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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how about all three hult center shows from 83 dont forget boise 83 and park west oh and dear god red rocks 83 what a great end of summer tour.Skipping up to 85 summer merriweather shows and saratoga or hershey park.Please the whole 85 spring tour box set.Sportatorium 80 and one of the all time greats gainsville florida i dont care if its not in the vault find it somebodys got it release the audiance version it sounds so good go and listen to it.Maybe alaska 80.Greek theater shows from 87 and 88 that first watchtower is very good.MIAMI DARK STAR 89.Orlando 91.Madison square garden oct. 83.Maine oct.12 84.These are all good so release um!
Interesting......
Well, since my collection ends with Dick"s Picks, 'might as well' pick up my collection with Dave's Picks, CHEERS!
Great Idea, But......
Could we get a better, more original name for this beast, that limits itself to 12,000 Clones?????? Dave's Delights!!! Dead Dundgeon......GD 4th Archive.....Archives Alive.........O.K.??? AND I AM ONTHE BUS WITH THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!! No apologies needed!!!!!!!
Multiple Choice
You found $100.00. Which series would you pay $200, which would get you jazzed, which could you live with and which would you punt?
A: 5/25/77; 7/08/78 ; 10/12/84; 6/16/85
B: 5/25/77; 10/12/84; 7/02/88; 9/20/90
C: 5/25/77; 10/12/84; 10/12/68; 10/17/72
D: 5/25/77; 2/24/74; 2/15/73; 10/12-13/68
Good game Deadicated
In order of decreasing preference
D: 5/25/77; 2/24/74; 2/15/73; 10/12-13/68 Sign me up
C: 5/25/77; 10/12/84; 10/12/68; 10/17/72 Three out of four ain't bad
A: 5/25/77; 7/08/78 ; 10/12/84; 6/16/85: One 80's per year please or I get depressed
B: 5/25/77; 10/12/84; 7/02/88; 9/20/90 Ditto and MSG already sampled on RT2.1
what's my prize?
An unsold Grateful Dead Toenail Clipper from the GD store?
A free toe-nail clipper!
How utilitarian of them. How do you fit the stealie?(I'm really bad at quizzes)
Well done Mr. Badger
For my money you got the order of preference 100% correct - i.e. the same order (and reasons) that I would have given.I still think it is a shame that your avatar has been culled.
Limited Edition
I've been going back and forth on this since the announcement. I find the idea of limited edition releases repulsive, I'm still upset I can't purchase the Fillmore West recordings. I understand that this is also a business, but I think it is completely reasonable to print a limited run of disks and if demand is high enough for any of them they should be able to press more of them. I thought the idea of having an all music edition for Europe 72 was great. I purchased one of the 7200 boxes, but making sure the music was available to others was a fantastic.
I really wanted to sign up for this and give my support, but I can't support the idea of trying to manufacture scarcity. Same with the bonus disks from the Road Trip series. If you want to include them for early adopters that's fine, but those of us who want to pick up the release later should also have the option of paying a little more to get the bonus disk. If you make it unavailable, people are going to find other ways to obtain it.
I hope the series is successful, and the first is a great show. As much sa I want it, I just can't support this limited edition distribution model.
Re: Multiple Choice
D: 5/25/77; 2/24/74; 2/15/73; 10/12-13/68
This would be a tremendous run of shows to release. The Death Don't Have No Mercy on 10/12/68 is really good, as is the Other One. I think the only other show I listen to regularly that I would want to see is 8/13/79 as a release (well, I listen to the first set at least, my copy of the second set sounds like crap! Heard the whole show on Sirius one night though...).
I have some ideas...
I wrote the Vault but no word yet; here's my ideas.
1. Release New Year's Eve 1990, we need more Branford concerts and late-Dead that shows how much ass they could kick on a great night!!!
2. MORE PIGPEN. 'nuff said
3. There should be a wide variety of shows like Mr. Quiz man above me indicated: a '77 show, a late 60's/early 70's show, an '80's one, and hopefully that NYE '90 show! (please!)
4. Awesome art (as is usual), but change that title to Dave's Fave's or Dave's Rave's.
Righteous!!!!!
hamilton 03/90
Please release the Hammertown 90' shows. I heard that the 92' shows were being considered for this. That would be a shame as the setlists are better than the playing. I,ve been waiting for the 90' shows to be released for a long ,long time. The 11/2/77 show in T.O which arguably has the best Lazy>Supp of the year should also be considered for a "north of the border" release. Thanks.
More Primal Dead
I'd go for the 10/12-13/68 anyway, and how about some more of the Carousel & Fillmore (Both East & West) shows. I have tons of Charlie Miller masters from that period which sound great, but I'm sure that official releases would sound even better.How about a big '68 release, or some late '67
Oh yeah...
some seriously primal 60's stuff with Pigpen on the prowl would suit me just fine - and you could warm me up with the meanest ol' alligator ever heard on the 30 Days downloads! Bring it on.
these kind of deals are humiliating
buying cds should be a joyous experience
this is doomed to be a bum trip
Quick and The Dead
I second that ...... from a time when the Dead were willing to push waaaay beyond the limits, without any fear.
I choose...
B
and would add option -
E: 7/1/84 ; 9/7/85 ; 7/29-31/88 ; 4/15-16/89 ; 6/23-24/90
and I'm all for Copps Coliseum '90 as well.
Grateful Dead, From The Vault, Dick's Picks, Road Trips, Dave's
Kudos to Dave for the video chat.Comments on subscription deals - last years subscription had about the same number of complaints, (i.e., no announcement of what dates for RTVol4No.3,4,5) and yet I was still jazzed each time a new RT was announced as I knew IT would be in my mailbox within a few weeks.
Just a mathmatical analysis D(a)PVol.1No.1,2,3,4 = 13 discs at 100.00 (103)
Europe '72 : The Complete Recordings = 73 discs at 490
so 5X100=500 so 5X13=65 so the E'72 is a better deal.
Now, Dave's Picks (Faves's, Raves, Caves)
I think the new series should be called
Dead Tours
View From The Vault Five
Best suggestion so far 8/27/72 Veneta, OR
Otherwise known as SunShineDayDream
Next Box set
Best Suggestion so Far
NYE 1990
just the NYE second set is enough to put this out
(with video)
NFA>Eyes>DarkStar>TheOTHEROne>WharfRat>NFA with Branford the whole set
Next Dave release - 11/21/85 Kaiser Big Boy Pete Opener, Walking the Dog, She Belongs To Me, Excellent playing, coool list Dynamite ending.
Fall '72 Paradox
Scott, love your post (though I'd say that Veneta, when it is finally released, is too important to be relegated to View From the Vault V status - rather it would be a special release along the lines of the GD Movie...
A question for y'all: I've been trying to figure out what is in the Vault from October-November (my fondest hope for a DaP is a show from one of these two months). Came across these two quotes from a 2004 interview with Dave L:
"Fall Tour 1972 and Fall Tour 1973 are worthy candidates for whole-tour consideration, certainly."
Followed by this, a few paragraphs later:
"Some shows simply weren't recorded, some have gone missing over the years, and some (some of October, 1972, for example) were recorded as audience tapes only."
Does anyone know what this means? (how can the whole tour be released if big chunks are missing)?
Veneta '72
Being that this is on top of most every collectors fav's list, I can totally understand the desire for an official release, but between the 22 shows from the E72 box, DP #'s 11, 23, 30 and 36 plus the Download Series #10, there is waaaay more than enough '72 to listen to for a good many years. I'd personally prefer more from '84, '85 and '88-'90.
Of course if the first annual decanal (spelling?) Field Trip were to be released, I can always make room for one more '72 show if I really have too.
Spacebrother = blasphemer
...and I quote, "there is waaaay more than enough '72 to listen to for a good many years." Not hardly possilble! You pass yourself off as an offplaneter but I suspect you are probably from France. At least you make an attempt at redeeming yourself by stating you could be persuaded into making room for one more if it came down to it. I don't doubt probably even two more if the stars were in proper alignment! Probably the south part of France at that.
December 15th?
December 15th, huh? Looks like you have about a month to get my replacements for the defective Europe discs to me. Otherwise, I'm out.
Super Deluxe Editions
A bit OT here, but since we're talking about new directions in Vault releases, how about mirroring other great acts in rock and starting to look at super deluxe/anniversary editions of the studio albums? (Look at the Pink Floyd Immersion Sets or the Who's Leeds and Quadrophenia sets). Maybe do it as a GD 50th Anniversary Series.
Each multi disc studio album release could include any or all of: vinyl, 5.1 mixes, studio out takes and rehearsals, commemorative books, BD/DVD video, memorabilia/poster prints, and live cuts/full shows from around the time of the album.
You could also do a super deluxe GD movie box set and release the entire 5 night run of shows (in 5.1!) along with the BD version of the movie.
Dream big, folks!
yes
All these dicks daves picks stuff Is all stuff id love to posess but im a poor dead head. I live on youtube dead selections and gd radio channel! Thank you people who post these tracks on youtube. You all make it possible for a low end dead fan to listen! As for me, I want sunshine daydream movie RELEASED! May this band live on till the end of humanity.
Sunshine Daydream
Sunshine Daydream is on YouTube in its entirety. It's washed-out and needs to be color-matched and redone frame by frame, but you can see an old print there. You can also download RealPlayer for free, which will allow you to download YouTube clips, Archive.org streams--anything that streams--and play them in your minivan!! Do you guys like my new tattoo? My parents are mad, but I think it ROCKS!!!!!
What's in a name?
Dave's Faves/Raves/Caves/Graves/Saves? How about publishing a list of all the suggested shows that were passed over for release in this series? You could call it Dave's Waives. Here's to hoping that they don't think we're really all just Dave's Slaves.
As far as the limited run thing, I'm not keen on the idea, or the hype, but I do understand trying to quantify the expected production and distribution costs. I think the idea of downloadable images would be attractive. DIsk space is pretty cheap and each show really doesn't take that much, so the margin on sales should be fantastic. And burning an ISO image is hardly rocket science. I suspect many of us may have done it successfully once or twice...
Push vs. Pull
The idea of an archive, from which entire shows and/or individual tracks could be downloaded, is an intriguing one. In the late 90s, the Terrapin Station project was supposed to house just such an archive, and while it's not too surprising that the very ambitious museum aspect of that project didn't pan out, it does seem kind of odd that the downloadable archive didn't become a reality, especially since the world has since adopted iTunes, et al, as the primary way to purchase music. I think that the reason for this is because TPTB realized that if they digitized the vault and made it available for download in its entirety, call it the pull model, their sales would be incredibly high for a short period of time and then would steadily drop off until they vanished completely at some point. Better to push the product down in smaller quantities, where buzz can be generated for each release, in a cycle of regular releases that could take decades, rather than just saying there it is, have at it. It's an annuity, not a cash-out.
They obviously aren't going
They obviously aren't going to remaster 3,000 shows, or however many they have in the vault. I think there is so much good stuff that has been released already that I would rather they chose great shows or great tours and remastered them. I don't feel the need to hear all 3,000 shows myself. I have plenty of great shows in great quality already. I have virtually everything released by the GD, and that totals 35 days in my iTunes library.
How much different do you think the offerings and quality would be if the Dead made everything downloadable on their pay site (w/o remastering) vs. what is already out there on etree and the other sites?
I'd rather wait to see what TPTB choose to release, have them do their high quality thing with it, and then I'll make my decision. They have already released a hell of a lot: 36 DPs, 11 or 12 D/Ls, 18 or 20 RTs, a FW box, 11/73 box, Europe '72, remastered studio albums with outtakes, etc. Are the 73 Europe CDs along with the dozen RTs this year, and anything else I am forgetting really not enough for you? It's plenty for me.
And I don't mean *you.* I mean "Are they really not enough for all of you?"
too much of everthing is just not enough
just release all the shows i was at starting with miami dec.78 and 80 gainsville.OK the whole spring tour 83 and 84 and 85 and 85 summer tour and i can go on and on and on and on.Well maybe theres enough all ready.REDROCKS EVERY SHOW A BIG RED ROCKS BOX.What about that miami dark star from 89?That end of summer tour 83 the hult center and boise.I think i left out 2980 shows.
Melkweg Club, Amsterdam, on 1981-10-16
I would love the Melkweg Club show, from Amsterdam, on 1981-10-16, this is one very special show!
Not buying anything more from Rhino (music)
Can't deal with customer service. Only five more years left on Rhino's contract!
Lamagonzo...
I think by now everyone is aware that you will not be buying anything from Rhino ever again, due to the fact that you have stated just that at least twenty times now. IMHO you don't need to tell us any more.
1983 - 1986
It would be nice to have something from the mid '80's. Shows like 6-25-85, 6-30/7-1-85, Red Rocks '83 and I'm pretty sure there was a great Frost show in '86.
bonus, filler, hidden tracks
really looking forward to that new dave´s picks series, but I do hope so much, that there will be bonus tracks, fillers, hidden tracks, whatever they may call it.
not only the concert please, if there is room on three cds to fill.
thank you. would be great.
Feedback Suggestion for Dave's Picks
I enjoyed Dave L's candid assessment of the Road Trips series. I agree with those who think that the RT idea of compilations was a good one. And it is quite possible that most people tend to think there is room for both compilations and complete shows. God knows I don't want to bring that up again, except: What if the RT series really was "hijacked" by a few vociferous completists? OR, what if completists really do represent the majority opinion?
If something like this comes up again with the DaP series, why not post brief surveys in this site along with the discussion forums? This might give Dave, Blair, et. al., a more accurate idea, instead of who posts the most or the loudest....
Feedback
I think that there is demand for both compilations and full shows. My personal preference is for full shows, but there are plenty of gems in the vault where the full show is either unavailable or has, in parts, technical issues. Individual (or groups of) songs from these incomplete shows are ideal material for compilations. Another possibility for compilations is a "themed" compilation such as a collection of choice Pigpen rants. What I don't consider a good idea is to pick the best material from a run of shows to make a compilation with the result that the rest of those shows will never see the light of day on an official release. In that case it would surely be better to make a "Complete recordings" box. So, for me, bring 'em all on: compilations, full shows and complete runs. As regards customer desires/feedback, it ain't hard to run online polls, e.g. "What year is your favourite" or "Which tour or run of shows do you think was the best" or even "What is the best unreleased show". Try it, Dr. Rhino - you may be surprised at the results - and so might the rest of us!
9-20-1970
Dave,Relese 9-20-1970 it is complete in the vault. Killer acoustic set, who is playing piano on to lay me down? Electric set has a mind melting caution and a funky Big Boy Pete.
We have to many releases of 1977 great year, but how much is on disc now anyway?
more unheard stuff, please
I want to cast a vote in favor of releasing unheard material, live or not. This really should be a primary objective for a vault-driven series, especially for this special, electic band. The live releases long ago passed marginal utility/satisfaction for me, though I admit there are great unheard or unsung tours, especially mini-tours.