Grateful Dead

Looks like my vid idea is going to work better.♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

I think your gonna need to NUKE that post...it's on autoplay.♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

As a freelance timber cruiser, I used to arrange my work schedule around the Dead shows that I could attend. I preferred to function as a Flintstone rather than a Jetson. My work kept me in the forest and out of the office. A knee injury has required re-training, and I joined the modern world of computers in 2008. Since then I have received my Bachelor's Degree (Applied Science) in June, 2010. I would check this site periodically, but schoolwork and shows kept me busy. I am grateful to be a part of the online world. As I read the previous postings, I realize that I was not present in the strangest of places. I hope to learn from this; and I hope to look at it right. As I continue to revise my documentation files, I will continue to post them to: 30daysofdead.weebly.com I added a chronology page on December 3rd. Who's going to San Francisco for Furthur?

As far as the best RTs...I'd zero in on 2.2 (2/14/68) and 3.3 (5/15/70). Probably since the material is rarer in the context of all the other releases. By that criteria, 2.4 (cal expo 93) would also be worthy, but that's only if you really dig the anything post '91. No bonus disc is a downer, though. I don't think the Road Trips are that good of a value...I'd go for the commercial multi-track stuff first since the recordings are better, and the prices are generally lower on a per disc basis. You can find several of the Dick's Picks and multitrack releases on amazon.com for less than what they sell for here, usually with FSSS. (I see that 2FTV and 3FTV are going for $14 each right now). This might help you find releases in years and periods that please your ear: http://deaddisc.com/GDFD_Dead_By_Date.htm HTH

allmusic.com has pretty good reviews for nearly anything official - tabs for main albums and compilations - checkout the review for DP v4; http://www.allmusic.com/album/dicks-picks-vol-4-r233136/review. But it is always good to hear from the real people right here.

Maybe you should not restrict yourself to Road Trips releases. Here are a few personal suggestions for standout releases from each of the earlier years of the Dead (including expensive $$$ Box sets). You might want to look at the Best of Website that provides pretty good reviews of almost all the official releases. http://www.thebestofwebsite.com/Bands/Grateful_Dead/Grateful_Dead_Live… You can also listen to hundreds of shows at archive.org and decide what you like best 1968 (wild psychedelia and R&B) : ‘Two From the Vault’ or Road Trips 2.2 1969 (the jams get bigger and even better!): ‘Live Dead’ or ‘Fillmore West Compilation’. $$$$$$$$$$ Fillmore West Box Set. 1970 (acoustic and Americana start to feature): Road Trips 3.3, Dicks Picks 4, Dicks Picks 8 (Take your pick) 1971 (Spaced out cowboy bar room band): ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ 1972 (the full package!): ‘Steppin’ Out’ 1973 (laid back, dreamy, jammy and jazzy): Dicks Picks 28 or Dicks Picks 19. $$$ ’73 Winterland Box Set 1974 (deeper and weirder): Dicks Picks 12 or Road Trips 2.3. $$ GD Movie Soundtrack Box Set 1975 (on sabbatical) : One from the Vault 1976 (in transition): Dicks Picks 33 or Download Series Vol. 4(I think we are still waiting for the ultimate 76 release) 1977 (slicker, sharper with something for everyone) : So many to choose from. Maybe Dicks Picks 29. Maybe Dicks Picks 15. Maybe something else. $$$ ‘77 Winterland Box Set. 1978 (on from ’77, but less consistent): Maybe Road Trips 1.4 (I think we are still waiting for the ultimate 78 release) 1979 onwards: Not able to say. Someone else take over please! of course these are my personal preferences and prejudices good luck now Rhino, about that 10% commission!

I was not familiar with many aspects of the band live (though I saw them in '78 and own numerous studio albums.) The 30 Days tracks are on my iPod -- with repeated plays I have already moved beyond a casual fan. Any advice on the best "Road Trips" to purchase (assuming they are all still available...)?

we miss him around here... but Canyon et al, this is nice!

I remember CCJoe...pretty cool dude. thanks for the links, I'll check it out and perhaps gain more ideas.♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

two or three years ago and by strange coincidence (or not) another CC, the inestimable CCJoe used to run a regular competition on this site which kept a lot of us highly entertained. He, in the role of celebrity quizmaster, posted tiny audio clips of GD song intros and we all tried to guess what they were. Joe awarded special prizes for the winners. You can relive those days by visiting http://www.dead.net/forum/false-alarm-only-game-town and http://www.dead.net/forum/call-tune-season-2 Joe still comes calling here from time to time and its always great to see him.