Road Trips Vol 3, No.1
Oakland 12/28/79
More Road Trips
Road Trips 1.1
Road Trips 1.2
Road Trips 1.3
Road Trips 1.4
Road Trips 2.1
Road Trips 2.2
Road Trips 2.3
Road Trips 2.4
Oakland, 12/28/79
The latest installment in our Road Trips series, now entering its third big year (and ninth release overall) is bound to become a favorite. Road Trips Vol. 3, No. 1 is the complete show from December 28, 1979, part of the sparkling run that has already given us the excellent Dick’s Picks: Vol. 5 (from 12/26/79). You’ll recall that these year-end concerts, held at the Oakland Auditorium because Winterland had closed down for good the previous New Year’s Eve, were the first holiday shows featuring new keyboardist Brent Mydland, who joined the band in April 1979.
The new lineup had been gaining momentum with each passing tour since that spring, and by December was truly hitting its stride. It helped, too, that the band was in the midst of recording their Go To Heaven album, so they were really playing together a lot during this period. This 12/28/79 concert is a blast: a super high-energy rock and roll show that also has its share of spacey jams and exploratory passages. The first set includes standout versions of “Sugaree,” “High Time” (rare enough that it always felt like a treat!) and “The Music Never Stopped,” while the second set opens with the always potent pair of “Alabama Getaway” > “Greatest Story Ever Told,” turns deep and introspective with “Playing in the Band” and “Terrapin,” and then later turns into a non-stop party with “Uncle John’s Band,” “I Need A Miracle,” “Bertha” and Good Lovin’.” If you’re not wiped out after that, the double-encore will waste you—“Casey Jones” and “Saturday Night”!
The sound on both discs is spectacular (it’s hard to beat great reels as source tapes), and as always the CDs have been mastered to the exacting HDCD spec, because you would accept nothing less. The colorful accompanying booklet contains a number of excellent Jay Blakesberg photos from those Oakland Aud. shows, as well as a typically inspiring essay by the always poetic Dead scribe Steve Silberman.
So it’s a win-win. A slam-dunk. A no-brainer. For more info on all the goodness packed onto these discs, click here. And when you finally come to your senses and decide that you can longer live another day without Road Trips Vol. 3, No. 1, you can order it here.
—Blair Jackson
Track List
CD 1: Oakland Auditorium Arena, December 28, 19791. SUGAREE
2. MAMA TRIED>
3. MEXICALI BLUES
4. ROW JIMMY
5. IT’S ALL OVER NOW
6. HIGH TIME
7. THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED
SET 2:
8. ALABAMA GETAWAY>
9. GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
CD 2: Oakland Auditorium Arena, December 28, 1979
1. TERRAPIN STATION>
2. PLAYING IN THE BAND>
3. RHYTHM DEVILS>
4. SPACE>
5. UNCLE JOHN’S BAND>
6. I NEED A MIRACLE>
7. BERTHA>
8. GOOD LOVIN’
9. CASEY JONES
10. ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT
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Dead Downunder
We're starting to receive these in Australia now. I got mine in Melbourne yesterday and a friend in Sydney; the day before. I'm really digging Nicky' Hopkins' playing on the JGB release.
You know, I'd really go for an annual subscription approach to Road Trips releases. Pay up front and then just get a personal email every few months stating what the next release is and when it will be shipped. Seems like it would be easier administratively and might cut down on the panic and angst associated with ordering each new release in time to get the bonus disc. IMO, the bonus disc should be made available all the time just for ordering thru Dead.net (as opposed to a retail purchase) and not just as a limited period incentive.
Just my $0.02 AUD!
No disc, but otherwise...
Package arrived in Australia yesterday. The JGB is so amazing I almost wept at the sound quality and the song selection. Glad I got to it first as the Road Trips only had one disc inside. You may have heard me swearing over in the States. My wife and dog hid .....
I've emailed the store, but yet to hear back. First it takes a neurosurgeon to get them out of the cardboard without scratching the disc to bits, now it comes without a disc at all. Things go wrong, but it seems a lot more frequent of late......
Also, agree with that they could offer a subscription to Road Trips. That's be a useful way of offering customer service.
Hope springs
Good luck getting a response to that email, Simon. Customer Service seemed to call a halt to answering emails about six months ago. If you are persistent with the call centre you can get service eventually.
Happy Trails
What's next? 80s?
I think they will finally yield to all the fan requests and jump into the 80s (but who knows?). To be fair, this 79 show is really like a hot early 80s show. On another note, I'm listening to the great 10/1/94 Boston Garden show on Sirius Grateful Dead right now. What a terrific late era show. Really good. Would make a fine release. I was at 10/2/94 -- it wasn't so hot (Samba in the Rain, Broken Arrow, anyone?). I guess I shoulda got tix for the previous night. Well, you know what they say about hindsight...
No Jerry Cd, Bonus disc skips!
The package arrived on 11/20 unsealed! No Jerry cd inside. Wharf Rat on the Road Trips bonus cd skips, man it's frustrating, because like a lot of folks here, I order everything that's released. Anyway I called customer service, they seem nice and helpful, so I hope these things are shipped as promised. Please actually seal the envelope this time. I want that Jerry/Nicky cd so bad!!!
Peace,
Michael
Welcome to the Heartbreak Club
Welcome to the club Meeko. I received the Jerry CD but no RT on the 16th. I have called and spoke with customer service 6 times since than and still no RT. The last person I spoke with on Friday said they would get the cd in the mail asap and he would send me an email personally letting me know when it shipped. As of today, nothing. I have ordered from dead.net at least 70-80 times and I have never had one issue until now. I am going to call CS one more time and track down the guy that promised me the email to see what the hell is going on. I guess my next step is to call and chew someone out at Rhino. My favorite part of the process is the customer service message that states you can look up old and current orders on the web. Maybe they didn't get the memo that has also died, along with the good customer service we used to get.
I have never once complained about releases, etc. I have never had any problems with formats, shows picked, whatever. But I will not tolerate spending my hard earned money and being treated like this. I cannot believe that all of these complaints are falling on deaf ears at Rhino. Come on boys, businesses live and die by customer service, get your s**t together.
Importance of Customer Service
I share your sentiments, wharfrat1. I have no gripe with the selections, and never have had. As someone who never saw the Grateful Dead live (Australian), these releases are heaven sent. Keep them coming!
However, poor customer service can kill a business and a non-functioning web site is particularly toxic. Making promises and not keeping them (and no explanation) seems to be a common theme here (not you, Mary). Somehow Rhino have managed to take a functioning operation and turn it into a suicide pill. Outsourcing is not necessarily the best way to do things.
On a happier note both the Jerry and the RT arrived today, can't wait to get 'em on the CD player.
Happy Trails
I second gratefulhans
I think Gratefulhans makes many fine points. This Road Trips format is limiting to two discs because of the packaging and I think the bonus discs should be included straight up in the set. For this set, in particular, I was most intrigued by the bonus disc. I would rather be charged a couple extra dollars for three discs in proper packaging than continue with the current format-- the packaging damages discs.
That said, two recent RTs were quite good and complete shows, so that is all well and good. I just received this one last week and must say there are many fine moments throughout-- especially the Phil Bombs during Playing In the Band. They really melt a good version on this set. This Brent-era show is appreciated, but I would still rather see them release more shows from the 1985-1990, after he got his feet a bit wetter.
And really-- get this customer service thing taken care of. While I had no problems, this seems to be a real issue, especially with the international Heads. I recall receiving a DP disc with skips about 8 years ago. I called and they had a replacement disc in the mail to me by the end of the week. I do not look forward to the day I have a problem with an order.
Road Trips 1979
(Finally) got it after the credit card being charged on 11/16. All seems in order. I like the flow of music coming out but will shutter in fear with additional ordering...I rally want to order from the website but i'm not sure if the added stress is really worth it.
Interesting comparing this show to Dick's Picks #5. This period sounds alot like 1977 with abit more flesh in the keyboards and no Donna screams on PITB (whew!!!).
First time I've had a problem
I've ordered just about everything (music-wise) that's been offered here, but I've never had a problem . . . until now. I ordered RT 3.1 and Pure Jerry on Oct. 26th, credit card charged on Nov. 14. Today I received a package from Rhino that contained a packing slip for the discs, and nothing else. The package was empty. No discs. Interestingly, the package had been opened and taped shut, and there was an envelope taped on the outside of the package from a Customs Broker in Pennsylvania (this is all very strange because it's the first time I've seen anything from a Customs Broker after ordering tons of stuff to Canada). Ironically, this envelope contained a message asking me to rate their customer service. Well, not so good, I would say.
I've made repeated phone calls to the GD customer support line today. The line picks up, plays the all-customer-service-representatives-are-busy message, and then hangs up on me. Super-frustrating. Li'l help?
Complete show!
Well done. Thank you and please keep the complete shows coming.
pantagruel
send me the order details (shipping info, order number, your email, etc.) and I'll get a crew on it. That sucks!
Whining Boy Blues
We're up to 22 pages of whining and worrying when the CD is coming and why it's not always just exactly perfect...
Why don't you all take a walk downtown and help out some folks who are not whining, but just worrying about where their kids next meal is coming from.
Candyman, was that
Candyman, was that hypocritical. These two things have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Taking care of your own rights doesnt prevent you taking care of other people.
look away, there is nothing to see here
Please ignore Candyman’s comments. An agitator is looking for attention. If they do not receive the attention they are expecting, they will go somewhere else in an attempt to stir things up.Anyhoo, I did finally receive mine and the sound is incredible. I guess I was one of the fortunate ones. Very good release!
I really hope everyone gets their issues resolved and they receive the bonus disk.
No customer service
First of all disc didn't arrive after various calls and emails for weeks to customer service that went unanswered. Finally cancelled it on my credit card. Lousy service like this means I'll just burn these off my friends in the future. Last road trips orderred included one CD that wouldn't even play in any cd player- Was not provided with a replacement after complaining to customer serivice. This company is running its self into the ground and I have no sympathy. Too bad, some good music here.
looking forward
It's too bad a majority of the comments are a reflection of poor customer service. I view it as passionate people who are frustrated with a system that seems to fly in the face of what the Grateful Dead's music means to so many of us.
Anyway, folks like Marye certainly have helped out and she deserves a great big thank you from us.
Going forward, it is fabulous that so many releases have come forward from a band that stopped performing live about 15 years ago. What other band offers their fans this kind of availability of their achieves? Since it seems the Road Trips format is the successor to Dick's Picks and will be a 2 CD release, I would like to see some things (compilations /complete sets/complete shows...whatever) from 1966/67, 1970, selections from the 1980's and highlights of the 1990's (especially with "newer" songs).
With each release, I will evaluate whether it might be worth the frustrating ordering experience to get it.
Happy Holidays to all!!
Customer service sent me an email
After my email of 23 October, the customer service told me on 27 November saying that my order was shipped on 11 November 2009.Not yet arrived.
Hope!!
Francesco from Italy
Finally arrived yesterday
Well, my RT finally arrived yesterday, bonus disc included. So my long winding journey with this has come to an end. For those still waiting, keep banging on customer service. They stink at what they do, but as you can see with me, you will eventually be rewarded.
I learned a lesson with the free shipping. For the 77 box set, I went ahead and forked out the $10 for the overnight shipping. It was delivered a day before the official release date. Went with the free shipping on this one, got it a month after the release date. I guess I'll just stick with the expedited shipping since it isn't too expensive(here in the US). Good luck to the rest of you still waiting. Hopefully it will get resolved soon.
About the complaints...
It would be great to have a separate section for the complaints and a separate section to discuss the music. I understand the need to communicate the customer service issues, but the forum gets overloaded by the subset of customers who have these problems and it discourages discussion of the music for the rest of us.
@ the so called francesco from italy
...my parcel arrived in a 3 day whiff...with all its magical and stuff!
so sorry 4 you!
Dead Ahead
there actually IS a designated topic, Got Issues With Your Store Order?
However, as you note, complaints crop up wherever it's handy.
RT & Jerry
Got mine on Monday w/ the Bonus & no flaws. Listened to all the discs & am pleasantly surprised with the sound quality & the music. The GSET which I have heard a billion times sounded great. I agree w/ wharfrat1 in that I will not use standard / free shipping again as it creates too much stress in the long wait, especially to Hawaii. If customer service would tighten up there wouldn't be a bunch of complaining posts. The communication part seems to be the major problem. I have been a Dead Head since '81 & I'm sure that's for life, so keep em coming. Peace.
Bonus Disc
Am I mistaken or is there a cut on Let It Grow that's been spliced with an audience tape? It sounds pretty good, fairly seamless, but still pretty obvious.
I got mine today
About 2 weeks after I ordered it. With all of the bad press that the store gets on this thread (and most sounds warranted), I'd like to add my words of encouragement. Maybe I'm just lucky maybe even extremely lucky but I have never had a problem (knocking on wood as we speak) and I think the store deserves a little credit in that they are not totally inept as many of the posts suggest. I avoid the special gimmicks like pre-ordering and no shipping cost etc. maybe that helps? Good luck to the folks who have had problems.
"I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel. Can't win for tryin. Dust off those rusty strings just one more time. Gonna make em shine."
italiandeadhead -The package has arrived.
Road Trips Volume 3 Number 1Excellent performance with fantastic versions of Sugaree, High Time, Terrapin, Playing in the Band up to Bertha and Good Lovin anthology. Beautiful the medley Scarlet Begonias / Fire on the Mountain, which ends in surprise Let It Grow.
Spectacular
Let It Rock
Formidable concert, Garcia in great shape with a repertoire of the great gems like Edward The Mad Shirt Grinder, Roadrunner, Sitting in Limbo, Pig's Boogie and Lady Sleeps with a Hopkins only piano. Super audio.
Francesco Italy
Comments & Complaints
I hate to but I have to agree with those that say the service HAS GONE TO HELL! My preorder arrived on time but all I got was the shipping envelope! NO CDs. After 3 phone conversations with "Customer Service" , all of them from somewhere on the other side of the world & 2 of those with someone on a cell-phone that kept breaking up, I got the replacement order but the 2nd disc of the Dead CD is unplayable. From what I've seen here I'm not alone by any means either. And I agree with the post that said that this kind of service is a far cry from what the Dead were & are about. Someone needs to wake-up & fast.Ken
I also have some problems
I also have some problems with the second disc of the RT set. It doesn't skip exactly, but seems to have blank spots. Anyone else experience this?
Happy Trails
disc 2
On the way home this evening, I noticed some 'chirping' during one of the jams on Playing probably related to the master tape, and not intentional from one of the band members. Right now, I'm of the opinion I can probably attribute it to wow and flutter (if I'm using the correct technical term) and not disc skipping. This is usually attributed to the 'ravages of time' somewhere in the notes, or in the announcement of the release. However, I saw no 'caveat emptor' at all this time. Maybe I missed it; anybody catch one? I'll listen more closely to the disc and let you know what I find. In the future, maybe we can hope some of these disclosures will resume to be made, i.e. audience or other tape splices (as in the Yale Bowl Road Trips) and other analog issues (see the 'Eyes of the World in Dick's Picks 3 for a very obvious example). By the way, the 'Terrapin' that starts disc 2 is sublime. Jerry is feeling it both in his vocals and playing. This is up there with my top versions of this tune, and it's one of my favorites. Happy Listening.
Still Waiting...
Ordered the day it came on pre-sale Oct. 22nd and I'm still waiting, emailed customer service and no response. I'm willing to be patient but in the immortal words of John Wayne "It's getting to be re-goddamn-diculous."
Saturday night cuts out midway through song
Does anyone else's Road Trips 3.1 disc cut out halfway through Another Saturday Night on disc 2?
people still waiting for your orders
please send me a PM with your order number and email address and I'll see what I can do. Thanks.
my Sat. Nite doesn't cut
...but there are some definite source tape issues that are obvious and would have been interesting to have disclosed.
request to the buyers
right after buying the winterland box, someone sucked about 73 euros remaining on my prepaid credit card, has anyone had the same experience?
to italiandeadhead and all customers
When I purchased the winterland 77 box set a few months ago my credit card number was stolen and someone started racking up charges. Luckily my credit card company noticed this and did not authorize the charges. The charges started piling up right after my purchase so the credit card company believes it was stolen from my winterland purchase. I alerted everyone to be careful. Marye sent me an email and said they take this seriously and are investigating. Unfortunately, it looks as if this is still a concern. I wish I had an answer to all the problems with ordering merchandise.
stealing?
Stealing? I guess you can be a criminal to work for the dead now, now I'm worried, I made a purchase from the store, does this go thru the thieves? or is the store different. It seems when they shipped customer service off to India, they also shipped off trust, honesty, integriety, along with giving a damm, I think a petition is in order, please, Rhino, get the Dead customer service back in the US. Find and prosecute those responsible at least. It must be real easy to get a job overseas, I can't find one, but in India, if you are a criminal and a thief, you can get a job, hun? I'll bet there aren't any piss test in India either. What the f%@#? So that's it, americans can't get jobs, but indian criminals can? and be in a position that allows them to have access to crecit cards? Hey Rhino, I really need a job and I will work for what you pay those indians, and I'm not a thief. Sorry tho, I won't relocate to India.
it's a shame
to think that all the money I saved from buying here goes up in someone's else pockets, maybe I should consider buying from safer online continental shops i.e. spin cds
I hate to swirl about
Rumor and innuendo, because I don't have the facts, but my credit card company issued a new card to me directly after purchasing the RT 3.1/Jerry package, citing "suspicious" activity. It's a card that I'd never used to purchase from this site before. I'd also used it for a single purchase at a craft show at about the same time, so the "activity" could have been generated there as well. From what I can see, it was likely something going on at one of those two places that triggered the alarms at my credit card company...doesn't mean that it was this place, but it doesn't mean that it wasn't, either.
So I finally just decided to
So I finally just decided to call customer service since I still haven't received Road Trips Vol. 3 or Let It Rock. After waiting on hold for a half hour with the worst piano and drums duet ever blasting into my ear, I finally got a human on the other line. The guy was clearly in India and all he could tell me about my order is that everything I ordered was out of stock and they don't know when it will be back in stock, so your just going to have to wait. Wow even though I pre-ordered the damn thing on the day it came out. I guess the odds of me getting the bonus disc are about as slim as me ever seeing this order delivered.
Almost 2 months
I ordered RT on 11/1 and still have not received it. I have called customer service several times and was told it would be sent out...still no discs. What is going on? I have ordered close to two dozen times over the years and never had this happen. Now I am in jeoprady of losing the bonus disc, which is the reason I ordered in the first place. What a disappointment. If this is ever resolved (discs or refund) I will never buy directly from Dead.net again. It's easier to pay double on Amazon or e-bay than deal with this nightmare.
Proposed Show for Upcoming Release
Hello Everyone,
How about releasing the show from the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds (08/27/1972). If you would like to take a listen and support this release, the web site is http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-08-27.sbd.orf.3328.sbeok.shnf
Upcoming Releases
Would love to see the Vault multitracks of 8-27-72 come out, all nice & spiffy!!
For the next RT, my fantasy would be some uncirculated 83-85 PCM SBD's
Or some 89-90 multitracks....
For the next PJ, '87-'91 would work just fine or some Fall '93 or '94 Garcia/Grisman shows....
My 2 cents :)
Re: Upcoming Release
I'll second the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds from August 27, 1972.
The China Cat>Rider - amazing.