July 31, 1974
SOLD OUT
Subscriber's Only
Bonus Disc Cover.
Dave’s Picks Volume 2 is officially SOLD OUT.
Stay tuned for an upcoming seaside chat with David Lemieux as part of our Dave’s Picks series.
ABOUT VOLUME 2
We warned you. We said there was a chance that the limited edition Dave’s Picks releases could sell out. And sure enough, Volume 1 is a goner. No copies left. (OK, even we were a little surprised it sold out so quickly.)
Which brings us to Dave’s Picks, Volume 2. The thousands of you who bought the full-year Dave’s Picks subscription have nothing to worry about. Your CDs (and the bonus disc that comes with this one for subscribers) will be winging their way to you shortly. But NOW is the time when all you other good people who are interested in purchasing this potent slice of Dead history can submit your orders.
The show in question is a three-set wonder from Hartford’s Dillon Stadium during the heart of the Wall of Sound era, July 31, 1974, four days after the release of the Dead’s fine Mars Hotel album. Dwarfed by the Wall’s irregular columns of speakers on a hot and humid Wednesday afternoon, the band thrilled the sold-out crowd of 20,000 with a far-ranging collection of tunes and jams that showed how far they’d come as musicians, songwriters and interpreters of others’ songs in their decade together.
The 12-song first set kicks off with the still-new “Scarlet Begonias” (opening a show for the first of just three times in the Dead’s entire history), and includes such other early ’70s favorites as “Jack Straw,” “Brown-Eyed Women,” a pairing of “Mississippi Half-Step” and “Must’ve Been the Roses” and “Row Jimmy.” The '73-’74 versions of “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” have a unique character, and this one exemplifies that nicely.
Things start to open up a bit more in the second set. An expansive “Eyes of the World” is partnered with a particularly fragile “China Doll” mid-set, and the concluding take on the complete “Weather Report Suite” is filled with impressive shifts in dynamics and purposeful jamming during a 12-minute “Let It Grow.” That set also has a good “Big River” and an excellent “Ship of Fools” (another new song that year).
Set Three starts with a couple of short selections, hits an early emotional peak with one of the better versions of “To Lay Me Down” from that era, and then really goes into gear with the onset of “Truckin’,” so often a gateway to wondrous possibilities. This one rumbles and wanders and flits and crashes and dashes all over the place during a half-hour exploration that includes what is popularly called the “Mind Left Body” jam and a full-blown Spanish jam, before eventually winding up at the docks for a deep “Wharf Rat.” The set closer, “U.S. Blues,” was one of the anchors of the Mars Hotel album (and an FM radio hit at the time); a perfect summer anthem.
All Dave’s Picks releases are mastered to HDCD specs from the original vault tapes by Jeffrey Norman, and include a booklet containing an essay about the show and period photos. The Digipak is made of 100% recycled and PCW materials on heavier paper stock due to high demand. The limited edition consists of 12,000 numbered copies.
— Blair Jackson
DAVID LEMIEUX ON VOLUME 2 & MORE
David Lemieux sits down for a seaside chat about his favorite moments on Dave's Picks, Volume 2: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT - 7/31/74 and sheds a little light on how Dave's Picks are selected. Watch the video here:
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Would this be an issue...
... if they released a 90's show that omitted Samba in the Rain? Or Baba O'Riley (especially the one from Vegas 5-31-92.... ugh..)
I know that we are accustomed to "warts and all," but seriously, where did all of these die-hard Seastoneheads come from?
Make it available for download. End the madness!
Packaging for export
Hope this one is not going out the same way as the first - in a box rather than a jiffy bag; it was the first time I have been charged import duty on a single show release by the Dead - and adds $16 to the price. If this carries on, this year's subscription will be the last, as it will be cheaper to buy them at the inflated UK prices than from dead.net - which will be a shame.
Packaging for Export
Ditto .... exactly the same problem I had, only my Import Duty added approx. $18 !Please, just send them in the Jiffy Bags like the older Dick's Picks shows.
Import duty
Let's not forget that unlike our good friends over the pond we also have to pay postage. An easy solve would be to mark the labels as "gifts" as these have been prepaid for a number of months.
Seastonesheads: we are everywhere!
or should I say:
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyywwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............................................!
Thanks to Dave and Rhino
because of there omission of Seastones and my bringing it up, I have met some great people on this site who share an interest in this song. I guess I should get more involved!!
Anyway, I do have the Ned Lagin disc, and I have been driving my wife crazy, She asked me why would I care about a 20 minute version when I have a whole cd. Because nothing beats the craziness, the madness that came from the live shows. And this particular version is awesome (IMO).
And Thats_Otis brought up an interesting point, what makes these shows great was that it featured something unique. I guess I am funny that way. If it happened at the show or as an interlude between sets, it should be included.
Out of all of us Dave you have the power to express our desire for a Seastone release (live). I like the idea of a mass compilation of many Seastones on one CD.
Till next time-
I second that emotion
I second that emotion johncanta909!
How about a detailed discussion on why more Old and in the Way concerts haven't been released. I mean I'd love to get my hands on the show where they play Hit Parade of Love. Wasn't Bear heavily involved on recording every show?
On the Grateful Dawg movie, there is a photo of Jerry and Grisman pick'in before the wall of sound. Who knows the scoop on this?
I will have to look into Infared Roses and obtain a copy.
Cover Art
Just thought I would throw out a different subject:
I really, really like the art on the Bonus Disc. It's very "Wes Wilson" Fillmore West-esque. I'm not really a fan of the comic style of the first two DaP releases. Just my opinion, of course, and I think it's admirable that TPTB would commission different artistic covers for releases that are limited to 12,000 copies. I would more expect something akin to the early DPs where, say, each year would have a unique graphic and each release within that year would be in a different color background to differentiate the release from others of that year. This obviously costs more dough and requires more time and effort. Kudos to TPTB even if the actual covers of the main releases aren't really my bag.
Seastones? Really?
We don't need the Seastones. It's on that old volume of Dick's Picks, I think I listened to it once, glad it's not on this release, I would have skipped it every time. Thanks for sparing us Dave!
#2
It's going to be great - spectacular! The first was sublime. I liked how the first few songs were perfect, just exactly, until Jerry made a vocal flub - I think he was that extra-vulnerable soul - crushed, in fact - we all love so well for a spell.
Why not release the April '71, Fillmore East shows in their entirety and include the NRPS sessions with Jerry on pedal steel? That stuff is tight 'n tasty!
"Steal Your Jazz"
more seastones!
rub your seastones liberally on my lysergically enhanced hemispheres.
all right, all right. moving on.
I'll listen to Seastones on my personal collection.
Yes a Filmore show w/ Jerry
Yes a Filmore show w/ Jerry on Pedal Steel would be awesome!! I am hoping news reaches our ears/eyes soon regarding another mammoth boxed set. I raided grandmas retirement jar!!
I just hope it is something I'll actually enjoy like the E72 or Winderland '73. I recently realized I have the GD channel on my Dish. I am slowly liking the old grandpa Jerry voice.
Can someone please tell me the difference between Space and Jam. Is is just a label or is there a significant difference?
Space Jam
This seems to be a broad question- the difference between Space and Jam- and is certainly open to interpretation. For one example, in the latter half of the Band's history, Space is often referred to as the music in the second set after Drums, before a song takes shape. Hence the phrase- Drums and Space. Here's a great description of this second set music written by Bob Bralove in the liner notes of Infrared Roses- "A musical environment without walls or structure. The song form is abandoned, and the very elements of music may be called into question...It is an environment where rhythm, tone, color, melody and harmony can be explored without rules or predetermination." Generally, a Jam contains a structure and rhythm that is often absent in Space. A great example can be found in the next Dave's Picks, where a post-Truckin Jam is structured around a theme- i.e. Spanish Jam. All that said, one person's Space could be another person's Jam. Art, after all, is subjective.
*favorite* Seastones
I don't listen to Seastones too often, every once in a while, but it does grab my attention when I do listen. Both tracks(as individual listening sessions) from the Ned Lagin Seastones CD (1990 Rykodisc RCD 40193) Out Of Print;
Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks Vol. 12;
Grateful Dead:10/16-20/74 Winterland.
I fell asleep listening to
I fell asleep listening to the Ned Lagin Cd last night. I really like David Crosby's voice on that. If you haven't done so check out the Kids and Dogs song on David Crosby's box set. Jerry's laugh and playing are priceless.
I wonder what Dave thinks about all the comments regarding all the Seastone talk. The fact that he just sits there by the beach drinking his whatever... he lives a lifestyle that I cannot identify with.
I am pulling out DP 31 to get in the mood for this release.
And the band keeps playing on
It doesn't seem like much Seastones talk, perhaps a few people commenting repeatedly. As for not identifying with Dave's lifestyle- If you're listening to the Grateful Dead right now, then you identify with much more of his lifestyle than realized.
Limited Editions
I don't know anything about the music industry, but why doesn't GDP make the back catalog available on demand like Hyperion (the classical music label) does. Basically, after the initial printing sells out you get an official CD-R. GD is not using generic CD cases; the artwork printed on demand could be a problem. Don't know.
One of the major movie studios (I forget which one) is now doing this as well with obscure movies on officially released DVD-R printed on demand.
These limited editions suck. I understand the problem (or think I do) with doing large printings and than eating the cost of inventory sitting for years in a warehouse. But the situation now is: people are attempting to buy up all the product so they can corner the market and double their money on flea bay. It's creating an ugly scene.
DL's "Lifestyle"
I think some posters are confusing David's penchant for shooting video discussions on the beach with him living his life on the beach, sipping coffee and watching birds go by.
I'd say he comes across as a very approachable guy. Given that pleasing DH's is probably the toughest job on the universe, he seems to be very down to earth and willing to listen to those with respectful opinions.
The Great Seastones Scandal
I don't want to make any judgments about Dave--it doesn't seem to me that the conversation should be about him as a person. I do want to ask: where are you Dave? Are you reading these comments and will you communicate?
I'm not sure that issuing limited edition releases can be defended. I simply do not understand how one could justify the logic and ideological implications implicit in the concept of the limited edition.
As for Seastones. Many people don't like it. Thanks for you're input if you said, "I'm glad it's not on the release, because I don't like it." Not the most thoughtful sentiment, but I'm glad you like to universalize your own sentiment. The issue seems to revolve around whether or not it is considered to be part of the show. Some have compared it to NRPS and others have compared it to Space, the former standardly considered to be not part of a Dead show and the latter considered to be squarely part of one. This makes sense, since NRPS was _billed_ as a different group--that is, the Dead self-identified as the Dead and NRPS self-identified as NRPS: each group called themselves something different. Not so with Phil and Ned. As such, it would take a peculiar gesture of excluding it from what counts to release a complete show without Seastones. Why, when the members of the Dead routinely think of the group as one of inclusion, are we policing so strangely what counts as the GD and what doesn't? Shit, even if the members of the Dead today were to say that it doesn't count, it would still seem that such exclusion can only come after the fact as a questionable interpretive move.
Pretty simple
I think Seastones is as much a part of a Grateful Dead concert as Jerry sitting in with Traffic at the start of a show. The complete Grateful Dead show- Phil and Ned are not the GD. If Seastones was included, I'd surely enjoy it.
Limited Editions and stuff
Many people are struggling to make ends meet right now but they love the band so much that they will do without other things to get the money together for the limited editions.
To me, when there is so much hardship out there, I think a limited edition release is, quite frankly, a scandal. The message it sends out is that those on low and limited incomes are excluded from listening to the band that some of them have followed for decades. But for the upper middle classes, the ones who still own their own homes, their big cars, who still have credit cards, the ones who get things when most older people (over 50) cannot, they have no problem dishing up the readies, they are OK.
If the CD producers don't want to lose money then surely pre-orders is a better way to do it?
I have followed some of the principles which used to be espoused by the band, sharing tapes, refusing to buy bootlegs etc. I did buy the Terrapin set which was supposed to fund a museum where deadheads could go and get a copy of their favourite show for a fee, which has fallen by the wayside.
Maybe I'm wrong but it seems to me that the people who have gone to the shows over the years, bought the albums, the reissues, the crap albums, the t-shirts from their hard-earned cash have been pushed down the line to make way from those who can afford to go to political party fundraisers in their penguin suits and black ties and hobnob with politicians and other so-called celebrities.
I love the music but hate the business. Time to admit that the party's over and the real deal has been replaced by the greatest hits.
ship date
Shown on the store's product detail page:This item is now available for PRE-ORDER ONLY. Item is estimated to ship May 1, 2012.
I imagine they will start shipping the subscription orders out next week. I think I got Dave's Picks Vol. 1 even before the estimated ship date of February 1.
Not So Simple
Zuckfun, it's not so simple at all, as the disagreement a priori testifies. If, during drums, a guest drummer played with the band, would that simply no longer be the Grateful Dead? Or, if during drums, two or three guest drummers played with the Billy and Mickey? There'd be more non-GD-members on stage than GD members, but I think we'd all agree that it is still, in a complex way, the Grateful Dead. The GD were about breaking down such traditional notions of authorship and of what does or does not count as the GD. Why we're all so interested in clear and simple borders between what counts and what doesn't count makes me a little suspicious..., as does the interest in things being simple. Things are not simple.
Blanchot wrote: "Naturally, a writer can always make it his ideal to call a cat a cat. But what he cannot manage to do is then believe he is on the way to health and sincerity. On the contrary, he is causing more mystification than ever, because the cat is not a cat, and anyone who claims that it is has nothing more in mind but this hypocritical violence: Rolet is a rascal."
Simply explained
A drummer sitting in for the middle of a set- music which occurs during a set. A set begins and ends- a Grateful Dead set that is. I'd like to hear Phil and Ned, and consider this release the complete Grateful Dead performance. I'm looking forward to it- T-minus 10 days and counting.
Do I really need this release???
I don't buy every release. For me there is no point. I am content with what I have as far as Grateful Dead music is concerned. I know what I like and what I don't. Whether an interlude song is or isn't considered the Grateful Dead is not the issue. For me, it is that it was something different and offering the fan base another slice of history. How many '74 releases are there that don't have Seastones?? One release will not kill anybody. There are plenty of GD songs which I can't stand and I often just hit the skip button when they come on or delete them from my ipod all together.
From my experience, everything seems to ship earlier than latter. I just hope folks get their stuff and don't have to wait long periods of time. However if congress doesn't act we could be waiting a while.....
I'll just keep my Dave comments to myself.
seastones
in 1979 or so i was renting the upstairs of this beautiful 1790's house in meriden, ct. my friend mumper from santa cruz was visiting and one afternoon he was playing my record collection fairly loudly while i was busy with some other mundane activities. suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door and when i opened it my landlord, who lived on the bottom floor, was standing there looking frantic and asked me if everything was okay. i asked if we were playing the music too loud and he looked ever so relieved and said, "oh, thank god, it's the record player. i thought there was a chimney fire." i'm glad to say the structure survived. mumper was only playing seastones at about 9.
New Dead
What are some good 80's and 90's shows that exliplify the Dead during this era that I might check out? I don't know that much about non 70's Dead. I have feeling one of these decades may surface with the new series and I want to be educated so I can be ready.
How is the RT from 82. Is it worth the $$?
Thanks
Keep the releases coming for sure!! I know there are a lot of folks who dig everything the Grateful Dead has everdone.
How funny
I had read somewhere that Mountain Girl couldn't stand Seastones. I think she made reference to it sounding like an Army invading. I can see how folks not familar with this song might have reason for alarm!!
I bet this sounds great on a premium sound system. There used to be a selection on the tapers section that had a Seastone from the Retirment show posted Jan/Feb 2008. It has long disappeared from this site, but it was great.
I wonder if a follow up to the Grateful Dead movie will ever be released?
stopbath, they're there - - just need to look harder
Check out this site: http://deadpieshop.wordpress.com/Link to Seastones: http://www.dead.net/features/tapers-section/january-7-january-13-2008
P.S. Man, you have a great memory. Regarding the '82 RT, for some reason they chopped part of CR&S. Personally, I prefer the Alpine DP 32. And, yes they really ought to look into releasing GD Movie outtakes - on Blu-ray would be swell.
WOW Thanks!!
wilfredtjones- you just made my day!! Thanks for getting back to me regarding the '82 show. I will look into this.
Severe disappointment
A complete '74 show with the Seastones interlude intact has long been #1 on my want list, and that's what I thought we were finally getting with this release. I am severely disappointed that this is not the case. Yes, a lot of Heads don't enjoy the avant-garde electronics. If you don't want to listen to it, then skip it--why be glad that it isn't there for the listeners who WOULD enjoy it? Why can't there be one, just one, official document of a COMPLETE show from this unique period as it transpired? Why whitewash it into just another show of the standard songs that we know and love, and have known and loved a thousand times already?
Music
I don't care what gets released or when, let us have whatever you want whenever you want to release it and let's go. Can't believe there are still folks complaining about this or that, Jerry's been dead for seventeen years now, anything live is welcome in these parts (except 1992 through 1995) sorry Vince...great guy but a little unstable, aren't we all. More More More! The Europe '72 set was absolutely a masterstroke. Anther suggestion is the Radio Broadcast October-November 1971 tour, I know several of them have come out but WOW-WOW-WOW!!!! Hearing Keith get played-in would be a spectacular run of shows!!!! Also the College Tour Spring 1971, the gigs before the Fillmore East 1971 in March-April. Whatever. Love your work, love the music, no complaints here and never will be. Go Go Go!!!!!Craig Eyler
Anything 1965-1995 that's good is fine with me!
How about shipping these a little early for people who've bought the subscriptions!
1982 RT
Hey Stopbath - I really like the 1982 RT, but then I really like the '82 sound in general (Brent, for example, was playing these really organic piano sounds, lots of fat beefy organ).
That RT also has one of my all-time favorite Terrapins if that is your bag. Jerry e-nun-ci-ates every syllable, just gorgeous singing (though his voice does have the froggy 82-84 quality a bit - he still sings this perfectly). In fact, listening to that version for the first time, I recall really REALLY hearing the lyrics in a way I had not before. For example, when Jerry sings:
The storyteller makes no choice
soon you will not hear his voice
his job is to shed light
and not to master
It hit me like a lightning bolt how perfectly those last two lines fit Jerry himself, in particular his guitar playing - those two lines may describe his style more than anything else I've ever seen. And of course the second line of that stanza is just poignant. Anyway, point is, the version from this 4/6/82 show brought the song home to me like no other... So yeah, good show.
Seastones Story
Hey Boffo, that story made me laugh out loud. Another guy told a story once about how he got back stage and whipped out his copy of Seastones on LP. He saw Phil and said, "Will you sign my copy of Seastones, look, it's still in perfect condition!" Phil replied slightly under his breath, "Yeah, I'll bet most of them are like that."
I could take or leave it. If it means an additional disc and more money, I say leave Seastones off. If however it would fit on the three existing discs, then it should be included. The bonus disc looks great, and I would prefer that material to a copy Seastones too.
@junglies
Thank you for speaking for me. Very eloquently put. I don't see some malevolent intent behind the way these things have worked out. Rather, through a combination of factors this is what it has come down to. And that is so sad, really.
In the grand scheme of things it ain't a great tragedy, jut a shame.
Limited Editions
Junglie - In response to your thoughtful post on limited editions, I just have a couple of comments:
I understand the concern about these, but I do think that these days *all* CD releases are, by definition, limited edition. I really appreciate that the Dead organization / Rhino trying it this way. After all, this means we now know how many are left (for example, we know that 9500 of us subscribed to Dave's Picks, we know that there are now fewer than 1200 DPV2's available, etc.).
Whereas, with the Dick's Picks, we had no idea how many were made, how many sold, and so on. There is only one more DP I wish I had bought (DP32 Alpine '82), but by the time I got around to it, it was gone. If I had seen a note from the Dead saying, hey, only 500 left, believe me I would have found a way.
So in short, I appreciate the open communication inherent in the "limited edition" approach. (And I do think this music will be available via download at some point, as so many OUP DP's are now).
Peace :-)
Dick's Pick 32
Alpine, 8/7/82, is available new and used from Amazon for a reasonable price. Dick's Pick 28, on the other hand, is very pricey and hard to find.
Dicks Picks 32
Has been rereleased by Real Gone Music (as have 30-36 so far and 29 is on pre order)
http://realgonemusic.enstore.com/item/grateful-dead-dicks-picks-32
shop around online and you can get it for much cheaper than what they are asking.
Starlight '82
Speaking of great '82 AUDs, I've long loved the 8/3/82 show from Starlight Theatre in KC. Just found this amazing Matrix recording in the archive, if you are looking for a show to listen to while we wait for DPV2, the matrix version of this show is just kicking my ass (Cumberland!):
http://archive.org/details/gd82-08-03.matrix.chappell.30705.sbeok.flacf
Starlight
Indeed, 8/3/82 is a classic show: I like the Althea > Cassidy > RR Blues sequence after the Cumberland. We were rockin' that evening! I had just been laid-off from my job and this was grate therapy to ease my soul! I'll listen to the matrix on LMA.
Hey CB: where will that 10% ck come from: Amazon or Real Gone? I followed up w Real Gone and the prompt response was " coming in June" re the DP 28. Thanks!
Please fix
The Dave's Picks Video for Vol 2 is not working, just has a black screen. It appears the link is broken, still have not seen it. thanks
Dave's seaside chat
I just watched David's riveting introduction of DP #2. The Canadian geese flying-by really add to this video, especially with their "honks". I'm not so sure there aren't mountains in the distance, so is that water the Strait of Georgia?You may want to update your computer software that allows your video to work. Adobe flash?