen to, much less fully absorb.

Yet another multi-year geographic focus. Well played, Dave! Muchas gracias!

The record industry is killing me...

Is there no end to the releases this month!!!??!?!

We got the Joni, we got the Dylan, we got the dead, we got the lee morgan.

No way I can hide all this from my wife!! I can hide the mail when it comes,,, but,,,, that new book shelf to hold all this stuff I can't hide as easily!

LIstening to Birdsong from 10/17/72,,,, another one from the archive that is damn near perfect, official release should be even better!!!

At Last

Been waiting months for this announcement and it’s seven early 70’s shows which I love. Ordered immediately as I expect the 13000 will go quickly. Can’t wait for Autumn to listen to these shows. Now roll on DaP39!

Wonderful!....

....simply wonderful!

Got the Fox Box I Have Been Asking For....

....and then some. This is an instant classic.

Killer box set!

I just ordered 2, one for me and one for my brother. What a knockout!

Oooooooh....

....I like that cap a lot. SOLD!

Yippee

Of course I’ve ordered it!

OK, GD

You got my $$$ for a very appreciated release.

My first show anniversary was this past Sunday (7/18/82)...39 years later, the long, strange trip continues.

God Bless the Grateful Dead!!!

I Totally Understand Dennis!!

Dead Fox Box Ordered - check! Lee Morgan Lighthouse Box Ordered - check! Bob Dylan Bootleg Springtime In NY Ordered - check! Plus sundry Dave McMurray, Crosby, Drive-By Truckers, and Son Volt - check! Separation & Divorce - pending!

I just got notice the dog's license is up for renewal, so I can start by adding a zero on the end of that charge on the books...New cord for my tools, add a zero to the total....

Only one Cumberland?!....

....what a rip off. Cancelling my order (kidding).

wut

...this came as a surprise, however the pre-available sleuthing that was initiated yesterday has now paid off.

Thanks GD!

Sixtus

How fast will it sell out?

FAST!

Yes!

To Dave L - Thank You! Many of us (myself included) have been asking for the Fox shows in some capacity. It is clear you watch these boards. I know from the Seaside chat that these shows have been on your radar for a while. Still these shows have been heavily discussed on the boards in recent years so we are being given what we asked for. Adding the shows from 1973 is the icing on the cake.

Of course I ordered this box as soon as I saw the announcement. I can't wait to get it.

Right in the sweet spot

Count me in again. Great combo of shows here.

Thoughts

I was so excited to hear about this new boxed set. After learning about these shows, I’m even more excited. I’m glad that it spans three separate years in the Dead cannon, and the setlists look amazing. Even the shows without the Dark Stars, Other Ones, and other jam vehicles look interesting and captivating. Even more, I’m very grateful that some of this material is getting released separately as well. The 12/10/71 show is getting released on both CD and vinyl(!), and the Playin’>Drums>DS>Dew>Playin’ is getting released on vinyl too. Very smart decision. Overall, this is very exciting.

Three Comments

First, is it "Only One Cumberland?...." or, "It's Got a Cumberland!"

Second.. thank you GD/David Lemieux.. not many of you know this, but HendrixFreak has been both on a hunger strike and out on the ledge of 53rd floor of the Wells Fargo Building in Denver threatening to jump unless he gets a Fall '72 box. I am happy to report he is down off the ledge and finishing a greasy pulled pork sammy at the BBQ joint around the corner. Extra greasy...

Third.. Dennis, I am beginning to feel much sympathy for your wife.

All is good with the world again. As you were.

So I go downstairs.....

... after a morning of ordering more "stuff" from the cornucopia of musical choices being given us (or thrusted upon us), I head down to read my favorite monthly paper "The Funny Times".

There is the single panel joke. Guy at an AA meeting talking to the group.

My name is Roger. I own a plethora of music on original vinyl, eight-track, cassette and compact disc. Including most digital file formats. I was about to buy remastered rereleases on 180-gram vinyl when my wife said I needed help.

Bottom of panel labeled "Audiophiles Anonymous"

Funny, fate or cry for help?

I was thrilled when I saw…

I was thrilled when I saw this news. October 19, 1972 was the night I got on the bus. I thought the roof was gonna come off the place during the Casey Jones at the end of the first set. At that moment I knew I wanted more of this. I never missed a St. Louis show after that.

I've been waiting almost 50…

I've been waiting almost 50 years for these! These were amongst the first shows I attended (along with the Miami Rock Festival , a Kiel Auditorium show in late 1970, and Early 1971 shows at the Fox - THAT Fox show is when I got it; got on the Bus!). These shows were seminal! Thank you so much for releasing this set. I can HARDLY WAIT!

Listen to the River

Done! No problems ordering. I'm just glad I happened to be doing my morning emails when the announcement
popped up. Let the Games begin!

Well...

At least Doc gets more lovingly redone 71, Hendrix freak gets some fall 72, and congrats to the rest of y'all excited about this one....I'm getting disc 10 & 20 with big Dark Stars and fall 73. Sure I'll get hooked on the rest as is usually the case with releases I'm at first apprehensive about..
Curious how long this one will take to sell out?

Nice work

Thanks Dave and Co

oh my goodness

must be dreaming

A crowd pleaser

This box should be a real crowd pleaser. Thanks Dave and Dead.net -- everyone involved. Like the Pacific Northwest box, this regional, but, over the years releases are a nice touch. With that in mind, Dave please consider an MSG N.Y.C. September 1979 release. . .. Just sayin'. I predict it would be an instant sell out and another crowd pleaser.

I really can not wait to see the artwork, box, discs, booklet, inserts, etc..

Vinyl Me Please!

Great offerings! The "Run, Run, Rudolf" with Pigpen was on a GD Hour from the early/mid 90's. One of my required X-mas selections every year near the holiday. Cheers!

Finally able to complete my order!!

Dead.net didn't like my VPN so I turned it off while ordering.

I'm trying not to take this personally.

Yep. Ordered my copy too. …

Yep. Ordered my copy too. And i 2nd the request for an MSG box.

Good times...

Well, JimInMD has no idea that his mentioning Wells Fargo and BBQ sandwiches is clairvoyant, in that Saturday I had problems with my bank (WF) and went out for BBQ sandwiches.... All is well now. And topped off by this new box.

A rough patch has now passed and, if anyone needs a laugh, check out the avatar on the official announcement at the top of the comments page -- it's "Sri" or somebody likely not connected to DL and TPTB.

This sucker gonna sell out in a day or so, max.

What??

Only 6 versions of Beat It On Down The Line???
Count me out.

Ordered! Now trying to…

Ordered! Now trying to decide if I should grab the 12/10/71 5LP set too. Any idea if that one is Limited Edition too?

I Left St. Louis, City of Blues

Oh wow.......a true 70's Show-Me box set, and vinyl to boot.....sign me up! And I just scored tickets for Phish in Denver on Labor Day weekend!!! Not a bad days work.

Yes I'm still alive and lurking.

Be well & Be good dead folks!

KCJ

Edit: BBQ in St. Louis? Laughable...head west

Ordered!

Grabbed the hat as well!

Very excited

The acoustics of the Fox are incredible. I've seen Dylan and Neil Young solo there. I can't imagine seeing the Dead there. The Kiel Center (now called the Scott Trade Center) is awesome too, but the Fox is the best in St Louis.

I'm 2 hours SE of St Louis,…

I'm 2 hours SE of St Louis, so 90% of my concert experiences are from there. Love the Lou!

How do you order it, though?

I can't seem to get through to the pre-order page. It looks plenty good -especially the 1972 and 1973 shows, but I'm drawing blanks trying to order it at the moment.

looks great

DaveRock

Did you select the three ALAC files? They have to be selected even if you don’t intend to download them. The lower pre-order button should then work. If that isn’t the problem then I can’t help It seemed pretty seamless to me. Good Luck.

Edit certainly easier to order than submit the comment 3 attempts and I had to replace the word downlo(ads) with files

Daverock!

Try turning off your VPN. That worked for me.

Wait, what!?!

7 shows, from '71-'73, and there's only 1Wharf Rat?

Phew!

Stillwaters & Colin-thanks for your advice. It was not choosing to download the three tracks to listen to that was stopping me getting through. It does say its a required field, but as I am not going to listen to them I assumed I didn't need to fill in the field.
It would have been ironic if, after checking on here every day since Doomsday to see if a box had been announced, then seeing it had, and that it included shows from the 71-73 era - I found I didn't have the wherewithal to order it !

Now I know why I had a hankering for BBQ yesterday...

Had the Brisket Bomb along pork bellies and hush puppies yesterday for lunch - you guys and gals north of Boston, check out The Rusty Can in Byfield MA...

Looking at Compendium - a Feeling Groovy Jam, a Mind Left Body Jam, a couple of Darkstars, TOOs, Birdsongs plus a Cumberland and a Here Comes Sunshine, wow all I need is a Black Peter - woops check that box too.

Now the important part are the two vinyl ala carte's worthy???

Thankful Dead

I’m actually happy this box set is from the 70’s. I have enough Grateful Dead albums. Had it been a box set from the 60’s, 80’s or 90’s, it would have been harder to pass on.