Live at the Fillmore
East review
Live
at the Fillmore
was recorded on February 11, 1969, where the Grateful Dead were
billed with Janis Joplin. It features both of the sets they played
that evening, each about an hour.
It represents the first live Grateful Dead release with
several songs from their CD Aoxomoxa, “Doing That Rag”
and “Mountains of the Moon.” It also includes the first 1960’s
live version of “Dupree Diamond Blues,” though, there have been
some later renditions of this song released that include Dick’s
Picks 18 from 1978 and Dozin’ at the Knick from 1990.
The first
disc is centered on their suite of “Cryptical Envelopment” and
several Pig Pen highlights. While not earth shattering, a solid set
nevertheless. They only
weak moment is their attempt at the Beatles classic “Hey Jude.”
Making
up for the lack of Garcia penned songs in the early show, the later
one begins with Garcia singing the first three.
The first two are short warm-up songs.
After, they launch into their stretching out music that is
centered around “Dark Star” and continuing non-stop through
several songs concluding with “Feedback.”
While not listed on the track list “Cosmic Charlie” is on
the tail end of “We Bid You Goodnight,” a hidden track.
This
is a worthwhile CD, but is not the first to get within the early Pig
Pen era. by Barry
Small
©
Grade B
