Dave's Picks Volume 2
July 31, 1974
SOLD OUT
Subscriber's Only
Bonus Disc Cover.
Dave’s Picks Volume 2 is officially SOLD OUT.
Stay tuned for an upcoming seaside chat with David Lemieux as part of our Dave’s Picks series.
ABOUT VOLUME 2
We warned you. We said there was a chance that the limited edition Dave’s Picks releases could sell out. And sure enough, Volume 1 is a goner. No copies left. (OK, even we were a little surprised it sold out so quickly.)
Which brings us to Dave’s Picks, Volume 2. The thousands of you who bought the full-year Dave’s Picks subscription have nothing to worry about. Your CDs (and the bonus disc that comes with this one for subscribers) will be winging their way to you shortly. But NOW is the time when all you other good people who are interested in purchasing this potent slice of Dead history can submit your orders.
The show in question is a three-set wonder from Hartford’s Dillon Stadium during the heart of the Wall of Sound era, July 31, 1974, four days after the release of the Dead’s fine Mars Hotel album. Dwarfed by the Wall’s irregular columns of speakers on a hot and humid Wednesday afternoon, the band thrilled the sold-out crowd of 20,000 with a far-ranging collection of tunes and jams that showed how far they’d come as musicians, songwriters and interpreters of others’ songs in their decade together.
The 12-song first set kicks off with the still-new “Scarlet Begonias” (opening a show for the first of just three times in the Dead’s entire history), and includes such other early ’70s favorites as “Jack Straw,” “Brown-Eyed Women,” a pairing of “Mississippi Half-Step” and “Must’ve Been the Roses” and “Row Jimmy.” The '73-’74 versions of “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” have a unique character, and this one exemplifies that nicely.
Things start to open up a bit more in the second set. An expansive “Eyes of the World” is partnered with a particularly fragile “China Doll” mid-set, and the concluding take on the complete “Weather Report Suite” is filled with impressive shifts in dynamics and purposeful jamming during a 12-minute “Let It Grow.” That set also has a good “Big River” and an excellent “Ship of Fools” (another new song that year).
Set Three starts with a couple of short selections, hits an early emotional peak with one of the better versions of “To Lay Me Down” from that era, and then really goes into gear with the onset of “Truckin’,” so often a gateway to wondrous possibilities. This one rumbles and wanders and flits and crashes and dashes all over the place during a half-hour exploration that includes what is popularly called the “Mind Left Body” jam and a full-blown Spanish jam, before eventually winding up at the docks for a deep “Wharf Rat.” The set closer, “U.S. Blues,” was one of the anchors of the Mars Hotel album (and an FM radio hit at the time); a perfect summer anthem.
All Dave’s Picks releases are mastered to HDCD specs from the original vault tapes by Jeffrey Norman, and include a booklet containing an essay about the show and period photos. The Digipak is made of 100% recycled and PCW materials on heavier paper stock due to high demand. The limited edition consists of 12,000 numbered copies.
— Blair Jackson
DAVID LEMIEUX ON VOLUME 2 & MORE
David Lemieux sits down for a seaside chat about his favorite moments on Dave's Picks, Volume 2: Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT - 7/31/74 and sheds a little light on how Dave's Picks are selected. Watch the video here:
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I am taking a break from the electric and put on some Jerry pick'in the 'ol five string. I hope another complete show is released. I know Bear recorded the entire tour. I am not sure if David Grisman is the only one who can release this stuff or if Jerry's family or Rhino. Not enough banjo for sure!!
What show has Jerry pick'in the banjo (as seen on Grateful Dawg Movie) in front of the Wall of Sound with David Grisman? I assume they were opening for the Grateful Dead in March or April of '74. I wonder id David sat in on a song or two. Does anybody know?
Dave's Picks Vol. 2 and Bonus CD are great, I'm very happy with this release. I have read a lot of comments on this release, and its limitation to 12,000 copies.
The reason they limit is all business, the only reason. They offer the subscription to know how many they need for sure, 12 K seemed like a solid number, but it was not, so Rhino learns from this. Dave's Pick Vol. 3 will most likely be more. Rhino wants our money, it is paramount to them.
We must look at this like a popular stock being offered for sale to the public (IPO), the subscription is the best bet going. You are guaranteed a Bonus CD, all volumes and free shipping. Anything left over is up for grabs, this time it was 2500 copies. If you did not pick one up on the second public offering, well then it's your own fault.
Those coming back to buy a few extra copies to sale are in it for the money, they know they can return their money two to three times, maybe more. Face it, these CD sets are valuable, they resale on Ebay for big bucks. I saw a copy of Vol. 1 go for 98 bucks last night, and a 2012 Bonus CD sold for 102 today. View From The Vault II, CD set sold for 164 bucks last year. Collectors want this stuff.
I wish it were like the old days, no stress, you just ordered a copy when you wanted. In the age of corporate greed, we are in a whole new ball game. Like it or not this is how it is. Hopefully Rhino will want to take care of us Deadheads that are buying this stuff. I'll get a subscription every year it is offered. I miss the old days of customer service too when a Deadhead would answer the phone and knew exactly what to do for you. Today we get run around in circles and fed bad information. It is, what it is.
Keep jamming.
CP
# 7839 finally showed up in Milwaukee. Listening as you read.
Ok Dave, whats next?
If people paying $70 for a show can sport that dough, they shoulda just ponied up and bought the subscription, for $30 more you could of had 4 shows and the highly coveted bonus disc. Silly.
No worries on the pipe. I enjoy my shows sober
THANK YOU, i WAITED TO LATE TO PURCHASE BUT i WILL TRY FIND THE BONUS SHOW. ENJOY!
Capital Centre, Landover, MD 7/29/74
1. Sugaree
2. Weather Report Ste.
3. He's Gone
4. Truckin'
5. Nobody's Fault But Mine
6. The Other One
7. Spanish Jam
8. Wharf Rat
The bonus disc is from the Landover MD show on 7/29/74: good stuff!!
What is the show date of the bonus disk that came with Daves Pick 2? Thank you.
Location
I guess kareoke kicks in to cover the vocals onmuch of BIODTL. Eyes is terriffic, especially with Wood Aged Double IPA from Great Divide.