30 Trips Around The Sun Box & Digital USB

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September 4, 2015 - 10:38am

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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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August 20, 2016 - 11:39am

#71

supe80

Joined:
August 5, 2012

Box Art Work

I hope someone hasn't asked this already. Does anyone know who did the artwork for the outside of the box?
August 16, 2016 - 12:41pm

#72

johnny361

Joined:
November 1, 2012

hi gang

I spent the day with Cobo 1976. I really like these fall 76 shows with Dicks #20 being a personal favorite since it's release many years ago. This Cobo show is really growing on me with each listen. 30 Trips has been a monster to get through but I love the task! There are still shows I haven't spent time with.. but I will!
August 8, 2016 - 7:16am

#73

KYTrips

Joined:
August 25, 2012

1975

So... this is another show that's a bit tough to grade. It's relatively short for a Dead show (I think it was just one long set), and I'm guessing that they were part of a bill that included other bands at this free show in Golden Gate Park. Also, it's one of only 4 shows that they played in 1975, so I'm guess they were a bit rusty, though you wouldn't think so from the performance itself. It starts off with a really sold Help > Slipknot that sounds a bit strange without the third jewel of Franklin's Tower, but that comes later in the show. Then there's a long break as the band attempt to summons a doctor from the crowd because a woman is apparently having a baby somewhere near/behind the stage. This alone makes the show memorable. They then move into a really, really good Music Never Stopped, followed by They Love Each Other. Beat It On Down the Line is above-average, in my opinion and it's followed by a good Franklin's Tower. Big River is straightforward, and the first disc ends with a routine It Must Have Been the Roses. The second disc starts off with an above-average Truckin' followed by a good jam and Drums. That heads into an excellent Stronger Than Dirt/Milkin' the Turkey which eventually leads into 10+ minute Not Fade Away which is light on lyrics and strong on jamming. The show ends with Going Down the Road Feeling Bad and a very energetic One More Saturday Night. The highlight of this show for me is the Music Never Stopped, but there really are no off numbers in the entire show. It's a consistently good show from start to finish. Overall Grade: B
July 23, 2016 - 8:55am

#74

unkle sam

Joined:
October 3, 2008

1990 1994

Just returned from a long road trip and listened to these two shows in their entirety during this trip. 1994 was the first listen. Show starts off with a nice Help>Slip>Franklins that is nice, Jerry in good form and everyone contributing their parts, not the best, but not bad. Then Walkin blues, not my favorite and Bobby's slide work is ok at best, then Atlhea, a good tune done well by Jer. Me and My Uncle, Big River and Just like Tom Thumb's Blues, no real Jerry in MAMU, BR just ok and JLTTB's has Phil taking lead vocals, enough said. An ok So Many Roads and Jerry sounds tired, voice a bit shaky and "old Jerry" sounding. Promised Land is good, with Bobby in fine voice, which ends the first set. Second set starts off with Scarlet>Fire, scarlet is ok but the Fire is grate, with Jerry getting his voice to perform about as good as it can get for these days. Way to go Home is next and I always liked this song, Vince in fine form throughout with Jerry adding some fine lead lines. Then into Saint of Circumstances, no Lost Sailor which I miss and wish they would not have dropped from the list, it's the better of the two tunes. A nice Terrapin with Jerry hitting all the notes and lyrics into a short but very trippy drums into an excellent space with Jerry showing us all that he can still blow heads away. Everytime there is "The last time" after a drums>space you know it was a great drums>space, like you know this could be the last time you ever hear that wonderful sound again. A good but short Stella with Jerry sounding tired in both voice and playing into a good OMSN. The encore is Liberty, a great tune that Jerry flubs the lyric on, but comes back and repeats it right. Thought the sound was ok, but a little boomy All in all a good show but....C+. 1990, good first set with a great Jack-a roe black throated wind ramble on rose and bird song, Jerry in fine voice and playing with bruce on the piano making it all sound nice. The second set here is very good, Chinacat, rider and saint all done well, very deliberate and a bit on the slower side, which is nice. At Crazy fingers and this is where it starts to get real good, the ending jam in Crazy Fingers has a bit of the x factor and was very nice then into Playing>drums>space>playing reprise, just awesome all of it, I highly recommend it. The stella is very nice into throwing stones into a great NFA with crowd chant into a fine one more Saturday nite. All in all a good show from France. The sound was ok, but had a bit of an echo in spots, not sure if it was the audience singing along or an echo, but was a bit distracting in places, a bit boomy in parts also, but all in all, not bad....a solid B. I haven't had time to get to all of them, but these two I took along just to give them a good listen, was not disappointed. For the 90's, both shows were ok, but not the same band we all fell in love with in the 60's and 70's.
July 19, 2016 - 2:12pm

#75

KYTrips

Joined:
August 25, 2012

1974

I will go out on a limb here and officially declare the 1974 show as the first "miss" of this embarrassment of riches known as 30 Trips Around the Sun. First of all, there are a few sound-related issues that I had to overcome. The overall sound "quality" is very good, but I definitely thought that Jerry's guitar was too low in the mix (who does that... puts Jerry's guitar low in the mix?!!!?) and then there is the issue with the vocals for the first 2 songs of the second set ("Loose Lucy" and "Big River") which are missing. I mean... they're there, but they're apparently not being picked up by the mic intended to pick them up or they didn't make it to the recorder... Whatever's going on, they're not to be heard in these recordings, unless you lean into the speaker and hear them buried somewhere off in the distance. In any event, it annoys me, and I think it spoils what would have otherwise been a pretty decent "Loose Lucy" (one of my faves). In addition, this show contains a between sets "Seastones." Not my favorite in any case. So... this show was fighting an uphill battle for me. The show kinda begins with the boys being a bit sloppy. The "Uncle John's Band" opener is nice, but uneven. "Jack Straw", "Friend of the Devil" and "Black-Throated Wind" are all unremarkable. The standalone "Scarlet Begonias" is a notch up from the previous songs, but that tune was still really finding its legs in the Dead's repertoire in '74. The next 5 tunes are again, unremarkable. The first CD ends with a nice "To Lay Me Down." I have to admit, I'm partial to this song. I've always loved it and thought it was underrated as a Dead song. The first set ends with a 23+ minute Playing In the Band which is good, but again, nothing special for this era. Then we are faced with "Seastones" and the aural problems mentioned previously to start the second set. A good "Peggy O" and an unremarkable "Me and My Uncle" round out Disc 2. The meat of this show (and presumably, the reason it was included in 30 TATS) is in Disc 3. Things finally take off with a wonderful "Eyes of the World" and the rest of the show is pretty darn good. Highlights for me included the Truckin' > Drums > Caution Jam sequence, which is pretty hot. The "Drums" is particularly interesting in that in addition to Billy on drums, Phil is also participatory in the part of the show. "Ship of Fools" is really nice and smooth and the "Johnny B. Goode" to close the set is also pretty smokin'. "U.S. Blues" is a good encore and a nice way to round out the evening. I'll be brutally honest... I don't think this show would have ever merited release on it's own, so it was, in my opinion, thrown into this box set. I certainly hope it's not the best there is remaining in the vault from 1974. However, I'd be less than honest if I didn't acknowledge that the third disc of the show is pretty darn good. But it certainly was my least favorite show thus far in the box. Grade: C+
July 18, 2016 - 7:59am

#76

KYTrips

Joined:
August 25, 2012

1973

It took me a little while longer to get to this review than I would have liked... Life's been busy with vacation and then I was in trial for a week (I'm an attorney... don't throw rocks), so my listening has been sporadic for the past few weeks. At any rate, let me start off by saying that this show is a total GEM!! Although I don't think it's the best of the box, so far, I do think it might be my favorite so far. It starts off again with a "Big Railroad Blues" which to me is a sign of good things to come (see my review from 1972). The next few songs (Jack Straw, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues) are all good, but nothing special. After all, it's just the first set. But then, this show morphs into a classic. "Here Comes Sunshine" is one of those songs that I absolutely love, and that I feel the band didn't play often enough. Accordingly, it was, in my opinion, a treat when it did show up in a setlist. Well... this one may be the best HCS EVER! It's so melodic and the playing so smooth, with a killer jam in the middle of it. It ebbs and flows nicely and you know from this point going forward that "tonight" is going to be "one of those nights." The other part about this show that is a bit different is that the first set is EPIC in length. It's actually longer than the second set, and the goodies start showing up much earlier than in a typical Dead show. I'm not going to go song-by-song, but the remaining highlights of the first set for me are: an appearance of "The Race Is On"; a very nice "Brown-Eyed Women"; "Tennessee Jed" and a late-first set China>Rider. The first set closes out (more than mid-way through Disc 2) with a hot "Around and Around."As good as the first set is, the second set is even better (although I still think the overall highlight of the show is still the "Here Comes Sunshine" in the first set). Due to timing issues, the second set actually starts on Disc 3, with the final three (3) songs on the set appearing at the end of Disc 2. I definitely recommend listening in the order in which the show was played. And let me tell you, Disc 3 is awesome!!! It is basically a non-stop, continuous 70+ minute jam which begins with an excellent "Truckin'" which then morphs into an unbelievable, three-part "The Other One" sandwich, which has "Big River" and "Eyes of the World" for the filling. It is hypnotic the way the boys weave in and out of "The Other One" throughout this portion of the show, never losing stride and hitting on all cylinders. Finally... the last portion of "The Other One" leads into a great "Wharf Rat", and they finally silence their instruments for a few fleeting moments. The show closes with three (3) stand-alones... "Me and My Uncle" (which seems strange to hear this late in a show), "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" and "One More Saturday Night". They're all good, but it's almost impossible to top that which just went down in the first 70+ minutes of this set. I definitely see myself coming back to this show over and over in the future. Show grade: "A- to A", depending upon my mood. Again... I don't think it's the best show, so far, but I do think it's my favorite!
May 24, 2016 - 11:10am

#77

KYTrips

Joined:
August 25, 2012

Ahhh.... 1972

If ever there was a more stellar year in GD history, I'm not sure what it would be (okay, okay... I realize this topic is up for debate, but I cast my lot with 1972). That being said, I had really high expectations for this show, as I do almost all '72 shows. This one didn't disappoint. However, I do think that this show will suffer a fate of being underplayed by many Heads, as it's so close in proximity to the DP 11 show from the Stanley Theater in Jersey City that took place 3 nights after this gem. I do think the Stanley Theater show is better, but this one is pretty great too. My only knock on this show... I think the sound is a bit spotty. There's one period in the show where the tape hiss is very audible and a bit distracting until you realize you're just gonna have to deal with it. The show opens with one of my personal faves... "Big Railroad Blues". You know a show is gonna be good when they open with this one. Everything in this show is filled with energy. Hell... I even liked "Mexicali Blues" which to me is usually a snoozer. "Loser" and "Black-Throated Wind" both deliver, while the band takes a bit of a breather in a subpar "Cumberland Blues" in my opinion. "Sugaree" is great (as per usual), and is followed by a consistent run of "El Paso", "Tennesse Jed" and BIODTL. In my opinion, this show REALLY gets rolling when they break into "Bird Song" later in the 1st Set. I've heard much better versions of "Big River", but the first set closes with an awesome "Brown-Eyed Women" and a MONSTER "Playing In the Band." Not bad... and that was just the 1st Set!!!The 2nd Set kills! The boys keep raising the pot (no pun intended) with each subsequent song, starting with "Greatest Story Ever Told" and continuing through "Bertha", "Promised Land", a beautiful "Fried of the Devil" and "Jack Straw". Things fall off a bit when they play "Tomorrow is Forever", a short-lived song in the Dead repertoire for good reason in my opinion. Then they ease back into things with MAMU before they head into "Dark Star" which is sandwiched around a nice little drum solo by Billy. Out of "Dark Star"?... Why yes, I do believe I will take a China Cat>Rider. And it's a good one. The show closes with the Bobby one-two.... "Sugar Magnolia" and "One More Saturday Night". All in all, a great show. Grade: A-
May 23, 2016 - 6:56am

#78

Cousins Of The…

Joined:
September 10, 2009

1971??

I have not gone through the 2nd set of 1971...and yes, I listed 1985 twice, my mistake.
May 23, 2016 - 2:58am

#79

One Man

Joined:
May 17, 2011

1971?

I don't see 1971 on your list. And is something listed twice?
May 16, 2016 - 12:19pm

#80

Cousins Of The…

Joined:
September 10, 2009

1984!

I'm usually partial to the 60's and 70s, however this show is tremendous! short but impeccable first set, from beginning to end; second set is quite adventurous, with a long UJB, a standalone Playin' reprise and a killer Morning Dew. My favorite 80's Trip so far. Revising my rankings... 1970 1967 1973 1975 1974 1972 1976 1968 1984 1969 1977 1983 1991 1979 1980 1981 1982 1978 1990 1993 1992 1966 1985 1986 1994 1985 1995 1987 1989 1988

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

may 77

thanks for the in-depth write up. I have actually been on a little 1977 journey myself lately. I found my ultimate version of Peggy-O which was hiding in the leftovers from Dicks Pick 3. I cannot believe that song was cut from the release! these shows are in heavy rotation: 10-11-77 Norman OK 05-22-77 Pembroke Pines (Dicks #3) "The flawless show" 10-**-77 Road Trips Vol 1 No 2 12-29-77 Winterland (Dicks #10) my favorite '77 Terrapin

420 Bandito / 30 Trips No WRS

Interesting, I'll have to revisit Terrapin from DP 10. I have a little trouble with Road Trips '77. I'm not sure if it's the mix, which sounds, somehow, flatter than others from '77, or maybe just the fact that it's not a complete show; honestly I can't put a finger on it. There is a fantastic Music Never Stopped on it, as evidenced by the 2 minute "space out" jam that begins around 3:20; maybe my 2nd favorite (behind 4/24/78, which also has a wild "space out" ride). What are your highlights from the October Rumpus that is Road Trips '77? It just occurred to me as I was checking out the shows from 30 Trips, that there is no full version of Weather Report Suite on here. For my part, I prefer the pre-hiatus full versions of this one.

I am particularly fond of the

I am particularly fond of the Help > Slipknot > Franklins Tower from 10-11. The Mississippi Half Step isn't half bad from 10-14. The Let it Grow is pretty darn nice too. I guess the sound is all over the place since they pulled the tracks from 3 different shows - 10-11, 10-14, & 10-16.

RT '77.... no more Help>Slip for quite some time

My overwhelming impression of Fall '77 and that release in particular is coke really taking over, soon to lead to high inconsistency in '78. I love '77, esp. Englishtown and Rochester and the Colgate releases, there is a ton to treasure from October and November. The music is so hyper revved and intense and muscular at times that you can't believe it can be sustained. However, that final '77 Help > Slip is real sloppy, no shot at nailing those changes. I find it sad and painful to hear.

1977 - 4/25, Capitol Theater,

1977 - 4/25, Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ I am very interested to hear this one. If the archive copy is any barometer it will be a much slower show than the later 77 shows. The wait is agonizing...

RT1.2

I've had the October '77 Road Trips in the car recently. I've enjoyed it, but not as much as other Fall show I've heard (11/4 being the best for me so far). I like the Help > Slipknot > Franklin, but it didn't overwhelm me as a great version. I think my favorites are the Sugaree and Music Never Stopped from LSU so far on that set. Speaking of H>S>F, listening to the beginning of Buffalo 5/9 since it was mentioned here.

muleskinner / Townshend Onstage with the Dead 10/9?

Yeah muleskinner, that's about my impression of Road Trips '77. I keep going back to it, trying to give it some love, but it never reciprocates. Speaking of Franklin's Tower - I was listening to DP 33 the other day, and all of the sudden this crunchy guitar riff jumped right out of the speaker at me, and it sounded just like Pete Townshend! I think he snuck onstage during the Day On The Green outing, and right at 2:55, he cranked out the Roll Away the Dew riff.....and then snuck right back to his dressing room. I imagine Roger, John, and Keith rolling over with laughter upon his return, and Pete saying something like, "well that's the best guitar riff I never wrote, seems that one got away from me mates; although it goes on a bit long, too much poodling around." Heh, Brits.

10/11/77

When Dick was instructed to select shows for release, 10/11/77 was in the stack of the 3 shows, Dick picked, to kick off this wonderful flood of great shows we enjoy

Skinning RT1.2 & Pete

Muleskinner & KeithFan, The Help > Slip > Franklin's on RT1.2 underwhelms me, too, but it's about the only thing that does. Otherwise, love that release. Halfstep > El Paso is a highlight, such a fun and obvious thematic pairing but the only instance I know of. Let It Grow & all of Disc 2 sound strong to me, especially Playin' & the Brokedown > Playin reprise. The bonus disc is fairly sumptuous, also, sans Sunrise (some nice Keith twinkles, but bad vocal mix); really hot Iko for '77. And SO funny you'd mention the audible ghost of Pete on Dick's 33 Franklin's, because I've always heard that uncharacteristically raunchy solo as Jerry putting in an extra effort to impress Pete ("are you hearing this, old buddy?!"). Now there's a stellar Help > Slip > Franklin's, one of my two or three favorite FT's ever. And one of my favorite releases ever--top three or five Dick's, for sure. Won't try to narrow a top three Dick's right now, but Dick's 28 certainly makes my list. Talk about a great 2-track recording ~ Bill's drums sound like two drummers at times (his fills on the ascending lead-in to the first Dew jam are like gathering thunder).

best sounding releases

Sunshine DaydreamGo To Nassau Rocking The Cradle Nightfall of Diamonds Rocking The Rhein Spring '90 TOO

Great Stuff Today

Love the show analyses.. I have my own mental notes of these shows.. but sometimes I forget things and I cant tell you how many times you guys get me to re-listen to stuff with different ears. Good stuff, if I had more time I would add but this is shaping up to be one of those weeks. I'm at least making time to read it all. Thanks all. Mr. Jack.. agree w/ an honorable mention to FW 69. Its not quite in the same league as some of the more modern ones mentioned.. but at this point it can almost be classified as an antique and it sounds pretty damn good. I'd give an nod overall to some of the other E72 offerings for the same reason. Not disagreeing w/ your post, just adding a couple lines below.

Guests on stage

I was just reading in DeadBase50 this morning about all the guests that joined the band on stage.This book is phenomenal. I did buy the MoFi mastered copies of American Beauty and Workingmans. Limited editions, numbered. They sound really really awesome I must say.

Great thread

Love the 1977 analysis . Getting pumped and jacked for the 30 trips. It will come. I am a USB believer and got the FLAC files ordered on day one. Bring on the phat sounds in HD. Pono rocks! Thanks for the posts everyone.

Shipping clarification

I see it says shipping mid-October on the top of the web page...however when adding one to my cart it says ships October 31st...which is it? Does anyone know? Mid October or Halloween?!

Great sounding releases

I would add the GD Movie Soundtrack release to Mr. Jack's dead-on-accurate list and Jim's additions. In one of the special feature documentary sections of the DVD, Jeffrey Norman discusses quite a bit of the remastering process they used, the kinds of flaws they were dealing with, and what they were trying to achieve. He/they were successful. I think it's one of the best sounding releases. I wish they hadn't edited several tracks to shorten them, like Eyes of the World and Casey Jones (both of which are thankfully available complete on other releases).

May '77 thanks to all - and a vote for 9/20/70 as future release

Especial shout out to Keithfan2112 for the great review! Well, all of you kicked me off the fence, and after dead.net charges 30 trips, I'll get the May '77 set. As Keithfan2112 aptly pointed out, why settle for three perfect shows (Winterland 77) when I can get eight? Speaking of great soundboards, one show that I wish dead.net would remaster and release is 9/20/70 Fillmore East. Musically, it is a wild trip, similar to the Capitol Port Chester shows from 1970. There is an unearthly and singular Not Fade Away - Caution and general great playing. Beyond that, the soundboard mix is great, coherent and well matches the actual performance sound. The person that did the recording caught the sound perfectly, to my ears. If you turn this one up loud, you will be in the middle orchestra of the Fillmore, that good! If you haven't heard it, make a point at least of giving NFA a close listen (soundboard version). Incredible antiphony between the drummers, Lesh and Garcia are locked in tight with Weir providing filling gaps perfectly, and laying back when he can't keep up. And Lesh does a driving solo toward the end. Shake down your house!

Re: 9/20/70

I'm with you on 9/20. Too bad they didn't record more that year.. we are missing some real gems. I started a 1970 drum beat on the Dave's Picks page expecting an announcement soon but I was a month off when I wrote it and realized my error. Still great show and good recording for the era.

Re: 9/20/70

I think that run of shows at the Fillmore E. 9/18, 9/19, 9/20 are all outstanding, and the soundboards, such as I've found, are all excellent, brilliant mixes, dynamic. Now I'm into 9/19 late electric set. Maybe some day. At least we have the boards still circulating. Digging into some favorites whilst awaiting 30 Trips.

'77

Muleskinner, glad to hear you mention 5-9-77. I still remember the moment I first heard that Comes a Time. When I first started going to shows it was with a couple guys who listened mostly to 80s tapes. One night, between shows, we listened to the second set of 5-9 and I was absolutely blown away. As Oneman would say, it was a "holy shit" moment for me. I distinctly remember saying, during Comes a Time, "This is the best music I've ever heard." The guy who put it on said something like, "You're just really high," which was true but I knew this was seriously good shit. That's when I started seeking out '70s tapes which led to another holy shit moment, a China>Rider from '74 that turned me forever into a Godchaux era junkie. I do enjoy and listen to all eras, but that's my sweet spot. There was some talk here about 5-13 on one of these pages last week so I was listening to it last night while watching football with the sound off. It's not the best show of the year or anything but it's a solid show and well worth hearing. My 16 year old son came down to watch the game and I noticed him tapping his toe to GDTRFB. I didn't say anything because it might give him an opportunity to deny it but I know what I saw. My kids liked my music when they were younger but are into their own thing now. This gives me hope, though, that eventually, when they don't have to be cool, or hip or with it or whatever the kids say nowdays, they'll realize that Dad listens to some pretty good music.

19 Seventy Seven

May Fourth

@rdevil

Two nice stories (back in the day and recent). Thanks for sharing!

Gans Kickstarter

If you haven't already, head over to kickstarter and check out David Gans' new album he is crowdfunding and kick in a few dollars with me.Awesome interpretations of the Dead https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dgans/its-a-hand-me-down

Great Sound

With these great sounding shows... I would love to hear what you guys listen to these shows on? Speaker type? Receiver type? Headphone type? If you get super technical, please break it down for the non-audiophile. I kinda have basic new stuff that a company put in my house, the speakers are splendid....the rest, I'm not sure Monitor Audio Silver RX8 floor speakers Integra equipment/Cd player Headphones are Bose QC15, which are nice, but I would like a real pair of audiophile headphones for a guy who listens to 80% Grateful Dead. Thanks guys

GD audiophile releases

I picked up American Beauty and Workingman's on MoFi wax, and they sound great, as do In the Dark and Wake. Live Dead was interesting, and the source has become a mystery of much discussion. I also picked up the Analog Productions audiophile vinyl releases of Bear's Choice and Reckoning, both of which sound stellar. Also, went to Lockn this weekend. The Tedeschi Trucks Band tribute to Mad Dogs and Englishmen with many guests stole the show, IMO: Billy and the Kids with Bobby was also quite nice, and Billy's got himself quite the ensemble. This was followed by and um, awkward Phil and Friends set with Santana, who generally seemed lost the entire set. I was very pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a Dark Star. The Hot Tuna 50 Years of Jefferson Airplane set with Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Billy Kreutzman, and GE Smith was also very good. I was worried for a set that stodd on novelty alone, but the playing was excellent! Plenty of tapers there, so recordings should be circulating.

Re: Lockin'

Hey matchewy, Thanks for the update on Lockin', wasn't able to make it this time. Not surprised by the comment on Derrick Trucks. I have been saying this for years, but concerning Trucks, we are witnessing history in the making. He is going to go down as one of the true greats.. its likely most reading this have seen him once or thrice.. but if not, go get some. He is only going to harder and more expensive to see in my humble opinion.

Wow... MadDogs

That video is amazing... Watching now at work. Loving it! On another note, if anyone is looking for some VERY VERY rare (one of a kind) artwork from the Fare Thee Well shows, I'm selling some hanging banners of the band that were shown in the stadium, including the COA. Email me.

Poodling About

It appears I have 9/19/70 in my "Grateful Soundboards" folder (thanks to you-know-who). Not quite the 9/20/70 that received most of the hype, but it starts with Dark Star, so I'm happy nonetheless. Speaking of Dark Star, I've been on a bit of kick lately. Last night I revisited E72 Tivoli show 1 from 4/14 (aka Trekin' Through Copenhagen). Outf@#kingstanding. I had the headphones on and the Poweramp EQ set to "just exactly perfect". Bobby really shines. I always have to look for him in the mix, which is a bit easier on these multi-tracks from E72; he's still lower than Jerry, but not as low as the two-track mixes that we generally get off the soundboard. I was impressed with how much lead work he was doing, as well as some of the melodies he was developing throughout. And of course the transition into Sugar Magnolia is for the ages. Then I revisited the 5/23/72 Dark Star (Good Evening, and Welcome to Here). More of the same. This one doesn't get talked about much, but it's pretty damn solid. Then there was the Academy of Music bonus disc Dark Star, which is oh so fine, maybe better than any of the E72 renditions, which is saying quite a bit. Nah, I won't go there, let's just say it's pretty damn good. Jeez I almost forgot about that one, how late was I up? This explains why I'm so tired and not getting any work done. And then I plugged in the Dark Star from Winterland Blues (2/24/74) on the way into work; also a non-stop treat. The only time Dark Stars and Other Ones lose me is when they start making a lot of weird noise for extended periods; I need some melody, even if it's changing every 30 seconds. In the time I wrote this, the Dark Star from 9/19/70 completed. Yep, more solid stuff, lots of great unique melodies and exploration. These guys are the best. During last night's Dark Star extravaganza, I read this interesting article on a February '73 show. Some good insights into where the band was with their live repertoire at that point, as well as a song-by-song breakdown of the show (for those who are unaware, this site is virtual goldmine of insightful information on all topics): http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2014/08/21573-dane-county-coliseum-madis… Ziffle, glad to hear you're going to pick up May 1977, it's not going to disappoint. Just curious, do you have DP 3, 29, and DaP 1?

Re: Great Sound/Headphones

In terms of listening to the GD on headphones, an important question is how much you're comfortable spending. Are you willing to purchase a headphone amplifier? In terms of audiophile gear that is (believe it or not) also a relatively great value in terms of bang for the buck- Sennheiser HD600/HD650 and Hifiman HE500 are exceptional GD headphones. While an amp is recommended for these headphones, it's probably only absolutely necessary with the HE500. Also important, these 3 headphones are somewhat forgiving of the recording, so less than perfect recordings are still very enjoyable to listen to. This is a valuable characteristic to keep in my mind when looking for ideal GD headphones- Will the headphones be unforgiving of recordings and overexpose it's flaws. Of course it's worth mentioning the quality of the source itself is also important- CD player, DAC, etc. Hopefully more will contribute to this, in addition to speaker and receiver suggestions.

Headphones/Equipment....Zuckfun reply

I am willing to listen to all price levels. My Bose QC15 set me back 300 if I remember right, and I realize I will need to go north of that, hopefully without reaching 4 digits. I got the Bose for general family use, and now want something better. Plus the noise cancelling feature is ridiculous. I hear those Sennheisers mentioned a lot. 1.I want to plug headphones straight into my Integra DTM-40.4 receiver 2. CD player is a Integra CDC 3.4 3.I also have a seperate amp for a "Zone 2" I never use: Integra ADM 20.4 Not really sure if I should incorporate that into my speakers or if it would help or not. 4. My speakers are Monitor Audio Silver RX8's (gloss white) i got about 4 years ago with the above mentioned Integra stuff. 5. I also purchased the Monitor Audio W12 sub, but rarely use that now that the speakers are "broken in"..... I would love to hear about other peoples speakers BUT....I friggin love these things....the "field" is incredible for my large room, stunning really for the money. Thanks Zuckfun and whoever else wants to comment.

headphones...

I like a closed back headphone, just so I don't want an open back headphone. Makes it easier to hide in the music...

@ drShakedown > listening devices

My system consists ofNAD M3 NAD M5 KEF Reference 205/2 very good cabling, no radio, no cassettes/tapes, no blu ray, no vinyl, no surround sound, no streaming, no dvd (except on pc)...

Headphones cont'd

Just to springboard (and swan dive) off of what Jim said, a very smart move is to listen to as many headphones as you can before deciding. Some people love Grados, and some can't stand them. The same could be said for so many headphones. All that really matters is to find headphones that you love. Here's a beyond impressive review of many headphones: http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-c…

its almost time

in a couple of days there may be a 1970 sighting.. Been going through each day and no sign of 1970 on Sirius.. 9.17.70 9.18.70 9.19.70 9.20.70 ,, still waiting to hear one of these on Today in GD History.. Something from this run is geting released if it gets played on Today in GDHistory.. other notables that will get released.. 12.27.77 9.16.87 7.16.88

Countdown

9 to go (again!) Rock on

Of Audiophilia and Miracles

Now, we're talking! Head-fi is an awesome resource, just keep yer wallet in another room (or perhaps locked up)! Digital listening is thru an O2/ODAC into a pair of Fisher FA-011. (Keith sounds wonderful on this setup, btw). Check out JDS labs for this hardware. For HI-FI listening, I switch to the Audeze LCD-2. Big boy planars. Still auditioning AMPs for these, perhaps will end up with a Schiit product. ~I need a miracle, every day!~ I have all 36 Dick's Picks and started up my DaP sub this year. The 50th hullabaloo really got my GOGD juices flowing again. Wondering if any of you gracious heads might consider a miracle for this torrent-phobic neophyte? Looking for a kind soul to send a new external HD to, to be filled up with good music. SBD, AUD, GOGD, whateva! Glad to appropriately compensate such generosity of time and effort. Any guidance on how to expand my collection with modest outlay? I suppose I'll have to learn how the torrent world works. All advice and input welcome! PMs encouraged! God Bless the Freaks! (I have this sticker on my rear bumper.)

Guss West

If you don't have May 1977, you can still download it here for regular price. Sounds like you covered Dave's Picks for this year. You can still get last year's Dave's Picks for around 50 if you look around. Road Trips 77 is also < 50 on the resale market. You can also get the Winterland 1973 Complete Recordings (November 9th, 10th, 11th) for 120 on the resale market, only a 20 dollar mark-up from the price they used to charge here. Also some good deals on some of the 30 Trips shows on the resale market (less than 50 per being offered by some). There's also the Grateful Dead Download Series to check out on iTunes and Amazon.

For some Oct-77... I always each for....

10/29: << use this one to say howdy to new neighbors; as good as 5/8 10/12: epic, kind of like 9/3

As Bear intended...

I prefer my GD pumped thru Mcintosh tubes driving big Horns. The basement rig is Mcintosh monoblocks pushing the big Klipsch horns. This is where the serious listening occurs and is setup for digital and analog formats. The VPI turntable is setup on this rig. This is the one the neighbors hate... The den is alternated between a Dynaco ST70 and MKIII mono blocks pushing Klipsch Lascalas. Most vinyl listening is done here on a vintage Thorens table. The living room system is a vintage Fisher 500B fed into Klipsch Cornwalls and is the everyday player, including another Thorens table.

TTB

Can't wait to listen to the Lockn show. Seeing TTB in mid October. Still hard to believe that 3 outta 4 Beacon Theatre shows have not sold out yet. Get there. 25th with Los Lobos. http://tedeschitrucksband.com/events/

Audiophiles

http://goodmath.scientopia.org/2011/12/30/audiophiles-and-the-need-to-b…

MagnoliaFest in Live Oak, Fla

Anybody going this year? I'm thinking about it. TTB band on Friday.Also have you ever been to any fests there, if so, what was your experience like? Thanks. Loo

$1000 cables

I've largely avoided the slippery slopes of audiophilia by just buying a basic value setup and walking away. No fancy cables or interconnects, no wild and wacky stuff. The O2/ODAC is universally considered one of the best values available. $1000 cables and $10k amps/dacs? I ain't got the time (or money) for all that! Yes, I can tell the difference between my rig and a laptop with earbuds! There are a lot of folks who take their audio way more seriously than I do. (ie. see head-fi) Just relistening to the audio mix of 7-7-89. Sounds pretty good to me, Hey Now!

30 Trips Mastering Masters

I've read some comments on the different folks other than JN that are involved in the remastering of these 2-tracks. I was wondering if there were any articles on this? I have not been able to find this information for myself outside of these threads. I earnestly hope this will not impact the final product, but it is interesting to hear heads having such strong opinions on who does the remastering. Which, of course, is everything! Is there any way to quantify the impact Jeffrey Norman has had on the archival releases put out since...forever? I'm very interested in learning more about him. Has anyone else ever had such an impact on how we hear the archival releases of GOGD?

Guss

Watch "Dave's seaside chat". I believe that's were the mastering info you seek is.

Norman

Nothing gets One Man out of his lair faster than a discussion about audio quality. JN has done immeasurable good with his mixing and mastering skills. The one time they out-sourced a mix (Warlocks box) the job was grossly botched. My only complaint is they sometimes don't give him the budget to perform his magic (E72 box). When he is turned loose with some good tapes (S90 TOO box) look out! Even the weary Veneta tapes (Sunshine Daydream) and the retirement shows (Movie Soundtrack) came to life with enough attention to detail. Bravo! Of course there is only so much that can be done with the 2-tracks, and I expect plenty of good mastering engineers could match him in this regard. Joe Gastwirt certainly can and has. David Glasser is a pro, but I don't have a good reference to use, since E72's problems originate in the mixing department, and probably even earlier in the process. We can't know how much his efforts helped, if any. I suspect a faulty A-D transfer was made, at least for the shows preceding Paris. Then JN was forced to hurry through mixing with a proverbial gun to his head. Oh, the pain! We'll never hear the true glory of those tapes other than the earlier releases (Hundred Year Hall, Steppin' Out, and Rockin' the Rhein). I'll stop now. It's okay to flame me if I sound like a broken record. Anyway, I'm very confident that the mastering of 30 Trips will be swell, and the couple of multi-track shows should be great if mixed by JN.

5 'Trips'/Boxilla remaining.

I seriously doubt this news would motivate someone who's been 'on the fence' all summer. But.......Ya never know?!

Headphones

What's the deal with closed or open backs : Pros and Cons please. Thanks all, any Central Iowa heads on here I would love to see your set up. Or I will be in Philly>nyc>nyc for JRADS NYE run

Open vs. Closed

The big advantage of closed headphones is isolation- There will be less interference of sounds around you, and people nearby won't hear the headphone's music. Comparatively, open headphones offer a larger soundstage, and are generally regarded as providing superior sound quality. Although there are closed headphones that can outperform some open headphones, generally closed headphones can't compete in terms of soundstage and overall fidelity. The most common reason for choosing closed headphones is isolation and to prevent disturbing those around you.

best sounding releases

Some have posted on this. I think the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack discs are some of the best discs as far as audio quality.

I checked my status order

Not shipping till Halloween oct 31st idk if anyone else's order status says the same . It is what it is I just hope it actually ships by then no more delays

product sku

081227955892