Another massive Grateful Dead box is on the way. Listen to the River: St. Louis '71 '72 '73 arrives on October 1 from the band and Rhino. It brings together a slew of previously unreleased concerts recorded on December 9 and 10, 1971 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Fox Theatre; October 17-19, 1972 at the Fox Theatre; and October 29 and 30, 1973 at Kiel Auditorium. Each of these concerts has been restored and speed-corrected using Plangent Processes with mastering by Jeffrey Norman. The box is limited to 13,000 individually numbered copies and is available now for pre-order exclusively through Dead.net. A complete digital version will also be available at Dead.net in both Apple Lossless and FLAC 192/24. A preview of the collection, "Sugaree" from the December 10, 1971 show at the Fox Theatre, has been released today to digital download and streaming services.
If you're looking for just a little less Dead, the band's website will also exclusively issue Light Into Ashes: Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/18/72. This 180-gram, 2-LP set is limited to just 7,200 copies and features an hour-plus-long jam from the Dead's October 18, 1972 Fox show. Finally, the December 10, 1971 show at the Fabulous Fox will be released to general retail on CD, LP, and digitally as Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/10/71 on 3 CDs or five 180-gram LPs. The LP edition is limited to 12,000 copies.
The set's producer, Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux, states in the press release that "[there] are a only few truly great eras in the Grateful Dead's performing history that span more than a year and one of the very best is the transitional period that covers December 1971 through Fall of 1973. This was a period during which the Dead solidified their touring format (several distinct, somewhat short, geographically defined tours every year), where every night the Dead would wow their fans with a mix of over six years of music that clearly demonstrated their many transitions and transmutations."
Lemieux continues, "The seven shows in this boxed set perfectly summarize 22 months of Grateful Dead music, performances, and growth. From the original five piece (plus Keith) showing off their Skull & Roses musical flexibility and discipline in December 1971, through the Europe '72 iteration of the Dead in October 1972, to the independent Wake Of The Flood Dead of October 1973, this boxed set features the band at three distinct peaks, that show an inspired band that was always looking to grow and take their fans along for the ride. For loyal Dead Heads, sticking around through the Dead's many growth spurts was always worth it as the payoff was always greater than its already lofty promise. And what better city to focus these show selections on than St. Louis, which always brought out the very best in the Grateful Dead."
The two 1971 concerts feature the original band roster of Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and Bob Weir, with newcomer Keith Godchaux joining them on piano while the subsequent shows are without Pigpen who departed the group after the Hollywood Bowl show of June 17, 1972. Taken en toto, the collection features 60 different songs, including the Chuck Berry songs they performed at each concert in tribute to one of St. Louis' most esteemed musical legends.
Listen to the River is housed in a slipcase designed by Liane Plant and includes an 84-page hardcover book with essays by the band's then tour-manager Sam Cutler, Dead historian Nicholas G. Meriwether. All formats are due on October 1. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.
Grateful Dead, Listen To The River: St. Louis '71, '72, '73 (Rhino/Grateful Dead) (Dead.net)
Disc 1
- TRUCKIN' [12:47]
- BROWN-EYED WOMEN [4:53]
- MR. CHARLIE [4:13]
- JACK STRAW [5:20]
- SUGAREE [7:52]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:54]
- IT HURTS ME TOO [6:25]
- TENNESSEE JED [7:28]
- EL PASO [5:13]
- RUN RUDOLPH RUN [3:56]
- BLACK PETER [9:27]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [6:37]
Disc 2
- CASEY JONES [6:02]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [4:39]
- RAMBLE ON ROSE [8:05]
- MEXICALI BLUES [3:33]
- BIG BOSS MAN [5:39]
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [7:29]
- NOT FADE AWAY> [4:47]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [6:29]
- NOT FADE AWAY [3:59]
Discs 1 -2 from Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (12/9/71)
Disc 3
- BERTHA [6:32]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:48]
- MR. CHARLIE [4:25]
- LOSER [7:22]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:49]
- SUGAREE [8:49]
- JACK STRAW [5:30]
- NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME [4:37]
- TENNESSEE JED [7:43]
- EL PASO [4:56]
- BIG RAILROAD BLUES [4:12]
- CASEY JONES [5:42]
Disc 4
- GOOD LOVIN' [22:12]
- BROKEDOWN PALACE [6:06]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [6:57]
- RUN RUDOLPH RUN [3:39]
- DEAL [5:50]
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [7:54]
- COMES A TIME [8:41]
Disc 5
- TRUCKIN'> [8:26]
- DRUMS> [3:21]
- THE OTHER ONE> [13:13]
- SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD> [3:10]
- THE OTHER ONE> [6:02]
- NOT FADE AWAY> [5:58]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [6:13]
- NOT FADE AWAY [3:59]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [4:52]
Disc 3-5 from Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (12/10/71)
Disc 6
- PROMISED LAND [4:09]
- BIRD SONG [14:59]
- EL PASO [5:03]
- SUGAREE [8:47]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:28]
- TENNESSEE JED [8:24]
- BIG RIVER [5:13]
- CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER> [7:06]
- I KNOW YOU RIDER [6:01]
- BLACK-THROATED WIND [7:07]
- DEAL [4:53]
Disc 7
- CUMBERLAND BLUES [6:41]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [23:25]
- CASEY JONES [7:01]
- GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD [5:38]
- DON'T EASE ME IN [4:43]
- MEXICALI BLUES [3:43]
- BLACK PETER [10:07]
- ME AND BOBBY McGEE [6:24]
- BERTHA [7:04]
Disc 8
- JACK STRAW [5:19]
- FRIEND OF THE DEVIL [5:15]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:30]
- RAMBLE ON ROSE [7:32]
- MISSISSIPPI HALF-STEP UPTOWN TOODELOO [9:16]
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [8:50]
- NOT FADE AWAY> [4:36]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [10:30]
- NOT FADE AWAY [3:31]
- UNCLE JOHN'S BAND [8:10]
- JOHNNY B. GOODE [4:18]
Discs 6-8 from Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (10/17/72)
Disc 9
- BERTHA [6:53]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [4:04]
- DON'T EASE ME IN [4:00]
- MEXICALI BLUES [3:52]
- BROWN-EYED WOMEN [5:25]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:26]
- BIRD SONG [13:06]
- BIG RIVER [4:53]
- LOSER [6:49]
- JACK STRAW [5:16]
- BIG RAILROAD BLUES [5:07]
- EL PASO [5:03]
- CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER> [6:05]
- I KNOW YOU RIDER [5:07]
Disc 10
- PLAYING IN THE BAND> [16:16]
- DRUMS> [2:46]
- DARK STAR> [28:28]
- MORNING DEW> [11:06]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [5:31]
Disc 11
- DEAL [5:13]
- PROMISED LAND [3:59]
- BROKEDOWN PALACE [6:59]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [4:38]
- CASEY JONES [7:09]
Discs 9-11 from Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (10/18/72)
Disc 12
- PROMISED LAND [4:01]
- TENNESSEE JED [9:08]
- JACK STRAW [5:29]
- DON'T EASE ME IN [3:37]
- BLACK-THROATED WIND [6:56]
- SUGAREE [8:14]
- MEXICALI BLUES [3:57]
- BERTHA [6:25]
- EL PASO [4:46]
- CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER> [6:33]
- I KNOW YOU RIDER [5:54]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:45]
- DIRE WOLF [4:42]
- AROUND AND AROUND [5:05]
Disc 13
- CASEY JONES [7:31]
- BIG RIVER [5:18]
- FRIEND OF THE DEVIL [4:10]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:51]
- BIRD SONG [13:00]
Disc 14
- TRUCKIN'> [10:14]
- DRUMS> [2:19]
- THE OTHER ONE> [16:24]
- HE'S GONE> [11:03]
- THE OTHER ONE [2:07]
- GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD [5:42]
- COMES A TIME [7:54]
- NOT FADE AWAY> [5:23]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [8:57]
- NOT FADE AWAY [4:04]
Discs 12-14 from Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (10/19/72)
Disc 15
- COLD RAIN AND SNOW [6:20]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:50]
- BROWN-EYED WOMEN [5:09]
- MEXICALI BLUES [4:05]
- DON'T EASE ME IN [3:57]
- BLACK-THROATED WIND [7:20]
- TENNESSEE JED [8:18]
- THE RACE IS ON [3:42]
- ROW JIMMY [9:36]
- EL PASO [4:49]
- EYES OF THE WORLD> [15:18]
- CHINA DOLL [5:38]
Disc 16
- AROUND AND AROUND [5:34]
- PROMISED LAND> [3:17]
- BERTHA> [6:03]
- GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD [5:47]
- LOSER [7:12]
- BIG RIVER [5:44]
- BROKEDOWN PALACE [6:42]
Disc 17
- TRUCKIN'> [18:06]
- DRUMS> [2:25]
- THE OTHER ONE> [22:13]
- WHARF RAT> [11:14]
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [10:07]
- CASEY JONES [6:55]
Discs 15-17 from Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO (10/29/73)
Disc 18
- HERE COMES SUNSHINE [12:30]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:28]
- RAMBLE ON ROSE [6:52]
- LOOKS LIKE RAIN [8:03]
- DEAL [5:16]
- MEXICALI BLUES [3:42]
- THEY LOVE EACH OTHER [6:01]
- EL PASO [4:54]
- ROW JIMMY [10:18]
- JACK STRAW [5:08]
Disc 19
- CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER> [8:57]
- I KNOW YOU RIDER [6:09]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [20:26]
- MISSISSIPPI HALF-STEP UPTOWN TOODELOO [8:38]
- BIG RIVER [4:57]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [8:33]
- JOHNNY B. GOODE [4:39]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [5:19]
Disc 20
- DARK STAR> [27:57]
- STELLA BLUE> [7:52]
- EYES OF THE WORLD> [17:37]
- WEATHER REPORT SUITE [15:51]
Discs 18-20 from Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO (10/30/73)
Grateful Dead, Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (12/10/71) 3-CD (Rhino/Grateful Dead, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Disc 1
- BERTHA [6:32]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:48]
- MR. CHARLIE [4:25]
- LOSER [7:22]
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:49]
- SUGAREE [8:49]
- JACK STRAW [5:30]
- NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME [4:37]
- TENNESSEE JED [7:43]
- EL PASO [4:56]
- BIG RAILROAD BLUES [4:12]
- CASEY JONES [5:42]
Disc 2
- GOOD LOVIN' [22:12]
- BROKEDOWN PALACE [6:06]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [6:57]
- RUN RUDOLPH RUN [3:39]
- DEAL [5:50]
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [7:54]
- COMES A TIME [8:41]
Disc 3
- TRUCKIN'> [8:26]
- DRUMS> [3:21]
- THE OTHER ONE> [13:13]
- SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD> [3:10]
- THE OTHER ONE> [6:02]
- NOT FADE AWAY> [5:58]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [6:13]
- NOT FADE AWAY [3:59]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [4:52]
Grateful Dead, Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO (12/10/71) 5-LP (Rhino/Grateful Dead, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
LP 1, Side A
- BERTHA [6:32]
- ME AND MY UNCLE [3:48]
- MR. CHARLIE [4:25]
- LOSER [7:24]
LP 1, Side B
- BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE [3:57]
- SUGAREE [8:49]
- JACK STRAW [5:30]
- NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME [4:12]
LP 2, Side C
- TENNESSEE JED [7:48]
- EL PASO [4:56]
- BIG RAILROAD BLUES [4:12]
- CASEY JONES [5:42]
LP 2, Side D
- GOOD LOVIN' [22:16]
LP 3, Side E
- BROKEDOWN PALACE [6:12]
- PLAYING IN THE BAND [6:57]
- RUN RUDOLPH RUN [3:39]
- DEAL [5:21]
LP 3, Side F
- SUGAR MAGNOLIA [8:08]
- COMES A TIME [8:14]
LP 4, Side G
- TRUCKIN'> [8:27]
- DRUMS [3:25]
LP 4, Side H
- THE OTHER ONE> [13:22]
- SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD> [3:11]
- THE OTHER ONE [6:09]
LP 5, Side I
- NOT FADE AWAY> [6:05]
- GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD> [6:13]
- NOT FADE AWAY [3:59]
- ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT [4:52]
WaveyDavey says
This is amazing! Already order this morning
Guy Smiley says
Damn... Mighty tasty. Too many expensive goodies lately.
That Disc 10, with the “Playing in the Band” sandwich with a “Dark Star” in the middle? I want this just for that alone!
Philip Ellison says
Perhaps I've missed something...and I don't mean to quibble about this embarassment of riches...however, the statement that the Light Into Ashes: Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 10/18/72 2-LP set "features an hour-plus-long jam" suggests, given the limits of vinyl, that the jam is split onto a couple of sides - disconcerting (pun intended) at best!