Dave's Picks Volume 1 is officially SOLD OUT.
Have no fear, you can join the fun with our next release Volume 2, the 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, like 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.
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.
Dave's Picks Volume 2 ships this May. Stay tuned for pre-order details.
Learn More About Volume 1 here...
Dave's Picks Archival Series Kicks Off With 5/25/77
Chances are if you’re a Dead Head you’re already well-versed in the glorious spring of 1977. Back a year since their mid-’70s performing hiatus, and fresh from recording their Terrapin Station album in L.A. with producer Keith Olsen, the Dead returned to the road invigorated and excited that spring. There were fantastic new songs (including the “Terrapin Station” suite, “Estimated Prophet” and “Fire on the Mountain”) and their older tunes seemed imbued with new vigor and vitality. Every stop of the tour, which stretched from the third week of April (beginning at the Spectrum in Philadelphia) through the first week in June (back at Winterland in San Francisco), presented some new wrinkle or interesting variation on the repertoire, as songs were moved around, unusual combinations were explored and the septet continue to solidify and mature. Which is a fancy way of saying the band was on fire—y’see, there’s a reason why this is the ninth show from that tour to be released!
The song list from 5/25/77 might not reveal much out of the ordinary (though it’s great selection of tunes), but the playing is definitely extraordinary. The first set contains outstanding versions of favorites such as “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Jack Straw,” “Cassidy” and “Lazy Lightning” > “Supplication.” And the second set is primo-grade ’77 from start to finish. The buoyant “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain” that kicks things off sets the tone, but then the rest of the set is a deftly played medley starting with “Estimated” and moving into “He’s Gone,” a primal drum workout from Mickey and Bill, a heart-pounding version of “The Other One” that’s split by “Wharf Rat” (the only time those songs were played in that sequence), a joyful “Wheel,” and then a double-dose of Chuck Berry to bring it all back to rock ’n’ roll basics. Talk about a thrill ride!
— Blair Jackson
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Seriously?
I suppose because I don't have any friends without a sense of humor, I am amazed by those on the 'net who can't see sarcasm/irony/parody/etc no matter how obvious it may be.
Seriously?
I suppose because I don't have any friends without a sense of humor, I am amazed by those on the 'net who can't see sarcasm/irony/parody/etc no matter how obvious it may be.
PatFox
I believe that you were responding to ZuckFun's rationale for liking one year better -- that the % of shows containing a certain song was x (shown in three decimal places). He was responding to your incredibly insightful statistical analysis regarding how often a four song run was played in 1969.
My comment had nothing to do with not "getting" any lighthearted comment by me, but with your seeming inability to recognize ZuckFun's parody of your statistical basis for determing good GD years.
"Oh no, they have now played Dark Star on three Sundays in a row. What a rut."
do you think this wizard would give me some brains?
thanks for the explanation. i wish i was smart enough to understand sarcasm.
it did not occur to you that i chose to ignore the snide comment for the purpose of winning the argument?
-----
Am I the first to say ...
... I got an e-mail today saying my order has been shipped?
Daves Picks Volume 1
Just received my copy of Daves Picks Volume 1 via UPS and am very gratified by the packageing. Haven't listened to it yet, but really like and appreciate the packageing and layout of this, the First of the Daves Picks. This Digi-Pak is even superior to the Dicks Picks Jewell Cases. This is how ALL releases should be. Really excited to actually hear this but am having an afternoon at my nephews house and will have to postphone the listening party for it. All Hail Rock & Roll!!!! Forever Dead!!!!!
Got my CDs today
And posted in the "What's on your MP3" thread in the forum because this page wasn't here when I logged on. Of course as soon as I logged off it appeared center screen like magic....
I suppose I should know better by now than to read the comments for any of the releases here but I just can't get the grin off my face listening to this show so what is up with all the complaints already?
can't speak for everyone, but.... cover aside (which is abysmal)
my biggest complaint is the first 2 volumes of 'dave's picks' are mid-70's dead.
how much more mid-70s dead does one actually need? its not only predictable, its downright derivative, and demonstrates little effort by those who are in charge of show selection.
'road trips' failed because everyone coveted the bonus discs, and once they were gone no one bought the 2 disc versions. by the time, those in charge realized their mistake it was too late, so the only remedy was to change the name.
despite earlier claims; there is nothing new about 'dave's picks'.
Not another release from '65-'95
I am so tired of all the archival releases being from the same 30 year period.Why can't Dave release some of the good stuff from alternate universes?
Not another release from '65-'95
I am so tired of all the archival releases being from the same 30 year period.Why can't Dave release some of the good stuff from alternate universes?
Double Post
Please ignore my second post as it is facetious and insincere.
box set
According to the article in the Rolling Stone there will be another box set at the end of the year and it will be another section of a tour or a complete leg of a tour eg. the 72 was the european leg as they did the states from February to June...maybe not but just an example...so the upcoming box set will be of some strectch, maybe not as many discs as 73 maybe something normal like 10...and i'm not sure if the European Box set was for people with too much money, i don't have alot of money and bought it...i'm not at all unhappy with the set as i like almost 100% of the songs performed and yes alot were performed more than a few times, but i did enjoy the different sounds from the different venues...i did enjoy the times where the band really rocked or simply played louder than other times...sometimes louder meant hitting the stride, i don't think you can dismiss the insanity as to say it's just a bunch of rich people who bought it, it may have been a bunch of people who loved the band and wanted to hear excellent sounding shows...not all were excellent there was one english one i cringe when i hear it but it also has a great set...and it was included because it had to be, otherwise everything else was great Germany was the best shows in my opinion...hence the only official european 72 show was a german show, then years later they added another german so i guess i'm right in saying that...they also had a few comps but a comp isn't a complete show as we all know...but i just don't like being disrespected and called rich because i bought the 73 disc set...i can stand and look in the mirror and say i love this band i love their influences their songs...i loved jerry garcia's solo stuff, his bluegrass stuff, his Dawg stuff, his other stuff too that blue eyed soul stuff was great...far as music goes this was great stuff...i think it's narrowed minded either because they played alot of different kind of songs they didn't just play one kind of songs...they weren't an acid band...i still don't know why they get tagged as acid rock...infact they really weren't ever that loud, they did get loud but they didn't play this obnoxious loud music at anytime...i just don't like being called rich when i'm poor, i got the set because i loved the music.
Please stop complaining folks!
Like most of the readers here I'm a big fan. I have the entire GD Catalog in my collection, plus some soundboards. I look at my Grateful Dead collection like its fine wine, only gets better over time.
I'm amazed at all the complainers that come here to gripe and whine. We all should be grateful that these shows were recorded and preserved. This was started back in the 60's, much less technical equipment in those days.
The Vault is filled with many old tapes, not all will be releasable, this is where Road Trips came in, releasing the sections that were. I read many complaints about this, the entire perspective was completely overlooked by fans.
E72 had its shortcomings, no doubt about that, but the music is pristine. I have read a pile of complaints about that release too.
Now, I'm reading complaints about Dave's Picks before it even ships? These releases are going to be great. I will never have enough mid 70's Grateful Dead, I love that decade, especially with Pigpen.
Dave cannot please every one with each release, I think that many are looking past the big picture. This stuff is in the Vault and is getting released all in good time. Just think if there was no more tapes? We are lucky as fans to have Dave, Jeffery, and all those involved in delivering this Classic music.
Really makes me mad to read complaining here, please look at the big picture here folks and try to be grateful that more is coming your way. This is America, you DO NOT have to buy it if you don't want it.
Thanks Dave, looking forward to my copy arriving soon. Keep jamming America.
Phil
shipping confirmation
Has anyone else out there received a shipping confirmation? I have not. My last experience ordering a disc from this site was a disaster. I am hoping for a heads up if that is going to happen again.
Grateful Surprise Shipping
Zomby Woof, from past experience the shipping notice has usually arrived before the CDs were delivered by standard shipping.
This time around I splurged for the deluxe shipping option. Naturally, this time around the shipping notice lagged the actual delivery by about an hour and I got the e-mail after the UPS truck had skedaddled off into the sunset and I was already enjoying the new CDs.
Advance shipping notices
If you're going to be shipping a double, or triple, or quadruple (or more) post to us, please post first to let us know to expect them.
alternate universes
is there an alternate universe where you're not such a tool bag?
the multiple post thing
seems to be a technical difficulty not entirely under people's control. I just cleaned up a whole bunch of 'em. Nothing here to see folks, move right along... we're working on it.
Daves Pick V 1
I ordered the subscription in December 2011. Got to listen last nite and am very glad I Did order the subscription. Am ALWAYS excited about these Releases. I can't see anyone but Rhino doing these releases. This is a BIG JOB to do these Right and I think Rhino is up to the challenge. Look what they have to put up with!!! US CRAZY DEADHEADS. THANKS RHINO!!!
I know that I am in the minority...
... but I kind of like the cover art. It's silly, cheesy, bright, and pretty cool. I wonder where it is going to go from here. (Designing cover art for Dead releases... DREAM JOB!)
Otherwise, hoping that this set is sitting on my porch when I get home. I subscribed in Dec., and it looks like a lot of people have gotten their CDs already. I can't wait to hear it.
Finally, to all you haters.... Want something different? Go somewhere else. Based on the first two Dave's Pick's choices, this is shaping up to be an exciting series! I, for one, am looking forward to 2012 Dead!
huh?
sorry bud, but you're just a fanboy, and there is no shortage of them on this website. t think its safe to say the majority of people here not only listen to the grateful dead more than any other artist or genre, but more than all other artists & genres combined, and thats just sad.
patagoonian
Are you perhaps Newt Gingrich, with your namecalling and condescending tone? How about leaving? Is there another site that will have you? So what if we love the Dead? You feel compelled to call that out as a big negative?
KISS OUR SMELLY '77 LOVIN' ASSES!!!
HDCD Player for all new Dead
FYI - Oppo makes an amazing Blu-Ray/CD/DVD player for $499 that blows the competition away. Plays EVERY format of audio and video. All your HDCD discs will sound amazing! I have no affiliation with them but could not recommend a piece of audio equipment more than this one.
HDCD Player for all new Dead
FYI - Oppo makes an amazing Blu-Ray/CD/DVD player for $499 that blows the competition away. Plays EVERY format of audio and video. All your HDCD discs will sound amazing! I have no affiliation with them but could not recommend a piece of audio equipment more than this one.
Days Between
After each Release is announced I don't listen to the show that's released until it arrives in the mailbox- trying to hear the show with fresh ears. This was a challenge the several months between the announcement of Europe 72 and it's actual arrival. The Releases sound fantastic- it's always worth the wait. Hopefully tomorrow's the day to pop in the Half Step from 5/25/77- the waiting is the hardest part.
danc
no. i'm not newt gingrich. i'm actually a democrat, but that doesn't change my opinion of grateful dead fans. i think most are lame. i admit; i considered myself a deadhead way back in high school, when jerry was still alive, but even then i listened to a ton of different music. at some point; its time to leave the cult, buy some music from this millennium, and find your own identity.
with that said... i really shouldn't complain. fanboys like you have allowed me to get my grateful dead official releases free for years now.
Bizarre Shipping Notice
Heh, well, I'm very excited about this release and the next one too, though mildly alarmed at the date in the shipping notice -- note the date it was "shipped" (!)
"Your order from Dead.net was shipped via Standard shipping on Nov 10, 2011. Please allow up to 12 days for delivery."
I ordered my subscription on October 27, so that Nov 10 date is not even the date on which I put in my order. (As an aside, I'll be curious to see what the number on the set looks like compared to those who ordered it more recently...)
The main thing is, can't wait to listen to this. It's taken great willpower to refrain from listening to my nice sounding CDR of this show, which I had not listened to for a couple of years, because I want to hear it in it's Normanized Glory...
gone
for a couple of weeks and come back to find altercations, name calling and down right negativity. What a shame.Lets address foxy's message first, we are all lame, we love the dead so we are dinosauars, we should get a life and listen to different music from another decade or century, sure, would love to, got any? You are quick to call us all lame, but you state no alternative, what do suggest that we listen to? Can't wait to hear those suggestions. I got to agree with some, why come on the site if all you want to spew is negativity?
On the other hand, I got to agree with foxy, europe 72 was a big ripoff, promises were made and not kept, simple as that. Unfortunately, the way foxy comes off puts everyone else on the defensive and doesn't work very well here, you want other years, so do we all but until foxy gets the job of picking out these shows, we take what we get, if you don't like the 70's don' buy it, wait for someone to give it to you or you can rip it off, which sounds like what you do to get dead tunes, which is good for you, but in my opinion, it is lame to come on this site and state that.
As far as the rest of you, don't lower yourselves to foxy's level, youngsters like this won't last long here and will be gone soon.
"fare thee well"
gone
for a couple of weeks and come back to find altercations, name calling and down right negativity. What a shame.Lets address foxy's message first, we are all lame, we love the dead so we are dinosauars, we should get a life and listen to different music from another decade or century, sure, would love to, got any? You are quick to call us all lame, but you state no alternative, what do suggest that we listen to? Can't wait to hear those suggestions. I got to agree with some, why come on the site if all you want to spew is negativity?
On the other hand, I got to agree with foxy, europe 72 was a big ripoff, promises were made and not kept, simple as that. Unfortunately, the way foxy comes off puts everyone else on the defensive and doesn't work very well here, you want other years, so do we all but until foxy gets the job of picking out these shows, we take what we get, if you don't like the 70's don' buy it, wait for someone to give it to you or you can rip it off, which sounds like what you do to get dead tunes, which is good for you, but in my opinion, it is lame to come on this site and state that.
As far as the rest of you, don't lower yourselves to foxy's level, youngsters like this won't last long here and will be gone soon.
"fare thee well"
We have big ears
One other nasty comment I can't let pass is the libel that Dead Heads don't listen to, care about, or support other music, bands, eras. There is no other group of people I have ever met who enjoy so much music and cultures so wholeheartedly than Dead Heads. That is the central fact of dozens of decades-long friendships I have enjoyed with my Dead Head mates. We love and support the spectrum of music.
how old are you?
if i was in high school when jerry was still alive how young can i be?
as for taste in music i own 1624 albums (yes. that is the exact number. i catalog them on another website). spanning 8 decades; almost all are considered highly essential for their genre. everything from woody guthrie's 'dustbowl ballads' (1940) to kanye west's 'my beautiful dark twisted fantasy' (2010). ironically, the only albums i bought that were released in 2011 were grateful dead albums, but in truth it wasn't that great of a year for music.
as for music recommendations i'll limit it to a small sample of albums released this millennium.
Radiohead - Kid A
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists....
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights
Sigur Rós - ( )
Madvillain - Madvillainy
Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica
Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
The National - Boxer
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
J Dilla - Donuts
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
The Strokes - Is This It
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part
The Microphones - The Glow Pt. 2
PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea
Jay-Z - The Blueprint
The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Beck - Sea Change
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
Elliott Smith - Figure 8
OutKast - Stankonia
Songs: Ohia - The Lioness
Cat Power - You Are Free
i'll close by saying; frank zappa & the mothers were a far better improvisational band, and richard thompson is a better guitar player than jerry garcia ever was.
now people please don't stoop to my level.
shocking
I must say it should not be too much of a surprise to find a lot of obsessive Grateful Dead fanatics on the Grateful Dead fan site. Whatever next? Isn't coming here to insult us rather easy sport? Why not pick a moving target? Head over to the Gaga site and have a crack at the Little Monsters...bound to get a much more satisfying response than from us dozy old deadheads.
Now how about a really good review of Dave's Picks from someone please. We have a couple of weeks to wait before it gets to Europe.
Trolling
Hi unkle sam: I would not worry overmuch about the negativity you are seeing. If you really look, it is one person, who as near as I can tell is simply being a Troll, deliberately trying to, as you say, make "easy sport" of folks. Perhaps an Anon or something. And then, yes, a lot of people getting riled up. This is the entire purpose, if one can call it that, of a Troll's life.
Anyway, I've tried to refrain from posting a message saying "Just ignore it" (because then I'm not ignoring it, ha), but I'll try anyway. Just ignore it.
And Cosmicbadger, as usual your humor (not to mention the badger bolt avatar) is much appreciated.
Trolls
Don't feed the trolls! Don't engage trolls, it just emboldens them.
Clearly, some people post here just to be annoying. Like my 1-year-old niece likes to say: get a life.
A good rule of thumb is to ignore trolls. Trolls get a kick out of stirring things up because they have no lives. Where I come from, we have a name for people like that: assholes.
Sorry for the harsh language. Anyway, I gotta run. I have to get back to my mother's basement (my bedroom) so I can count my albums.
how it all unfolded.
if you read all the posts you will see i simply gave my opinion of dave's picks, but someone didn't like my opinion, so they chose to respond to it directly rather than simply give their own opinion. if someone is going to pick a fight, i will engage them. if you want to label me a troll, because i think grateful dead fans, like most fanatics need to find their own identity, and quit following the heard, than so be it.
the saddest part of this ordeal; is that most of you really don't care to get something truly special. you'll take the same old crap, and thank rhino for releasing it. i have more grateful dead shows from the '70s than all other decades combined. 'jack straw' is one of my most favorite songs, but i don't need 50 different renditions of it. all i'm asking for is something worth releasing. there are so many amazing artists the grateful dead were fortunate enough to play with. how about an album or series that showcases these performances? what about a compilation album honoring the various grateful dead keyboardists?
when you say there is going to be a theme or structure to a series it shouldn't just be a marketing ploy. you should deliver. one of the reasons the american auto industry fell on hard times is the manufacturers never wanted to give the consumer the whole package. their business model was to offer slight improvements each year, so the buyer would want the latest product, and thus buy new cars more frequently. that is how i see rhino's marketing tactic. they take the safe route, offering a little bit at a time, so their customers will come back again hoping for something better, and let's face it, there are so many grateful dead concerts on tape they can keep this game up for a while.
Series Premiere
I too would love to read a review of 5/25/77 from someone lucky enough to have received it. Normanized Glory- love it
HDCD Player for all new Dead
FYI - Oppo makes an amazing Blu-Ray/CD/DVD player for $499 that blows the competition away. Plays EVERY format of audio and video. All your HDCD discs will sound amazing! I have no affiliation with them but could not recommend a piece of audio equipment more than this one.
i'm sold.
you've now posted the same sales pitch 6 times. refresh my memory people. how exactly am i the troll?
this repetitive post is the only thing you've contributed since signing up yesterday. are you just an out of work loser who gets paid pennies to visit various chatrooms, and flood them repeatedly?
warren
for the moment we are going to give you the benefit of doubt that you are the hapless victim of the multiple post bug and you really really love this device. However, we now get the point and we really really do not want to hear about it again. Thank you...
ME
(moderator hat off)
I can use my numbers too.
Oh Captain Stormfield. I beat you to it. You have to count faster! Great post though!
I have 5078 CDs and about 3000 of those are jazz from the 1940's to present. I have another 2000+ recordings on vinyl and half of those are jazz. Some of who I knew personally. I have hundreds of recordings of Indian Classical music. Italian jazz and artists and cutting edge improvisiors; colleagues from NYC,most will never hear. Music from New Orleans, funk, progressive, fusion balance out classical. But hey, Bach is old, dead and probably not worth listening to anymore, since I graduated from high school. And Zappa, let's just say I have more than most and leave it at that. But Franks dead too. I won't even go into the amount of Terrabytes spread over hard drives, archiving bootlegs and shows from anyone I can think off. And who really cares anyway? Seriously Capt. Stormfield, and others, I wouldn't take listening advice from anyone that lists Jayz, the White Stripes or Kanye as barameters of what "cutting edge" is; or for the cornerstone of a childish tantrum..
So in a day or two I will up my count to 5079 CDs, and will not have to risk the wrath of my mother for opening a bottle of Jameson whiskey while I listen to DP1 in my own listening room or be afraid of any ramifications for the fragrant residue that will surely be scenting the air. As for those with superior taste in contempory music (ie. pop), enjoy it through your best mp3 or stereo that was nicked from a former friend. Your music deserves nothing less.
Shipping Charge
Hey All, I bought the Dave's Picks subscription sometime in late Fall. I was originally charged a shipping fee but it was later reimbursed automatically (free shipping for subscriptions). I now see a pending shipping charge on my bank/card statement. Anyone else having this happen? Does this happen automatically upon shipping but never actually charged? Thank you.
By the way..
...I love and appreciate all the releases, and thank everyone for all they do to get them to us! Keep 'em coming.
Dave's Picks Volume 1
Got it today-spectacular sound quality–you get a feel for the theater–outstanding performances throughout. Jerry is in fine voice and plays with alacrity. Nice mix on the harmony vocals, too. Prime '77 stuff.
Great debut for Dave's Picks–Nice going Mr. Lemieux!
got mine
mine came in the mail today and shortly after that I got the notification it had shipped
it came in slick packaging with jewel cases and easy to read labeling
all the cds eaced fine
no digital flaws were detected
Although compressed it is full sounding and not harsh like the europe 72 box so I don't have to eq it when I turn it up.
So I have it loud and am enjoying it.
great release