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

Back to product page

Post reply Log in to post comments

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.

Comments

sort by

Recent

Recent Oldest A to Z Z to A

Reset

July 25, 2021 - 1:29pm

#1391

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

Now that the box is finally announced....

....it's time to release an Alaska mini-box. $99.95. I want one. Call it Baked Alaska and put a Kodiak Bear somewhere on it. If the powers that be read these forums, and I'm sure they do, you're welcome. Just put Vguy72 on the credits.
An Alaska box WILL happen. It's just a matter of time. Right Dave?
July 25, 2021 - 12:44pm

#1392

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Drop outs

I did that once!
Colin 😉

As the disclaimers used to say, these ARE NOT “professional” recordings. Today, their artifacts from a long time ago.
Snap shots using legacy limited technology to attempt to catch a glimpse...
Their intent was for reference, as a learning/measuring tool, not for commercial release!
So anything that was recorded other than on multitrack, is going to have anomalies on the actual tape that cannot be removed etc.
I’ve never been at, or heard a dead show, except perhaps remixed multi tracks, that you couldn’t hear the often dramatic changes of both the musicians messing with their sound on stage and even more so, on going changes in the house mix. Most of it was a very subtle process that would often take most of the first set before things were fully dialed in, up and running.
I’m sure many folks can’t or wouldn’t notice much of this, but to a trained ear it’s pretty obvious.
Thus, many of us understand this and so just except it as part of the process. The price for getting it just exactly perfect lol.
What I think is funny, is how folks don’t seem to notice the constant outta tune vocals and guitars that often were part of early seventies shows, but an occasional mix anomaly will drive en nuts lol.
Personally, the only release that I’ve had a real audio problem with was this last DaP 38. But I won’t rehash that again.
The rest I love for their individuality, worts and all! But hey, that’s just me. Some are definitely better than others...
I agree that that the PNW has some more prominent examples than usual, but it is what is is....so I ask, would it have been better to cut those songs, or even to have not released those shows at all?
I think usually, whenever possible, it’s not good removing authenticity from a historical document , but hey beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
Caveat emptor indeed.
July 25, 2021 - 11:49am

#1393

Colin Gould

Joined:
September 15, 2009

Dropouts

Surely they’re just following Leary’s advice. Turn on, tune in, drop out.
July 25, 2021 - 11:38am

#1394

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

The Spoils

I’m sure after expenses and being split up, it’s probably not a huge payoff per person, but this is only ONE release. Add on the different LP configurations and other related merch of just this release. Now multiply that by ALL the boxes and releases other than Dave’s....yeah, I bet their real glad someone recorded all the shows....

Then, add Daves into the mix at 25,000 x $100 (or more for ala carte) = at least $2,500,000 pretty much guaranteed annually. And I don’t think the costs for these are anywhere near other projects.
Plus, I think they got a big payoff for the contracts?
So yeah, perhaps one persons cut of one release might not be huge, but when you start adding it all up over the last twenty years or so....cha-Ching!
July 25, 2021 - 10:48am

#1395

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Evolving songs

That Mike - your post, which I thought was a good 'un, made me think that it would be great if they released a box set featuring shows from different eras, but all containing a Dark Star ( or Playing in the Band, The Other One) to show how it evolved over time. It couldn't be definitive-it changed during the course of a run - but it would be a neat concept.

Alvarhanso - the fact that I keep mentioning the vinyl 5/19/74 clearly indicates I need more Dead vinyl - Light to Ashes looks a likely contender. Its only the duty and the distance from The States to the UK - hopefully it wouldn't get damaged in transit-that is putting me off.
July 25, 2021 - 10:32am

#1396

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Dropouts

They probably most likely I think from the sound person tweaking this and that.
July 25, 2021 - 9:24am

#1397

nitecat

Joined:
November 1, 2010

That Mike

Well said, That Mike.
July 25, 2021 - 8:48am

#1398

That Mike

Joined:
November 1, 2014

Podium Placement

It is so difficult to grade anything Grateful Dead as best or least best, because a measurement of quality was never their reason for being. This, instead, was a rare performance vehicle that laid all their cards down on creating a visceral experience, taking much of their cue from their audience in the moment; it could almost be said that if there was a poor quality show, it was as much due to the audience as it was the band.

This box set provides one of those interesting perspectives where we can watch the band evolve over a set time, and we can examine select numbers and styles to see how this performance changes, is molded, and later dismantled, for there was never equivocation with the Dead - they were always about the experience.

Favorite passages, songs, jams? Of course. But by choosing one over the other, we are merely announcing how dramatically this piece of music shakes our bones to the core; every performance, even of the same song, is delivered differently, from a different angle, for a 360 degree Dead experience.

You can be a band that performs your “Hotel California” note perfect, night after night on your 85 date tour, with your guitarist hitting this note here, and have your audience go Wow, or you can play the Dead, who never played the same show twice, each performance a degree or degrees different than the one before. Songs were introduced, dropped, brought back, repackaged, never played the same way twice (Ok, maybe the tedious Me And My Uncle…).

These box sets are the best, and I have no doubt this St Louis set will have some real Ooohs and Ahhhs, because that is what the Dead did best.
July 25, 2021 - 7:59am

#1399

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

All this PNW talk

Got me to play 5-17-74 last night.
And I enjoyed it very much. The dropouts accounted for less than 1% of the total show.
The Playing in the Band was mighty fine, and it only clocks in around 25 minutes.

That prompted me to listen to the monster from 5-21, which was spectacular. I love the spacey, jammy goodness of ‘74.
I’m glad I grabbed that RSD vinyl release. Also have 5-19 on vinyl.

I probably should order Light To Ashes.
July 25, 2021 - 7:07am

#1400

Jason Wilder

Joined:
September 21, 2011

Not just the 20 CDs

But the carve outs & digital releases as well.

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.