Merriweather 6/30/85 (Limited) (LP4) (180g)

LPA

1. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo>
2. C.C. Rider>
3. Brown-Eyed Women

LPB

1. Mama Tried>
2. Mexicali Blues
3. Keep On Growing

LPC

1. Big Railroad Blues
2. Looks Like Rain>
3. Don't Ease Me In

LPD

1. Shakedown Street>
2. Samson And Delilah

LPE

1. Gimme Some Lovin'>
2. He's Gone>
3. Cryptical Envelopment>

LPF

1. Drums
2. Space>

LPG

1. The Other One>
2. Stella Blue>

LPH

1. Around And Around
2.  Sugar Magnolia
3. U.S. Blues

Experience the transformative pinnacle of the Dead’s musical power with Merriweather 6/30/85. This previously unreleased, complete live performance from Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on June 30, 1985 has been broken out from the Dead.net Exclusive Summer Magic 1985 limited-edition, 20CD boxed set, and will be made available day-and-date for worldwide retail on September 18 as a 3CD Set, Limited Edition 4-LP set, and digitally.

Featuring favorites like “Sugar Magnolia,” “Cryptical Envelopment,” and a legendary “Shakedown Street,” this album was sourced from the original Sony F1 tapes, mastered by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glasser, and produced for release by Grateful Dead legacy manager and audio archivist, David Lemieux.

“The Shakedown Street from 6/30/85 is widely considered one of the greatest single performances of any song by the Grateful Dead, up there with the ‘Dew’ from Europe ’72, ‘Viola Lee Blues’ from Harpur College, and ‘Eyes of the World’ from 3/29/90. Yes, it’s that good.” - David Lemieux

In the Merriweather 6/30/85 liner notes, Nicholas G. Meriwether (Executive Director, Grateful Dead Studies Association) writes: “This summer, the anniversary made the tour feel linked to the band’s history in ways that not only echoed the core of the band’s project, the mystery that the shows courted and embodied, but brought it to life anew. As Hart explained before the tour, “Remember, we’re after something invisible—feeling.” And although that was ineffable, indefinable, and uncontrollable, when it happened, everyone knew it. No matter how difficult—impossible—to define: as Weir put it, later that year, “It’s magic that transpires between us and our audience.” The cause might be invisible, but the effect was undeniable. 

The Dead’s music and model embraced that: they courted that mystery, and they knew when it happened; they knew it was real, and even if they didn’t know exactly how to find it, they knew how to try—and even more, what might happen when they did. This is why they kept on trying, 20 years later. Tonight was proof of what could happen when they did.”

Carrying on this transcendent theme, the Merriweather 6/30/85 3CD and 4LP along with the Summer Magic 1985 boxed set are beautifully packaged, featuring striking new artwork by emerging artist Marcos Alvarado. Drawing inspiration from classical alchemical illuminations, Alvarado’s illustrations are rich with symbols of enlightenment, the union of opposites and cyclical transformation, honoring the band’s enduring legacy. Through his art, Alvarado perfectly captures the transformative "concert alchemy" of the Grateful Dead—a magical, spiritual fusion of psychedelic style, musical improvisation, and communal energy with Merriweather 6/30/85 representing a glimpse into that alchemical journey.

Ahead of the full set, “Sugar Magnolia (Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD 6/30/85)” is available digitally today.

Also on September 18, Summer Magic 1985 is a new 20CD boxed set featuring seven previously unreleased concerts from the “Twenty Years So Far” Tour. Limited to 10,000 individually numbered copies, the collection will be available exclusively from Dead.net. ALAC and High Res FLAC downloads will be released the same day.