ANNOUNCING DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 53
"As we enter our 14th year of the Dave's Picks series, heading into Volumes 53-56 in 2025, most days we feel we're just getting started. Every volume of the series is still just as exciting for us as the first few releases in the series back in 2012, and we hope you continue to get as much joy out of listening to them as we get from producing them. One of the greatest thrills we get from working on them is the flexibility to go where the music takes us in making the selections. For 2025, Volume 53 has been selected and is in the can, and we've just entered production on Volume 54 (and the subscribers' Bonus Disc!), but beyond that, it's a blank slate, and we're spending countless hours listening to determine what's to come for Volumes 55 and 56 in the second half of 2025. After the great variety we saw in 2024 (1985 x 2, 1977, 1971, and 1983), we focused on great variety again in 2025. Come along for the ride! If you've never subscribed, this would be a great year to start, as we head into the Grateful Dead's 60th year. There's plenty of room on the bus for everyone!"
- David Lemieux, October 2024
For some of you, it’s a done deal. For those of you still on the fence or new around these parts, we’ll lay it all out right here, right now. Dave’s Picks subscribers score all four numbered, limited-edition releases (totaling a minimum of 13 CDs) featuring previously unreleased complete live Grateful Dead shows. You’ll also get the subscription exclusive bonus disc, which remains one of the most highly sought-after collectibles we release, and free U.S. shipping. Subscriber bonus discs are not released outside of this offer. As always, early bird subscribers can nab a sub at $99.98 (regular pricing will be $119.92).
Dave's Picks 2025 will once again be capped at 25,000 copies of each release. Your best bet is to subscribe, sit back, and relax as each show is delivered to your door quarterly.
DAVE’S PICKS 2025 SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS
• Four Limited Edition, Numbered Releases
• Highly Collectible Bonus Disc
• Free Domestic Shipping
• Delivered Throughout The Year
• Early Bird Pricing - $99.98
• A minimum savings of $39.00 versus purchasing a la carte
EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH AT 9:00 PM PT.
Got It
Was contemplating ala carte this year but with a 1976 to start then what the hell. That's what money is for, lol. My excuse would have been running out of storage space. A lame and embarrassing excuse I thought. But not having to scramble 4 times to go ala carte is just peace of mind as well.
Cheers
Subscribed
Have subscribed since the beginning when they were 1st offered on the final year of the Road Trips series.
1976 has some interesting song placements within the sets unique to that year, which to me is always an interesting listen. The Cobo show from the 30 Trips box is a good one, as Im sure this will be as well. Dave picks many shows that are new to me and this is one of those.
2025 wishlist -
- hit on something from 1991
- spring 89 (box would be awesome)
- 88 , not nearly enough released from this year
- fall 89/December 89/winter 90 box of the multitracks
- Fall/winter 90
- Blues For Allah 50th with Lindley Meadows show from 75 (the last unreleased 75 show)
- Something from anytime between 68 thru 70
- More bluray releases
Subscription error
when I subscribed to the 2025 Dave's picks an error came up??? I got an email saying it was confirmed but the page on the screen said "ERROR" ANY ONE ELSE SEE THIS???
2 subscriptions ordered.......
one for me and one for my brother..
Hopefully we get this year...,
10/9 & 10/82 Frost. 2/17/79, Oakland, 9/20/70, 10/31/70, 10/31/69, 6/27 & 28/69, and last but not least. some killer 1968, whole show preferred, but a compilation would be fine. Thanks Dave.
Betty Board?
I couldn't find this as a lost Betty from the list (search what's become of the betty's). Dead list has only aud recordings for downloads. Any idea where this has been hiding
Betty Boards
My guess is this was among the recently returned master tapes. The Setlist Program had a partial setlist for this show. Someone already posted the full list in the comment section on that sight. I might assume that everything prior to the last 4 songs of set 1 were unknown until the return of these tapes.
4th Pick of Year - Survey Fans' Choice etc
I've already got votin' on my mind, obviously. How about suggesting two dates each year on the Subscription order form to vote on? The rest of the time, we will defer to our buddy Dave, of course. Voting for either of the vault "release candidates" would be a win/won regardless of the outcome.
On a related note, I'd also love to see Roadtrips style releases for Jerry. Since setlists are often redundant, with a few exceptions though, how about one for each year/era. I recall Grisman once said he has even more unreleased studio/home material, yet theres nothing from the So What sessions on the latest release. But those gems still exist thankfully.
BIODTL 2025
Bring It On Down The Line
Let's do this
PLAY DEAD
PLAY DEAD OFTEN
2025 Subscribed
Even got an order confirmation from the GD Store.
The shipping method of the FOTD-box to Germany was also well selected. Fast delivery and with a tracking number provided!
Seems 2025 will be a good year and maybe brings us a box Europe 1981.
Cheers G.
That 10/1/76 Help->Slip-…
That 10/1/76 Help->Slip->Franklins would have been a KILLER bonus for this. Also that Dancing ->Ship of Fools...
This Slipknot is probably the best one you'll ever hear. But you know, we get the rest of 5/4/77 so that's not too bad either.
Dave's Picks 1976 & 30 Days of Dead Daze
I had a feeling the year '76 was due to come around again!, As I recall, this pick had a few songs released over the years during the 30 Days of Dead Daze November, "Might As Well" was from the selections last year or the year before.
This seems to be an indicator of future picks, as I went back and found a few other shows that had songs released for 30 Dead Days only to become whole show releases later.
Not every show has that luxury, as many 30 Dead Days songs are also from incomplete shows too I would imagine.
Well, when my November money arrives I am game again, can't beat the early Bird Song price!
Discount codes
Any more of these discount codes for checkout around? I noticed the last year or so some people had them. Pumped for another year!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.....
..... no more shot glasses.
An axe be nice :-)
Shot glass for 52 is "on the way".
Sub'd
It's a no-brainer for me at this point. I'm not necessarily in love with every single pick, but I do love knowing I've got a given show in my collection when the day comes that I want to get out of my comfort zone to explore what is for me some untrodden ground.
Two Tracks already released
FYI Two tracks from 10/2/76 have already been released on the Cow Palace bonus disc. Let It Grow and Might as Well, I believe. It's OK, I'm all for releasing full shows even if they've been partially released.
DaP 53 filler
Nice, I’ll piece that show back together.
Don’t believe I’ve ever heard 10-2-76, so looking forward to that.
Early bird subscription with free shipping is cheaper than 3 ala carte’s.
Plus the bonus disc!
I saved the birthday coupon…
I saved the birthday coupon all year for this day and it doesn't work?
It says applied but doesn't actually do anything.
EDIT. So I guess because they offer free shipping and using the Bday coupon is then "combining" discounts.
This is what I get for not taking advantage with the April '78 box....
ps. it's really not about the money...
It's a birthday gift you get 4 times per year
If you are wondering whether or not to subscribe, I highly recommend you do.
The convenience alone is worth 25% of the price.
Yahoo!
DaP 53 Listening Party @ 30 Days of Dead
"Let it Grow > Might as Well" - 2023
"The Music Never Stopped" - 2016
"The Other One > Stella Blue > The Other One > Sugar Magnolia" - 2017
Early Bird
Being in the hospital knocked me out of the early bird last year. Got it this year though.
Super excited about the '76 show. '76 gets a lot of play around here.
Great to be able to piece the 5-4-77 show together in it's entirety as well. It's like getting 2 shows at once.
Dick's #33 Oakland 1976
I only ever owned this show on mp3 from iTunes and it is indeed one of my favorite picks {of Dicks}, a great double show 'on the green' in the Oakland Coliseum. Good variety between the show set lists and also some nice eclectic jamming. The new pick for next year 2025 was real close in timeline to this set of October shows & they sounded great so I am stoked!
I really dig the "Dancin' Streets" on #33 as the 1976 take on a post 1960's style psychedelic rock jam, versus say one of the 1977 era 'disco Dead' funky vibe versions, to which I also love don't get me wrong.
That said I really look forward to getting this new pick of 1976 from a good part of the tour that year. Also I am eager to hear the big Dancin'.. to Drums and "The Other One" sandwhicking a "Stella" before a "Sugar Mag"..... Quite an intriguing second set jam indeed, thanks Dave and Co.!
the no complaints department...
...late '76 table setter for 1977,
memory says betty was not on the road after rex's passing;
good way to begin 2025,
will have to subscribe
Dicks 33
That is a great release in my books as well - two superb shows. I was lucky enough to get this on vinyl earlier this year and it sounds exceptional. I like Fall 1976 - Dicks 20 - featuring 9/25 and 9/28 is also really good.
However....for me, now, anything that hasn't been picked from the 1967-1970 timespan feels like a bit of a disappointment. It feels like something momentous from this era might be round the corner. Maybe next year...
Dicks 33, Dave's Picks
Yes the two shows from 10/9 and 10/10 are upper echelon shows for sure. Recordings and performances are A+. These shows were recorded by Betty. The Cobo show and and September shows were recorded by Healy.
I believe Cousins was at these shows. That would have been something.
I have never really gelled with that Cobo show, don't know why. Really like Dicks #20 and Dave's 4.
I will have to try the Cobo show again. Still working my way through the new box, so much music to listen to, so little time some days.
Good to hear you got your subscription TN John. If ever run into a situation like that again, let me know. I will gift you one.
Call Me Early, Bird
I'm in. Again. It's just such a good deal. Four shows, plus bonuses, for $92 (with discount code), shipping and tax included? What's that work out to, like $7 a disc?
I do think that now, after 36 Dicks (which now that I think about should be the name of my new ska punk cover jam band), 50+ Daves, all the Road Trips, and box sets from '69, '72, '73 (twice), '76, '77 (twice), '78 (twice), '90, Circles Round the Sun, and probably a bunch more I'm not remembering right now, it's probably fair to say that most of the best of the best stuff has been issued.
I say "probably" because so many people here are so much more knowledgeable about unreleased shows, and I'm sure there are some A+++ gigs that I'm unfamiliar with. But just given the sheer volume of what's been put out, it stands to reason that we're moving beyond the period where we're getting legendary iconic hall of fame shows (your Harpers and your Venetas and whatnot) and getting into more pretty darned good shows that are well worth hearing and depending on how much you like a given period maybe even pretty great but not earth shattering.
I like '76. I doubt if it's anybody's favorite year--it's so dialed back in comparison with the pre-hiatus years, and not as dynamic as the well-loved '77--but it's pretty darned good. The drummers were getting along well. The voices were still in great shape. Looking forward to this one. But like everybody else, I have my white whale(s). I keep waiting for the '69 Ark shows. And some Berkeley Greeks from the '80s. Any time you're ready, Dave.
Meanwhile, should be another fun year. If the whole damn country doesn't collapse.
now it's my turn to say
what kinda shi'theads run this site?
I have tried GIVING YOU MY MONEY several times now. I click on "buy now" after putting in all the necessary info. nothing happens and then the "buy now" button just shows a red line circle.
Sheesh. Annoying AF.
who do you have to blow to get this figured out?
Jerry's gonna smack you up...
(no pun intended, but there it is.)
Deadvikes
Thanks brother! you are too kind. I should have been more specific. I got my subscription in last year, just missed the early bird. Had to pay full price. Not the end of the world.
Proudfoot,
Try turning off your ad blocker while checking out at the store. I was having the same problem as you, and that worked for me.
No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky....
Happy Friday, rockers!!!
Attention Crow Told Me, along with any ravens, ospreys, or other loony birds...........
Yes, a tremendous amount of live material has been released, but there's still lots more gooey Grateful Dead goodness in the vault. So fear not!!! There's even enough for a 1970 box set!! Hint hint........
One issue, which TPTB will eventually have to deal with, is that a lot of the early recordings----1967-1969----while release worthy, are either short, fragmentary, or have cuts edits etc that can't really be fixed. Now if HF would just behave, maybe we could see some officially released some time soon lol....................
Not sure what I would trade my first show (12/1/73) for. Maybe a September 72 or December 71 Boston Music Hall show? But I wouldn't trade my second show (6/26/74) for anything, that's when I got on the bus!!!!
Rock on,
Doc
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.......
RIP Phil Lesh
Off to join the never-ending Dark Star. What a legend of music.
Fare The Well Phil!
Damn! I just found out here first, then confirmed it elsewhere on the web. {This seems to be the best forum to find out such news} My day was already melancholy before finding this out. I was already playing "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" from Daves#49 very heavily this past week, looks like now is a fine time to cue up "Box of Rain" to go along with it.
Bless you Phil for all you have bestowed us Dead Heads.
May the Great Almighty Universal Spirit shine a light for you!
Bass Great
RIP Phil Lesh. Man, you gave me so many good times. I'll never forget seeing what bass notes look like... I moved over to your side after I realized what that could be like. The time I ducked out of the way of the black stealth bomber that you summoned, and people around me just nodded sagely at me, understanding... yeah. Nothing like it in the world.
I think I'll go listen to 10/25/69 Winterland. To start.
Phil
Fare thee well, Phil. I saw him over 300 times, the last a year and a half ago at the Skull and Roses Festival in Ventura. That was a great show. Along with his band mates, he carved out a couple new genres of music. He also spent a lot of time mentoring and playing with young musicians. A sad day in Deadland.
The greatest Bass player
PHIL LESH
To me he was the reason the Grateful Dead had a Mystical and Magical feeling at their concerts and their music. He was my favorite band member Saw him on his Birthday this year and shook his hand in 2006
LOVE you Phil