More Details
Track listing for both CDs and
the bonus disc as well.
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Archives
Browse Vol 1, No 1 Archives
Shows
New Haven, CT - 10/25/79
Uniondale, NY - 10/31/79
Philadelphia, PA - 11/6/79
Landover,MD - 11/8/79
Buffalo, NY - 11/9/79
Ann Arbor, MI - 11/10/79
It’s time to put a little gas-gas-gas back into the ol’ Tour Bus and give it another spin, because Grateful Dead is very pleased to announce the debut of a new series of archival releases called Road Trips!
Here’s the deal: We all loved the Dicks Picks series. Over the course of 36 amazing releases between 1993 and 2005, GD archivists Dick Latvala (R.I.P.) and David Lemieux continually blew our little minds plucking one righteous show after another from the vaults, from classics like the February ’70 Fillmore East run (DP4) and Englishtown ’77 (DP 15), to overlooked masterpieces like 9/28/76 (DP 20) and 9/21/72 (DP 36), and shows not in general circulation among traders at the time, such as the February ’68 shows of DP 22 and the superb “Houseboat Tapes” from August 1971 that made up DP 35. Coupled with the many exceptional releases culled from multitrack tapes (the Fillmore West box, Steppin’ Out, The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack, Nightfall of Diamonds, et al) and the popular Download Series, there’s been a lot of musical territory covered over the years… but not all of it, of course—not even close!
With Road Trips we’re going to try something a little different. We want to plug in a few more pieces of the Grateful Dead puzzle by putting the spotlight on different tours and series of shows that have been neglected through the years. Take Road Trips Volume 1, Number 1, for instance. This two-disc set (plus a special Bonus Disc - now sold out) was culled from the Dead’s blazing fall 1979 East Coast swing, when the band was just hitting its stride with new keyboardist Brent Mydland. You’ll find killer versions of “Dancing in the Street” > “Franklin’s Tower,” long exploratory jams on “Playing in the Band” and “Terrapin,” a rattle-your-brain “Shakedown,” and lots more, all pulled from the master tapes in the vault and expertly mastered in HDCD for maximum power and clarity by Jeffrey Norman. The sold out Bonus Disc offers another hour-and-a-quarter of highlights from the tour. (You can find the complete track listings for all three discs here.)
Every Road Trips release will come with a beautifully designed booklet containing an essay about how the music on the discs fits into the Dead’s long history, plus many rare and never-before-seen photographs. We think you’ll agree it’s a pretty cool package. But wait, there’s more (as they say)! When each “edition” of Road Trips is announced on this site, we will also give you a link to an affiliated site devoted to the series which will include such goodies as articles and reviews from the tour (See one reviewer after another mess up Grateful Dead song titles! See the band savaged by cretinous critics!); additional photos; and any other weird/cool stuff we come across. Together we can paint a really rich and vibrant audio-visual picture of different stops along the Grateful Dead highway!
And this is just the BEGINNING of what we promise will be a tidal wave of releases, which will include more rarities from the deepest corners of the vault, multitrack releases, box sets (the patient will be rewarded; nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more), DVDs, downloads and who-knows-what-else. So keep your Third Eye tuned into this space for more in the coming weeks and months!
--Blair Jackson
A Few AFAQ’s (Anticipated Frequently Asked Questions) About Road Trips
Sounds pretty interesting, but what took you guys so frickin’ long? We thought you’d forgotten us.
Naw, we never forgot you. It’s just taken a little longer than expected to get the ball rolling again and to figure out how to move forward in a way that will satisfy and hopefully also expand the fan base. As a certain sage known to all of us once wrote: “It takes time to pick a place to go…”
Is Dicks Picks over, done, kaput?
Yes, that series of releases ended with Volume 36. It will continue to be available, however. Road Trips will have a little more flexibility than Dicks Picks, in that we are not limited to full-show releases, or even 2-track tapes…or anything for that matter—we haven’t made any rules about what IT is. I guarantee we’ll surprise you from time to time.
But we want to hear full shows, too!
Don’t worry, there will definitely still be full-show releases. We’ll have more on that soon.
OK, I guess it might be pretty cool. I’ll check it out. In fact I’ve got a ton of ideas of shows and tours you guys should be releasing…
Well, let’s hear it. Of course we want your well-reasoned insights and input! The Dead have always looked to Dead Heads for inspiration and ideas, and you’re needed now more than ever!
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Waiting for the flood
I for one appreciated Blair's communications - please keep them coming.
The idea of tour compilations is pretty cool too. Stepping Out is a good example of how well this can work. My only suggestion would be to add a few more discs. Full shows (runs) are my preference but I'm willing to see how this pans out. Nice start.
Thanks
rhino blows
rhino blew it!the 1st release and its not a whole show?!?
somebody should get fired over there
of course i'll buy it
but give us WHOLE shows already!
Road trip ??
Sounds like an interesting idea....Maybe there will be a possibility of more Europe ' 72released. Like the Paris run for example..Or from the Strand Lyceum..How 'bout the whole
month of May ' 72 ? Hmmmmm ?
About time. Passing on the
About time. Passing on the road trips 1st round since i've got all the shows but looking forward to what's to come ie winterland 73 and hopefully some uncirculated stuff or serious upgrades to stuff. Again, about time and thanks. Sorry for all the harsh remarks but we take our Dead serious and you pretty much cut us off cold turkey. That was brutal. Waiting on the "wave".
Exciting News!!
I had better get this for Christmas!!! I'm on board, I myself love full shows especially DVD's, but usually, now this is a personal choice, I would skip over drums and space. So, that being said I think will I enjoy the compilations. I also love archives, I enjoy all the photos and stories about the Band and the fans over the years. GRATE IDEA THANKS!!!!!!!
Compilations?
I got to admit I'm not excited at the prospect of compilations, we can record the Grateful Dead Hour or use the tapers section for that. I can make my own compilations. I own everything the Dead has officially released and one of the most problematic to listen to is So Many Roads. Its a very frustrating listen actually, and I'm not excited by a whole series of these chopped up feelings. To those who remind us about Europe 72, Dead Set etc., remember, we had no other choices for live Dead back then, and as soon as we could get into taping circles and amassed some collection of "bootlegs" those compilation albums fell by the wayside (especially Dead Set).
Overseas charges again & downloads
Outrageous postal charges to Europe. So - why no downloads (Rhino do downloads already), and you could offer the bonus CD to the first N downloaders? Come on guys, download is basic these days, you used to do it - it's not rocket science - save us non-Statesiders some money.
have's and have not's
tj crowley
if we focus on the things we don't have we can't enjoy what we do have...we get what we get
I'll be buying it
I'll get it just to support the effort & hopefully keep things going.The Greek 85 run would seem like a no brainer to me for a next release - I'll bet they stay out of the early 70s for awhile - been overdone with DPs
early 70's
tj crowley
i recall going thru my collection of tapes and limiting the amount on the wall..consideration was 1st; song selection and/or seque 2nd: quality of sound 3rd event's memory or meaningfulness..this took awhile....my thinking (and this not always the best) is that when considering what gig to print/release they (the king rhino as well gd products) need to bear in mind the songs and copy-rights to song palyed other than band compositions..but hey..what do i know...
"greatest hits" Sorry if I seem a little disappointed.
(OHIO) travelinted
Confused. How many shows did the Dead play? 1300 or more I think! How bout a crispy recording of 7/18/76 Orpheum? Or 7/1/73 Universal City, Ca, which might be the most rockin' first set ever, along with a MEGA 2nd set Playin'? How bout 10/26/89, ultra sick Dark Star? Or if it's '79 everybody wants (not exactly), how bout 12/1/79 Pittsburgh? Or 10/27/79 Cape Cod?? Oh yeah, how about complete shows...
Well Ok?
I'm Happy for any new release!! I just bought it !! That being said i hope that maybe just maybe some of these show's do find there way complete release! I was @ the 10/31/79 show at Nassau and was second row center behind the stage. During the China Rider Jam me and all my friends were trying to get Steve Parish's attention as Bob was trying to flag him down because he broke a string during china cat and finally got Parish's attention by throwing a can of fingerease at him!! I see that is on the bonus disc but don't remember it being a very hot jam because Bob was changing his string for most of the jam. However I love that i will get a chance to relive that and many other moments with this new series of releases! I just saw Bobby and the Dog on Tuesday and got a copy of the show that same night! Once the vault is digitized maybe we'll be able to purchase whatever we want! Until then i'll take what i can get!! Rogue
26 october 1989
is an awesome show full stop
much better than Hampton
one of the few later year shows i play a lot
Bob
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Spanish Jam
right track, wrong train
Perhaps the owners of the vault are excellent economists and are driving up demand by limiting supply? I can't help but think the best model is already out here-- the Fillmore West box came in two versions, the hefty box in a limited edition that some of us were ecstatic to buy at any price (and that sold out in days if not hours), and the three volume greatest hits at a cheaper price for those who prefer lighter fare. Why won't Rhino take my money and give me the whole tour? Perhaps they know the new postal charges for us out-of-towners is so ludicrously high they don't want to tempt us?
Hmmm...
Nice to be nice but sometimes better to be honest. It seems most are not that interested in this product. It is better to put the energy into releasing whole shows. Especially high quality stuff while representing all eras of the Dead. This compilation is perhaps a nice mix but the Grateful Dead Hour does that so why bother putting out a cd with the same idea? Sure there have been other compilations in the past but no one puts on Fallout from the Phil Zone when they want to rock the party. This will make a stocking stuffer for someone who u are trying to get into the Dead but it is not so interesting to many hardcore heads. One point is that if a track is on such a disc does it mean the show the track is from will not be released as a whole show so as not to detract from sales of said compilation? At least a photo from 79 on the cover might have added more authenticity instead of a Touch of Grey promo shot.
More dvd releases are a sure winner! The website with extra stuff including reviews is brilliant!
The extra disc thing is not so great. Why not include the extra disc with all sales. No one likes to miss out!
Much love, Jody
Are you kind?
Hey, I'm down with new
Hey, I'm down with new music, but how about more from the days before Jerry was strung out? My favorite era is pre '77 and maybe some of the beginning of 77. I'll be glad to hear all of that stuff !
Sorry to see the legacy of Dick end, great stuff I still listen to regularly.
Thanks for keeping the good stuff comin!!
New Series
I am very excited to have new releases!! As for the comment about this being a compilation - Isn't that what Rhino does?
Not a good idea!
Complete shows is the only way to go...I won't buy this. I can make my own compilations from the stuff I already have.
Thanks anyway...
Great idea!! It is nice to have some compilations.
I am excited about this series.
I have tons and tons of complete shows, but it is nice to have a compilations of highlights from shows or segments of shows that have gone overlooked.
The first release looks very well chosen (and they left off some of the more obvious shows that everyone has). Keep it up!
something is happening here
Right now, Monday morning there are 423 guests online and 27 users. I have never seen that many guests, so someone besides us consistent "users" is checking out the new release. A reminder to me that it is about more than just us hardcore and that Rhino is reaching out beyond this base.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
Wiliam Blake
silent majority
good point Hal.It was dwindling to around 100 before the new announcements. Also If you click on the word 'Members' in the side bar you will see that there are 589 pages of 'users' each with 20 entries. That makes ..um...err....eleven thousand eight hundred members! Amazing. It seems only a tiny percentage of us are posting on the site. Read what you like into that! Actually it would be interesting to see some more stats. Any chance d'y think.
Future video releases
Does anyone want to rally to get some of those 80's acoustic sets on video? I know there's a few songs on the Dead Ahead video, but I'd like to see more of those acoustic sets. Perhaps the Reckoning album on video.
Off to a great start!
The 79-81 era is sorely under-represented as far as official releases go. Can't wait to hear this one.
How about a Fall 1994 highlights release, one that includes the Scarlet>Fire from 10/14/94?
I like complete shows as much as the next person, but I'll take a set of quality highlights too. Thanks!
Veneta '72
it wouldn't be a road trip without the berkeley to the Field Trip shows.
Nuggets are ok
I like the idea of doing both highlights/nuggets and complete shows. I love the shows but it does not leave room for great versions of songs where the entire show might not be available or salvageable. I love Fallout From the Phil Zone and So Many Roads, for instance. So I am ready to go with both. Put it out and I will buy it. Always have, always will.
Where is David, BTW
Hey now,Is it just me or does it seem that Blair is taliking about David L. in the past tense?
That would be a real shame.
Eric S. Crane
Roswell, GA
Bonus disc?
I'm not going to get caught up in the complete show vs. partial nuggets debate.... I'm like many other folks that will listen to and appreciate either.
My comment is centered on the "bonus disc" concept. I understand that it motivates us to order from the dead site rather than going down to the local mega-store to buy this... but it bothers me that I might not get the "bonus" disc if I dont order it NOW. Juggling finances come holiday shopping time is usually a fairly precarious deal for a lot of us. If I cant order it for a month or two because things are tight.... well, no bonus disc for me.
Not only that, but sometimes the "bonus" disc has some the best music of the release... (example: the Dark Star was on the Academy of Music Bonus Disc).
Why not just make it and call it a 3-disc set, rather than 2 discs and a bonus disc that we have to order within a specific amount of time?
OK, so thats my question. Hopefully it doesnt sound like I'm bitching, cuz I'm not. I dont get stressed out often, but things like making sure I get the bonus disc can do it to me...
Drumz Anyone?
Cool song selections...Brent's freshman year with the band. Would rather have entire shows, and did anyone notice that there were no Drumz?? Bet Mickey and Billy love that....
Great looking release!
Fall of '79 SWEET! Forget about all the naysayers and boobirds. This release is a fresh idea from a great tour. Since when have the Grateful Dead been afraid to take a chance on stage and try something new? Never! I'm glad to see a different approach. This certainly gives an opportunity to check out different shows/tours/sounds you may not have been turned on to. HDCD sounds much better than poopy downloads. No complaints here.
Yeah, we all want our own picks to be released, but in reality it's good to let these golden jams be heard in a context that all heads can enjoy. It's clearly stated that full shows are still going to be released so I'm not sure about all the complaining. I 'd love to see 11/5/79 released with an awesome setlist and the second longest "Eyes" ever, but I'm not crying about it. Keep up the great work guys! You've got my money. Long live the Grateful Dead!!!
'In fact your salvation is within yourself, in your own essence of mind, it is not to be gotten grasping at external people like me.' ~ Jack Kerouac
Suggestion for the next installment
Fall 84 PLEASE.
Thank you.
That is all.
Yessssss
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this great idea. I can't wait to hear one crackling tune after another from the same tour. I loved "Live from the Phil Zone" and always wished he would do more of the same, so this is a welcome addition to the Vault releases.Sure I like full shows as much as the next Deadhead (I have all 36 Dick's Picks), but there's just something special about going from a smoking, say, "Jack Straw" to a sizzling "Lazy Lightning/Supplication" without having to listen to another tired old "El Paso" in between.
Way to go, and keep 'em comin'.
PS - I'll second and third etc. the request for more DVD's, too!
Bring it on!!!!
What is all the hassle about complete shows & Rhino? I was pretty pleased with the job they did on Cow Palace. I love complete shows, but I do not absolutely love everything from every show. I love the concept of the live compilations (with the exception of rehashing best of/greatest hits), its the best of the best. Next to One from the Vault and GD Movie, So Many Roads Box is one of my all time favorites. The first volume of Road Trips looks great. I have to admit I was skeptical of Rhino at first, but so far so good. The complete shows that have been released are great and I love them, but I can't stand all the complete show whining and compilation bashing. Nothing beats hearing the best of the best shows, these are not bits and pieces.Don't like what you see, then don't buy it. Simple.
Ordered and ready
Alright, sounds like a good release: It is the Taper's Section gone legal. I must, however, disagree with Holy Goof. The Dead Net needs to serve all of its customers. There should be downloads, as well as, CD's. Think of those poor people in the UK, who have to pay more for shipping than the cost of the CD itself! Even if only thinking of them alone, there should be a download option all the files, including the bonus material.
Greg SC
In answer to an earlier
In answer to an earlier concern...David Lemieux is very much a part of all this. He and I selected the tracks for this one...
Raises hand sheepishly
and says, I actually think this is a good idea for a release. And while I know that a lot of Deadheads find compilations to be anathema (remember that old coinage "compilationensuction"?), I resent the posters on this forum who have said that "everybody" hates them. I, for one, don't.
I almost never listen to a complete show all the way through. I have all the Dick's Picks, all the Vault releases, and most of the Download Series (not to mention hundreds of hours dowloaded from the Archive before the Change), and I'd usually listen to each all the way through once or twice, then pick the best tracks and make my own mix for further listening. I have lots of other musical interests, not to mention work, family, etc. Yes, having a complete show release gave me the luxury of selecting what I thought were the best tracks, rather than relying on someone else's judgment--but if there's anybody who's judgment I've come to trust, it's DL2's. In short, compilations are how I listen to the Dead anyway (I may be alone, but at least I'm proof that it's not "everybody" who hates them), and in fact most of my favorite Vault releases up to this point have been compilations--Ladies And Gentlemen, Steppin' Out, the GDMovie Soundtrack. This is no different.
I also like--scratch that, I LOVE--the idea that this series intends to look at eras that haven't been examined in the DP series. I was a faithful purchaser of DPs, but I'm also a fan of each and every era of the band--even the '90s--and by the end I was pretty disappointed that of every six-pack of DPs, three and sometimes four were taken from the Keith years. I love those years, but not only those years. If the Road Trips gives us more Pig, more TC, Brent, more Bruce/Vince, even more of the Vince years, I for one will be quite pleased.
And I love the fact that they're going to try and put the things in historical context for us. That was part of the fun of the Taper's Section--now I wonder if that was basically an attempt to get us warmed up for this series. I'm a fan of the Dead, but also a student of their history--I really like to listen to different eras and try to figure out what's different, what's really going on.
My only complaint is that even three discs isn't enough. But that's hardly a complaint at all, just a hope that they'll continue the series and maybe eventually revisit this era. And remember, the DPs started small, too--it wasn't until #4 that we got something over two discs, and it was only #5 that finally brought us a complete show. If the Road Trips series takes off, maybe the installments will get a little bigger. Plus, as the Cape Cod comments suggest, there's no reason why just because a tour is covered by a Road Trips volume, it can't ever produce a complete-show release.
Check my comments about when the Taper's Section went to streaming-only--I've not exactly been a fan of how the Rhino has run things in every respect. But this has me excited. It shows me that somebody's actually trying to think about ways to make this thing work. Remember, folks, the complete-show model was what they followed for years, and it got run into the ground, basically. I imagine we'll still get them once or twice a year like we have under the Rhino, but I would have been really surprised if the economics had told them that a resumption of the DPs as previously constituted was feasible. This feels like the product of a conversation that started with somebody saying, with the best of intentions, "well if that won't work anymore, what will?" And I, for one, think they came up with a pretty good answer. I hope enough people buy this to make this series fly for a while.
(I posted this on the forum for Road Trips 1.1, before I found this general forum and thought it might be more appropriate here. Sorry for the double post.)
road trips
Why would you mess with a Grateful Dead concert? It is not a fragmented experience. I am not on board.
Live Dead, Skull & Roses,
Live Dead, Skull & Roses, Europe '72, etc. = Grateful Dead messing with Grateful Dead shows...
Live Dead, Skull & Roses, Europe '72, etc.
That's what turned me on to the band. Got me on the bus. I still play them.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
Wiliam Blake
Easy, wind
Unfortunately the vocal majority here seems afraid that things won't continue to be the same anymore... thank god the Dead were never like that! Can't wait to see the "wink wink nudge" box set of the first 5 next year (?) Keep 'em coming!
compilations vs whole shows
good to see Blair Jackson joining in here! Please carry on when you can..helps break down the us-and-them vibe that has been developing these months!
I too 'grew up' on, loved and still love those early live compilations, before I ever knew there were whole shows to be had.
Then I rushed out and bought 'Steal Your Face' and a while later 'Dead Set' , also Grateful Dead managed compilations/chopshop jobs and enough to put you off such things for good. What went wrong there then? Misguided attempts to appeal to a wider market?
I sincerely hope the present Vaultmeisters will never resort to editing/chopping individual tracks (although apparently the So Many Roads on the 'So Many Roads' box set is just that...a well meant honourable exception perhaps?).
On that basis I'll gladly try some compilations, especially from eras I do not know so well and so long as they are scattered between some great sounding, top-drawer whole shows too!
just gotta wait for the mail now!
Keep up the good work and please Blair (and David too) keep talking with us!
Let the jam begin.
Placed my order, I can only hope that the lawyers are done, the money is paid, all is ready for David to start turning the mighty machine again. I hope that Rhino is not teasing us, I'm looking forward to some new jams. Seeing is beleiving for me, I still do not trust Rhino. Time will tell. I'm ready for my Winterland Box set?
Coconut Phil, living Free.
Suggestion for the next one
6/10/73 is one wild show, with some of the Allmans joining in. I know it is in the Vault, because one song from it was included on the Postcards of the Hanging release. So, if that is possible, please include more highlights from that particular show in the future.
Greg SC
Somebody Pulleeease Find the Cornell 77 Master....
I know the master is missing for 5/8/77 - but can someone donate an excellent copy so it can be expertly mastered and enhanced by Jeffrey et al?
may 77
Here is a small extract from an interview with David L in 2001
the whole thing is at http://tinyurl.com/ystarz
You said in your interview with Blair that the famous May 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1977 shows are not in the vault.
David Lemieux - Nor is the 5th.
Does anyone know where they are?
David Lemieux - I’m sure they do. I don’t. Well, I kind of know, but they’re not here unfortunately, and nobody’s ever made an attempt to get them back to us.
I have the masters.And no
I have the masters.
And no you can't have um back.
I thought I would addYour
I thought I would add
Your audience base is getting older and dying off.
Get off your lazy asses and start releasing shit before we are all 80 freaking years old!!!