Forums
The new Store platform isn't currently supporting discussions on the product pages, but never fear, because you can talk about Dave's Pick's Volume 55 right here!
Product files
- 81 repliesmarye
Joined:The new Store platform isn't currently supporting discussions on the product pages, but never fear, because you can talk about Dave's Pick's Volume 55 right here!
- RyXs
Joined:Deadicated to BoB-OWowza man, what a heavy trip! Thanks for sharing such a personal experience, that was so profound and deep. Damn them bad trips,... Hobo Voyages!? Woah! I ain't never heard it quite put like that before, and under such circumstances. With all the song nuances too, you had me floored reading that. I am sure glad that you got back to the next nights shows & now get to have what you had missed all them years back in time. Cheers! A toast of Dave's #56 vintage '81 for you.
- Bob O
Joined:Rainbow Theatre, London #56 ~ Finally!Grateful Dead at The Rainbow ~ London 1981 - Dave's Picks #56!!! ~ 3/20 & 3/21/81
~ I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW CD RELEASE!!! ~
44 years ago, in March of 1981, at age 21, I had the amazing privilege of seeing a 4-night run of Grateful Dead shows at London's legendary Rainbow Theatre. Armed with my trusty Canon 35mm camera, and plenty of party indulgences, I was lucky enough to get into all 4 shows. My brother Ed and his Family were living in London back then, so I had a safe haven to stay for the run. These shows were and are my favorite indoor Dead shows that I have ever attended, primarily because they were the first and only shows that I would ever be able to see the Boys in a small Theatre. The intimacy was unprecedented for me. With an open dance floor, you could walk right up to the stage for a great view and sound. Plus you could hear people bantering with the band, like "Hey Phil, how do you like the British Beers?" from an audience member, to which Phil gave a hearty thumbs up! Somebody was handing out space cookies, and we were "off to the races". I had a cathartic experience that 1st night. Maybe "I did a little too much too fast", but I went from a state of ecstatic celebration during 'Scarlet' to a forlorn mess later because I didn't believe I was ‘worthy’ of such happiness. (That good old Irish Catholic guilt trip setting in…)
"This must be heaven, tonight I cross the line...
Got to be heaven 'cause here's where the rainbow ends
If this ain't the real thing, then it's close enough to pretend…”Dejected and remorseful, I trudged out in the middle of that first show, the only time I’ve ever done so. I felt the strains of ‘He’s Gone’, as if mocking me harshly on my way out. Outside, I felt desperate, and ended up begging Mother Mary for forgiveness. To my amazement and great relief, I felt that She had granted this to me! Emotionally exhausted, I made my way back to Randolph Street in London, to my Brother’s home. Hopefully, I didn’t alarm the kids babysitter too much when I mumbled something about doing some psychedelics and needing to go to my room for some quiet.
The next day, upon more sober reflection, I felt a bit embarrassed by the episode, and tried to reassess the unnecessarily self-judgmental ”Trip” I had experienced the night before. It’s kinda like Wavy Gravy says, “There are no such thing as ‘Bum Trips’, only ‘Hobo Voyages’…”
Well, with batteries recharged, and lessons hopefully learned, I determined to go to the rest of the run of shows, but “take it easy” on the mind enhancements. My brother was not enthralled with my decision, but allowed me to abide by my intentions. Which, thankfully, I did. I ended up really enjoying the rest of the run, with little more than those ‘British Beers’ enhancing my still-fragile consciousness.
If this post comes off as somewhat confessional, that’s because it is. It took me a long time to process the proceedings of that 1st Dead Show in London, but as I now approach my 66st Trip around the Sun, I know that I long ago learned to become comfortable in my own skin. What I took away from it was that if you ever have a ‘heavenly’ experience on this good Earth, embrace it! If your actions are not harming yourself or others, follow your Bliss and don’t tell yourself “I don’t deserve this.” It took me a long time to understand that.
On a lighter note, this was a great run of shows, which, until now, was only documented by some Audience recordings, and a few random photos, like the ones I took above*. Thanks to Kevin Papa for the inspiration to capture the muse where I could. (*Note the Photo of Bobby Weir pretending to “Row” his guitar like a boat oar during ‘Row, Jimmy, Row’, with Phil cracking up behind him.) 😉
I also vividly remember some spike-haired English Punk Rockers next to me who told me that they came to the show because they thought that with a name like ‘Grateful Dead’ that they’d be seeing a Death Metal band from America. They didn’t quite know what to make of the psychedelic country jazz & rock mélange that was the Dead, but their jaws did hit the floor during a particularly intense Drums > Space!
Big Thanks to the Good Ol’ Grateful Dead for the many decades of fun, good trips & ‘Hobo Voyages’, from which many a life lesson have been learned…”
The wheel is turning and you can't slow down,
You can't let go and you can't hold on,
You can't go back and you can't stand still,
If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will. - daverock
Joined:right recordingsIn the days of tapes I often used to wonder if what I was listening to had been recorded at the right speed. Especially with 1980's shows. Once I started thinking like this it was hard to forget it. A bit like picking on a scab. That's the type that forms after a cut, not a strike breaker.
- Oroborous
Joined:That’s not a defect, that’s Art!Though I won’t miss a chance to critique their poor service, or occasionally product, this isn’t one, and fairs fair.
That’s the way it’s supposed to sound! Can’t figure if it’s Phil, or perhaps Mickey, using some kind of midi triggered effect to gloriously enhance the dark, industrial nature of this beautiful work of art. One of my favorite Bob tunes! Often awesome live, when they’d weave different tapestries while patiently building up to, and converging on a HUGE crescendo!
Gives me chills just thinking about it.
3/21/90 probably my favorite at version. We were by the SB and they had those rear effect surrounds which got this whole swirling, literally the sound was swirling around the venue, and man, that crescendo, who wee, good sheet Mon! But you had to be there, unfortunately the recording just doesn’t capture the magnitude of it. - Lightnin Will
Joined:Dave's Picks 55I logged a complaint with the Dead.net store about the loud growling distortion sound on "Victim Or The Crime" as it did not seem to be a part of the performance and I considered it to be a manufacturing defect. I cannot believe that Dave would include this horrible sounding track on the release of Volume 55 if it was a problem with the sound system during the show. The track is virtually unlistenable. I wait to see what Warner Music Group has to say about this problem. Hopefully a disc will be provided that does not require skipping track one of disc two every time it is played.
feel free
Mary E to the rescue.
Thanks Mary!
Will be finishing up my review of 55 on the DaP 54 thread, so I'll leave it there.
Cheers
The Highwaymen Live
Willie, Waylon, Kris, Cash
bubtube 8 days ago awesome video !
He's Waiting
For another Love!
Marye
you're the best man!!!!!
and......
I think Vince Welnick era Grateful Dead rocks!!!!!
Just now finishing 55
Wow! that filler from 10-30-90 is great.
The surprise of the release for me is this LIG>Jam>Valley Road!
The Valley Road from 12-9-90 might even top this one.
Full disclosure, I was at that one, lol.
Cheers
Hey Hey What'dya Know
The magic of the internet. Amazing.
Haven't gotten any further than unwrapping 55. I have my way of absorbing these new releases. All good things in all good time.
Indeed ladies and gentlemen
A big round of applause for the "righteous dude" award-winning Ms. MARYE!!!
Dave's #55
Wow! What can I say?..... Shit! I said so much already about this release on a couple other threads that I can only try to summarize now. The show I like a lot, from the set list to the overall motif, and Dave has a personal story in the liner notes.
This release is technically the debut of the Vince era for the Dave's series & also the first overseas Dave's Pick to date. From the opening "Touch of Grey" to the awesome vocal ensemble of "Maggie's" to the Bruce song "Stander on the Mountain" the first set is fantastical! Also gots a "Box of Rain" to go with all Phil's handy bass work throughout the album.
I dig how the second set has a flipped duo of "Eyes >> Estimated" instead of the usual way for a change. That couplet of songs then segues to a great "Uncle John's" and then to one of the oddest "Drums >> Space" I have heard {animal jam?} personally. The rest of the show rounds out pretty nice with "TOO >> Wharf Rat >> Sugar Mag" and of course the Dylan cover for an encore.
The extras from London are the absolute perfect bonus filler! The first 4 songs from that 2nd set are pretty solid, ending with a nice "Terrapin" but the first set closer is even better. Especially the free jazz piano 'jam' between "Let it Grow" and a cover of "Valley Road" that's a real rock`N rolla!
Right on Dave! Keep this bus a rollin'!
***{Edited for punctuation, AND THANKS MERYE for the forum!}***
Thanks Marye
This is the forum topic that we needed.
I'm treading the same path as Jiminmd. My copy is unwrapped and I've read the notes, but I haven't yet listened to a note. I'm off tomorrow (well, it's after midnight here on the west coast and I guess most everywhere else, so that means 'today', Friday) so the listening will commence!
My story of 55 so far
Disc 1...nice
Disc 2 10/28 material ok
Disc 2 10/30 material sublime. I listened to it twice
Disc 3 will be heard later on
I heard 10/30/90 back in January
The Let It Grow etc. was a very pleasant surprise back then and a glorious revisit yesterday in the car
20,990 / 22,000
Never a bad listen after unwrapping one of these little delights, but not a personal favorite. One, the organ sound is cheesy. Two, fidelity (esp. the top end) on this one a little less clear and punchy than some others. Sounds a little washed out.
Still, it's always wonderful to receive another Dave's. Happy for those who have been pining for another 1990s release. Also cool that this show was performed in France (and on the day after my birthday, no less).
Last five:
Miles Davis - Dark Magus
Led Zeppelin - Presence
Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 55
Grateful Dead - Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 2: Bonus Disc
Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs
\m/
Dave's 55 / #8108/ Dokken
This pick is deceiving. I usually don't expect a lot from 90s, but it's a great show. Especially the second set. I was listening to Dokken's "Kiss of death" song last night, and it brought me back to the hair band days. I especially miss the hot chicks with the high hair.
55
Typical Fall 90 show.
Most excellent
Gave 55 a play last night
Frogs during Drums.
Children of the corn in Deer Creek ‘90 Drums.
I’ll have to pay closer attention to other Drums from ‘90 to see if there are any other added sounds or if those were only used for specific venues.
Threads
I'm glad one was created for this.
55 went missing
Does anyone know how to go about getting some decent customer service? My Dave's Picks 55 seems to have gone missing in the mail, and Rhino has yet to contact me after I contacted customer service multiple times over the past 2 weeks. I'm SO frustrated! Appreciate any help or advice you might send my way...
UMMMMM...
Try doing a PM to site administrator MARYE.
Include all order info.
She knows Dr. Rhino.
Cheers and good luck
1stshow70878
I tried through the website, but I just get a message stating "You can't send a message only to yourself" even though I tried putting MARYE as the recipient. Since I don't know her email address, I think I might be screwed. But thanks for the suggestion.
Nope
Replying to MaryE's first post didn't work. Sigh.
Thanks MARYE
Just came across this thread.
RIP Brent Hinds
RIP Brent Hinds of Mastodon. Important band. Fiercely creative heavy musicians. Gone too soon.
Mastodon
I've heard of them, but have never heard heard them.
Regardless, 51 is too young.
RIP, Brent.
Ummmm
Try typing her name 3 times.
Marye, Marye, Marye.
She might appear.
That used to work for Bolo.
DaP 55
Foolish Heart was one of the first Dead songs to grab me. I am really enjoying the DaP 55 performance of it. I remember me and my uncle listening to the studio version of it at a Cape Hatteras beach house in the summer of '90. I was a Dead neophyte at the time, having only heard them for the first time the previous summer at JFK. I thought Foolish Heart was better than the three big ones from In The Dark (although I do love Jerry's Throwing Stones solo quite a bit nowadays).
Overall I've enjoyed this release. I am in the minority here, but I prefer a solid show with Bruce and Vince over the 80s recordings for the most part. There are some great moments I enjoy from the 1980s (Feel Like a Stranger, DaP 8, Franklin's Tower, Go To Nassau, and of course Crimson White and Indigo). There is also a nice Terrapin jam I heard on one of those 5 hour instrumental compilations on YouTube, but I've never been able to track it down. There seems to be more piano and atmospheric synth chords from those two that blends in better with the band instead of laying on top of the mix.
Listening to the anniversary of Englishtown at the moment. I don't need anymore new stuff from 1977, but I would definitely go for a multi-track of this show. I understand the tapes are there for rhe mixing. Maybe for its 50th anniversary.....
I couldn't find a page to post comments on - thanks for leading the way Jim. Nice to see all the old faces here. As the good man says, keep on keeping on.
Foolish Heart
It wasn't what drew me to The Dead, but it was amazing seeing Jerry sing and play it at Wembley in 1990. One of the highlights of 10/30/90. I also really enjoyed Row Jimmy and the Bob sung Lovelight that night - two other tracks/versions that hadn't really grabbed me on tapes.
It was very different, being there. What it must have been like between 1968 -1974.....!
Foolish Heart
One of the later day success stories. I have a soft spot for So Many Roads too, primarily because it was the last Hunter / Garcia song they collaborated on. It is a pretty good autobiography of Garcia as an artist as well.
The early songs mostly give me energy and make me happy, many of the late era songs make me feel moody or reflective. I can't help but think of mortality. Foolish Heart is an exception, it's a great, peppy, late-era song that has a great rhythm and bounce to it. The words aren't so happy but it almost always puts a smile on my face and a spring in my stride. Speaking of which.....
As to what it must have been like to catch a few shows from 65 through 74.. good golly. At least (except for half of 1970) we have the tapes.
Later songs
Always liked Liberty.
Fun lyrics, catchy tune.
I first heard it in person at PHX in '94.
Cheers
Later songs
I used to like Lazy River Road, myself. I haven't heard it for a good few years now.
What it was like...
Seen on a decent home systems a couple times, did go to a nice theater with big screen and full scale 5.1 audio for the recent MUATM. That's the closest next best thing with plenty of audience, experiencing what it was like pre hiatus. Though followed since early days, missed their first DC shows being away at college in Maine, Georgetown U fall 1970, American U fall 1972... did not miss March 73 show at Baltimore.
Very Pleased
I really enjoyed Dave's 55. This was a new show to me, so I went in with no preconceptions. I thought the sound recording was really good. The seperation between instruments was nicely done. Some of the midi/keyboard sounds were a little out there, and some made me smirk, but it's still listenable. Always dig Hornsby's piano. I had never heard Stander on the Mountain, and thought it had a cool groove. The Eyes>Estimated was an interesting flip flop. The LLR from 10/30 is a highlight.
Dave and the show really got beat up for this Pick over on the Hoffman Forums, but that's par for the course there.
A good show overall, and one I'll come back to from time to time.
Edit: Next on the list was Dave's 43. Quite the neutral drop going from 1990 to 1969. What a difference 21 years made.
Keeping the page alive
People complained when there wasn’t a page, but now don’t visit it now that it is here.
DaP 56 and BFRSD announcements in the near future……
On the Eve......
....of the Autumnal Equinox!
That can mean only one thing here, and it's approximately now just one lunar cycle away.
The announcement of Dave's final Pick of the year! Perplexed with wonder & awe over what could it be?
1982?...'60s? Someone got any theories?
Fall daze
Played disc one today driving to and from work. I am really enjoying Bruce’s piano in the context of the band, this show keeps revealing itself with further listening. Pax
I have theories, but no actual proof
11/19/72
A 69 or 70 show
Dave's 56
Had a dream the other night it was Fall '77. I don't remember the exact date.
56..
soo - what will it be.. I say 1982..
I just want
something raw
56..
Come on Dave.. we need the new Pick..
Dave's #56 ?
10/31/70, with 10/4/70 as filler, maybe
BtK: It Sure Would Be GREAT ...
to hit that late '70 time period.
Though tapes are limited in number - thus far IIRC we have had nothing released to fill in this 'gap'.
Please, DL. (& Thanks)
Ronmarley
Is having dreams about our next pick.
That my friends, is next level deadication :)
I have been listening to a lot of fall '77 lately, but I hope the next pick is something way out there, unpredictable like.
Anyone remember when the announcement was last year?
JOEYMC
I’m hoping for something ‘68-‘73. We’ll see if Dave comes through.
And speaking of ‘77, just got a hold of the May 1977 box. Haven’t got into it yet, but looking forward to it.
As far as a 56 announcement, I don’t remember last year’s, but I’m guessing next Fridayish, with the 2026 sub. coming the week after
Announcement
Should be this week or next week at the latest.
Last year the subscription announcement was around October 23.
Could be less copies available for 2026, we will see.
Hope you didn't pay too much for the Spring 77 Box Ron. Those still go for a pretty penny on the secondary market.
Long Strange Trip
I've just watched the final episode of this film - fascinating. It covers the period from 1987 to 1995, and I was amazed seeing how enormous the shows were at that time. I guess most of the people who contribute to and read these posts were a part of that scene. So there/your experience of The Dead may well be based on the experience of seeing them many times during that timespan.
Very, very different from me. Although I saw them 5 times, my guiding light has always been listening to recordings at home , on my own. Going the usual route through official releases, bootlegs, tapes and now cds. I would have been 30-38 between 1987 and 1995 and I'm nor sure what I would have made of those massive shows. They don't appeal to me now, and I'm not sure they would have done then either !
May 1977
Hey Deadvikes,
I actually borrowed it from a friend. It's crazy what some of the Dick's, Dave's and box sets go for on the resale markets. I stop in the local The Exchange every once in a while and sometimes come across some "reasonably" priced copies. Recently found Dave's 37 for $50. A couple days ago, they had Dick's 1-5 (maybe not every one), but I have those so I didn't grab them.
56
1/15/79
DaP 56 Announcement
Vol. 52 was announced on Oct. 16, 2024, a Wednesday and Bob's birthday.
Getting close, surprise, surprise.
I'm grateful for any show.
Cheers