One of the things that has always been interesting for me is how Dead albums are viewed when first released and then how differently they're looked at by newer fans over the years. I was raised around the Dead and was about 4 years old when this album was first released. I remember growing up with this album (as well as all that came before it) and it always surprised me how those first generation Deadheads never really cared for this. When Bear was picking the songs for this release, he wanted something that would pay tribute to Pigpen and also feature songs that, for the most part anyway, hadn't already appeared on an album and went back to one of his favorite run of shows 2-13 & 14-70 Fillmore East late shows in New York City (Dick's Picks 4 features more from this great run). Originally it was going to include some pre Dead tunes. While others seemed to not really pay much attention, as a kid, I loved it.