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.

Some of the so-called DeadHeads posting here don't seem to have much sense of history or perspective on the topic of compilations. Blanket statements that "DeadHeads don't like compilations" are just plain untrue. By the way -- some of the most beloved official releases of the Dea's live material were... *gasp* ...compilations.

Anthem of the Sun? Compilation (live & studio).
Live/Dead? Compilation (and the suite was spliced between shows, even).
Skull & Roses? Compilation.
Europe '72? Mega compilation. With studio overdubs.

My opinion? I usually don't care for complete shows (except for the ones I went to), particularly post '76. Sure, the closing of Fillmore East had some astounding music, but I just don't need to hear that sluggish, out-of-tune Playin' that I recall from my original complete tapes. And listening to yet another Saturday Night closer or debating the merits of one of the myriad Promised Lands just isn't what I listen to the Dead for. Sorry.

This is not to say that completists are wrong in any sense -- it's certainly a valid point of view and you know what you like. Complete shows are out there, if you know where to look. But some of the complainers might want to take the time to read for comprehension: there *will* be complete shows released, as well as compilations and other oddities in-between. It's all good. It's just that this Road Trips series seems to be for compilations. Whatever -- there's a lot of good music waiting to be heard, and yes, some forgettable stuff too, and some ill-recorded.

To the folks behind the scenes keeping the music alive -- thanks for that. You know the old saying: if you can't please everybody.... well, you know the rest. I trust your judgment; I 've lots of great CDs from you all already.

best,

Jeff

Dancin>Franklins should have been on this.

That's not a bad idea--the GDHour on CD. No way would I buy them all, but there are some I would. Some of the interviews are worth hearing twice, and there have been some real nice things that snuck out there and only there. The Black Mountain Boys from GDH #421, which was posted on this site a while back--now, that's something I'd never heard, never even knew existed, and was in hog heaven to discover.

But, then again, I'm one of those "kids" (a spritely 37) who never got to see the band before 1979. And if Rhino wants to make me their target audience, hell, I won't complain.

...I would just like to note that the name of this compilation is Road Trips: Volume 1 Number 1. The fact that this is referred to with both "volume" and "number" seems to indicate that there will be a Road Trips: Volume 1 Number 2. I speculate that this will be another 1979, and perhaps the Cape Cod show. Lots of speculation there, but they are using that specific label for a reason and we shouldn't overlook it.