Dave's Picks Volume 1
Dave's Picks Volume 1 is officially SOLD OUT.
Have no fear, you can join the fun with our next release Volume 2, the complete Grateful Dead performance from the Wall of Sound tour, recorded live on 7/31/74 at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, CT. This was one of the final East Coast appearances by the Grateful Dead for almost two years, and is one of the longest, most exceptionally well-played shows of the entire year. The big jams stand out, of course, including "Weather Report Suite," "Eyes Of The World>China Doll" and "Truckin>several thematic jams," but the smaller songs, like a rare show-opening "Scarlet Begonias," "Mississippi Half-Step," "Big River," "Greatest Story Ever Told," "Uncle John's Band" and countless others are also excellent at this A+ show.
In addition to all the great music, you can look forward to another digipak with trays made of 100% recycled and PCW materials (and of course a booklet featuring a historical essay and photos). Due to popular demand, we'll be using a heavier paper stock for Volume 2 and all the great Dave's Picks releases to come.
Dave's Picks Volume 2 ships this May. Stay tuned for pre-order details.
Learn More About Volume 1 here...
Dave's Picks Archival Series Kicks Off With 5/25/77
Chances are if you’re a Dead Head you’re already well-versed in the glorious spring of 1977. Back a year since their mid-’70s performing hiatus, and fresh from recording their Terrapin Station album in L.A. with producer Keith Olsen, the Dead returned to the road invigorated and excited that spring. There were fantastic new songs (including the “Terrapin Station” suite, “Estimated Prophet” and “Fire on the Mountain”) and their older tunes seemed imbued with new vigor and vitality. Every stop of the tour, which stretched from the third week of April (beginning at the Spectrum in Philadelphia) through the first week in June (back at Winterland in San Francisco), presented some new wrinkle or interesting variation on the repertoire, as songs were moved around, unusual combinations were explored and the septet continue to solidify and mature. Which is a fancy way of saying the band was on fire—y’see, there’s a reason why this is the ninth show from that tour to be released!
The song list from 5/25/77 might not reveal much out of the ordinary (though it’s great selection of tunes), but the playing is definitely extraordinary. The first set contains outstanding versions of favorites such as “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Jack Straw,” “Cassidy” and “Lazy Lightning” > “Supplication.” And the second set is primo-grade ’77 from start to finish. The buoyant “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain” that kicks things off sets the tone, but then the rest of the set is a deftly played medley starting with “Estimated” and moving into “He’s Gone,” a primal drum workout from Mickey and Bill, a heart-pounding version of “The Other One” that’s split by “Wharf Rat” (the only time those songs were played in that sequence), a joyful “Wheel,” and then a double-dose of Chuck Berry to bring it all back to rock ’n’ roll basics. Talk about a thrill ride!
— Blair Jackson
Zomby Woof, from past experience the shipping notice has usually arrived before the CDs were delivered by standard shipping.
This time around I splurged for the deluxe shipping option. Naturally, this time around the shipping notice lagged the actual delivery by about an hour and I got the e-mail after the UPS truck had skedaddled off into the sunset and I was already enjoying the new CDs.
Has anyone else out there received a shipping confirmation? I have not. My last experience ordering a disc from this site was a disaster. I am hoping for a heads up if that is going to happen again.
Like most of the readers here I'm a big fan. I have the entire GD Catalog in my collection, plus some soundboards. I look at my Grateful Dead collection like its fine wine, only gets better over time.
I'm amazed at all the complainers that come here to gripe and whine. We all should be grateful that these shows were recorded and preserved. This was started back in the 60's, much less technical equipment in those days.
The Vault is filled with many old tapes, not all will be releasable, this is where Road Trips came in, releasing the sections that were. I read many complaints about this, the entire perspective was completely overlooked by fans.
E72 had its shortcomings, no doubt about that, but the music is pristine. I have read a pile of complaints about that release too.
Now, I'm reading complaints about Dave's Picks before it even ships? These releases are going to be great. I will never have enough mid 70's Grateful Dead, I love that decade, especially with Pigpen.
Dave cannot please every one with each release, I think that many are looking past the big picture. This stuff is in the Vault and is getting released all in good time. Just think if there was no more tapes? We are lucky as fans to have Dave, Jeffery, and all those involved in delivering this Classic music.
Really makes me mad to read complaining here, please look at the big picture here folks and try to be grateful that more is coming your way. This is America, you DO NOT have to buy it if you don't want it.
Thanks Dave, looking forward to my copy arriving soon. Keep jamming America.
Phil
According to the article in the Rolling Stone there will be another box set at the end of the year and it will be another section of a tour or a complete leg of a tour eg. the 72 was the european leg as they did the states from February to June...maybe not but just an example...so the upcoming box set will be of some strectch, maybe not as many discs as 73 maybe something normal like 10...and i'm not sure if the European Box set was for people with too much money, i don't have alot of money and bought it...i'm not at all unhappy with the set as i like almost 100% of the songs performed and yes alot were performed more than a few times, but i did enjoy the different sounds from the different venues...i did enjoy the times where the band really rocked or simply played louder than other times...sometimes louder meant hitting the stride, i don't think you can dismiss the insanity as to say it's just a bunch of rich people who bought it, it may have been a bunch of people who loved the band and wanted to hear excellent sounding shows...not all were excellent there was one english one i cringe when i hear it but it also has a great set...and it was included because it had to be, otherwise everything else was great Germany was the best shows in my opinion...hence the only official european 72 show was a german show, then years later they added another german so i guess i'm right in saying that...they also had a few comps but a comp isn't a complete show as we all know...but i just don't like being disrespected and called rich because i bought the 73 disc set...i can stand and look in the mirror and say i love this band i love their influences their songs...i loved jerry garcia's solo stuff, his bluegrass stuff, his Dawg stuff, his other stuff too that blue eyed soul stuff was great...far as music goes this was great stuff...i think it's narrowed minded either because they played alot of different kind of songs they didn't just play one kind of songs...they weren't an acid band...i still don't know why they get tagged as acid rock...infact they really weren't ever that loud, they did get loud but they didn't play this obnoxious loud music at anytime...i just don't like being called rich when i'm poor, i got the set because i loved the music.
Please ignore my second post as it is facetious and insincere.
I am so tired of all the archival releases being from the same 30 year period.Why can't Dave release some of the good stuff from alternate universes?
I am so tired of all the archival releases being from the same 30 year period.Why can't Dave release some of the good stuff from alternate universes?
my biggest complaint is the first 2 volumes of 'dave's picks' are mid-70's dead.
how much more mid-70s dead does one actually need? its not only predictable, its downright derivative, and demonstrates little effort by those who are in charge of show selection.
'road trips' failed because everyone coveted the bonus discs, and once they were gone no one bought the 2 disc versions. by the time, those in charge realized their mistake it was too late, so the only remedy was to change the name.
despite earlier claims; there is nothing new about 'dave's picks'.
And posted in the "What's on your MP3" thread in the forum because this page wasn't here when I logged on. Of course as soon as I logged off it appeared center screen like magic....
I suppose I should know better by now than to read the comments for any of the releases here but I just can't get the grin off my face listening to this show so what is up with all the complaints already?
Locations
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