http://store.dead.net/live-shows/live-s ... s-volume-1


The song list from 5/25/77 might not reveal much out of the ordinary (though it’s great selection of tunes), but the playing is definitely extraordinary. The first set contains outstanding versions of favorites such as “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Jack Straw,” “Cassidy” and “Lazy Lightning” > “Supplication.” And the second set is primo-grade ’77 from start to finish. The buoyant “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain” that kicks things off sets the tone, but then the rest of the set is a deftly played medley starting with “Estimated” and moving into “He’s Gone,” a primal drum workout from Mickey and Bill, a heart-pounding version of “The Other One” that’s split by “Wharf Rat” (the only time those songs were played in that sequence), a joyful “Wheel,” and then a double-dose of Chuck Berry to bring it all back to rock ’n’ roll basics. Talk about a thrill ride!

The three-disc Dave’s Picks, Volume One was mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman, includes a colorful booklet with photos and a lively historical essay, and comes in a digipak made of 100% recycled and PCW materials. This and future Dave Picks releases will be limited to just 12,000 individually numbered copies, so if you don’t want to get gauged on eBay lookin’ for one of these babies in a couple of years, order your copy now!

Disc 1
1. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
2. Jack Straw
3. They Love Each Other
4. Mexicali Blues
5. Peggy-O
6. Cassidy
7. Loser
8. Lazy Lightning>
9. Supplication
10. Brown-Eyed Women
11. Promised Land

Disc 2
1. Scarlet Begonias>
2. Fire On The Mountain
3. Estimated Prophet>
4. He's Gone>
5. Drums

Disc 3
1. The Other One>
2. Wharf Rat>
3. The Other One>
4. The Wheel>
5. Around And Around
6. Johnny B. Goode


Limited to 12,000 individually numbered copies
Mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman
Digipak made of 100% recycled and PCW materials
Release Date: February 1, 2012

Where'd all the Heads go?
Anyway, this is a mighty fine release.
I also like the fact that the packaging moved away from the cardboard slips of Road Trips, and is digi-pack. If not jewel case, at least going in the right direction. Despite the new distribution's CS issues (and there are many), they at least attempt to respond to the flaggin' sales by providing 'more' to the customer, than looking to slash costs further to fatten that bottom line.

As far as the music goes...well, "It's the G*d D*mn Grateful Dead!"

I got the Dave's Picks subscription because I enjoyed Road Trips. I think this is a solid release, music-wise (as if anything from Spring '77 would be a stinker!). While I did not like the Road Trips packaging that much, I did like the artwork. It's all subjective, of course, but I do not like the Dave's Picks logo, I think the artwork on this one is ugly, and while I prefer the digipack format, they seem to have used flimsy cardboard stock. At least the Road Trips packaging felt secure, even though the discs got scratched more often than not. I laud their choice in using recycled materials, but I'm not in love with the packaging, or the new, improved higher pricing. Reading the dead.net message board on this is depressing, since there are sommany lengthy, vitriolic comments. I will buy whatever they serve up, because the music always wins, but sometimes I feel that my fellow travelers will never be satisfied, no matter what (and that includes me). I have to keep reminding myself how spoiled we are with so, so many excellent shows available for purchase, in generally excellent sound. No other rock band's recorded legacy comes anywhere close.

Ethan

For me the first set is a little low-energy. Good, solid performances but not a lot of power. Laid-back. The second set picks up considerably. Musically I'm not sure this is where I'd tell someone to start in May of 77 but a decent show.

This is a great step up in production though. I'm glad they're back to the plastic trays. The sound is excellent. If this is what the series will be I can't wait until the next one - 7.31.74 Now THAT's a show.

THE SOUND IS EXCELLENT and the playing is, as the British would say, cracking good! I agree with the poster above, however, who says the artwork is subpar. It's not tacky but it is far from the Grateful Standard of Excellence.

I bought the subscription and have yet to receive the bonus disc. Anyone else?

The bonus disc didn't come until the Spring or Summer delivery last year......(forgot which)

The bonus disc comes with Volume 2. I forget what show the disc comes from but it's a '74 show to pair with the 7.31.74 Volume 2.

7/31/74 looks too big for 3 discs......I hope it will be 4 discs/complete..

From Dead.net:
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.

Thanks, Mr Fuse. Good news! I was listening to the 7-31-74 show on archive.org and it's a MONSTER. I really hope they do a big box of '74 shows some day...

I'm with you on that. I prefer 74 shows to 73 shows almost all the time. In fact I usually like the "neighbor years" to everyone's favorites. In general I like 76 better than 77 and 89 better than 90. It seems better for the music if the band has not quite found its footing. They explore more, play with less assurance, more questioning.

74 might be my favorite year of all. China>Riders are at their peak, Dark Stars go as deep and as weird as they will ever go, thematic jams stretch out for miles, they seem to want to completely redefine what is music in a rock concert setting. I am hoping that they include the Phil and Ned in the 7.31 set.

yes, the recording is enjoyable and the performance (well, at least the portion from the 1 1/2 playable CDs received) as well. must admit that i fall into the view wrt artwork of "what were they thinking?..."


[ begin vent ]

Rhino and the music industry moan about declining revenues...now it seems the new obsession with monetizing the Dead archives (video game anyone?) has pretty much trumped all sense of respect for customers...

As have many of you, I've supported GD by buying pretty much every physical disc-based product over the years, including subscriptions.....

And, as has been the case also for many of you, the amount of comms required to replace previous defective Rhino discs has been annoying, but this small theatre-of-the-absurd snapshot of the past two weeks is really not striking me as a confidence-inspiring start for the Daves Picks series:

120203 - receive Daves Picks 1. For the first time *ever* by Rhino (excepting the trunk), well-packaged for shipping. Hopeful.

Open product. Of the 3 CDS:

1st is significantly scratched
2nd has some type of metallization/molding flaw. only partially playable.
3rd is scratched AND has metallization/molding flaw that spans entire side of disc. unplayable.

also

all 3 discs exhibit scratches/scrapes that are clearly from an autohandler/packaging device that is not correctly adjusted for gripping pressure (ie a layperson might say "plier marks")

[ and we won't delve into the question of "how does one spell 'tight': aside from the other obvious disc handling issue, does Rhino actually have any QC / mechanical tolerances people who check product to see if spindle hole matches the digipak hub design" ]

---

sigh. OK, frustrating. must just be a bad statistical confluence.


120203 - send 1st email re defective Daves Picks 1, all 3 CDs

no response from dead.net customer service


120206 - send 1st resend email re defective Daves Picks 1, all 3 CDs

no response from dead.net customer service


120209 - send 2nd resend email re defective Daves Picks 1, all 3 CDs

no response from dead.net customer service


120215 - send 3rd resend email re defective Daves Picks 1, all 3 CDs

no response from dead.net customer service


120218 - receive UPS ground flat envelope (no protection for CD) from Rhino Redwood City CA
UPS tracking shows shipped/billed on 120216
contents: one CD (Disc 3)

wait for it.....

.
.
.

the CD is scratched



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A reasonable person can wonder if are Rhino now just making fun of customers who spend money with them...

Anyone have direct contact info for Mark Pinkus?


chuck

http://www.dead.net/features/daves-pick ... s-volume-2
Already Sold Out

The bonus subscription disc is a partial 7/29/74 Capital Centre, Landover, MD