Customer Reviews

Dick's Picks, Vol. 6: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 10/14/83

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

DON'T PEOPLE LISTEN TO THESE THINGS BEFORE THEY REVIEW THEM?

There are a number of things wrong with this set. Most importantly, Wier's voice is shot and Garcia loses his several times in the middle of songs. I love jamming as much as the next guys, but the Dead also had great songs (unlike a number of other jam bands). It is just painful to listen to many of the songs. And when they try to harmonize, it is just horrible.

The other problem is that this has the worst sound quality of almost any official Dead live set I have heard, and it is worse than a lot of tapes I got in trade in the days before CDs. It isn't Dave Matthews live quality bad, but it is certainly bad for the Dead. It starts out very bad but gets better as it moves along. The mix is also very bad in spots.

Disc 2 is very nice starting out with Scarlett Begonias/Fire on the Mountain. It is not the best Scarlett Mountain I have heard, but is still very good. I like the addition of the percussion in parts, something you don't always hear. It then moves on to a very nice Estimated Prophet. Again, not the best where Garcia's guitar really explodes out of the speakers, but still very good. Wier gets into some nice vocals, which is surprising considering how hoarse his voice was...it must have really hurt to sing that. It is followed by a very nice Eyes of the World. But, here, Garcia's loss of voice really brings the song down. And personally, I don't think that Eyes of the World is a good follow up to Estimated Prophet....it would be better if the songs were switched in order.

Disc 3 had some good drums and a nice space jam. With they way their voices were, they probably should have done this for the whole concert.

Disc 1 is mostly a waste with all the vocal problems. On top of losing his voice several times, Garcia slurs or mumbles the words in many places, especially Alabama Getaway.

On these concert CDs, I usually rip the soongs I like, edit them and then get rid of the CD. I this one, I think I will edit it down to one very good CD.

I have to admit that Scartlett Begonias is one of my favorite songs...so much so, that I even bought some and planted them in my front yard. They are very hardy plants and bloom nearly all year long in the South Bay.

I'm generally a second set guy, and the best of this CD is all on the first disc. In particular, the lead guitar work on "They Love Each Other" is some of Garcia's very best. After a very ragged "Alabama Getaway," the first set is really exceptional. The second disc is mediocre at best, and I disagree with the other reviewers who claim that this is one of the better Scarlett/Fires. I enjoy listening to this pick on occasion, but it certainly does not rise to the top of my list where I would put DP3, DP8 and DP18.

Along with Vol. 3, my favorite of the 18 DP's I've heard so far. Why? The simple
answer is CD 2, with Scarlet/Fire/Estimated/Eyes. The band was really in the
universal musical mind for these songs, an hour that sails and soars. The interplay at
the end of Scarlet Begonias is so thrilling and moving. You wouldn't guess the Dead
would have attained such heights that night - it starts off with a rough sounding
Jerry forgetting the words to Alabama Getaway and later has Day Job, one of the
least inspiring Dead songs I've heard. But there's also a great & sad Althea, and the
drums and jam on CD 3 are excellent.

I bought this for the Scarlet>Fire and that's all that I found of value. Disc 1 is lazy and sloppy and Disc 3 isn't much better. Disc 2 is outstanding, but everything else can be found elsewhere and in better versions. I wouldn't buy it again.

I like this disc alot. Disc one takes a little while to really take off, and the vocals are turned up a little too much, but everything starts to work out fine in no time. in the meantime, turn up the bass and enjoy.

without question, disc two is fantastic. i can't decide b/w scarlet>fire on this one or on DP18, but the xylophone on this one is truly genius. and the transmission to fire, when the wah wah pedal finally kicks in, is really amazing. and the gritty, almost-sore-throat vocals of jerry are very cool.

but disc three is not to be overlooked. absolutely fantastic version of sugar mag. and u.s. blues is in fine, fine form. it takes a while to get there, but disc three rewards the stalwart

This is probably the weakest release of the series, but, in true GD fashion, still worth getting. Disc 2 is where its all at; with an hour of utterly spellbinding music. The first set is more or less a trainwreck, showcasing the worst Dead vocals I think I've ever heard, although the playing could be nice at times. But the second set is a different story, with a Scarlet>Fire>Estimated>Eyes sequence that will knock you silly...post-drums is solid...but you seriously need to hear that second disc.

If a newbie wanted to discover the Grateful Dead, Volume 6 is NOT the way to get started IMO. Sure, there are some musical highlights that might make some diehards take notice (most of disc 2 & "Althea" from disc 1 in particular), but honestly there's not much here to win over a first-timer or casual fan. The performance isn't bad per se, but the sound mix is inconsistent & some songs sounded like they were due for a break from the setlist.

Perhaps one day this volume of Dick's Picks will find your way into your home when all is said & done....but until then, I'd recommend something along the lines of Volume 10, or possibly Vol. 15 or 18....

There is probably much debate in intellectual circles regarding the profound philosophical question: Which Dead show had the best version of the Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain jam? Well the debate is over. This particular Dick's Pick has the best Scarlet > Fire, as well as one of the best versions of Estimated Prophet ever recorded. If you can find it, GET THESE DISCS!

this release is a great sample of early 80s dead. the energy level starts right of high with the usual shorter songs. the real shining moments are disc 2. this is as good as it gets in the 80s folks.the scarlet/fire/estimated/eyes is a great sample of grateful dead from any era.but for the 80s its gotta be right at the top for me.everyone in the band is right on and the back and forth between them is really nice.you will enjoy it! the big jam on disk 3 is good . other/stella/ rounds well into sugar mag. then us blues...all and all a nice show. i think its the first complete show of the dicks series as well. buy it,you will be pleased.

Excellent jams, sound quality good but not great as common from this period. Jerry was on another "run" (personally, not musically-bad, not good) at this point but his talent shines through loud and clear here! Disc 2 is magic! Better than DP 32 and DP 21 from this same time period...though anything from 1972-1974 is a priority! GOD BLESS JERRY, BRENT, and PIGPEN--accepting, open souls...and great hearts! READ G.K. Chesterton and Confessions by St. Augustine!
"My heart was restless until it rested in Thee"(Lord) -St. Augustine