Please note that due to its size and weight, this item incurs higher shipping fees than the standard Dead.net store ship rates.
WHAT'S INSIDE:
Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA (4/5/69) – Cassette
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA (6/5/69)
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA (6/7/69)
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA (6/8/69)
Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY (2/24/71)
Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY (2/20/71)
Fillmore East, New York, NY (4/25/71)
Fillmore East, New York, NY (4/27/71)
Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA (9/15/72)
Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA (9/16/72)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (3/16/73)
Winterland, San Francisco, CA (3/20/77)
Philadelphia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA (5/13/78)
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO (8/12/79)
Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI (8/23/80)
Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI (7/11/81)
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT (3/14/81)
Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA (5/1/81)
Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (8/20/83)
Greek Theatre, University of California, Berkeley, CA (7/13/84)
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA (11/21/85)
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA (11/22/85)
Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY (9/16/87)
Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN (7/15/89)
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA (12/27/89)
Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA (5/12/91)
Capital Centre, Landover MD (3/17/93)
Capital Centre, Landover MD (9/15/82)
Boston Garden, Boston, MA (10/3/94)
Originally Recorded By Owsley “Bear” Stanley, Betty Cantor-Jackson, Kidd Candelario, Dan Healy, & John Cutler
Mastered By David Glasser & Jeffrey Norman
Plangent Processes Tape Restoration And Speed Correction
Custom Keepsake Box w/ A Guide Book By Jesse Jarnow, Producer's Note By David Lemieux, & Essay By The Stanley Owlsey Foundation
Design By Once Upon A Time
Limited To 6,000 Individually Numbered Copies
Dead.net Exclusive
When the ride begins in '65 at a pizza parlor in the South Bay under another moniker, who would have imagined? When "Who Are You? Where Are You? How Are You?" became "Won't you come with me?" and, ultimately, "Where does the time go?," who would have thought? 60 years on, we're celebrating the Grateful Dead's Diamond Era. Here we go back to the beginning, to the original "Follow," and uncover the wonders of getting on the bus all over again.
ENJOYING THE RIDE is a sweeping 60-CD collection that maps an epic cross-country road trip along the “Heady Highway” with stops at storied venues where the music, the moment, and the magic of the Dead reliably converged. Spanning 25 years of legendary live performances, this expansive compendium spotlights defining shows from 1969 to 1994 at 20 venues that consistently inspired the band to new heights.
With the exception of a few tracks from earlier releases, virtually all of the music on ENJOYING THE RIDE is previously unreleased, with more than 450 tracks and over 60 hours of music. Of the 20 shows in the collection, 17 are presented in full, with some featuring additional material from the same venue. The remaining three — Fillmore West, Fillmore East, and Boston Music Hall — are curated from multiple performances at each venue, capturing key moments on those legendary stages.
These performances were originally recorded by Owsley “Bear” Stanley, Betty Cantor-Jackson, Kidd Candelario, Dan Healy, and John Cutler. David Glasser and Jeffrey Norman restored and mastered the performances, with select ones using Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction for optimal sound quality.
It's all housed in a custom keepsake box inspired by the experience of traveling from city to city to see the Dead at legendary venues across America. Inside, a beautifully detailed tour guide features liner notes by Jesse Jarnow (author and co-host of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast) and a producer’s note from Lemieux, an essay by the Owsley Stanley Foundation, and more. The set is richly illustrated with photos, including many taken at the shows featured in the collection.
Due May 30th, this one is limited to 6,000 individually numbered copies and exclusive to Dead.net. We invite you to take this not-so-little piece of the road home.
Enjoying the Ride for sure
Got my box set and I’m definitely enjoying the ride so far!
I started with the cassette and working my way on. So cool that it comes with a cassette. I need to make a copy of it so I can listen a lot and not worry.
Also, with the Fillmore East show from 4/25/71, the songs missing from that were released on Ladies and Gentlemen.
So, when uploaded the music on my computer, I like to add in the missing songs to make a complete show. There are also 2 songs from 4/27/71.
Shout out to deaddisc.com for making the research easy!
My copy of Deadbase does not appear to have the correct setlist so I’m going off of Archive.
Which reads as follows.
**Set 1**: Truckin', Loser, Hard To Handle, Me And Bobby McGee, Cold Rain and Snow, The Rub, Playing in the Band, Friend Of The Devil, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Casey Jones
**Set 2**: Morning Dew, Beat It On Down the Line, Next Time You See Me, Bertha, Sugar Magnolia, I Second That Emotion, Good Lovin', Sing Me Back Home, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
**Encore**: Uncle John's Band
E72 trunk ....
I'm so jealous WISSINOMINGDEADHEAD ... is everything in pretty good shape? is that a good price? Was the arrangement such that you could decline if the product was not what was represented? I've been wanting the trunk to round out my collection forever, but haven't pulled the trigger .... topchinacat
Festival Express? Might As Well!
This is more of a side bar & query on that song, and I just haven't had the time to interject it earlier for one reason or another. Anyways,....
.... I am familiar with the movie about the tour and the subsequent jam sessions on the train going from town to town up in Canadia, summertime 1970. It's a fantastic music movie with tons of live concert footage & interviews, also with a great few songs from The Band too, amongst many others. Truly a favorite of mine that I own on digital and revisit plenty.
I have also long had my suspicions about that certain Jerry tune off his 1976 album, and it having earlier origins. Quite possibly from that train ride back in 1970, I will explain below. There may be a web thread out there somewhere about this I don't know of, and for those that do know, please do forgive me.
From my listening & guesswork about the song itself, "Might As Well" has a sort of 'train-style' rhythm & tempo, along with lyrics that sort of tell the tale of that train ride, or of a metaphorical one anyway. Folks have said in places I've read that the song was like a show barometer, as it was always of high energy and jovial.
Another point to bear, the background harmonies of the additional singers, (Historically either Donna or Brent) on the chorus lines have always sounded fresh and perfect wether it be Donna (angelically in~tune post 1976) or the weathered & lived in gruff soulful voice of Brent. Now,... ...Who on that train ride way back in 1970 had both the angelic tune of a strong female vocal, AND, the soulful rasp of a road worn voice?
Jerry's good friend Janis Joplin of course! I truly believe that song was born of that train ride jam amongst the tour~mates & friends. Kinda like when I hear "Bird Song" I think of Janice, the same goes for this song and that train. Anyways sorry about the weird hypothesis, I just had to throw that conjecture up in the air to see where it lands & if anyone out there may know for real. Ya know,....
....Might As Well?
Fillmore NYC > Hampton VA
Listened to the Fillmore discs on the road yesterday and this morning. Both Hard to Handles are fantastic, just like last summer's DaP Pitt release.
Need to check out the guitar work on FOTD at home because I couldn't quite tell what was going on while on the highway, but really liked what I could pick up on. Almost sounded like a sit in from another guitarist.
This afternoon projected myself down to Hampton to catch the second set, while with every window in the house open, with a perfect early summer temp, slow sipping a Boulevard/Firestone Walker wheat wine collaboration, enjoying that '81 groove....
MUSTIN321, that's a good idea. I'll be doing same. While I have an old Sony mini box, I'm afraid it'll eat the tape!
Might As Well?
... Yes, it's very clearly written as a fond remembrance of that 'ride' in 1970. Although I personally doubt the actual song was conceived along the way in a substantive form / in real time.
Perhaps there is a possibility of a thread in the music from one of the 'sessions' on the train (only the universe really knows), but Hunter's lyrics suggest that he was looking backwards some few or handful of years later.
Also, Saw that several folks were enjoying
5.12.91 - Shoreline
that Deal is HOT, and the sound is awesome ... We Need More Shows with Bruce and/or in this style + sound quality >> SmokinGrooven!!
This was a few days after my 4th to last show (Cal Expo, Sac-Town) and I did not have more time and $$$ to travel down to the S. Bay right at that point.
Ended on a high note in August though with 3 more Cal Expo shows ... and then (for the same reason) I missed Shoreline again right afterwards.
Oh well - Enjoyed the Ride
5.12.91...
....I was at that one. Music is coming soon in the mail from my friends.
@Topchinact
It was on eBay since last Monday at a 1200 BIN I couldn't resist. Seller needed fast $$$$ that's why it was so cheap. I bought every show on dead.net when they released every show individually the thing is I really REALLY wanted the trunk it took me years to land one. It is a very clear case of well worth the wait. Let's hope it's all there. Expected arrival next Saturday the 14th.
What Can One Say?
Cap Center '94 (edit: '93) Days Between is also very fine/emotional ... Never saw one live (post my time), but the truth/weight of the statement >> Resonates.
✌️
Bright Blue Box Cars, Train By Train ('93 Cap Landover)
Vinny's timing was impeccable. Really cleaned things up with less being more. Those last few years make me think of '76. All that open space around the notes.
That folk line in Space...(!!!!!)....so familiar but can't place it. Sounds Scottish.
5B - That's Handsome Cabin Boy
What ever year it is just go looking to what Jerry's recording on his side projects that same year like with Dawg Grisman. That's often what he'll be noodling on.
Cheers
Wow, that Days Between... and what a set list on this. (3-17-93) Even a Dark Star!
It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to McGee
I think Robert Hunter has confirmed that Might as Well was inspired by the Festival Express train ride. And I think that in typical RH fashion, he made it ambiguous enough so that the song could be about lots of things.
My memory is not very trustworthy, but I seem to recall that Weir taught the song Me and Bobby McGee to Janis during that train ride. Seems plausible.
My favorite scene is probably the one where Rick Danko is teaching Janis Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos. Oh, oh, oh-oh.
Had a great time this afternoon listening to the '77 Winterland show in the box. What great sound, great playing. Still kicking myself that I didn't grab that '77 Winterland box when it came out. Be lucky to find a copy for less than $600 anymore.
Anniversary show 6/8/75 El Camino Park. Palo Alto
50 years ago I was up at El Camino Park in Palo Alto to see Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir with King fish and the Rowan Brothers, what a cool scene. The Dead had played in this park in June of 1967. Fun times.
Shoreline 1991..
I didnt know this one.. what a great show ! MONSTER H/S/F..
Errors are not in the art but in the artificers.........
Morning rockers................
There are glitches at the beginnings of almost every CD in my box. Why did I drink the kool-aid..........................?????
Now, a very large paperweight. Never again...................
Your philosophy determines whether you will go for the disciplines or continue the errors.......
Doc
The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth........
Was expecting full shows
So I for some reason was expecting full and complete shows. Started with H.J.K. 85, shoulda been 3-88. 85 was one of my first tapes. Got a low number! Why was the 4-25-71 edited? I do enjoy the output, will be listening til the day i die. Next up please Fillmore West September 1970, i would love to hear a cleaned up 9-20-70 acoustic set. Until the next one.......
Tracking Error
I had a few discs with tracking errors on the first track eac, and the rest of the tracks were fine so I ripped in a different pc eac with no tracing error?? Good luck!
Might As Well
In the book “A Box of Rain” Lyrics: 1965 - 1993 by Robert Hunter it clearly states that the song is written about the train ride.
Doc
With past releases some people have complained that the CD’s don’t play on high-end players but do play on mid-range players. May be the SHF posts where I read that.
So far all 13 CD’s that I have played on a Cambridge Audio AXC35 have played without error.
#14 is playing now, 2-24-71 and it has not yet had any errors.
I have had numerous instances with past CD’s where they play fine in a CD player but have trouble ripping.
The worst offender was Road Trips ‘77 compilation where it took 3 different burners. Each burner found errors in different songs, so with 3 copies of each CD I was able to piece together a good copy.
I haven’t tried ripping any of these CD’s yet.
6-5,7,8-69% FW
Thank you OSF and the Adopt-A-Reel patrons.
Reel and Spectacular!
If that’s all that exists I’m glad we got what we did.
Could those reels be what was in the banana box?
Sometimes, a little dab'll do ya
I've been dreading the prospect of defective discs in this set. For all the obvious reasons. So far, having listened to about 10-12 discs, everything has worked correctly, BUT I did have two discs that started off glitchy.
What happened was that I put them in, started to play, and there were dropouts, so I pulled the discs back out and wiped them off really well with a soft cloth I keep near the hi fi for just that purpose. And then they worked fine.
I couldn't really see anything wrong with the discs, but my guess is that maybe there were bits of glue or other debris left over from manufacturing, and once I wiped 'em down they were fine.
Defective discs are really the worst. I sympathize with anyone who's having problems. But I thought I'd mention: in my case, at least, a good wipe down has fixed a couple problem discs.
Also Doc...
...That last part I want put on my tombstone!
P.S. Either that or "Here Lies Stupid"
My Tour So Far (in order)...
Deer Creek
Fillmore West
Greek Theater
Winterland Arena
Red Rocks
Capitol Theatre
Capital Centre
Big Butcher's Block Box Chop
Thank you to Strat-Wolf, Crow-Told, & the IceCreamKid for all the insight!
Wow! That Hunter book looks fantastical, but damn it's probably been out of print for decades. It was first published back in the early 1990s when I was still in High School. Well it's nice to have that confirmed now.
Anyways,... I want to keep ripping the Big Box to my iTunes but I just can't do it in good faith without digesting more of what I already did get onto my computer! I am quite amazed so far, and I only have seven more shows to get to. I probably will end with Shoreline 1991 because it's a rocking' doozy, and would make for a nice closer to my Enjoying The Ride Box journey. I should've started with Port Chester 1971 but instead I went;.....
Nassau~1973 >> Hampton~1981 >> Hartford~1981 >> Philadelphia~1978 >> Winterland~1977 >> Frost~1983 >> Greek~1984 >> Red Rocks~1979 >> Alpine~1980+'81 >> Landover~1993+'82 >> Port Chester~1971 >> Boston~1972 >> MsG @ NYc~1987..... I will probably head up to Deer Creek~1989 next.
Besides listening to the shows mentioned above & ripping them to digital, I have been going "Chop~Show" crazy with the additional playlists created from this Big Box. Mainly blending two shows into a great big one, i.e.; 1983 &'84, 1977 &'78, Both 1981 shows, Red Rocks & Alpine Valley, etc., & still,... Enjoying The Ride!
The Ride...
'94, '91, '83, '80/81 Alpine...... Spectrum '78.
Thought today I would head up the NJTP to MSG, '87.... Keep the windows up as we pass DuPont Chemical....
Eddy.. As he dances the circular track of the plow ever knowing....
The Ride, and an extended detour into 1971
I was pleasantly surprised to find the box waiting for me when I returned home of an evening, two Fridays past, the penultimate day of May. However, my only trip so far has been the first show(s), Fillmore West. In part because June 5-8 just rolled around I kept it on my desk, and I did justice to it over this past weekend.
...but thanks to the largesse of one Forensicdoceleven, I spent the last week of May taking an extended detour through March and April of 1971. It started when folks here were musing on Dave's 51, and then I reached out to Doc and he kindly reached back with 51 arms' worth of music as well as some writings and... yeah. 1971! So thank you, Doc. Between your cache and the riches of The Ride, I think my summer listening has been predestined.
edit: has the forum always automatically capitalized every word in the subject line? I don't remember this being a thing
Box
I am just starting my second show, Alpine 1980, sounding great so far.
I think it would be really interesting if they produced a video showing the work they have to do to put out a show for one of these box sets. Dave mentioned the tapes were in al kinds of different states and there was a tremendous amount of work put in to get to the final product.
Plus I haven't seen Jeffery Norman since the remake of the Grateful Dead Movie from 2005.
Edit. By the way Firstshow, 4th row for the 79 Red Rocks show. Man, lucky dog!
The Cassette
Does anyone have a link for the material on the cassette? I have no way to listen to it.
No box here either
I’m glad, although disappointed, that I’m not the only one still waiting. The box sounds great from all the comments, but mine seems to be lost. Got fedex tracking number created 5/28 from CS, but not a single update since… pretty sad after spending $600.
Winterland Arena..
Why the strange choice of moving A & A from disc 2 (there was room for it..) to disc 3 ? And no bonus tracks.. ?
The curious incident of the Winterland in the nighttime
That's a good question re: bonus tracks, Danehead, I wondered about that myself.
First guess: I don't know this to be true, but if both 3/18 and 3/19 are complete in the vault, perhaps that's why they don't want to release partials of either. OTOH if that's the case then it is a mystery why this three-night run didn't get a minibox like the Nov '73 and June '77 three-night runs did.
Second guess : actually that's really my only guess. There are dozens of shows played at Winterland. The first 20 are all 1970 are before; surely some have fragmentary bits in the vault that would have been useful as bonus tracks. And if that was considered "too early" to pair with a '77 show, I have to believe some of the December '77 stuff is kicking around. Some of 12/30 was used as filler for Dick's Vol 10: unless that was the only reel in the vault, this would have seemed a good time to release more. (Dave? You there, sir? Care to comment?)
Winterland Filler...
Got too save them '77ens...For D. P. Sub's
R.I.P. Sly Stone
Ripped and Ready
Finally got all 60 ripped and the tags cleaned up. Had a line on getting the tape digitized, but that fell through. Should be some fun listening!
Winter '78 box
Someday they'll spring this one on us, complete with sbd patches!
November & December 1978
Any Box Set or Dave's Pick from that era would be more than welcome but it better have a "Shakedown Street" and there are a bunch to choose from for sure. The song's official live releases are sort of few to come by, but even more rare is any "Shakedown" with Keith & Donna.
{Rocking the Cradle, Winterland Closing NYE, and a Road Trips is all I know of}
Also the Donna song "From The Heart Of Me" would sound appropriate and real good. Some dates come to mind; Pauley@UCLA~12/30, San Diego~12/28, Dallas~12/22, Fox@Atlanta~12/17, Alabama~12/15, Capital Theater@Prassaic,NJ~11/24, amongst others.
***Edit*** Forgot to mention 'Shakedowns' from Dick's Picks, Two from Dave's Picks, MsG Box, and the current Big Box. These are Brent versions but still relatively a rare song by release numbers.
Sylvester "Stone" Stewart
Rest In Peace!
His musical ensemble was another good example of a '60s band from San Fran. Sly & the Family Stone, was also the only music group to have performed at BOTH Woodstock & The Harlem Cultural Festival. The song "Stand" comes to mind as an inspiring melody.
Finally got some news...
My box has finally shipped. Should have it Wednesday.
Now I can feel some excitement instead of frustration.
Soon to be enjoying the ride. Hope the rest of you get yours soon.
And definitely an echo on all the RIP's to Sly...
"And stop ripping as mp3s - they give you cancer"
Hilarious.. and true!
RIP Sly Stone
Kudos for having a band, in the 60's, that included male, female, black and white members all on an equal footing. Truly a head of his times. Key track for me, "Thank You ( Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).

