Sep 10
21
Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks Vol. 36
Dick’s Picks Vol. 36, which features the Grateful Dead live at the Philadelphia Spectrum on September 21, 1972, has long been regarded as one of their finest shows. The Dead played the Spectrum almost more than any other band in history and whenever they did they brought their top game. Tonight is no exception. Normally they ease into a show with some standard first set songs that are short, concise, and with not too much jamming. But tonight they are ready to give it all to Philadelphia and the riotous crowd.
Proof they were here to play? Out of nowhere, in the second song of the night, they whip out a 13 minute “Bird Song.” Not only that but it is one of the most beautiful and perfect “Bird Songs” they have ever played. Jerry supposedly busts a string in his first solo and Keith takes over on piano so flawlessly you’d think they planned it. The jam swells, ranging from quiet interludes to raging storms, and it is very hard to believe it is only the second song of the night. There is an electricity in the air that comes straight out of the speakers resplendent in excellent sound. Like I said, we are truly in for a treat tonight.
As the night moves on we get a definitive “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider” and a damn near perfect “Jack Straw.” A very, very fine “Loser” and a straight from Nashville “Big River” close out the first disc (I should give special mention to “Loser” as it is superb. Try as I may, I have yet to find another version of “Loser” that is as deeply played and heartfelt. With just a few well placed notes Jerry lets you know what the song is all about).
Now, let’s get serious here. Disc 2 ushers in a suite of songs so exquisite they could have gone home afterwards and we’d all be happy. “Ramble on Rose” grooves along nicely and “Cumberland Blues” brings the house down with startling electricity. Jerry is on fire here, tearing up the fretboard in some kind of electric kool-aid hoedown. But, no time for a breather…
Instead, it’s straight into a 16 minute “Playing in the Band.” Perhaps THE “Playing in the Band.” I’ve heard alot of these and this is THE ONE for me. The intro is perfect and the song moves along nicely, played with a confidence that was overflowing for the band in ’72. Then we move off into the jam portion and Jerry lets out a perfect weerrrrhhhhhhhhh to let everyone know it’s time to jam. Everyone is on board here. They continually sound like they are all about to go right over the proverbial cliff but they keep it all in check and get downright heavy. Not too spacey, we’ll save that for 1974, but jussst right. Now, they bring it back home and close with a thunderous stampede to end the first set. (Edit: I’m listening to this right now and it is indeed stunning. Jerry’s guitar sounds like liquid and the bass, piano and drums are shuffling along at a very jazzy pace. This is serious, serious business.)
“He’s Gone” starts the second set and transitions beautifully with a lazy day’s gait into “Truckin’.” A glorious, blues filled, all the time in the world “Truckin’.” After that, a lazy “Black Peter” settles down the crowd which at this point must have been heaving. No time to rest though….
Off we go into disc 3 with a 37 minute “Dark Star.” Deep, deep space here. All aboard the Dead train as we head into the deepest reaches of the cosmos. After the space segment they settle into a supremely nice bluegrass groove to end out the song and spill into a gorgeous “Morning Dew.” A few other songs come and go, including a very nice “Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo,” and a killer “Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad > Not Fade Away,” but how can anyone even pay attention after that? To quote King Osric from Conan the Barbarian: “What daring! What outrageousness! What insolence! What arrogance!”
Sick, sick, sick show that is aided on disc 4 by three bonus songs from Colorado recorded earlier in September. Heck, the bonus songs alone are more than most bands can deliver on a normal album and feature blistering versions of “He’s Gone,” “The Other One,” and “Wharf Rat.” Sadly, this was the last volume of the famed Dick’s Picks series (later replaced by the Road Trips series). But what a way to go! Originally slated to be the first volume in the series, we are lucky to have the entire show spread across 4 discs and it was well worth the wait.
Highly, highly recommended!
Note: Since this was recorded on 2 track the crowd seems quiet and distant. This is merely a byproduct of 2 track recordings. I assure you it is very live.
Note 2: Dick’s Picks Vol. 36 can only be found on the official Grateful Dead website although Amazon does offer a digital download as well.
Tracklist
Disc One:
- “Promised Land” – 3:50
- “Bird Song” – 13:40
- “El Paso” – 5:06
- “China Cat Sunflower” – 5:28
- “I Know You Rider” – 6:49
- “Black-Throated Wind” – 6:47
- “Big Railroad Blues” – 4:02
- “Jack Straw” – 4:52
- “Loser” – 7:12
- “Big River” – 4:42
Disc Two:
- “Ramble On Rose” – 6:34
- “Cumberland Blues” – 7:40
- “Playing in the Band” – 16:47
- “He’s Gone” – 14:18
- “Truckin’” – 11:51
- “Black Peter” – 9:39
- “Mexicali Blues” – 3:26
Disc Three:
- “Dark Star” – 37:08
- “Morning Dew” – 12:10
- “Beat It On Down the Line” – 3:34
- “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” – 10:02
- “Sugar Magnolia” – 8:30
- “Friend of the Devil” – 3:37
Disc Four:
- “Not Fade Away” – 5:57
- “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” – 7:26
- “Not Fade Away” – 3:31
- “One More Saturday Night” – 4:56
- “He’s Gone” – 10:30
- “The Other One” – 28:57
- “Wharf Rat” – 10:16
