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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
Best moments
NW Scarlet, you ask for fave songs or jams so far? I'm listening in order, only up through the first two discs of 1972 (I don't want to tackle that disc three Dark Star until I can give it my full attention).
Keep in mind I'm tempted to say "the whole show" for most of these. But here are the moments that instantly leaped to mind, without looking back at the setlists:
1967: Viola Lee Blues
1970: Candyman, Hard to Handle, Cumberland, and that unhinged Santana Jam in the Other One
1971: The Rub, the jam out of Wharf Rat
1972: FOTD (My new favorite version, fast or slow)
Shows like 67, 71 and 72 are best for consistent greatness so far, but 70 has the standout peak moments for me.
Let me just add, I was in a rather smokey happy frame of mind the other night when I listened to 1970, and that Hard to Handle was my biggest surprise. Short version, nothing special "on paper" but WOW, stoner rock at it's best. Jerry's doing some trippy little blurps throughout, I can't explain it, it just hit me the way a Zeppelin tune used to - every little filigree and kuchunk was just right, almost like it was "produced" that way. I will re-listen soon to make sure it wasn't just my enhanced frame of mind, but I think not.
Hey claney....
....you have a Royals avatar, but you type submissions to this board at the same time as the big game! Your Royals just wiped the field with the Mets in the 8th....yet you post thoughtful Dead comments! Bravo sir, bravo....
Dead & Co.
Just got back from the Dead & Co. show at MSG. Let me tell you, it was OUTSTANDING! The band was tight, and Mayer just smoked on lead guitar.
Happy Halloween
Despite being a big fan of such things as Ghostbusters and Are You Afraid of the Dark, I'm not much of a Halloween fan. Regardless, Happy Halloween to everyone, hope you had some fun.
As a less than interested Halloween participant, I kept it simple and decided to go as Wild Thing Rick Vaughn from the Major League films, if he was a Deadhead.
I'll have to see if I can get some full photos from tonight, but here were the glasses I put together. I wore a tie-dye Dead shirt under the Rick Vaughn 99 jersey, with the glasses and Indians hat. Simple, but..uh, obscure:
http://oi65.tinypic.com/2psqgzb.jpg
In regards to 30 Trips, I'm up to 1975 and enjoying the ride. Loved the first disc from this one.
@vguy and the Royals
Thanks vguy! Actually, I'm from KC originally, grew up going to games every year in the 80s (George Brett, Frank White, et. al.) and it was good. Then the strike happened, which soured me on baseball, then the Royals began their three decades of sucking, which didn't help. And then I moved to New England in 2004 (incidentally, as a young kid I lived near Cincinnati all through the 70s and went to watch the Big Red Machine, then 80s in KC for B Brett and Co., then to Massachusetts in 2004 just in time for the Red Sox resurgence -- I take full credit for all of it)
Anyway, so here I am in NE, not really following baseball all year, but my family in KC are all dedicated Royals fans, and have remained so throughout the Dark Years in Between. Last night, my wife and I got some rare time together (she's starting a goat milk yogurt creamery and is working all the time), so we watched a movie together (and after, I "followed" the end of the Royals game on my iPad while switching back to this site). After we put our exhausted little Darth Vader to bed of course.
So you see, not really all that impressive :)
Lightning Bolt Chip
Is there a sample they can play of the chip ? Or is the listening party it ? Curious to hear difference between CDs, and I never accessed the stream. I'm guessing the stream file for all orders is weakest sound quality ? CD's in middle and Chip is best quality ?
I'm still on disc 1 of 80, up to Big Boss Man. Pigpen sounds fantastic !
72 Trip and Chip
I'm listeningto the 72 show for the second time. Jesus, this show is wonderful. That Cumberland! Birdsong! Love the sound quality, too, excellent "soundstage", each instrument clearly audible, and even plenty of audience ambience. Playing has just started, wahoo!!!!
About different sound quality between the formats, you probably know how i feel about it, but here goes:
The streams were actually 320kbs mp3's, and with modern encoders, when tested, very very few people can distinguish from the original.
Even fewer (well, actually none) have ever been able to distinguish, in controlled scientific testing, a so-called hi-def audio file from a 16/44.1 (CD) when made from the same source.
So, i expect everyone will be thrilled with the results whichever version they bought :)
USB version is Vaporware?
Grateful for the music and I have been enjoying the streaming. Becoming frustrated with the delay and lack of communication regarding the USB version of 30 trips. Original ship date in September delayed. Of course no delay in charging my card for the full amount. Order status says estimated ship date Oct 31st. One form email saying the order is delayed and we have no other information to give you. At what point can we consider the lightning bolt as vaporware?
30 Days
I wonder why there are so few comments on the 30 Days of Dead page. Did everyone get the meassage (someone posted it on DaP16 thread) that 30 Days is up at dead.net/30daysofdead, but for some reason there is nothing about it on the home page?
The first entry is a "Sunrise", i think the first one they've given us on 30 Days of Dead.
29 Days to Go
It looks like they are getting around to it.. they just sent out a mass email.
29 Days to Go
29 Days to Go for what?? Sorry, not sure what you're referring to.
2016 Dave's Subscription
is up!! Just ordered. No info yet on what the first release will be, but it says to check the almanac soon for info.
More of the 72 show
This show just keeps getting better and better (again)!!
Is it just me, or is this one of the best Dark Star's ever?? I really love it. It took me to really fantastic places. I think I like it better than 8/27/72 (please, don't shoot me!)
The transition in China-Rider is incredible - as good as it gets, especially for a pre-73 one with no Feelin' Groovy jam. It just smokes. Listen to what Jerry is doing behind the vocals all through Rider. And what the f-ck had billy been smoking, seriously?
It's kind of a shame that I think since this box has so many shows in it, it's possible that each show might not get the attention it would otherwise have gotten as a stand-alone release. Almost every one of these shows are just great great shows.
Edit: Not that 8/27/72 was my favorite to begin with. It's really great and all, but I like 9/21/72 and 5/11/72, 2/27/69 and many others at least as much to begin with.
So, after indulging in the Box for 18 days....
....I finally took a closer look at the scroll. Danger Will Robinson! The Dark Star timeline ends in '91. They played it into '94. Small error, but exaggerated due to the fact it's probably a top five song in their repertoire among ALL Deadheads. Face palm....
Re; wjond's comment of the shows in general....
....I agree. This Box is an over indulgence in regards to grate shows. A buffet for the ears. I expect it will take me two years to appreciate them all. At first listen, they all impress, but might dull our senses out of the gate. Time will tell....my eardrums are numb at this point....not a bad thing, just a thing....DaP 16 is right around the corner....whew!!
@ Vguy72 - the scroll: your Dark Star misread
Read a little more:Dark Star: (music: Grateful Dead, lyrics Hunter) 11/67 - 10/18/74, 12/31/78 - 1/20/79, 7/13/84. Band's signature jam. 2:44 single recorded in 1967, expanded to 45 minutes by 1973. Played intermittently, 1978-1984. 10/9/89 - 3/30/94. Revived with MIDI accoutrements 1989 - 1994.
You need glasses.
Re: wjonjd - 29 Days
Sorry.. not very clear. I got an email for 30 days of dead.. and since day 1 is already out there, that leaves 20 more days to go.
I think they will get around to advertising it better. They seem stretched a bit think this year.
Dark Star in the parchment
Born Cross Eyed, I think that Vguy 72 means is that the color of Dark Star Line stops at 1991. I also noticed that 1984 is missing from the color line.
I noticed other omissions for other songs.
The Dark Star line....
....exactly. The wording is correct, the colored line, not so much. I got new glasses a couple months ago btw. No line bifocals....
....you must be cross-eyed, cross-eyed. (~)};
Missing disc arrived
Dr. Rhino took care of my missing disc issue, so my 30 Trips is finally complete and all is good. Thanks Dr. Rhino!
With this release I've been going through all my official releases and have a renewed interest in completing my collection of official live releases. So...anybody able to help out with the two Road Trips downloads that seem to be impossible to track down? I'm willing to send a usb drive and a small donation.
1981
The Stranger from 5/16/81 is so good. I've barely scratched the surface of this set, probably because even with 30 newly released shows, I often still reach for unreleased Dead. Kind of in a summer of 1990 phase lately- 6/23/90- really great show. That '81 Stranger sure hit the spot last night.
One of...the Greatest albums of all time
"Somethin' Else"
Cannonball Adderley
Miles Davis
Hank Jones
Sam Jones
Art Blakey
Get some.
Thoughts...
Hi all, I'm working my way from the beginning, as many are. It is cool to hear the progression of skills and songs as time passes. My thoughts so far:
1966: Phil lead bass, Bobby plays basic rhythm, fun to hear odd unknown songs "keep rolling by", Pig is great on Midnight hour, Bill Graham closes the show saying "Let's hear it for Pig".
1967: Multitrack sounds great. 1st set is good to great, 2nd set-WOW! Caution>Feedback, Aligator, Early lyrics for TOO, New Potatoe Caboose is so loose and psychedelic-Cool jam!
1968: Mix takes a while to zero in. Cool Pig keys on Caution, hilight is DS>11>Caution.
1969: Disc 1 is awesome.
1970: Disc 1 is ok, Disc 2 is the good stuff. Cryptical>Too>Cryptical>Dancin'
1971: Truckin'>D>TOO>WR, Caution>Feedback
1972: Bird song, Great 2nd set opener: GSET>Bertha>Promised, Tomrrow is Forever is a sweet rare duet with Jerry and Donna. Bass is up in the mix, as is Kieth, it's great to hear him clearly with his great fills. DS>Chinacat>Rider!
1973: WHAT A SHOW!! Here comes sunshine is the highlight of set one. BTW Jerry fans his guitar at the end, pretty cool. TOO Sandwitch is awesome, CC>Rider has great Phil bombs, Kieth plays great on closer GDTRFB>Sat.
What a bounty of musical riches!
How long ago you report the missing disc?
I am missing a complete show and the 7" single. I reported it immediately, but still have not received anything in the mail yet. Just curious. How and to who did you report it to? I sent an email to dr rhino and dead.net.
Fair points (but hurtful) in the recent "eras" critique, but....
...6/18/83 second set defies all the points made.I know that finding an exceptional show does not change the overall view, but these exceptional shows deserve attention! If you already have 25 AMAZING GDM-provided '72-74 Playing In The Band performances, is a 26th more worth hearing than a strong Throwing Stones > NFA > Touch Of Grey?
But enough of the inflammatory rhetoric. I musta caught Ben Carson disease...
The real point is:
tuning 1:52 Scarlet 13:06 > Fire 12:35 tuning 1:20 Playing 18:24 > Drums 5:20 > Space 7:52 > Wheel 6:07 > Playing Reprise 4:10 > Dew 11:18 pause 0:50 Stones 8:57 > NFA 6:40 > Touch 6:20. Timings all mine.
Don't know what the vault status is, but a matrix with the Jeff Silberman AUD would cure almost any quality problems.
For my money, the '83 Scarlet Fires are just as majestic as the '70s performances. Any wear and tear in Jerry is balanced by Mickey's lead work with his exotic percussion toys. This Playing stays in the jam '72 style instead of floating into a fourth pre-Drums song, breaking two "phoning it in" rules at once. The Space > Wheel transition is ethereal and celestial, the Dew peaks in roaring waves, the NFA is '64 Stones style, and the Touch has nothing in common with the toy-store-orchestra sound of the album track.
That's Saratoga Springs, NY 6/18/83. Aud available on Live Music Archive.
(Oh, gee! New series to supplement Dave's Picks: 3 times each year, 4 discs with 2 80s shows in each release. Call it Exceptional Eighties!)
Bossyman
I sent an email to Dr.Rhino@rhino.com.
I included my name, order #, address, basically anything that I thought would help make their job easier. It took a couple of days to hear back from him and then a week or so later he sent me an email letting me know he had put my missing disc in the mail. A couple of days later it arrived.
If you haven't heard anything back, I'd send another email.
10/20/68 & Somethin' Else
(in reverse order)
Dantian, I'd forgotten all about Somethin' Else ~ my old roommate picked that one up some years ago, when we were really hitting the jazz of that late 50's/early 60's era. A gem indeed, that you've reminded me ought to be in my collection. Okay, I'll pay it forward to anyone who's never heard....
Brilliant Corners ~ Thelonious Monk
(another one he turned me on to--would be in my top three or four desert island jazz discs)
10/28/68 ~ Did someone really not like this one? A powerful, slightly condensed shot of vintage Grateful Dead in their most psychedelic, and arguably heaviest, year. Schoolgirl's jam finds a space quite beyond the standard Blues planet, and Lovelight's is the Allman Brothers a year before their debut. Phil's harmonies on the Dark Star choruses are quintessential, and he's a bass-playin' fool on Eleven -> Caution. The explosion into Eleven out of William Tell is just that...the drummers set it up and the band knocks it, and us, into the Eleven Dimension.
They're in the thick of creating, exploring and inhabiting their muse, their magic, and their legend right here.
And Pigpen's organ is pretty wicked throughout. Love when he was still hitting it this hard. Sugar Shack shit, my @$$.
Congradulations K.C. Royals!
World Champs of the 111th World Series!:)
...and only the 2nd in franchise history.
Got some...
My jaw dropped....
....after checking out some Dead & Co songs on YouTube. Pretty impressive. John fukin Mayer of all people. Billy & Mickey are on fire. I wasn't sure if I was going to either show here in Vegas at the end of the month....I just bought tickets to the first night....it's a pretty good time to be a Deadhead....
no ranking....
possible anymore , after now half of the trips listened to i can`t tell which is " best ".Thought in first listening sessions i dislike the 86 trip but especially the second set grows on me - that hypnotoc drums , the lyrical space and Jerrys guitar tone is a monster. On the other hand the 75 is really epic.....i am dwelling in my sonic area like a king these days.
Only thing i fear is....when i have gone through all shows
Dead & Company---Albany, NY show..,wonderful!!!
I had the "pleasure" of seeing the Albany, New York, show. It was...great! I would strongly suggest, if possible, to catch one of their shows on this tour. I bet the Madison Square Garden shows were also a treat to see.
Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie
p.s. don't forget to order Dave's Picks 2016 subscription if you are one who does so. I never got any info on it via the normal email messages. I have always received some notification that it was ready for subscription sale. I noticed one of your comments and then did a google search to find it. I know that I would have been a "bit" upset if it had sold out without me knowing it.
DaP 2016 Subscriptions
Thx for the heads-up that the Dave's Pick's subscriptions are now available for 2016. I didn't get the notification email that I had been expecting (and many of us had been talking about...wondering where it was). But sure enough after a google search the link shows up. Sneaky Dave.
So What @Dantian
may I answer So What?You take nearly the same guys plus Coltrane, you get something Else wich is the second greatest album of all time "Kind of Blue"
1975 Lindley Meadows
Absolutely incredible (in case you haven't heard). There's something harmonic going on with the guitars right before the "Sometimes the light" chorus in Truckin'. Also an amazing solo by Sr Jerry in Franklin's Tower. And for my money, it doesn't get any better than them doing When a Man Loves a Woman, scratch that, I mean Milking the Turkey. It's all fantastic, I love it love it love it. And where else do you have babies born at concerts than a Dead show (I'm still not sure if they were serious about that - but they sure sound serious).
But also check out The Other One => Wharf Rat from St. Louis '71. Pigpen's organ work on Wharf Rat is sublime.
Dead & Company
Anyone on the fence or in any doubt...get tickets now...Meyer nailed it and brought tremendous energy...MSG NYC shows were incredible...
Any updates for those that have not received their box yet?
My box is still showing as back ordered and I don't have anything listed in my UPS My Choice. I called customer service and they did not help at all. Has anyone else who is still waiting received any info?
BOX in ATL!!!
The good Doctor came through.....UPS just delivered my box. My neighbor texted me that UPS dropped something off. I rushed home from work to find my long-awaited 30 Trips Box.I never received a tracking number.
Anyone who is still waiting, you have to email Dr. Rhino to 'release' your Box.
drrhino@rhino.com
Heading back to work, will evaluate my Box tonight.
I have 13 of the 30 shows on CD-R, so I'm psyched for the HDCD upgrade on those. Been wanting a sound quality improvement on 10-27-79 for years.
Box In ATL
icecrmcnkd - Congrats on your box! Am I reading your post correctly that I have to email Dr Rhino to get my box? Why are they holding the box?
Pours a drink for all
I listen to soundboard show of Dijon 74 while expecting my USB Stick. It is such a beautiful show. First Karakoe Dead: you can sing on Loose Lucy and Big rivers.
Jerry never included Loose Lucy in the set list until Spring 90 and the nineties; very difficult song for vocals? The big river then floods and reminds me of Europe 72 Soundcheck in Luxembourg.Great Keith and Phil, Then Peggy O flies like a dove and Bob pours a drink for all, the best he could have done in Dijon, Best place for wine in the world. Magical moments. I am quite sure Dave turned crazy about this Playing ITB. and so many Mars Hotel songs, only Unbroken chain is really missing.Cheers...
@yonderdawg
Email Dr. Rhino with your order confirmation number, address etc. I copied and pasted from my dead.net receipt.Explain that you did not receive your Box.
I'm not so sure that they are 'holding' some people's Boxes as much as maybe they royally screwed up on generating shipping labels or something like that.
Just send the USB
I'm amazed at the lack of info regarding the delay to the USB set ..... I can't believe it's a file problem, as it basically just a fancy USB stick, so it must be a problem with the package (Lightning bolt etc.), but why can't TPTB just come out and admit they've F*^%ed up !They are not going to lose me as a customer (I'm a Deadhead for christsake, and I just signed up for DaP2016), but I'm at the point now where I just want the music.
This was SUPPOSED to be THE release of GD50, but it's a disaster, and I can't believe everybody just thinks 'they took my $700, and I got nothing for it ..... oh well, nevermind'
#5391 Safe and Sound in Atlanta
Red-lined box came at the perfect time in Atlanta: a piece of bad news, a piece of good news, and this box all hit within 20 minutes! Very strange... Box delivered 5 months to the day of ordering. I did cheat and made a inquiry of Dr. Rhino on Thursday because I was getting nervous. Thanks everyone who made this happen. This music needs to be heard. Could not be happier with this set.Ticket: 10/28/91- Oakland Coliseum
Pass: 6/16/93- Freedom Hall Kentucky
Just Send the USB
I agree, this situation is absolutely pathetic - that we don't have the USB yet is one thing. But to not have a straight explanation is inexcusable. TELL US WTF IS GOING ON WITH THIS PLEASE!!!!! You have had our $700 for 45 days. Don't send me tickets and backstage passes because this won't make it better. And the people who bought the USB did so to enjoy the hi res files, not lo res streaming.
It's now November, I got Dave's Picks 16 last Friday, why can't we just have a straight answer?
#5394 in ATL
Same ticket and pass as @RichardTorres.
Is ATL late delivery a coincidence?
All CDs appear to be present.
First in the CD player:
10-27-79 disc 2
Still has a slight hiss (where's the master reel?), haven't compared it to my CD-R copy but certainly is light years ahead of the cassette I had in the '90s. Glad to have this, and everything else that has been released over all the years, in HDCD stamped onto a thin film of metal.
Anyone remember in the early years of CDs that Pink Floyd released DSOTM on gold CD? They claimed it sounded better because the metal was denser. Some people claimed that you could hear the difference with headphones on.
Why isn't this 30 Trips Box pressed on gold?
Almost everyone has 5-8-77. I bet the Dead can convince us to buy it on CD if they press it in gold. Hint.....hint.....and throw in 5-9-77 as a bonus.
LET THE RELEASES CONTINUE!!!
10-27-79 Franklin's is awesome.........
Glad to have my box! Thanks to all who sympathized when I didn't have one.
Next, 10-26-89 disc 2, then shows that I have never heard before.....
antonjo, sheik yerbones
antonjo, my Monk collection is rather limited, but I'll have to check that one out, thanks! Also, I've had the 10/20/68 show in my collection for years, and I agree it is a fine one.
sheik yerbones, yes! Who doesn't love Kind Of Blue? But also don't forget Bill Evans was Kind Of Blue too. Speaking of...another cool line up can be found on Bill Evan's "Interplay"
Bill Evans
Percy Heath
Philly Joe Jones
Jim Hall
Freddie Hubbard
Ice Cream Kid on Cape Cod
I remember when I was scrolling through the list of shows when they fist announced this release that when I saw the 10/27/79 show on the list, the scale tilted, and I knew I was going to get this box. I can still picture the TDK SA-90 cassette which housed this show.
I cannot get enough of the fall 1979 second sets. I love the plink of Brent's organ. And the fury of the jam into drums. Manic yet constrained....
product sku
081227955892