30 Trips Around the Sun is an 80-CD live album, packaged as a box set, by the rock band the Grateful Dead. Announced for the celebration of their 50th anniversary, it consists of 30 complete, previously unreleased concerts, with one show per year from 1966 through 1995. Comprising 73 hours of music, the box set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies. It was released on October 7, 2015.Fricke, David (June 2, 2015). "Grateful Dead Archivist Details Massive, New 80-Disc Box Set", Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 3, 2015.Brown, Eric Renner (June 2, 2015). "Grateful Dead Announce Gargantuan 80-Disc Box Set 30 Trips Around the Sun", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 3, 2015.Kaye, Ben (June 2, 2015). "Grateful Dead's New Box Set Boasts 73 Hours of Unreleased Audio over 80 Discs", Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 3, 2015."Grateful Dead's 30 Trips Around the Sun: First Look at Box, Premiere of "Cream Puff War" Music and Essay", Relix, August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
The package also includes a gold-colored vinyl 7-inch single which bookends the band's career. The A-side is "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)" from the band's earliest recording session in 1965, with a B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, "Box of Rain" recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995. Also contained in the box set is a 288-page book that includes an extensive essay about the history of the Grateful Dead by band archivist Nicholas Meriwether, and a scroll that has "a visual representation of how the band's live repertoire has evolved through the years". Before it sold out, the box set was priced at $700.
All of the concerts were essentially previously unreleased. However, two tracks from the July 3, 1966 performance ("Gangster of Love" & "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing") previously appeared on Rare Cuts and Oddities, and one track ("Candyman") from April 15, 1970 is a bonus track on American Beauty. The seven-inch B-side, "Box of Rain", was previously released on the CD accompanying early prints of Phil Lesh's book Searching for the Sound, while another track from that July 9, 1995 performance ("So Many Roads") was released on So Many Roads.
Some tracks have been previously released informally as free downloads as part of the 30 Days of Dead series on the band's website. The July 3, 1966 performance of "Cream Puff War" was included in 30 Days of Dead in both 2013 and 2014. The October 3, 1976 performance of "Scarlet Begonias" was included in 30 Days of Dead in 2011. The June 24, 1985 performance of "My Brother Esau", the March 27, 1993 performance of "Loose Lucy" and the October 1, 1994 performance of "So Many Roads" were included in 30 Days of Dead in 2013.
A USB drive version of the collection was released December 11, 2015. It is shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies.
There is also a 4-CD album that was released September 18, 2015, with one song from each of the 30 concerts, plus the 1965 recording of "Caution". That album is called 30 Trips Around the Sun: The Definitive Live Story 1965–1995.
Concerts The shows included in the 80-disc box set are: 1966 – July 3, Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California 1967 – November 10, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California 1968 – October 20, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California 1969 – February 22, Dream Bowl, Vallejo, California 1970 – April 15, Winterland, San Francisco, California 1971 – March 18, Fox Theatre, St. Louis, Missouri 1972 – September 24, Palace Theatre, Waterbury, Connecticut 1973 – November 14, San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego 1974 – September 18, Parc des Expositions, Dijon, France 1975 – September 28, Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco 1976 – October 3, Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan 1977 – April 25, Capitol Theatre, Passaic, New Jersey 1978 – May 14, Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island 1979 – October 27, Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, Massachusetts 1980 – November 28, Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Florida 1981 – May 16, Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 1982 – July 31, Manor Downs, Austin, Texas 1983 – October 21, The Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts 1984 – October 12, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine 1985 – June 24, Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati 1986 – May 3, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California 1987 – September 18, Madison Square Garden, New York City 1988 – July 3, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine 1989 – October 26, Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 1990 – October 27, Le Zénith, Paris, France 1991 – September 10, Madison Square Garden, New York 1992 – March 20, Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario 1993 – March 27, Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York 1994 – October 1, Boston Garden, Boston 1995 – February 21, Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Critical reception On AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Initially released as a limited-edition box set so lavish it was on the verge of being absurd, 30 Trips Around the Sun is a deep exploration of a simple idea: tell the Grateful Dead's story through unreleased live performances taken from every year of their life.... Casual listening this is not but there are considerable rewards lying within a monthlong immersion, even for fans who are not dyed-in-the-wool Deadheads. Certainly, any listener drawn to an album that runs over 72 hours is by definition dedicated but 30 Trips holds appeal to a fan who hasn't spent time diligently keeping up with the picks of Dick and Dave because it is indeed a narrative, showcasing the progression (and occasional stagnation) of the Dead as no other compilation could."
Personnel Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, vocals Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, vocals Bill Kreutzmann – drums Phil Lesh – electric bass, vocals Ron "Pigpen" McKernan – organ, harmonica, percussion, vocals Mickey Hart – drums Tom Constanten – keyboards Keith Godchaux – keyboards Donna Jean Godchaux – vocals Brent Mydland – keyboards, vocals Vince Welnick – keyboards, vocals N.B. years listed for the shows included in this release only, not each member's tenure in the band.
Additional musicians Ned Lagin – synthesizer Matt Kelly – guitar Bruce Hornsby – piano, vocals Branford Marsalis – saxophone
Production Produced by Grateful Dead Produced for release by David Lemieux Executive Producer: Mark Pinkus, Doran Tyson Associate Producer: Ivette Ramos Recorded by Owsley Stanley, Betty Cantor, Dan Healy, Kidd Candelario, Rex Jackson, John Cutler CD mastering: Jeffrey Norman, David Glasser Tape to digital transfers, wow and flutter correction: John K. Chester, Jamie Howarth Design, artwork: Steve Vance Art direction: Doran Tyson, Steve Vance Liner notes: Nicholas G. Meriwether, Jesse Jarnow, David Lemieux
Track listing The track listing for 30 Trips Around the Sun is:30 Trips Around the Sun at the Grateful Dead Family Discography. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
July 3, 1966 – Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir Recorded by Owsley Stanley According to the album liner notes, the Grateful Dead played two sets at this show, with the group Love playing between the band's first and second sets. This is the earliest live show that has been released by the band. Disc 1 "Nobody's Fault But Mine" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 1:09 "Dancing in the Street" (William Stevenson, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter) – 7:59 "I Know You Rider" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 3:05 "He Was a Friend of Mine" (Mark Spoelstra) – 4:16 "Next Time You See Me" (William G. Harvey, Frank Forest) – 3:32 "Viola Lee Blues" (Noah Lewis) – 7:39 "Big Boss Man" (Al Smith, Luther Dixon) – 3:49 "Sittin' on Top of the World" (Lonnie Carter, Walter Jacobs) – 2:21 "Keep Rolling By" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 4:35 Disc 2 "New, New Minglewood Blues" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 3:54 "Cold Rain and Snow" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 3:16 "Tastebud" (Ron McKernan) – 6:37 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Jesse Fuller) – 2:48 "Cream Puff War" (Jerry Garcia) – 5:18 "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (Oliver Sain) – 3:14 "Cardboard Cowboy" (Phil Lesh) – 2:31 "Gangster of Love" (John Watson) – 5:10 "You Don't Have to Ask" (Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Bob Weir) – 4:32 "In the Midnight Hour" (Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett) – 15:50
November 10, 1967 – Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir Recorded by Dan Healy This show was one of the few multi-track recordings the band made in 1967 and was recorded using an eight track recorder. Segments of this show are believed to have been used during the mixing of the Anthem of the Sun album. This concert was also released, in 2016, as a separate three-disc LP. Disc 1 "Viola Lee Blues" (Lewis) – 15:58 "It Hurts Me Too" (Elmore James) – 4:40 "Beat It On Down the Line" (Fuller) – 3:27 "Morning Dew" (Bonnie Dobson, Tim Rose) – 7:39 "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (Sonny Boy Williamson) – 10:55 Disc 2 "That's It for the Other One" (Tom Constanten, Garcia, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir) – 12:11 I. Cryptical Envelopment II. The Other One III. Cryptical Envelopment "New Potato Caboose" > (Lesh, Robert Petersen) – 11:28 "Alligator" > (Lesh, McKernan, Robert Hunter) – 11:00 "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)" (Garcia, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir) – 24:28
October 20, 1968 – Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir Recorded by Grateful Dead Disc 1 "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (Williamson) – 13:53 "Turn On Your Lovelight" (Joseph Scott, Deadric Malone) – 13:38 "Dark Star" > (Garcia, Mickey Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir, Hunter) – 10:25 "St. Stephen" > (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 6:37 "The Eleven" > (Lesh, Hunter) – 4:54 "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)" > (Garcia, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir) – 11:19 "Feedback" (Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir) – 4:25
February 22, 1969 – Dream Bowl, Vallejo, California Tom Constanten, Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir Recorded by Owsley Stanley Disc 1 First set: "Dupree's Diamond Blues" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:12 "Mountains of the Moon" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:22 "Dark Star" > (Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir, Hunter) – 22:14 "Cryptical Envelopment" > (Garcia) – 2:06 "The Other One" > (Weir, Kreutzmann) – 8:16 "Cryptical Envelopment" > (Garcia) – 6:31 "Death Don't Have No Mercy" (Gary Davis) – 7:19 Disc 2 Second set: "Doin' That Rag" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:49 "St. Stephen" > (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 9:07 "The Eleven" > (Lesh, Hunter) – 16:03 "Turn On Your Lovelight" (Scott, Malone) – 22:05
April 15, 1970 – Winterland, San Francisco, California Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir Recorded by Owsley Stanley Disc 1 "Cold Rain and Snow" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 6:05 "China Cat Sunflower" > (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:03 "I Know You Rider" (traditional, arranged by Grateful Dead) – 4:33 "Technical Difficulties" (Mama Tried false start) – 4:11 "Mama Tried" (Merle Haggard) – 3:08 "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" (James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome) – 8:31 "Candyman" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:31 "Hard to Handle" (Otis Redding, Alvertis Isbell, Allen Jones) – 4:05 "Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 5:43 Disc 2 "Cryptical Envelopment" > (Garcia) – 2:08 "Drums" > (Hart, Kreutzmann) – 4:15 "Jam" > (Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir) – 5:59 "The Other One" > (Weir, Kreutzmann) – 8:37