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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
that moment...
2/22/69 Dark Star: @ 10:05 ...that moment your toes curl and you realize getting this box, despite the marital risk it poses has a higher payoff than you imagined. The Fillmore West Box from a week later has many such moments - this show really fits right in with that box, not surprisingly. They were just on - no wonder they decided to bust out the 16 track a week later and record a live album
I intercepted the UPS guy the garage before he got to the kitchen door - phew! - tragedy narrowly averted. No one knows anything... mwahaha...
.
What's the first show you all listened to from the box?!
Mine: 10/3/1976 Detroit, Michigan
Scarlet sounds awesome -- can't wait for Wheel > Good Lovin > COMES A TIME > Dancin > NFA > Dancin > Around
Eventually will listen consecutively from 66 to 95, but going to jerry pick to start out
GODDAMNITTTTT!
!
...and,no...patience has never been a virtue.
The scene from A Christmas Story where the dad is in the basement cursing the hot water heater I think....
that's where I'm at...
Nope
No e-mail,no UPS tracking,nothing.Like I mentioned before,I got a bogus delivery confirmation from DHL International. I NEVER get shit from DHL. Not to mention I went to pick it up and there was nothin' there.
Given the 0% communication & quality control complaints,count me in on the nervous side of the fence.
Shipping
Sorry man. U.S. is being delivered by UPS. International is DHL. I'd guess you'd get yours no later than Wed of this week. My order status is still back ordered on dead.net, but it has shipped through DHL. My shipping notice and a friend of mine who lives in the same area says exactly the same thing, yet his is estimated Fri and mine is estimated Mon the 18th.
jrf68
Just so you know, I have not received any shipping info from anyone either. Just happened to read about UK heads getting emails from DHL about extra charges. So I went to the DHL website and ended up finding my shipment and a DHL waybill number. Otherwise I'd still not know anything.
note to self
don't have 3 drinks on an empty stomach
regardless of how goo da time you're having or how good you feel at the time.
Pause, have something to eat fool.
tragedy narrowly averted
though I cut my finger while cutting the chicken
helping the wife make dinner (honey, go snd relaz, I'll make dinner she says)
OK dear, I'll be on the couch, listening to mucis...
#1465 arrived in Springfield, MA
Only desire is that the cd boxes where a little more robust without the need for the sliding. Oh well first world problems so no complaints!
Backstage pass: 06-18-93 Soldier Field which is extraordinarily plain in design for a dead backstage pass, not the prettiest thing to look at but her daddy loves her!
Ticket: 10-30-91 Oakland Coliseum
Bring on the Dave's Subscriptions for 2016!
'67 Show Update
According to Chastason listing a quote from Jeff Tiedrich there is some confusion regarding 'TIFTOO' and 'Caution' but it would seem likely they are from 11/10. 30 Trips time for 'TIFTOO' is 12:12 - Archive has it at 11:22, add some background/crowd noise and it works. The same could be said for 'Caution' - 30 Trips has it at 24:28, Archive lists it as 22:18 add extended musical notes/background noise and it too works. The one mystery is 'New Potato Caboose'. It's not listed on Archive for 11/10 but it is listed for 11/11 at 11:03. 30 Trips lists it as 11:29 so I think it's possible this was taken from the 11/11 show. Also Archive lists 'Feedback' as being played on the 11/10 show but it's not included on the release. However 'Caution' minus 'Feedback was played on 11/11 so who knows?
In any case the 11/10/67 show is killer! Listen to this compared to the '66 show and the band's musical growth is nothing less than astounding.
Missing Disc
Can someone tell me how to get a hold of Dr. Rhino or Marye. I'm missing disc 2 from the '75 show
And I don't worry, 'cause I'm sitting ...
1891 has landed in Massachusetts. The scene: the doorbell rings in the middle of dinner. I drop my vegan fajita and spill my Anchor Steam while jumping up from the table (no real worries--it was almost empty!). Neither my wife nor my UPS guy are complaining about the GD package, because she bought herself a huge box with a really heavy Dutch bike in it that got delivered at the same time. Perfect.
Now the children are in bed, and the box is out: outside cardboard packaging has clearly been tampered with from bottom side. Thankfully all seems to be in order inside: no damage, all CDs & schwag are in place, etc. Red. not blue, interior. Ticket for 27 May 1993 and pass for 24 February 1995. Now if I can only get Peabody and Sherman to lend me that time machine ...
Spinning disc 1 of '66, and it goes pretty darn well with the wine I'm having. Awesome sound (to my shredded eardrums via my mid-range set & Beyerdynamic DT 990s), and of course a great performance.
I really hope those of you having trouble with this box get it all sorted out soon. I'll see you at Dead & Co.!
Box 1821
Got my box today in DSM, IA! Listing while I check all the disks for issues. I had issues with the first 90's box with wrong discs so I am checking all the discs closely this time. Sounds amazing so far! My box is blue inside and I got:
3/23/95 Charlotte pass
12/8/94 Oakland ticket
All in all great box set so far and even better listening.
Dr. Rhino...
Like DaveStrang said...I Would love to know the best way for contacting Dr. Rhino. Have some major problems with the box. Amy H. at dead.net was great but would like to contact Dr. Rhino myself. Anybody got Dr. Rhino's e-mail address?
Miracle Scroll
Since I did not get a Miracle Scroll. Which I would have been very happy to get. There are only two ways of getting one now. Keep buying sealed boxes on ebay hoping to get one. A lot of gamble in that play. Or hope someone puts a Miracle Scroll up for auction on ebay in time for the whatever the deadline is to send it in. I would like to see that happen. Can not even imagine how that would turn out. Would be interesting.
Dr. Rhino
drrhino@rhino.com, or you could also try sending a PM to marye, she's always very helpful-http://www.dead.net/member/marye
PMs sent to ckcoffman, TheDude77, DaveStrang
TheDude77, DaveStrang, Check your PMs.
ckcoffman - check your pm on unrelated note...
Alaska??!!
Wyoming, I can only laugh with you. How does Alaska receive a box before Seattle? Hell, the damn plane probably stopped here to refuel! Guess I'll pop in DP 30 and listen to it that pedal steel, sigh.
Mine has blue felt.
I agree, that '67 show is a rocker. It's like Phil is channeling Jack Bruce. Part of Alligator from this show sounds like an edit used in the version from Anthem of the Sun.
90s shows - only 4 left now
90,92,93,95 only left - $37US each (inc shipping) or $140 the lot...
Email me at gilmourstephen@hotmail.com
I'm really loving this '84 show
The liner notes are interesting though:
"Much like 1983, 1984 is often considered one of the lesser years in Grateful Dead History. There were a lot of lesser nights, but there were also some really good ones."
-David Lemieux
I agree, this 1984 show is a really good one.
But couple that statement with the fact that many of the 80's recordings are of lesser quality sound-wise, and we begin to understand why Dave's Picks have been so 70's-centric.
Just something to keep in mind.
Anthem of the Sun
http://thegratefuldead.wikia.com/wiki/Anthem_Of_The_Sun
Although the chaos of the final product makes it difficult to tell where many of the live excerpts used in the creation of Anthem Of The Sun actually ended up, significant fragments of "Alligator" (e.g. the post-vocals "jam section") known to hail from a show at San Francisco's Carousel Ballroom on 2/14/68. Also the "Alligator" vocal reprise is taken from 11/10/67 at the Shine Exposition Center. Similarly, the skeletal framework of "Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)" dates from the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium show on 11/10/67 and at the Carousel Ballroom on March 31st 1968. Extended excerpts from two shows at Kings Beach Bowl in Lake Tahoe, CA on 2/23-24/68 that provided music for the album (most notably the car horn heard at the end of "Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)") were later released on the live archival recording Dick's Picks Volume 22. A further show from this period further reveals portions used for the album such as the verse(s) section of "The Other One" portion of "That's It For The Other One" as well as the first half of the "New Potato Caboose" jam (after the vocals) were used on Anthem Of The Sun, hailing from 3/17/68, was released as the Grateful Dead Download Series Volume 6.
My first listen
St. Louie, '71 at the Fabulous Fox Theater. Streamed this one weeks ago and couldn't wait to hear it on the big stereo. It sounds mighty fine.
Yeah, Mamma killed a chicken, thought it was a duck,
Put him on the table with his feet stickin' up
--I'm guessing this about when Dantian cut himself--
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day to keep on rubbin that thing
Half way through the '75 show which sounds great as well. I originally planned to listen in chronological order but I'm going by feel now. Up next? Whatever strikes my fancy!
packaging
The wife was pretty impressed even though this purchase was a hard sell with her originally. Hopefully that will bode well for future boxes.
My box seems pretty sturdy despite the reports of some others. One of the full moons on the top is already rubbed off but that's small potatoes (as Hyman Roth would say).
I'm disappointed with the slip sleeves. We paid $700+...Dave's Picks style digipacks should have been a no brainer. Still, these sleeves seem better than the sandpaper sleeves from the Road Trips series.
The book is nice but seems awfully flimsy, like it will come loose from the binding at any time. For that reason I'll look at it sparingly.
The two shows I've listened to sound REALLY great, and that's what really matters.
#352 update
Well, after going through the rest I now have 2 disks that are very cracked. I have only burned the first show so far so I am definitely going to attempt to burn all of them before I contact customer service in case there happen to be some more bad disks in the lot. Getting replacement disks should be pretty standard I would think. I have not had to get something replaced in the past. Probably much easier to get handled than the folks who have broken box lids and whatnot. Anyone else ever had to get a disk replaced by Rhino?
First 15 done
Finished sucking in first 15 shows, no problems (nothing obvious anyway). Will need to run thru idtagit and verify all labeling up to snuff. Will do a little editing on the segways between disc so it doesn't repeat a little from last disc when next disc starts.
Where's my USB Lightning Bolt?
I'm enjoying living vicariously through others who have already received their CD Boxes. Sorry to hear all the logistical and shipping damage stories though.
I knew there was gonna be a slight delay with the USB version but I'm pretty sure we've moved beyond "slight delay" already and have moved on to "serious delay". I can't be bothered with listening to garbage MP3s being streamed over the InterWebs-- I need the actual, FULL-FLAVOR Audio I paid so dearly for!
Where's my $700 USB Lightning Bolt?!?!?
@skeebe Bad disks
Had one for one of the Dick's Picks series and had one in the May77 boxset. Both times replacements were shipped promptly and without incident. Customer service rep should be able to handle without issue...
Zuckfun / Dr Rhino email
Thanks for the email address - I'm finishing checking the rest of the set before contacting the good Dr.
Boxilla has crossed the
Boxilla has crossed the border and is on a DHL truck en route to my house in the Greater Toronto Area. $117 in duties / taxes. Should arrive today. Hmmmmmmmmm... sick day tomorrow to take in the box-y goodness and watch the Jays put down the Rangers??
2 Cents
The box is a huge disappointment. My 4 year old loves it though. It is not in the same league as the 90's boxes, not even close. Everything is cheap except the tunes on those discs that are shoved in cardboard. No over the top touches what so ever. If your on the fence whether or not to buy this on the second hand market, dont. I try to stay positive with my comments, but this was a huge ball drop on Rhino/Deads part. I am glad my 4 year old gets to hide shit in the secret compartment.
PS Doesnt a scroll have something besides paper and a shoelace? Isn't a scroll supposed to be semi-grand?
700 bucks............really. Shame on this production.
Box quality
The book is really nice; not Europe '72 or 1st Spring '90 nice, but it's better than the little paperback we got from Spring '90 TOO.
My wooden box arrived intact, seems sturdy, theres no missing panels or peeling artwork. I realize that there are many people who weren't so lucky, and I am sorry for you guys. It seems like it's the nicest box yet if you received an "error-free" set.
I like how everything is easy-access (like the Europe trunk and May '77). If you want a show, just open the lid and grab it. If you want to flip through the book, just drop the panel. For the Hamptons, Winterland, and Spring '90 sets, you have to unpack everything if you want a show.
That said, I agree that the cardboard cases are a bit flimsy, and would have liked the Spring '90 treatment for those.
Given everything, it makes me realize how big a steal 22 multi-tracked Europe '72 show with a hardcover book and a steamer trunk was. $450 for that set. Meanwhile, we've paid $150 for 5 May 77 shows, $200 and $240 for 6 and 8 Spring '90 shows (at least they were multi-tracked), and $700 for 30 shows. Wow.
Doing the math, the price per disc:
Europe '72: $6.16
Fillmore West 1969: $7.28 (since everyone got the bonus disc!)
30 Trips Around The Sun: $8.75
Spring 1990 (TOO): $10.43
May '77: $10.71
Winterland '73: $11.11
Winterland '77: $11.11
Spring '90: $11.11
Formerly the Warlocks: $11.66
Got mine on Friday
Got it on Friday, went well with seeing Warren Haynes in concert that night.
Thankfully everything seems to be in great shape. I've listened to the first 10 years.
My inserts were the pass for Philly 3/17/95 and the ticket for Oakland 12/8/94.
My box number from my scroll was 3816.
I thought they did a great job with the packaging and keeping it secure.
I will keep the CD's and likely put everything else out on ebay in a couple of weeks. If anyone is interested in just the box, vinyl, scroll, book and ticket/pass send me a message. Maybe we can work something out.
30 TRIPS - the 1980s decade
So far quite disappointed with the 1980s shows included here....the 1982 show setlist looked great on paper, but it is just not recorded well. There is a tape hiss throughout, and it sounds boxy. The 10/21/83 show again looked great as far as setlist on paper, but the sound is almost unlistenable....there is a nauseating "kick-drum" sound throughout the whole show. Dave's recording choices here are suspect at best, there are better recorded shows out there from 1982 & 1983, hell RT 4/6/82 & Dicks Picks #6 10/15/83 sound much better than these two shows....the 1981 show here doesn't have half the 2nd set included as a soundboard show...its an echoey distant audience recording.
Dave doesn't like the 1980s, this has been obvious with his 15 of 16 choices for DAVE PICKS from 1970 to 1978.....but did he put some of the worse recorded shows form the early 1980s in the box on purpose!?!?
Clowns
Wow. Someone complains for 4 years about the lack of 1980s releases. He is warned repeatedly; "the tapes don't sound that great...we're missing pieces...the cassettes aren't as good as reels". He screams conspiracy and bias. He maintains the Archivist hates the 1980s, which makes sense, as Dave must have seen his first show in the 80s, hated it, and never went to another show.
He gets 10 shows from his favorite decade. Surprise! Some of the cassettes sound shitty and some shows require large audience patches.
The normal, human response would be: "Oh, wow. I feel sheepish. I was so abrasive and rude for years! You know what? I should have listened to you people. Dave wasn't lying; there are some serious problems with 80s shows in the Vault. I'm really sorry for cursing, whining, and denigrating DL2 publicly for the last several years."
Instead, this clown claims that Dave purposely searched the Vault for poor shows (for reasons unknown, but certainly vindictive and cruel).
You know what you call such a person? Sad, lonely, and a troll.
Re: RV3
I'm pretty sure Dave has a love for the 80's. I've heard him speak about it convincingly and with passion for years on Today in GD history.
Besides.. I am not hearing the same complaint for Augusta, Miami and others which are '80's shows.
Perhaps it has more to do with the condition of the cassette masters in the vault and problems with getting the re-mix exactly perfect as anything else. They had similar problems with the Dicks Alpine Valley '82 show and the '84 Shakedown on So Many Roads.
Jim
That sounds too reasonable. There MUST be a more diabolical reason.
Sound quality issues have plagued every single release from 1981-1986, with the possible exception of DP 13. Either 80s tapes do have subpar sound and Dave is trying to find the best-sounding ones with decent performances, or he's PURPOSELY selecting shitty-sounding shows and leaving the pristine 80s tapes on the shelf. What do you think makes more sense?
#2088 Has Landed
My Minneapolis delivery was Monday 10/12.
-#2088 (no miracle)
-blue felt
-no missing CDs
The only thing that wasn't just exactly perfect was the horizontal crack along the entire front of the wood case when I pulled it out of the box. Obviously UPS's doing and not Rhino. Otherwise everything looks great. I plan on listening in order, and got through a chunk of 7/3/66 on the way in to work today.
product sku
081227955892