Customer Reviews

Dick's Picks 32 (8/7/82 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, I must admit that I am quite biased when it comes to Alpine Valley Music Theatre. Being from Wisconsin, I have many great memories involving this beautiful but often frustrating venue. Alpine Valley, like Red Rocks in Colorado and the Greek Theatre in California, is a mind-blowing place to see a show. The sheer physical beauty of Alpine Valley with its rolling green, tree covered hills adorned with ski lifts can be quite overwhelming(especially when in the right state of mind). Couple this with a visit from the GRATEFUL DEAD and you have all you need to make magnificent memories. Dick's Picks 32 is a celebration of the GRATEFUL DEAD at Alpine Valley. If you were never fortunate enough to witness the DEAD in this serene setting, then Dick's Picks 32 will do much to tranport you there musically. For this reason I feel that Dick's Picks 32 is the MOST atmospheric recording in the Dick's Picks series. You really get an idea of what the DEAD sounded like at Alpine Valley. Hearing Garcia's vocals echo off the hills during the beginning of "Sugaree" truly gives me the chills every time I hear it. This Alpine Valley atmosphere renders the sound of DP 32 extremely unique. That being said, there are a few minor drawbacks to the sound quality of DP 32. The recording lacks bass and due to the fact that it was recorded on cassette(!!!) there are some strange frequency issues. But overall, the sound quality is awesome and perfectly conveys the feeling of the GRATEFUL DEAD at Alpine Valley. The set list for this performance is very dynamic(particularly for 1982) and features some killer versions. Of special note is a blistering "Let It Grow". Very rarely did the GRATEFUL DEAD approach "hard rock" levels, however, on this "Let It Grow" the DEAD lay it all out with a truly mammoth groove. Without a doubt one of the "heaviest" DEAD renditions. Probably the highlight of the whole show for me personally is the aforementioned "Sugaree" which Garcia wrenches out of the middle of "The Music Never Stopped". Jerry's vocals and guitar work on "Sugaree" are truly awe inspiring especially with the echo off the hills. The listener can truly feel how large an outdoor venue Alpine Valley is. The second set starts with a strong "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider" and ends with a very mellow "Morning Dew" and a somewhat forced "One More Saturday Night" in which Bob Weir sounds absolutely winded(this is more than understandable following a three hour performance). The band returns for an encore of "U.S. Blues". As for jamming, this show offers a lengthly jam of "Playing In The Band" complete with an excellent "Drums" section and a VERY weird "Space" portion followed by "The Wheel" which leads back into "Playing In The Band". During the first set, "Althea" is also quite powerful and stretched out. So here's the deal. Dick's Picks 32 stands as a powerful document of the DEAD in a VERY friendly and unique venue. The recording captures the power of the music coupled with the natural ambiance of the amphitheatre. This is a killer Dick's Picks and I can't recommend it enough. At minimum this pick stands as testament to the fact that the magic was still at hand even in 1982!!! So sit back with the headphones on, fire up a bowl, and let yourself be transported back in time to the natural beauty of an afternoon with 20,000 other DEAD fans at Alpine Valley.

(2 DISCS) DISC ONE: THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED, SUGAREE, THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED, ME AND MY UNCLE, BIG RIVER, IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES, C.C. RIDER, RAMBLE ON ROSE, BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE, ON THE ROAD AGAIN, ALTHEA, LET IT GROW, U.S. BLUES. DISC TWO: CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER, I NKOW YOU RIDER, MAN SMART (WOMAN SMARTER), SHIP OF FOOLS, PLAYING IN THE BAND, DRUMS, SPACE, THE WHEEL, PLAYING IN THE BAND, MORNING DEW, ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT.

This was my first Grateful Dead concert. I was blown away. The opening Music->Sugaree->Music plus the Playin' in the Band are worth getting this CD for.

Having attended the actual concert, I'm quite biased as well. Not to mention the audio quality on this CD is superb! Great song selection too, beginning with "The Music Never Stopped>Sugaree>Music Never Stopped." By far one of the best pieces of music on any Grateful Dead CD.

I listen to to this one EVERY DAY! It's in heavy rotation on my iPod. My only complaint: Brent has a Hammond solo in "Sugaree" that isn't nearly as good as on other CD's, yet he jams like a madman on the piano on several other selections.

Still, one of the best of the Dick's Picks.

Jerry does some fine playing here, especially on cd 2. But there is hardly any Phil as he is clipped out often, and when his bass is present it is distorted. The Liner's discuss this, but that doesnt help it sound better. Not bad, gave only 2 to balance out other reviews. Jerry is relentless in many 1982 shows, but the audio quality unfortunately is not as good as other years.
IF ITS NOT A BABY, THEN YOUR NOT PREGNANT.

CD ONE: (1) THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED (2) SUGAREE (3)MUSIC NEVER STOPPED (4)ME & MY UNCLE (5) BIG RIVER (6)MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES (7)C.C. RIDER (8)RAMBLE ON ROSE (9)BEAT IT ON DOWN THE LINE (10)ON THE ROAD AGAIN (11)ALTHEA (12)LET IT GROW (13) U.S. BLUES. CD TWO: (1)CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER (2) I KNOW YOU RIDER (3)SMART MAN, WOMAN SMARTER (4) SHIP OF FOOLS (5) PLAYING IN THE BAND (6)DRUMS (7) SPACE (8)THE WHEEL (9)PLAYING IN THE BAND (10) MORNING DEW (11) ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT.