Dave's Picks Volume 40


Dave's Picks Volume 40 is a four-CD live album by the rock band the Grateful Dead. It was recorded on July 18 and 19, 1990, at Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. It was released on October 29, 2021, in a limited edition of 25,000 copies.
Dave's Picks Volume 40 contains all of the songs from both concerts except for the July 19 encore, "U.S. Blues", which was omitted due to lack of space. That song was included as a bonus track on Dave's Picks Volume 41.
The 1990 summer concert tour comprised the last Grateful Dead shows to feature keyboardist and vocalist Brent Mydland, who died of a drug overdose on July 26 of that year.

Recording and mastering

The album was released in HDCD format. This provides enhanced sound quality when played on CD players with HDCD capability, and is fully compatible with regular CD players.

Critical reception

On AllMusic Timothy Monger wrote, "Playing with an acute sense of focus and precision, the Dead charge energetically through usual suspects like the opening combo of "Help on the Way", "Slipknot!", and "Franklin's Tower". There's even more to like about night two, which features an expansive Bob-on-Bob rendition of "Desolation Row" and a nuanced "Victim or the Crime" into "Foolish Heart"."

Track listing

Disc 1
  1. "Help on the Way" – 4:39
  2. "Slipknot!" – 4:16
  3. "Franklin's Tower" – 9:34
  4. "New Minglewood Blues" – 7:36
  5. "Easy to Love You" – 5:44
  6. "Peggy-O" – 6:38
  7. "When I Paint My Masterpiece" – 5:37
  8. "Brown-Eyed Women" – 6:50
  9. "Cassidy" – 7:00
  10. "Deal" – 8:21
  12. "China Cat Sunflower" – 7:34
  13. "I Know You Rider" – 6:01
Disc 2
  1. "Looks Like Rain" – 8:26
  2. "Terrapin Station" – 15:27
  3. "Jam" – 4:33
  4. "Drums" – 6:10
  5. "Space" – 8:22
  6. "The Other One" – 12:17
  7. "Morning Dew" – 12:41
  9. "The Weight" – 6:22
Disc 3
  1. "Jack Straw" – 6:42
  2. "They Love Each Other" – 7:47
  3. "Desolation Row" – 12:17
  4. "Row Jimmy" – 10:54
  5. "Picasso Moon" – 8:10
  6. "Althea" – 7:22
  7. "Promised Land" – 5:05
  9. "Victim or the Crime" – 8:19
  10. "Foolish Heart" – 9:15
Disc 4
  1. "Playing in the Band" – 9:42
  2. "China Doll" – 5:29
  3. "Uncle John's Band" – 9:15
  4. "Drums" – 12:17
  5. "Space" – 12:44
  6. "All Along the Watchtower" – 7:58
  7. "Black Peter" – 9:06
  8. "Not Fade Away" – 12:53

Personnel

Grateful Dead
Production
  • Produced by Grateful Dead
  • Produced for release by David Lemieux
  • Executive producer: Mark Pinkus
  • Associate producers: Doran Tyson, Ivette Ramos
  • Mastering: Jeffrey Norman
  • Recording: Dan Healy
  • Additional recording: David Lemieux
  • Tape research: Michael Wesley Johnson
  • Archival research: Luisa Haddad
  • Art direction, design: Steve Vance
  • Cover art: Helen Rebecchi Kennedy
  • Photos: Robbi Cohn
  • Liner notes essay: David Lemieux