Compliments has been a grower for me, and the outtakes on that one are terrific. Speaking of outtakes, I really love Jerry's cover of Zevon's Accidentally Like A Martyr. I saw Dylan cover that one live shortly after Zevon passed, which was also pretty darn good.
I was going to say "AWESOME," but that would have gone to your head. Plus, your position was kind of radical...
Here is the big x factor: I believe a TON of subscriptions were sold to eBay resellers. I'll guess close to 50%. Maybe I'm wrong - I would like nothing more than to be wrong and see Dave's Picks continue to thrive. There are two huge factors working against the Dave's Picks resellers now: 1) They can't get as high a price per unit because the Production numbers have steadily increased every two years, and are now at 25,000. 2) This is the big one. In 2023 eBay has a new federal mandate to report sales over $600 to the IRS. The old number was 20K. This makes it virtually impossible for all of the hustlers who were padding their income with Limited Edition Dave's Picks sales and box sets as a 2nd job. It's that simple. I had to buy almost my entire Dave's Picks collection from eBay sellers, so I've been watching the eBay prices go down each year and the inventory of available units go up (and this is before the new tax law). I know of sellers who were buying 10, 15, 20 subscriptions a year from dead.net, just to resell them on eBay. When you now consider they have to tack on sales tax to the CDs (new rule from a couple of years ago) pay higher eBay fees for CDs (used to be 10% - now it's at 14.5%), give PayPal their 3%, and now pay income tax on their sales....they'll be lucky to make their money back. I don't think the subscription sales are there this year. A double 1977 show and what amounts to a double 1972 show was announced while subscriptions were still available (two of their best-selling years), and this release still hasn't sold out. I think they extended the date to buy subscriptions too (don't quote me on that one). I think someone mentioned how long the Winterland Box sets were available for after their release date - keep in mind, they were not Limited Edition - who knows how many sets they manufactured - well more than 25K I'm sure. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong, but I think the bubble has burst.
It's funny you mention it. I had a scratched GSTL CD from shipping. I received a replacement and used the scratched one as the base for my mini-bong.
Had grilled cheese sandwiches with thinly sliced tomatoes between two layers of sharp cheddar on whole grain bread (with seeds) with mayo slathered on the outer sides of the bread for frying for dinner tonight. No joke. With a bowl of chili. Now I'm listening to Volume 1 of Louis Armstrong Hot Fives and Sevens CD on the JSP label remastered by John R. T. Davies while my wife is washing the dishes. Life is good. P.S. I'm the cook so it's fair.
I’ve decided that there’s no such thing as too much ‘74. ‘72 and ‘77 I can appreciate the opinion, but every ‘74 show is a unique flower.
I'm partial to avocado. Had a couple of those sandwiches earlier tonight, in fact. Avocado on cheddar. With tomatoes, I prefer a mild cheese like mozzarella, or muenster.
Just cranked up 2/9/73, 50 years later. What a trip to beam some files created from the master reel to a computer in my pocket and blast the music into wireless earbuds while I commute to work. Typically great ‘73 China > Rider.
You know, I love the live version of Dupree's and wish they had kept it around. Same for Cosmic Charlie.
It needn't be a bubble burst - could be just market saturation. Which is not a bad thing. If production numbers drop back to 20k per Pick and 10k per box, or whatever, and they mostly but not entirely sell out by street date, then pretty much everybody who wants them is getting them. That would be fine.
I saw the last Cosmic Charlie at my first show, Capital Centre 9-25-76. At the back of the arena, someone had hung a sheet painted with "Cosmic Charlie" from the railing of the upper tier. I said to the guy next to me "no way they play Cosmic Charlie". Why I was so sure I don't remember. I had some tapes and all of the official LPs at that point, but as I said, it was my first show. When they played Cosmic Charlie my neighbor lit a joint that resembled a chicken leg or a small ice cream cone and passed to me.
I love '77, but the shows do have a lot of similarity, even if they're all tightly played (with a few standouts). I'll be honest, I can't listen to much after '82 because Jerry sounds so bad. Edit: 82-86 I mean, I like post-coma stuff!
That's Hollywood for you. I encountered a bear on the medicine and we had a profound conversation. Also, only a handful of people were killed by wild bears in North America in the 60s, all of them in the remote wilderness. Every year I say to myself 'maybe this year I will sign up,' and then they announce some 77 show as volume 1 and I pass as hard as possible. 77 is easily my least favorite year of the 70s, though I will concede he has been moving in the right direction of late with the fall 77 picks. But if Dave does a Vince era 90s release as vol 4 this year that would probably get me on board for next year, inevitable 77 pick notwithstanding.
I’d guess that your 50% estimate is high but most of what you outlined seems like it could be a good thing if it helps to keep flippers in check. And as others have said I don’t think fewer resellers buying them would hurt the viability of the series too much because it’s an artificial scarcity model anyway that they can adjust as needed. This is separate thing but it’s also nice when the various box sets and releases don’t sell out too quickly because it gives people who didn’t jump in right away the chance to still pick them up at retail price.