Dave's Picks 2013 Subscription
This subscription will end at 11:59pm PST on 1/22/13.
Last year's Dave's Picks succeeded far beyond our own expectations and became a true fan favorite, with each volume selling out in a matter of weeks. Now's your chance to become a Dave's Picks 2013 subscriber. Not only are you guaranteed all four releases for 2013, you get free domestic shipping plus the ultra-happenin' Subscribers-Only Bonus Disc that will be mailed with one of Lemieux's choices - in 2012, the Bonus Disc, sent out with Dave's Picks, Volume 2 was a fantastic collection of tracks from the July 29, 1974 show at the Cap Centre in Landover, Maryland. All Dave's Picks releases are mastered from the original tapes by Jeffrey Norman and include an informative and fun booklet containing notes about the show and archival photos. The good news is that an extra thousand copies of each release will be pressed to accommodate the heavy demand. The 2013 Dave's Picks releases will be numbered and limited to 13,000 units each. Dave is promising some great things for 2013 - so don't be left out!
Hey now. For those of you who prefer print to video or who are just tired of seeing me babble away beside the water (likely the latter...), we figured we'd write a few words about Dave's Picks 5, and what's ahead. The long and short of it is that if you're inclined to pick up Dave's Picks 5 and/or the 2013 subscription, you're in a for a huge treat. The first show, 11/17/73 at UCLA, is a major, heavyweight Grateful Dead show, one of the best of any year, and being top-of-the-heap from the 1973, that's saying a lot. It's one of these shows that every time I've heard it in the past decade+, I've wondered why it's not been released. I almost feel a need to apologize for taking so long -- 40 years! This is really prime Dead. First set material worth noting is one of the hottest, most inspired versions of "Here Comes Sunshine" ever, and a "China>Rider" that's up there with the best of 1973-1974, and that's saying something. The second set features the best of the three "Playing>UJB>Dew>UJB>Playing" musical palindromes, with every second of it exciting and interesting. And they top that off with a late-show "Eyes Of The World" that is remarkably hot and energetic. I say this without hyperbole, but to my ears and many others, this is a top-40 Grateful Dead show of all time. And the sound quality of this one is perfect, full, clear, great bottom end, and overall terrific.
We don't have much planned beyond DP 5, but I've previously hinted about a major batch of 1969 and 1970 tapes that were recently returned, and we hope/expect to get some of that out in 2013. I'm not trying to be coy or cryptic on the contents and possibilities, but we're in the midst of backing these tapes up and sorting through them. Once this is complete, we'll know what we have. What we've heard so far has shocked us in its excellence in terms of performance quality, song list, and sound quality. So, if you like peak-era Grateful Dead, with huge versions of major songs that you (and we!) have never heard before, this lost-batch of tapes is for you. Expect news on that within a few months.
- David Lemieux
Unveiling Dave's Picks Volume 6
We're really bad at keeping secrets around here so just imagine how hard it's been for us to contain our excitement about the 2 now complete shows, once missing reels for more than 40 years, that have been selected to make up Dave's Picks Volume 6. The first major return of material to the vault since 2005's Houseboat Tapes, Dave's Picks Volume 6 will feature 2 complete shows with never-before-heard material from 2/2/70 Fox Theater, St. Louis, MO and 12/20/69 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA. Long a mystery, the riddle of the 2/2/70 set list has now been solved and the music restored to its proper - and spectacular - sequence. 2/2/70 is also notable as the first show without Tom Constanten. Tom, however, makes his return to give his first-hand perspective on 12/20/69 in this volume's liner notes. Pigpen fiends, ask and you shall receive. Both shows feature loads of Pigpen including a major 35+ minute "Lovelight" from 12/20/69. Recorded by Bear with an excellent mix and sound quality, this very special release feels like a return to the classics.
If you've been curious about the subscribers-only bonus disc, this one is the stuff of lore as well. Like Dave's Picks Volume 6, the last-ever Grateful Dead show at the Fillmore Auditorium - 12/21/69, was once missing reels, but we've acquired the elusive first reel to go with the end of the show that we've always had. This jam-packed CD, featuring 75 minutes of music (almost 40 minutes of never-before-heard), includes one of only three versions of "Smokestack Lightning" from 1969. You most certainly won't want to miss out on this highly collectible Dead!
The only way to guarantee you'll get these historic releases is to get a Dave's Picks 2013 subscription. The subscription offer ends January 22, 2013 at 11:59PM PST, so grab one while you can!
Product Details
Dave's Picks 2013 Subscription Benefits:
Four Limited Edition, Numbered Releases Delivered Quarterly
Highly Collectible Bonus Disc
Free Domestic Shipping
Dave’s Picks 2013 Subscription shipping schedule:
Volume 5 - UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 11/17/73 (Ships February 1, 2013)
Volume 6 - Fox Theater, St. Louis, MO, 2/2/70 & Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 12/20/69 (ships May 1, 2013)
Bonus disc - Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 12/21/69 (ships May 1, 2013)
Volume 7 - ships August 1, 2013
Volume 8 - ships November 1, 2013
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I am wondering why there have been no releases from the 20th Anniversary Tour (Summer 1985). While it may not be considered classic GD and I am partially towards the years I have attended (1983 through 1995). Anything after 1985 doesn't do much for me personally, more often than not.
We did get a Dick's Picks of 11-1-85, which I was fortunate enough to be at as well as the next night. Would like to see a release from either the Greek Theater (6-16-85), SPAC (6-27-85) or Merriweather Post (6-30-85). Anything at all from Red Rocks from 1978 to 1985. And yes, maybe something from 1984, even though it seemsto be highly unpopular. Perhaps, 10-9-84, 10-12-84 or 10-20--84. No problem with 60s or 70s at all.
It would be good to see a little more representation from the 1980s, even if not equal.
Ahhhhh...primal '69 Dead, Cannot ask for more. When are we going to see the cover art for DP5? Just wondering
Ahhhhh...primal '69 Dead, Cannot ask for more. When are we going to see the cover art for DP5? Just wondering
Ahhhhh...primal '69 Dead, Cannot ask for more. When are we going to see the cover art for DP5? Just wondering
Hey, they will be available individually (although the great sounding DP 6 bonus disc is subscribers only) but they sell out pretty quick, so you'll want to be on your toes for ordering fast.
hmmmm...
so, are we getting both complete shows for dp6? or just the newly discovered tracks from each show? either way is just fine with me. it's just hard to tell from the wording.
similar question for the bonus disc. although, based on the run time, i'll assume it's the newly discovered reel only.
hmmmm...
so, are we getting both complete shows for dp6? or just the newly discovered tracks from each show? either way is just fine with me. it's just hard to tell from the wording.
similar question for the bonus disc. although, based on the run time, i'll assume it's the newly discovered reel only.
Thanks, a real archival find, well done!
Looking forward to V0l.6, the bonus CD sounds great. Anyone still on the fence here better get on board. Looking for Garcia Vol.1 to arrive soon too.
Jam on!
Phil
A Stunner from Prankster Lemieux
David,
what is the actual set list for 2-2-70 show, and the Cd listing.
thanks
Hey Now,
Will the individual releases be available on their own? Or is a subscription the only way to get shows?
Thanks so much,
Wow. DP6 and the bonus disc are, for me, the best news I've heard in a long while. Loads of Pigpen. "Smokestack lightning" - bring it on. How am I ever going to get through the almost 4 month wait. Brilliant, David, just brilliant.
The last few months have been hard in many respects, among the worst ever me personally. Really looking forward to spending February listening to the DP5 set. Today marks the beginning of a 16 week wait until DP6 and the bonus (a.k.a. milkbone) disc ship. Shock and awe, please Dave.
DP
all the april 1978 david has played on his XM show this week has me hope-hope-hoping for a release from those shows at some point
probably a compilation would be best, but for all the warts the highs of those shows are transcendent
spring 1978 is in my top 3
Hey Dave, could we get a listening party for this pick?
If there is one and I don't see it, could someone direct me to it?
The vault has had at least some chunks of this show for some years. Well before this year's Black Peter from 30 Days, other portions have showed up in Taper's Section and, I believe, the first 30 Days, too. (As well as various bits from surrounding dates like Feb 7th & 8th, and Feb 13 on bonus discs or as bonus tracks....though that doesn't necessarily speak for the 11th.)
Don't know about the guest-studded Dark Star set, but releasing that would presumably involve some legalities even if they have it.... Phil sure remembers the night fondly in Searching For the Sound, so maybe they will wrangle this one out sometime...! And maybe even better 2/11 tapes did show up in the newfound stash, who knows? (Well, David knows!) Can't wait to see what emerges from that.
I'd love to see July 10, '70 ~ but if that was officially taped, it wasn't by Bear (the audience tape sounds like it's through the bathroom wall, but what a performance & setlist!). Or May 31, '69 ~ but I think that's too early to be part of the stash.
What would be awesome would be if one of the rediscovered tapes from 1970 turned out to be February 11, 1970. Featuring two of my favourite bands of all time (Allmans and of course Grateful Dead plus Peter Green) this would knock my socks off!
---
i'd love to see more stuff from those eras released, but history says its probably not going to happen.
only twice has there been 3 consecutive non 70s releases for one series.
[download series 5 - 7 & road trips 3.4 - 4.2]
the streak for most consecutive 70s shows for a series is 5.
[dick's picks vols. 1 - 5 & dave's picks vols. 1 - 5]
yes. i have too much time on my hands, and i like statistics.
The Shakedown Street from 12/31/89 featured in 30 Days Of Dead would be a most welcome release for me. 12/31/89 Oakland, 10/26/89 Miami and 3/29/90 Nassau are all MUST release shows as far as I'm concerned.
Maybe it's worth noting that a song from each of the first four picks was featured during last year's 30 Days of Dead:
Lazy Lightning-Supplication (5/25/77)
Jam-Wharfrat (7/29/74)
Ramble on Rose (10/21/71)
Slipknot-Franklins (9/24/76)
And how about the Spring of 1990 Box- Feel Like A Stranger from The Omni on 4/2/90 was also a song from last year's 30 Days. Here Comes Sunshine (11/17/73) is a song from this year's 30 Days, and of course this show is the next pick. Perhaps a good place to guess from is by looking at this year's selections from 30 Days Of Dead. Then again, you never can tell...
I think we will see releases from
4Q80 - 1981, no shortage of hot sets. Pick something where Jerry was perhaps still approaching JGB-like passion, which was on the rise.
Late 1969, I have heard quite a bit on Wolfgang's Vault, and there is a lot of variety in the set lists. I have a lot of the 1H70 that has been in circulation for years, just seems to pale in comparison to the second half of '70, which is viscerally powerful like '69.
Something from '84 to '87. Seems like '84 is most popular around here. I don't care, I just want a show with a high majority of white-hot tracks, no let's make that a release with hot tracks. I don't care about whole shows, those are for collectors. I am a listener.
And if it were up to me, the three remaining releases for 2013 would be Miami '74, more Stanley Theater '72, and some below radar '68 (Matrix?).
Cheers!!
1973 was tapped into with 11/17/73 Pauley UCLA as Dave's Picks 5, so I strongly doubt that there will be another 1973 show released in 2013. Your suggestions are great, but chances are slim, but we always hope.
YES!!!
WATKINS GLEN
RFK 73
U OF MONTANA
WINTERLAND 74 RUN
Well, there's a place to keep me busy. Wow, big list! I was going to ask for three total, but I half would expect the response: 'Narrow it down to three, WHA?!?!?! Impossible!'
I'm with you on quite a lot of things, not limited to:
1. 8/27, a large part of me expects they are working on it.
2. The trove of tapes '69/'70 has me excited - - the Dead's harmonies were tight in early '70 in preparation for Workingman's Dead so it's some of the best singing the Dead ever did.
3. There's more '73 and '74 that ought to be released.
4. Several 1984 shows are release worthy. Don't know why they're dragging their heels on these. But, I feel it's a matter of time before we start seeing some of those.
5. The tape's sonic quality doesn't bug me so much. I wonder what they'd do in the case of dropouts in PCM master tapes. In instances where the sound drops out occasionally for a second. (such as in Bertha here) What would a 1 second 'patch' sound like? Or just to keep the droput in sound, is that better? Create a cut? That's an interesting one to me. There must be threshold they're unwilling to cross in terms of sonic imperfections, such as mix, distortions, etc. because they've for the most part included the 'caveat emptor' with the cds and have frequently released sonically imperfect shows.
A couple of other notes:
1. re: Hofheinz '72...once I asked DL for his favorite Box of Rain, he replied 11/18 is up there - - unfortunately for me (and us) there's no circulating recording of it!
2. Don't forget about Oct. '76. Certainly, September hasn't been overlooked release wise, part of me thinks they're making their way to October...or at least I hope that's the case...
3. I wonder if they purposely left out Cape Cod '79 of the RT no1 vol1 release because it's a 'full show' candidate.
4. I need 2 more Winterland box releases: Feb. '74 and Mar. '77.
5. Do yourself a favor and listen to these 2 China>Riders 9-2-80 (it's track 8) and 10-5-84.
Thanks for the reply - - I too have spent a bit of time on this post. Thank goodness for the 'edit' button!!
Many of my personal favorites pre-Brent shows have already been released, though there's a few standouts that haven't.
Top of mine, and most peoples list is 8/27/72. Any number of the Mickey and the Heartbeats shows from the Matrix would be cool, as would 1/25-26/69 Avalon. '68 - '70 is always fun for me. For some reason, '71 is a year that doesn't do much for me. The band was going through many changes, and even though there are decent enough shows that particular year, not much really stands noticably out for me.
'72 - is chocked full of great shows from every tour. Most of my favorites are in the E72 box. I'd have to go back for more research for specific Fall '72 favorites. I like 11/18-19/72 Hofheins Auditorium as my next favorites behind 8/27 and E72 off the top of my head.
'73 - My #1 dream release would be an Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead box featuring all of the music performed at RFK and Watkins Glen.
'74 - 5/14/74 Missoula Montana is a favorite of mine. I also like 6/22-23/74
'75 - I'd like to see some rehearsals and more Blues for allah outtakes.
'76 - between Chicago 6/26-29/76 and 7/1-18/76 Orpheum, pretty much covers the best of all of '76.
'77 - the best has either already been released or isn't in the vault. 5/9/77 is my single favorite show of the whole year.
'78 - I really haven't spent a lot of time studying shows from this particular year, but Red Rocks is a standout.
'79 - I think there are a lot of gems in the Fall tour. 10/27-28/79 Cape Cod are up there as favorites.
'80 - Lots of good stuff from the Anchorage run and it's a shame that tapes from the Radio City Music Hall and Warfield were recorded over.
'81 - I remember liking one of the Rainbow Theatre shows, forget the date.
'82 - Greek!!!
'83 - 10/31/83
'84 - my first year seeing the Dead so I'm partial to the time starting from this particular year. My first show was 7/1/84 Pine Knob. I haven't seen a soundboard of this show in circulation. This one naturally is at the tip top of my personal list. Check it out on archive.org. Excellent from start to finish and in my opinion, one of the best of the year and under rated. The Greek run is legendary. Augusta gets lots of nods. The Berkley run with the first tapers section is also good.
'85 - I don't know why, but I like almost every single show from '85.
'86 - a rough year for Jerry, but still some decent music. I attended the Alpine run and soundboards for most of it don't circulate. Jerry's voice may have been below par, but his playing is top notch.
'87 - another year filled with too many favorites to list. Again, I attended the Alpine run, and having inquired to Dave about the non-circulating soundboards, he doesn't speak too highly of the quality of the tapes, but the performances are awesome. I still want soundboard copies...regardless. If their not going to be commercially released, offer them up as free downloads or let them be placed on archive.org so that perhaps somebody might be able to create some sort of matrix recording. Red Rocks is also at the top of my '87 list.
'88 - Buckeye Lake doesn't circulate as a soundboard, and the first set is the best of the year. the second set ain't too shabby either, even with three new songs to open. Laguna Seca from this year has also been on the top of my list. Oxford Plains. If I were allowed to sppend a few days in the vault to research potential releases, '88 would be the first year I would investigate. A wonderful uner rated year.
'89 - I would release the whole year in one massive box set. Crisler Arena, Rosemont, Milwaukee and Minneapolis are all great. The entire Summer tour was great. the Fall tour was great (hint hint Miami hint hint) and the West Coast December/New Years run was great. I want 'em all. Alpine Box would be awesome.
'90 - When does Spring '90 Box #2 come out? How about Cal Expo? Eugene? I attended the three Omni shows in the spring, all top notch. Also attended the first two nights at Tinley park. Brent went out at the top of his game at those shows. I kind of bums me out that 9/20/90 MSG was chopped up for release (much like 3/24/90). Two of the best and most important shows of the year treated without respect by being released in their entirety. There's some good Europe '90 stuff, but the real magic with Vince and Bruce happened in December. The second afternoon at Compton Terrace, McNichols and Oakland are all great year ending shows. I'm very fond of the music the Dead performed in 1990.
'91 - I like the run of Summer shows that started wth RFK through to Boston Garden in the Fall a lot. The Vegas show with Santana is also a favorite. attended Richfield 9/4-6/91, and can vouch that those three shows are as good and perhaps better than the best of MSG and equally as magical as 9/26/91 Boston. By the '91 New Years run is when the real decline of Jerry started imho. The two Jerry Band shows I saw at Rosemont and The Bradley Center were both amazing performances...I promise.
'92 - I attended a lot of shows in '92, so had first hand accounts of some of the best and worst performances of the year. I attended the runs at Copps Coliseum, Auburn Hills, Deer Creek, Soldiers Field and Compton Terrace. My main observations and memories of those shows were that they consistantly played great first sets, but were hit or miss during the second sets. If I were to pick two out of the 10 I saw in '92, I would go with 6/25/92 Soldier Field and 6/28/92 Deer Creek.
'93 - There's some good stuff from Rosemont in the spring. I attended the non-cancelled blizzard show at Richfield. I couldn't stand listening to it for many years, then recently checked it out. It was better than I remembered, but not necessarily release worthy. Am I the only one who thought the debut of I Fought The law was a letdown after all we went to to attend that show?
'94 and '95 - Not much for me to recomend as far as full shows. Riverport '94 has some decent performances. The Palace of Auburn Hills '95 were actually fairly solid shows, even for Jerrys condition. Deer Creek and Soldier Field not so much. Visions of Johanna was the only moment at the last two shows where Jerry seemed genuinly inspired. A the end of that last show, and before jerry died, my friends and I felt that it would have served the band well to take a year or two off.
I have lots of other favorites shows/moments/jams from all years, but have always been partial to '87 - '91.
As far as tape quality issues...if the performance is great, I don't mind a sonically imperfect recording.
As far as Jerry's vocals...more often than not, throughout their entire career, up to about '91, Jerry made up for hoarseness of vocals by playing better. There's plenty of shows where Jerry's vocals are toast, but his playing is stellar.
Bobs antics - he's always been a bit over the top. Some of his maniacal screams were just as offsetting in 1972 as the were at any time later.
As far as a person who has collected tapes for years, I'm probably a bit more forgiving of quality in performance and recording sonics than most, because I've heard so much of it over the years. At the same time, I end up purchasing most Grateful Dead releases, and as a steady customer with somewhat of familiarity of the band, performances and the documentation, I tend to gravitate more towards the late '80s than any other era.
This post took me waaay too long to type. I'll stop right here for now. If I took a couple of days, I could come up with my definitive top 20 shows that cover all era's, but others get paid to do that already. I'll have to trust their judgment about releases. It's hard for me to be impartial.
So glad you made it! Out of curiosity, what are the top shows from all eras you have in mind? I'm interested to check out some of your faves. Do the caveats about mix issues of some the later era tapes concern you? (e.g. 'the forgotten Europe tour 1981') What about Jerry's kermit the frog impression, or over the top Bob antics? They really don't bug me so much, but some folks have qualms.
I was on the fence about getting another subscription, but decided to give it another round. I'm hoping that some of the selections for 2013 include more variety of years and rarities. The prospect of newly discovered uncirculated recordings from '69/'70 are what convinced me to jump in.
I would like to see something that doesn't widely circulate on soundboard from the last 10 years of the Grateful Deads career, in addition to the newly discovered material..
finally took the plunge on next years sub...the joy of November downloads sealed the deal... bit of a shame that I got nabbed 24USD sales tax on top of the costs...but whats done is indeed done..
Other One>Charlie is from Fillmore, June '69 run.
Other One>Charlie is from Fillmore, June '69 run.
Just ordered mine. Hoping whatever Spring 70 show today's Other One>Charlie is from will be released in 2013. Also hoping for a Crazy Fingers for my birthday on the last day of the month.
Just ordered mine. Hoping whatever Spring 70 show today's Other One>Charlie is from will be released in 2013. Also hoping for a Crazy Fingers for my birthday on the last day of the month.
Is "jipped" not a slur against our gypsy friends? Just asking... If you think you need some '80s fix, try that UNDER NINE MINUTE TOTAL COMBINED Truckin' > Other One combo from Road Trips 4.4. Let's have no more of that. Instead, why not go and LISTEN to the 17 minute Good Lovin' finale from 6/7/70 and then come back and tell us how sick you are of 70s Dead.
That's a great idea! They could have a limited edition of, say, 500 copies! lol
Really just kidding. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.
How about Dave's "Other" Picks....dedicated soley to releases of shows from the '60's, 80's and '90s, so that the rest of us who like every era of the Dead, besides just the '70s can purchase what we enjoy. That way, those who hate the '80's won't feel jipped and the rest of us fans can get a deeper area of study from less/non-represented years. I like '84 shows as much as I like '74 shows, and even '94 shows. As far as Grateful Dead years/era's go...they're all good.
there's still time to win a subscription from wines that rock. i was lucky enough to win one last week. they're also giving away three single downloads. (jack straw, minglewood, west la)
after the black peter from 2.11.70 on 30 days of dead, i'm really hoping that's one of the tapes that were returned. maybe we'll get both early and late shows !!
Finally got around to ordering my subscription. Really hope they dig deep in the archives for this one. Hoping for at least 2 Pigpen release this year (with Bonus Disc). Can't wait for another year of goodies! Spare me the mid-80s release PLEASE! Cannot stand 1984
One of my favorites that I've gotten to listen too. Well if you still want them send me an email at youngdeadhead07@hotmail.com. I hope you'll enjoy them rather than when i gave them to my father for his birthday.
jake
One of my favorites that I've gotten to listen too. Well if you still want them send me an email at youngdeadhead07@hotmail.com. I hope you'll enjoy them rather than when i gave them to my father for his birthday.
jake
That was up a couple of monthes ago, the listening party, Sounded really great. I love that period of the Dead, it has sold out now unless you buy mp3s which I don't. I have so many Dead Cd s and box set CDs around, I really think I'll be ok.
That was up a couple of monthes ago, the listening party, Sounded really great. I love that period of the Dead, it has sold out now unless you buy mp3s which I don't. I have so many Dead Cd s and box set CDs around, I really think I'll be ok.
They had this a couple of monthes ago, It really sounded good, wish I had ordered it then, stuff is selling quick for new dead stuff with limited marketing, but I'm ok, I have so many Dead Box sets, between 72-77, I should be ok, I'll start running out of places to put stuff in my apt.
Jim
Ahhhh we meet again Fall '73!
I loved what the band was doing with Playing In The Band during the fall tour, augmenting their jams by using it as a launch pad and creating tasty sandwiches. It looks like the only other shows they played the Playin' > UJ's > Dew > UJ's > Playin' sequence was a week before at the 2nd Winterland show and during the single March show of '74 (Cow Palace). Fall '73 brought the new formation of using Playin' > as a launch pad and bringing about new jams. According to Deadbase they only segued with Playin' once in '72, but set the precedent in fall '73.
My bet for the next box set? 1975!!!! all 4 shows, all the studio jams, and the Blues For Allah material.
My bet for a future DP's release will be the early and late shows of Jan. 1+2 1970 at the Fillmore East!
Dark Star > Feeling Groovy Jam > Tighten Up Jam > Dark Star.....rare sequence of both the FG and TU jams together. That's a golden nugget if I've ever seen one!
http://archive.org/details/gd70-01-02.early-late.sbd.cotsman.18120.sbeok.shnf
(~);}
Safari works!!!
If you want to Use IE make sure you update Java the download link will work then.
Listening to DaP #4 arrived yesterday sounds fantastic. My missing copy of DaP #3 arrived last week and I have my Spring 90' box, ordered 2013 DaP's looking forward to a Grate year of music in 2013!!!
I ordered 2013 last night and Vol. 4 (great Sabbath album too...) was in my mailbox when I got home from the salt mine. Good omens!!
Forgive my naivete, but what's wrong with IE? Besides the known security issues? Maybe this conversation belongs in another forum. Anyone?
Locations
Just my guess about Tuna Station's question: I bet we get the full 2/2/70 show, since they are listing it first and Dave's Picks are supposed to be full shows, along with the missing portions of 12/20-21/69. Hopefully I'm wrong and we get all of 12/20, but it seems like a lot of music for 3 discs.
These releases are why I love this band. See, I've kind of fallen out of love with Pigpen-era Dead, even though it's the era I liked most when I first got into them. Call me crazy, but a 30-minute "Lovelight" makes me kind of bored. Listening to '69 shows, I actually look forward to some of the tighter songs like "Mountains of the Moon," "Doin' that Rag," and the like. My favorite parts of Harpur College and 5/15/70 are the acoustic sets. To each their own. But with that said, I love that these kinds of releases always get me to reconsider and to relisten. I'd given up on late Brent-era for a long time before the Formerly-The-Warlocks release and the Spring '90 boxset, but now I'm loving that stuff and downloading a bunch of late-80s shows. With the little tease about what we're going to get in April, I'm returning to DPs 4 and 16 and to the Great PowWow shows and remembering the energy they brought to a limited repertoire of songs.
We're the luckiest fans on Earth to have these archival releases coming at us 4+ times a year and to have them represent such a range and variety of music. Can't wait to see the full 2/2/70 setlist!