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| Dick's Picks Volume 1 |
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12/19/73
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Curtis
Hixon Convention Center
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Tampa, FL
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| Dick's
Picks direct from the GD |
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Dick's Picks 1
review
Dick’s
Picks Volume 1 is the first in a series of vault releases that
is based on two track recordings. This one features select portions
of a live concert performed December 19, 1973, at the Curtis Hixon
Convention Center in Tampa, FL. Back up singer Donna Godchaux
was not present at the show.
The
first disc of Dick’s Picks Volume 1 includes parts of
both sets.
It begins in high form with "Here Comes Sunshine,"
arguably the best version ever, unquestionably stellar.
Also included are great versions of "Big River" and
"Big Railroad Blues."
The "Mississippi Half Step" is brilliant, but
incomplete as they never sing the Across the Grande Rio
bridge, instead they just stop. As the release is a compilation,
this is an edit. In concert, the song transitions to "Me and
Bobby McGee," and a solid version of that song too. For fans of spacey explorations and extended jamming it
is hard to find fault with the Bobby songs, "Weather
Report" > “Let it Grow" and "Playing in the
Band" on the first disc.
The
second disc is the ending of the show.
It begins with "He’s Gone" that travels into a
small jam, where Keith runs piano riffs so smoothly transitioning into
their next song, "Truckin’," that you wonder how they
got there. After the singing the song takes off with a jam that has
Jerry, Keith, and Phil in perfect unity that leads the song to an
explosive peak. The mood gets deeper into a blues theme with a
seldom-played version of "Nobody’s Fault But Mine" that
has a long introduction.
It is followed by a jam that has "The Other One"
written all over it, and in no hurry, they finally get around to it.
What follows is an exploratory spacey jam ala “Feedback.” They
shift gears to a ballad and close with a high charged performance of
"Around and Around."
The
Grateful Dead have released an abundance of live recordings to
choose from. While there are better releases than Dick’s
Picks Volume 1, this one has plenty to offer. The mix on this
release captures Keith’s playing with more clarity than any other release to date
(March 2004).
by Barry
Small
©
Grade B + More
Dick's Picks Volume 1 reviews |
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| Track List |
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Disc 1
1. Here Comes Sunshine (Garcia / Hunter) - 14:13
2. Big River (Cash) - 5:23
3. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo (Garcia / Hunter) - 7:29
4. Weather Report Suite (Andersen / Barlow / Weir) - 15:56
5. Big Railroad Blues (Lewis) - 4:06
6. Playing in the Band (Hart / Hunter / Weir) - 21:11
Disc 2
1. He's Gone (Garcia / Hunter) - 10:48
2. Truckin' (Garica / Hunter / Lesh / Weir) - 9:18
3. Nobody's Fault But Mine (Johnson) - 5:53
4. Jam (Garcia / Godchaux / Kreutzmann / Lesh / Weir) - 8:11
5. Other One (Kreutzmann / Weir) - 1:57
6.. Jam (Garcia / Godchaux / Kreutzmann / Lesh / Weir) - 6:12
7. Stella Blue (Garcia / Hunter) - 8:45
8. Around and Around (Berry) - 5:37
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| Musicians: |
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Jerry Garcia - lead guitar, vocals
Bob Weir - guitar, vocals
Phil Lesh - bass, vocals
Keith Godchaux - piano
Bill Kreutzmann - percussion |
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| Notes: |
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Released
- December 1993
Tape Archivist - Dick Latvala
Label - Grateful Dead Merchandise Complete
set list
* included on DP1
Set 1: Promised Land,
Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Sugar Shack, Dire Wolf, Black Throated
Wind, Candyman, Jack Straw, *Big Railroad Blues, *Big River, *Here
Comes Sunshine, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, *Playing In The Band
Set 2: *Mississippi
Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Me And Bobby McGee, *Weather Report Suite
Prelude > * Weather Report Suite Part 1 > *Let It Grow, He's
Gone > Truckin' > *Nobody's Fault But Mine > Truckin' >
*Stella Blue > *Around and Around, Casey Jones |
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More
Dick's Picks 1 reviews
An odd start to the Picks
franchise, this two cd set is from the end of 1973, a great year,
but a less than great pick. It´s a rare case when the first cd
blows away the second, but it does in this case. The best ever
"Here Comes Sunshine" starts things out, and it would be
hard to think of a better one, although Dick's
Picks 14 comes close. A "Big River" follows next,
and is highlighted by Keith Godchaux's keyboards. In such a
mediocre pick, Keith really shines. The other big highlight on the
first disc is a just perfect "Weather Report Suite," with
an incredible jam following the "Let It Grow" segment.
What follows next is a "Playing in the Band" which isn´t
too weak, but can grow a little tiresome. The second disc is strong
to be sure, but isn´t as energetic as I prefer. There is, however,
a rare performance of "Nobody´s Fault but Mine," but this
"Stella Blue" is boring, and the "Around and
Around" is, in my opinion, the worst Chuck Berry song they
covered, as "Johnny B. Goode" would have been a much
better ending to a pick that's very mellow to begin with. So Dick's
Pick 1 isn't the best place for a new deadhead to start, but
with my favorite versions of both "Here Comes Sunshine"
and "Weather Report Suite," you should pick it up
anyway.
Grade B by Zack Smith |
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