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GRATEFUL DEAD
Dick's Picks 28 (Grateful Dead Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
This is the fourth release in the Dick's Picks series that features shows from 1973, but that won't disappoint the faithful. It's generally considered a landmark year for the Grateful Dead, and this is the first DP release that features the band early in the year, before the release of Wake Of The Flood. They were introducing the material in these shows (Lincoln, Nebraska, 2/26/73 and Salt Lake City, Utah, 2/28/73) during this winter tour. "Eyes Of The World" had been performed live for the first time just two weeks earlier, and the two versions in this four disc set show that the band had already found ways to exploit it as one of their finest improvisational vehicles. In the Lincoln show, they combine it with the rosetta stone of Dead jam tunes, "Dark Star." In Salt Lake City, the lead up is "The Other One," another favorite improv number. In both cases, the new song proves to be a perfect fit in the context of a 40 or 50 minute jam.
Of course, every Deadhead has a personal favorite pairing, and mine has long been the combination of "Not Fade Away" and "Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad." The version of that matchup on Disc Two has made it a challenge to change the disc and listen to the whole set, but there's nothing here I actually want to miss, so I force myself to get up and do that after 3 or 4 replays. If you're a fan, you'll find your own sweet spot somewhere in this set. If you're among those who missed out on '73, these are four discs jammed with the good stuff, so it's time to catch up.
Track Lists:
Disc One: Promised Land * Loser * Jack Straw * Don't Ease Me In * Looks Like Rain * Loose Lucy * Beer Barrel Polka * Big Railroad Blues * Playing In The Band * They Love Each Other * Big River * Tennessee Jed
Disc Two: Greatest Story Ever Told * Dark Star>Eyes Of The World * Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo * Me And My Uncle * Not Fade Away>Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad>Not Fade Away
Disc Three: Cold Rain And Snow * Beat It On Down The Line * They Love Each Other * Mexicali Blues * Sugaree * Box Of Rain * El Paso * He's Gone * Jack Straw * China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider * Big River
Disc Four: Row Jimmy * Truckin'>The Other One>Eyes Of The World>Morning Dew * Sugar Magnolia * We Bid You Goodnight
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© 2003 - Shaun Dale