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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
Skimming the surface....
....so far I've streamed '66, '75, '79, '87 (a few times. Grate show), and '95. Hump day can't come soon enough....slightly disappointed that the '71 pick wasn't a summer show. Love the bare-bones quintet Dead. A relatively small window of the Dead canon.....raw and fukin jammin'....
I've also noticed....
....that a lot of members since 2007 have posted here recently. This box seems to bring out even the quietest 'heads....and rightly so....
Upon closer inspection....
....my Dead Base 50 shows no first set listing for the 3.18.71 St.Louis show. And yet it's in the Box. Did Dave stumble upon a Betty Board? Weird, but that's the Grateful Dead for ya. Always keeping us guessing....even 44 years later....
....still inspecting. The Cortland, NY second set from 4.18.71 looks tasty. Sugar Mags -> Second That Emotion(?!), Truckin', Hard To Handle, Loser, Playin', Around X2, Good Lovin', UJB....
...I'll shut up now....
....edit. OK, the '71 show is the five of them. My bad....
RT 4.5....i.e. Boston Music Hall 6.9.76....
....noticed that this release is going for no less than $125 on eBay. Damn!....I'm putting mine somewhere safer....
@ vguy72
I also use other sources other than Dead Base. I have DB X. I also use www.deadlists.com and that site lists the 1st set for 3/18/71. I used deadlists to check the setlists for the shows in the box not long after the contents were revealed in June.
It's hard to beat a quality box.
Still waiting for mine, suppose to be tomorrow (Monday) between 3:30 and 7:00,,,, fingers crossed.
I see complaints about box quality and plywood de-laminating, a couple of wonders. For people with "good boxes", would it help long term life, if you ran some wood glue down the unfinished edges, excess wipes off with damp cloth and it dries clear, then paint the edge of the ply. If you ply is pealing, can you steam wood with steam iron, get flexible, get glue behind and clamp until dry?
For the really good wood people can you make a copy of the box out of a quality hardwood, then have a semi decent artist repaint, or can you take a picture of box and have a "wrap" company make a wrap for the box. Just a thought,, I like to tinker and thought maybe I could reproduce box myself (except for painting). I've only seen the picture of the box on this page, but it doesn't look like it would take Van Gogh to paint that picture. I bet there are a shitload of Deadheads who could paint you a better image judging from the artwork you see on ticket envelopes. That might make a very nice project.
@TheDude77
That sounds horrible! I hope they're able to send at least an empty box replacement for you to compensate. Fortunately for me, only a thin piece of the box popped off. A little super glue for me will do the trick. It sounds like you, on the other hand, had a little too much glue! Good luck with getting your box fixed. I've been buying discs from Rhino online for the last 15 years and their customer service has always been top notch. They should be able to help you out.
DeadBase50
The book was a huge letdown for me. It could have been way better in my opinion. I'm sure it was great for folks that had no DeadBase though. I know people put effort into it, but it is way too overlarge for it's usefulness. My DeadBase XI is good enough for me, it's even autographed. Someday I think I will unload my doorstop that is DeadBase50, but I ain't in no hurry. I really hope they put out another edition that has updated lists and reviews.
Ready to weigh in on the box
I think that I may have been to harsh before. This box is going to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people and I don't want to dampen that.
O.K....
My box is scheduled to come tomorrow. Im off from work and I have a first edition American Beauty chilling. Right now Im sitting here listening to the 71 stream, waiting for the Giants game! Go Giants!! All of you who have it, Enjoy!!!! Take care folks!!!!
Brief impressions
My initial box impressions- I can't really speak to the craftsmanship of the box itself. It seems durable to me, but I'm far from a carpenter. It does smell foul to hear about quality control problems fans have written about. The book is cool, the design of the box itself and the artwork is very enjoyable to me. But, and I wish there wasn't one, the cd cases are cheap. I had a weird thought after opening a few of the cd cases- there goes the Grammy award. Because excellence is rewarded, cheap decisions are not. I'm not saying they're Road Trips terrible, but they probably won't hold up well to continuous use. On to the music- Everything I've heard so far sounds fantastic. An outstanding effort as usual at mastering and giving the music a new and fresh life. Sorry if this post was a downer, just don't want people to be as disappointed as I was with the cd cases.
Patiently waiting for the USB & a suggestion for box set folks
I'm patiently waiting for the USB set - someday soon I hope (!) - and vicariously enjoying all the recent posts from box set folks.
I think that the 30 Trips CD set is a fine value, less than $9/CD, and as to the cardboard CD cases, I have a suggestion. I have several sets (from other artists & from the GD) that come in less than satisfactory cardboard cases. What I do is put the CDs in inner sleeves, and the CD cases in outer sleeves. There are very fine inner (and outer) sleeves manufactured in Japan. I buy them from www.soundsourcecds.com - the round bottom inner sleeves from Japan are especially good, very thin (to fit), very smooth and strong. They are designed to fit in the Japan "mini-lp" format cases. I don't know of any other source (in the U.S.) for genuine Japanese sleeves (although perhaps there is). I don't have any connection with the person selling them other than I've done business with the owner for many years and have always been satisfied with the products he sells.
Check Bottom of the Box
Nice lightening bolt in tree ring on bottom of the box.Inside is blue felt, did some people get red felt?
Pass - 3/24/95 image: Cowboy shooting pistol in right hand & twirling pistol in left hand
(just noticed at bottom "Rawhide Kid" TM - Marvel)
Ticket - 12/12/94 Oakland Coliseum
Box is intact.
Going to start burning cd's to itunes this week.
Enjoy
Mine arrived Friday
Scroll number - 4203
Ticket - 12/12/94 Oakland
Pass - 2/21/95 Salt Lake City
My box arrived undamaged and intact. My Caution/Box Of Rain record looks like the box cutter guy got to it rendering the disc unplayable with several massive gouges. It wasn't secured in the sleeve properly prior to shipping and need to get that replaced.
Pretty much spent all day Sunday ripping to iTunes. So far have listened to the '66, '67 and '75 shows. All highly enjoyable. I'll give my in depth show by show breakdown later, but do want to mention that the harmonica player from the '75 show is uncredited.
Initial impression - this box is probably the best fucking music release I've ever seen, and definitely purchased. There's so much here to take in that it's overwhelming. Every era wrapped into one convenient package...it just doesn't get any better than this.
Comments on Shows
Am I missing out on discussion around each individual 30T show? Wouldn't it be great if we had 30 threads to go with the 30 Trips? I think Kate mentioned this first, with the suggestion that the show list above is linked to each thread. Great idea. How do we make it happen?
Ziffle
Thanks for the mention of SoundSource for the plastic CD liners. I've been looking for a place to purchase these for years. I just purchased 200, 80 alone for the 30 Trips box set. The others I'll use for the Road Trips series. Thanks again.
ps Hope you get your USB soon (Today!)
Out for Delivery; links to show pages
Today could be a very good day, or a very bad day. I am at the mercy of the gods. Re: links to individual show pages - I am definitely down for that, keep bringing it up and it might happen! Web gurus: How doable is this without blowing up everything? Sorry I am not a techie.P.S. I just wanted to add that marye is down with the idea as well and has forwarded the idea to the webfolks. Maybe some PM's directly to them would help? PM me if you are interested.
ticket and pass
I got a Cal Expo 5/27/93 ticket and a pass from Charlotte 95 (3/22/95). Pretty cool since I was a bay area head and cal expo was my favorite (ohh 90 cal expo!) - I also moved to Charlotte NC 17 years ago.
My box arrived Friday is fine shape. No defects noticed or found yet. I feel like the quality is on spot with expectations all around.
This is a great set all around.
Dr. Rhino..
Thinking about contacting him about my 30 Trips box with a broken lid problem. Can someone please post his e-mail address? Thanks.
ps: Red felt in mine.
Box Reviews
So the packaging is not "just exactly perfect", how do the shows sound?
Can Hardly Wait!
Mine came this past Friday, the same day that I received the shipping notification from Dead.net. I am waiting to open it until a friend can join me. He is a bigger Deadhead than I!How did I last an entire weekend without peeking? I went to a record show out of town!
5-16-81 Cornell
This was one I was really looking forward and it sounds great until the patch. It may be the poorest sounding release to date. The notes say the last few songs but it is a good portion of the show. I have been impressed with the later selections quality. 1981 had a lot of fantastic shows and I would rather have one of those with better sound.
MidwayKid
I bought 2 boxes they are both safe in my living room unopened at this point. I will do that in a little while and give update. Hope all goes well. Thanks to rrot for the UPS My Choice info. Great lead. Not only was I able to watch both boxes travel. So I did not have to worry. But I was able to have them stopped at my local UPS hub. Hint, I waited till the last departure scan closest to my hub before I changed delivery and I was very careful to make sure I got it right. That way I would be sure they were going to the right spot. Anyway I was able to pick them up at 8:15 am and avoid anymore handling by UPS. At this point it looks like UPS did a great job on these 2 boxes. They look great. Update pending.
DHL delivery disappointments
So, having had a message from DHL and having paid the £88 customs charge, I thought I'd phone to check on the status of the delivery.DHL inform me that the parcel "does not exist"!
Worrying, to say the least. All I can guess is that the electronic paperwork has got way ahead of the actual shipping and that Cinram have not shipped any of the European copies of the box yet.
Will see whether dead. net customer services can shed any light, but sounds as though those of us on this side of the pond could be in for a bit of a wait at the very least.
Anyone else in the UK have any news?
Initial Thoughts
First off, I really regret streaming this set. Sure, the CDs sound better, but it would have been nice to listen with virgin ears. Kudos to those of you with some self-restraint!
I've listened to 11/10/67, 2/22/69, and 9/28/75 in their entirety. I've also listened to the entire second sets of 11/14/73, 9/18/74, 10/27/79, and 10/21/83.
My thoughts on '67 are well-known. This is the best show in the box, with all-time versions of Viola Lee Blues and GMLSG, and the primordial TIFTOO packs so much punch. The Alligator > Caution melts down like no other version I've ever heard (except for that 6/14/68 Caution!)
The '75 show is just perfect from start to finish. Even songs like It Must Have Been The Roses are played with piercing emotion. The a cappella ending to Franklin's, the Eleven jam, all just perfect. Really loved this one.
2/22/69 has a '69 Dark Star that is like the little brother of the FW versions from a week later. The Death Don't is particularly good, with really enthusiastic Jerry vocals. I love me a good Dupree's > Mountains, and as the only acoustic pieces in the entire set, they're very welcome.
11/14/73 didn't grab me as much as I thought it would, but the Truckin' > Other One sequence is absolutely mind-blowing. I usually really get into '73 Eyes, but for one reason or another, this one didn't capture my attention too much. Pretty decent Wharf Rat to close it out though.
Now...I'm a huge '74 fan. To me, it has always captured the perfect mix of '73 jazzy Dead combined with the beginnings of their turn toward traditional rock and roll post-retirement. Amazing, ground-shaking show. The Playin' goes serious places.
10-27-79: Dancing > Franklin's is where it's at. The Other One thunders as well, but that second disc is pure gold.
Box 4125 Have been checked
Box 4125 Have been checked and it is in very nice condition. The record is in there pretty good. "It is a trap." I listened to the stream of the record the other day. It was very good. So I will just let that sit there. Overall I am Very Happy with box 4125.
Has anyone received a MIRACLE
Do we know how many MIRACLE scrolls there are? Has anyone officially seen one?
deadbase 50 3/18/71
Check out page 42. you will see the setlist for 3/18/71.
Box 2252 is in very nice
Box 2252 is in very nice shape. Very Happy with it. Missing the ticket which for me is a non issue. I will contact customer service about it but it does not really matter what happens. The only sad thing for me is that after not getting tickets to Chicago FTW Shows which is where I grew up. Went to many Alpine and Rosemont shows in the 1980's. By the way when is the "Complete Alpine Valley Recordings Box" gonna get put together. Then going to Levi's Stadium instead. Which was great being in and seeing them in Cali. Then waiting months for the box and all that went with that deal. All the Anticipation and Buzz are over. I will never get to live through that again. What a 50th anniversary year. I will cherish all my Grateful Memories and the Music will last Forever. Thank goodness. What a band beyond description. " Folks the record situation is tricky. If you do pull the record I advise having a new sleeve right there and put it in it fast. Dust collected on my record fast. Then not slide it back in the spot. However folks handle the record just be careful. It is a tricky design. I have 2 boxes. I left the record in one. The other the record is out and in a sleeve. which is where it is now. I am afraid to put it back in the spot and afraid to take the other one out. So they will both stay where they are. So just be careful. "
What is a miracle scroll?
First time I've heard that mentioned..
Miracle...
If your scroll has "miracle" written at the top you get some kind of gold record. One person on here got one.
from dead.net: Unroll that scroll! Does yours say MIRACLE? Well, we can't gift you with tickets to 78's best show but we ARE going to grant each miracle scroll holder with a personalized Grateful Dead 30 Trips RIAA-certified Gold Record plaque as well as your numbered scroll. To claim your miracle, we'll need you to follow a few simple steps – outlined here – by November 16th, 2015.
No communication
No e-mail,no shipping notice,nothin'.C'mon,can't you guys do better?
Sitting In Limbo seems the appropriate tune for the situation....
miracle and show pages
username hatch655 has the only miracle so far that we know about.
http://www.dead.net/show/july-3-1966-0
http://www.dead.net/show/november-10-1967
http://www.dead.net/show/october-20-1968
http://www.dead.net/show/february-22-1969
http://www.dead.net/show/april-15-1970
http://www.dead.net/show/march-18-1971
http://www.dead.net/show/september-24-1972
http://www.dead.net/show/november-14-1973
http://www.dead.net/show/september-18-1974
http://www.dead.net/show/september-28-1975
http://www.dead.net/show/october-3-1976
http://www.dead.net/show/april-25-1977
http://www.dead.net/show/may-14-1978
http://www.dead.net/show/october-27-1979
http://www.dead.net/show/november-28-1980
http://www.dead.net/show/may-16-1981
http://www.dead.net/show/july-31-1982
http://www.dead.net/show/october-21-1983
http://www.dead.net/show/october-12-1984
http://www.dead.net/show/june-24-1985
http://www.dead.net/show/may-3-1986
http://www.dead.net/show/september-18-1987
http://www.dead.net/show/july-3-1988
http://www.dead.net/show/october-26-1989
http://www.dead.net/show/october-27-1990
http://www.dead.net/show/september-10-1991
http://www.dead.net/show/march-20-1992
http://www.dead.net/show/march-27-1993
http://www.dead.net/show/october-1-1994
http://www.dead.net/show/february-21-1995
@MidwayKid
If you haven't already, check the back of the book. That's where folks have been saying they are tucked away. My box is still 'out for delivery'. I hope it comes before the rain does. It looks like rain here in Western WI.
Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics Book
I just received the new 50th Anniversary Edition. Anyone want any info on it?
DHL Update - By day's end Thursday for Scotland!!!
Boxzilla was picked up on Thursday and the DHL tracking updated to PROCESSED today. The estimated delivery is Thursday.
It is only Monday and I am ready for the weekend!!!
OK
Everything looks good. #4636. I dont like the E72/R.Trips sleeves! Cmon! The S90 trays were great, maybe that would have been too bulky for the box though. And yes, i think the binding on the book is pretty bad. Might not last long. But its all about the music right! Im listening in chronological order. I'll be popping in '66 after I hit the bike path on this beautiful New England day!! BTW, where do u find the ticket stubs? Cant seem to find them yet! Take care folks!!!
Never mind...
..Found them!...5/27/93 Cal Expo and 8/22/93 Autzen...this is our gift for the delay?......
Yippee! He is coming in France!
I just learned, through monitoring of delivery by DHL carrier, 30 Trips should reach me on Thursday "before the end of the day."
I think I'll take a day off to be there when the carrier will bring me the magic box.
I did not listen to the streaming, and I still have much to learn (except for two shows in France, I already know).
Yes! Do you have the previous
Yes! Do you have the previous version and, if so, what's different about this new one (other than the awesome-looking new cover)?
Boxilla is HERE!
#2259 landed safe and sound in Saint Paul! I work from home, and happened to be looking out at the swaying trees (it's VERY windy in MN today) when I saw the beautiful brown truck stop in front of my house. The delivery guy was probably amused by seeing me standing on the front step, beaming like a kid in a candy store.
I got a ticket for 12/08/94, and a pass for 3/23/95. I did not stream, nor did I watch any videos about the box, so this is all one glorious surprise-filled event for me!
Thank you Dave, Rhino, and all the folks involved. The box set is a true American Beauty.
Box #4575
Cal Expo 5/27/93 ticket and pass is for 3/22/95 Charlotte everything looks fine so far, Red felt interior.
Trifold sleeves, like Road Trips with smooth paper slightly thicker than E72 box sleeves.
Time to see if they rip and if they are all there.
Like we say in Boston, it looks Wicked Pissa.
Sonically delivering!!!
Got my box on Friday and am through the first three years. Boy do these sound good! Better than others releases from these years! My hifi system is really treating them right! Can't wait to keep digging through the years. Kudos to David and Jeffery and everyone else involved! Love it so far.
Playin sandwiches
Well there are the three 1973-74 Playing>UJB>Dew>UJB>Playin sandwiches not on that list
product sku
081227955892