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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

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  • reijo29
    Joined:
    Neil...Donna
    I first saw Neil when I was 14 at MSG for the Trans tour. He was solo and blew me away. Last saw him at Carnegie Hall also solo, amazing. His all out rock shows with the Horse & others are really special. After reading these posts I feel bad I passed on his recent east coast summer visit. Donna works for me. Even the wails are fine. And yes I much rather take that then Bob's slide playing circa 78. Sounds like an amateur player on those shows. The other thing Dead related that sometimes bothers me is the overuse of Midi and those plinky Brent processed keyboard sounds. But warts & all I can live with most any Dead. I guess 68-77 Dead is about as perfect as it gets for me
  • Zuckfun
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    Playing in the Band
    A huge Thanks to drshakedown74...We swapped the tickets/passes from 30 Trips and he returned the favor in an incredibly generous way- A concert ticket to see David Gilmour at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre in April. Amazing kind gesture on his part- hope this kindness finds a way back to him. Thanks again.
  • Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    Donna? Seriously...
    Is Donna wailing really worse than Bob's screaming on Estimated, or his out of tune slide playing?I don't think so...
  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: LowSpark - '72
    No E-72. Another Travesty! I think the best way to get through E-72 is, surprise, sequentially. Dr. Keithfan will have lots to say on what, where, how, what shows, mood stimulus, etc. Trust him.. he is a doctor. That being said.. if you don't want to put the scratch into getting the whole set at once and you want to cherry pick shows.. I have one suggestion. Don't just dive into 4/8 first, savor that one for a couple to a half dozen shows. Certainly buy it, but don't just dive right in, especially if you have a heart condition. Its a gem. I will say one more thing. Don't be surprised if this tour ultimately gets you, I have seen several try and piecemeal their way through the tour only to ultimately bite the bullet and get every show. Its cheaper to just get them all, and yes.. we are an excessive bunch of OCD freaks. I think Dr. Keithfan has an accounting on how much it costs both piecemeal and as a whole package. You save more than you think..
  • lowspark75
    Joined:
    Home from Work
    @antonjo - I think Neil came and went through Portland before I even knew it was happening. I saw his own posts on Facebook saying "Thanks Portland". I didn't even know he was coming. @zuckfun - David Gilmour?!? That's awesome!!!! Totally jealous. I still need to get ahold of his new album. I listened to the rest of '74 and all of '75 at work tonight. The '74 Loose Lucy did sound super funky and cool. It is too bad about the vocal glitch. '75 was fairly impressive. I don't know why, but I didn't expect much from this show. The Big River was smoking' and It Must Have Been The Roses was possibly my favorite version I've heard so far. With the exception of 1977, I intend to only have one show per year on my phone. It only has so much room. After I get through the '70s Trips, I am going to have to decide which shows make the cut. Like a lot of people are saying, I think DaP13 might end up being my '74 show. Hard to say.. but I don't think the '74 Trip is going to win that one. But for me, the only choices are DaP9, DaP13, DP12, or the 30 Trips selection. Those are the only '74 shows I own. I'll have to give the latter another spin before deciding... but many of you probably know what the obvious choice will be. '72 will probably be a tough call as well... since I don't have ANY of the E72 shows.. *GASP* I need to pick up one and get started on my ala cart E72 collecting. Which one should be first? The first one? Sorry... still high from all of the caffein required to get through 3rd shift behind the wheel.... lots of random info above.
  • boblopes
    Joined:
    re: Donna - St Stephen - post Hiatus
    I hear everyone's comments on the wail during PITB, could be cringeworthy at times. But what she brought to St Stephen when they brought it back was beautiful.
  • Alain
    Joined:
    Donna again
    Sometimes I support Donna but most of the time I do not support it. For me it is not a singer, she does not have the qualities. She screams, she bellowed, she did not know to puts her voice. She was part of the group remains a mystery to me too. But, unlike low spark 75, I appreciate the singing of Donna on Scarlet, including the fabulous version of the May 8, 1977. She did give a little extra color to the music during the 70s, and I got used. I know that the Dead were fully accepted it or you do not accept.
  • g1u2i3
    Joined:
    Donna . . . again
    lowspark75, right on with so many of your comments. I share many of your perspectives. And I'm assuming your username is a reference to Traffic's "Low Spark of High-heeled Boys"? Great band. One of my favorites. My problem is that I have too many favorites. Anyway, I just signed on and caught up on all the "Donna" comments after I posted this afternoon. I had to respond before I hit the sack, and fly to Tulsa, OK for business, in the morning. It's good to read so many different perspectives on how people see Donna. Especially, the people that experienced the 70's Dead in real time. Something I did not. Even though my favorite studio album is "Aoxomoxoa", followed by "Anthem of The Sun", the Keith and Donna period is, ironically, my favorite GD period. That period is also my favorite band "lineup". To clarify, there are shows I actually enjoy and appreciate what she adds to the music. I'm not saying she wasn't capable of it, she just didn't manifest it often enough for me, a lover of great music and musicianship. I totally appreciate and actually agree with the "girl in the band", "family" and "humanizing" perspective and the hippie chicks comments. I dig that, totally. And God knows I've loved me a hippie chick or two, three, four . . . oh . . . excuse me . . . where was I. Oh, right!. Accepting the Dead as they are (were), like Deacon Zooks said, is totally understandable as a fan and lover of this band. I love this band. It's that very sentiment that allows me to still enjoy Jerry when he sings off key. For a moment, though, hitting the pause button on . . . peace and love . . . and hugs and kisses. I am speaking purely objectively and strictly on a musical level. Many of the praises for Donna were non-musical comments. Musically, though, I'm sorry folks, Donna does not possess, in equal measures, what any of the other members did. Not anywhere near the rest of the band. Not even in the same stratosphere. If you think otherwise, I have to wonder how you measure high level musicianship. Jerry, Bobby, Bill, Phil, Mickey . . . all absolute geniuses in their respective instruments. Truly unique players. Donna? There is no way, anyone here, in all seriousness, can extend that to her. However, I will continue to accept Donna in the band, because she was. My comment about removing her from GD history, vocally, was probably a little strong. You know, I love what she did on the Terrapin Station album. And couldn't imagine that album without her. Though, I f*cking hate the studio version of "Dancing in The Streets" and have skipped it every single time I've listened to it since the first time I heard it 35 years ago. Not her fault. Terrible disco infected arrangement. "Dancin' . . . Dancin' . . . Dancin' in the streets." Anyway, let peace and love . . . and hugs and kisses, resume. Good night, all! :-)
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Cal Expo '86....
    ....I played it back to back....yeah, I said it.... ....regarding Donna, I prefer the 76-79 version over the 72-75 version hands down. Both in voice, and in appearance. I believe the JGB experience benefited her grately....Disco Donna was quite the stunner.... ...MIIIIIZ Donna Jean Godchaux. Shout out to Grahams band intro before the Great American Music Hall show. Yeah rdevil, I caught that....
  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: Donna Jean
    I always liked Donna, but I also know how an off key screech when I hear one. Still I chose to notice her good harmonies and touch. I used to find myself defending her to friends who were skeptical. I don't anymore, I think people have already made up their minds.. minds can change but that's not my place. She was an integral part of the band during what many call their golden era. There's something to be said for that. Worthy is a good word. Yea.. she flubbed up many a good song, but who didn't in this band. Funny how as fans we are both infinitely forgiving yet relentlessly critical. Not the best example of yin and yang. I bet jerry flubbed up more shows than she did. We forgave him.
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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

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Thanks rdevil, outrageous and fun. Now if only we could find some instructions for the Lego Wall of Sound and speaker decals.. (preferably on perforated paper).
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Duke '78 would be great 'cause there's good video footage to go with good sound.And yup,it's sporty! :) Late night edit:I couldn't pull the trifecta.Born to late.But I did get two of the points on the Triangle. 7-10-90 Carter-Finley Stadium-Raleigh,NC (NC State University-WolfPack) 3-24/25-93 Dean Smith Center,UNC-Chapell Hill,NC (Tarheels) :)
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The only problem with what she told you (if you're worried about 30 trips) is that you haven't been charged yet. So when they charge you before shipping they will charge the card they have on record - your old card. The bank will not recognize that and automatically charge your new card. No way. You need to have CS change the card they have on record or cancel your order and re-order with your new CC.
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15 years 2 months
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Can anyone send me a link of a great 82' show for download besides 4-6-82 I have become obsessed with early 80's Dead.
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13 years 3 months
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If you like Phil shows, 4/18 and 4/19 are neat and both good shows, both with Phil pixie dust sprinkled in during Space. Might as well keep going for the next few shows and give the Greeks a listen and perhaps even the Moscone Center show and make a run of it. There's lots of good shows in 1982, I bet a few others have some great suggestions to add to these. Just a few suggestions, mainly because they are interesting, not run of the mill shows.
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I am biased (because I was there and had a really nice aud tape for many years) but my fave is 9/17/82. This show is unusual because Brent had no vocal mic. So it's just Jerry and Bob singing. There are embryonic versions of In the Dark songs and great versions of others (Candyman, Dupree's, It's All Over Now, The Other One, Morning Dew, etc.) I would go to Relisten.net if I were you.
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Why, with a contest, of course! The first person to correctly guess the opening song for the first set of the Santa Clara show on Saturday, 6/27 will receive a piece of original Grateful Dead artwork as a prize. It'll be something from one of the releases shown in the picture on the GD store's "Music" page. And, if one of the entries happens to be the opening song for the first set on Sunday, 6/28, the first correct entrant will receive a prize as well. Just not as good as the 6/27 prize! Read the Rulez before entering: 1) Only one entry per person, one song per entry. An individual's duplicate guesses will be ignored and only the first guess will count 2) Entrant must have a dead.net "joined" date of 6/21/2015 or sooner (to prevent guesses under more than one user name. I know how sneaky y'all can be!) 3) Guess must be a legit song from the Dead's repertoire - not an opening jam, "Happy Birthday," "Funiculi Funicula," etc. Nothing from Phish or Hornsby, either 4) Only guesses sent to me in a PM will be considered. Anything posted in a forum will be ignored. Oh, yeah...please keep the PMs short and sweet 5) Entries will be accepted from 6:00 PM Pacific time on Wednesday, 6/24 through 11:59 PM Pacific time on Friday, 6/26. Guesses submitted outside those parameters will be ignored 6) First person to guess correctly wins (determined by time and date of PM) Disclaimers: In the very unlikely event any setlist is leaked beforehand, or the opening song is somehow publicly announced before the entry deadline, contest will be considered null and void and there will be no winners. This contest is not affiliated in any way with dead.net, Rhino, Musictoday, MaryE, band members, the ghost of Pigpen, seagulls hovering above Lemieux, etc. Just little ol' me! Have fun at the shows and good luck!
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check out 1st set from - 2.19.82, lots of great tunes and Brent sounds nice to me. 4.3.82 - Scarlet Fire opens the 2nd set,, worth a visit. Shortly after a fairly slower Eyes of the World for the time period. Sound quality is not the best,, A few weeks before, I think the sound quality on 3.14.82 is better with some decent stuff. 5.23.82 - 2nd set,, check out the Motorcycle in a portion of Drums/Space.. Very cool and a smokin set 2nd Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain ; Samson And Delilah ; Ship Of Fools ; Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Jam > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > I Need A Miracle > Casey Jones E: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction > Brokedown Palace
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I wondered when you would beckon from your vantage point to invite prognostications from the heads. "It ain't what I don't know that gets me into trouble, it's what I know for sure, that ain't so". Samuel Clemons
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haha not only do I have a really accurate guess of the Show Opener, I also have a very accurate guess for song number 2.. I was listening to a show last night and that locked it in for me. Good luck to all and happy guessing !! In honor of Santa Clara,, here is 5.18.68 taped by Jorma in Santa Clara. Santa Clara has a few early Dead era shows, but I think this is the only one that was taped,, Pigpen is hard to hear, but the rest is there https://archive.org/details/gd1968-05-18.aud.jorma.gmb.sbeok.94591.flac…
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Those are grate! He makes those by hand, fantastic. Someone smarter than me can design the Wall of Sound set and submit it Lego Ideas and if it gets enough votes they might make it for real. They recently put out the car from Ghostbusters and it's awesome. Listened to my AUD from 11/8/70 the other night, what a glorious show! Love the rare songs in the acoustic set and the electric set has a killer DS.
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Didn't mean to do that.
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13 years 11 months
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Hey now ;) Sent a PM!
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That period has a few Contenders for the Best of All-Time... As mentioned the US Blues from 4.12.78 ranks as the top. This tour also has a few others.. the most well-known is Stella Blue from 4.21.78 featured on the So Many Roads box... 4.10.78 - Franklins Tower, some vocals flubs to open, but excellent overall 4.12.78 - Row Jimmy , Peggy-O,, (and US Blues) 4.19.78 - Friend of the Devil,, maybe not contender for BOAT, but its one I really like. 4.24.78 - The Music never Stopped and Scarlet Fire from Dave's Picks 7
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8-3-82 is the best of the year for me, cuts and sound issues notwithstanding.
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especially 8-3-82
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I am a fan of 1978. Call it posterity - Closing of Winterland was my first Grateful Dead show, and Dick's Picks 18 was my 3rd or 4th. After a long layoff I got back in the game in early 2014 and began my Dave's Picks collection with #7, after reading about how good The Music Never Stopped is on Heady Versions dot com. Aside from being a great end-to-end performance, this version holds the record for the "early jam" which is the 2 minute cloud ride through space that goes from 3:18 to 5:20. If this little nugget has passed you by, you won't regret revisiting DaP 7 (or as I call it, "Return to Normal with the Grateful Dead") This little instrumental jam typically lasted 20 or 30 seconds, but they began stretching it out in late '77. And as you said, the Scarlet / Fire is outstanding (let it burn, let it burn, let it burn). I would also encourage listeners to check out the Terrapin Station on here; it is also performed about as perfect and smooth as it gets, and Bob Weir's rhythm playing of the main Terrapin lick is up-front and just mesmerizing. Cassidy is nice from this show too - some nice pian-er from Keith during the Fare Thee Be Well Now section. One more note on Return to Normal 4/24/78: the mix is un-freakin believably good for a two-track master; the separation of instruments is better than some of the multi-tracks that have been released. Why 1978? Posterity for sure, but I also enjoy the new songs on top of the '77 set list - Stagger Lee, I Need A Miracle, and From the Heart of Me are fantastic additions to the set, not to mention the return of Dark Star. And there is something to be said for the return of the Wolf - it's a louder guitar, with a much more resonant tone; and whether as a result of the Wolf, or just because, Phil started playing a lot more "crunch cords" on bass, which contributes to the unique soundscape of '78. But I came to post about Uncle John's Band from 5/11/72 (aka "Dick's Pick"). This rendition is a good example of how the little nuances from performance to performance have kept me coming back to the Grateful Dead again and again. It's just a little thing really, where Jerry picks the UJB melody in between the lines "it's the same story the crow told me..." and "like the morning sun you come, and like the wind you go"; I've never heard him play these familiar notes at this quiet part before, and it really just elevates the moment. Check it out on headphones for maximum effect. P.S. - one more comment on 1978 - I hope the 5/14 show that comes with 30 Trips knocks my socks off. There is something utterly forgettable about Dick's Picks 25 from a couple of nights before that I can't quite put an ear on.
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interesting song selection and when it appears during the show 2nd set portion includes : Let It Grow > Drums > Space > He's Gone 1982 is sort of an awkward year in terms of standout shows. I think Dave selecting 7.31.82, may well have been one of his easiest choices for entire career. EDIT: speak of the devil,, 2.20.82 going down on Sirius right now,, gotta run, catch ya all another time
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Apparently, no one read the rules, because I've been flooded with PMs already. Contest begins Wednesday at 6 PM, folks: From the contest rules: 5) Entries will be accepted from 6:00 PM Pacific time on Wednesday, 6/24 through 11:59 PM Pacific time on Friday, 6/26. Guesses submitted outside those parameters will be ignored Gracias!
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9 years 3 months
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Dick's Picks 25 sounds kinda different to me because they are all Shrooming or otherwise psychedelicly impaired or so I remember reading somewhere. They are pretty much laughing the whole show and it's awesome. Especially love the Werewolves of London, grate show and they were obviously having a good time!
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Yikes! I teach history to mostly college freshman and sophomores, and I'm frequently frustrated by their, um, lack of focus on directions. But Deadheads!??! I thought for sure there would be no problem (heh). Keithfan, love your post about 78. It is a year I've struggled with, though I agree with Ridin that DP25 is loads of fun (it was only the second show I think, that the mescaline was ingested). And DP18 is a classic. On the other hand, I've never yet understood the allure of Red Rocks 78, and I did not understand Normal at all (but then, I never did understand normal hahahahah). Anyway, Keithfan, thanks to your eloquence, I'm going to revisit Normal. I have a theory: Most all agree that 77 was a great year; but there are some who prefer 78 (and maybe Fall 77) and some who prefer 76 and maybe spring 77. I'm a Travis Bean not a Wolf :)
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Interesting theory, claney. There might just be something to what you say. I would add, coming out of the Terrapin studio sessions, there was a lot of work done both in laying down the studio tracks, but also in tightness with some emphasis on the drummers. That tightness carried forward into '76, early '77. ..but by fall they had begun to loosen up, add in the wolf, outside influences (the edgier pre-punk era) and you have '78 and beyond. The Dec. '77 shows highlight some of those changes, this came up a month or two ago on these threads.. there was a lot to those posts.
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Curious to get your thoughts on the best choice for a download series or road trips purchase. I have download series 1 (amazing) as well as the June 9th 1976 and the 5/15/70 road trips (both great)....looking to purchase (probably via itunes) another one and would love your thoughts - as my name suggests, i love the 80s, but actually been in an early 70s phase the last few weeks.... all the setlists look great but what stands out as a must have??
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Coming out next month! From the blurb at Amazon: This special commemorative edition of DeadBase celebrates the 50th anniversary of the most enduring, unique and influential American rock band in history - the Grateful Dead. Continuing the tradition of providing the most complete collection of data regarding Grateful Dead concerts, both from a statistical perspective and more personal experiential recollections, DeadBase 50 is a mixed bag of a reference book (992 pages worth!). In response to the countless requests to reprint the last complete edition, this anniversary edition contains a reprint of DeadBase XI plus updates to the master list (DeadBase) of Grateful Dead shows, updates to GarciaBase and WeirBase, and new sections for NedBase, Phil Lesh and Friends, The Dead, and Furthur. Along with new reviews, analysis and a brand new discography, this book also includes a number of new photos from Jay Blakesberg, Herb Greene, Bob Minkin, Rosie McGee, Susana Millman and others. Forewords were kindly provided by Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, Nicholas Meriwether, David Dodd, Blair Jackson, David Gans and Rob Koritz.
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If you own nothing else from the Road Trips series (in addition to 5/15/70), pick up Denver '73 and Wall of Sound. Both absolutely essential. 2/14/68 is right behind them.
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10 years 5 months
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Nice breakdown of 78 Keith....however, you forgot to include the real x-factor when you talk about Phil's chord crunching... I actuall think his tone was beautifully balanced for most of the year.... Could it be that owsley (bear) Stanley was his bass tech for the tours? I find the correlation interesting..... To 80s fan... I'm not sure if this is in your wheelhouse, but I just listened to Austin 71 while at they gym, and more than couple of times, I stopped working out to just listen..... That road trips flat out smokes!!!
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15 years 3 months
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Nice writeup on 1978 indeed, though I cannot get on board with the "return of Dark Star" point as a benefit to the year as it was played once all year -- and even then not really, as it was 1/1/79 at the time it went down. :)
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A must. All the before mentioned RT's are excellent!. You already have 5/15, so I would progress to Austin, Denver 73', and then WOS. Take a deep breath, and bring it back down with 2/14/68. Sammy T
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9 years 5 months
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Thank you! I've heard great things about not only the dark star, but the NFA>GDTFB>NFA....on itunes it's $15 so despite the lack of cover art, booklet, etc, i think i'm going to pick it up....and as others have said, immediately burn it to cd (old habits)
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11 years 1 month
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Great minds!
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10 years 1 month
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next thing you know, people will be at each other's throats about Wolf vs. Travis Bean. 80s fan - tough call on the Road Trips. I like '68 and '69 because there are so precious few shows from that era, and I'll take all of Dark Star => St. Stephen => The Eleven that I can get. '73 has some great moments (Truckin' => The Other One => Stella Blue) and if you have the bonus disc from 12/6/73, you get that monster 40 minute Dark Star => Eyes of the World. '74 also has some great stuff, including one of my favorite Morning Dew renditions from the bonus disc. '77 is great if you have nothing else from '77, but if you have the box sets and the Dick's Picks, this isn't going to do anything for you. '78 is a very nice Winterland conglomeration, but nothing you can't get elsewhere, with the exception of If I Had The World To Give from the bonus disc. The bonus disc is dear to me, as it has my second favorite Estimated Prophet, and IMHO is the strongest of this 3 disc set. '76 is actually my favorite release from '76, chock full of great performance, great sound, and without a difficult to obtain bonus CD. Highlights: great versions of Cold Rain & Snow, Promised Land, U.S. Blues (if you can get past Jerry's missed note in the opening lick), 11 minute St. Stephen, 17 minute Eyes of the World, Let it Grow, one of the few releases with Crazy Fingers, High Time, Ship of Fools, Mission in the Rain, one of the only post-hiatus Sugar Magnolias that I feel is any good (wait for it, wait for it, uggh, just got pelted with rotten eggs and desecrated tomato). I could go on about the set list, it's great and so is the performance. The other thing that may interest you is that it's a complete show (plus bonus tracks). Most Road Trips are not complete shows. But I think the 70s jewels of the Road Trips series (aside from the Fillmore East release from 1970 that you already have), are the two from 1971 (with Bonus discs of course). These are just fantastic, akin to Dick's Picks 35, but perhaps sounding a bit better. Both feature the band as a 5 piece; one is from the Summer with Pigpen, the other is from the Fall with Keith. The Keith show is a complete show + bonus disc from I think the next night. The Pigpen show has material from multiple shows.
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of '74 before; the '74 box, Eyes, etc., has had me going there - to that then. Loved the 6/20 and 6/22 is solid, if not a great show, but 6/23 is the stuff of Dreams (Dead ones, don't you know). Of course, a 1974 box is unlikely, a 3-show little guy, including 6/20, 6/22 and 6/23, would be logical fodder. Rt 6/16 & 6/18, and Dick's 6/26, 6/28, are the bookends for this trifecta. 6/23 includes one of the last Dark Stars not yet officially released before it was cast away. I'd have to say it's gotta be in the same conversation as 2/24. And then there's 6/30 ... won't go there - too much, too much! (So Jerry's enlarging the whole in my brain with Spanish Jam lasers - just the kind I like - do yourself a favor, throw 6/23 on the burner; you shan't regret it! It's got a good US Blues, too. Steal your Jazz!
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13 years 4 months
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Wolf sold at auction for $700,000. Does anyone even know where the Travis Bean is? I rest my case.
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11 years 1 month
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she pointed to my desk and said "whats that ?" haha,, I laughed and said its for music. It was a headset. I asked if she wanted to try ? The answer was yes, and so swiftly I pressed play on the Listening Party ,, (11.10.67) Thats It For The Other One... After that she was interested in more,, I was not sure what to play her and I located Fire on the Mountain from 5.8.77. I think that is a good start for a 5 year old.. lol
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13 years 3 months
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Sounds like she's a Pigpen person. He has that magic charm with the opposite gender. Good job, man.
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17 years 2 months
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Oh no, Keithfan, I take it back! As Jerry says during some of the banter on a 1970 acoustic set, I forget which one: "Now now kids, don't fight..." Awesome description of the merits of the Boston 76 RT. You are on FIRE man. That is one of my top ten releases, period. 80s Fan, you got some great advice (yes, the two big jam segments on 11/15/71 are best all-time. You didn't mention Dick's Picks so maybe you have all of those, but just in case - the best jam segments to be found are on DP12, which is TWO second sets. A deep space jam out of WRS, and a jam into China Cat which is unbelievable. It has remained my top release since I first heard it. Basically the whole release is jam segments. BTW, one of the Travis Beans (the one he used in 77) also sold at auction a couple of years ago, but for "only" 238,000. Makes sense to me - the Wolf has that gorgeous inlay - it's just a generally beautiful guitar, whereas the Travis looks like a toy from Wal Mart. Also he played the Wolf at more shows before and after the mid-seventies, and finally, there was only one, whereas I think there were three Travis models he played. To be clear - I do not think one was better than the other - I simply have a subjective individual preference for the tone of the Travis.
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12 years
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I found Deadbase 50 on Amazon. However, you can not yet pre-order. Based on David's reporting, what do you think the price tag will be?
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11 years 1 month
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To really celebrate the 50th,there will only be 5 copies,each one numbered.And a mere $5000.00 apeice. ;)
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11 years 10 months
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5000 bucks a throw!!! I'll just fire up my Xerox machine and make a copy & they wonder why there are illegal copies! :-)
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12 years
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I will do my best to be the first one to order. Pay $25K, and then give away the copies to the first five people on this site who can name the 2-6 songs played at opening nite of Santa Clara. I have my guess ready for tomorrow night. It is sure to be the winner.
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15 years
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If we bang the drum for a complete Wall Of Sound box and end up with a nice 3 or 4 complete concert box set similar to Fillmore West 69, Winterland 73, Winterland 77, and May 77, I'd say we played our cards just exactly perfectly right.
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12 years 1 month
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Off topic, I know... But I can't resist tapping into the seeming wealth of knowledge here. Does anyone know the status of the Garcia Live series? The releases seemed to come fast and furious, but it has been a long time since the last release (Vol. 5) dropped.
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11 years
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KYTrips,Funny you should ask - there was one released this week. It is from October 28th 1987 - Broadway. Two acoustic sets and one electric. Just got it in the mail this afternoon, so I haven't been able to listen to it yet. Hoping to enjoy it on the flight to CA this weekend!
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14 years 6 months
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DeadBase 50- Fuck YES....That is some great news. As far as price- it's a 1,000 page hardcover book, maybe anywhere from $75 to $125. Could be more, probably won't be less. I'm just so glad to give my old DeadBase a rest, it's so worn. Still, for a book that's 20 years old, it's held up pretty well. DeadBase is, to me, the bible of the Grateful Dead.
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17 years 3 months
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...that the shows will be broadcast on the xbox one for $20-30 a show. Fukin awesome!! I'm in for that.... ....I could smoke a bowl on my couch without looking over my shoulder. Make sure to move the coffee table! !
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9 years 10 months
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Yeah you can watch the shows on just about anything that has the YouTube app. Android,AppleTV, Chromecast, Google TV, iOS, Panasonic Smart TVs, PS3, PS4, Samsung Smart TVs, WiiU, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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12 years 1 month
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Seriously??? I wonder how it hasn't possibly shown up on my recommendations on Amazon.com? I just checked Amazon.com again... and still nothing. From where did you order it? And thanks for the heads-up.
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12 years 1 month
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I found it.... I was looking for Garcia Live, and it's under On Broadway: Act 1. Thanks for the heads-up. However, as much GD and JGB stuff as I've gotten from Amazon over the years, I still can't believe that it didn't show up in my recommendations!
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11 years 1 month
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https://archive.org/details/gd1990-06-09.sbd.miller.tetzeli.fix-6936.34… here is some thoughts from Trey on hanging with Bobby and Phil as they prepare for the 5 shows. -- Just watching them reminisce about the day they wrote “Truckin'” and laughing, that’s the stuff I love. One day, Bobby started talking about how much he loved Brent [Mydland, the Dead keyboardist who died in 1990]. He said, “Make sure you listen to those vocal harmonies from the late 1980s.” Life happens. People come and go. -- One thing for sure I learned this year and will stick in my mind each day until the end of my time,,, is all good things must come to an end.
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