Dick's Picks 15 review
Dick’s
Picks Volume 15
is a complete representation of their September 3, 1977, performance
at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. It was an outdoor event with
over 100,000 in attendance. The New Riders of the Purple Sage and
The Marshall Tucker Band were the two warm up acts.
Dick’s
Picks Volume 15’s first disc is set one from the concert. It
begins in high gear with a powerful rendition of Chuck Berry's
"The Promised Land."
Throughout the set we get a mix of ballads, country, and rock
‘n’ roll. The highlight is “Mississippi Half-Step,” a song
that has a unique melody, which is signature Grateful Dead. On it,
the whole band really shines, but Phil really hits some good runs.
The set closes as it opened, that is, with a burst of energy, with a
definitive rendition of their original "The Music Never
Stopped."
The
second and third discs of Dick’s Picks Volume 15 include
the second set.
It begins in electrifying fashion with the upbeat duo of
"Bertha" > “Good Lovin’.”
Untypical in the second set and very well done is
"Loser"; although, the "Estimated Prophet" >
"Eyes of the World" is the peak of the second disc.
The
set continues on disc three, which has plenty of great moments.
“Truckin’” is chosen to close the show and it works extremely
well. The band decides to cap the performances off with
"Terrapin Station" as the encore, a song that usually is
reserved for a prime slot in their set.
Nineteen
Seventy Seven was an outstanding year for the Dead and Dick’s
Picks Volume 15 is all the proof you'll need. by Barry
Small
©
Grade A
