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    ANNOUNCING DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 53

    "As we enter our 14th year of the Dave's Picks series, heading into Volumes 53-56 in 2025, most days we feel we're just getting started. Every volume of the series is still just as exciting for us as the first few releases in the series back in 2012, and we hope you continue to get as much joy out of listening to them as we get from producing them. One of the greatest thrills we get from working on them is the flexibility to go where the music takes us in making the selections. For 2025, Volume 53 has been selected and is in the can, and we've just entered production on Volume 54 (and the subscribers' Bonus Disc!), but beyond that, it's a blank slate, and we're spending countless hours listening to determine what's to come for Volumes 55 and 56 in the second half of 2025. After the great variety we saw in 2024 (1985 x 2, 1977, 1971, and 1983), we focused on great variety again in 2025. Come along for the ride! If you've never subscribed, this would be a great year to start, as we head into the Grateful Dead's 60th year. There's plenty of room on the bus for everyone!"
    - David Lemieux, October 2024

    For some of you, it’s a done deal. For those of you still on the fence or new around these parts, we’ll lay it all out right here, right now. Dave’s Picks subscribers score all four numbered, limited-edition releases (totaling a minimum of 13 CDs) featuring previously unreleased complete live Grateful Dead shows. You’ll also get the subscription exclusive bonus disc, which remains one of the most highly sought-after collectibles we release, and free U.S. shipping. Subscriber bonus discs are not released outside of this offer. As always, early bird subscribers can nab a sub at $99.98 (regular pricing will be $119.92).

    Dave's Picks 2025 will once again be capped at 25,000 copies of each release. Your best bet is to subscribe, sit back, and relax as each show is delivered to your door quarterly.

    DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS

    • Four Limited Edition, Numbered Releases
    • Highly Collectible Bonus Disc
    • Free Domestic Shipping
    • Delivered Throughout The Year
    • Early Bird Pricing - $99.98
    • A minimum savings of $39.00 versus purchasing a la carte

     

    EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH AT 9:00 PM PT.

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  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Thanks Phil

    May the 4 winds blow you safely home

  • alvarhanso
    Joined:
    RIP Phil Lesh

    Off to join the never-ending Dark Star. What a legend of music.

  • Forensicdoceleven
    Joined:
    No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky....

    Happy Friday, rockers!!!

    Attention Crow Told Me, along with any ravens, ospreys, or other loony birds...........

    Yes, a tremendous amount of live material has been released, but there's still lots more gooey Grateful Dead goodness in the vault. So fear not!!! There's even enough for a 1970 box set!! Hint hint........

    One issue, which TPTB will eventually have to deal with, is that a lot of the early recordings----1967-1969----while release worthy, are either short, fragmentary, or have cuts edits etc that can't really be fixed. Now if HF would just behave, maybe we could see some officially released some time soon lol....................

    Not sure what I would trade my first show (12/1/73) for. Maybe a September 72 or December 71 Boston Music Hall show? But I wouldn't trade my second show (6/26/74) for anything, that's when I got on the bus!!!!

    Rock on,

    Doc
    It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.......

  • TN John
    Joined:
    Deadvikes

    Thanks brother! you are too kind. I should have been more specific. I got my subscription in last year, just missed the early bird. Had to pay full price. Not the end of the world.

    Proudfoot,
    Try turning off your ad blocker while checking out at the store. I was having the same problem as you, and that worked for me.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Cousins.

    Pretty sweet Cousins and second day in the US to boot.

    I will trade you my first show at the Metrodome in 86 for that 76 show. Man, so fun for you.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    now it's my turn to say

    what kinda shi'theads run this site?

    I have tried GIVING YOU MY MONEY several times now. I click on "buy now" after putting in all the necessary info. nothing happens and then the "buy now" button just shows a red line circle.

    Sheesh. Annoying AF.

    who do you have to blow to get this figured out?

    Jerry's gonna smack you up...

    (no pun intended, but there it is.)

  • Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    Dick's 33

    DeadVikes, that's right 10/9 was my first show, on my 2nd day in the US, just pure luck! I agree with Dave, the vinyl issue is stellar.

  • Crow Told Me
    Joined:
    Call Me Early, Bird

    I'm in. Again. It's just such a good deal. Four shows, plus bonuses, for $92 (with discount code), shipping and tax included? What's that work out to, like $7 a disc?

    I do think that now, after 36 Dicks (which now that I think about should be the name of my new ska punk cover jam band), 50+ Daves, all the Road Trips, and box sets from '69, '72, '73 (twice), '76, '77 (twice), '78 (twice), '90, Circles Round the Sun, and probably a bunch more I'm not remembering right now, it's probably fair to say that most of the best of the best stuff has been issued.

    I say "probably" because so many people here are so much more knowledgeable about unreleased shows, and I'm sure there are some A+++ gigs that I'm unfamiliar with. But just given the sheer volume of what's been put out, it stands to reason that we're moving beyond the period where we're getting legendary iconic hall of fame shows (your Harpers and your Venetas and whatnot) and getting into more pretty darned good shows that are well worth hearing and depending on how much you like a given period maybe even pretty great but not earth shattering.

    I like '76. I doubt if it's anybody's favorite year--it's so dialed back in comparison with the pre-hiatus years, and not as dynamic as the well-loved '77--but it's pretty darned good. The drummers were getting along well. The voices were still in great shape. Looking forward to this one. But like everybody else, I have my white whale(s). I keep waiting for the '69 Ark shows. And some Berkeley Greeks from the '80s. Any time you're ready, Dave.

    Meanwhile, should be another fun year. If the whole damn country doesn't collapse.

  • JoeyMC
    Joined:
    Fall '76

    So many of you dig the releases, every time I listen to them they're like not doing it for me...

    I probably have Dick's 20 in mind when I say that...
    I think Dave's 4 sounds really nice but I didn't l love it..
    Hmmm

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Dicks 33, Dave's Picks

    Yes the two shows from 10/9 and 10/10 are upper echelon shows for sure. Recordings and performances are A+. These shows were recorded by Betty. The Cobo show and and September shows were recorded by Healy.
    I believe Cousins was at these shows. That would have been something.

    I have never really gelled with that Cobo show, don't know why. Really like Dicks #20 and Dave's 4.

    I will have to try the Cobo show again. Still working my way through the new box, so much music to listen to, so little time some days.

    Good to hear you got your subscription TN John. If ever run into a situation like that again, let me know. I will gift you one.

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ANNOUNCING DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 53

"As we enter our 14th year of the Dave's Picks series, heading into Volumes 53-56 in 2025, most days we feel we're just getting started. Every volume of the series is still just as exciting for us as the first few releases in the series back in 2012, and we hope you continue to get as much joy out of listening to them as we get from producing them. One of the greatest thrills we get from working on them is the flexibility to go where the music takes us in making the selections. For 2025, Volume 53 has been selected and is in the can, and we've just entered production on Volume 54 (and the subscribers' Bonus Disc!), but beyond that, it's a blank slate, and we're spending countless hours listening to determine what's to come for Volumes 55 and 56 in the second half of 2025. After the great variety we saw in 2024 (1985 x 2, 1977, 1971, and 1983), we focused on great variety again in 2025. Come along for the ride! If you've never subscribed, this would be a great year to start, as we head into the Grateful Dead's 60th year. There's plenty of room on the bus for everyone!"
- David Lemieux, October 2024

For some of you, it’s a done deal. For those of you still on the fence or new around these parts, we’ll lay it all out right here, right now. Dave’s Picks subscribers score all four numbered, limited-edition releases (totaling a minimum of 13 CDs) featuring previously unreleased complete live Grateful Dead shows. You’ll also get the subscription exclusive bonus disc, which remains one of the most highly sought-after collectibles we release, and free U.S. shipping. Subscriber bonus discs are not released outside of this offer. As always, early bird subscribers can nab a sub at $99.98 (regular pricing will be $119.92).

Dave's Picks 2025 will once again be capped at 25,000 copies of each release. Your best bet is to subscribe, sit back, and relax as each show is delivered to your door quarterly.

DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS

• Four Limited Edition, Numbered Releases
• Highly Collectible Bonus Disc
• Free Domestic Shipping
• Delivered Throughout The Year
• Early Bird Pricing - $99.98
• A minimum savings of $39.00 versus purchasing a la carte

 

EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH AT 9:00 PM PT.

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In reply to by TN John

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I am certain it will be easy to find the sop to Cerberus to ensure you walk as one promoted to Grateful Dead.

Raise a glass to Phil, salute!

Miss Him! Miss Him!! Miss Him!!!

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In reply to by Gary Farseer

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Phil’s birthday.

And with the new Klipsch speakers and subwoofer I got a while back my house is thumping to Phil.

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4/27/85 Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues, killer version Lesh changes some of the lyrics, 4/22/86 B.C.T. The Dead open the show with Box of Rain very cool.

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I have every Dave's Pick. Like everyone, I don't think all the shows are breath taking. 1976 annoys me because of the screaming banshee Donna Jean. I doubt this one will ever leave the cellophane wrapping, but you never know. 9/11/83 on the other hand...hell yeah! As always...go Brent!

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In reply to by JackstrawJay

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Just heard the news. Man, that is too bad. A hell of run for Phil, 84.
Agree, one of the best bass players ever. A slawart. So funny and underrated.
RIP Phil, you will be missed.

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Thank you for the music, Mr. Lesh.. It will be "Fallout from the Phill-Zone" tonight.. BW from Copenhagen

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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Goodbye my friend.

My fav live, 6/28/85. Tom Thumb

Best. 5/3/72. Other One.

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In reply to by flounderfe

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Flounderfe - Donna was on the money during 1976. Things were a bit more challenging during 1974 - a small price to pay for a great year.

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Donna started to get good in 1976, really I think starting from the 8/13/75 show in S.F. and then on into `76 with her and husband Keith's work with Jerry in his {=JGB=} band. She sailed a bit on some early `76 Dead tour 'Scarlets' by my records {music...et.al} but the mics seemed to be better mixed and she had some more experience on stage by that point, so she was already better than her 1973~'74 rough gems. So by late year 1976 she is considerably better, and would continue to get more so {1977~78 & beyond}.
Some of the best examples of her and Keith musically is with Jerry Garcia Band & not the Dead.

I agree! She started to reduce the vibrato in her voice - check out a BIODTL from 1973 for an extreme example of excessive vibrato!

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A good example D.J. {& Bobby} song from 1973~'74.
She was damn fine backing vocals on 'Row Jimmy' from that era too.
From the year 1976 and beyond, 'Looks Like Rain' is prime Donna.

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In reply to by RyXs

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Great with JGB and GD.

Think I’ll start today with a selection from the June 76 Box.

And, there is nothing wrong with a good pre-hiatus Donna scream.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Played it earlier today.
Donna sounded great.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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...4/7/71 and 4/8/71 BMH. MAKE IT A BONUS RELEASE FOR 2025!

Might as well add: Manhattan Center 4/5 and 4/6 and 4/7

A nice five-show run.

BUT April 8th is the monster!

How about a January 2025 release. They better hustle.

Anybody know if there is any chance of a 12-15-71 Ann Arbor, MI release? The Dark Star sounds mighty good.

Also, as I am learning, it seems that a number of shows in Fall 1971 were broadcast (live?) on FM radio.

Does anyone know how many shows in total received the FM treatment? Looks like quite a few from the info on Deadlists. Could that be a box? The '71 FM Broadcasts?

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In reply to by Birchwood

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Quite a lot of these FM Broadcasts from 1971 are available in Britain as bootlegs - and many of these shows are better ( to my ears) than the ones officially released - 10/19, 11/7 and 12/5 for example. Add 12/15 to these and I agree - a great box set could be put together.

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July 2, 1971

Fall
October 19, 1971
October 23, 1971
October 26, 1971
October 27, 1971
October 29, 1971
October 30, 1971
November 7, 1971
November 11, 1971
November 15, 1971
November 17, 1971
November 20, 1971
December 2, 1971
December 5, 1971
December 10, 1971
December 31, 1971

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These radio broadcasts were billed as "An Evening With The Grateful Dead".

Also eight of the shows the NRPS set was also recorded...

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Who recorded those shows? The radio stations that broadcast them? Are they also in the vault?

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In reply to by simonrob

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You can find them on the interwebs.
The torrent sites specifically.
Or just ask Doc. He offered them up a few years ago.

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10 years 6 months

In reply to by fourwindsblow

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Thanks for sharing this list, and to everyone who replied on this. Cool.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Doc . . . ?

Does he frequent these parts?

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In reply to by Birchwood

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Piece these back together.
Use the dropdown menu to search Grateful Dead

bt.

etree.

org

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Hey rockers!!!

I do frequent these parts, as a matter of fact I frequently frequent parts of these parts. Sorry, coffee not kicking in yet...............

Birchwood, have you a question for me? I frequently do get asked about "stuff", especially 1971 stuff.

1971 FM box set? Frequently discussed ad nauseum around these parts. Here's the bottom lines:
1) Good but not always great shows. But a few ARE great!
2) NOT an official release.
3) Quality is good, but cost is $$$$...........
4) Why buy the bacon when you can get as much pork belly as you want FOR FREE from frequently generous old souls that frequently hang out here......?

At least once a year I try to give this stuff away, but I get very few takers................

More in next post................

Keep it rocking,

Doc
Frequently known to be not even wrong

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Several of these have already been officially released----7/2 (partial, that's all they have), 10/26, 11/15,17, 20, and 12/10. If I was in charge of stuff, which luckily I'm not, I would skip 10/27, 10/30, and 11/11 (chaos). But I would include 12/1 (only the fine second set circulates at the moment), 12/4, and 12/15 (really fine show).

We know for a fact that there are soundboards of several of these shows in the vault, like 10/29 (really good show), 12/2 (nicely quirky), and 12/31 (very solid show).

The "elephant in the room" here is the quirky gooey goodness of Felt 12/5. Right now, only the matrix-like broadcast copies circulate----some of which are very good. I have repeatedly asked DL if SBD of this show was ever returned to the band, don't usually get a response BUT TPTB tend to be secretive about "returned tapes". Maybe some day..............

You know where to find me.................

Play it loud, dance like nobody's watching..........

Doc
Time for more coffee, walk dogs, live life.......

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Hey rockers!!!

Got to work, paperwork day, so checked in with the all-powerful Amazon. The box set selling for $199. So do the math. You'd be better off to use that money on an external hard drive (lol yes size matters) and then make friends with somebody like.........well..........you know.........

There's a sh*tload of bootleg Dead music on Amazon. Bad Amazon!!!

Sometimes a concept is baffling not because it is profound but because it is wrong.........

Well, guess I'll cue up 12/2/71 and work on some autopsy reports.....................

Rock on,

Doc
And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods?

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I went through a period where I frequently frequented the torrent sites, and yep, there's an astounding amount of good music to be had. A lot more, it turns out, than I had storage space for or time to hear! Eventually I stopped downloading because I realized I had hundreds of hours of stuff I'd never listened to.

But maybe I need to get back into it, given this 1971 Situation we have on our hands.

Just listened to 7/31/71 (aka Road Trips Vol 1 No 3) yesterday. Definitely left me wanting more! And wondering why there hasn't been a box from that year.

Maybe the fact that so many of the shows were broadcast live and therefore also bootlegged mercilessly is what gives pause to our man Dave? Maybe it's just more fun for him to put out something "new" rather than a much-bootlegged show? If so, I wish he'd reconsider.

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...starts tomorrow! Happy Halloween!

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Late subscriber to Dave's Picks, but it's been a fun ride so far so I'll get my ticket for the next go-round. Hoping there are still some tasty 60's shows on the horizon, but enjoying these dips into the Brent era. Also, I must be among the minority, but I love the bonus tracks even if they appear mid-show or mid-set (as in vol 51). Getting an extra show across a few different releases is pretty fun (and generous), and easy enough to make playlists. Maybe I'll even re-learn how to program my multi-disc cd player. . . Keep 'em coming, Dave!!!

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Don't Ease Me In
6/5/80

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Since it's the first of the month, I subscribed before I could talk myself out of it. It went right through with no problem, although the promo code I was given didn't work. But the shipping was free, so there is that.

Excellent summary Doc, many thanks for that.

I was intrigued that you'd tried to run down the status of Felt Forum 12/5/1971 with DL. This has been a question I've had for many years, too. I got this tape (the FM) sometime back around '88-'89 and I was really taken by it. Still one of my favorite shows after all these years. In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say that this very show is the reason why I subscribed to Dave's Picks in the first place: when I saw that Vol 22 was to be the last night of the run at the Felt Forum, I was all in. (And yet somehow that show just doesn't grab me like the night of the 5th)

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If you attended, have ticket stubs or photographs or other memorabilia relating to this show, there is an Allman Brothers archival release in production for the 6/9/1973 set they performed and they seek materials for the artwork, package design and booklet.

If you or someone you know attended, has photos, ticket stubs or other memorabilia, or even memories, The Allman Brothers release production team would love to hear from you.

RFK1973@allmanbrothersband.com

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...only four more days of free shipping
believe it if you need it
if you don't
just pass it on

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We should get the announcement by mid-December. Any chance DL will venture outside his usual timeframe (i.e. 1969-77) to draw in the last subscribers? I'd love to get 4 cds from 1968. And while he might just be bold enough to go with something featuring Brent - who expected shows from 1985 to be this year's first pick? - I doubt his first foray into the Vince/Bruce era would be in the #2 slot.

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I believe I recall Dave casually mentioning (in the last one or two Seaside Chats) that the 2nd quarter 2025 release would be the first foray into an era. {Maybe an era within an era?} A show that was the epitome of said era and one they didn't have to ponder much on. So it sounded like they had decided on that show for awhile and was just awaiting the right moment. I think the dilemma at that time of the Sea~Chat was what to put on the bonus disc, so it may have been the #52 Sea~Chat.

Anyways, here are a few "Estimated Prophesies" of my own deductions.
1973 is due up, so maybe one of them 'horn' shows. All Dave's Picks from the year 1973 are spring tour with the exception of that seminal 'Dick favorite' that was Dave's #38, another bonus disc release.
A 1978 release may be too close on the heels of the Devil's Box but some November~December 1978 with a Keith & Donna Shakedown St. would be cool, "From the Heart of Me" too!
***Maybe Autumn 1970!?***
Anything 1982?
The first Vince Era?!!! maybe with Bruce too!?

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Early Bird RIPS on Friday btw.
Will stick it out through 60.
Hopefully 1969 is the new era. But how many great shows can there really be left at this point?
May be a good tactic to apply the $99 to box sets instead of Dave’s Picks…
Not a huge fan either of trend to spread shows into later releases but doesn’t hurt I suppose. Just another clue that we’re getting there. Dave still doing great work on these for sure.
Still enjoying Road Trips too.

Maybe it would free them up if they relaxed the policy a bit. There must be some storming shows from 1967 - 1970, but not necessarily complete shows and not necessarily in the best sound quality. That would suit me more than immaculate sounding complete, but musically average shows.
I'm not so keen on the hype these days. It seems the more average the show, the more they try and convince us it's one of the best shows ever. It seems very shallow - especially when the people they are targeting have heard 100's of shows and know a thing or two about the band already.

I suspect that there are a lot of pre-hiatus shows remaining.
12-18-73 is one of them. At least the Dark Star is grate.
12-18,19-73 should be Plangentized and Normanized.

A Box of 60’s show fragments (what exists, not chop jobs) would be grate.

Only one show from BCT 8/72 has been released. So there’s those.

And people keep calling for the Ark Box.

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Have been a subscriber since year one 1993? IMO last year was the dullest year of releases 77 ? Boring ! 85 garbage, 71 trash sound and another 83 show ? I know this is what the touch heads love but jeez there are so many more outstanding shows deteriorating in the vaults ! Wake up !

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Cover art is awesome!!!!!

all the best available stuff has been released.

they certainly won't say what they have left.

that 85 stuff certainly floats my boat, as does the 83

one person's garbage is another person's magic

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In reply to by proudfoot

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9/19/70 partial
9/20/70

That Powder Keg needs to be uncorked. Period.

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