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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
Wishing for a Music-Only Version in Installments
I would love to buy these shows on CD but that price is too prohibitive. I hope they reconsider and release these shows individually or in smaller box sets (of perhaps 10 shows each) that could be purchased over time. No one is complaining about the price per disc -- it's that the $700 lump sum is too great for many people's budget in any given month, which makes this set so disappointingly unobtainable to so many loyal fans.
"There's a handful of people that need a nap and a binki."
how about a nap, a toke, and a (stuffed) bikini?
:)
old man, daydreaming. wistfully.
(oYo)
Re: Figure Four
Game on Zuck. My piano player can kick your piano players ass. I am including a youtube of him, yes.. that's a full-size grand piano, he's a giant.
https://youtu.be/tSxzA1y-zWg
Keeping things positive
Yeah,talking about the music, and technology is what keeps me coming back to this forum.
I am a noob compared to most people on this site, but I love how passionate some people are about the music. Believe it or not, I've only been listening to the dead for three years. And the first shows that got my attention were the Spring 1990 shows from set one.
Since then, I have listened to shows from every year - except 1986 and 1995. The GD app is pretty convenient for checking out the stuff on Archive.org.
Then I got into the JGB, Old & In The Way, Kingfish, Further, Phil Lesh and Friends, etc.....
I have copies of some of the shows from this box set, but to hear it mastered with great equipment, in high quality (wink wink) - and to essentially be transported back to a time that I never knew existed, and have front row seats for it is incredible. (Thank you Betty Cantor and Charlie Miller)
As for the eras, I find that one day I love 77, and another day I am listening to Alligator from 69. This week has been all about 1985. Especially June 1985 - while Jerry wasn't looking too good physically - the sound is great.
Overall, what I am trying to say is that there is so much to talk about, and everybody's opinion and knowledge is incredible.
If you have to throw people under the Furthur bus to make yourself feel big then that sucks - because I think its this community that keeps the music alive. I mean, go to any other band site and look at their forums. I don't see any crazy threads for Pearl Jam releases ;)
Now, back to my 1990 jam.
Don't shoot the piano player
Anyway, great point JiminMD. I like getting turned on to things on these boards. Somebody mentioned 2 from the vault last night. I've been meaning to pick that up. Went on DeepDiscount site (sorry Rhino/GD store but free ship plus no tax) & saw that & so many other GD titles on sale. Bought that & 2/11/69 for less than half price. Also saw the new vinyl GD double LP 1967-77 for only $14, why not? Then decided I should replace my deeply scratched American Beauty with a new 180g lp. Outside of GD I picked up the new King Crimson recent tour release, Black Sabbath's Sabotage on vinyl & the new Courtney Barnett release. Watch out for her, a great singer/songwriter that rocks as well. The thing I passed on was the Egypt cradle 2cd/1dvd set. Only $20 but not sure if it's good, thoughts anyone? I can't afford the new box but It felt good picking up a few odds & ends.
I Have A Suggestion
Ignoring posters who are constantly trying to stir up arguments is the best answer to their baiting. It's the one thing they can't respond to-silence.
Greetings All
Long time reader and finally decided to post something. First off the box set is overwhelming(in a good way). There is something for everyone in it no doubt. It's too much for me to afford but I am thrilled that it exists and will be available to those with the means to purchase it. What a treasure trove of music! The last box set I went for was the Winterland 73 box. I have all the DP's all the Road Trips and every commercial vault release but I just can't afford the boxes. I have bought a few of the Europe '72 shows ala cart. My wife (like many others it seems) is not a deadhead and therefore does not understand why I need 100 different versions of Dark Star! Ha! It's just easier for me to purchase these shows in small amounts to limit the marital strife. I am primarily a 68 to 78 guy but I like it all, just spend most of my time in that 10 year window which to me is the peak of their live output. I hope to see Cornell get released one day. I listened to my AUD copy of Morning Dew last night and it has got to be one of the all time best versions ever to me. Sorry for the rambling post just wanted to give a little background and say how much I enjoy reading the discussions.
@mhammond12
agree - down thread someone posted something like: "i would hope there aren't folks who come just to troll this forum"
I think there are folks who troll any and all forums, regardless! My experience anyway.
re: reijo29
I quite like Rocking the Cradle, Egypt 1978. It has a very mellow vibe that I keep coming back to and the DVD, though it leaves you wanting more, is an excellent document of a piece of Grateful Dead history, and the 15 minute home movie vacation tapes is a cool special feature. It will never be my favorite show, but like a kids' lemonade stand you can't help going for a taste even if the lemons are of imperfect freshness or they've over done it on the sugar. I think the people who are most disappointed in it are those who really love 77-78, because its got a different feel than the normal stuff from that era. The second song on disc 1 is a nearly 12 minute row-jimmy and I'd say that that song is sort of characteristic of the vibe I get when I think about the album. There was also a bonus disc that I missed out on at the time and picked up later used and overpriced on eBay. The best two songs from the bonus disc, Bertha>Good Lovin', are included on the DVD already. If you like the album, you may ultimately wan to pick up the bonus disc, but the six songs unique to the bonus disc are there for a reason, be it sound quality or performance quality. Personally I'd say the bonus disc is definitely worth listening to, but not something you need to be in a hurry to grab.
I like Rocking The Cradle as great road trip material. In the middle of a long drive it's nice to plop those two CD's in and let your mind wander. It's a show that will take you places only the Dead can, but does not demand rapt and unrelenting attention to every note the way some of the other big shows can.
rockin the cradle
I agree with you about the Egypt shows. I have that set and the bonus disc it's pretty cool, very mellow. What I go back to more than that though is the Road Trips From Egypt with love. To me it's incredible. 78 is a smoking year. That NFA with John Cippolina is a monster.
Ideas for the next box set
David have you guys pondered yet about doing a complete Red Rocks Box set? And just a suggestion, how about a three or four month installment plan to pay for these box sets? Since its still four months out, you should give us regular guys out here who were dedicated dead heads for many years but who may not be able to afford $800.00 in one chunk....
Ideas for the next box set
David have you guys pondered yet about doing a complete Red Rocks Box set? And just a suggestion, how about a three or four month installment plan to pay for these box sets? Since its still four months out, you should give us regular guys out here who were dedicated dead heads for many years but who may not be able to afford $800.00 in one chunk....
Listening habits
Curious how you all listen to the Dead. Do you reach for a specific disc or a complete show? For me I have an Ipod which is loaded with only GD from my collection that I carry around with me everywhere I go. I just shuffle that thing and let it play. It takes me weeks to go through the whole thing and then I just start it over. That way I never know what I will hear next or from what year it might be and it's fun. For years I would listen to one complete show at a time but once I went the "shuffle" route I have really embraced it. Sometimes it's weird to hear a China go into something besides a Rider but you get used to it. Ha!
Re: Train, Shuffle and listening technologies
I cant do the shuffle. I like to listen to contiguous shows in a tour/year. Press play and a few months later its done. Then perhaps revisit parts that stand out.
mbarilla has a remarkable adaptation, he has evidently developed some piece of proprietary hardware (firmware/chip) that he self implanted in the frontal gyrus part of his cerebrum that enables 100% absorption in hi def quality at 20X normal speeds.
Not to be outdone, forensicdoceleven has attempted to develop and implement a similar technology on himself, but it has some bugs. With the exception of brief glimpses into 1983 and 1984, his chip only works for 1971. Go figure.
Others have developed similar adaptations, but none are sharing.
How can I tell? I listen to a butload of music, but pale in comparison to half the people that post here.
Listening habits
I cut my Dead teeth so to speak on whole shows. I listened that way for years. I can still do that and sometimes do with the Ipod but I like hearing a wide variety of different tunes from different years. I listen in the car or the shower or while i'm running or at work, the portability of the Ipod can't be beat. Best invention ever! Being able to carry around 1,000 songs in your pocket is just so great.
Listening Habits
I prefer to listen to complete shows (or at least a complete disc) but most of the time I can find some great stand alone cuts. It's hard to beat a good Alligator / Drums / Caution though!
If only I had the time....
If I had the time, I'd do whole shows. Sadly, it tends to be discs, or sometimes just random tunes on my commute to and from work.
Re: GivingItOomphOo... - Matrix
emailed D. Lemieux and he replied.
The 80's shows are not sdbd/audience composites. I take that to mean they are as Healy recorded them unless they needed some cosmetic touching up...
Looks Like Rain and listening habits
I've always loved Looks Like Rain, my pick for the greatest one ever is 1983-04-16, Bredan Byrne Arena, NJ. Bobby screaming and Jerry's incredible fast pickin, like standing in the rain,,, brings tears to my eyes.
On the listening front, generally I'm always catching up since so much music pours into my house everyday. I try and knock out Dave's Picks when they come, my car accepts usb memory sticks and I keep one in the car that contains a block of shows by years, I'm trying to listen to every show, I'm in the second half of 69. I like to listen to them by show also so you get the correct "into". Though sometimes it's nice to hit shuffle and you can be surprised by the way some things really work together. I'm also always listening to some audio book. This on top of the endless soundtrack that plays in my head.
I saw someone mentioned deepdiscount.com (I think that was the name) I gave a 30 second look, didn't think discounts were that deep! I buy a lot from Amazon USED, shipping is always 4 bucks, but if you can score a cd for a buck, what the hell. I tend to buy a lot of odd things also, like how many Deadheads have complete collections of Andy Williams or Doris Day? I recently acquired some used Renaissance albums that I had in vinyl but got remastered replacements for a couple of bucks. Snagged a couple of used "the watts 103rd street rhythm band" Stuff coming in all the time. I don't lack for listening material. So check out used amazon stuff, you might be surprised. Will keep deep discounts in my search pattern though.
Matrix mixing 80's
I listened to all the 80's sound boards that are in the box and they all sound pretty good.
Listening Cont'd
Generally I jump around from disc to disc, sometimes within the same year, though often from era to era. I'll try to listen to a whole show when it's released, and for Box Sets. Though many times it's portions of shows as time permits. Last night I had some time so first it was the pre-drums from 7/31/82, then the Truckin to Morning Dew from DP28. Then Set Two from 10/3/76 and finally Iko to Drums from 12/12/90. Usually don't have this much time. It's strange with how much released music there is, still often I reach for music that's unreleased.
Listening
Really? you guys listen to the whole show? I always just go straight for the jam tunes. Then, after hearing the jams a few times, I might check out the other songs here and there. Honestly, I don't think I've ever listened to a complete Dead show all the way through, except for the ones I attended. I'm sure there are large chunks of my collection I've never even heard, even from my beloved pre-hiatus era. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing? I know wjonjd made a persuasive case for listening to 2/24/74 from beginning to end. I'll have to try that some day. Sometimes I even space on the jamming :/ I got the Winterland 77 box when it came out but just started listening to the 6/8/77 Estimated-Eyes this week. Man, that is an absolutely essential "Eyes"!- how could I have overlooked that for so long?
Listening habits ramblings - Dennis
Love Doris Day; just picked up "7 Classic Albums" off Amazon for under $20. Good stuff!Have some of her Vinyl as well. I also everything Jerry Lee Lewis recorded, on vinyl;
Carlos Gardel, the Misfits, Megadeth and Patti Page, to name a few.
I'm still missing some Dead original issues, but I do have the 1st LP in Mono, and it sounds great! The original Aoxomoxoa is one I often go back to. Right now I'm on the hunt for a vinyl copy of Without A Net at a decent price...
Listening habits....
....whenever I can. Does that count as a legit answer?
I don't know but i've been told....
big black women got a sweet jelly roll. :) I did it, I swallowed the bait, hook, line, and sinker. I could not resist, it was like someone else was guiding me as I pushed all the right buttons and entered all the right numbers, it was weird, in a strange and positive way. I feel relieved, I feel at peace, I think I just had a flashback? It's too much money, it's too much to absorb at one time, but, I need this, just like a fish needs water. Like a bee needs honey, like a rock needs to roll. I feel free.
Thanks to all who provided this wonderful feeling. I love you.
I'm going to have to pass
The wife and I did not get the good news we were hoping for, our daughter suffers from Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome which causes her to have seizures, the anticonvulsant medication is $900.00 per month, for a few months our medical insurance covered the cost now because they deem the drug as "experimental" they refuse to cover the cost. We've lobbied local politicians, Doctors, lawyers you name it we tried every which way to get the medical insurance company to recognize her need to no avail, what a maze that is. I actually had twice the amount saved up for this box set however my child's needs ALWAYS come first, on a lighter after leaving the doctors office we stopped by a Walgreen's & I was able to purchase the Newsweek Grateful Dead Collector's Edition I've been looking for it for 2 weeks so cool to finally find it. I'll just order the "small" edition of 30 Trips, & try my luck with eBay come September.
Now I'm really hoping that TPTB release each show individually just like they did with E72, at least that way I'll still be able to enjoy the music that never stopped. HAPPY FRIDAY, DEADLAND!!!!
GD vinyl
just scored a Sealed Skull and Roses. I wasnt sure if it was going to have the sticker,, and sure enough it did. Green Warner Bros label and sticker, for under $40. Good day today.
Over Memorial weekend, I went to a record swap and a guy I bought some Allman Bros and BB King vinyl from told he has been collecting for over 30 years and has only found a couple of those stickers. That definetly peaked my interest.
A few other sealed scores I picked up today are more recent
-Janis Joplin - Move Over - 7 inch box set, $12.50 what a steal and
-Chris Robinson Brotherhood - Betty's Blends Volume Two
@ wissinomingdeadhead
Your daughter is in my prayers. Holy Spirit!
Sales
There have only been about 40 boxes sold today. Still wonder why it was limited to 6500?After the first day initial rush things have slowed down considerably. It looks like it will take quite awhile before they sell out. So those who needed a bit more time to gather their coins will get their wish. Good for them!
Rock on
Slow down sales
Thanks. Good to know. I and others thought that 'matter of days' sell-out might not be the case with the multiple order snafu factor.
Maybe TPTB got the number of boxes to build almost right?
David's contact?
How do we send messages to David about his work on this?
listening
I have ripped all my GD CDs to HD, and luckily I had them all, then i added SBDs of classic shows and AUDs of shows i was at that don't circulate as SBDs and deconstructed the official releases and put them back together in chronological order and saved the files as "complete" sets. Then I put them all on a 1 TB HD and i let it shuffle as background music, it takes over 2 month to make it through the playlist once, much of which I miss because i'm not listening to it while it shuffles away.recently I found the flac codec for mediaplayer and I just doubled my space on the 1 TB HD by ditching the wavs for flac versions of the files which until now had been the backups to the wav files ;)
Grateful Dead/Phish
I know I should not be so derogatory about the concerts coming up by using the term "Dead Phish". Trey is a very accomplished guitarist and will make thousands of concert goers happy. I joke around a whole lot so pardon my poor National Lampoon stylie of humor at times. No one called me on it, I just wanted to clear the air. And I don't want to be knocked out by a leaded treble hook. You see I have Tourette Syndrome. And I knew some tour etts on the road. Have only seen Phish once and the Dead some blah blah blah amount. Wow Bill Walton went to over 850 Dead shows, how did he ever have time for basketball. I myself have been a trail-blazer of the soil variety. Even saw the Dead in Portland in 72. Meanwhile the box-set. In September 72 my friends and I went to a rodeo somewhere in Con-Edicate before the Waterbury GD show that's being released. A couple hours before the show I went the backstage door and talked Joe Winslow into letting me in for free. I told him some BS about being an Oregon hippie. He was cool, told me to find a seat (open seating). Ron Rakow looks at me and asks Joe "who the fuck is this guy", and Joe tells him "leave him alone he's a good guy". Many thanks Joe. I also remember Rex Jackson and some other roadie wrestling on the stage. Figured these dudes are as tough as the Allman Brothers roadies, better not piss them off. So thank you Dave Lemieux, Mark Pinkus for releasing this gem. Special thanks to Joe Winslow and thank you Kid, Ramrod, Sparky, Rex Jackson and Ron Rakow for not throwing me out on the street. By the way those two nights at Waterbury were a couple weeks after my Mom died. Music heals. Love heals.
Contacting Dave L....
....try emailing him at vault@dead.net. He answered me once.
Individual Shows?
Keep in mind, the description says the shows will not be made available as individual CDs. My guess is at some point, they will be made available as individual digital downloads. The is my hope anyway.
Wissinomingddeadhead
Thanks for the heads up perspective. My son was struck with meningitis and was in a coma for days. All ok now. My wife is a breast cancer survivor after radical surgery. All ok now. My daughter suffered a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down and then was diagnosed with leukemia which almost killed her until intense chemotherapy saved her. Will never say "All ok now" for her but she's doing great. All are big Grateful Dead fans and conversant in concert lore and personal opinions about eras. Point is a lot of us have stories and the sun always comes up. $700 is out of the question for me too. Hell, that's 4 hours of my daughter's physical therapy. The sun always comes up.
Ordering etc...
My apologies for the repetition, and if this is already known, please disregard the contents. The money required to purchase this box isn't necessary until September. Even then, if using credit, smaller payments can obviously be made. When it's ordered, the purchase price (via credit or debit) will be pre-authorized for a few days and then restored. When this ships in September, the card will then be charged. This message just a reminder that billing for this set is over 3 months away. But the funds for the purchase price need to be available now, for the pre-authorization only. Sorry if this information is already known, it just stinks people are missing out because of the high price. It does seem that shows will (hopefully) be available for purchase as downloads, because surely we're not the only ones frustrated some fans are missing out.
Spectrum Listening
I like to pick 7 or so complete shows of different years from the current month and listen to them in chronological order in the car. Works like a charm. Most grateful for the upcoming box!
product sku
081227955892