30 Trips Around The Sun Box & Digital USB

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September 4, 2015 - 10:38am

7,852 replies

admin

Joined:
March 9, 2007

"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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November 12, 2015 - 1:01pm

#1261

outpost

Joined:
June 11, 2007

Why The USB

As I've stated in previous posts, I have every official release, on CD and over 1,000 GD shows in flac, and when 30 trips was announced, I could've got the box, but the USB looked cool, and was in High Res. files (I upload all my CD's to Apple Lossless anyway), so that's why I went for it. I'm not gonna cancel it, but I believe we should get something more than an old backstage pass, for our troubles (even Amazon would treat you better than this !). I just subscribe to Dave's Picks 2016, so a deal there is out, but how about a USB of some classy '60's shows 2/21/69, 11/11/67 etc. Maybe then we will have something to smile about ! Until then, we have put up with endless comments about good the fu%^& box is ! Whoever it is at Rhino or Dead.net Customer Service, who is making the decision to NOT tell people what's going on, wants a kick in the nuts.Maybe they're trying to figure out how to make a $50 USB look like it's worth $700. Even if they dropped the price to $500, but still couldn't say when it would ship, would you buy it ? It's two months overdue, let's hope it doesn't become three.
November 12, 2015 - 12:58pm

#1262

wjonjd

Joined:
January 24, 2011

Taper Section friend web and GD cultural implications

I think you're right, it probably had an affect, and not just on the tapers, but on the entire community. Sounds like a fine dissertation research topic to me. Let the scholarship begin!
November 12, 2015 - 12:40pm

#1263

mustin321

Joined:
August 12, 2011

GDM paying for their own tapes

They WILL actually pay to get their tapes back but its nowhere near the price that is usually requested. Dave always says they won't in his webchats, etc..but thats not exactly true. I forget where I read this...I'll try to find it after work...
November 12, 2015 - 12:01pm

#1264

wjonjd

Joined:
January 24, 2011

@Charlie, @Gary

@Charlie, Yes, that was a very interesting article. Is that the one called "What's become of the Betty's?" I don't recall, but it was very informative specifically about the missing Betty Boards. I think many of us are hoping they've come to an agreement with that one hold-out owner, and are keeping it quiet to surprise us (that would be nice, wouldn't it?)! @Gary, thanks - I'm inclined to go with your memory, muddy or not, about 1987. I was never a taper at shows, but we usually got pretty crispy tapes from one of a few different folks (especially you Joel, if you're there!) shortly after the shows we went to, and we had friends that got some great sounding tapes. I was collecting tapes by 81, and when I didn't have a large collection at first, folks were very generous at sharing their favorite low-gen shows. God Bless them all!
November 12, 2015 - 11:55am

#1265

wjonjd

Joined:
January 24, 2011

@Rbumkin - I do hope you find some of the '80's ones better.

Sorry about your experience with the '83 show. I hope you like the ones that come after better, really. Others here have already extolled the virtues of the '84, 87, 88, and 89 shows in particular. I'm very glad that I like what I hear in that show. The Music Never Stopped has plenty of energy (Phil is all over the place.) Jerry has plenty of creative licks everywhere (to my ears) in this show. The Cumberland is fantastic, and the Ramble on Rose smokes. In the second set, the Scarlet Fire is an excellent one, Playing goes interesting places, the Space is unique and goes places, etc. I wasn't familiar with this one before the box (I don't think), so I didn't look at reviews before listening to it (at least, I don't remember doing so), but it's nice to know that I'm not entirely alone: From Deadbase (John W. Scott): "A show that opens with Music Never Stopped, sigh. And they never lose their stride. Cumberland! A little fast, but hot hot hot, hot. Cassidy builds and builds, gaining tempo with intensity. Jerry pours out the notes at a breakneck pace. I keep expecting them to stumble at this pace, the jam is incredible.... the Scarlet was wonderful, one of the best versions that I have ever heard live. It was LONG ... and well jammed..." It goes on about the rest of the show in much the same manner. From the Taping Compendium, which includes MANY negative review for shows throughout 1983; this one was reviewed by Jeff Silberman, one of their most frequent reviewers: "Highlights: The Entire Show "... This show is most excellent, Deadbase ranks it one of the best of that year. The first-set song selection is top-notch from a raging "Music Never Stopped" opener to the smoking "Promised Land" closer. All the songs in between were well played, too. The second set features a dynamite "Scarlet">"Fire," the transition between which is exquisite. "Uncle John's Band" begins the second set proper and leads to a long and wonderful Playing. After the Drums, the highlight is the fine "Truckin'" Reviewers are just one person's subjective opinion, and my own are frequently different than in reviews I read. But, it's nice to know that I'm not entirely imagining things when that Cumberland rocked me out. Jerry is VERY present, and very emotional belting out the last parts of Rample On Rose. I could go on. I think that it is true that the recording is very dry and sterile - it doesn't have the hiss of the '82 show, but there is still a virtually complete lack of audience and a lack of anything to provide a 3D image; it's very clear, but is flat, two-dimensional. I think that can detract from the show, unless you automatically adjust your brain, so to speak, in the same way we used to for some iffy cassette recordings back in the day where you got to where you could automatically adjust without realizing you were doing it, and it was almost like you were at the show.
November 12, 2015 - 10:58am

#1266

Charlie3

Joined:
September 21, 2015

May 8, 1977 Cornell

I read a fairly detailed article in Relix recently that explained the May 8 Cornell tapes and a number of other Betty boards were purchased by third parties when the contents of the storage unit in which they were located were auctioned off in the mid '80s. That was apparently when a sizeable volume of the Betty boards began to circulate. The article states that the tapes are still in the possession of the third parties, who legally own the physical tapes but do not own the rights to the music and therefore can not legally release it commercially. The Dead justifiably don't want to pay to get their own music back and the third parties don't want to give the tapes back for free. If true, seems unlikely that there will be an official release of May 8, '77 Cornell.
November 12, 2015 - 10:57am

#1267

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

wjonjd

My memory is 1987. At times I was in the taper's section and got to know some of the folks. My memory seems to indicate that Betty swept through in late summer or fall 1987. However, I would not trust my memory 100%. Hope that helps clarify or muddle the situation. Some where around this time we also received the 3/25/66 Trooper's Hall tape. That was wild to get that. I know since we gravitated to taping very quickly, we spent inordinate amount of time in hotels making tapes. Would sometimes have the master of the night's show going and listening and trying to come down, while having another 4-10 decks going making other masters and making tapes everyone was bringing in to get each other copies. Man that was some fun times!
November 12, 2015 - 10:43am

#1268

rbmunkin

Joined:
February 24, 2009

1983

If the 1983 show is the best of that year, wow what a sad year! I forced myself to listen to the whole thing, but I suppose I'll never bother again. Even Jerry at his best in this show is lazy and repetitive. And Bob, his phony vocals make me ill. At this point, I could vote this as the worst Dead show I've heard. So far my feelings about the lame '80's are being born out.
November 12, 2015 - 7:54am

#1269

wjonjd

Joined:
January 24, 2011

Tape trading/recording history

If you have or get the Taping Compendiums, volumes 2 and 3 each have great very lengthy articles in the early sections before the reviews start about tape trading, taping (including detailed and arcane information about equipment and the technology), and soundboards. I just noticed that they say the Cornell Betty tape started making the rounds in 1987. I don't know which is right, 1985 or 1987 - maybe someone can clarify this. Anyway, the compendiums are a lot of fun - lots of great information and reviews of every tape known about to the authors at the time they wrote them.
November 12, 2015 - 7:40am

#1270

wjonjd

Joined:
January 24, 2011

Cornell - Nicholas Meriwether

Here's a great article that covers a little Cornell history by N. Meriwether: https://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/features/all-featured/7745_grateful-…

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

"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

with

7/5/15 set 2 ending with Playing In The Band reprise!!! then encores

DP 15

8/4/76 with separate DVD or Blu-Ray release later on in the year. Just a WILD guess, HAPPY THURSDAY DEADLAND!!!!!!!

jrf68

Good call. I had to laugh when I read it I was reminded of a show God knows when or where. They encore with Brokedown maybe even 2nd can't remember. We're leaving and someone says wait maybe they'll come back. I said no way they've played Breakdown that would be a good way to walk into the sunset

I hope...

..that surprises are a plenty...Trey covering Terrapin would be nice..let's hope!!

Twenty Years ago today...

Final show I saw- RFK 6/25/95.Oh and the first song is gonna be Passenger

Psssst!

Hey Dave! While everybody's distracted,drop the Swing for 15 or 16.Thanks ;)

Psssst

I think we need to take Dave out and get him good and liquored up.. grease the wheels and get some more righteous music flowing our way. Swing, yes please. Then how about a mini, off the radar RFK/Kezar '73 offering, and throw in a couple WOS as we get him to start nodding off. Good idea, jrf. There's some WV moonshine that floats around these parts that must have some Owsley magic left in it. Lets give him a highball glass of White Lightnin' and see what happens?

Awwww what the hell....

....I went with Viola Lee Blues. It goes to show, you don't ever know....

By the way....

....pay attention to the listening party. It changes every five days or so....

Openning/closing guesses

Golden RoadWe Bid You Goodnight Marty

Show opener . . .

Beat It On Down the Line, with a 50-beat opener, with a huge number on the big screen counting the beats from 1 up to 50 (for 50 years, get it?).

Jim, Jrf

Don't mean a thing, if we don't get that Swing. Count me in! Also would very gladly take Kezar, RFK, PNE, (dare I even say Curtis Hixon?) Really, any and all of the thus far criminally under-represented '73 is fine with me. Bring it on.

Solid Sound?

Anyone here going to be at the Wilco Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, MA? I'm most excited about seeing the Charles Lloyd Quartet, actually. Anyway, I'm volunteering at the festival as a "Green Team Leader" to help with recycling and composting. Should be pretty easy to find :) (Follow your nose to the compost bins ha har).

6/27 Opener

One More Saturday Nite>Bertha>Greatest Nancy said don't get crazy Ron you know what just to do. Enjoy the show all, damn I miss Jerry.

fair thee well

I have zero interest in thses shows of the box with it but see it like an over priced concert t-shirt. Something people will buy who go to see these shows. It will sell well at the shows but don't think hard core dead collectors will have that much interest. the big box seems like they avoided shows that might interfere with a future box or seminal dead release but though the variety of shows and eras will be my most listened to box.. i am not a huge 90s guy 69-85 but the spring boxes are growing on me to the point they are most listened to because of their sound quality variety of songs and are well played. All the other boxes have better shows but like europe 72 and the fillmore west but the sameness work against them.

Question re Santa Clara YouTube PPV

Thinking of purchasing the YouTube PPV tomorrow..anybody knows if you can only watch it live, or will Youtube keep it up a few days? Won't be home on time on Sunday, hoping I can catch it later. Thanks!

Re: Cousins

If you go to the Youtube Fare Thee Well sight, it says live stream and gives a countdown to when the stream will start. For the life of me, I can't imagine they would lock into a rigid timeslot like that though.. If your on the East Coast, it would be great to watch half and catch the second set the next day.. I'm hoping for a Help>Slip>Franks with a blazing Hornsby piano meltdown embedded somewhere in the transition or Franklins Jam.

Thx Jim

Also, I just called Youtube, the stream will be available for 24 hours after the event. Not a bad deal for $19.99. I'll have Shakedown St. in the kitchen, and gold circle seating on the couch :-)

My Wife's Prediction for first song...

...and she's not a Deadhead by the way but she has become very tolerant. Mason's Children I was sort of shocked she even knew that title of a song but then when I got to thinking about it that would be pretty special. We shall see. Enjoy the shows everyone!

Santa Clara webcast

According to the official page The MLB.com has a 30 day unlimited period of access to the rebroadcast and the youtube version seems like a 1 day event. With the MLB version you can go visit friends and rewatch it at their place.

Disappointed

So, now as fully expected, the video of the shows are for sale. The prices seem quite high. I'm not sure I would pay that much for three shows when Jerry was alive and playing. Like some of the other folks who posted, I would probably watch the video for free, but not interested in paying for it (at least right now). My biggest disappointment is in the all-or-nothing 30 trips sets. I would certainly be interested in say a five pack of my choice for $125 or something like that. But the full 30 and no split options except the "Best of", which is not for me. I'm fine with the offerings and prices for anyone who finds them fair. Sadly, for me I'm just disappointed.

Back to regularly scheduled previous trips programing

6/26/74 aka Dick's 12 - stare inducing GOGD at its best. Nada mas.

Listening party pt. 3

Goodies:)

Masons Great Grand Children

Dead Heads 8 to 88 will be in attendance tomorrow, Sunday and next weekend. My first live GD song was Masons Children over 45 years ago. My last live GD song was Liberty in Salt Lake City over 20 years ago. Both seem apropos for my journey through life.

This sound check is good.

This sound check is good. anyone else listening?

Yeah, I'm listening....

....the tracks sound great. I really didn't want SOTM to end....great stuff.

opening song

Jack straw , Stranger

Sound Check Set List from last night

Althea, Brown Eyed Women, Truckin, Uncle John's Band jam, [airplane noises, Bobby wants more monitor], UJB jam, Alligator x2, [security guard sunset aficionado], Cumberland Blues, Born Cross-eyed, Cream Puff War, St. Stephen>The Eleven>William Tell>Eleven>[dogs barking]>Lovelight, Space, Drums

"Name That Song" contest

Final tally: 73 entries, 32 different songs. 73 - hmmm. Wonder if that means anything?? Everyone have a blast tonight. Enjoy the music and hug somebody!

name that song

I ended up picking Viola Lee because I missed the 6:00 start time and figured Music Never Stopped was chosen by a lot. I wish I had thought about Unbroken Chain, though. I think that could be an amazing opener for tonight.

Dang you bolo24,, 73 ?

I would like to think that means you have a crispy soundboard recording of the Playing in the Band from 6.26.73,, that you will be sending out to all 73 entrants in the "Name That Song" contest ?? EDIT: it could also mean the Promised Land is the opener, same as 1973

First choice from the box set?

I pulled the trigger on the big box. My question is for those who also ordered, what will be the FIRST show you listen to? I think mine will be 10/12/84. Although I've had a copy for years, I really want to hear it remastered, and hopefully the Dew in its entirety. What say you?

first choice, either 69-70-72-81-89

not sure but those look pretty appetizing to me

Re: hed76

First, Congrats on scoring the box. I'm probably going to go in order.. but in all honesty, 10/12/84 has my attention. I, too, have had this forever.. and my MDew has an audience patch right when it starts to get good. The same thing with my William and Mary '73.. just when it gets heady, theres a tape flip/aud patch. I cant see them releasing without cleaning it up, can you? ..and I bet this takes months to get through all these shows in a meaningful manner.

Agreed Jim

I've heard a board of '84 Augusta that almost had a complete Dew, but I really hope they've got the complete show done. I'm also really looking forward to the Golden Gate park '75. Though I've got a copy of that too, the remastered version must be amazing. Such a unique sound for that year, and so few shows..

An option

for how to listen to Boxzilla is from the day you get it - ship is 9/18? - by date. 9/24/72 followed by GGP would be a fine way to start your listening experience, no? And, of course, you'll have both 9/18/74 & 9/18/87 from which to choose to close. Happy listening, y'all.

The 1st show on my "listening party"

Will be 10/27/79, I spent $758.08 JUST for that one, however you can be rest assured EVERY show chosen is worthy to be included in this box. Am I the only one surprised that this hasn't sold out yet, let's see what happens AFTER the FTW shows. There might be a "rush" to dead.net with credit/debit cards in hand. HAPPY SATURDAY, DEADLAND!!!!!!!

Sunday 6/28

Hey there - THis is a Loooonnnngggg shot but here goes: Would anyone that is already going to the Santa Clara show on Sunday who has (2) GA lawn seats like to trade for section 127 row 11 seats 17 & 18 tickets? These are directly behind the stage. I am trying to get with my friends who are all down on the lawn. shoot me a message if you could be my Miracle! -B

;-)

I'm gonna listen to the bonus disc first!

Almost showtime....

....and I must admit, I'm getting tingly. ...

first song

Is reportedly (I'm not streaming this one) Truckin'

3 minutes in

The boys may prove me to be an idiot over the next week, but halfway thru Truckin the live show seems a much better buy then the dvd, so many memories watching the show live , but I doubt I'll want to replay this later. Live is powerful though, combo of the now plus all those memories..

Cumberland Blues

Man, Trey and Bruce are having fun together. 1. Truckin 2. UJB 3. Alligator-> 4. Cumberland Blues

Go Trey!

Cream Puff War yeah!

SC

...Born Cross Eyed -> Cream Puff war

Viola!!!

They've settled into a nice groove... Right on....

Jam

Where's this jam from on the YouTube PPV?

Can't wait for Chi-town!

Wow, looks like a great setlist and show!Will have to wait till the 3rd Congrats mb for guessing Truckin. Either had to be that or PITB.I think PITB would have been the perfect opener, but truckin made more sense.

Second Set

Long set break. The break was longer than the first set, about 1 hour 20 minutes. EE into D. Star to start off. The theme thus far has been 60's songs for the most part. I'm wondering if they plan to have set lists progressively forward in time for the next four shows.

2nd set

Cryptical -> Dark Star Phil vocals a little on the rough side.

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