Customer Reviews

Dick's Picks Vol. 12: Providence Civic Center, 6/26/74 & Boston Garden, 6/28/74

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You can't go wrong with this set. Selected from a two-concertspan, there are many highlights on these three discs. Disc onestarts off with a fantastic China Cat > Rider that will make you press the repeat button. Words cannot describe the intro to this selection. I bought it for these songs alone. The first disc also has a great sequence of Truckin > Other One Jam > Spanish Jam > Wharf Rat that will guarantee this disc a permanent place in your CD changer. Possibly the best Eyes this deadhead has ever heard starts off disc two, which also contains a nice Scarlet Begonias as well as Me & My Uncle, always a pleaser. Disc three has the real meat of the second highlighted show, though, with a full Weather Report Suite followed by an unnamed "Jam." The rest of the disc is not quite as spectacular (although I must say I do enjoy that Goin' Down the Road quite a bit), but is good enough to call this the best $ I've ever spent on CDs. Get it, you won't regret it.

As grateful dead incorporated continues to exhume the treasured relics of yesteryear, for popular consumption and financial fulfillment, one must apply a critical lens to the endless harvest, in order to separate the wheat from the chaff. Collectively, these audio samples reveal the variety, in content, consistency and craft, of grateful dead composition throughout their evolving and devolving career. From a completist perspective, all of these instants of history are required listening. From a consumer (with limited means) perspective, its best to earmark the highlights and leave the lowlights for academic review. For my tastes, Dick's Picks vol. 12 stands as the pinnacle expression of grateful dead alchemy. The recorded events of 6/26&28/74 capture the vivid and vast expressive mastery of music that established grateful dead lore - the lore that continues to be relived by unrepentant, incurable devotees.

1974 stands as the high-water mark for both the technological and musical achievements of the grateful dead. The "Wall of Sound" PA system remains a historically significant triumph of art over business sense - as the band surrendered box office profits in order to deliver the most dynamic and accurate representation of the band's created sound. All collaborators benefited from this benevolence, the audience finally heard the awesome intricacy, as well as the earth shattering volume exhaled from the grateful dead beast. The band's improved musical reproduction allowed the members to reach for and towards the ideal of single musical consciousness. And the archivists captured a purer musical transmission to record for the annals of musical mythology.

1974 also represents the ultimate exposition of grateful dead musicianship. (Okay, maybe they return to these heights in 1977) By 1974 the dead had matured from its exuberant, experimental, but aimless and musically unbalanced origins into a laid-back-yet-right-on-time-airy-jazz-rock-blues-jukebox. This evocative, meandering, jazz sense is evident from the first track. China Cat Sunflower showcases the band's evolved musical ability. The track is anchored by Phil's lush liquid bass line that instills an infectious groove that induces spontaneous rhythmic dexterity in the listener. The rest of the band dances about Phil's organic groove. Jerry's metallic melody relishes the adequate dance partner. Bobby's sparse rhythm accompaniments accentuate and underscore the musical landscape. Keith plays with the sensitivity and sophistication of a jazz great. And Billy's drumming is nimble and driven. These individual attributes are evident throughout the performance. The band reaches its creative and musical zenith on this collection. True highlights include "Eyes", "To Lay Me Down" and the contiguous Truckin'>Other One Jam>Spanish Jam>Wharf Rat suite. Additionally the post WRS Jam is one for the ages - simply divine.

In a world full of wait and see - buy this one now.

The wall of sound was the Dead's sound system that took 12 hours to set up,this CD features that massive system. The sound is clear and has plenty of punch. The China Cat-I know you Rider Jam is worth the whole price alone. The most amazimg musical passage is the Let it Grow jam. This is a huge mind blowing jam. Filled with abstract moments, subtle jazz riffs, and in you face smash mouth rock and roll. The differnet types of music being played on this 3 cd set is amazing. Check out Seastones, a sonic exploration that you will either hate or laugh at in admiration. The often over looked song Ship of fools,is sung brillantly by Garcia to end this excellent package. Some of the songs on the 2nd disk are played in an average way.And the Sunshine daydream has Donna and Bob screaming out of control to the point of going way over board. But disk 1 and most of 3 are the reason the Dead stood out amoung all other musician of that time, and stiil to this day, Great Jams ,Great Imagination, Great passion, and Great sound.

DEAD FREAKS CAN TRULY UNITE ON THIS ONE. Just drop everything you were doin', and go grab a copy of Dick's Picks 12. Here's a prime slice of vintage Dead from the heady year of 1974; a year of innumerable epic concerts, night after night. Many a veteran Head would agree that 1974 saw the Dead emerge as truly master musicians. Something that was also reflected in the 1977 shows, though lacking the more laid-back and wistful quality of the 1973-74 era, something which older Heads like me will perhaps relate to. I believe the '73-74 Dead zone was also the late Dick Latvala's favorite period..God Bless and Peace Dick wherever you are...and Say hello to Capt Trips and Pig! That said, I love every morsel in D.P.12, the telepathic jams, the songs...the sheer intensity of the classic `Garcia-Weir-Lesh-Kreutzmann & Godchaux' quintet. A more relaxed China Cat-Rider is the perfect set opener. The singin' and playin' is right up there folks. Listen to Jerry's opening lines on Eyes of the World or the sheer authenticity of his guitar phrasing in the lovely Beer Barrel Polka. Even regular cowboy chestnuts like Me & My Uncle quiver with new life...Bobby is at his storytelling best backed by his subtle rhythm guitar...Weir's singing on his exquisite WR-Suite is almost delicate, and the mindblowing ensemble playing conjures images of Alan Ginsberg's `Starry Eyed Dynamo'..from his `Howl' phase!!. These concerts coincided with the release of the Mars Hotel LP, and we are treated to gorgeous renditions of the complex Scarlet Begonais and an epic Ship of Fools. Look out for Keith's brilliant piano fills during Garcia's solo on Ship. After you've heard this one out, you'll know why many like me believe Phil Lesh is the most gifted bass player the world has ever known, a complete artiste. And what is there to say about wonderboy `Billy the Drummer, who in Phil's words was 'a Young God in those days, propelling the band to newer heights. Kreutzmann plays with sensitivity and the sensibility of jazz drumming greats like the sensational Tony Williams (of Miles Davis Quintet fame) on the 15 minute-Spanish Jam or the 27.54-minute interstellar voyage post-WRS. Towards the end of the Eyes jam, there's the rare treat for every discerning Deadhead to actually experience the creative process first-hand. As Phil's liquid bass solo fades, we hear Billy impulsively laying down the embryonic rhythms of what would soon evolve into the jazzy "King Solomon's Marbles," from the seminal Blues for Allah LP recorded during the Dead's retirement phase. Dick's Picks 12 is an aural snapshot of the venerable Dead at their creative zenith. Just Go Get It!!!

I have listened to and own a lot of Dick's Picks and this is the best of all the volumes I've heard.

Disc !: The best "China Cat Sunflower" in my collection, hands down. Then, an incredible jam out of "Truckin'" that keeps going for about 20 minutes and then morphs into a sweet "Wharf Rat" and "Sugar Magnolia." Classic stuff. 5/5

Disc 2: Some of the best Dead songs performed damn-near flawlessly. "Eyes of the World" and "Scarlet Begonias" are a bit short, but they still have a distinct punch to them. "Seastones" may sound grating to some people, but I actually enjoy it and think it's a good transition between the end of one show and the beginning of another. "To Lay Me Down" makes one of its rare appearences and it's just plain LOVELY. The other songs are all good and well-played, but I wouldn't say this is a perfect disc. The fun of 6/28/74 is just about to get started. 4.5/5

Disc 3: And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: a 27-minute track simply titled "Jam." And "Jam" it does! Lots of themes are touched on... "Space," "Mind Left Body," "Dark Star," ect. What really makes this jam worthwhile is the fact that the band is so fluid and moves between the themes with great ease. Then we get perhaps the greatest "U.S. Blues" in Dead history, which isn't really much of a surpirse given what came before. A glorious "Sunshine Daydream" and fairly hard-to-find "Ship of Fools" close the set. 5/5

Conclusion: I think this pick can be summed up in one word: "epic." If you like the Dead at all, this should be in your collection. It's a very good summary of the crazy stuff that could happen in 1974. Sure, '77 and '68 might have been more consistantly excellent... but when they were on in '74, they were on much more intensely than in any other era.

If you're searching through Dick's Picks for tracks which
feature Jerry jamming...#12 is phenomenal.
Some Dick's Picks are better for "songs," others are better
for jamming...and #12 is Jerry jammin' at his absolute best.
Of course there's some great songs as well, notably Ship of Fools
and Row Jimmy (both great) but for extended JAMS...Dick's Picks
#12 cannot be beat. If you're searching for fantastic "songs" Dick's Picks...go directly to #15.

This features some incredible and wide ranging music. If you like China Cat Sunflower (and who doesn't), you'll never hear another one like this!

But, there's plenty of other reasons to buy this... top to bottom, this ones packed with gems. If you like creative jamming, this ones a must.

As you may or may not know there are currently 21 Dicks Picks available. #12 here is certainly one of the finest. If you are new to the Dead this is a prime example of how they could jam. And jam they do for over 3 hours. The 3 disc set is made up of two complete second sets. Nothin' is finer than the jam>chinacat>rider that opens disc 1 it is the best version of this song on any Cd. Everything else just completely jams too. If you are a seasoned Head, then you already know what I am speaking of and probably already own this Cd. It starts but never stops. Seastones is unique, weather report suite is sprawling and beautiful, ship of fools is eloquant. And im only scratching the surface.....I also feel I am rambling. I dont know what else to say. Buy it its magic.

The first disc is non-stop sweetness, and a perfect intro to those wondering what all the fuss with the good old Grateful Dead is about.

Yeah, it's true, most of their studio albums kind of blow. They were a live band, and this first disc from the 6/26/74 show displays their wares quite admirably. It's all about the jams, and there are some mighty fine ones from this first Providence show.

'74 was a Grate year due not only to the Wall of Sound, perhaps the greatest PA any band ever had, but also because Mickey was still absent, and using only one drummer let the band turn on a dime. They were much jazzier and more supple, and this 70-minute slab o' bliss shows that clearly.

The China/Rider says it all. No other band ever came close to this level of intuitive interplay combined with the desire and ability to go wherever the music leads.

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If you'd like to hear this whole show, it's at the non-profit website of (can't break amazoon's rules here, they already censored this review) the folks who use the word archive before they dot the org. The archive has almost EVERY Dead show for free, 24/7, soundboard and audience recordings! It's impossible to describe how wild it is as a real fan of the band's music to suddenly have access to everything ever, immediately (and to thousands of other bands' shows, and tons of great spoken word, etc. It's a true treasure trove). Years later, it still hasn't really sunk in.

Suffice to say, if you like their music, and they've got something for everybody, then this site will keep you busy and happy for ever and ever.

I guess some of the best things in life really are free!

Thanks to the Boys for being so much weirdass fun.

I've got a lot of Dick's Picks, and a lot of Grateful Dead in general, and this one is really my favorite. (I should mention, by the way, that I am a fan of Donna when she is in tune, and this was one of her better nights. Ok, I'll admit it - for me, there are some Dead songs that aren't complete without her, especially "Weather Report Suite," "Scarlet Begonias" and "Lay Me Down.")

The best parts about this particular Pick are the energy, the singing, the recording quality and, above everything else, the profound beauty of Jerry's solos. Quite frankly, there are Jerry moments on this Pick that are as perfect as anything he ever did that I've heard. Some of these solos are so heart wringing and soul-touching that they'll probably be part of whatever flashes through my mind as I leave this world.

The Dead as a whole were really on during this show, and it's one of the shows that I would highly recommend as a newcomer's first taste of what the Dead were really all about.

My personal tragedy is that I never saw them. In college I had "Skeletons from the Closet" and I assumed that that was the G.D. It wasn't until the late 90's, when I rented a "View From the Vault" on a whim that I finally understood, too late, what they really were.

Luckily, we have enough taped music from them to wind it around the backside of the moon and back to earth six or seven times. Dick's Picks 12 is some of the best I've heard yet.