• 7,852 replies
    admin
    Joined:

    "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

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • hbob1995
    Joined:
    @Lowspark75 - re: Donna
    From everything I have read, Donna grabbed Jerry one night and told him Keith would be the Dead's next piano player. Keith just put his head down on the table and said nothing. But once Jerry & Billy worked him out by themselves, they knew he was 'da man! I really don't think Donna argued for a place in the band for herself. She did not begin to sing with them for a good 6 months or so after Keith took his place at the keys. I know she can definitely be a point of contention on this board. I got on the bus in '73 and I love her, especially on PITB. So there you go. No accounting for taste! Lol. Rock on
  • Arno
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Nothing wrong with you mbarilla
    I'm in the camp of Loving all incarnations of the Dead! Vince and Donna included!They were a talented bunch. They each have their individual talents but the Sum of the parts always made a difference! In different ways when there were different parts but always GRATE to my ears!
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    The Sun and The Compass
    Well off to get ready for Tedeschi Trucks. Decided to wear the 1987 Ventura Fairgrounds shirt. Nice big Stealie on the back with Grateful Dead on top and "Love is real not Fadeaway - Tour 1987" on the bottom. The front says "A Weekend at the Beach!" Then has the 30 trips SunStealie with the four directions (four winds) of the compass. The compass has a pelican on it. What an incredible weekend that was. Standing on the beach, daytime show. Palmtrees swaying on the side. Electric intensity, Bob growling a Prophet on the Burning Shore. Awesome. Much more to this weekend if any one wants to hear more. Gotta get to it, like the Shakedown man twirling his watch (?).
  • garciaddicted
    Joined:
    Donna and Bobby
    My wife, who is younger than me and was more of a Phish head when we met, used to laugh every time she would hear Donna wailing, or Bobby screaming at the end of Hell In a Bucket. However, after a couple of years together, and much more exposure to live Dead, she commented one day that she missed Donna when listening to the eighties Dead. I used to defend Bobby's shrieking by saying "you had to be there". I can't be sure(since I never saw the band with Donna) but I'd bet the same is true for Donna. BTW, I just gave Dave's Picks 15 a good listening last night. That's a very nice show.
  • Jason Wilder
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    '74 Growing on me, Donna discussion, more stats
    '74 Trips show growing on me on 2nd listen. Especially the first set and Disc 3. Jazzy to be sure. That's what makes the Dead so wonderful IMHO, a little bit for everyone. Jazz. Improv. Country. Blues. R&B. Rock n' Roll. Shredding. Sweetness. Often all on the same night. Certainly over the course of the entire 30 years. And an ideology of sorts. Let's not try to make things exactly perfect, but do things in a way that is true to ourselves and keeps things interesting for us. That's the way we'll make musical magic most often, which is what it was really about. And the great accomplishment is not only how often they succeeded, but how many were willing to take the journey with them. In terms of mistakes and such, they all made them. We've been focused on vocal issues and Bobby's slide guitar, but all members had their issues. Pig's vocal ramblings could get a tad long. Sometimes the exploration a tad too atonal. Whatever, it was all a part of the journey. The experiment. We knew what we were signing up for, and that experimentation was part of it. And it's not like chemicals didn't play a part many nights for the band as well. Sometimes, mistakes could be fantastic. I can remember a Deer Creek show where Bobby blew the lyrics to Truckin (shocker!) but Jerry put a bit of extra muscle into the jam and the whole band seemed to join in. One of the best Truckin's I ever heard, probably wouldn't have went down that way if Bob hadn't flubbed the lyrics. I can think of a Samson on a release where Bob blows the vocal intro and the band responds by going on a raging 4 minute jam before the lyrics even start. Gotta run, no time for stats. Peace!
  • brianhahne
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Still going...
    But going VERY slow... Up to 1971 after spending a lot of time on 1969 and 1970. Love those 2 shows! 1971 is STELLAR. This is my favorite Greatest Story, I think.... it has hints of the Pump Song still in it, with it's little musical interlude after each song phrasing. I love it... LOVE IT. I may make it to 1972 today... but May have to give 1971 another listen.
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    nice timing
    Watched "It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" last night. It has been decades since I watched it. Great story, even for us older folks. It was also the 50th anniversary showing, nice. Who was one of Charlie Brown's close friend? Of course, Pig!
  • Mr.Dc
    Joined:
    Weir Vocals
    A great moment for me was Bob singing The Eleven at the first Santa Clara show, gives me chills, he really gave it his all. Don't know if it will translate through recordings but live it was awesome! This is the season of what now!
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    scream dream
    Sorry, bros 'n sisters, but being an 80's kid, I LOVE the Bobby screams on Estimated, Lovelight, Sailor/Saint, etc, etc. Listen to Estimated from Hampton 3-20-86 ~ that scream-scatting is a work of art. (His screaming on It's All Over Now in the first set, less so, I'll concede ; ) I was thrilled 2nd night Santa Clara when he screamed the big "HEY"s on the Sugar Mag finale till he had nothing left. Would've loved a Donna appearance there. reijo29, I remember that Trans tour, but couldn't convince my older brother to get us tickets -- so I had to wait till '86, with Crazy Horse. (They did play Sample & Hold that time, though.) lowspark, I spaced that you're in Portland. So am I. Maybe we should organize a listening party for one of these trips around the sun. And, yes, Neil did kind of sneak into town. Once in awhile, those otherwise annoying Ticketmaster e-mails land me a hot tip.
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    It's Just a Set Man
    As far as Donna, I am right there with most. Right in the middle. Some things she did well, others not so well. Enjoy the input from all. I never saw her but can imagine that description of her looking down on all with the smile. Image looks very pleasing. Family aspect, love that thought. Did all members and all eras have greatness and flubs...I say yes and I can live with that. From what Jerry said, it was just one set. One set maketh not greatness nor tragedy. Jer seems to have a great perspective, even seems to be based on sound statistical reasoning. Most bands practice same set over and want to make everything just exactly perfect (OK had to use that once) for the audience that night. This thought process leads us to everything from Rush and Yes to Kiss. I have nothing against this way of thinking. However, I think Jer figured out you can't have greatness or really valid "highs" without flubs and really valid lows. (Manic Depression indeed, so is the cycle of life.) It is just a set, that was great. It was just a set, that was horrible. It is improv, you will have both. I furthur posit that Grateful Dead took it that each show should have a touch of each. They talked about how each fan approached the band from various positions. I know I have posted this before...some fans approach the band from statistics. When was the last time they played this, how many times on this tour. You know who you are...I see you got your list out. Others approach it differently...make me a tape but I only want the song parts, skip the jazzy wierd stuff. I believe that Jer figured this out early. Each show with its silver lining and touch of grey has its moments of intense peaks of rapture and some bottoms of despair. However, which is which. For whom is the rapture...can one man's rapture be another's despair. Well of course. So from Jerry's point, it is just one set. Let's pack up the gear, hustle on down the road, get the circus into another state where state lines provide a new set of state laws and enforcement so that all get home safe. The epitomy of Grateful Dead, rise (from the curb to space); fall (take down the equipment and move on). The cycle of life, one set. Do I enjoy Donna? Mostly yes. Does Bob's slide guitar get under my skin? Absolutely sometimes. It is never perfect, even for Rush, but it is just a set man. Look at how many we have now to enjoy and debate over. Fascinating!
user picture

Member for

17 years 8 months

"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

user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

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).
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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) :)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 4 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

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!
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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…
user picture

Member for

9 years 5 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

Didn't mean to do that.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

Hey now ;) Sent a PM!
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 7 months
Permalink

8-3-82 is the best of the year for me, cuts and sound issues notwithstanding.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 7 months
Permalink

especially 8-3-82
user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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
user picture

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

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!
user picture

Member for

9 years 5 months
Permalink

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!
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

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 :)
user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

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??
user picture

Member for

15 years 1 month
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 2 months
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 7 months
Permalink

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!!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 5 months
Permalink

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. :)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 7 months
Permalink

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)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 2 months
Permalink

Great minds!
user picture

Member for

10 years 3 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

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!
user picture

Member for

13 years 6 months
Permalink

Wolf sold at auction for $700,000. Does anyone even know where the Travis Bean is? I rest my case.
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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
user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months
Permalink

Sounds like she's a Pigpen person. He has that magic charm with the opposite gender. Good job, man.
user picture

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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?
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

To really celebrate the 50th,there will only be 5 copies,each one numbered.And a mere $5000.00 apeice. ;)
user picture

Member for

12 years
Permalink

5000 bucks a throw!!! I'll just fire up my Xerox machine and make a copy & they wonder why there are illegal copies! :-)
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 2 months
Permalink

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!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

...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! !
user picture

Member for

10 years
Permalink

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
user picture

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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.
user picture

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

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!
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

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.
product sku
081227955892