GRATEFUL DEAD
Dick's Picks 27 (Grateful Dead Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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While there are some who simply have to collect the whole set, there are actually Deadheads out there who are able to pick and choose from the continuing output of the band. There are many reasons why someone might want to own one show rather than another, but the basic criteria boil down to historical significance and musical merit. There are good reasons in each category to add Dick's Picks 27 to your collection.

First, the history. The three disc set contains the entire performance of 12/16/92 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. Of course, for some any Bay Area show is special in its own right, but this one happens to be the most recent in the Dick's Picks series and is the first in the series to feature Vince Welnick as the sole keyboardist (two previous installments featured Welnick sharing keyboard duties with Bruce Hornsby). If having an example of every Grateful Dead lineup is important to you, this set is essential.

Musically, this is one of the better shows of the band's last decade. The merits of the band of the 90s is one of the favorite sources of endless argument in Deadhead circles, but there are some excellent versions of some of their strongest material in these discs. There are particularly fine performances of "Shakedown Street" and "Playin' In The Band," a nice 90s era "Dark Star" and other treats. In addition, disc three closes out with four tracks from the following night, including a memorable "Not Fade Away." It's all carefully mastered from the original two-track soundboard tapes, and the sound quality is excellent, with a notably strong bottom end.

I admit, I tip toward the "gotta have 'em all" side of the scale, but if you're among the choosy, Dick's Picks 27 is a wonderful choice.

Track Lists:

Disc One: Feel Like A Stranger * Brown-Eyed Woman * The Same Thing * Loose Lucy * Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again * Row Jimmy * Let It Grow

Disc Two: Shakedown Street * Samson And Delilah * Ship Of Fools * Playing In The Band> Drums>Space

Disc Three: Dark Star>All Along The Watchtower>Stella Blue>Good Lovin' * Casy Jones * Throwing Stones>Not Fade Away * Baba O'Riley>Tomorrow Never Knows

[Pick this up at www.dead.net.]

© 2003 - Shaun Dale