Dick's Picks 11 review
Dick’s
Picks 11 is a live recording from September 27, 1972, at the
Stanley Theater, in Jersey City, NJ. At the time of its issue, it
represented the third live release from 1972, though the first full
concert.
The
first set of Dick’s Picks 11 has some fine moments thanks
to Jerry Garcia.
The show opens with a very beautiful version of “Morning
Dew,” which is usually the sign of a good show.
A few other Grateful Dead concerts with a “Morning Dew”
opener that are extraordinary performances include April 29, 1971,
available as Ladies and Gentlemen, and November 30, 1973,
Boston Garden, available as Dick’s Picks 14. Other first
set highlights from Dick’s Picks 11 include two songs from American
Beauty, “Friend of the Devil” and “Brokedown Palace.”
Certainly the later renditions of “Brokedown Palace” with Brent
Mydland’s tasteful keyboard touches are sweet, but this version
has warm youthful vocals to savor.
Nineteen Seventy Two was a good year for “Bird Song” and Dick’s
Picks 11’s version is grand.
The
second disc 2 of Dick’s Picks 11continues set one with
“China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” where it
sounds as if Bob Weir’s guitar is slightly out of tune for his
opening melody. Thankfully he is redeemed when Phil leads in with
his authoritative lines followed by Garcia’s melodic runs.
The third disc continues the second set and it includes the
defining moments of the evening; it begins with “Dark Star.”
This version doesn’t get too spacey sticking more to a jazz-rock
improvisation ground. It leads to a “Cumberland Blues” that has
some furious leads like I’ve never heard before.
This
concert presented on Dick’s Picks 11 has a variety of songs
written from different times of their career including their solo
albums.
Thankfully, this show includes a bit more songs than is
typical in 1972 from their Workingman’s Dead and American
Beauty material.
The
performance on Dick’s Picks 11 is outstanding.
Hopefully a future Dick’s Picks will be from the next evening
September 28, 1972, that features a monstrous “The Other One”
> “Me and Bobbie McGee” > “The Other One.”
by Barry
Small
©
Grade A +
