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Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks Volume 12
ByIt is appropriate then, on a couple fronts, that this three-disc set concludes a near thirty minutes of untitled jam immediately preceded by a quarter hour of rhythm guitarist Bob Weir's "Weather Report Suite." A selection from the previous year's Wake of the Flood (Grateful Dead Records, 1973), this multipart piece bogged down the track sequencing on the studio set, but as it appears here, proves a versatile vehicle upon which to jam; little surprise it leads directly into free playing the likes of which this particular lineup excels, in large measure because single drummer Bill Kreutzmann is such an alert and nimble timekeeper.
Such effective contrasts are present on the first two discs as well, and in similar forms. The first CD, in fact, has three such spontaneous pieces, one that actually begins the performance as included here and two juxtaposed tracks labeled "jams," including one predicated on "(That's It for) The Other One," the other a fluid piece that receives the title of "Spanish Jam." Set and show closers "Truckin'" and "Sugar Magnolia" supply informal introductions to and progressions from the aforementioned jams, while "Wharf Rat" supplies its usually dramatic denouement. "Me and My Uncle" and "Big River" are short sweet shots of concise dynamics and "Eyes of the World" effectively unites the the mindsets of song structure and instrumental serendipity.
More detail on the sources of these recordings would benefit these reissues, which are packaged identical to their prior independent versions, but there's as much logic in preserving the original packaging as that of eschewing any additional sonic upgrade: engineer Jeffrey Norman's HDCD mastering maximizes the clarity of Bill "Kidd" Candelario's recording. In fact, the concept of Dick's Pick's Vol. 12 clearly delineates curator Dick Latvala's expertise in compiling such titles; while many if not most of his selections were complete shows, this one is not, but nevertheless functions like oneproof positive of the plethora of worthwhile material in the Grateful Dead vaults, but also the late archivist's ear for the group's music.
Track Listing
CD1: Jam; China Cat Sunflower; Mind Left Body Jam; I Know You Rider; Beer Barrel Polka; Truckin'; Other One Jam; Spanish Jam; Wharf Rat; Sugar Magnolia. CD2: Eyes of the World; Seastones; Sugar Magnolia; Scarlet Begonias; Big River; To Lay Me Down ; Me & My Uncle; Row Jimmy. CD3: Weather Report Suite : Prelude; Part 1; Part 2: Let it Grow; Jam; U.S. Blues; Promised Land; Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad; Sunshine Daydream; Ship of Fools.
Personnel
Grateful Dead
band / ensemble / orchestraJerry Garcia: vocals, guitar; bob Weit: vocals, guitar; Phil Lesh: vocals; bass; Keith Godchaux: keyboards; Bill Kreutzmann: drums; Donna Jean Godchaux: vocals.
Album information
Title: Dick's Picks Volume 12 | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Grateful Dead Productions
Comments
About Grateful Dead
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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