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    Dave's Picks Vol. 52: The Downs at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM (9/11/83)

     

    I remember the venue almost like and old fort with roses everywhere. We came to the site and Wavy Gravy showed us where to camp. Ken Kesey was here as well as a couple other big figures of the counterculture. I think because of Mickey's 40th. During drums a double rainbow appeared. Every time it looked like rain the band would stop and then come back even stronger from their breaks. I saw more outdoor shows in 83 than all the years combined. I have goose bumps even typing this from the memories. - xxuncle johnxx, Dead.net

    One of the best memories I have were these 2 shows. During the break there was a lightning storm behind the stage, followed by a rainbow and then an awesome 2nd set. Morning Dew with a Cold Rain, Phil singing encore. Most of my tour buddies went home after Red Rocks and I tortured them with the Santa Fe tapes. Nothing beats the magic of a great GD outdoor show. "It all bleeds into one." - grateful hawaiian, Dead.net

    In between sets, I remember it rained... and early on in the second set, there was an amazing rainbow directly over the stage behind the band. I don't believe they saw it, but I'm sure they heard about it. "Let It Grow" was awesome! - Johnny_A, Dead.net

    The pot at the end of this rainbow is mighty fine, indeed. Our final Dave's Picks release for 2024 features the complete unreleased show from The Downs at Santa Fe, Sante Fe, NM, 9/11/83 (fun fact, it was Mickey's 40th birthday) with just a squidge of 9/10/83 to round things out. A true trader's treat, this one is solid all around from the lively first set featuring soon-to-be minted 80s classics like "Hell In A Bucket" and "West L.A. Fadeaway" to the return of "Help>Slip>Franklin's," the incredible 2nd set surprise of "Let It Grow," and adventurous takes on "He's Gone,""Wang Dang Doodle," and "Morning Dew." It's all well played, my friend, well played.

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 52: SANTA FE, NM 9/11/83 was recorded by Dan Healy and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Manbearpig…

    …Pulls at “the roost” lol ; )

    Hate to be contrarian, but I don’t like the small boxes, seem like kinda a waste.
    Since we only get one lousy box a year, I like em as big as possible!
    Plus, it’s a good way to get some shows out that might be on the fence otherwise.

    Riddle me this Batman: how many more years do you think this will continue especially when people are selective and don’t support it?
    Sorry, I get why folks don’t want what they don’t want, and that is fine and dandy! But, this is unfortunately a business, the business of selling things, and if people don’t buy those things, they’ll just stop making/selling them…so how many more years do you really think this will go on?

    So X equals what, 5, 10, maybe 15 years…so X times the pace/methodology they’ve been continually using =
    Years
    5= 5 boxes TOTAL, plus (4 DaP X 5= 20)
    10= 10 boxes TOTAL, plus (4 DaP X 10= 40)
    15= 15 boxes TOTAL, plus (4 DaP X 15= 60)

    I’m gonna guess he’ll keep going to DaP 100 just for shits and giggles and because it’s a nice round number, and we’re into the 13 year I believe, so 12 or so more to get to 100, and figure in Dave’s age etc, and that’s my guess.
    Hell do it for 25 years and 100 DaP,… IF…the sales support it…

    So that would be mean only 12 or 13 more boxes at current methodology.
    So 12 mini boxes is only 24-36 shows, versus at the current average of 5 or 6 shows per box gives us 60-72 shows…a nice 8 show box like this years would be a total of 96 shows! (Don’t worry, there are plenty of good shows left!, just maybe not what YOU like ; )

    Now I’m sure some who only want a small, selective set of shows wouldn’t care, but for those who want as much as possible, it’s a waste to have to wait a whole year for just a 2 show box. And!…what if you keep waiting on that one special one YOU must have from i.e., fall 70, or April 69, Rochester 85, Philly 89, or whatever etc, , but increasingly they (hopefully) give more attention to all eras, that means your odds of getting what you want diminishes greatly…
    No, I’m greedy, I want it all, so I think boxes should be bigger like some other bands do, not smaller. How big was that Floyd box, how many discs?

    Now if they changed their methodology and increased the rate of releases, (I think this is what Jim said?) great! I don’t care how they do it, just so we get the maximum amount of shows fixed up and released! So no, imho if small boxes replace a larger one it’s no bueno! But hey, that’s just me.

    If I was in charge, lol,( yee gads run for the hills lol) if I was in charge I’d do
    5 DaP a year with more dbl shows
    1 or 2 minis a year
    1 bigger box a year
    and bring back the occasional stand alone show/release ala Nightfall of Diamonds, Rocking the Rhein, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dozen at the Nick etc etc,
    And! yes full shows are the gold standard, but I think most of us wouldn’t care if we got some RJ shows (top shelf where mama hides the cookies) that were chopped up, if that’s the only way to get them out…

    Just a thought…careful what you wish for!
    Ok, now the mob can tell me I’m wrong lol, which is fine, just be nice ; )

    EDIT: agree with the crow: dial back the bollocks and just give us more shows!

  • Crow Told Me
    Joined:
    Mini Me

    FWIW I would love to see a move toward smaller boxes. If only because I'm running out of space!

    I'm probably in the minority here, but I wouldn't mind seeing the packaging dialed back a little bit. Sure, it's fun to unpack a box like FOTDs, with all little boxes and doodads, but I'm really only it in for the music. Once you look at all the "extras" they just become more stuff you have to store someplace. And speaking for myself, there's not much available space left.

    Something like the 1976 box a couple years back struck a nice balance: the packaging was enough to make it seem special, but it didn't take up a lot of shelf space. Or look at something like, say, the Fox Box the ABB did: three shows, 8 CDs, and it doesn't take up more shelf space than 2-3 regular CDs.

    I suppose this is what you'd call a 'first world problem': we've got so many desirable reissues that some of us are running out of places to keep them! But I'm actually serious. I wouldn't mind seeing smaller, less expensive, less "deluxe" boxes. Cause it's all about the music, main.

    Last five:

    King Crimson: Starless and Bible Black
    Duke Ellington: New Orleans Suite
    Mile Davis: Miles in France '64 & '64
    Brad Mehldau: Your Mother Should Know
    Jefferson Airplane: Loves You

    OK now I gotta go to the dentist, so by the time you read this I'm prolly dead.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Box Sets

    I like this idea Jim. More music would always be better.

    I think the last time we had two box sets released in a year was back in 2017. They released GSTL which broke the site and the RFK Box in the fall.

  • Sixtus_
    Joined:
    ManBearPig

    RDR2.
    If you know, you know.
    I like finding things like that.

    Sixtus

  • bluecrow
    Joined:
    "Pig Bear"

    is how SC jokingly described a bear pictograph in Collins Canyon.

    Baltimore '73 is awesome - may it be released.

  • RyXs
    Joined:
    Estimated Zoologist?

    Funny thing, someone mentioned pigs and bears. At first glance the omnivores seem like maybe they're closely related on the animal kingdom family tree, but DNA says they're more distant than meets the eye. The snouts are about as close as they get, in terms of characteristics.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Little boxes

    I like the idea of having these mini boxes. It would freshen things up a bit - we have had the same format for releases for some time now, and I'm not sure it's a still the best way of releasing shows.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Baltimore 73

    Right on WharfRat. The perfect pair to Dave's Picks 32, every bit as good maybe better.

    They should pair similar shows like this into mini-boxes and do more than one per year in addition to the 4 Dave's Picks. Charm City and the City of Brotherly Love 1973. A perfect pair.

    So say, in 2025 the pilot would be two 3 show mini boxes or three two show mini boxes plus the subscription. Then back to the originally scheduled programming. Just saying... Think outside the box (pun intended)

  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Firing up 10.10.76 second set....

    ....strapping in.
    And 53 is from the week before? Nice.
    Also, dipped into the James Mazza pool and thought I recognized his art. Some really cool stuff. I esp liked the 311 print.
    Editorial - The Wheel going back into Playin' is the thing dreams are made of. 🍻

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    Thank you joey

    I never look at the home email....long story....

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Dave's Picks Vol. 52: The Downs at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM (9/11/83)

 

I remember the venue almost like and old fort with roses everywhere. We came to the site and Wavy Gravy showed us where to camp. Ken Kesey was here as well as a couple other big figures of the counterculture. I think because of Mickey's 40th. During drums a double rainbow appeared. Every time it looked like rain the band would stop and then come back even stronger from their breaks. I saw more outdoor shows in 83 than all the years combined. I have goose bumps even typing this from the memories. - xxuncle johnxx, Dead.net

One of the best memories I have were these 2 shows. During the break there was a lightning storm behind the stage, followed by a rainbow and then an awesome 2nd set. Morning Dew with a Cold Rain, Phil singing encore. Most of my tour buddies went home after Red Rocks and I tortured them with the Santa Fe tapes. Nothing beats the magic of a great GD outdoor show. "It all bleeds into one." - grateful hawaiian, Dead.net

In between sets, I remember it rained... and early on in the second set, there was an amazing rainbow directly over the stage behind the band. I don't believe they saw it, but I'm sure they heard about it. "Let It Grow" was awesome! - Johnny_A, Dead.net

The pot at the end of this rainbow is mighty fine, indeed. Our final Dave's Picks release for 2024 features the complete unreleased show from The Downs at Santa Fe, Sante Fe, NM, 9/11/83 (fun fact, it was Mickey's 40th birthday) with just a squidge of 9/10/83 to round things out. A true trader's treat, this one is solid all around from the lively first set featuring soon-to-be minted 80s classics like "Hell In A Bucket" and "West L.A. Fadeaway" to the return of "Help>Slip>Franklin's," the incredible 2nd set surprise of "Let It Grow," and adventurous takes on "He's Gone,""Wang Dang Doodle," and "Morning Dew." It's all well played, my friend, well played.

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 52: SANTA FE, NM 9/11/83 was recorded by Dan Healy and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.

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If you didn't already know, all vinyl on here is on sale, 25% off

Last few:
Caravan For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
Raging Slab True Death EP
Guty Cardenas Lirio Azul CD
Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn
GD 6-10-76
GD 1977 King Biscuit broadcast

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Thank you Obeah for that deep inquisitive analysis! Very sound theories indeed.
When I recall the last few SeaChats, Dave mentioned a new 'era' for #54, which could as well be an era within an era. He also mentioned it was a show they had pretty much already decided on as the first release of said era. So with that in mind, there are only so many possibilities. Now for 2025 I had felt 1976 was due up as it would only be the fourth Dave's Pick release from that year, now confirmed by starting off with that pick. Thank You Dave! Dancin' in the Street.
I got a feeling that the 1983 release for #52 was bumped up in the rotation for one reason or another. I say that because I recall Dave saying that each of the four releases from 2024 would all cover different band member line~ups, which wasn't the case. DaP#49 & DaP#52 are the same musicians so to speak. That said, Dave has also made it clear in the past seachats that sometimes they improvise with the release plan, as things can change on a whim.
Driveled answer quick conclusion is,.... I think we've got a 1969 Banana Box Pick for #54 or perhaps instead a September 1970 pick with the bonus disc. As for #55 I feel an autumn 1973 show is on the wind, I say that because all but one Dave's from 1973 are spring tour. So for the last release of the year #56, I predict the first Vince era pick, maybe a show with Bruce? Anyways, If the final 2025 pick ain't that, then perhaps it's a late era Brent pick. Maybe 1988, with some early "Built To Last" tunes scattered about?

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In reply to by RyXs

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....that Without A Net vinyl looks good.
Btw. Target is having a buy two get one free vinyl sale. And they have Without A Net. Warning. Their search engine is trash.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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The best Deal going there is the Lyceum Box.
I scored that last year for that price.
A most excellent purchase.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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I checked and did not have this vinyl!?!

Got it from amazon 40 bucks with overnight shipping! Now that's a deal!

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Good price, I paid full freight when it came out. I would have thought this would sell out quick, but a guess a 500 price tag made people say NO.

It's a nice box on the shelf, I want to end up with all E72 in vinyl, I think I have them all so far :-)

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E-Sharp.

Ha Ha,,,, just a note to remind/point out Friday is record store day. 5/577 coming out and Jerry on the Eel.

I'll be standing in line like an idiot :-)

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In reply to by Dennis

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Error!
There is no E sharp, it’s an F lol

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...actually more than once. Most recently he got me good with the seaside chat language that presaged #51. TBF I'm not alone in that: a number of us thought his comments inferred the imminent release of a Vince-era show, rather than the "Bar Band" of Spring '71 that rocked audiences in the wake of Mickey's departure.

And I make that observation as I thank you for the kind words @RYXS while also simultaneously noting that I should be honest and humble in acknowledging that I'm *usually wrong* in trying to guess where Dave's going next. Vol 51 is just the latest example; def didn't think he'd revisit '71 again so quickly after Vol 48. Maybe the box set is going to be one release from every 10 years - '65 through '95 inclusive. (I think there's still one '75 show yet to be released! Although it probably has guests...)

I think I sometimes make those long posts in an attempt to bring structure to 30 years of Grateful Dead music. I know it's a fool's errand... and heck, on that note, order is decidedly NOT what this band is about for chrissakes (silly Obeah!). But one thing I never tire of is seeing how passionate this community is about their favorite shows and the candidates we cite for next release. I often imagine Dave Lemieux quietly browsing through, probably not making notes - one can't lead by committee - but hopefully being amused.

Cheers, folks. Next up: 12/9/81.

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I believe there are no shows from 1965.. but maybe we will get "30 Trips" vol. 2..

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In reply to by Vguy72

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How’s bout a multi-era mega box, that can be purchased in custom modular segments, the draw being the more era segments you buy, the deeper the discounts!!!. So for our friendly contingent that would prefer less and/or only primal etc, they could do just that, but at a premium. Only want Brucey and Vince, cool, we got ya covered, at a premium.
And yes I think you’d have to do the premium cost to ensure the more pricey “complete” box would be fair/competitive.
That would give any DH, from any era, a chance to participate and enjoy chever way their pleasure tends, but not be unhappy being forced to go bigger than they’d like, AND!…would most likely get some fence sitting types to purchase at least something, versus all of nothing, if it’s one mega choice only?
Just a thought…

I’d do the era segments something like below based on what’s released, what potentially is available, and what’s underrepresented (imho) of course ; )
Counts could vary slightly to accommodate show lengths. (Hate to miss a really good one because disc count for era was 1 or 2 off…)

66-69: 25 discs (chopped up, incomplete..as long as it rocks! Nice time for a garage sale ; )
70-75: 20 discs. Still plenty gold in them hills
76-79: 15 discs. this era has been heavily mined…have to leave something for future too!
80-89: 25 discs. I’d say more but…
90-95: 15 discs

That’s 100 total, (hey it’s Sixty, will their even be another official one?)
so not that much bigger than Boxilla, and as I say, each module or segment could be purchased separately, so, everybody eats!
😀

If we only had access to your wife's credit card.

Still haven't gone down the vinyl train. Have way too many CDs and money invested at this point to even think about it.

I think you have it right on the money with how you laid it out there. It's both comprehensive - mightily appropriate for the 60th - and still flexible regarding how people who have collected a lot already could fill in the particular gaps or eras they seek ... without having to chance missing out on the whole thing due to an 'all or nothing - lump sum' barrier.

Anyways: Travel well, All (if you are doing so) and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Peace

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