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"When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux
We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.
The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.
The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.
The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.
Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.
(Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)
ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.
*Helpful hints for using your USB:
Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.
Viewing the digital book:
You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.
To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.
Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
PDF
Text
Thin The Herd
As a way to personally justify this purchase with myself I think I will go through some of the dead things I've accumulated over the years and thin the herd. Vinyl, ticket stubs, books, etc. ahhh, I feel better already.
dantian
One thing about your statement "While you may have had to wait for your preferred releases."
We are nowhere near close to seeing my and many 80s fans preferred releases. Token releases to satisfy a "one from each year" mandate is not the same. We will never see things like Santa Fe 83, Greek 84, Hershey 85, to name a few. That is not a complaint about what was done here, but let's not conflate it with giving the 80s folks all that they prefer.
So while your point about bundling is well taken, at least your 60s and 70s "preferred releases" have in fact been released. You know a copy may just find their way to you at some point, even if by way of torrent sites or the like.
Free shipping
So basically it's free shipping for everyone (except overseas) since it looks like this will sell out way before actual release. That's like $200,000 in free shipping charges. And if I think of more strange facts, maybe I shouldn't post them.
@WharfratWhitey
From what I've read the 10/27/79 show doesn't seem to be an upgrade..at least not the track they have provided. I bet the majority of the shows in the box will be remasters of what already circulates. Although the 1972 show should be an upgrade.
Vindication
By signing up for a subscription, 4 years and $400 dollars later, and not knowing what will be released is locking in out of good faith. The difference here is that they announced what would be released with this, followed by much complaining and negativity, often by the same people who complain about those who desire releases from other eras outside of '71 - '78 and '89-'90.
Being called repugnant and told to leave, simply for pointing out a double standard is something I'll wear as a badge of honor. I predicted as much would happen, and here it is.
When the first mid-80s or 90's Dave's Pick finally drops, I predict the same thing will happen then as well, just as it is here.
Downloading officially released material for free from a torrent sight is stealing and a crime. Encouraging that activity openly is not wise and disrespectful to Dave, Mark and everybody in the organization.
Every show in this box is a winner. Many of the shows are top shelf "must haves". I believe this box set configuration is the standard they should follow from here on out, with the occasional boxes of runs of shows or highlights from peak tours. That way, everybody wins. Not just the fans of one specific era.
An aging hippie's two cents
In 2005 without warning, the 10-cd Fillmore West 69 box was released for the equivalent of $100 in 2015. Not being able to afford it then, I missed out. I ended up 2 years ago fortunate enough to buy #00012 for $500 from a greater Dead family member on eBay who really needed the cash.
Ten years later with 3 months notice this 80-cd box including a 288-page book and other goodies is being released for $700. I've been preparing for an offering of this size since the much derided 50th anniversary countdown began. And I have until October before having to pay for it.
I empathize with those of you who can't afford this box. I know. I've been there. But after having lived through this long cosmic journey I really can't relate to all the vitriol being poured out on this thread from some others. I would have loved for Shrine 11/11/67 to also have been included in this box. But I've been waiting nigh on 48 years for it and other sixties shows which helped enrich my late teenage years, so what's a few more years of waiting in the grand scheme of things? And if I die before they're released I sincerely doubt that at that time it will be of much concern to me.
Thanks Dave & Co. for all you do. What a long strange trip it is.
"$5,250,000 for 24 hours worth of sales."
Amazing. Never underestimate the buying power of Deadheads.
Number purchased
How do you go about finding out how many box sets / usb sets have been sold. Is there a counter posted here? Thanks!!
If sold out late today no biggie!
Firstly It should have been marketed 3 separate Vol spaced over 6 or 7 month period. 1965-1975, 1976-1985 And 1986-1995!Could have been more affordable for majority of dead Fans. I believe poorly planned later years I never really listen to anyway but could have afforded $260 for Each of 3 Vol overtime. Box Book separate. I'm a big record collector and have most all dead net/ rhino previous box sets . Sorry $750 can go a long way on new big screen tv, Summer weekend Vacation etc.
Really silly and totally ridiculous asking price. That is unless you eat breath and live with the Dead 24-7!!! One last thing I saw posted on Facebook regarding this 50th. The kid posted quote " wow 80 cd's and that's just 3 songs"!! Lol. For those few who purchased and silly ltd quantities 6500, geez just enjoy! Wolfeman
Re: DJMac520
True that. That job description made my dream job seem a complete nightmare! I can't see there being a second box set this year. Throwing out a second box after a $700 one just seems cruel!
Now, two more reasonable boxes next year? I'm all in!
Number Puchased
Enter a number in the "Quantity" box at the top of the page and click "Add To Cart".
The shopping cart page will say "we're sorry but the quantity exceeds our available inventory" if you tried to order more than they have.
Theoretically. No guarantee that their widget is accurate.
"Downloading officially
"Downloading officially released material for free from a torrent sight is stealing and a crime. Encouraging that activity openly is not wise and disrespectful to Dave, Mark and everybody in the organization."
1. Once the release is sold out and no longer available, there is absolutely no downside to the organization. They will have maxed out on their profits unless they release individual shows or press more boxes, which is of course likely. Torrent sites exist and the official releases have been on there for years, yet they still sell out quickly and often. Nevertheless, even if you want to stay on the right side of the torrent issue . . .
2. Mentioning the existence of torrents and how releases creep around after release by way of torrents is a statement of fact, just like saying there is child abuse, sexual assault and corruption going on in the world. It is not an endorsement or encouragement of the practice, just a statement. Also, torrents are tracked on sites not "sights."
3. Unless you have never partaken in an illegal drug, driven over the speed limit or broken any other law, kindly stay off the high road on "criminal" accusations. As any good televangelist or scandalized Republican Congressman can tell you, it is a far fall off the shoulder of that road particularly if you have been grandstanding on your soapbox.
4. I have bought every box set except E72. Have subscribed or purchased every Dick's Picks, vault release, Daves Picks and Road Trips. My respect and support for what Dave and the group does is about as high as it can possibly get and the mere mention of accessibility to other means to dantian does not minimize that.
For what its worth I placed 5
For what its worth I placed 5 orders amid the chaos yesterday. The first 4 were hung up for hours and the 5th went through right away. I only got confirmation for that 5th one. I called customer service and they said I in fact only had that 1 order, so if you did place multiple orders you may or may not actually have multiple even if they preauthed every one like they did for me.
Shipping these USPS or UPS is no sweat off their backs
I would suspect any cost Rhino takes on for the shipping is no where near $200,000. And whatever the cost is for shipping, I think it's about $100,000 to push all these sets out. The fans buying them are most likely paying for it any way because I would think it's already hidden in the cost of the box set. The rates for shipping for GDM purchase are not so great to begin with. I would imagine the contract they signed has something to with that.
And the simple fact is almost every company will jump at the chance to offer a free shipping or upgraded shipping as an appeasement. So the majority of folks who experienced processing errors placing a pre-order would have been offered free shipping due to the malfunctioning site. To have a debit card blocked for numerous days and to be offered free shipping on an item with free shipping is showing a complete lack of understanding for what is going on, thanks CS center at the management level.
The free shipping is a nice gesture for pre-orders and I would guess that was offered instead of something that has collectible value. because a lot of folks down the road that miss out on any Bonus Disc from Dead.net will be knocking on GDM door for the elusive early pre-order collectible. But who remembers Free SGS and is gonna call about missing out on free shipping. I bring this up because at the top of FAQ is the topic of how can I get a bonus even though I didn't purchase while bonus were being given. And after the last Dave's shipment that folks were saying they ordered a la carte and got the bonus. Or ordered the subscription and didn't get the bonus.
And we all know the bonus disc thing isn't true for all releases because Road Trips 77 is still passing out the bonus disc when shipped by dead.net. What's the deal with that ??
(2) santa clara tix each nite available
(2) santa clara tix each nite available
i cant make the trip
06/27 (2) tix, sec 301
06/28 (2) tix GA Floor
face value obviously
chris@grandconstructionla.com
i also have a link to the presale for parking passes this friday that you can access
"Really silly and totally ridiculous asking price"
The asking price is perfectly reasonable for the amount of music being provided. It is far from ridiculous.
As it stands the financial hit on a credit card is one that is not realized until your statement for September 2015 charges which is likely not payable until mid October or possibly early November 2015. Which effectively gives people 4-5 months to drum up the money assuming you want to pay the total price off immediately on the next billing cycle and not incur interest. If incurring interest is not a problem it goes beyond that time frame. Either way, not dramatically different from your 6 month window proposal.
I sympathize and feel for anyone who cannot afford this for whatever reason. But the asking price is reasonable and in complete harmony with every other Dave's Pick, vault Release and box set the past 5-6 years when you factor in cost per disc.
DONE
if shows wont be released individually(or most) on cd from this box set then im pretty much done doing buisness with grateful dead. which may be all just as well the last few releases i've bought had pretty crappy sound quality for what i paid for (spring 90 box sets and may 77). Dave's picks vol 13 shouldnt even have been released as a whole show it was riddled with sound problems. oh well phish does it better anways decently sized/priced box sets with out the whole "limited edition" hype crap. i'm more than happy to focus my buisness with them instead
Prediction
Next Daves pick is from a year that has only been released once in the series or a year that has never been released in the series.
Stealing music is a crime
3. Unless you have never partaken in an illegal drug, driven over the speed limit or broken any other law, kindly stay off the high road on "criminal" accusations.
Seriously? That attitude would allow criminals to pretty much do anything wouldn't it?
The music belongs to the musicians and those they've licensed it to. Unless they have authorized the torrent it is a crime. If it doesn't belong to you don't take it.
The reason that this edition is a limited edition pre-order and so expensive is that people will steal it as soon as it's released (or before - I'm sure it's already out in HK and will soon be ripped and online). Rhino and the Dead have to factor that into the price and the release format.
30 Trips
Had to sleep on it, but bit the bullet. Would have ordered the USB version if it were discounted, but alas . . .There are 4-5 years I am un-enamored with (83-early 87, and late 94-95[Jerry sounded so weak, it felt like he was dying in front of us]), maybe these new shows will change my perception. I'm open to it in any case. My favorite years are 71-78, but have really enjoyed the Dicks, Dave's Picks and all the recent boxes, so I'm sure I will get lots of listening pleasure from this one also.
I find it humbling the amount of work involved in all these releases, and just how many great shows the boys played over the years.
So until it shows up in the mail - nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile . . .
Is it a questionable business model?
I have no problem with the box - great idea, great selection, even a great title! What I don't understand is why the business model (for several years of box sets now, excluding Europe 72) requires that no individual discs be sold. If they made these discs individually available, I might spend $250 or even $300, where I won't shell out $700 (though I don't begrudge those who do). My question is this: Is it really not profitable for them to sell the shows individually? Because it seems like this business model promotes piracy and leaves a lot of folks unhappy. They could solve those two problems if they sold discs individually, and extended the print runs a bit.
OOPS! Missed 4-CD version!
Oops. I missed the small print about a 4-CD "budget" version of this release, so I take back my comments about the $700 mega-box. (Although I wish there was something between 4 CDs and 80 CDs.... but it's not a perfect world.)
Glad that there is a more affordable alternative. SO.... never mind my original post!
iiwi77
It likely is profitable for them to sell the shows individually. But not until the box set is sold out, otherwise they run the risk of people using the box set as a buffet table to order the shows they want and ignore the ones they don't, resulting in a backlog of full box sets sitting for years, after which the value and interest diminishes.
We have seen how this works before. Europe 72 box sells out, eventually individual shows available and on iTunes. Conversely, Spring 90 have not yet sold out and no individual shows are available.
Be patient.
Can't wait
For mine to be shipped! This seems to be too good to be true. What an incredible collection of shows. It seems that this release should make everyone happy, and yet people are complaining. Sigh. As my wife said, 700$ is one night out in NYC. I cannot wait to listen to 30 shows year by year. If someone would have told me 30 years ago that so many great shows would be released...... I just feel so lucky to be a dead head at this time. I hope everyone enjoys, and no matter what your favorite year is.......you just got a show from it!
Leftover inventory
The Spring '90 TOO box still has over 400 units sitting in the Rhino warehouse.So don't equate tix sold to the Fare Thee Well shows with cd sales. Big difference apparently in the target audience.
I think a lot of folks going to the concerts are going for the parking lot party and not necessarily for the Dead.
Rock on
santa clara update
06/28 GA Floor are sold, to a happy deadhead06/27 sec 301 row 8 2 tix still available, face value plus fees
chris@grandconstructionla.com
don't get the 4CD release???
I don't get the 4 CD release of 1 song from each year. It totally goes against what sets this band apart from the others and that is th transition from one song to a other. Love the truckin' > TOO transitions from Europe 72 and the Scarlet > fire from 77 and the boatloads of other examples. To have only lost sailor > saint of circumstance. But I guess if the goal was containment to four discs then they had to draw the line somewhere...
I doubt it, but I really hope
I doubt it, but I really hope the shows are in digipacks, as my Winterland 73 it unplayable now because of the melted glue from the packaging. I guess it doesn't get so hot in California, but for those of us in the south, the folded sleeves are not sustainable. I figure I'll burn them all or torrent them so that they're not lost.
My Europe 72 CDs are also slowly being destroyed by those sleeves, no matter how obsessively careful I am with them.
I also would like to put in my two cents that there must be a better way to keep the business model viable without making the box so unaffordable for most people. One can make money while and excellent commodities without economically stratifying deadheads. An all music option, multiple boxes. Even if someone saves up, many people just can't save 700 dollars on this stuff. There's just something obscene, especially with the limited editions (which I understand economically). It's like there's a few kids making the fanciest products in their wonderland jobs without paying any mind to its socioeconomic implications. I don't mean to criticize anyone for having the money to purchase (which I do) or the great jobs of producing the commodities, but AT LEAST THINK ABOUT and acknowledge that there is a cultural-psychological-economic issue with real life implications.
I do, on that note, feel slightly bad for Dave for having to say and do things in a manner that I bet is quite repugnant to him.
perfectly reasonable?
In this age of a 7 show 1972 Yes box set going for $75 or Phish 8cd Amsterdam box for $40 some of us can have the opinion that this is perhaps overpriced a bit. When you shop at Costco it's always cheaper cause you are buying in bulk, this simply does not apply here. Look I really, really want this but $765 for this is a lot of money for me and others. Perhaps the royalty fees are outrageously expensive & the remastering as well. I agree that the band members, GD employees, Rhino & everyone else involved deserves to be compensated but perhaps there is a better way to be a bit more inclusive without hurting the future GD business income stream & budgeting for other releases. It's a lousy feeling for me if I commit to buy it (because I know I can't quite afford it) & it's lousy if I don't and eventually see the sold out status.
Economically Stratifying Deadheads
This is not new. And not created by anyone or anything beyond reality.
Some could afford to stay in hotels on tour, some could not. Some could afford top notch taping equipment, some could not. Some could afford to mail order for the whole tour the day it was announced. Some could not.
All this box set does is continue the process. There is bitching about the outlay for a DP subscription each year, there is no magic price point. People would complain about having to pay shipping on 24 different orders if these were sold two per month for the next year.
No one needs to "save $700" to get this. You need to put it on a credit card and pay it down over time beginning in October 2015. That's it.
It is unfortunate that everyone cannot buy this. But it is also unfortunate that everyone can't take time off and travel to FTW, or to Terrapin Crossing, or on tour with Ratdog. Life and reality prevent that from happening. This is no different.
quick check
I'm running a quick check of all the dates. I've downloaded everything ever posted to archive.org keeping the best I could get. My quick check shows a chunk of these shows should have better recording quality than what I have. I'm glad to see that, I've gotten one or two things over the years that I swear they just took a Charlie Miller restoration and sent that. Still nice to have factory perfect. I also noticed that the 68 Greek show I have only has 6 tracks, maybe that was it, but maybe official release will have more. Granted those 6 tracks are over an hour, but I'm hoping there's more and the cuts I have a little muddy. (still better than almost every tape I'd ever owned!) This WILL be a nice collection to have on the shelf.
I like to see some more shows from the 80's too. Back in the tape days I mostly didn't get the 70's Keith period, never could hear his piano work, with archive and official release stuff I get it,,, he really did play a nice piano. Though I always loved Brent's organ work. Like to have more east coast stuff from 80's. But it's all good, whatever they want to release is fine by me. They've EARNED this right! Right? This talk about cashing in,,, don't they have a right to cash in? They gave a large chunk of their lives making this music, allowed taping, allowed shows posted on archive. Lord knows there is enough of their material available for free, hell if downloaded all shows from archive could take a considerable amount of time to listen and that's not counting Ratdog, Furthur, and Phil Lesh and Friends.
Enjoy
Dennis
Economics
Best comment on this issue I've seen. What I love is how the Band also makes other options available . . . pay per view of the so-called last shows (which they aren't, just the last iteration of the Jerry-less group augmented by guests which they've been doing since the initial Further Fests in the late 90s); individual shows of the E72 box; extremely reasonable archival releases since the Dicks Picks through the Dave's; and, now a 4 disc uber bargain like what they did with the Complete Fillmore West 69 Release.
Really sick and tired of the whining. Be grateful for being part of a community that values all.
DCFHOF. It's time.
Kentucky Scott
Oh My Cod!!
I've always hoped to one day see both '79 Cape Cod shows released as a double set.....and I've also always hoped to one day witness the Statue of Liberty taking a whiz over the Brooklyn Bridge.
Cost & sales
At $8.75 per disc I feel this is a fair price. I think only E'72 was less then this.
I have been watching the sales and they are going out the door at about 50 units per hour.
So by tomorrow they will be gone. Less then 900 left.
I don't think I will ever be able to buy a Mercedes, but I don't think that is the fault of the manufacturer. Blame it on my misspent youth of following this band around. Lol.
Rock on
Luckiest Deadhead !
What can I say ..... I was gonna pass on this, but my wife gave her blessing ..... so I just ordered the Special Edition USB ! Another $30+ for postage to the UK, but made my day !Just received my confirmation email now.
Dennis Wilmot/Cashing In
Damn right they earned it, both for themselves and their families. Bob has relatively young kids, he still has to be concerned with their financial well-being. As does Phil really, particularly with grandkids in the mix.
The one thing that really becomes clear when you read all of the books on these guys is just how financially strapped the band was for about 20 of their 30 years. Money was made, but money was pissed away, stolen (a few times) and poorly invested on pie-in-the-sky projects and plans that were too overwhelming despite being well-intentioned. While Bob and Jerry loved playing music and were "music junkies" in that sense, Kingfish and LOTM were also absolutely necessary in 1975 for income and survival. There were no great record royalties pouring in and with no tour, they needed to work to survive. Just like the rest of us.
Not until the late 80s did they seem to become flush with cash. And the rest is history. But all rolled into one, to a man they all have the right to cash in now or whenever. They floated a lot to their employees and fans for decades and currently owe no one anything, other than what they owe to themselves and their families.
Cash in boys, you earned it.
product sku
081227955892