A ha ha ha ha ha. That's what I get for revising my post and not rereading it before I post. 9-20-91 Boston.
Sometimes it's like 5 minutes of "I'm going to play just one more lick now" while the drums are rising like the tide/.....it can feel half out the door the whole time
I’ll have to check it out. I didn’t see any of that run because I was out of the country at the time, and although I’ve heard most of it, I don’t think I’ve heard that one.
I'll allow 5/3/72 because you got the other 3 right #4 is fungible anyway, so why not go with sentimentality
I need to recharge my 8/27/72 batteries sometime soon during this hot hot summer. Need some naked pole guy in my life. "every time we come here it rains now it's too damn hot" sounds like someone describing my backyard.
Delay not another minute. Second set from 9-20-91 would be considered an all-timer if they had only played three shows in Boston that year.
I forgot that was the date, but I've definitely heard the Help>Slip>Fire from that show on a friend's tape back in the day. Don't think I had my own copy, and not sure that I heard the rest of that second set or not. So, I'll still have to check it out sometime.
In this regard, I just want to say that: Veneta 8/27/72 is NOT overrated. And also Veneta Dark Star is NOT overrated.
Dick’s Picks 14 - Part 1: 11/30/73 My sentiments are very similar to that of the majority (I could just copy-paste @Crazy Otto's post above for example ). First disc is undoubtedly weakest part of the whole release. This Morning Dew served as a live soundcheck and it shows. The rest of CD1, well, it's not that bad again, when you're in a mood, you'll like it all. But nothing to write home about. Highlight for me is of course PITB. The second CD though is really, really top shelf material. The whole sequence is an ecstatic celebration of music. A short and sweet review for a change
I guess I'll be a bit crabby and mention that for me the second CD is uneven. "Weather Report Suite Part One" is the most ragged version I remember hearing as the band can't agree on a tempo and seems bewildered singing it without Donna, although they rebound for a tight version of "Let It Grow." After that there is the "Dark Star" jam with some of the same unsettledness of WRS Pt 1 and parts of the first set although there are some pretty ideas being thrown around, before Jerry abandons it for a very good "Eyes." Still it is a disc worth multiple listens, like nearly everything from '73.
Yeah, I'd say that the 11/30 performances are generally fine, but not outstanding. Some are kind of rough and sluggish. I realize that some people think it's a great feature that Donna isn't here, but I miss her vocal parts, and I think the band missed her, too. The abridged version here also happens to cut some uptempo numbers, which mostly leaves a lot of long, slow, languid and chilled pieces, one after another. The pacing really drags, I always feel. The full concert, even with all of the AUD patches, is a better listen. This could've been a better collection if Dick had just dropped most of the first set, since he wasn't presenting full shows, anyway, and included highlights from 12/1, the night he skipped.
Clickable thread guide List of releases By Release Date One from the Vault (1975-08-13 San Francisco, released 1991-04-15) Infrared Roses (1989-1990, released 1991-11-01) Two from the Vault (1968-08-24 San Francisco, released May 1992) Dick’s Picks 1 (1973-12-19 Tampa, released 1991-10-31) Dick’s Picks 2 (1971-10-31 Columbus, released March 1995) Grayfolded (1968-1993, released 1994 and 1995) Hundred Year Hall (1972-04-26, released 1995-09-26) Dick’s Picks 3 (1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines, released 1995-11-07) Dick’s Picks 4 (1970-02-13, 14 New York, released 1996-02-23) Dick’s Picks 5 (1979-12-26 Oakland, released 1996-05-30) Dozin' at the Knick (1990-03-24 Albany (mostly), released 1996-08-29) Dick's Picks 6 (1983-10-14 Hartford, released 1996-10-07) Dick's Picks 7 (1974-09-09, 10, 11 London, released 1997-03-04) Dick's Picks 8 (1970-05-02 Binghamton, released 1997-06-14) Fallout from the Phil Zone (Various, released 1997-06-17) Terrapin Station Limited Edition (1990-03-15 Landover, released 1997-09) Dick's Picks 9 (1990-09-16 New York, released 1997-10-19) Live at the Fillmore East 2-11-69 (1969-02-11 New York, released 1997-10-28) Dick's Picks 10 (1977-12-29 San Francisco, released 1998-02-26) Dick's Picks 11 (1972-09-27 Jersey City, released 1998-06-09) Dick's Picks 12 (1974-06-26 Providence, 1974-06-28 Boston, released 1998-10-15) Dick's Picks 13 (1981-05-06 Uniondale, released 1999-03-05) Dick's Picks 14 (1973-11-30 Boston, released 1999-06-18) By Concert Date Various (released 1994 and 1995 on Grayfolded) Various (released 1997-06-17 on Fallout from the Phil Zone) 1968-08-24 Los Angeles (released 1992-05 on Two from the Vault) 1969-02-11 New York (released 1997-10-28 on Live at the Fillmore East 2-11-69) 1970-02-13, 14 New York (released 1996-02-23 on Dick's Picks 4) 1970-05-02 Binghamton (released 1997-06-14 on Dick's Picks 8) 1971-10-31 Columbus (released 1995-03 on Dick's Picks 2) 1972-04-26 Frankfurt (released 1995-09-26 on Hundred Year Hall) 1972-09-27 Jersey City (released 1998-06-09 on Dick's Picks 11) 1973-11-30 Boston (released 1999-06-18 on Dick's Picks 14) 1973-12-19 Tampa (released 1993-10-31 on Dick's Picks 1) 1974-06-26 Providence (released 1998-10-15 on Dick's Picks 12) 1974-06-28 Boston (released 1998-10-15 on Dick's Picks 12) 1974-09-09, 10, 11 London (released 1997-03-04 on Dick's Picks 7) 1975-08-13 San Francisco (released 1991-04-15 on One from the Vault) 1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines (released 1995-11-07 on Dick's Picks 3) 1977-12-29 San Francisco (released 1998-02-26 on Dick's Picks 10) 1979-12-26 Oakland (released 1996-05-30 on Dick's Picks 5) 1981-05-06 Uniondale (released 1999-03-05 on Dick's Picks 13) 1983-10-14 Hartford (released 1996-10-07 on Dick's Picks 6) 1989, 1990 (released 1991-11-01 on Infrared Roses) 1990-03-15 Landover (released 1997-09 on Terrapin Station Limited Edition) 1990-03-24 Albany (mostly) (released 1996-08-29 on Dozin' at the Knick) 1990-09-16 New York (released 1997-10-19 on Dick's Picks 9) This week: 1973-12-02 Boston (released 1999-06-18 on Dick's Picks 14) Next week: 1977-09-03 Englishtown (released 1999-10-18 on Dick's Picks 15) Fair warning: the 5-disc So Many Roads set will follow Dick's Picks 15.
Dick's Picks Volume 14 Recording date: December 2, 1973 Recording location: Boston Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts. Release date: June 18, 1999 Recorded by: Bill Candelario Disc 3 12/2 First set: “Cold Rain and Snow” (traditional) – 7:21 “Beat It on Down the Line” (Jesse Fuller) – 3:40 “Brown-Eyed Woman/The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down/Beer Barrel Polka” (Brown, Franklin, Friend, Garcia, Hunter, Timm, Vejvoda, Zeman) – 7:48 “Jack Straw” (Hunter, Weir) – 5:21 “Ramble on Rose” (Garcia, Hunter) – 8:04 “Weather Report Suite” (Anderson, Barlow, Weir) – 15:54 12/2 Second set: “Wharf Rat” > (Garcia, Hunter) – 10:38 “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo” > (Garcia, Hunter) – 8:03 Disc 4 “Playing in the Band” > (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 12:09 “Jam” (Grateful Dead) > – 15:39 “He's Gone” > (Garcia, Hunter) – 10:27 “Truckin'” > (Garcia, Phil Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 13:34 “Stella Blue” (Garcia, Hunter) – 10:15 12/2 Encore: “Morning Dew” (Dobson, Rose) – 14:31 The first two discs of Dick’s Picks 14 covered the first show of a three-night run at the Boston Music Hall, and we discussed that last week. This week it’s on to the last two discs, which cover the final night. In sound it’s very similar to the November 30 show - somewhat introspective and often quiet. We start with some first-set songs, including a fine Weather Report Suite (the superior of the two versions on Dick’s Picks 14 in my opinion). The disc is rounded out with a quiet-yet-intense pairing of Wharf Rat (the ending is sublime) and Mississippi Half-Step. But it’s disc 4 that’s the key for this Pick. It opens with Playing in the Band, and they quickly get the singing out of the way. Phil immediately picks up the lead, setting the rudder for new territory. It’s hard to tell where Playing stops and the Jam starts - it’s one long, lovely sequence. It builds, then drops into a very chaotic space. This is dense, challenging music, and not something to play if you’re trying to make a new fan of an inexperienced listener. Eventually it changes into a lovely Mind Left Body jam, bringing the listener back to some semblance of normality. Next up is a mellow He’s Gone with a gorgeous ending jam. Then comes Truckin’, not a driving version, but more exploratory, with a distinct Nobody’s Fault jam in the middle. The sequence ends with a controlled Stella Blue, a great selection. Providing a perfect bookend for the shows, the encore is Morning Dew. In my opinion, 12/2 is the most consistent show of the two on this Pick, and disc 4 is essential Dead. But in the end, Dick’s Picks 14 falls just slightly short of being top-shelf from start to finish for me, and as a result isn’t quite at the top of the 1973 pile. Nevertheless, having said that, it’s got plenty to love and shouldn’t be overlooked! It was also the last Pick released while Dick was alive.
Dicks' Picks 14, Discs 1 and 2: 11/30/73 I've never heard the full show, but might give it a whirl soon. as a friend happened to send me links to all three nights of this run recently (he particularly pointed out the Uncle John's from 12/1, which I don't think I've ever heard). I was familiar with the meat of the 12/2 show before this release, as I had a tape with at least the big jam, but hadn't heard 11/30/73 until the official release. Agree that the Set 1 material is pretty average for the time. I'm not sure that I love the slow-tempo Dire Wolf, but it's unusual compared to most versions (I honestly can't recall if it's an unusual approach for '73 versions or not). I always dig TLEO, both in its earlier faster incarnations and in the post-Reflections slower approach, and this one, toward the back end of Disc 1, is the first song in what's presented here from the first set that really seemed to fully gel. The Playing in the Band is terrific as usual from this period. Set II is a really nice long ride. Here Comes Sunshine has a couple different peaks in the jamming, the first one driven by Keith really pounding out chords at one point, a different approach than usual for him. The whole band is fully in synch. Not quite up there with the absolute best versions (like 12/19/73), but not that far behind either. Very nice Let It Grow, enjoyable Dark Star Jam, and a great Eyes of the World. The Sugar Magnolia is a bit sloppy and I liked it less than most pre-hiatus versions. A good show and nice to have, but 12/2 is better.
Yeah, that's what I usually feel about half of them anyway, so there you go I mean to say that very often nothing remarkable happens until they hit "Let it Grow" part, especially from the first jam on. Anyway I can remember I was really ecstatic last time I've listened to DiP14 and that 2nd disc had really elevated me... But I was under a good dose of whiskey and in a really suitable mood. Next time it may not hit me the same way...
I guess it would have been tricky to condense 11/30/73 to one CD (as fans would have complained if Dick had dropped "Morning Dew," "WRS Part 1" or "Dark Star Jam") and a five CD set wasn't likely in those days.
As I mentioned earlier, it interests me that back in the 90's some people who had an audience tape of 11/30/73 seemed convinced it was one of the best shows the Dead ever played. If you have the Compendium, the review there is similar to what I read from them.