The Latest On Dave's Picks
Limited Edition Numbered Archival Series
What happens when you take the spirit of Dick's Picks and combine it with the very best aspects of Road Trips? Dave's Picks! Esteemed archivist, vaultmeister, and all-around Dead fiend David Lemieux will curate the finest unreleased shows from the master tapes, brought to life with HDCD sonics by Jeffrey Norman, period photos, and informative liner notes. All four CD releases in 2012 will be limited to 12,000 individually numbered copies and each will come in a digipak printed on Orford stock. The entire packaging, including the trays, will be made of 100% recycled and PCW materials.
The series kicks off with a uniquely spectacular show from the highly regarded Spring Tour of '77 - May 25, 1977, The Mosque in Richmond, Virginia. You can learn more about this show here.
Dave's Picks Volume 2 will feature a complete Grateful Dead performance from the Wall of Sound tour, recorded live on 7/31/74 at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, CT. This was one of the final East Coast appearances by the Grateful Dead for almost two years, and is one of the longest, most exceptionally well-played shows of the entire year. The big jams stand out, of course, including "Weather Report Suite," "Eyes Of The World>China Doll" and "Truckin>several thematic jams," but the smaller songs, including a rare show-opening "Scarlet Begonias," "Mississippi Half-Step," "Big River," "Greatest Story Ever Told," "Uncle John's Band" and countless others are also excellent at this A+ show.
NEW INFO: In addition to all the great music, you can look forward to another digipak with trays made of 100% recycled and PCW materials (and of course a booklet featuring a historical essay and photos). Due to popular demand, we'll be using a heavier paper stock for Volume 2 and all the great Dave's Picks releases to come.
Throughout the year, David will take you behind the scenes and share with you the process of curating and producing the official Grateful Dead archival series. Watch the new video below and his introductory video at the bottom!
Video 2
Video 1
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Flexibility.
In the notes at the top of the page it states that there will be "a total of 12 CDs over the year" and that there will be 4 releases in 2012. Initially, this would seem to suggest the same format as the "Road Trips" series, i.e. a full show (with filler) on 3 CDs, but David clearly states in his video that there will be similar flexibility to the "Dick's Picks" series with the possibility of 2, 3, 4 or even 6 CD releases. This opens up more possibilities than there were with the "Road Trips" releases which never exceeded 3 CDs. Now we may see some of those long shows that wouldn't fit onto 3 CDs or indeed some shorter shows from the '60's. The possibilities are endless (within the limitations of 12 CDs per year). This is shaping up to be really cool and interesting.
simonrob
I wouldn't be surprised if that 12 disc number was a bit flexible as well. Remember the initial advert for the E72 boxset was in the 60s, then the total climbed to 70, then to 72, before finally settling on 73. I would tend to assume that 12 is the minimum we can expect, but not necessarily the maximum (or so I hope). Just some food for thought.
name change?
...how about 'Dave's Fave's" ?!!
it sounds good, and fun.
it rolls out of your mouth with the same groove as Dicks Picks.
for pure simple linguistic rhythm and rhyme!
But, eh,...that's just me sayin'....
Dick's Picks
And, now....
Dave's Faves.
whaddya think?!@!!
Every touch of grey has a silver lining.
Let me start by saying that I have bought every (and I mean every) official release you have ever issued, but here are some of the reasons (in no particular order) why I won’t be subscribing to this (or to any future releases):
1) I quote “Additionally, only subscribers will receive the highly collectible bonus disc delivered with Volume 2” - that’s not the goddamn reason we buy the music.
2) You have a definite agenda to alienate non-US subscribers. Free shipping to the US, $48 to the UK. Amazon charge $6.48 for UK shipping which means we’re effectively paying $30 more than a US subscriber.
3) The music should be available to all those who are prepared to buy it and not randomly limited as you are doing here. I thought you’d recognised this when you said “We are now offering the All-The-Music edition of Europe '72............IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC...”. What you really meant is IT'S ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$.
4) Your Customer Service (sic) department is as much use as Jerry’s middle plucking finger was. Issues that I raised on September 14th and 21st have still not been resolved.
I suppose the only plus point from my point of view is this is going to save me an absolute fortune – every touch of grey has a silver lining.
Something Fishy
Am I the only one that has noticed a change in the Dave's Faves opening where the dates are shown? Quite a few 80s and 90s dates have been added. I was just about to subscribe when I noticed the different dates. UKUncleJohn made some legitimate points. Rhino will ignore them. There is a word for that kind of exorbitant shipping disparity: GOUGING. Absurd. That is reason enough to form little clubs over there where you order one set and everyone gets a copy. They can't complain about piracy, when they are committing highway robbery like that.
less '70s dead please
i am well aware the '70s were the grateful dead's zenith, but i hope those in charge plan to release more shows from the other decades. preferably the '60s & '80s.
with that said; an official barton hall 5/8/77 would still be appreciated.
February '73
I'm anxious to hear early 1973 selections featuring several new Grateful Dead songs and a terrific jazz influence. I love 1974, but it's tough to beat those early Eyes.Madison and Champaign offer 3 wonderful shows. Thanks David for your efforts.
Thank you Rhino and GD
Being somewhat behind the curve, I just received DPs 3 and 29 yesterday and can honestly say that few things live up to the hype like the Dead in May '77 (or June!...how I love the Winterland Box)...so I'm completely jazzed about the way Dave's series is kicking off. I, too, hope to see more pre-70's releases - the big, bad, funky, fuzzy sounds of the '68 Carousel show and FW '69 release are regulars over my speakers!
Olompali: very cool suggestion, I've often wondered how much video might be in archive.
Dorz11 and patagonianfox: 5/8/77. amen. period.
Digi Packs ~ PLEASE !
Call this what ever you want; Dave's Picks or Dave's Fav's.
But PLEASE bring back DIGI PACKS for the protection of the CDs.
Thanks again.
Deadheads??
My goodness, I always thought Dead fans were positive and loving. Maybe they should just not release anything anymore..?Count me in for Dave's Picks! Can't wait. It will be like Xmas 12 times a year.
the new stuff
I am loath to increase the negativity, but UKUncle John was 100% correct about this...
"4) Your Customer Service (sic) department is as much use as Jerry’s middle plucking finger was. Issues that I raised on September 14th and 21st have still not been resolved."
Dave L basically solicited show recommendations in his video announcement, so I am sure he was deluged. Never the less, he did respond to my suggestion in less than 24 hours. My request to customer "service" for an email confirmation of my subscription (since it was charged to my card, but no email sent) ... totally ignored. What's become of the baby?
View From The Vault !?!
I haven't read all these entries by any means, but I haven't seen anything about the thing that David talked about that excited me the most. He briefly mentioned a new View From The Vault release. As much as I love all the shows coming out to listen to, I love watching them even more! I have all the video available (and some that's not), and everytime there is a announcement of a new release I keep wishing it was a DVD. Anyway, I am very excited about the new series and will continue to buy basically everything available. Keep 'em coming!!!
series name
The Wave had a great suggestion!They should call the series Dave's Faves.
When I already have a show, obtained through trade before the proliferation of GDM product, I don't buy the official release. I have the '77 Richmond show and I just listened to it. Great show and the sound quality is fine. The HDCD is just not $25 worth of difference. The graphics, photos, liner notes and other packaging are interesting, but the music is the point and I have that. So the subscription is a chancy proposition. The subscription may be for GDM to gauge interest, produce correct quantities, etc. but it could also be to induce us to buy stuff we might have passed on if we knew exactly what we were going to get.
What if I have them all? The Dick's Picks series was aware of this and shows were chosen that were not in wide circulation. The first selection for Dave's Faves seems to indicate that they won't regard that factor.
I hope the "Limited Edition" exclusivity won't prevent me from buying the a la carte.
Bittersweet
These announcements are always bittersweet - another great show that's going to be taken down from archive.org...-Ed Watts
www.rockandrollnerd.wordpress.com
You're right
I sincerely like "Dave's Fave's" at lot better. Nice one!-Ed Watts
www.rockandrollnerd.wordpress.com
Classics vs. Sneakies
In response to sffct: I've always been curious as to how many copies of a release GDM sells when they release a "classic" show versus a "here's one few have heard" show. As someone who does not have most of the classics, I am always grateful when they release a show that has always been considered great, e.g., 10-9-76 or 3-1-69. I know that many Heads have such shows in high-quality bootleg versions, but I don't have most of those shows, nor do I have the computer wherewithal to track them down, properly download, properly change file formats, etc., so I love it when I get to find out what everyone has been talking about for years and years.
Along those lines, it sometimes seems as if the powers-that-be occasionally intentionally skip some of the classics in order to entice people (perhaps those with high-quality boots?) with a "sneaky" maybe-classic from the same tour/era. Sometimes those releases are just as good as the neighboring classics, and other times it seems like the well-known classic should have been the release--in trying to release something that had flown under the radar they end up releasing a show that isn't quite as good as the "classics" from that same tour.
I for one say, "bring on the best (performance-wise) shows, regardless of how many folks have bootleg copies", but perhaps I'm in the minority on that. Thoughts? Do folks purchase official releases if they already have decent copies?
1984 -- ITS TIME!
By my account, there has been exactly one song officially released by the GD from 1984 -- NYE's Shakedown on the So Many Roads Box set. I may be missing something else here, but there is no complete show or release from 1984. Only 1966, 1967, 1994 and 1995 lack complete shows and a few of those years are far more represented on things like SMR, Fallout, and others.
I know Jerry was in a bad place in 1984 and the band has treated 1983-1985 as if the years never happened in terms of public visual and audio releases for that reason (and others). But for god's sakes, it is time and there are some seriously well played and fun shows in 1984. Merriweather, Greek, BCT, the Philly Civic/Hampton/Provy Scarlet>Fire trinity, there are many others as well.
David has always been more sympathetic to the 1980s in Tapers Section than was Dick, so here is hoping that we see that reflected in these pick's just as Dick's Picks was true to Dick's love affair with 1973. Its time for a 1984 release.
If for no other reason than to help complete the picture of the band's career by filling in an underrepresented period.
1984
There is an Augusta, Maine from 1984 that is quite fine. However, it has been many moons since I've heard it, so maybe it isn't as great as I remember. At that point, most of what I had was eighties shows, so to have an above-average one meant a lot. I remember it having a lively first set and a second set that included Morning Dew. Good show--worth tracking down.
Band Grateful Dead
Venue Augusta Civic Center
Location Augusta, ME
Date 10/12/84 - Friday posters tickets, passes & laminates
One Feel Like A Stranger [9:40] ; It Must Have Been The Roses [5:48] ; On The Road Again [3:05] ; Jack-A-Roe [5:14] ; It's All Over Now [7:46] ; Cumberland Blues [5:34] ; The Music Never Stopped [8:38]
Two Cold Rain And Snow [6:29] ; Lost Sailor [6:37] > Saint Of Circumstance [7:20] > Don't Need Love [6:18] > Uncle John's Band [10:30] > Space [5:43] > Drums [10:#33] > Space [6:31] > Playing In The Band Reprise [7:58] > Uncle John's Band [2:02] > Morning Dew [11:46]
Encore Good Lovin' [7:20]
Hell must be a little colder today, because here I am saying I would LOVE to have this on official HDCD. Pure nostalgia--although it is a great show, if my memory isn't too drug-addled. Hard to beat that second set lineup. Even "Don't Need Love" is good--the kind of tortured lyrics Brent seemed best at. 1985 was one of my favorite years, too, and the DP Richmond show is killer. Let's have much more from 1985, please.
1984 - Agree
I agree with DJMac520 that we need a 1984 release... the thing was that when the dead were on in 1984 they were really red hot on. Out of the 150+ shows I saw from 1979 - 1989 the show on 10/12/84 from the augusta civic center which holds about 6,000 people was one of the best shows I had ever seen. There was that magic in the air where audience and band melted together in a mass of energy. The show was hot from the start with an amazing feel like a stranger and featured some amazing Jerry highlighted by Cold Rain & Snow and just an amazing Morning Dew which featured Jerry growling out the lyrics with the place going wild. There were at least half a dozen songs that had not been played on that tour busted out for this show. I danced my ass off!!! I have the partial SBD of this show but there seemed to be many technical difficulties with crackles and static throughout and the back half of the second set an audience patch only including the previously mentioned Morning Dew.
IMHO if there is to be one release from 1984 this is the show.
10/12/84
Supposedly there is no soundboard version of the second set post-"UJB". Doubt if the traders can find anything that there would be anything in the vault.
Speaking of speaking to Dave, I emailed him about "Dave's Faves" and he said he doesn't believe 'the Rhinos' would agree to that.
1984!!!!
There gonna slip an '84 show into the subscription? There ya go screwed again! On the other hand I think I might be beginning to enjoy it. Nothin' left to do.....have any of you guys found yourself not bending over unless you have your back to the wall. I might have to stop reading this thread.
Daves Faves
Dave said Rhino wouldn't go for it? Why doesn't that surprise me? So much for getting the fans input. Are the discs already made? How hard is it to use the same font and replace Picks with Faves? Ridiculous. Rhetflix. What morons.
Deadheadbrewer
To try to answer your question regarding purchasing shows that one already has a good SBD of, I can only say it depends. If I consider it a classic...probably. If "they" consider it a classic...maybe. I had the majority of the Europe shows from downloads and they sound great for the most part, but I bought the trunk and I'm glad I did. It's fantastic. I vowed not to make the same mistake I made by "considering" the Fillmore West '69 box. What was I thinking. Gone just like that. However I find myself wavering on the Dave's (fill in blank) simply because of the unknown. I have a great copy of 5/25/77 and will probably get it ala carte if need be, but after seeing some of the previous mediocre choices made for Dick's Picks, Road Trips, etc., I'm a bit hesitant to do the subscription. Shades of Book Of The Month Club. Hey, one mans meat...
As long as they make the covers...
...like the Road Trips Series instead of the E72 variety of crap I'm sure Mr. David will come up with some choice selections to satisfy everybody and will stand the test of time.
I'd certainly like some '84, like the fall tour with Bear on the soundboard. All the shows were real good that tour but Meadowlands, Augusta and Worcester really stand out for me.
A lot of the selection has to do with the condition of the masters. They have to have something good to start out with, even above average.
1984
The problem for people like David with 1980's is that some are only sound reinforcement cassette tapes (these are tapes made from the PA feed where the mix was to add to the house mix. For example, if Jerry or Phil were the loudest coming from the stage, they're the lowest in these mixes). Then, there are PCM's which break and scratch easily as well as being prone to drop outs not to mention having a hard time sometimes capturing the low end, Next, we have Healy's Ultra Matrix idea which sometimes worked okay and sometimes didn't. Mix that in with the fact that there are shows which either weren't taped, tapes lost and/or destroyed. You begin to see the problem with some shows from this era. I'm sure at some point we'll get something from '84 but it has to be a good performance, have decent quality and exist in the vault. Remember, because we may have a copy of a show in our collection, doesn't mean they do.
I've paid.
My credit card was charged on the 25th. I assume this means that "Dave's Picks" #1 is in the post to me right now. Or am I being a bit naive here? Surely Rhino wouldn't charge me in October for something that is not coming out until next year, after all it is a pre-order, and like Europe '72, people were not charged until (or after) the thang shipped. Presumably they could argue that as it is for a subscription, they can (and did) charge me directly. Pfffff.
Charged, Simonrob
That was my problem with last year's Road Trips subscription series, that the charges were upfront, not upon shipment of the product...with, at that time, only free shipping and the one bonus disc as the carrot. This one sounds like a bit of better bargain...which of course depends on whether we're looking at 2-disc, 3-disc, or 6-disc releases.
Dave's Faves? As long as it isn't Lemieux's Miscues, I'm good with whatever. Except that we'll need to work on abbreviation protocol -- DP is Dick's Picks and always will be. DaP?
Covers
Funny thing about the E72 covers and all the ripping complaints (I've made one tiny tear, and I've done a lot of disc removals while driving -- and trying not to crash -- my car...don't try this at home, kids). Oh, the funny thing. I pulled open my Beatles remastered box set the other day to grab the White Album and realized -- same covers! So it isn't just Rhino...
I don't know...
what happened with last year's Road Trips subscription - due to the fact that it was not a limited edition, I waited until January (just before the deadline) to order and so I had rightly expected to be charged straight away. Also, if I recall correctly, when that subscription was first offered (late 2010) there was the all-too-common astronomical International shipping charge posted initially so all, or at least most, of us foreigners felt it was better to wait until that was sorted out.
Vegas Krissy
I'll second you on the Tanya Tucker pix... maybe they could throw in some Dottie West as well....!
10 12 84
i was there and it was my birthday i have a sound board of this show so i bet its in the vault all around great show would love to have it be a daves picks and that name is just fine.More 80s 83 84 85 and even 86 the jerry come back shows in dec. from oakland or how about the best shakedown ever from merriweather 85 or saratoga 83 84 85 88 or all five new years shows from 82 83 with etta james and the tower of power or the hult center 83 or bosie idaho 83 was so good it was the only show ever in idaho or red rocks 83 or how about florida 80 pembroke pines and gainsville i think gainsville was one of the best dead shows ever.Alaska 80 too.Miami 78 the fat man rocks peace.
Ideas that may or may not ever come to fruition
The summer 1985 tour should be released a la Europe 72- complete and in a trunk lol
The comeback shows from 1986 should have been released as a sincere "Road Trips" - with selections from 12/15-17 on 3 discs.
10-12-84
I remember the parking lot after this one was really quiet as we left the show and I recall thinking that it was because the epic Dew we had just heard was still hanging heavy on people's minds. I ran into this one guy who started telling me about the dolphins he had seen swimming through the air in the auditorium, or maybe they were whales, it's hard to say after all these years.
In Searching for the Sound, Phil writes about his then recent marriage to Jill:
The fall '84 tour was our first as a married couple, and for me, the highlight was the night in Augusta, Maine, when Jerry, during the old folk ballad "Jackaro," turned to me as he sang the line "this couple they got married, so well they did agree" and, with a big grin on his face, actually winked at me" (269).
What Phil doesn't mention is that the second set opener was Cold Rain and Snow.
Hoping for 2/24/73
Some great choices from the visuals as people have mentioned (4/23/69, 1/2/70, 5/26/73, 5/19/74, 1/22/78, etc.). Here's hoping the various sources of 2/24/73 can be cobbled together as a release!
Dave's Picks recommendations
Here's just a few brilliant shows that deserve a releaseShrine Auditorium 8/23/68
Ballroom 4/13/69, Family Dog at the Great Highway 11/2/69
Hollywood Palladium 8/6/71
Kezar Stadium 5/26/73, P.N.E. Coliseum 6/22/73, San Diego International Sports Arena 11/14/73 , Pauley Pavilion, UCLA 11/17/73
Swing Auditorium 2/26/77, Winterland Arena 3/18/77 and 3/20/77, The Palladium 5/3/77, St. Paul Civic Center Arena 5/11/77, Memorial Coliseum, U of Alabama 5/17/77
Dead Enough ???
We got
Dave's Raves
and
Dave's Faves
To borrow a CliveDavis-ism, they don't sound "Dead Enough"
FROM THE DAVE CAVE.......VOLUME ONE
I'm in...
After a brief soul search, and the realization that bringing peanut butter sandwiches to work can save a lot of money, I'm in. An act of faith.
Listening to the 12/11/72 Jam of the Week right now, and it reminds me that what I would love to see somewhere in the DaP series ("abbreviation protocol," I like that) is some Fall '72. I actually prefer this era to (gasp!) Europe '72. Fall has the perfect combo of cowboy dead, tightness, and vocal blend of the spring, combined with the more open jazzy turn in '73 (and Keith isn't riding the echo pedal the whole time as he seems to in Europe). I think there isn't much (or anything?) from October '72 in the Vault, but maybe a compilation of what you do have.
Oh god, I said something negative about Europe '72 AND requested a compilation.... I'm ready...
Saw 1/22/78 in the opening graphic, and ooh that would be nice too (and did I see 11/2/84, yum). And I second the Alaska '80 mention above (and in many other threads as well).
Oh yeah, and Dave, the video is a great touch... you're a natural.
Great Tour / Good Show
A good show from one of the best tours, (IMHO Europe 72’ is also right there), which is very well documented with numerous soundboards. A few years ago I added this Richmond show and it is very good show and look forward to a remastered mix, but it would be nice to have a show we don’t have or that hasn’t been posted in the Taper’s Section, as a good portion of the Richmond show has. If we are now just upgrading, why not start with everybody’s favorite Spring 77’ 3-night run, Boston, Cornell, and / or Buffalo. My vote for a Spring 77’ show would be 4/23 Springfield, which I’ve only heard audience tapes of. I hope this series ultimately turns out to be more in line with Dick’s Picks in regards to releasing what we haven’t heard, (DP#11 Jersey City, #22 Lake Tahoe, # 25 Springfield / New Haven or #35 The Houseboat Tapes), along with the classics that we need to have upgraded, (DP#8 Harpur College, #10 Winterland #15, Englishtown, #34 Rochester) as a few examples. Thanks for keeping the music alive and remember that we have bought this subscription sight unseen, so surprise us.
lose the baseball cap
I'm sorry, but am I the only one who finds DL2's video appearance a little disturbing? I mean does this guy have the gravitas to be the Dead's vaultmeister? Latvala was perfect- a crusty grayhaired curmudgeon who I felt I could trust. This guy, "DL2" is well-spoken but he looks obviously too young for the job. He looks like he ought to be in line with his fraternity buddies for a Depeche Mode concert. At least lose the baseball cap. I'm just kidding, of course; if Latvala trusted him he's okay in my book. We all owe him tremendous thanks for finally pushing the E72 box through! (among many other great releases) -Just some good-natured ribbing, here....still....