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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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  • drpryan
    Joined:
    Took down the link, No love in Florida
    I just went to the order status page and now my order status went from back ordered to no status at all. The link to listen to the shows is also gone. I called Dead net and was informed that 1200 orders are still out there, and the best they can tell us is the end of the month. Dr. Rhino really blew this one with whom ever is doing the shipping, but more so with keeping the "unshipped" updated. Since my status did change form back ordered to no status, something changed. Be nice to know what it is. Maybe I'll receive Dave Picks before the 30 trips????
  • Cactus_Jack
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    So Far
    Out of the pre hiatus shows, so Far I've really liked 67, 68, & 73. Those are the ones I've listened to most. 67 for all the reasons already mentioned. Fierce & hungry jams. Truly awesome 68 has been a real treat. This is the sound that I love & the recording is pristine. Tuning issues at the beginning of Lovelight but that straightens out eventually. The Dark Star has long been one of my favorites for it's sharp playing & strong transitions. Immaculate Version. What a sound. The Guitar is still wild & pigpen is rippin. Might be my favorite show in the box despite its length. 69 is great too but the vocal flub in Dark star takes it down a notch for me. The playing is pretty on this one, slightly more tame than 68 & has the same intimacy associated with THELMA I thought I would like the 74 version more but I've been gravitating more towards 73 for repeat listens. I prefer that laid back/mellow country sound to the deep space exploratory funk of 74 or whatever you might call it. Still fantastic though. Haven't really digested 72, 75, or 66 yet. (working my way towards the 72 Dark Star, saving the best for last???). And 70 was just okay for me at first listen, really disliked the feedback on everything before "technical difficulties". Hard to handle, on the other hand, really gets things going (Pig & Bobby!). Not sure how I feel about 71 either, love the Caution tho. These are just initial reactions I'm sure my opinions will change/grow/evolve as I keep spinnin these discs...
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    Mountain Jam/SimonRob
    I am unsure and am trying to work it out this weekend. I think I hear the initial formation of Donovan's "There is a Mountain" on the 1966 Midnight Hour. If this is true, this might be the genesis of that spectacular jam vehicle. It would put to rest where did the riff come from. Would love to be able to lock that down as Jerry's musings. I know Donovan became a psychedelic freak sometime in late 1966 or early 1967. "There is a Mountain" came out in July 1967, I think. Does any know if he ever played a concert directly with GOGD? Well more next week, will probably spend the rest of the weekend just digesting the box. Hope more will get home today and hope all are within 72 hours of the spiritual lift! G
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    Thanks Folks
    Again just want to say thanks folks for all the great posts. I also have some headphone researchin to do. Will try to start that next week. The posts just make me bust out laughing sometimes. Most of you folks are truly a hoot! Thanks for the positive vibes for the boxless. So glad more are hitting home. I am blown away by 66 and 67. Have not gotten off of them yet. 68 today. Still trying to hit Alain's show from E72 this weekend. Surfeiting on GOGD, and the things that go with that.
  • Gary Farseer
    Joined:
    Phil much Love
    Get well Phil. I consider you Papa Brother. Thanks for lighting the path for us all. Positive thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!
  • mustin321
    Joined:
    Its 7:37am in Indianapolis
    Woke up...(wake n' baked)...and popped on 2/22/69...The Dream Bowl...popped on my ShureSRH750DJ headphones...pretty good morning so far. I'm slowly getting through this box. I know its been said before but I feel it can't be said enough. The 1967 show...I'm only just now to the 69 show because I spent a week listening to 11/10/67. The sound quality, the playing, the energy, the jams, etc...Its all just prime time Grateful Dead. The 67 show alone is almost worth the price of admission. I really don't think its fair that it is not a stand alone release. Its too good. I like how disc 1 is all covers and disc 2 is all originals. I also like how there are several songs that got played throughout the bands entire career. Beat it on down the line, Morning Dew, The Other One... I think its going to be very easy getting through this box considering each show is so different from the next. The 68 show...short but sweet. I have nothing against T.C. but Pigpen doesn't sound like somebody that needed to replaced. Especially on Caution, he is just ripping it up on the Organ. And the way Pigpen sends off the audience with his unapologetic "Bye" is just exactly perfect. Just like Curly Bill Brocius' response in Tombstone when Wyatt Earp states he is leaving town. Anyways, enough rambling, back to the 69 show (good stuff) Get Well Soon Phil
  • daverock
    Joined:
    Songs unsung
    I was fascinated with the box when it arrived yesterday. As others have said, it seems somehow smaller than expected and it doesn't look like 80cds are packed in there. My box is no.1544, the ticket is 30/10.91 and the pass 21/8/93. I love the look and feel of the book, with its soft leather cover and embossed skull and roses imprint, but I cant be bothered with looking at the scroll yet.I started off reading the book, which really creates the mood for the music-Nicholas Meriwether ranks as the most thought provoking writer/anthologist ever to write about the Dead. He really enriches the scene. Anyway after reading up to 1967, I listened to the first show. Wow! Far better than I was expecting in terms of music and sound. It seems that Jerry plays faster than other guitarists from the era-maybe his style was based on bluegrass playing rather than ubiquitous blues based on BB/Freddie/Albert King in vogue at the time. I like the organ sound on this early show, too. Maybe because I always associated the sound of an organ with church, I always think it adds a trippy edge to 60s rock music-irrespective as to what is actually played. I will definitely be playing more 1966 shows from now on. Today I started on 1967. Good though 1966 was-this is when it really starts to fly! Hope you all have a good day listening!
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    7/03/66
    At last I got to sit down, sip Scotch and savor my first show of the box, 7/03/66. What a gem. Great pick, Dave. Sizzles right out of the gate with Nobody's Fault But Mine...if only there were more, but there's just enough for a good taste, a penetrating first impression as the time machine drops you into summer '66. The boundaries of the Phil Zone have barely begun to expand but the playful & probing exuberance that would burst them ere long is on display.... Phil cooks on Top of the World. Jerry's uncommonly loquacious between songs.... The most expansive Cream Puff War I've heard ~ never had a favorite version till now. All kinds of organ, and assured energy, from Pigpen.... And a familiar, always welcome voice at the very end to raise an extra toast to Pig. I was surprised this wasn't the same Keep Rolling By as on Birth of the Dead.... What a treat to have a second live Tastebud, too, and this has to be the earliest Dancin' I've heard (with righteous harmonies, I might add). I'd swear the tempo of Next Time You See Me speeds up after the solos...but they were a young band, after all. (There's a comical stumbling & restart of the beat during Dancin'...they get right back on that horse.) First show is a golden nug. This journey is going to be fun.
  • wjonjd
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    Joined:
    @DaveStrang 30 Trips 2013
    You're most welcome! As to the mystery of dates and locations: If you downloaded from the link I posted below, then you will need to find the dates and locations manually, but if you downloaded from the Dropbox linked that I PM's you, those are mp3 files after I loaded them into my music library, so if you look at the mp3 ID tags you will find the date of each file in it's "comment" tag. You can then find the location by looking up the dates on the live music archive :) Or, of course, you can go through the fun of trying to figure each one out one :) Did you get them from the link posted here first, or from the dropbox link I PM'd you? EDIT: And Good Morning (Evening) Dantian!!!
  • dantian
    Joined:
    Um, Good Evening Wjonjd!
    Haven't gone to bed yet, I work nights ;) Nice to see you, brother!
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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 4 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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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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14 years
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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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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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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 4 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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12 years 2 months
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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 6 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 2 months
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Great minds!
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10 years 3 months
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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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17 years 5 months
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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 5 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 3 months
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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 4 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 3 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 2 months
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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 3 months
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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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12 years
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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 1 month
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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 1 month
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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 2 months
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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 1 month
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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 7 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 4 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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10 years
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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 2 months
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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 2 months
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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 3 months
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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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