Customer Reviews

Deadbase X: The Complete Guide to Grateful Dead Song Lists

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Each volume of DeadBase has its own unique qualities. One year may have GarciaBase and the next WeirBase. One year may show venue maps while a different year may not.

First off, it is different from DeadBase VII although another reviewer claims differently. VII lists songs through 1992 while DeadBase X lists the songlists (setlists) through 1995. This volume has the usual songbase with each song and when it was played over the years. This volume is as complete as it gets. It has everything you need that the very expensive DeadBase XI has except the steep price.

So should you buy this volume? That depends. I have every volume and if you also want the complete set, then yes, you must buy this one. But what if you just want the most complete volume out there? Then you have 2 choices. By the time DeadBase IX came out, which covers shows through 1994, Jerry was gone. However it has a section with the shows from 1995 so you could get this volume and have all the shows but the songbase is only through 1994.

I like DeadBase IX myself, but for most people DeadBase X would be the best volume to get. The Grateful Dead had stopped performing well before this book was compiled and it was printed a good year after Jerry's death. So there isn't anything this book misses. It has the songbase and venues list as accurate as it could be. There are the usual annual features as well as newer features. If you want only 1 volume and you want the songbase to be as complete as possible then you must get DeadBase X.

So what about DeadBase XI? Well if you have hundreds of dollars to spend on a book that has nothing to add to DeadBase X, then go for it. There were no additional shows to enter and it is basically a rehash of IX & X. If you have to have them all, then yes, get XI. I have seen it sold as "cheap" as $200 and offered for up to $750. But it offers nothing worth that price if you can get DeadBase X at a reasonable price (under $75.00). The other reviewer mentions price and on that point we both agree. I bought my DeadBase X for only $20.00 so price was not a problem. If you plan on really using it, buy a cheap acceptable copy and save money (again, search for a copy under $75.00). I prefer DeadBase IX because it is usually pretty fair priced ($30 or so which is lower than X and way lower than XI) and has everything that X & XI have with the slight difference I stated above.

So, get DeadBase IX if you want a reasonable priced copy and you don't mind it all in 2 sections. However, you must get DeadBase X if you want the most complete up-to-date version at a fraction of the price for DeadBase XI. But do yourself a favor and search all the web auction sites and book stores to get DeadBase X at a more reasonable price. The only volume that should be priced over a $100.00 is DeadBase XI, and I'm not happy with that.

i have Vol VII. this junk is way over priced. nothing has changed in it. you can get all of the info free on the internet.