The Latest On Dave's Picks
Limited Edition Numbered Archival Series
What happens when you take the spirit of Dick's Picks and combine it with the very best aspects of Road Trips? Dave's Picks! Esteemed archivist, vaultmeister, and all-around Dead fiend David Lemieux will curate the finest unreleased shows from the master tapes, brought to life with HDCD sonics by Jeffrey Norman, period photos, and informative liner notes. All four CD releases in 2012 will be limited to 12,000 individually numbered copies and each will come in a digipak printed on Orford stock. The entire packaging, including the trays, will be made of 100% recycled and PCW materials.
The series kicks off with a uniquely spectacular show from the highly regarded Spring Tour of '77 - May 25, 1977, The Mosque in Richmond, Virginia. You can learn more about this show here.
Dave's Picks Volume 2 will feature a 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, including 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.
NEW INFO: 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.
Throughout the year, David will take you behind the scenes and share with you the process of curating and producing the official Grateful Dead archival series. Watch the new video below and his introductory video at the bottom!
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dead picks
How about a two dvd set from 7.18.90 and 7.19.90 deer creek both shows would be great.Rock on with jerry.These shows are so good.
Cabbage Patch Marketing
a/k/a "Limited Editions" make my skin crawl. I'm 57 years old and have a house full of crap that I thought was "collectible" but is really only crap that my kids and grandkids have to deal with. Music costs next to nothing to reproduce. Sell it for four times next to nothing and you have a decent return on investment. Other than that is just Republican-style greed. I might buy this stuff, I might not. On the other hand, I could play The Grateful Dead 24 hours a day from my collection and not repeat anything for about, oh, I don't know, I'm not good with math, but a long time. Don't press your luck with the "Limited Edition" thing. Just a suggestion.
Cabbage Patch Marketing
a/k/a "Limited Editions" make my skin crawl. I'm 57 years old and have a house full of crap that I thought was "collectible" but is really only crap that my kids and grandkids have to deal with. Music costs next to nothing to reproduce. Sell it for four times next to nothing and you have a decent return on investment. Other than that is just Republican-style greed. I might buy this stuff, I might not. On the other hand, I could play The Grateful Dead 24 hours a day from my collection and not repeat anything for about, oh, I don't know, I'm not good with math, but a long time. Don't press your luck with the "Limited Edition" thing. Just a suggestion.
sorry for the duplicate post
I haven't been here for a while and hit the wrong button, apparently. Tried to edit it away and failed. I hate computers.
Limited edition - really?
To everyone complaining about the limited edition thing (and I see why you might be frustrated) do you really think it will make a difference? How many of these do they even sell? You all seem to assuming that the 12,000 figure is going to be less than they'll actually sell. Why would they do that? It would make way more sense to make another 1,000 if they could sell another 1,000. I think the 12,000 figure is based on sales of previous releases, meaning they must be selling about 12,000 each time, in which case what have you got to worry about? You'll get your music if you order it.
Now, the question of ordering now or later is a different matter. If you can't afford/don't want to order now, fair enough. If you miss out altogether, that will be frustrating. As has been pointed out here several times though, if you're buying GD releases regularly, surely you can stump up the cash for the subscription? It means you can budget for your GD releases for the next year.
I don't know...it just seems like complaining about the limited edition thing involves making an unwise assumption, i.e. that Rhino will create fewer copies of the releases than they expect to sell, and that makes no sense to me. It's just a tactic to encourage people to sign up.
Although, then you've got the trashbags who buy the stuff in bulk and sell it on ebay. Hmmmm....
Subscriptions Only
I for one would like the opportunity to order the releases as they are announced, rather than ordering the next 4, knowing only one of the shows that will be offered. This is not a knock on David Lemieux' or the bands choices for release, but more a personal preference. I already have more mid 80's GD in soundboard than I care to listen to. My preference in 70's, then 60's, then 89-91. So if I could order just this release without having to do the whole subscription I would like it better, even foregoing the bonus disc.
Cabbage Patch I want it free
Otherjuan I agree with you that 95% of the "collectables" that people (especially our non materialist generation) collect is worthless junk even in the short run. But you are wrong when you say that reproducing music costs next to nothing. The analogy is people who say the cost of medicine is what it costs to maake a pill ignoring all the related costs. And that of course is Democrat style I want something for free (please sir won't you pay my school loans) mentality. Hey don't look at me you brought it up. And of course the running whine that needs to be corrected every once in a while. Capitalism isn't bad, Ebay is capitolism at its basic and if what you bought thinking it would be worth big money doesn't pan out oh well. Buy stamps or coins. Limited editions generate buzz. Buzz creates quick sales. People who work for Rhino happy. Owners (Grateful Dead ) happy. People who wanted and got it happy. People who wanted THE MUSIC and didn't get it resourceful and happy. People who wanted the LIMITED EDITION and think the rules should be changed because the didn't get the LIMITED EDITION (a very few) angry
Limited edition
Noticed that the talk here is mostly about the limited edition status of this offering, let's revisit the first limited edition, the Terrapin Station museum release of 3/15/90 at the Capitol Center in Landover, MD, released in 9/97 as a limited edition (mine has a number) it is still available. And no museum.Still ....
I really don't think so snafu
The funny thing is no one is asking for something for nothing. Who here is asking for a handout? I bought the subscription but I still think that the Limited Edition idea is a bad idea which disproves your post about people wanting handouts and not paying for anything. I do think that there are scalpers will like this and I do think this will burn fans in the long run. I also think that there are a lot of fans who would like to know what they're getting before they shell out for a subscription. As far as Capitalism: Why limit something to 12,000 if you can sell 40,000 60,000 or 80,000? Get rid of the Limited Edition crap and just sell as many copies as you can. Since this isn't about politics I won't bring up the dubious points you raised there but I did get a good laugh. Thanks and have a nice day.
Yet more on limited editions
As Scott said, the "Terrapin Station" which was released in '97 is still available. That was supposedly a limited edition of "about 30000". I bought a copy as soon as it was released and was rewarded with copy # 25337. I was confused about that then and I am still confused about it now.As regards more recent Rhino limited editions, it is apparent that Rhino's definition of "Limited Edition" is that when the run (12000 in the case of "Dave's Picks") is sold out, it will no longer be available in that form. This was certainly the case with the "Europe '72" box which was touted as a limited edition of 7200 and no mention at all that other variants, mutations etc. would begin to appear almost as soon as the 7200 had sold out. Releases that are not limited editions are also limited to the number that are manufactured, but when they are sold out, if there appears to be sufficient demand then they can make some more - or not. This has been the case with various "Dick's Picks" and a few are now being reissued.
It has always been the case (and recently even more so) that if you do not buy something fairly quickly there is a real chance that it will be sold out when you get round to it.
Terrapin Station
One of The items that was to be at the Terrapin Station Museum was the ability to get any Cd set of a show that you wanted available from the vault, cool. Of course, you can almost do that from Archive.com, but not in hi quality.
let me help you Dark Star/Other one
It's called hyperbole. I thought you could figure that out with the medicine example. What I was responding to was The Otherjuan saying he wanted the shows for what it cost to stamp them ("music costs next to nothing to reproduce"). That is as false as people who think the cost of medicine is the cost of making the pill. I'm not going to bother going into the costs of making music people here should know. As for selling on Ebay Jesus get a life. If it's not worth what they want don't buy it. Does no one understand the concept of collecting. It's worth what the market will give no more no less. As I said in my earlier post the ones who are upset aren't the ones who don't get the Music part of the ltd.ed. they'll get that one way or the other. It's the I want the pretty picture or whatever on my my my terms. So yes you are right no one called for free releases just ones heavily subsidized by ...someone else
Cost
While it's true that the cost is more to manufacture say 16,000 than 12,000 (for example) it's also true that the price drops dramatically the more you make and by the time you mass produce that many, the cost will be next to nothing for a professional label. Rhino isn't a small independent company anymore as there owned by Warner Brothers which mass produces stuff all the time and makes TONS of profit from it. No, there's nothing wrong with that at all. Yes, I do understand the whole "collectibles" thing but I do believe that places like eBay keep the prices inflated among other things. Why do you think the prices on Road Trips can be three to four times what they cost here or charging $400.00 for a bootleg copy of Red Rocks '78? Btw, I do have a life, it's quite nice but thanks for asking and have a nice day.
On to a different subject: how about some '66-'68 stuff.
I guess I do have to explain
The cost of reproducing music especially on CD involves a great deal more that making 12000 or 16000. You've got mastering, distribution and the biggie royalties. Add to that, that wisely the dead stopped doing it on their own (they now talk to each other) and hired a major reissue company etc.etc. That is what I was talking about with other or related costs. As for Ebay you take the good with the bad. The good- in the past if you collected something say vinyl you were pretty much limited to your local stores now I buy collectable vinyl from all over the world (albeit for more than if I bought it from my local store 2) independant stores (books Lps)only stay in bussiness because of ebay they would all be gone without it. The bad- to me there isn't anything inherantly bad with ebay itself but being a neanderthal I'm not a fan of the loss of what privacy we still had left 20 years ago but that's an internet thing. The one bad thing about ebay is the flip side of finding what you want. You're competing with the world
dave's picks
I have a question about Dave's picks. Will Dave's picks be limited to the four a year like road trips or is there any possiblity that there will be more in a year. Will there be releases of any other shows direct to retailers like winterland box from 74 or any other vehicle. When will the next box be released.
View from the Beach II
Dave, the videos are great - really enjoying the look into the process. There is a lot of soulless corporate stuff in the music business these days, so the image of you sitting on some rocks on a Pacific beach, blissed out to the Mosque show and having the "epiphany" that THIS is THE show to release NOW, well that's the perfect antidote.
And, for the rest of the 2012 DaP releases, here is this subscriber's wish list, Santa:
- Anything from Oct-Nov 1972 (totally diffferent beast from Europe 72), please please please.
- Something from 1984
- any "Mickey and the Hartbeats" show from 1968 (that counts as the Dead right?)
- Or, Dillon '74 :-)
Dave's Picks title
The Dave's Picks subscription idea sounds pretty good, although I'm not too big a fan of bonus discs. The choice for Volume 1 (particularly with the fillers) does seem like a great pick with which to begin the series. But I have one complaint. Although I am a longtime fan of the Dead (going back to the release of the first Warner Bros. album in 1967), I don't comment much on bulletin boards. But I felt compelled to sign up for the forum to plead for a catchier title for the series -- why not Dave's Faves? People always loved the rhyme of Dick's Picks -- the Dick's Picks Thirty-Six, I like to call it -- and I think it would be great if the rhyming tradition could continue. I don't think Dave's Picks is a terrible title, and I see the reason for it, but I'm not sure it's "just exactly perfect," to quote some old friends, and I love just about all the Dead's album titles. No disrespect to Dave; he does seem to be an excellent picker. The 30 Days of the Dead cuts are wonderful. But what do others think about the title?
Another show like...
Dick's Picks Vol. 11. Another great, spacey and lean sounding show from that era would be terrific, as any of the others I've requested ;)
Road Trips
So, I notice on all the Road Trips pages underneath the info it states, "available while supplies Last." Since this message is on the sets that did not contain bonus discs as well, am I to assume that the Road Trips are going out of print?
Dave's Picks title 2
I admit that the name left me less than impressed at first. But it's growing on me, not the least bit because, after Dave's "audition" with the RT series, it feels as if the torch has officially been passed from Dick to Dave. Let the "Picks" series continue, and name it after whoever holds the Latvala seat in the Vault: DP>DaP>??P>???P until we squeeze every last note out of the sucker. We don't need no rhymin' names!
Agreed gratefaldean
Yup yup - as long as it's never "Phil's Picks" - heh.
(Anyway, I hope Dave picks 'em for a long long time)
"To Terrapin" May 28,1977
Dave, "To Terrapin" was done 2 years ago , May 28,1977, 3 days later, now you are releasing a show 3 days before?
JIm
PS-This was one of my favorites,going to hard to top ,incredible sound quality
Acoustic dead
Dave,
Would love to have more 1980 Warfield and Radio City Acoustic Dead that ws not on reckoning...also there is material from the 1970's acoustic that is great....
Don't forget your So. Cal friends. GD played some great shows in LA, OC, and across the stateline in Vegas.
Cheers.
Re: Dave's Picks title
It's pretty unanimous on the forums that Dave's Picks is a silly title. It makes no sense at all to use that name, unless of course it's an attempt to latch on to the success of the original series under the "Picks" name. The entire reason it was called Dicks Picks was because it rhymed! Dave's Picks sounds so stupid! Give Dave his own, original series with a unique name, as he so deserves! Either way, I have my subscription and will surely enjoy the music, but every time I pull one from the shelf and look at the cover I will shake my head.
Unanimous?
Hi FMR - I am saying this with a smile, no rancor intended:
I don't think opinion is "unanimous" about the title, any more than it was "unanimous" about "complete shows only." It's simply that people who get upset by such things post about them more. I think the title is fine, thus I haven't bothered to post anything on that subject (but I finally caved when I was, de-facto, lumped in through the use of the "U-word" heh).
As for Dave getting his own original series - didn't he have that with Road Trips? And didn't he get the sh-t kicked out of him from a constant barrage of complaints, until finally, it was decided to go back to something more like Dick's Picks. Aaah, delicious irony. :-)
Re: Unanimous
I wrote, "pretty unanimous", meaning the majority of people posting don't like the name. Obviously we don't know the thoughts on those who don't speak.
Also, they can go from Road Trips to something more like Dick's Picks, but it's not Dick's Picks, so they should call it somethings else. It's pretty simple.
Please, please yes...
Like 44moose says, more Radio City and Warfield. I've gathered that the vault is pretty spotty for Oct 80, but please give us a box set to complement Dead Set and Reckoning - whatever is there, we'll take it. :)
Dave's Picks
Obviously Dave's Picks doesn't roll off the tongue the way Dick's Picks does. Why did his parents have to name him Dave? I do think Dave's Picks sounds better than Dave's faves, which sounds like they are trying way to hard to be clever but just sounds campy. So if it was already decided to use Dave's Picks, so be it. He is after all picking the shows...
The beginning...
The first release of a new series is like the song that opens the show- A strong beginning often reveals the trip will be glorious. With 5/25/77, much like 12/19/73, the journey begins with a smooth stride and a joyous gallop. DL is steering our ship, and we'll be sailing the high tides into majestic waters, enjoying every note as we ride the thunderbolt into the Grateful paradise of Dave's Picks. Climb aboard everyone, this may well be the most thrilling ride of our lives...
the new series
It seems to me that karma and Dick helped a great deal in getting us all here to our privileged spot as well-rewarded fans of the best band ever, and so I'd like to keep some Dick karma in the loop, with this proposal:
Dave's Dick's Picks
It's so stupid it just might be a winner.
This is like, commitment. :-)
As if it wasn't already there.I'm in, friends. I'm in.
office?
all the archivists i know work down in dark creepy (although usually environmentally controlled) basements. which always seemed odd giving the chances for floods as happened one year way back when my wife was in library school at Indiana U and they had to move all the goods to higher floors. besides what does dave really need? a few computers and a good set of headphones....i jest of course
include my subscription in your office quest dave, may you get a nice corner, with maybe a nice little white picket fence out front.
Volume One
I wonder how 5/25/77 will be separated on the 3 discs. The first set fits on one disc, and so does Estimated to the end of Set II. Which leaves Scarlet-Fire and about 60 minutes of free space on disc 2, if the show is distributed this way. Hmmm...
Re: Disc Splits
And so begins the first of many filler/no filler fights! To summarize:
A) I paid all this dough and disc 2 is 20 minutes long. Man, the Dead would have never stood for this in the old days.
- or -
B) How can they put filler from 5/26 on a show from 5/25? First of all, it COMPLETELY ruins the flow of the show. And secondly, now they will never release 5/26, which was WAY better. And now they'll take it off archive.org. This is so bogus!
LOL.
Disc split speculations
I too thought of 5/26/77 as Volume One bonus material ever since seeing this date appear before the Dave's Picks logo. If this is true, please make Volume One a four disc release. It doesn't say each release will be 3 discs, only that it's 12 discs total. 5/26/77 is too great of a show to capture all it's highlights in under 60 minutes. Devoting an entire extra disc to Volume 1 would allow for nearly all of the second set to 5/26, plus a majority of the first set highlights. Please please...Of course this is all speculation, and 5/26 does circulate in it's entirety in fine quality, although not nearly release-level quality.
Soooo....I'm confused...what's being released?
Am I missing it, or are we supposed to buy this only knowing the first pick? I mean, I'm sure the 80's and 90's are great and all, but I have no interest in them. Could you at least give us the year of the release?
I have no interest in them
Chris_D, you're not confused, you get it.
It's a subscription. That's a thing with several issues that are released as time passes...
One doesn't know exactly what the next issue will hold.
Now, while a subscription gives this extra chance to complain about the whole damn thing, remember: as always, there will be ample opportunity to complain about each release as it gets announced!
It's not a novel idea at all -- people have dug the idea of subscribing to things for a long, long time. Finding a subscription that covers a topic of great interest to them, people sign up, eagerly awaiting the surprises to come.
One important quality of a successful relationship between the subscriber and the producers of the releases is that the subscriber trusts the producers. Something like: "I really, really like GD music. A lot. These guys have it in the max quality. And they really seem passionate about getting some fantastic gems of it out. And they maybe even know more, collectively, about it than I do. I'd love to see what they come up with." When you feel that way, subscribing is a easy call.
On the other hand, if you, or any one else, has such strong opinions of the Grateful Dead's music that there are entire years or decades which you can't be bothered with you'd be much better off NOT subscribing.
Just buy the ones you want after they get announced. Either here if possible or elsewhere -- as will surely be possible.
And for anyone who's sure YOU know best what should come out of the vault, you should probably go ahead and tell them -- if you're paying any attention at all you already have the archivist's email address.
It seems most likely that
It seems most likely that 5/25/77 will be separated onto 3 discs just like 5/28/77 is on the "To Terrapin" release.
When is the release of Dave's Picks Vol. 47?
There should be announcement of the particular show within a few days, circa July 12.
nice information