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
I remember thinking how I prefer 1974 over 1973, because there are 21.94 percent of shows with Let It Grow in 74, and only 18.223 percent of shows with this song in 73. It's so obvious, I needn't even write this. LOL
first of all.... '72 grateful dead bores me to tears.
anyone who bought the 73 disc box set either has way too much money, or a very limited taste in music.
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as for repetitive tours: the grateful dead played....
dark star --> st. stephen --> the eleven --> turn on your love light
just 42 times in 1969; out of the 150 shows performed that year. 28% of all shows.
even when not playing 'love light' the grateful dead played....
dark star --> st. stephen --> the eleven
a mere 54 times. thats only 36%.
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winterland '73 features 'weather report suite' all 3 nights.
winterland '77 features 'terrapin station' all 3 nights.
there is a big difference between a bit of repetition when packaged in a 10 disc box set, and an overly repetitive 73 disc money grab.
seriously, has there been a more repetitive tour?
What about that crappy FW '69 box?
Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Lovelight.
Sheesh, what did they do that like every night???
lol
if they do release another box set, i hope its more akin to the 'fillmore west 1969', 'winterland 1973', 'winterland 1977' & 'formerly the warlocks' box sets.
IMO there is no need to release another 'europe '72' monstrosity. box sets don't need to be 73 CDs long. especially, when there is no discernible difference between shows.
seriously, has there been a more repetitive tour?
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Those all look great to me. I notice how the last one is right! 7.31.74!
A new Box Set would surely be great ... but when? and what?
anybody got some idea?
It should be noted that each of the past four years a Box Set was released for us. I feel spoiled by how much music is available. I sure hope the streak continues in 2012. As always, a big thanks to the people behind the scenes for all their efforts. There are many more than this, though here are the dates I remember that flashed before the Dave's Picks logo:
5/26/73 Kezar Stadium- San Francisco, CA
5/17/74 PNE Coliseum- Vancouver, British Columbia
1/22/78 McArthur Court- Univ. of Oregon- Eugene, OR
3/9/81 Madison Square Garden- New York, NY
4/23/69 The Ark- Boston, MA
5/19/74 Portland Memorial Coliseum- Portland, OR
5/26/77 Baltimore Civic Center- Baltimore, MD
10/3/76 Cobo Arena- Detroit, MI
11/4/77 Cotterell Gym- Colgate Univ. Hamilton, NY
9/18/87 Madison Square Garden- New York, NY
7/31/74 Dillon Stadium- Hartford, CT
Not certain of 5/26/73, should've written them all down
Can't believe all the complaints. The first week or so of May 1977 (all the GREAT shows) are not in the vault, they were auctioned off in the Betty Boards stash I believe. Along with a whole bunch of other shows you'd rather not hear about.
Probably won't get a 1968 Dave's Picks. We got that '68 Dick's Picks but there really isn't anything from '68 that would work.
No one would complain about another '72 show so soon after the Europe boxed set.
Anybody consider that we may get a two-disc pick with the third disc being from another or other shows from the same time period?
Bring on the '71 and the '73 please. I love those years. Thank you for all the wonderful music (except '76, '81, '83, '84, '86, '87, '88, '92, '93 and '94).
Can't believe all the complaints. The first week or so of May 1977 (all the GREAT shows) are not in the vault, they were auctioned off in the Betty Boards stash I believe. Along with a whole bunch of other shows you'd rather not hear about.
Probably won't get a 1968 Dave's Picks. We got that '68 Dick's Picks but there really isn't anything from '68 that would work.
No one would complain about another '72 show so soon after the Europe boxed set.
Anybody consider that we may get a two-disc pick with the third disc being from another or other shows from the same time period?
Bring on the '71 and the '73 please. I love those years. Thank you for all the wonderful music (except '76, '81, '83, '84, '86, '87, '88, '92, '93 and '94).
Location
Thanks to cbs73, who had the foresight to write down many of the potential Dave's Picks in a previous thread. The following adds to the list posted above...
9/28/75 Lindley Meadows- Golden Gate Park- San Francisco, CA
6/10/73 RFK Stadium- Washington, DC
6/30/73 Universal Ampitheatre- Universal City, CA
9/11/73 College Of William and Mary- Williamsburg, VA
6/14/76 Beacon Theatre- New York, NY
6/22/91 Soldier Field- Chicago, IL
6/23/74 Jai-Alai Fronton- Miami, FL
1/2/70 Fillmore East- New York, NY
3/29/93 Knickerbocker Arena- Albany, NY
11/2/84 Berkeley Community Theatre- Berkeley, CA
4/15/78 College Of William and Mary- Williamsburg, VA
10/27/90 Zenith- Paris, France
There are others, list is not complete. Maybe 11/7/71, can't remember though