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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
Autoplay
Or whatever you call it...not a big fan. I'm on here all day and I have to refresh the page to keep the entertainment rolling and I'm trying to listen to shows (full shows) on archive and spotify, etc...a lot of the times I forget to hit pause right away...
just one man's opinion.
High Resolution music files, 30 Trips
I'm a huge fan of collecting Grateful Dead music, I love the music from all eras. The later 90's shows honestly get little play time from me. I'm also a Pono owner and wanted the HD files. So, I had to choose one or the other. I went with the Box Set at the end of the day, just had to have it.
I know there is a lot of debate about the sound quality. When my Special Edition SYF Pono arrived, American Beauty and Terrapin Station were installed. I was blown away by the sound quality, I heard the full music for the first time. I can hear the difference. Friend Of The Devil is the track that stands out the most for me, I heard music there I had never heard before. It's truly a listening experience. I downloaded the Halloween Show Phish played last year in HD. Again, I was blown away by the intense clarity of the sound quality.
I have acquired many shows, albums in HD and really love it. The only drawback is the price of the HD files, more, much more. I don't always buy HD, ALAC serves me well and sounds awesome. It all boils down to personal choice for the listener. I can load up my iPod shuffle with AAC format and jam all day. I listen to my Pono with headphones, that can be another debate right there, many brands to choose from, again, personal choice. I have Bose and Sony and enjoy wonderful sound. I know there are $400.00 sets out there, to pricy for me.
I made the choice for the box set. I think the shows WILL be available for download, and I'll grab a few of my favorite ones in HD over time.
I'm grateful that we have so many choices to choose from. For many people MP3 is fine, then there are others that frown on MP3. Again its all about personal choice for the listener, collector.
Peace
Disturbance in the Schwartz
Yep.. lots has already been written on this subject.
I will say almost without exception the Hi-Res available (including Workingman's Dead and American Beauty) were completely re-mixed.. so a lot of the differences we hear can be at least partially due to new mix.
Just my two cents, I have gone down the blind test rabbit hole myself.. there's usually more to it than just higher definition audio.
Anyway, it certainly can't hurt to go down the high res path. The end result is often more attention to the mix, use of higher quality playback devices, use of higher performance earphones and often more attentive listening. Its all good, right?
May the Schwartz be with us all.
Selling out
After the first day's craziness when this first was announced, I watched the sales for the first week or so. Based on that, I figured it would sell out mid-late August, so I think my estimation was correct. These will all be gone within the next 3 weeks.
Rock on
Remix
My DVD Audio copies of American Beauty and Workingman's Dead were remixed by Mickey. Perhaps there's others out there that are not, but this what I was referring to and have heard similar comments from others.
Are there copies out there that are using the original mixes from the source vinyl releases? That would surprise me..
I apologize if I got this wrong on some level.. but my copies are definitely not the same mixes as the original vinyl mix of these two albums.. but that's where I got my info from.
This is what I was talking about.
http://www.livedownloads.com/music/0,8823/Grateful-Dead-mp3-flac-downlo…
thirty trips
that would be fantastic. Could you imagine, 30 trips, all vintage, made in the year that each show was recorded. I'm sure there would be some orange sunshine, yellow sunshine, orange double dome, clear light window pane, purple haze, purple microdot, perhaps even some of those Mickey Mouse blotters, or those red and purple dragons, or those gold dolphins, maybe even some of that blotter on the construction paper. Now I would buy 10 of those boxes. All joking aside, this is THE dead box, take it if you need it, or leave it.....but you really can't complain about it, can you? If it costs too much, get a second job, spare change on the corner, sell a body part (hopefully one you have two of), sell off unnecessary stuff (or necessary stuff), prostitute yourself (if u ain't too ugly), if there are shows in there that you don't want, re listen to them, perhaps you missed something the first time, never too late to come up with a reason to try or a way to fly. Just DO IT.
While DinaMoe says Hummmmm.....
I will say this about the idea of smaller subsets of this release being offered:
The description says, "Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD." That leaves open the possibility for either: 1) a collection of shows being sold on CD ("the '60s" or "'70 - '75" or "the '80s", etc.), 2) individual shows being offered for sale via download, or 3) all of the above.
What they don't say is as important as what they do say. Just like individual shows weren't offered for the Europe box until the box sold out, they won't offer individual shows here until the boxes and USBs sell out. But because some folks here freak out about not knowing all of the long term plans of Rhino on Day 1, people get agitated.
Stay cool, and you will have the opportunity to bitch about the cost of individual show downloads or collections of shows on CD before you know it! lol
breakdown of shows
If i were to sell ,, here is my price points. Sorry Rhino you guys just did all the hard work and now I can Profit !!! Yippie !!
1 disc show = $30
2 disc show = $40
3 disc show = $50
4 disc show = $65 lol ,, any takers ?!?
HD Tracks vs. 2001 DVD Audio of Workingman's + American Beauty
So yes, there is some confusion because of these two different releases; one being the 2001 DVD Audio of both WD and AB, which were re-mixed by Mr. Mickey Hart.
Then you have the HD Tracks release that used the original mixes. Here's the blurb that came with the HD Tracks:
"From David Glasser, Chief Grateful Dead Engineer, Airshow Mastering:The Grateful Dead studio albums were mastered from the original master tapes in Airshow Studio C, Boulder, CO. Transfers were done at 192kHz / 24 Bit from an Ampex ATR with Plangent replay electronics to a Prism ADA-8XR A/D converter into a soundBlade workstation. The studio, designed by Sam Berkow, has Dunlavy SC-V loudspeakers driven by Ayre Acoustic amps.
For comparison I referenced the previous CD versions and original LPs. The goal was to remain faithful to the originals while at the same time extracting as much resolution and detail as possible using modern technology, and improving on the original releases, if possible. Some of the masters were transferred flat with no EQ or compression. (That is a testament to the mixing and production of the day; Terrapin Station, in particular, sounded spectacular right off the tape.) When needed, EQ was either a solid-state Prismsound MEA-2, API 5500, or newly manufactured Pultec EQM-1A3 tube equalizers. Very light compression from a Fairman TMC was used on 5 of the titles. No peak limiting was used on any of the masters with the exception of Built to Last, the only album that was originally mixed to a digital recorder (Sony 1630). All the dynamics of the master recordings have been retained. Several of the tape boxes contained the original LP EQ notes, and these were taken into consideration. "
RE: breakdown of shows
I can sell them for $5 less than yours, still make a profit, copy the entire content of the box, and keep all the packaging! I think I'll by 10 boxes. But seriously...Hopefully they will make downloads available soon after the box sells out.
$5 less Lol
Maybe I need a flash sale to compete with this $5 less scheme ;)
Buy one, get one half off ?!?
You guys are wasting your time...
Most of us get our secondary market releases from Mayor for Life MarionBarry.
You are wasting your time.
Auto Play - Listening Party
This party is losing its appeal. They keep playing the same song over and over again...
Please turn off this feature.
Claney
If its one show you want I will burn it for you. PM me your address and I will send it to you sometime after boxzilla arrives, or if its 3 shows, just say. I was just tired of hearing the ungratefulness of our fanbase, who I think are the luckiest fans ever....by a mile. Peace
re: sfrank
ok, we will put you in the promotable, has a cool boss group.
I regret the need to add a new category to this analysis, however. The 'drug test this employee immediately' category. Didn't think about that one.
In any case, I won't miss this feature when its finally gone (and it will go).
Just a Heads up....
After seeing that they are down to 250 sets for the 30 Trips, I decided to call to confirm my order was all set. Well to My surprise they said it was canceled because of a Credit Card Fraud on my American Express. To my knowledge there was not one and I had to re order it. I just don't want anyone to be left out for whatever reason there may be.
The gaps....
....i don't know about you, but I divide the sound of the band into seasons. I know some of you do too. The Dead's sound changed monthly imo. Ever evolving. I broke down the show gaps for 30 Trips, so here we go....rounded off of course....
66 -> 67 16 months
67 -> 68 9 months
68 -> 69 4 months
69 -> 70 14 months
70 -> 71 11 months
71 -> 72 18 months
72 -> 73 14 months
73 -> 74 10 months
74 -> 75 12 months
75 -> 76 12 months
76 -> 77 5 months
77 -> 78 13 months
78 -> 79 17 months
79 -> 80 13 months
80 -> 81 6 months
81 -> 82 14 months
82 -> 83 15 months
83 -> 84 12 months
84 -> 85 8 months
85 -> 86 11 months
86 -> 87 17 months
87 -> 88 10 months
88 -> 89 15 months
89 -> 90 12 months
90 -> 91 11 months
91 -> 92 6 months
92 -> 93 12 months
93 -> 94 18 months
94 -> 95 4 months
Season count....
Spring 7 shows
Summer 7 shows
Fall 13 shows
Winter 3 shows
Just crunching numbers, but Fall rocks!!....am I crazy? No. Obsessed?...hmmmm, definite maybe....
....it's funny when you see a word repeated over and over and over, it doesn't even look like a word anymore....
Auto-play a bigger drag
than first thought.
Not only does it "auto-play" whenever I refresh this page (annoying enough), but since WMP is my default player, if I happen to be listening to a show in WMP and load up this page, my show is rudely interrupted by the listening party.
Please fix this.
@drshakedown; autoplay
Thanks Dr Shakedown - I really do apprecitate the thoughtful offer. After much agonizing in June, I did finally order the box. I was more reacting in a general way about what I perceive as a lack of understandiong of the dilemma this presents for some folks. For example, many have pointed out that if you really want the box, you can just work extra, etc. My point was simply that no matter how much extra one makes, if you have a family it can be very hard to rationalize such an esssentially selfish allocation of resources.
But - I did rationalize it :0 --> "it's an investment! it makes me a happier person which makes me a better dad! I rarely spend money that isn't for the family!" and so on...
I also got a number of really kind PMs about this, including questions about what that favorite show is (and one person guessed correctly). The show is: Lindley Meadows.
Also super excited about Cape Cod, Cornell 81, everything from 67 to .... aw heck, it almost all looks good to great.
----- As for the autoplay. Agreed on that - I'm sure they'll fix it soon. Meanwhile, for those of you with iPads, I've found the autoplay doesn't work on this, so I am using it to log in to the site.
If you broke it into smaller boxes...
What would they be?
1966-71
1972-78
1979-86
1987-95
is what I would do...
the smaller boxes plan, my two cents
I do believe there will be some spin-off action from this box. Claney, your breakdown is logical except for two things. One, most of the 66-71 shows are 1 or 2 CDs long making the 66-71 box much smaller than the rest. Two, if GDM really believes 70s sells better than 80s/90s, the 87-95 box has a big risk of being a sales dud.
I have no idea how they would break up the 30 shows into mini-boxes.
I wonder if some of these shows may later be included in other boxes. For example, a June '85 box or October '79 box. At this point the chance of a Live In '75 box is pretty damn slim, so 9/28/75 may never appear outside the 30 Years box...
Or they could do exactly what Claney is positting...
Remember the first Box Sets?
To put this in perspective: Remember how enormous and expensive those first Box Sets in the 80s seemed? Dylan's Biograph (3 CDs), or Springsteen 1975-85 (3 CDs), etc.
Now for Deadheads those are just normal releases, and a "small" box set is three shows and 9 discs...
Guess they had to wait until rock fans got older and had more disposable income.
EDIT - good point Seth! I just couldn't think of a way to divide them that didn't have other problems (for example, having a box with a show from 77 and a show from 81 just seems weird, unless it's in the context of the whole shebang...
sure, they were three CDs...
...for those weird Yuppie Techie types who would spend big bucks to buy those little silver things that were played by shining fancy Buck Rodgers lights on them inside black (or silver) boxes. But for normal people they were FIVE vinyl discs and who could EVER make something bigger than that!
Both those boxes were super awesome back in the day, as was Clapton's Crossroads box (FOUR CDs!).
OT: RIP Vic Firth
Just noticed that Vic Firth passed away on Sunday. Local legend in Boston - member of Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Thought this was interesting:
"Mr. Firth’s percussion business brought him celebrity within a broader drumming world that extended well beyond the sphere of classical music. His daughters, who worked in the family business, suggested that he appear on occasion with rock bands, which Mr. Firth did. He was once reprimanded by a BSO manager for having performed in Providence with the Grateful Dead."
My first box set
Was a Led Zeppelin bootleg box set called 'Uncensored'
http://www.discogs.com/Led-Zeppelin-Uncensored/release/3420177
I was 15 years old, and spent my first paycheck on the set. It cost $95 bucks for 5 discs of never before released materials. I have collected whole shows since then, but this started the box set/bootleg era for me :)
Ahh - memories.
STORE CLOSED !!
This could be it for 30 Trips. They must be doing an inventory calculation to see exactly where they are at. Stay tuned for further developments
Rock on
My first box set...
20 Years Of Jethro Tull. Still one of the best, the unreleased material far outweighing what was already available on there and collecting up stray tracks and rarities.
Re: "STORE CLOSED !!"?
hbob, that sounds ominous. It sort of sounds that Grateful Dead Productions is going to sever their ties with Rhino. If we recall, GDP signed a 10 year merchandising deal with Rhino in 2005. Perhaps GDP will go back with Music Today, or ATO Records, the company that Jerry Garcia Family LLC is currently using, or even Real Gone Music.
"Stay tuned for further developments."
Wait and see.
Store now open
Well it was only temporary and now has re-opened. There are still at least 99 Boxzillas left.
I too have been wondering when the 10 year deal with Rhino expires and what will follow.
Rock on
apologies from the tech folks WRT the autoplay
We think this is fixed now; the page is nice and quiet for me at least. Speak up if you're still having issues.
Early 80's Strangers..
are some of my favorites. For what its worth, there's a few versions of early 80's Let It Grow that are amazing also.
Weren't we all a little stranger in the '80's?
Rhino & The GD
I hadn't heard that it was a 10-year licensing deal set to expire this year, but if that's true, I would be absolutely shocked if Rhino ended this arrangement. Look at the name of the executive producer on most Dave's Picks releases and Boxes from recent years, and then look up the head of Rhino Records (hint - it's the same guy). In the 21st century, where any album can be obtained digitally for nothing with a few mouse clicks, the Dead are releasing 4 live albums plus a boxset per year and leaving zero inventory on the shelves. I think Rhino's probably pretty happy with how this has played out. You think they're selling 70,000 Smiths boxsets every year?
Still Dating
Not to mention the Vault is no longer in Marin County, its in Burbank. Possession is 9/10ths of the law.
Divorces are a painful and expensive. I see Rhino and the GD courting a bit more. The Fare Thee Well presale could be looked at like a lovers quarrel though..
Rhino - the continuing story...
or not? I understood that the licensing deal ends sometime soon. One has to assume that the Dead organization will want to continue allowing material to be released so a new licensing deal seems certain. As to with whom they will cut a deal is unknown (to us, at least) but Rhino would seem to be in a strong position as they are the current licensees and have (as far as we know) done a reasonable job. Whether or not the Dead organization are satisfied with Rhino's performance is another matter and one that we are not privy to. All will be revealed in due course, of course.
One has to hope that this 30 Trips box is not a last-ditch attempt to make as much money as possible out of the licensing deal before it expires, but we are not cynical enough to even contemplate such a possibility, are we?
I Will Take You Home
When I used to hear this song at shows, back in another lifetime, I always thought it was a pretty song but not exactly a "Grateful Dead" type of song. While I didn't dislike it, I would have preferred almost any other song. Listening the version from Oxford Plains this morning, as the father of two beautiful girls, it really touched me deeply. I'm not sure how it will be received but I will attempt to add it to the lullaby rotation, which at this point includes: James Taylor "Sweet Baby James", The Beatles "I Will" and Elvis "Can't Help Falling In Love".
San Diego 73
This was my first show...and It's a Monster sometimes called the EVERY other One Other... One.One of the first shows I streamed and transfered to reel to reel from the then downloadable Sound Boards. I would love to see what the "cleaned up" version sounds like and add it to my collection. There was a time when I bought EVERY release that came out but in the eco crash of 2008 (right around the middle of the road Trips series ) I just couldn't keep up any more. Any help out there for an aging 70's dead head?
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